USRA

Congratulations to USRA's Ernie Wright for being awarded NASA’s prestigious Exceptional Public Achievement Medal! “Ernie’s work is exemplary of science communication,” says David Noone, Director of USRA's Earth from Space Institute. “Beyond technical rigor, the clarity and depth of insight one gains from his visualizations is the result of high levels of care that Ernie has for the science story that is being shared.” https://lnkd.in/eqr4dNCS

In a recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters, Dr. Maheshwari Neelam of Universities Space Research Association’s (USRA) Science and Technology Institute (STI) in Huntsville, Alabama, reveals a unique approach to analyze historical data. Dr. Neelam, the lead author of the paper, emphasizes the importance of understanding landscapes' response to disasters, transcending geopolitical boundaries, and underscores watersheds as essential hydrologic units for assessing water budgets and water management. https://lnkd.in/efPzzuXg

Today Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced strategic collaborations with NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to launch a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) lab for science and engineering. The lab will explore the short- and long-term benefits of new GenAI technologies related to Earth science, including Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) weather data, life sciences, and engineering. These collaborations harness the talents of a unique team of leading innovators from industry (BCG), government (NASA), and academia (USRA) with decades of experience advancing the state-of-the-art in artificial intelligence. ... “In this pivotal moment in time for AI, the GenAI lab represents a unique opportunity to rapidly and responsibly advance the application of AI for public good applications,” said David Bell, Ph.D., Director of USRA’s Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science. https://lnkd.in/eb_6XsZG

In a groundbreaking discovery published in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal, scientists have identified a rare dust particle lodged within an ancient extraterrestrial meteorite, shedding new light on the origins of stars beyond our solar system. Led by Dr Nicole Nevill of the Universities Space Research Association at LPI, during her Ph.D. studies at Curtin University, the research team meticulously analyzed the dust particle, delving into its atomic composition with unparalleled precision using atom probe tomography. https://lnkd.in/eevAMJS9 Image credit: David Saxey, Geoscience Atom Probe Facility, Curtin University. 

Welcome back, Robert O.! "We are thrilled to welcome Rob back to USRA as the Director of our Center for Space Nuclear Research," said Bernie Seery, Vice President for Science and Technology at USRA. "We anticipate Rob's return to USRA as the Director of our Center for Space Nuclear Research will greatly benefit our research initiatives and enhance our position in the field of space nuclear research.” https://lnkd.in/eaHfN8kM

Thanks to all of the speakers and panelists at today’s symposium entitled: “Space Nuclear Technology: How Can Space Nuclear Technology Contribute to Science, Exploration, and the Future Security Environment?” presented by USRA and The George Washington University Space Policy Institute. We heard about the importance of building the future of students and university faculty in this field, as well as the importance of building partnerships between government agencies, industry and universities – both in the U.S. and internationally. Find the recorded event and general information here: https://lnkd.in/eqrk6tun Thank you! Franklin Chang Díaz Prasun Desai Thomas Lockhart Anthony Calomino Roger Myers Christina (Tina) Back Justin Kasper Harlan Bowers Tabitha Dodson Douglas Burns Jeff Waksman Alex Gilbert Jeffrey King #2024USRASymposium

The NASA HQ Briefing will be taking place at 5:45 p.m. CT today and will be simultaneously live streamed on LPI’s YouTube Channel: https://lnkd.in/eXSf8tUB

The coveted Bruno Rossi Prize for 2024 was recently awarded to Martin Weisskopf, Paolo Soffitta, and the remarkable IXPE team “for their development of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer whose novel measurements advance our understanding of particle acceleration and emission from astrophysical shocks, black holes and neutron stars.”  Congratulations to USRA's scientists and engineers from the IXPE team: -Mr. William Cleveland who designs and develops the telemetry data processing pipeline and integrates instrument team software into the pipeline. -Dr. Oliver J. Roberts who plans IXPE's short-term science operations scheduling. -Dr. Chienting Chen who develops public software tools and helps execute the processing pipeline. -Dr. Kiran Kilaru who provided extensive computer modeling both to optimize the design of the IXPE flight mirror module assemblies and to predict ground and on-orbit performance of the IXPE telescopes. -Mr. Dylan Maurel and, prior to launch, Mr. Erick Verleye who supported IXPE software development of the processing pipeline, database, mission planning, and the suite of public software tools. -Mr. Jagan Ranganathan served as the lead mechanical analyst for the IXPE mirror module assemblies and was responsible for ensuring that the mirror modules would survive the rigors of ground tests, launch and operation in the space environment. -Dr. Douglas Swartz serves as IXPE's liaison to the public-facing General Observer Facility at GSFC. https://lnkd.in/eME2TbmP

Attention Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Don’t settle for plain rocket science -- apply and become a Space Nuclear Rocket Scientist/Engineer!   The Universities Space Research Association and its Center for Space Nuclear Research (CSNR) in Idaho Falls, Idaho invites applications for the 19th CSNR Summer Fellowship Program in partnership with our sponsor, NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center. The CSNR Summer Fellowship application process is now open to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in growing their career in space nuclear power and propulsion. You will dive into a 10-week immersive journey where you’ll collaborate with the brightest minds from NASA, alongside experts from the Department of Energy’s nuclear energy and nuclear security laboratories. It’s not just about learning; it’s about rolling up your sleeves and delving into nuclear analyses, systems engineering, advanced modeling and simulation, and the intricacies of space mission planning. Come innovate together and develop transformative nuclear power and propulsion technologies that could enable NASA and the Department of Defense missions of tomorrow. Visit https://csnr.usra.edu/ to find our more and apply by April 15, 2024 for a place on our program.

Texas Public Radio recently interviewed USRA’s Dr. Kennda Lynch at the Lunar and Planetary Institute on a Podcast entitled “Looking for Martian Microbes.”  https://lnkd.in/ejMWgJHk