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NASA

Science & Tech

Spotting the ISS: Just Look to the Sky for Inspiration

International space Station

How A Thunderstorm and The International Space Station
Turned A Swim Meet Upside Down

Most people think that you need a high-powered telescope to spot the International Space Station, but believe it or not, it’s much easier than you think.

It was pushing 9pm, the final swim meet of the season was only half over, and we’d already been at the pool for more than 4 hours due, in part, to a half-hour “thunder delay” and deluge that hit during warm-ups. My girls were tired, hungry, but still eagerly anticipating the second of their two races each on the night.… READ MORE

Product & Book Reviews

Here We Go Again: Time To Plan Your Nerd’s Summer Camp

CuriousGroundhog Day was just last week, but we parents already know what time it is regardless of Punxsutawney Phil’s predicting we’re in for another six weeks of winter. It’s summer camp sign-up season!

For a few weeks now, parents across the country have been organizing their summer calendars and scrambling to get online as soon as that perfect drama or nature camp’s registration goes “live.”

Oh, were you five minutes late registering? Say hello to the waiting list and move on to the next sleep-away or day camp’s website to try, try again.

A Wealth of Options for Summer Camp

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Nerds In Real Life Science & Tech

Nerd Profile: The Space Explorer (Part I)

David during environmental testing of New Horizons spacecraft at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), October 3, 2005. APL uses GSFC’s large thermal vacuum chamber to simulate the space environment, and its acoustic testing chamber to subject spacecraft to sound levels experienced during launch, which cause mechanical vibrations in the spacecraft. David during environmental testing of New Horizons spacecraft at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), October 3, 2005. APL uses GSFC’s large thermal vacuum chamber to simulate the space environment, and its acoustic testing chamber to subject spacecraft to sound levels experienced during launch, which cause mechanical vibrations in the spacecraft.

David Kusnierkiewicz is the Chief Engineer of the Space Exploration Sector of Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab (APL), where he’s worked for more than 33 years. David studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan, earning his B.S in 1976 and M.S. in 1982.  Since then, he’s taken a … READ MORE

Nerds In Real Life Science & Tech

Nerd Profile: The NASA Intern

What a year it’s been for NASA. It seems like each day since New Horizons waved hello-goodbye to Pluto, the space agency has provided us with new, jaw-dropping perspectives on our solar system while whetting our appetites for future missions and discoveries.

This week, as we witnessed Juno’s rendezvous with Jupiter’s orbit, Raising Nerd took the opportunity to speak with one of NASA’s newest recruits, intern Madeline Gibson, as she begins her exciting career in the sciences by way of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Madeline is a senior at the University of Alabama where she … READ MORE

Science & Tech

Why Juno Matters: Inspiring the NextGen of Space Nerds

Mars has been flown by, orbited, smacked into, radar examined, and rocketed onto, as well as bounced upon, rolled over, shoveled, drilled into, baked and even blasted. Still to come: Mars being stepped on.

— Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut – Gemini 12, Apollo 11

In 1981, I vividly remember my dad waking me up super early one morning so I could witness history. The first reusable space shuttle, Columbia, launched that day. I don’t think I fully understood the impact the moment would have on science, space exploration or the entire world. I did, however, feel the impact the … READ MORE