vania-janet/multiturn-rag-retrieval-data huggingface dataset:
Catalog of Earth Satellite Orbits
Satellites at the last two Lagrange points are more like a ball in a bowl: even if perturbed, they return to the Lagrange point.

Lagrange points are special locations where a satellite will stay stationary relative to the Earth as the satellite and the Earth revolve around the Sun. L1 and L2 are positioned above the day and night sides of the Earth, respectively. L3 is on the other side of the Sun, opposite the Earth. L4 and L5 are 60° ahead and behind the Earth in the same orbit. (NASA illustration by Robert Simmon.)

The Lagrange points nearest the Earth are about 5 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. L1 is between the Sun and Earth, and always views the Earth’s daylight side. L2 is opposite the sun, always on the night side. (NASA illustration by Robert Simmon.)

The first Lagrange point is located between the Earth and the Sun, giving satellites at this point a constant view of the Sun. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a NASA and European Space Agency satellite tasked to monitor the Sun, orbits the first Lagrange point, about 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth.
The second Lagrange point is about the same distance from the Earth, but is located behind the Earth. Earth is always between the second Lagrange point and the Sun. Since the Sun and Earth are in a single line, satellites at this location only need one heat shield to block heat and light from the Sun and Earth. It is a good location for space telescopes, including the future James Webb Space Telescope (Hubble’s successor, scheduled to launch in 2014) and the current Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), used for studying the nature of the universe by mapping background microwave radiation.
The third Lagrange point is opposite the Earth on the other side of the Sun so that the Sun is always between it and Earth. A satellite in this position would not be able to communicate with Earth. The extremely stable fourth and fifth Lagrange points are in Earth’s orbital path around the Sun, 60 degrees ahead of and behind Earth.
Sun - NASA Science
Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything – from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris – in its orbit.19Active Missions13Upcoming MissionsOverviewThe Sun's gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything – from the biggest planets to the smallest particles of debris – in its orbit. The connection and interactions between the Sun and Earth drive the seasons, ocean currents, weather, climate, radiation belts and auroras. Though it is special to us, there are billions of stars like our Sun scattered across the Milky Way galaxy.The Sun has many names in many cultures. The Latin word for Sun is “sol,” which is the main adjective for all things Sun-related: solar.Unable to render the provided sourcePop CultureThe Sun has inspired us since ancient times. It’s central to mythology and religion in cultures around the world, including the ancient Egyptians, the Aztecs of Mexico, Native American tribes of North and South America, the Chinese, and many others.Countless musicians have written songs about the Sun. The Beatles had a hit in 1969 with “Here Comes the Sun.” Other popular songs that reference the Sun include: “Walkin’ on the Sun” by Smashmouth; “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers; “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves; “Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield; and “Let the Sunshine In” by the Fifth Dimension.If you're Superman or a fellow Kryptonian of comic book fame, your powers are heightened by the yellow glow of our Sun. There are several science fiction films featuring the Sun in the storyline.NASA Eclipse ResourcesAll About EclipsesNASA Eclipse CentralEverything you need to know about viewing the 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse and the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.Read MoreEclipse SafetyIt is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.Read MoreNASA HEATScientists, engineers, and educators who are passionate about
Virtual Vocabulary | NASA eClips
topaerodynamics - Aerodynamics is the study of how efficiently air flows around an object. topaerospace - Aerospace is Earth's atmosphere and the space beyond considered as a whole. Aerospace is also the branch of technology and industry focused on both aviation and space flight. topair packs - An air pack is a breathing apparatus used by firefighters to provide breathable air. topairfoil - An airfoil is a surface, such as a wing or propeller, designed to aid in lifting and controlling an aircraft by means of air currents. topalbedo - Albedo is the fraction of solar radiation that is reflected off the surface of an object. topamplitude - Amplitude is a measure of the height of a sound wave which determines the sound's volume. topanalog - An analog is a situation on Earth that produces effects on the body similar to those experienced in space, both physical and mental/emotional. topanisotropic - Anisotropic materials have a crystalline structure where the arrangement of atoms along one axis is different than that of another axis. Optically anisotropic materials rotate polarized light as it passes through them. topannual - An annual is a plant that performs its entire life cycle from seed to flower to seed within a single growing season. All roots, stems and leaves of the plant die annually. topanthrosphere - The anthrosphere is the part of the environment that is created or modified by humans for use in human activities and human habitats. topApollo Missions - The Apollo Missions were designed to land humans on the Moon and bring them safely back to Earth. Six of the missions (Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) achieved this goal. Apollos 7 and 9 were Earth orbiting missions to test the Command and Lunar Modules, and did not return lunar data. Apollos 8 and 10 tested various components while orbiting the Moon, and returned photography of the lunar surface. Apollo 13 did not land on the Moon due to a malfunction, but also returned photographs. The six missions that landed on the Moon returned a wealth of scientific data and almost 400 kilograms of lunar samples.
What’s a Supermoon and Just How Super Is It? - Teachable Moments | NASA/JPL Edu
At its largest, it can appear 14% larger in diameter than the smallest full moon. Keep in mind that a 14% increase in the apparent size of something that can be covered with a fingernail on an outstretched arm won’t seem significantly bigger. Unlike side-by-side comparisons made in science and everyday life, students will not have seen the full moon for at least 30 days, and won’t see another for at least 30 more days. Comparing a supermoon with a typical full moon from memory is very difficult.
 While they make for great photographs, images like this one that rely on a special photographic technique aren't an accurate representation of what the supermoon will look like to the naked eye. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls | Full image and caption on Flickr A supermoon looks bigger than a "micromoon" (when the full moon is at apogee) because it's about 40,000 kilometers closer to Earth on average. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech It's nearly impossible to compare the apparent size of the supermoon with a micromoon from memory, but when seen side-by-side as in this graphic, it becomes clear. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Leading up to a supermoon, there are often misleading images on popular media. A technique that involves using a long telephoto lens to take photographs of the Moon next to buildings or other objects makes the Moon look huge compared with its surroundings. This effect can make for great photographs, but it has nothing to do with the supermoon. In fact, these photos can be taken during any Moon phase, but they will likely be used in stories promoting the supermoon.There are also images that have been edited to inaccurately dramatize the size of the supermoon. Both of these can lead students, and adults, taking pictures with their cell phone to think that they’ve done something wrong or just aren’t cut out for observing the sky, which isn’t true!Your students may have noticed that when they see a full moon low on the horizon, it appears huge and then seems to shrink as it rises into the night sky.
What Is a Laser? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
NASA missions have used lasers to study the gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Lasers have also been used in instruments that map the surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids.
Scientists have even measured the distance between the moon and Earth using lasers! By measuring the amount of time it takes for a laser beam to travel to the moon and back, astronomers can tell exactly how far away it is!

 	article last updated February 4, 2021
 

More about technology!

Learn about the Mars Rovers!

How does GPS work?

Where do satellites go when they die?

If you liked this, you may like:

Gallery of NASA Technology Images

Mission to Jupiter: Juno

How do we talk to machines?

	 Games	 

	 Crafts	 

	 Activities	 

	 Videos	 

	 Glossary	 

	 Mystery	 

About Us
Privacy Policy
Image Use
Accessibility

Contact NASA Space Place

 Last Updated: May 6th, 2024 

 

More
Less

By Subject

Space
Sun
Earth
Solar System
People & Technology
Parents & Educators

By Type

Explore
Do
Play

More
Less

More about technology!

Learn about the Mars Rovers!

How does GPS work?

Where do satellites go when they die?
Key Test Drive of Orion on NASA’s Artemis II to Aid Future Missions - NASA
“The demonstration is a flight test objective that helps us reduce risk for future missions that involve rendezvous and docking with other spacecraft.”

After NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen are safely in space, the Moon rocket’s upper stage will fire twice to put Orion on a high Earth orbit trajectory. Then, the spacecraft will automatically separate from the rocket stage, firing several separation bolts before springs push Orion a safe distance away.

As the spacecraft and its crew move away, Orion will perform an automated backflip to turn around and face the stage. At approximately 300 feet away, Orion will stop its relative motion. The crew will take control and use the translational and rotational hand controllers and display system to make very small movements to ensure Orion is responding as expected.

Next, the crew will very slowly pilot Orion to within approximately 30 feet of the stage. A two-foot auxiliary target mounted inside the top of the stage, similar to the docking target used by spacecraft visiting the International Space Station, will guide their aim.

“The crew will view the target by using a docking camera mounted inside the docking hatch window on the top of the crew module to see how well aligned they are with the docking target mounted to the ICPS,” Anderson said. 
“It’s a good stand in for what crews will see when they dock with Starship on Artemis III and to the Gateway on future missions.”

About 30 feet from the stage, Orion will stop and the crew will checkout the spacecraft’s fine handling qualities to evaluate how it performs in close proximity to another spacecraft. Small maneuvers performed very close to the ICPS will be done using the reaction control system thrusters on Orion’s European Service Module.

Orion will then back away and allow the stage to turn to protect its thermal properties. The crew will follow the stage, initiate a second round of manual maneuvers using another target mounted on the side of the stage, approach within approximately 30 feet, perform another fine handling quality check out, then back away.

At the end of the demonstration, Orion will perform an automated departure burn to move away from the ICPS before the stage then fires to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere over a remote location in the Pacific Ocean.
Education News & Blogs – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU| Watch on YouTubeDaring DeflectionIn 2022, NASA crashed a spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos in an attempt to alter its orbit. The mission, known as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, took place at an asteroid that posed no threat to our planet. Rather, it was an ideal target for NASA to test an important element of its planetary defense plan. DART was designed as a kinetic impactor, meaning it transferred its momentum and kinetic energy to Dimorphos upon impact, altering the asteroid's orbit. In Daring Deflection, use pi to determine the shape of Dimorphos’ orbit after DART crashed into it. This image shows the final minutes of images leading up to the DART spacecraft's intentional collision with asteroid Dimorphos. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL | › Enlarge image Orbit ObservationThe NISAR mission is an Earth orbiting satellite designed to study our planet's changing ecosystems. It will collect data about Earth's land- and ice-covered surfaces approximately every 6 days, allowing scientists to study changes at the centimeter scale – an unprecedented level of detail. To achieve this feat, NISAR will collect massive amounts of data. In Orbit Observation, students use pi to calculate how much data the NISAR spacecraft captures during each orbit of Earth. The NISAR satellite, shown in this artist’s concept, will use advanced radar imaging to provide an unprecedented view of changes to Earth’s land- and ice-covered surfaces. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. | › Full image and caption Moon MappersThe CADRE project aims to land a team of mini rovers on the Moon in 2025 as a test of new exploration technology. Three suitcase-size rovers, each working mostly autonomously, will communicate with each other and a base station on their lunar lander to simultaneously measure data from different locations. If successful, the project could open the door for future multi-robot exploration missions. In Moon Mappers, students explore the Moon with pi by determining how far a CADRE rover drives on the Moon’s surface. Engineers test the system that will lower three small rovers onto the lunar surface as part of the CADRE project.
The Next Full Moon is the Flower, Corn, or Corn Planting Moon - NASA Science
, Comets &amp; MeteorsThe Kuiper BeltThe Oort CloudSkywatchingEspañol CienciaAeronáuticaCiencias TerrestresSistema SolarUniversoScience All NASA ScienceEarth SciencePlanetary ScienceAstrophysics & Space ScienceThe Sun & HeliophysicsBiological & Physical SciencesLunar ScienceCitizen ScienceAstromaterialsAeronautics ResearchHuman Space Travel ResearchExploreSearchSubmitNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+Skywatching HomeEclipsesWhat’s UpDaily GuideNight Sky NetworkTips and GuidesFAQExplore This SectionSkywatching HomeEclipsesWhat’s UpDaily GuideNight Sky NetworkTips and GuidesFAQ19 min readThe Next Full Moon is the Flower, Corn, or Corn Planting MoonA full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park.Credits: National Park ServiceGordon JohnstonMay 15, 2024ArticleContentsEvening Sky HighlightsMorning Sky HighlightsDetailed Daily GuideThe Next Full Moon is the Flower, Corn, or Corn Planting Moon; the Milk Moon; the Hare's Moon; and Vesak, Buddha Jayanti, or Buddha Purnima.The next full Moon will be on Thursday morning, May 23, 2024, at 9:53 AM EDT. This will be Friday morning from the Lord Howe Island time zone (just east of Australia) eastward across New Zealand and the Pacific to the International Date Line. The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Tuesday night through early Friday evening. Thursday night the bright star Antares will appear so close to the Moon that for the Washington, DC area, the Moon will pass in front of Antares, blocking it from view, although the brightness of the full Moon will make it difficult to see the star vanish behind the Moon.The Maine Farmers' Almanac began publishing "Indian" names for full Moons in the 1930s and these names are now widely known and used. According to this almanac, as the full Moon in May the Algonquin tribes of what is now the north-eastern United States called this the Flower Moon for the flowers that are abundant this time of year.
Asteroid Watch
Did you ever wonder how NASA spots asteroids that maybe getting too close to Earth for comfort? Watch and learn. Find out more about NASA finds, studies and tracks near-Earth objects by visiting https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The majority of near-Earth objects have orbits that don’t bring them very close to Earth, and therefore pose no risk of impact, but a small fraction of them – called potentially hazardous asteroids – require more attention. These objects are defined as asteroids that are more than about 460 feet (140 meters) in size with orbits that bring them as close as within 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometers) of Earth’s orbit around the Sun. CNEOS continuously monitors all known near-Earth objects to assess any impact risk they may pose.The orbital positions of near-Earth objects come from the databases of the Minor Planet Center, the internationally recognized clearinghouse for small-body position measurements. This data is collected by observatories around the world, including significant contributions from amateur observers. The vast majority of asteroid-tracking data, however, is collected by large NASA-funded observatories (such as Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey, NASA’s NEOWISE mission and, in the future, NEO Surveyor). Planetary radar projects (including JPL’s Goldstone Solar System Radar Group) are another key component of NASA’s NEO Observations Program.The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies is home of the Sentry impact-monitoring system, which continuously performs long-term analyses of possible future orbits of hazardous asteroids. There is currently no known significant threat of impact for the next hundred years or more. The Center also maintains the Scout system that continually monitors brand-new potential near-Earth object detections, even before they have been confirmed as new discoveries, to see whether any of these generally very small asteroids might pose a threat of short-term (possibly imminent) impact.CNEOS also supports NASA’s planetary defense efforts by leading hypothetical impact exercises to help educate national and international space and disaster response agencies on the issues they would face in an actual asteroid impact scenario.
The Next Full Moon is the Flower, Corn, or Corn Planting Moon - NASA Science
These associations suggest to me that the Hare's Moon might have been closer to Easter and the start of spring, rather than always being the full Moon in May. I'll let you know next year if I find out more about the origin of the Hare's Moon.This full Moon corresponds to Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima, a holiday (according to Wikipedia) "traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as Tibet and Mongolia." Sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday", it actually commemorates the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha." The actual date varies depending upon the calendar in use in the particular country or region, but for most it falls on or near this full Moon.Many lunar and lunisolar calendars start the months on or just after the new Moon, which means the full Moon is near the middle of the month. This full Moon is near the middle of the fourth month of the Chinese year of the Dragon. In the Hebrew calendar this full Moon is near the middle of Iyar. The 14 of Iyar (generally just before the full Moon) is Pesach Sheni (Second Passover) for those unavoidably prevented from offering the Korban Pesach a month earlier on Passover. This full Moon is near the middle of Dhu al-Qadah, the eleventh month of the Islamic year. Dhu al-Qadah is also called "Master of Truces" and is one of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is prohibited (except in self defense).As usual, the wearing of suitably celebratory celestial attire is encouraged in honor of the full Moon. Be sure to take time to stop and appreciate the flowers and other pleasures of springtime, and avoid starting any wars.As for other celestial events between now and the full Moon after next (with specific times and angles based on the location of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC):As spring draws to an end the daily periods of sunlight lengthen, reaching their longest on the summer solstice on the day before the full Moon after next.
The Next Full Moon is the Flower, Corn, or Corn Planting Moon - NASA Science
Dhu al-Qadah is also called "Master of Truces" and is one of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is prohibited (except in self defense).As usual, the wearing of suitably celebratory celestial attire is encouraged in honor of the full Moon. Be sure to take time to stop and appreciate the flowers and other pleasures of springtime, and avoid starting any wars.As for other celestial events between now and the full Moon after next (with specific times and angles based on the location of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC):As spring draws to an end the daily periods of sunlight lengthen, reaching their longest on the summer solstice on the day before the full Moon after next. On Thursday, May 23 (the day of the full Moon), morning twilight will begin at 4:40 AM, sunrise will be at 5:49 AM, solar noon will be at 1:05 PM when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 71.9 degrees, sunset will be at 8:21 PM, and evening twilight will end at 9:30 PM.The solar days (as measured, for example, from solar noon to solar noon on a sundial) are longer than 24 hours near the solstices, so the earliest sunrises of the year occur before the summer solstice (and the latest sunsets occur after the solstice). For the location of NASA Headquarters, at least (I've not checked for other latitudes), Thursday, June 13, 2024, will be the morning with the earliest sunrise of the year. Morning twilight will start at 4:30 AM EDT and sunrise will be at 5:42:11 AM.Solar noon on Tuesday, June 18 to solar noon on Wednesday, June 19, will be the longest solar day for this half of the year, 13 seconds longer than 24 hours (although the solar days around the winter solstice from November 18, 2024 through January 24, 2025 will be longer).The summer solstice, the astronomical end of spring and start of summer, will be on Thursday afternoon, June 20, at 4:51 PM EDT.
Casey Honniball: Finding Her Space in Lunar Science - NASA
I also enjoy working out, hiking, baking sourdough bread, and being with my family.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope to be supporting Artemis science operations on the surface of Moon and continuing to studying the Moon’s surface remotely and conducting research through field deployments.
What is your “six-word memoir”? A six-word memoir describes something in just six words.
Fear is a state of mind.

NASA’s SOFIA Discovers Water on Sunlit Surface of Moon

Conversations With Goddard is a collection of Q&A profiles highlighting the breadth and depth of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s talented and diverse workforce. The Conversations have been published twice a month on average since May 2011. Read past editions on Goddard’s “Our People” webpage.

Share

Details

Last Updated

Mar 19, 2024

EditorMadison OlsonContactElizabeth M. JarrellLocationGoddard Space Flight Center 

Related TermsPeople of GoddardEarth's MoonPeople of NASAPlanetary Science

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.

About NASA's Mission

Join Us

Home
News & Events
Multimedia
NASA+
Missions
Humans in Space
Earth & Climate
The Solar System
The Universe
Science
Aeronautics
Technology
Learning Resources
About NASA
NASA en Español

Follow NASA

More NASA Social Accounts
NASA Newsletters

Sitemap
For Media
Privacy Policy
FOIA
No FEAR Act
Office of the IG
Budget & Annual Reports
Agency Financial Reports
Contact NASA
Accessibility

	Page Last Updated:	

	Mar 19, 2024	

	Page Editor:	

	Madison Olson	

	Responsible NASA Official:	

	Abigail Bowman