Subj : NASA stuff To : All From : Roger Nelson Date : Sat Nov 19 2016 06:14:29 Still waiting, but i the meantime... Nov. 18, 2016 CONTRACT RELEASE C16-028 NASA Awards Space Studies Board Contract NASA has awarded a sole-source contract to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine of Washington to conduct studies on questions of national importance within the domain of NASA science and technology programs relating to space science, Earth science, and biological and physical science in space. The Space Studies Board contract is a cost reimbursement, no-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with a maximum ordering value of $34 million. The five-year period of performance begins Dec. 1. The objective of this contract is to provide the means by which NASA can obtain access to an independent, authoritative forum for information, dialogue and advice on all aspects of space science and applications, and serve as the focal point within the academies for activities on space research. The Space Studies Board oversees advisory studies and program assessments, facilitates international research coordination, and promotes communications on space science and science policy between the research community, the federal government, and the interested public. The board also serves as the U.S. National Committee for the International Council for Science Committee on Space Research. The work will be performed at the contractor's facility in Washington. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov -end- Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov Cynthia M. O'Carroll Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-4787 cynthia.m.ocarroll@nasa.gov Last Updated: Nov. 18, 2016 Editor: Karen Northon Tags: Goddard Space Flight Center Hazards Nov. 18, 2016 Wildfires Still Plaguing Southeastern United States fires in Southeastern U.S. On November 14, 2016, the Aqua satellite captured a relatively close up image of fires in the Southeastern U.S. and a detailed description was given of the major fires. This image, taken by NOAA/NASA's Suomi NPP satellite on November 17, 2016 shows a wider angle of these same fires. The fires all continue to grow due to the weather conditions in the area and terrain hampering firefighting efforts. Drought conditions are contributing to drier and larger forest fuels being available. These range from the undergrowth to sticks, leaves and logs. Even the smallest of sparks can ignite these very dry fuels. The major goal of firefighters is to try to have the fires burn inward as opposed to expanding, but weather conditions and available fuel is allowing these fires to expand leaving fire officials to try to combat incredibly difficult conditions. The U.S. Forest Service expects some fire activity during the fall with hunting season providing a chance of human caused fires and the annual leaves causing more dry tinder but this type of fire activity is unheard of in this part of the country. This natural-color satellite image was collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner with information from Inciweb. Last Updated: Nov. 18, 2016 Editor: Lynn Jenner Regards, Roger --- DB 3.99 + W10 (1607) * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7) .