The following sections were updated since 06 December 2007. -- STORM (2 updated events, 2 new images) -- TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMAN Cyclone Daman tracked across the South Pacific Ocean in early December 2007, threatening Fiji with powerful winds. * http://naturalhazards.nasa.gov/shownh.php3?img_id=14648 *** MODIS(Terra) image from Dec 06 2007 (Posted on Dec 07 2007 1:08PM) FIRST SNOW IN US NORTHEAST A string of storms brought the season's first snow to the eastern United States from the mid-Atlantic states to New Englan ...Continue Reading

Dec. 7, 2007 Mike Curie Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4715 michael.j.curie@nasa.gov Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 nicole.cloutier-1@nasa.gov RELEASE: 07-268 VETERAN ASTRONAUT AND SPACEWALKER ROBERT CURBEAM LEAVES NASA HOUSTON - NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam, Jr., has left NASA to take a job in the private sector. "Bob has served his country with distinction for more than 23 years, both as an astronaut and naval officer," said Brent Jett, director of the Flig ...Continue Reading

On November 16, 2007, a small degradation in the QuikSCAT spacecraft's battery capacity was detected during the eclipse period. In order to reduce the battery load, the QuikSCAT Project temporarily operated the SeaWinds instrument in receive-only mode during the eclipse periods between November 20 and 29 (days 324-333). As a result, there are data gaps at Northern high latitudes on these dates. A list of impacted orbits, including the start and end times for each sigma0 data gap, is available at: http://podaac.jpl.nas ...Continue Reading

Dec. 6, 2007 Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov Candrea Thomas Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov RELEASE: 07-267 NASA RESCHEDULES SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The launch of NASA's space shuttle Atlantis will take place no earlier than Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3:43 p.m. EST. Thursday's scheduled liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., was postponed because of a problem with a fuel cutoff sensor system inside the ...Continue Reading

Dec. 6, 2007 Melissa Mathews/Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1272/4997 melissa.mathews-1@nasa.gov, stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-175 NASA TO UPDATE MEDIA ON PROGRESS OF EXPLORATION WORK WASHINGTON - On Monday, Dec. 10, NASA briefs reporters on the efforts to return humans to the moon by 2020. The roundtable discussion will focus on the significant progress made during 2007. It also will look ahead to a fast-paced year of events in 2008, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ...Continue Reading

Dec. 6, 2007 Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov Jennifer Morcone Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256- 544-7199 jennifer.j.morcone@nasa.gov RELEASE: 07-264 SPACECRAFT REVEALS NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF SOLAR WIND WASHINGTON - Images from NASA-funded telescopes aboard a Japanese satellite have shed new light about the sun's magnetic field and the origins of solar wind, which disrupts power grids, satellites and communications on Earth. Data from the ...Continue Reading

Dec. 6, 2007 Michael Curie Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4715 michael.j.curie@nasa.gov Candrea Thomas Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov RELEASE: 07-266 NASA POSTPONES SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS LAUNCH; AIMS FOR FRIDAY CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA has delayed Thursday's planned launch of space shuttle Atlantis on its STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. The next liftoff opportunity is Friday at 4:09 p.m. EST. Shuttle program managers decided to postpone Atlantis' l ...Continue Reading

Dec. 5, 2007 Melissa Mathews/Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1272/4997 melissa.mathews-1@nasa.gov, stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-175 NASA SET TO ANNOUNCE FINAL MAJOR ARES I CONTRACT WASHINGTON - NASA will host a news conference Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m. EST to announce the selection of a contractor for the upper stage instrument unit avionics for the Ares I rocket. The avionics unit is the central system that provides guidance, navigation and control for the launch ...Continue Reading

Dec. 5, 2007 Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov RELEASE: 07-265 NASA TO USE BALLOON FLOTILLA TO STUDY RADIATION THAT AFFECTS EARTH WASHINGTON - A new NASA project will use more than 40 high altitude balloons to return new scientific insights about Earth's Van Allen Belts. The type of radiation in the belts can be hazardous to astronauts, orbiting satellites and aircraft flying in high altitude polar routes. NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, has awarded $9 ...Continue Reading

The following sections were updated since 04 December 2007. -- CROPS AND DROUGHT (1 updated events, 1 new images) -- LOCUSTS IN EAST AFRICA For the first time since 1961, locusts invaded Kenya in late 2007, taking advantage of an unusually ample food supply. * http://naturalhazards.nasa.gov/shownh.php3?img_id=14645 *** (SPOT) image from Nov 20 2007 (Posted on Dec 04 2007 4:25PM) -- STORM (1 updated events, 1 new images) -- STORM IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST A series of powerful storms drenched the Pacific Northwest betw ...Continue Reading