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California, Massachusetts Students to Hear from NASA, ESA Astronauts

Source: NASA

Students from California and Massachusetts will have separate opportunities next week to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
The two Earth-to-space calls will air live Monday, Feb. 5, and Friday, Feb. 9, on NASA+ and agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.
At 12:15 p.m. EST Feb. 5, NASA astronauts Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli will answer prerecorded questions from students at Emblem Academy in Santa Clarita, California, a public transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade school. In preparation for the event, students and their families will participate in an engineering family night where they will participate in STEM design challenges related to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics conducted on the space station.
Coverage on NASA+ will be live at:
https://go.nasa.gov/4bj0k5Q
Media interested in covering the event must  RSVP no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, to Katie Demsher at kdemsher@saugususd.org or 661-294-5315.
At 10:40 a.m. Feb. 9, O’Hara and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen will answer prerecorded questions from students at Central Tree Middle, part of the Wachusett Regional School District in Massachusetts. The day of the event, 13 schools from five cities will watch live from their classrooms.
Coverage on NASA+ will be live at:
https://go.nasa.gov/42uPAxm
Media interested in covering the event must RSVP no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, to Dave Cornacchioli at david_cornacchioli@wrsd.net or 508-886-0073.
For more than 23 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts living in space aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Near Space Network.
Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the International Space Station benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration. As part of Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers – the Artemis Generation – ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.
See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the space station at:
https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
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Katherine BrownHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1288katherine.m.brown@nasa.gov
Sandra Jones Johnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

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NASA Science, Hardware on Northrop Grumman Mission En Route to Station

Source: NASA

NASA science investigations and cargo aboard a Northrop Grumman resupply spacecraft are on the way to the International Space Station. Launch occurred at 12:07 p.m. EST Tuesday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Live coverage of the spacecraft’s arrival will begin at 2:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, on the NASA+ streaming service. Coverage also will air live on NASA Television and on the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.
Cygnus is scheduled for capture at 4:20 a.m. by the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which will be operated by NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli with assistance from NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara.
Installation coverage will resume at 5:45 a.m. Watch all events at:

NASA TV Live


Northrop Grumman’s 20th cargo flight to the space station is the ninth under its Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract with NASA. The Cygnus spacecraft carried more than 8,200 pounds of NASA science investigations and cargo.
The resupply mission will support dozens of research experiments conducted during Expedition 70. Included among the investigations are:
These are just a sample of the hundreds of investigations conducted aboard the orbiting laboratory in the areas of biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science. Such research benefits humanity and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis campaign, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.
The Cygnus spacecraft will remain at the space station until July before it departs and disposes of several thousand pounds of debris through its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere where it will harmlessly burn up. The spacecraft is named the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson.
Learn more about NASA’s commercial resupply mission at:

NASA’s Northrop Grumman CRS-20


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Josh Finch / Claire O’SheaHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov
Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

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NASA Sets Coverage for Northrop Grumman Cargo Space Station Mission

Source: NASA

NASA, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX are targeting 12:29 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 29, for the next launch to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station for the agency and its partners. This launch is the 20th Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory for the agency.
Live launch coverage will begin at 12:15 p.m. and air on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and on the agency’s website, with prelaunch events starting Friday, Jan. 26. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms.
Filled with more than 8,200 pounds of supplies, the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, carried on  the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It will arrive at the space station Wednesday, Jan. 31.
NASA coverage of rendezvous and capture will begin at 2 a.m., followed by installation coverage at 5 a.m. NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli will capture Cygnus using the station’s robotic arm, and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara will act as backup. After capture, the spacecraft will be installed on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port.
Highlights of space station research facilitated by delivery aboard this Cygnus are:
Media interested in speaking to a subject matter expert about science aboard, should  contact Sandra Jones at sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov.
The Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until May when it will depart the orbiting laboratory at which point it will harmlessly burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. This spacecraft is named the S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson after the former NASA astronaut.
NASA coverage of the mission is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Friday, Jan. 26:
1 p.m. – The International Space Station National Lab will host a science webinar with the following participants:
Lisa Carnell, director, NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division
Meg Everett, deputy scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
Shane Farritor, co-founder and chief scientific officer, Virtual Incision Corporation
Mark Fernandez, principal investigator of Spaceborne Computer-2, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Mary Murphy, director of programs, Nanoracks
Michael Roberts, chief scientific officer, International Space Station National Lab
Nicole Wagner, chief executive officer, LambdaVision
Abba Zubair, medical director, Mayo Clinic
Media must register for the science webinar by 12 p.m., Jan. 26, at:
https://bit.ly/48W97IW
6 p.m. – Prelaunch media teleconference (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) with the following participants:
Dina Contella, operations integration manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
Meghan Everett, deputy program scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
William Gerstenmaier, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
Cyrus Dhalla, vice president and general manager, tactical space systems, Northrop Grumman
Arlena Moses, launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron
Media who wish to participate by phone must request dial-in information by 4 p.m. Jan. 26, by emailing Kennedy’s newsroom at ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.
Monday, Jan. 29:
12:15 p.m. – Launch coverage begins
12:29 p.m. – Launch
Wednesday, Jan. 31:
2 a.m. – Rendezvous coverage begins
3:35 a.m. – Capture of Cygnus with the space station’s robotic arm
5 a.m. – Cygnus installation operations coverage
NASA Television launch coverageLive coverage of the launch on NASA Television will begin at 12:15 p.m., Jan. 29. For downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit: https://nasa.gov/nasatv.
Audio of the news teleconference and launch coverage will not be carried on the NASA “V” circuits. Launch coverage without NASA TV commentary via a tech feed will not be available for this launch.
NASA website launch coverageLaunch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 12:15 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video on NASA+ and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on our International Space Station blog for updates.
Attend launch virtually
Members of the public can register to attend the launch virtually. Virtual guests will have access to curated resources, schedule changes, and mission-specific information straight to your inbox. Following each activity, virtual guests are sent a mission-specific collectable stamp for their virtual guest passport.
Watch, engage on social mediaLet people know you’re watching the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these accounts:
X: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASocial, @Space_Station, @ISS_Research, @ISS_CASIS
Facebook: NASA, NASAKennedy, ISS, ISS National Lab
Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo o Messod Bendayan a: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov o messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
Learn more about the commercial resupply mission at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/nasas-northrop-grumman-crs-20/.
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Josh Finch / Claire O’SheaHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov
Stephanie Plucinsky / Steven SiceloffKennedy Space Center, Fla.321-876-2468stephanie.n.plucinsky@nasa.gov / steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov
Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov
Ellen KlickaNorthrop Grumman, Cygnus703-402-4404ellen.klicka@ngc.com 

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NASA Invites Media to First Intuitive Machines, SpaceX Moon Launch

Source: NASA

As part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign, media accreditation is open for Intuitive Machines’ first robotic flight to the Moon’s surface. The robotic deliveries will transport agency science and technology demonstrations to the Moon for the benefit of all.
The Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander carrying NASA science and commercial payloads will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is targeted for a multi-day launch window, which opens no earlier than mid-February, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Among the NASA items on its lander, the Intuitive Machines mission will carry instruments focusing on plume-surface interactions, space weather/lunar surface interactions, radio astronomy, precision landing technologies, and a communication and navigation node for future autonomous navigation technologies. A successful landing will help support the CLPS model for commercial payload deliveries to the lunar surface. As the anchor customer of CLPS, NASA is investing in lower-cost methods of Moon deliveries and aims to be one of many customers.
Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at NASA Kennedy. Media who are U.S. citizens interested in attending in person must apply for credentials no later than 12 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 29, by emailing media@spacex.com.  
In May 2019, NASA awarded a task order for the delivery to Intuitive Machines. Through Artemis, commercial robotic deliveries will perform science experiments, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon in advance of Artemis Generation astronaut missions to the lunar surface, in preparation for future missions to Mars.
NASA is working with several U.S. companies to deliver science and technology to the lunar surface through the agency’s CLPS initiative. This pool of companies may bid on delivery task orders. A task order award includes payload integration and operations, as well as launching from Earth and landing on the surface of the Moon. NASA’s CLPS contracts are indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028.
For more information about the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, see:
https://www.nasa.gov/clps
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Alise FisherHeadquarters, Washington202-358-2546alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov  
Nilufar RamjiJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111nilufar.ramji@nasa.gov
Antonia JaramilloKennedy Space Center, Florida321-501-8425antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov

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NASA to Observe Day of Remembrance, Host Employee Safety Town Hall 

Source: NASA

In honor of the members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery for the benefit all, the agency will host its annual Day of Remembrance Thursday, Jan. 25. Traditionally held on the fourth Thursday in January each year, NASA Day of Remembrance will commemorate the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia.  
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Jim Free also will host a town hall at the agency’s headquarters in Washington at 1 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 23.  
In a dialogue with employees, the leaders will highlight how NASA safety is the cornerstone to achieving mission success. The town hall will air live on the NASA+ streaming service. Coverage also will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Learn how to  stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms, including social media. 
On Jan. 25, Nelson will lead an observance with Melroy and Free at 1 p.m. EST at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which will begin with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by observances for the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia crews. 
“Our annual Day of Remembrance honors the sacrifice of the NASA family who lost their lives in the pursuit of discovery,” said Nelson. “While it is a solemn day, we are forever thankful that our fallen heroes shared their spirt of exploration with NASA, our country, and the world. Today, and every day, we embrace NASA’s core value of safety as we expand our reach in the cosmos for the benefit of all humanity.” 
The administrator will send an agencywide message to employees. Additional agency centers also will hold observances for NASA Day of Remembrance:  
Johnson Space Center, Houston 
NASA Johnson will hold a commemoration at the Astronaut Memorial Grove at 10 a.m. CST. The ceremony will include remarks by Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche. This event will feature a moment of silence, NASA T-38 flyover, taps performed by the Texas A&M Squadron 17, and a tree dedication for former NASA astronaut Karol Bobko. 
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 
NASA Kennedy, in partnership with The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, will host a Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy’s Visitor Complex at 10 a.m. EST. Kathie Fulgham, Astronaut Memorial Foundation chairman and daughter of former NASA astronaut Dick Scobee, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Scobee served as the commander of the space shuttle Challenger.  
Kennedy’s Associate Director in Management, Burt Summerfield, will provide remarks during the ceremony, which will livestream on Kennedy’s Facebook, X, and YouTube pages. 
Ames Research Center, California 
NASA Ames will hold a remembrance ceremony at 1 p.m. PST that includes remarks from Center Director Dr. Eugene Tu, a moment of silence, and bell ringing commemoration. 
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland 
NASA Glenn will observe Day of Remembrance with remarks at 1 p.m. EST from Center Director Dr. Jimmy Kenyon followed by wreath placement, moment of silence, and taps at Lewis Field​. 
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 
NASA Langley will hold a remembrance ceremony with Center Director Clayton Turner and Acting Deputy Director Lisa Ziehmann followed by placing flags at the Langley Workers Memorial. 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama 
NASA Marshall will hold a candle-lighting ceremony and wreath placement at 9 a.m. CST. The ceremony will include remarks from Associate Director Larry Leopard, Bill Hill, director of Marshall’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, and an astronaut. 
Stennis Space Flight Center, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi  
NASA Stennis and the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at 9 a.m. CST with remarks from Stennis’ Associate Director Rodney McKellip and NSSC’s Acting Executive Director Ken Newton. 
The agency also is paying tribute to its fallen astronauts with special online content, updated on NASA’s Day of Remembrance, at: 
  https://www.nasa.gov
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Faith McKie / Cheryl Warner Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600 faith.d.mckie@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov  

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NASA Science, Astrobotic Peregrine Mission One Concludes

Source: NASA

The first flight of NASA’s commercial lunar delivery service carrying agency science and technology, as well as other customer payloads intended for the Moon, has come to an end. After 10 days and 13 hours in space, Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One made a controlled re-entry on Earth over open water in the South Pacific at approximately 4:04 p.m. EST on Jan. 18.
Astrobotic was the first commercial vendor to launch a mission to the Moon as part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative, which aims to advance capabilities for science, exploration or commercial development of the Moon under the agency’s Artemis campaign. There are seven additional CLPS deliveries awarded to multiple American companies, with more awards expected this year and for years to come. The next CLPS commercial flight is targeted for no earlier than February.
Following a successful launch and separation from the rocket on Jan. 8, the spacecraft experienced a propulsion issue preventing Peregrine from softly landing on the Moon. After analysis and recommendations from NASA and the space community, Astrobotic determined the best option for minimizing risk and ensuring responsible disposal of the spacecraft would be to maintain Peregrine’s trajectory toward Earth, where it burned up upon re-entry.

“Space exploration is a daring task, and the science and spaceflight data collected from Astrobotic’s lunar lander is better preparing NASA for future CLPS deliveries and crewed missions under Artemis,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The future of exploration is strengthened by collaboration. Together with our commercial partners, NASA is supporting a growing commercial space economy that will help take humanity back to the Moon, and beyond.”
Four out five NASA payloads on Peregrine successfully powered on and collected data while in flight:
As NASA’s LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array) instrument is a passive experiment, and operations could only take place on the lunar surface.
NASA science teams are currently working to interpret the results. Preliminary data suggests the instruments have measured natural radiation and chemical compounds in the area around the lander.
“Astrobotic’s Peregrine mission provided an invaluable opportunity to test our science and instruments in space, optimizing our process for collecting data and providing a benchmark for future missions,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The data collected in flight sets the stage for understanding how some of our instruments may behave in the harsh environment of space when some of the duplicates fly on future CLPS flights.”
NASA is committed to supporting its U.S. commercial vendors as they navigate the challenges of sending science and technology to the surface of the Moon.
For more information about CLPS, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/clps
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Faith McKie / Karen FoxHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600faith.d.mckie@nasa.gov / karen.c.fox@nasa.gov
Nilufar RamjiJohnson Space Flight Center, Houston281-383-5111nilufar.ramji@nasa.gov

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NASA to Join Astrobotic’s Media Call on Peregrine Mission One Status

Source: NASA

NASA will join an Astrobotic media teleconference at 12 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 18, to discuss updates on their Peregrine Mission One, which is carrying science for the agency as part of its Commercial Lunar Provider Services (CLPS) initiative.
The audio-only teleconference will stream live on the agency’s website.
Following a successful launch on Jan. 8, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander experienced a propulsion issue after the spacecraft entered its operational state. This is preventing Astrobotic from achieving a soft landing on the Moon. Aboard the Peregrine spacecraft are five NASA science instruments, several of which are receiving power and gathering data.
Participants on the call include:
Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington
John Thornton, CEO, Astrobotic, Pittsburgh
To participate in the teleconference, media must RSVP online no later than two hours before the start of the call to Astrobotic.
Learn more about CLPS at:
https://nasa.gov/clps
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Karen FoxHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov
Nilufar RamjiJohnson Space Flight Center, Houston281-383-5111nilufar.ramji@nasa.gov
Alivia ChaplaAstrobotic412-682-3282alivia.chapla@astrobotic.com

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NASA Selects 12 Companies for Space Station Services Contract

Source: NASA

NASA has selected 12 companies to provide research, engineering, and mission integration services for the International Space Station Program.
The $478 million Research, Engineering & Mission Integration Services-2 or REMIS-2 contract will support the work of the International Space Station Program based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The companies will provide spaceflight, ground hardware and software, sustaining engineering functions and services, payload facility integration, and research mission integration operations services.
Each company will receive a multiple-award, indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed price and cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders. The seven-year contract begins Friday and extends through Sept. 30, 2030, with an option to extend through Sept. 30, 2032.
The companies selected are:
Aegis Aerospace, Inc., Houston
Axient Corp, Huntsville, Alabama
Cimarron Software Services, Houston
Consolidated Safety Services, Exploration Park, Florida
JES Tech, Houston
KBR Wyle, Fulton, Maryland
Leidos, Webster, Texas
Metis, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Oceaneering, Houston
Tec-Masters, Huntsville
Teledyne Brown Engineering, Huntsville
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama
The majority of the work will take place at contractor facilities across the country. Services also may be required at other NASA centers, contractor or subcontractor locations, or vendor facilities as requirements warrant.
The contract also includes a small business reserve, which was fulfilled by selecting Aegis, Cimarron, Consolidated Safety Services, JES Tech, Metis, and Tec-Masters. 
For more information about NASA and its programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov.
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Roxana BardanHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600roxana.bardan@nasa.gov
Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

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El análisis de la NASA confirma que 2023 fue el año más cálido registrado

Source: NASA

Read this release in English here.
En el año 2023, la temperatura promedio de la superficie de la Tierra fue la más cálida que se haya registrado, según un análisis de la NASA. Las temperaturas globales del año pasado estuvieron alrededor de 1,2 grados Celsius (2,1 grados Fahrenheit) por encima del promedio para el período de referencia de la NASA (de 1951 a 1980), informaron científicos del Instituto Goddard de Investigaciones Espaciales (GISS, por sus siglas en inglés) de la NASA en Nueva York.
“El informe de la temperatura global de la NASA y la NOAA confirma lo que miles de millones de personas alrededor del mundo experimentaron el año pasado: estamos frente a una crisis climática”, dijo el administrador de la NASA Bill Nelson. “Desde calor extremo, a incendios forestales, hasta el aumento del nivel del mar, podemos ver que nuestra Tierra está cambiando. Todavía queda trabajo por hacer, pero el presidente Biden y comunidades de todo Estados Unidos están tomando más medidas que nunca para reducir los riesgos climáticos y ayudar a las comunidades a ser más resistentes, y la NASA seguirá utilizando nuestra posición estratégica en el espacio para traer a la Tierra datos climáticos críticos que sean comprensibles y accesibles para todas las personas. La NASA y la Administración Biden-Harris están trabajando para proteger nuestro planeta y a sus habitantes, para esta generación y para la siguiente”.
En 2023, cientos de millones de personas en todo el planeta experimentaron calor extremo, y cada mes, de junio a diciembre, estableció un récord mundial para el mes respectivo. Julio fue el mes más caluroso jamás registrado. En general, la Tierra fue alrededor de 1,4 grados Celsius (o unos 2,5 grados Fahrenheit) más calurosa en 2023 que el promedio de finales del siglo XIX, cuando comenzó el mantenimiento de los registros modernos.
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“El calentamiento excepcional que estamos experimentando no es algo que hayamos visto en la historia de la humanidad”, dijo Gavin Schmidt, director del GISS. “Se debe principalmente a nuestras emisiones de combustibles fósiles, y estamos observando sus impactos en las olas de calor, las lluvias intensas y las inundaciones costeras”.
Si bien los científicos tienen pruebas concluyentes de que la tendencia del planeta al calentamiento a largo plazo está impulsada por la actividad humana, siguen examinando otros fenómenos que pueden afectar los cambios anuales o plurianuales del clima, como El Niño, los aerosoles y la contaminación, y las erupciones volcánicas.
Normalmente, la mayor fuente de variabilidad interanual es el patrón climático oceánico El Niño-Oscilación del Sur, en el océano Pacífico. El patrón tiene dos fases, El Niño y La Niña, cuando las temperaturas de la superficie del mar a lo largo del ecuador cambian entre temperaturas más cálidas, promedio y más frías. En el período de 2020 a 2022, el océano Pacífico experimentó tres fenómenos consecutivos de La Niña, los cuales tienden a enfriar las temperaturas globales. En mayo de 2023, el océano pasó de La Niña a El Niño, lo que a menudo coincide con los años más calurosos en los registros.
Sin embargo, las temperaturas récord en la segunda mitad de 2023 ocurrieron antes del pico del actual fenómeno de El Niño. Los científicos esperan observar los mayores impactos de El Niño en febrero, marzo y abril.

Los científicos también han investigado los posibles impactos de la erupción de enero de 2022 del volcán submarino Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, el cual arrojó vapor de agua y partículas finas, o aerosoles, a la estratosfera. Un estudio reciente descubrió que los aerosoles volcánicos, al reflejar la luz solar lejos de la superficie de la Tierra, provocaron un ligero enfriamiento general de unos 0,1 grados Celsius (menos de 0,2 grados Fahrenheit) en el hemisferio sur después de la erupción.
“Incluso con factores de enfriamiento ocasionales, como volcanes o aerosoles, seguiremos batiendo récords mientras las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero sigan aumentando”, afirmó Schmidt. “Y, desafortunadamente, el año pasado nuevamente volvimos a establecer un nuevo récord de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero”.
“El año récord de 2023 subraya la importancia de tomar medidas urgentes y continuadas para hacer frente al cambio climático”, declaró Pam Melroy, administradora adjunta de la NASA. “La legislación reciente ha proporcionado la mayor inversión climática del gobierno de EE.UU., incluyendo miles de millones para fortalecer la resiliencia de EE.UU. a los crecientes impactos de la crisis climática. En su calidad de agencia centrada en el estudio de nuestro clima cambiante, la flota de satélites de observación de la Tierra de la NASA seguirá proporcionando datos críticos de nuestro planeta a escala para ayudar a toda la gente a tomar decisiones informadas”.
Ciencia abierta en acción
La NASA prepara su registro de temperaturas utilizando los datos de la temperatura del aire de la superficie recopilados de decenas de miles de estaciones meteorológicas, así como datos de la temperatura de la superficie del mar adquiridos por instrumentos en barcos y boyas. Estos datos son analizados utilizando métodos que toman en cuenta el variado distanciamiento de las estaciones de temperatura en todo el mundo y los efectos del calor urbano que podrían sesgar los cálculos.
Los análisis independientes de la Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Centro Hadley (parte de la Oficina Meteorológica del Reino Unido) concluyeron que las temperaturas globales de la superficie para 2023 fueron las más altas desde que comenzaron los registros modernos. Estos científicos utilizan gran parte de los mismos datos de temperatura en sus análisis, pero emplean diferentes metodologías. Aunque las clasificaciones pueden diferir ligeramente entre los registros, estos coinciden en términos generales y muestran el mismo calentamiento continuo a largo plazo en las últimas décadas.
Aprovechando medio siglo de investigaciones, observaciones, y modelos, la Administración Biden-Harris, incluyendo la NASA y varios socios federales, recientemente lanzaron el Centro de Gases de Efecto Invernadero de EE.UU. para que los responsables de la toma de decisiones y los ciudadanos puedan acceder fácilmente a datos climáticos críticos. Este centro apoya la colaboración entre agencias gubernamentales de EE.UU. y socios del sector privado y organizaciones sin fines de lucro, para poner a disposición en línea datos aéreos, terrestres y espaciales y recursos.
El conjunto completo de datos de la NASA sobre las temperaturas de la superficie global hasta 2023, así como los detalles con el código de cómo los científicos de la NASA llevaron a cabo sus análisis, están disponibles públicamente en el GISS. GISS es un laboratorio de la NASA administrado por la División de Ciencias de la Tierra en el Centro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard de la agencia en Greenbelt, Maryland. Este laboratorio está afiliado al instituto de la Tierra y la Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas de la Universidad de Columbia en Nueva York.
Para más información sobre la NASA, visita:
https://www.nasa.gov/es
María José Viñas / Karen FoxSede, Washington240-458-0248 / 202-358-1600maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov / karen.fox@nasa.gov
Peter JacobsCentro de Vuelo Espacial Goddard de la NASAGreenbelt, MD301-286-0535peter.jacobs@nasa.gov

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NASA to Brief Media on Climate Mission to Study Ocean Life, Air

Source: NASA

NASA will host a media teleconference at 12 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 17, to discuss the upcoming launch and science objectives of the agency’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission.
Once in orbit above Earth, the satellite will shed light on the impact of tiny things – microscopic life in water and microscopic particles in the air. With new global insights, PACE will help answer questions about how our oceans and atmosphere interact in a changing climate.
The audio-only teleconference will be livestreamed on the agency’s website.
NASA participants will include:
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy
Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters
Jeremy Werdell, PACE project scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Mark Voyton, PACE project manager, NASA Goddard
Noosha Haghani, PACE deputy mission systems engineer, NASA Goddard
Otto Hasekamp, atmospheric scientist, SRON/Netherlands Institute for Space Research
Erin Urquhart Jephson, PACE applications lead, NASA Goddard
To participate in the teleconference, media must RSVP by 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17 to Jacob Richmond at jacob.a.richmond@nasa.gov or 301-286-6255.
NASA’s PACE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 6, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Learn more about the agency’s PACE mission at:
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/pace
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Karen Fox / Katherine RohloffHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / katherine.a.rohloff@nasa.gov
Jacob RichmondNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.301-286-6255jacob.a.richmond@nasa.gov