Space Paradise

Guy Bluford of NASA broke down barriers and created history in 1983 by becoming the first African American astronaut in orbit. Enjoy audio from Bluford and visuals from his Space Shuttle missions as you commemorate the turning points that altered the course of space exploration for all time. STS-8, which launched on August 30, 1983, from Florida's Kennedy Space Center was Bluford's first mission. This was the Challenger orbiter's third flight, and it was the first one with a night launch and night landing. The STS-8 crew carried out medical tests to understand the biophysiological effects of spaceflight, activated four "Getaway Special" spacecraft, deployed the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1B), operated the Canadian-built RMS with the Payload Flight Test Article (PFTA), operated the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES) with live cell samples, and more during the mission.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission is set to return to Earth in early September 2023 after launching to the International Space Station on March 2, 2023. In order to prepare for exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth, NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev spent their months on the orbiting lab conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations, including managing a student robotic challenge, researching plant genetic adaptations to space, and monitoring human health in microgravity. The first satellite from Saskatchewan was also launched by the astronauts, and it tests a novel radiation detection and protection technology made from melanin. Credit: NASA #Crew6 #Science #SpaceStation

A "ring of fire," or annular, solar eclipse will cross the United States on October 14, 2023, from the Oregon coast to the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the Americas will be able to see at least a partial solar eclipse, weather allowed. The NASA Solar Eclipse Map for 2023 and 2024 can be viewed by clicking here: https://go.nasa.gov/USEclipseMaps A huge, bright ring in the sky is formed when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth but is just far enough away in its orbit that the Sun is not entirely covered. WARNING: Without specialist eye protection made for solar viewing, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun during an annular eclipse. Visit SolarSystem.NASA.gov/eclipses for information on how to observe an eclipse safely. Are you not in the path of the eclipse? You can join us from anywhere in the world. On Oct. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. EDT (1530-1715 UTC), we will provide live broadcast coverage on NASA TV, NASA.gov, the NASA app, and right here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/LlY79zjud-Q More information about the forthcoming annular solar eclipse may be found at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses...

A big storm is observed from orbit, a new crew is heading to the space station, and a robotic spacecraft is enabling human expeditions to the Moon... Here are a couple of the stories from This Week at NASA! Video Producer: Andre Valentine Video Editor: Andre Valentine Narrator: Andre Valentine Music: Universal Production Music Credit: NASA

A big storm is observed from orbit, a new crew is heading to the space station, and a robotic spacecraft is enabling human expeditions to the Moon... Here are a couple of the stories from This Week at NASA! Video Producer: Andre Valentine Video Editor: Andre Valentine Narrator: Andre Valentine Music: Universal Production Music Credit: NASA

Certainly, here's a paraphrased version of the video description: This video presents a record of solar activity spanning from August 12 to December 22, 2022, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). SDO has continuously monitored the Sun's behavior in high-resolution 4K imagery for almost 13 years, offering vital insights into our nearest star and its effects on the solar system. SDO employs a trio of instruments, capturing Sun images every 0.75 seconds. Among these, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) records images every 12 seconds at ten different wavelengths. The video focuses on images taken at 17.1 nanometers, revealing the Sun's outermost atmospheric layer, the corona. By compiling images taken 108 seconds apart, this video compresses 133 days of solar observations into a 59-minute presentation. It illustrates the rotation of the Sun, which completes one cycle every 27 days, and highlights bright, active regions on its surface, often accompanied by magnetic field loops and solar flares during magnetic reconnection events. Occasionally, the video includes dark frames due to Earth or the Moon passing between SDO and the Sun, instrument downtime, or data errors. SDO transmits a substantial 1.4 terabytes of data to Earth daily. Off-center Sun images may result from instrument calibration. SDO, alongside other NASA missions, will continue to monitor the Sun, providing ongoing insights into our place in space and enhancing our ability to safeguard astronauts and space assets.