Randy Ksar’s Post

How can we acknowledge and provide meaningful support to individuals who have overcome unique challenges to achieve their accomplishments? Additionally, what specific measures can be implemented to ensure that recognition and congratulations are accessible and fair to all, regardless of their background or circumstances? What strategies can be implemented to ensure that recognition and congratulations are inclusive and equitable for everyone?

The transcendent nature of space exploration is something truly, truly special.

"On this episode, Derek sits with Col. E. Michael Fincke.   Mike is a former Air Force Test Pilot and is currently a NASA Astronaut.  He is a veteran of 3 spaceflights, Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 18 in 2009 and STS-134 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 2011.  He has logged more than a year in orbit with 9 space walks.  Mike will be discussing his humble origins, how he became an Air Force Test Pilot, his selection to NASA, his various missions, life on the International Space Station, Space Walking and we discuss the future of NASA and what lies ahead for humanity in spaceflight."

Today marks two years since NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (#DARTMission) impacted its asteroid target and changed the orbit of a celestial body for the first time in history. This groundbreaking mission, designed, built, and managed by Johns Hopkins APL, proved one method of protecting Earth from future threats. Before impact, Dimorphos took 11h 55m to orbit its larger asteroid, Didymos. After DART’s “nudge,” that time shortened to 11h 23m—an orbital change observed by astronomers across the Earth. Learn more about this world-first achievement: https://lnkd.in/edennAzH #JHUAPL | #SpaceHistory | #PlanetaryDefense | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

#Artemis first full-scale prototype- #UniversalStageAdapter #USA- a load bearing #connector between the #rocket ’s Exploration #UpperStage & #Orion #crew #capsule- NASA ability to carry #astronauts & large #cargo (#satellites, #habitats, #lunar #vehicles and more) on the same #flight. #NASA ’s #ArtemisIV mission, which will be USA's #inaugural #flight, is targeted for 2028." Leidos nasa blog :https://lnkd.in/essnqsYA #space #spaceexploration #spaceindusty #nextspace #moon #deepspace  #SLS #rocket #leidos

Check out this exciting episode!

NASA Twin Study: Telomere Length Changes in Scott Kelly, the ISS Astronaut In my perspective, the most noteworthy revelation from the NASA twin study was the elongation of Scott Kelly's telomeres as an adaptive response to the challenging conditions of space, as outlined in this study: https://lnkd.in/ezQ2WM7K. Scott Kelly experienced alterations in his DNA, including telomere elongation, which were not observed in his twin brother, providing valuable insights into the impact of space travel on human health. The observed changes in telomere length during space travel are unsurprising and may signify an adaptive response to significant space stressors, including radiation. Concerning the NASA Twin Study, we previously reported that telomere elongation may be attributed to a well-established biological adaptive response to the space environment [1]. Interestingly, studies in high background radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran [2], and Kerala, India [3], found no alterations in telomere length. However, the NASA Twin Study [4] revealed a significant change, potentially associated with the presence of high linear energy transfer (LET) relativistic particles in space. While protons are recognized as low-LET particles, high-charge and energy (HZE) particles possess heightened energies and LET values [5]. Despite their low abundance, HZE particles traversing a cell nucleus induce nearly irreparable DNA damage due to a very high rate of energy deposition in living cells [6]. In an e-letter published in Science, Mortazavi et al. expressed concerns about the NASA Twins Study, which examined the biological effects of a year-long spaceflight on a male astronaut compared to his monozygotic twin [7]. The authors of the e-letter suggest that the study did not adequately address the potential impact of space radiation, especially HZE particles, on telomere length and telomerase activity. They also propose the possibility that telomere elongation during space flight could be an adaptive response to the space environment but might also increase the astronaut's long-term risk of cancer [8]. Additionally, they suggest that the study could provide insights into the differences between low-dose exposures to low- vs. high-LET radiation. Source: https://lnkd.in/eR_pVYMg References 1. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1739770. [PubMed PMID: 32134704] 2. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1605460. [PubMed PMID: 31038377] 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008440. [PubMed PMID: 20037654; PubMed PMCID: PMC2793520] 4. doi: 10.1126/science.aau8650. [PubMed PMID: 30975860; PubMed PMCID: PMC7580864] 5. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02972. [PubMed PMID: 31867459; PubMed PMCID: PMC6906680] 6. doi: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2010.11.002. [PubMed PMID: 21126526; PubMed PMCID: PMC3318975] 7. Mortazavi SMJ, Bevelacqua JJ, Welsh. 2019. eLetter. Available from: https://lnkd.in/eS2Ep552. 8. doi: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2005-1115. [PubMed PMID: 33564645; PubMed PMCID: PMC7859374]

66 years ago today, on July 29, 1958, the seeds of the civilian agency NASA were planted. That was the day that the U.S. Congress passed legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Since its inception, NASA has sponsored and launched both human and mechanical expeditions into space. And NASA's satellites have also yielded important information on weather forecasting, global communications, the atmosphere, navigation, and more. And Michigan Technological University's relationship with NASA runs deep, too. For instance, last year, MTU's Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab (https://huskyworks.space/) was chosen to advance to Phase 2, Level 3 of the Watts on the Moon Challenge. #nasa #moon #aerospace #wattsonthemoon #space #spaceexploration #michigantech

To the Moon and back. 🌕 Humans first landed on the Moon in 1969. So why is there now renewed interest in missions to the Moon? Well, Space throws up lots of challenges that drive innovation. And NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other space agencies want to establish a research presence on the Moon to explore and also establish a base for further exploration of our Solar System. We’ve been supporting space missions for more than 60 years. So what does this next generation of lunar missions mean for us? Make it your mission to find out: https://lnkd.in/gSYytN9a

🌟𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗲🌟 👀The NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and European Space Agency - ESA Hubble Space Telescope has once again captivated us with its breathtaking observations, this time focusing on the majestic Sombrero Galaxy - Messier 104. Known for its striking resemblance to a traditional Mexican hat, this galaxy showcases a brilliant white core surrounded by intricate dust lanes that form its spiral structure. 🌌Located 30 million light-years from Earth, the Sombrero Galaxy is an incredible 50,000 light-years across and weighs in at an astounding 800 billion solar masses! It sits at the southern edge of the rich Virgo cluster, making it one of the most significant celestial objects in our local universe. 🔭With a magnitude of +8, M104 is a delightful sight for amateur astronomers and can be easily observed through small telescopes. As we gaze at this stunning galaxy, we are reminded of the beauty and vastness of the cosmos. 👏𝙆𝙪𝙙𝙤𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚! 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) #Astronomy #NASA #ESA #Hubble #SombreroGalaxy #SpaceExploration #STEM #Cosmos #Universe #Space #Galaxy