Dec. 21, 2006 Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-191 NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY SET TO LAND FRIDAY CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Commander Mark Polansky and his crew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery will complete their 13-day mission to the International Space Station Friday, Dec. 22. NASA will choose one of three potential landing sites based on weather conditions. The different shuttle landing opportunities are (al ...Continue Reading

"Remembering the Space Age" 50th Anniversary of the Space Age Call for Papers The NASA History Division and the National Air and Space Museum History Division issue a call for papers for a conference on the 50th anniversary of the Space Age, to be held in Washington D.C. October 21-22, 2007 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary meeting of the Society for the History of Technology. The conference is titled "Remembering the Space Age," and encompasses two main themes: 1) National and Global ...Continue Reading

------------------------------------------------- Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 STS-116 LANDING COVERAGE ON NASA TV Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 22, 3:56 p.m. EST NASA TV will broadcast the return of the STS-116 crew on the space shuttle Discovery. Coverage begins with the scheduled deorbit burn at 2:53 p.m. EST. Landing at the Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 3:56 p.m. EST. For details, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle View coverage on NASA TV or online at: http://aquarius.hq.nasa.gov:8080/ramgen/encoder/hq.rm WEBTAD ...Continue Reading

LiveScience.com Wednesday, December 20, 2006 ...Continue Reading

The following sections were updated since 19 December 2006. -- CROPS AND DROUGHT (1 updated events, 1 new images) -- EAST AFRICA GREENS UP FROM HEAVY RAINS After devastating drought in 2005, eastern Africa experienced heavy rains and flooding during the 2006 "short rains" season that usually lasts from around October until December. * http://naturalhazards.nasa.gov/shownh.php3?img_id=14039 *** MODIS(Terra) image from Nov 30 2006 (Posted on Dec 19 2006 9:14AM) -- DUST AND SMOKE (3 updated events, 3 new image ...Continue Reading

SPACE.com Update for December 20, 2006  * DESTINATIONS:* *News* *|* *SpaceFlight* *|* *Science/Astronomy* *|* *SETI* *|*   *Space Business News* *December 20, 2006*     *TOP STORY* *posted: December 20, 2006 01:32 pm EDT* *Shuttle Crew to Scan Heat Shield, Deploy Satellites*HOUSTON -- Astronauts aboard NASA?s space shuttle Discovery will take a second look and their vehicle?s heat shield today and ...Continue Reading

Dec. 20, 2006 Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 Susan Hendrix Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-7745 RELEASE: 06-373 NASA SATELLITE DISCOVERS NEW KIND OF BLACK HOLE EXPLOSION GREENBELT, Md. - Scientists using NASA data are studying a newly recognized type of cosmic explosion called a hybrid gamma-ray burst. As with other gamma-ray bursts, this hybrid blast is likely signaling the birth of a new black hole. It is unclear, however, what kind of object or objects exploded or ...Continue Reading

LiveScience.com Tuesday, December 19, 2006 Study: Happy Marriage Calms Nerves Holding a spouse?s hand can relieve the nerves of a woman in a threatening situation, according to a new study. Why Queen Bees are So Darned Promiscuous A queen will mate with dozens of males, even though its bad for her. Turns out the behavior is good for the hive. Teen Talk: Science Needs to Dazzle Scientists who want to get their messages across to hip teens should spice up their presentations ...Continue Reading

SPACE.com Update for December 19, 2006  * DESTINATIONS:* *News* *|* *SpaceFlight* *|* *Science/Astronomy* *|* *SETI* *|*   *Space Business News* *December 19, 2006*     *TOP STORY* *posted: December 19, 2006 11:52 am EDT* *Mission Discovery: Shuttle Astronauts to Leave Space Station Today*HOUSTON -- Seven shuttle astronauts will say their orbital goodbyes to the three-person crew of the Internation ...Continue Reading

The following sections were updated since 18 December 2006. -- DUST AND SMOKE (1 updated events, 1 new images) -- DUST STORM OVER THE RED SEA On December 17, 2006, a plume from Saudi Arabia crossed the Red Sea toward Sudan. * http://naturalhazards.nasa.gov/shownh.php3?img_id=14035 *** MODIS(Aqua) image from Dec 17 2006 (Posted on Dec 18 2006 2:20PM) -- FIRE (1 updated events, 1 new images) -- FIRES IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA Throughout December 2006, bushfires sweeping over Victoria filled the skies with smoke. * http ...Continue Reading