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NASA — All-Star Moments in Space Communications and…

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NASA

NASA — All-Star Moments in Space Communications and…

We’re set to launch ICESat-2, our most advanced laser instrument of its kind, into orbit around Earth on Sept. 15. The Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 will make critical observations of how ice sheets, glaciers and sea ice are changing over time, helping us better understand how those changes affect people where they live. Here’s 10 numbers to know about this mission:One Space LaserThere’s only one scientific instrument on ICESat-2, but it’s a marvel. The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System, or ATLAS, measures height by precisely timing how long it takes individual photons of light from a laser to leave the satellite, bounce off Earth, and return to ICESat-2. Hundreds of people at our Goddard Space Flight Center worked to build this smart-car-sized instrument to exacting ...

VSFB achieves historic milestone with 51 launches in 2024 > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

VSFB achieves historic milestone with 51 launches in 2024 > United States Space Force > Article Display

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Vandenberg Space Force Base has revolutionized west coast space and test launch with an historic 51 launches in 2024 from the United States Space Force’s West Coast Spaceport and Test Range. This achievement was driven by the base's commitment to innovation, revising practices and procedures and close partnerships with launch and test mission partners. "This year marks a historic milestone for our nation's space launch capabilities, achieving a level of activity not seen in the past 50 years at Vandenberg," said Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander. "As we accelerate our space launch efforts and push boundaries, we are rewriti...

Sabin Center’s Online Tracking Tools Monitor Government Actions on Climate Change – State of the Planet

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Science

Sabin Center’s Online Tracking Tools Monitor Government Actions on Climate Change – State of the Planet

Since 2017, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law has tracked government attempts to restrict or expand initiatives in science and climate. The first was the Climate Deregulation Tracker, which tracked climate-related regulatory actions under the first Trump administration, followed by the Climate Reregulation Tracker, which tracked actions under the Biden administration. Three publicly accessible online tracking tools will track the new administration’s actions on climate change. The Climate Backtracker, which is the third iteration of Sabin Center climate regulation trackers, will record Trump administration actions to impact federal climate protections; the Inflation Reduction Act Tracker (co-maintained with the Environmental Defense Fund) will track changes in the status of cl...

Citizen Airmen answer astronauts HSFS search, rescue call > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

Citizen Airmen answer astronauts HSFS search, rescue call > United States Space Force > Article Display

PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- A joint-task force of Guardsmen and Reservists conquer air, space and sea to provide Human Space Flight Support training for astronaut retrieval through search and rescue Jan. 14-17, at Patrick Space Force Base.Guardsmen from the 204th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, joined hands with Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, and the 308th Rescue Squadron, Patrick SFB, Florida, to train on HSFS search and rescue airdrop techniques, used to retrieve astronauts from open-ocean waters upon returning to Earth.“The developments in the space industry from 2020, when [JB] Hickam originally picked up this alert, until now, show an increase in SpaceX launche...

DAF to launch National Mentoring Month panels, programs, events > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

DAF to launch National Mentoring Month panels, programs, events > United States Space Force > Article Display

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Department of the Air Force Mentoring Program is launching a series of events throughout January 2025 marking National Mentoring Month. First launched in January 2002, National Mentoring Month is a call to action for all Airmen and Guardians to engage in mentoring relationships, both as mentors and mentees.NMM introduces the Total Force to a series of panels, events and interactive discussions on mentoring as an enterprise imperative, ensuring greater awareness of the mentoring opportunities available to all Airman and Guardians and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.The Department of Defense 2025 theme for NMM is “Mentoring tomorrow’s leaders today.” Aligned under this is the DAF NMM theme for 2025, “Transfo...