Autonomous systems need to be reliable, so NASA puts the code it develops through rigorous testing, like this Artemis I launch countdown training simulation, to avoid potential failures. Credits: NASA
Each year, NASA scientists, engineers, and developers create software packages to manage space missions, test spacecraft, and analyze the petabytes of data produced by agency research satellites. As the agency innovates for the benefit of humanity, many of these programs are now downloadable and free of charge through NASA’s Software Catalog.
The 2023-2024 NASA Software Catalog makes a variety of NASA programs available for download. Credits: NASA
The 2023-2024 Software Catalog contains more than 1,000 programs, including dozens of new packages added this year.
Among the 15 different categories of NASA software available through the catalog is environmental science. Whether it means helping farmers navigate crop-destroying droughts, tracking deadly storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes, or mapping floods, fires, and more, NASA’s fleet of Earth-observation satellites allows an “eye-in-the-sky” advantage to spot events, features, and long-term trends on our ever-changing planet.
“By making our innovations available to the public, we fulfill our goal of helping NASA’s research and technology development find new uses beyond space exploration,” said Daniel Lockney, program executive for the agency’s Technology Transfer program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We’re proud to make NASA software more accessible through our easy-to-use website, and we are dedicated to continuing this ‘customer-service’ approach to software release.”
Among the environmental science software included in the catalog are:
A popular modeling software that provides values for atmospheric parameters, such as temperature and winds, for any month and location in Earth’s atmosphere
A geospatial system for disaster response using low-cost hardware such as digital cameras or cellphones
A cloud-based toolkit that allows collaboration among researchers in Earth science
A framework that combines maps with satellite-based rainfall estimates to identify potential landslide hazards
A platform built for interactive browsing of near-real-time satellite imagery to help with time-critical scenarios such as wildfires or flooding
NASA scientists and software experts, who use satellite data and more to better understand Earth, will be available to answer questions about free agency resources at 12 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Aug. 16, during a Reddit “Ask me Anything.” Join or follow the discussion online using the /r/AskScience subreddit.
To complement the Software Catalog, NASA’s Technology Transfer program has also built a Remote Sensing Toolkit. The web-based set of tools helps users find, analyze, and use the most relevant satellite data for research, business projects, or conservation efforts.
Beyond environmental science, the catalog also includes software packages for system testing, aeronautics, business systems and project management, data and image processing, crew and life support, and more.
The Software Catalog is a product of NASA’s Technology Transfer program, managed for the agency by STMD. NASA routinely makes improvements to the Software Catalog website, ensuring the process is fast and easy. The program ensures technologies developed by and for NASA are broadly available to the public, maximizing the benefit to American taxpayers.
Access restrictions apply to some software that may be limited to use by U.S. citizens or for U.S. government purposes only.
The glittering, glitzy contents of the globular cluster NGC 6652 sparkle in this star-studded image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The core of the cluster is suffused with the pale blue light of countless stars, and a handful of particularly bright foreground stars are adorned with crisscrossing diffraction spikes. NGC 6652 lies in our own Milky Way galaxy in the constellation Sagittarius, just under 30,000 light-years from Earth and only 6,500 light-years from the galactic center.
Globular clusters are stable, tightly gravitationally bound clusters containing anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of stars. The intense gravitational attraction between closely packed stars in globular clusters is what gives these star-studded objects their regular, spherical shape.
This image combines data from two of Hubble’s most powerful cameras: the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3. It also uses data from two different observing programs conducted by two different teams of astronomers. The first team set out to survey globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy in the hope of shedding light on topics ranging from the ages of these objects to the gravitational potential of the galaxy as a whole. The second team of astronomers used a trio of exquisitely sensitive filters in Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 to disentangle the proportions of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in globular clusters such as NGC 6652.
Text credit: European Space Agency (ESA) Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Sarajedini, G. Piotto
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD [email protected]
By: Andrea Gianopoulos Originally published at NASA
Several leading AI companies – Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI – to partner with DARPA in major competition to make software more secure
The Biden-Harris Administration today launched a major two-year competition that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to protect the United States’ most important software, such as code that helps run the internet and our critical infrastructure. The “AI Cyber Challenge” (AIxCC) will challenge competitors across the United States, to identify and fix software vulnerabilities using AI. Led by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), this competition will include collaboration with several top AI companies – Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI – who are lending their expertise and making their cutting-edge technology available for this challenge. This competition, which will feature almost $20 million in prizes, will drive the creation of new technologies to rapidly improve the security of computer code, one of cybersecurity’s most pressing challenges. It marks the latest step by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure the responsible advancement of emerging technologies and protect Americans.
The Biden-Harris Administration announced AIxCC at the Black Hat USA Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, the nation’s largest hacking conference, which for decades has produced many cybersecurity innovations. By finding and fixing vulnerabilities in an automated and scalable way, AIxCC fits into this tradition. It will demonstrate the potential benefits of AI to help secure software used across the internet and throughout society, from the electric grids that power America to the transportation systems that drive daily life.
DARPA will host an open competition in which the competitor that best secures vital software will win millions of dollars in prizes. AI companies will make their cutting-edge technology—some of the most powerful AI systems in the world—available for competitors to use in designing new cybersecurity solutions. To ensure broad participation and a level playing field for AIxCC, DARPA will also make available $7 million to small businesses who want to compete.
Teams will participate in a qualifying event in Spring 2024, where the top scoring teams (up to 20) will be invited to participate in the semifinal competition at DEF CON 2024, one of the world’s top cybersecurity conferences. Of these, the top scoring teams (up to five) will receive monetary prizes and continue to the final phase of the competition, to be held at DEF CON 2025. The top three scoring competitors in the final competition will receive additional monetary prizes.
The top competitors will make a meaningful difference in cybersecurity for America and the world. The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), a project of the Linux Foundation, will serve as a challenge advisor. It will also help ensure that the winning software code is put to use right away protecting America’s most vital software and keeping the American people safe.
Today’s announcement is part of a broader commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that the power of AI is harnessed to address the nation’s great challenges, and that AI is developed safely and responsibly to protect Americans from harm and discrimination. Last month, the Biden-Harris Administration announced it had secured voluntary commitments from seven leading AI companies to manage the risks posed by the technology. Earlier this year, the Administration announced a commitment from several AI companies to participate in an independent, public evaluation of large language models (LLMs)—consistent with responsible disclosure principles—at DEF CON 2023. This exercise, which starts later this week and is the first-ever public assessment of multiple LLMs, will help advance safer, more secure and more transparent AI development.
In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration is currently developing an executive order and will pursue bipartisan legislation to help America lead the way in responsible AI innovation.
Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall it’s still important to keep hydrated. Specially if you are trying to keep an active lifestyle. From light to intense physical activities, you’d want an easily accessible source of water.
Below are different options to choose from. The designs and style might be different but at their core they are water bottles.
While this is not primarily a water bottle but a food jar. But it can still be used as one if you choose. It has double-wall vacuum insulation for excellent temperature retention.
Made from durable Tritan plastic, it can hold 24-ounce of liquid. Can be used for sports or as an office bottle. Add a lemon in the water and you’re good to go for both hydration and dose of vitamin C.
This is also a squeeze bottle, but these are sold in pack of 4. The nice thing about these are that they have a visible liquid meter on the side. Excellent for gifts or if you are buying for the whole family.
Student life is busy enough without hassles like paying for shipping. That’s why Amazon Prime Student is a must-have for you. For just $14.99 $7.49/month, Prime Student gets you free two-day shipping on over 100 million items, unlimited photo storage, exclusive deals, and more. Better still, it comes with a six-month free trial so you can make sure Prime Student fits your lifestyle. Join today to take advantage of membership benefits and perks tailored specifically for students! Click here to sign up now: https://amzn.to/47wkx6f
The rapid rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has sparked excitement about their creative potential but also concerns about their impacts on jobs. With the right approach, humans can steer this technology for our benefit rather than be displaced by it.
Automating Repetitive Tasks
As generative AI enters mainstream use, some disruption of the job market is expected, just as with previous technological shifts like industrialisation. AI-based automation will likely take over repetitive and routine aspects of many jobs, referred to as the four D’s – dirty, dangerous, dull and difficult tasks.
For example, AI could automate routine customer service interactions, analyse legal contracts for errors, write basic news reports, or take over dangerous warehouse work. This will free up human time and energy to focus on higher-value work requiring emotional intelligence, creativity, empathy and problem-solving.
Augmenting Human Skills
Rather than AI taking away jobs, it will augment uniquely human skills and talents. Workers of the future need to embrace continuous learning to complement AI tools. Individuals should invest in developing their creative abilities, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence – things that make us human.
Technical skills will also remain relevant, especially to train and get the most out of AI systems. But human-centric capabilities like imaginative problem-solving, leadership, collaboration, and communication are harder to automate and will grow in demand.
Democratising Creativity
The generative AI revolution can liberate the innate human capacity to create, make visions a reality, and cultivate our talents like never before. Creative work in arts, media, design and more could be profoundly democratised.
For example, tools like DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion empower anyone to generate professional-grade visuals and art. Music composition apps like Jukebox allow amateur musicians to create original songs. With the right tools and mindset, we all have the potential to become empowered creators.
Transitioning to New Opportunities
No doubt, some jobs will undergo transitions, as happened during the industrial revolution. But it also brought more prosperity and progress to society as a whole. With care taken to support displaced workers through upskilling and new opportunities, we can ensure generative AI benefits all.
Government and industry must invest in training programs, especially digital literacy and technical skills so that the future workforce is prepared. A focus on fields like healthcare, education and human services where human skills remain critical will also help the labour market adjust.
Steering Our Destiny
The future is what we choose to make it. Instead of AI taking over jobs, humans can take charge of their destinies. We must guide the technology responsibly and focus on our unique abilities like creativity, empathy and courage.
The coming age of artificial intelligence does not have to mean the end of human work. Rather, it can liberate the human spirit and our collective genius. We have the power to shape an AI revolution that enhances lives, creates new possibilities and expands human potential.
With the right policies, continuous learning and an empowering vision, we can build an AI-powered future where technology serves humanity rather than replaces it.
There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to the upcoming school year. From notebooks, bags, pencil, and other essential items. One of them is selecting a lunch box. It might look trivial, but this decision will last for a whole year (hopefully more). Durability, functionality and design are all equally important when choosing your kids lunch box.
While there are many other design to choose from. Clearly, the Spider-man design provides a slick design for the kids. There are also other designs to choose from. The best part of this is that with removable compartments, its easy to clean.
This cute bento lunch box has 4 compartments. It then have adorable animal picks, which is perfect if you plant to include bite-size food without having to provide separate fork. The cake cups can be used to make fruits and vegetables to be more appealing to kids.
Minecraft game, almost every kid (and even now parents and guardian) knows of it. If you plan to include hot or cold food inside and retain it’s optimal temperature, then the insulated bag is for you.
If you still want some insulation for your kids food, then this is another option. It provides a plain design, but the material is of high quality. Made from Noeprene, which is used by wet suit to keep a surfers body temperature stable.
Another insulated lunch box bag, but this one is a backpack. It has a water bottle holder in the side. With lots of cute design to choose from you will surely find one that is right for your kid.
If you are looking for both a backpack bag and lunch box, then this is an option. The lunch box is partially insulated. It has a Jurassic World design which might appeal kids that loves dinosaur.
This lunch box has 5 compartments, practical for giving different portion of food of variety. The leak proof technology assures that the food won’t mix up. And the best thing is that it is dishwasher-safe. Less washing or cleaning is equal to more time for much important task like rest.
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Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation and problem-solving that anyone can learn. By following the key stages of design thinking, you can create practical solutions that truly meet user needs.
What is Design Thinking?
Design thinking aims to understand users and create solutions tailored specifically for them. It typically involves these key stages:
Empathize – Deeply understand user perspectives and pain points through observation and engagement.
Define – Frame the core problem you want to solve based on user insights.
Ideate – Brainstorm wide range of innovative solutions.
Prototype – Build rough solutions to investigate further.
Test – Gather user feedback to refine prototypes iteratively.
Design thinking brings together empathy, creativity, prototyping and testing in an iterative process. Collaboration in diverse teams enhances creativity. The focus is on learning quickly through action.
Getting Started
Here are some tips to get started with design thinking:
Observe and engage target users with curiosity to gain insights.
Frame problems as “how might we” questions to spark solutions thinking.
Defer judgement when brainstorming to build on wild ideas.
Prototype scrappy mockups to learn and refine concepts.
Empathy is crucial in design thinking. Spend time in your users’ shoes observing their actions, emotions and environments. Ask open-ended questions, engage users and look for unmet needs. Set aside assumptions and build deeper understanding.
Define the Problem
Analyze your observations to pinpoint your users’ biggest unmet needs. Frame these as problem statements like “How might we help busy moms plan family meals easily?” Defining the core problem areas focuses solution ideation.
Ideate: Challenge Assumptions and Create Ideas
Brainstorm wide ranges of solutions. Use techniques like worst possible idea to challenge assumptions. Build on others’ ideas in collaborative sessions. Defer judgement to open exploration spaces. Identify most promising solutions to prototype.
Prototype to Start Creating Solutions
Build rough prototypes to investigate solutions further. Use inexpensive materials to create simple mockups and simulations. Rapid prototyping lets you refine concepts and fail fast. Show prototypes to users early for feedback.
Test and Refine Solutions
Gather user feedback on prototypes through usability testing, surveys, etc. Analyze results to understand flaws and areas for improvement. Iterate prototypes based on insights before investing in detailed solutions.
Discovering Customers’ Unmet Needs
Design thinking centers around discovering customers’ unmet needs even if they are not voiced. Observe customers and look for signs of frustration or difficulty. Engage them to share experiences and ideas. Their pain points often point to opportunities.
Co-Creating Solutions with Customers
Bring customers into the solution design process through co-creation workshops. Brainstorm solutions together and get feedback on prototypes. This builds solutions tailored for them and also buy-in.
Prioritization
Assess proposed solutions against criteria like feasibility, viability, desirability and impact. Gauge solutions’ technical complexity, user value, business potential and social benefit. Prioritize solutions with the best overall potential for next steps.
Planning and Implementation
Develop project plans for taking solutions forward. Plan resources, technology needs, risks, timelines and milestones. Implement in stages by building MVPs, running pilots etc before full development. Measure progress with users frequently.
Design thinking ignites impactful innovation by putting humans at the center. Immerse yourself in its iterative approach to unlock creative solutions focused on real user value.
Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, seen here in an image from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on the Terra spacecraft on Dec. 30, 2010, is a special site. Located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Site in Western Australia, it is one of the very few places in the world where we can find living stromatolites—the first living examples of structures built by cyanobacteria. Photosynthetic cyanobacteria are thought to have changed the course of life’s evolution on Earth by playing an important role in the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere roughly 2.3 billion years ago. Also, NASA and other federal agencies monitor levels of cyanobacteria, as toxic levels of the blue-green algae can have negative effects on health.
ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched Dec. 18, 1999, on Terra. With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. The instrument was built by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team handles validation and calibration of the instrument and data products.
Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
Students coming back to school will be faced with a lot of new experience. This comes down to activities that will require them to put in the effort. From homework, physical activities, and other tasks that needed energy.
With these in mind we should not forget to provide ourselves with the fuel needed. Snacks might not be as important as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But they are there to provide you with ample sustenance in the short time. We still recommend eating a well balanced meal.
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The Artemis I Launch in November 2022. NASA/Bill Ingalls, CC BY-NC
Mariel Borowitz, Georgia Institute of Technology and Teasel Muir-Harmony, Georgetown University
Most Americans (69%) believe it is essential that the United States continue to be a world leader in space. But only a subsection of that group believes NASA should prioritize sending people to the Moon, according to a new report released by the Pew Research Center. The study surveyed over 10,000 U.S. adults on their attitudes toward NASA and their expectations for the space industry over the next few decades.
As scholars who study international relations in space and the history of the space program, we are interested in understanding how Americans view space activities, and how their perspectives might affect the future of both U.S. and global space developments.
US dominance in space
The United States’ most visible effort to maintain world leadership in space is arguably its Artemis Program to land humans on the Moon by late 2024. The U.S. has emphasized international cooperation, bringing in Europe, Japan and Canada as partners in the program.
With China and Russia undertaking a parallel effort to land people on the Moon, many see a competitive element to these plans as well.
One of the most striking features of the recent poll is how similar it looks to earlier public opinion polling, especially one conducted in 2018. The popularity of NASA has remained consistently high for decades, frequently with a favorability rating between 60% and 70%, far higher than many other federal agencies. But the specific priorities of the U.S. space program have often been at odds with public opinion.
While 65% of Americans said in the new Pew survey it was essential that NASA continue to be involved in space exploration, only 12% said that sending human astronauts to the Moon should be NASA’s top priority. Although somewhat at odds with the national space agenda, this valuation is not new. Even during the 1960s, when NASA undertook Project Apollo, Americans ranked solving problems on Earth – such as pollution, poverty and national beautification – above landing humans on the Moon.
Most Americans for the majority of the 1960s responded in public opinion polls that the Apollo program was not worth its high budget. Over time, however, the Apollo program has grown in popularity.
Between 1989 and 1995, polling revealed that the public thought the U.S. space program should focus on robotic spacecraft as opposed to crewed missions. This position began to change in the mid-1990s with docking of the space shuttle with the Russian space station and several blockbuster space-themed films.
Despite moderate public support, human spaceflight consistently receives the majority share of U.S. civilian space funding, suggesting that public opinion and the national space agenda stand apart. The most recent poll results underscore how a combination of rationales – including advancing science, national stature, geopolitics, economic interests and national security – rather than public opinion alone have shaped national space priorities throughout time.
Planetary defense
Additionally, the recent poll explored people’s expectations for the space industry. It found 60% of people believed NASA’s top priority should be monitoring asteroids that could hit the Earth. NASA does have national responsibility for this job – referred to as planetary defense – but the office receives less than 1% of NASA’s budget, or US$138 million out of $25.4 billion in 2023.
Even with its relatively modest budget, the office has made significant progress. This included the Double Asteroid Redirect Test – the world’s first planetary defense experiment. DART intentionally crashed into an asteroid in September 2022 to understand how the impact would change the asteroid’s orbit. The results of the test could help scientists understand how to deflect asteroids that threaten the Earth.
Private enterprise in space
Private activity in space goes back to the 1960s, with the creation of commercial communication satellite companies and growth of large defense contractors. However, many experts view the wave of companies that started in the 2000s as marking an important change.
While earlier companies often relied heavily on the government to set requirements and fund projects, these “new space” companies set their own priorities and often see the government as only one of many customers.
These companies are bringing new capabilities to the market. For example, Planet collects daily images of the Earth, Umbra uses radar to take pictures at night and through clouds, Astroscale is demonstrating the ability to remove debris from space, and Astrobotic is developing a commercial Moon lander.
Many Americans view private activity in space positively, but a large portion have not yet formed an opinion. While 48% of Americans surveyed said private companies are doing a good job building rockets and spacecraft that are safe and reliable, another 39% were unsure. Similarly, 47% of Americans said private companies are making important contributions to space exploration, but another 40% were unsure.
Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are beginning to take tourists into space. Doing so in a safe and sustainable way will be essential to the future perception of this industry. Priorities include carefully designing safety systems and procedures and carrying out careful analysis of any anomolies that occur during flight.
Overall, Americans are optimistic about the future of space activity. The poll found 55% of Americans expect people will routinely travel to space as tourists within the next 50 years.
Militarization of space
A significant portion of Americans (44%) see a more militaristic future for space. They believe the U.S. will definitely or probably fight against other nations in space sometime in the next 50 years. Warfare could include the destruction or disabling of U.S. or other nations’ strategic satellites.
By some definitions, conflict in space has already occurred. At the outset of the Ukraine War, Russia carried out a cyberattack against the ViaSat satellite network used by the Ukrainian military. Russia also regularly jams GPS signals in Ukraine. However, no nation has ever physically attacked another nation’s satellite in space.
There is no ban on anti-satellite weapons, but in December 2022, 155 nations passed a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a halt to one type of anti-satellite testing. In addition, the United Nations’ open-ended working group on reducing space threats has been meeting since 2022 to help avoid conflict in space.
Space debris
Americans are also concerned about space debris – 69% think there will definitely or probably be a major problem with debris in space by 2073. Space debris can include defunct satellites, discarded rocket bodies, or pieces of satellites resulting from accidental collisions or anti-satellite tests.
There is reason for concern. The number of objects in space has grown rapidly, from just over 1,000 in 2013 to 6,718 satellites today. Many countries have announced plans for new large constellations of satellites, with some experts predicting there could be 60,000 satellites in orbit by 2030.
Right now the United States maintains the most advanced system for monitoring space objects. It shares information and collision warnings with satellite operators all over the world, but there are no rules that require those operators to take action. As space traffic increases, this ad hoc system will need to change.
The United States is developing a new Traffic Coordination System for Space that will improve data sharing and coordination with commercial and international partners. Countries have been working within the United Nations to develop and implement guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
Still, the U.S. will need to coordinate with countries around the world to ensure satellite technology doesn’t outpace safety and give organizations like NASA the ability to continue leading activities in space.
Mariel Borowitz, Associate Professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology and Teasel Muir-Harmony, Curator of the Apollo Collection, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and Affiliate Adjunct, Georgetown University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article (https://theconversation.com/most-americans-support-nasa-but-dont-think-it-should-prioritize-sending-people-to-space-210218).
