Darryl Keith, Ph.D., Environmental Protection
Agency.
Image Credit:
Sandra Robinson
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Eric Furst, Ph.D., University of
Delaware.
Image Credit:
Kathy F. Atkinson
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Zahaan Bharmal (right) and Bill Nye on the set
during the finale of the YouTube Space Lab competition.
Image Credit:
YouTube
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The second annual International Space Station
Research and Development Conference highlights Discoveries, Applications and
Opportunities from International Space Station research and
technology.
Image Credit:
NASA
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Inspiring and
innovating are two things the users of the International
Space Station (ISS) do very well. Noting these achievements is the goal of
the second annual ISS Research
and Development Conference's second plenary panel, titled Top Benefits and
Applications in Earth Science, Materials and Education.
Three individuals were recognized for their work in this category, accepting
awards during the afternoon of July 16 as they took part in the conference
plenary panel highlighting their research:
Darryl Keith, Ph.D., Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in recognition of
outstanding results on Hyperspectral Imaging for Ocean Protection – named a Top
Application from the International Space Station in 2012.
Eric Furst, Ph.D., University of Delaware, in recognition of outstanding
results on Colloid
Self Assembly – named a Top Application from the International Space Station
in 2012.
Zahaan Bharmal, Google, in recognition of outstanding impacts from the YouTube
Space Lab Project – named a Top Education Application on the International
Space Station in 2012.
“These selected awardees are furthering our understanding of the universe by
implementing new ways of looking at the Earth and space and inspiring young
people to embrace the space station and test out their own scientific theories,”
said Allyson Thorn, assistant International Space Station Program scientist.
The plenary panel, moderated by NASA’s International Space Station Program
Scientist Julie Robinson, Ph.D., showcases key contributions to advancements in
knowledge and the state-of-the-art in the fields of astrophysics, heliophysics
or Earth science, enabling engineering or exploration and educational
activities.
Keith accepted the award on behalf of his research team regarding their work
using the Hyperspectral Imager for Coastal Oceans (HICO)
to gather imagery
for ocean protection for the EPA. Funded by the EPA’s Office of Research and
Development Pathfinder Innovation Program, the research is conducted as part of
the Safe and Sustainable Waters Research Program.
“Our research team developed a novel space-based approach for environmental
monitoring across a range of spatial and temporal scales never before feasible
with field-based monitoring,” said Keith. “This award is an acknowledgement of
the vision and spirit of our researchers. With this capability this project is
important in creating sustainable solutions to environmental problems. Such
sustainable solutions are critical to achieving cost effective and robust means
of implementing sustained observation of the nation’s coastal and estuarine
waters over large temporal and spatial scales.”
In addition to the imager itself, Keith goes on to cite the space station
platform as key in the acquisition of this data. “Having access to the space
station provides scientists and managers with a unique vantage point to observe
changes in coastal and estuarine water quality previously not feasible with
field-based monitoring,” said Keith. “Policy makers and environmental managers
need this type of information to assess watershed ecosystem health and the
services they provide to the public under current and future land use
practices.”
The Inspace-2
and -3
investigations used the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG)
to perform experiments to understand how magnetic fields can impact kinetic
barriers of colloidal
self-assembly phase transitions. Exposure to a magnetic field causes these
“smart” fluids to self-assemble swiftly into solid-like states, called
“bundling.” They return to liquid when the magnetic pulse ends. These unique
fluids may lead to improved brake, suspension and vibration dampening systems in
vehicles and planes, among other applications. “What it represents is an unusual
path to phase separation, and we've already begun to harness our understanding
to make materials from these tiny building blocks here back on Earth,” said
Furst. “We are confident that the principles discovered during InSPACE-2 will
someday lead to advanced forms of nanomanufacturing, enabling new materials and
new technologies for Earth and space applications.”
In reaction to receiving this honor, Furst continued, “I am pleased to accept
this award on behalf of all of the team members that contributed to the success
of the InSPACE-2 project, including two talented postdocs who are now beginning
academic careers, James Swan (MIT) and Paula Vasquez (University of South
Carolina), our support at [NASA's] Glenn Research Center and Zinn Technologies,
and of course the astronauts who performed the experiments. For me, the award
represents the phenomenal potential for discovery and the knowledge that can be
gained in physical sciences using the unique experimental environment of
long-duration microgravity.”
YouTube Space Lab was a global contest for 14- to 18-year-old students who
submitted two-minute YouTube videos for physics or biology investigations to
take place aboard the space station. The two
winning studies looked at the predatory behavior of a jumping spider and the
anti-fungal properties of Bacillus subtilis in microgravity.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Bharmal.
“YouTube Space Lab was a labor of love. It was not, however, the achievement of
one individual or even one company. It was a global partnership—bringing
together scientists, astronauts, educators, enterprises and governments—all of
whom share the common vision of inspiring the next generation to take a great
interest in science. This award belongs to all our partners.”
Bharmal points out the importance of education programs, such as YouTube
Space Lab, in the continuation of exploration and for a future of motivated
researchers and engineers. “The first man or woman to one day walk on Mars is,
today, a child," said Bharmal. "YouTube Space Lab—and programs like it—are so
very important to those on Earth because they are helping to inspire this next
generation of explorers who may one day find a new home beyond Earth.”
Additional award categories for these space station achievements represented
during the other conference plenary panels include top technology applications
enabling exploration; top utilization of space station for medical advancements;
and top discoveries in microgravity. The overall theme of the conference for
2013 is Discoveries, Applications and Opportunities. The conference is organized
by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) in cooperation with NASA and the
Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS).
Jessica Nimon
International Space Station Program
Science Office
NASA's Johnson Space Center
NASA's Johnson Space Center
WASHINGTON -- The International Space Station (ISS) partner agencies released
a statement Wednesday on the benefits of the space station during natural
disasters on Earth.
Flying 250 miles above the planet and circling it every 90 minutes, the orbiting outpost provides a unique vantage point from which images of Earth can play an important role in helping emergency responders know what areas are most in need during natural disasters.
International Space Station Multilateral Coordination Board Statement on the Ability of the Space Station to Provide Assistance during Natural Disasters on Earth
The International Space Station is an extraordinary global research facility on which the ISS Partnership is carrying out research at an unprecedented rate. Many of the activities on this unique platform yield valuable benefits to society.
Although each Space Station Partner has distinct agency goals for Station research, each Partner shares a unified goal to extend the resulting knowledge for the betterment of humanity. In 2012, the ISS Partnership published "International Space Station Benefits for Humanity," illustrating specific successful humanitarian accomplishments. This publication highlights ISS contributions in Earth observation and disaster response, education, and human health that are improving the lives of many throughout the world.
ISS Earth observation is one of the primary areas of focus for ISS research. A unique complement of automated and crew-operated Earth observation assets are on board the ISS. In addition, the orbit of the ISS provides a distinct perspective over Earth targets that augments polar-orbiting remote sensing spacecraft. As a result, the ISS can provide an immediate benefit to regions that have experienced natural disasters, such as floods, wildfires, large storm systems, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The data provided from ISS is a complement to the data provided by Earth Observation satellites through the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters," of which several of the ISS Partners are members.
Through the ISS Program Science Forum's Earth Observation Working Group and under the leadership of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ISS Earth Observation assets are supporting global response efforts for regions experiencing natural disasters by collecting imagery of disaster-stricken areas on a best-effort basis. In recent months, the ISS Partners have worked on procedures to efficiently contribute to disaster response with the image data taken by the ISS crew members and ISS Earth observation payloads. Recent imagery campaigns in response to calls for data include: crew Earth observations of areas flooded in southern Russia; imagery of areas in Haiti and the Atlantic coast of the United States that were impacted by hurricane Sandy; multispectral imagery collected by the ISS Agricultural Camera (ISSAC) of flooded regions in Nigeria and Pakistan.
Additional payloads supporting this effort include the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO), the Super Sensitive High Definition TV (SS-HDTV) camera, the Multipurpose Consolidated Experiment (MCE) high definition TV camera (KIBO HDTV-EF), and the ISS SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV). New sensors will soon be available, expanding the Earth observation capabilities on the ISS and the contributions of data to regions affected by natural disasters.
The ISS Program will continue to contribute regional data collected by ISS sensors and crew members in response to natural disasters. The ISS Partners are committed to continuing to share this unique asset in space and the benefits it brings to life on Earth.
For more information about the International Space Station, visit:
For more information about the Canadian Space Agency, visit:
For more information about the European Space Agency, visit:
For more information about the Russian Federal Space Agency, visit:
For more information about the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, visit:
For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
Flying 250 miles above the planet and circling it every 90 minutes, the orbiting outpost provides a unique vantage point from which images of Earth can play an important role in helping emergency responders know what areas are most in need during natural disasters.
International Space Station Multilateral Coordination Board Statement on the Ability of the Space Station to Provide Assistance during Natural Disasters on Earth
The International Space Station is an extraordinary global research facility on which the ISS Partnership is carrying out research at an unprecedented rate. Many of the activities on this unique platform yield valuable benefits to society.
Although each Space Station Partner has distinct agency goals for Station research, each Partner shares a unified goal to extend the resulting knowledge for the betterment of humanity. In 2012, the ISS Partnership published "International Space Station Benefits for Humanity," illustrating specific successful humanitarian accomplishments. This publication highlights ISS contributions in Earth observation and disaster response, education, and human health that are improving the lives of many throughout the world.
ISS Earth observation is one of the primary areas of focus for ISS research. A unique complement of automated and crew-operated Earth observation assets are on board the ISS. In addition, the orbit of the ISS provides a distinct perspective over Earth targets that augments polar-orbiting remote sensing spacecraft. As a result, the ISS can provide an immediate benefit to regions that have experienced natural disasters, such as floods, wildfires, large storm systems, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The data provided from ISS is a complement to the data provided by Earth Observation satellites through the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters," of which several of the ISS Partners are members.
Through the ISS Program Science Forum's Earth Observation Working Group and under the leadership of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ISS Earth Observation assets are supporting global response efforts for regions experiencing natural disasters by collecting imagery of disaster-stricken areas on a best-effort basis. In recent months, the ISS Partners have worked on procedures to efficiently contribute to disaster response with the image data taken by the ISS crew members and ISS Earth observation payloads. Recent imagery campaigns in response to calls for data include: crew Earth observations of areas flooded in southern Russia; imagery of areas in Haiti and the Atlantic coast of the United States that were impacted by hurricane Sandy; multispectral imagery collected by the ISS Agricultural Camera (ISSAC) of flooded regions in Nigeria and Pakistan.
Additional payloads supporting this effort include the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO), the Super Sensitive High Definition TV (SS-HDTV) camera, the Multipurpose Consolidated Experiment (MCE) high definition TV camera (KIBO HDTV-EF), and the ISS SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System (ISERV). New sensors will soon be available, expanding the Earth observation capabilities on the ISS and the contributions of data to regions affected by natural disasters.
The ISS Program will continue to contribute regional data collected by ISS sensors and crew members in response to natural disasters. The ISS Partners are committed to continuing to share this unique asset in space and the benefits it brings to life on Earth.
For more information about the International Space Station, visit:
For more information about the Canadian Space Agency, visit:
For more information about the European Space Agency, visit:
For more information about the Russian Federal Space Agency, visit:
For more information about the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, visit:
For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
NASA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
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