Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Nathan Moeller
PHOTOS: The Three Remaining WB-57Fs Take Flight Over Houston - NYCAviation
Residents of Houston were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime sight last week as three Cold War-era jets took part in a special formation flight over the Space City. Manufactured by Glenn L. Martin Company in the mid-1950s and reborn as “long wing” variants under the General Dynamics RB-57F program in the 1960s, the aircraft are the only remaining examples of the B-57 in service.
Iconic Kennedy Space Center Countdown Clock Retires - NYCAviation
In another sign of dramatically changing times since the end of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, the world famous Countdown Clock that ticked down to numerous blastoffs at the Kennedy Space Center Press Site and was ever present to billions of television viewers worldwide, has been retired.
Flight of SpaceShipOne: Aug 7th in Aviation History
2004: A rusting Eastern Air Lines DC-7B (N836D) is ferried from St. Paul, Minn., to Opa-locka, Fla., for a full restoration. 2003: The SpaceShipOne spaceplane conducts its first unpowered test flight. 1999: TACV Flight 5002, a Dornier Do 228 (registration D4-CBC) operated by the Cape Verde Coast Guard, crashes during a flight from São Vicente, Cape Verde to Santo Antão, killing all 18 on board. 1997: Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from Cape Canaveral for mission STS-85.
SpaceX Leases Historic Launch Complex 39A from NASA - NYCAviation
The keys to NASA’s historic launch Pad 39A that propelled humanity’s first man to walk on the Moon – Neil Armstrong – during the history making flight of Apollo 11, have been handed over to new owners, namely the private aerospace firm SpaceX for a new purpose – serving as a commercial launch facility.
Celebrate One Year of Curiosity On Mars
More articles by Jason Rabinowitz » Written by: Jason Rabinowitz Tags: curiosity, Mars, NASA, one year, space One year ago today, NASA’s nuclear-powered Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity epically landed landed on mars in the most absolutely of dramatic fashion. The “sky crane” landing, dubbed “7 minutes of terror,” required the transformation into six different configurations, all of which worked exactly as intended.
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: January 28th in Aviation History - NYCAviation
2002 – TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-134 (HC-BLF) crashes into the side of the Cumbal Volcano in Colombia, killing all 94 aboard. The cause would be attributed to the Captain’s decision to continue the approach into Colonel Luis A. Mantilla Airport in poor weather, as well as making navigation errors. 1986 – Space Shuttle Challenger, operating mission STS-51L, explodes 73 seconds after launch at an altitude of 48,000 ft, killing all seven astronauts onboard.
White House Rejects Petition to Build Death Star
The executive branch of the United States government has spoken: It will not build a Death Star. A publicly generated petition for the government to “secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016” was posted on the White House’s “We The People” website in December. The petition quickly broke the 25,000 signature threshold to earn an official response.
For Sale or Rent: Used Launchpad, Well-Loved
Athough NASA hasn’t put out an official “for sale” list, news reports indicate that several facilities at Kennedy Space Center are available to the highest bidder, including one of the launchpads where the Apollo missions and many space shuttles started their journeys, as well as space in the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building. After 2013, federal money will no longer be available to maintain facilities at KSC that are left over from the space shuttle era and are no longer being used.
What Time Does Mars Curiosity Land? Watch MSL Live 8/6 at 1:31 AM ET
The Mars Curiosity rover, aka Mars Science Laboratory, is set to land on Mars Monday morning at 1:31 AM ET. That’s 10:31 PM PT or 0531 ZULU. Here’s a handy Time Calculator to help you figure out what time that is in your part of the world. Above is a live feed of NASA TV, which will be broadcasting pre-game footage and interviews all day leading up to the landing.
Sally Ride, First American Woman in Space, Dies at Age 61
Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, died in California on Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, her office said in a statement. She was 61. Ride was born and raised in Encino, California, and first joined NASA in January 1978, just before finishing her Ph.D. in Physics at Stanford University.
Space Shuttle Enterprise Debuts at Intrepid Museum
Space Shuttle Enterprise has debuted at New York’s Intrepid Museum on Thursday after a long, somewhat tumultuous journey from Washington DC. We got a sneak preview before it opened to the public and were mighty impressed, not just with seeing Enterprise up close, but with the layout of the Space Shuttle Pavilion that houses it on the deck of the aircraft carrier. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is open seven days a week during the Spring and Summer.
Plane Lands on White House Lawn: July 14 in Aviation History
1911: Wright Brothers protege Harry Atwood lands his “Moth” biplane on the South Lawn of the White House after flying nonstop from Boston. President William Taft awards Atwood a Gold Medal from the Washington Aero Club in honor of the feat. 1914: American inventor Robert Goddard is granted a patent for his liquid-fueled rocket. 1918: Quentin Roosevelt, American fighter pilot and eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt, is shot down and killed in aerial combat over France.
Photos: NASA Super Guppy Delivers Space Shuttle Trainer to Seattle
VOTE NOW: The Uglies of March
Video: NASA Engineers Face 7 Minutes of Terror During Mars Curiosity Rover Landing - NYCAviation
More articles by admin » Tags: Mars, Mars Curiosity, Mars Science Laboratory, NASA, space, videos Mars Science Laboratory, aka the Curiosity rover, approaches Mars on August 5, it will be so far away from Earth that radio transmissions to and from Mission Control will take 14 minutes , making real-time control from the ground impossible. Instead, computers will orchestrate the most complex landing maneuver ever attempted on another planet with the biggest Mars rover ever built.
Live Video: SpaceX Dragon Docks With Space Station - NYCAviation
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is expected to begin its docking with the International Space Station on Friday at around 10:02 am ET, when the Canadarm 2 is scheduled to grab the capsule and pull it into position. A milestone for the commercial space movement, it marks the first time a non-government-owned spacecraft has approached the Space Station. Dragon launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier this week.
Video: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launches Cargo Mission to International Space Station - NYCAviation
VIDEO The SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule lift off May 22, 2012, from Cape Canaveral Air Force station in Florida to begin a demonstration mission to the International Space Station.
Orion Crew Capsule Targeted for Orbital Test Flight in 2014 - NYCAviation
NASA is on course to make the highest leap in human spaceflight in nearly 4 decades when an unmanned Orion crew capsule blasts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on a high stakes, high altitude test flight in early 2014. A new narrated animation (see below) released by NASA depicts the planned 2014 launch of the Orion spacecraft on the Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) mission to the highest altitude orbit reached by a spaceship intended for humans since the Apollo Moon landing Era.
Photos: Space Shuttles Discovery and Atlantis Meet One Last Time - NYCAviation
The following is a special submission to NYCAviation from Space Columnist Suresh Atapattu of Florida Skies. On a dull morning last week, two teams of orbiter technicians simultaneously gathered at two iconic buildings—the 525-foot Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the shorter, but equally important, Orbital Processing Facility 1 (OPF-1) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Video: Stephen Colbert Pleads for NASA Funding - NYCAviation
Stephen Colbert has often advocated for space interests on his show for comedic benefit, but usually providing positive exposure for the space program in the process. In 2009, for example, when NASA held an online contest to name a room on the International Space Station, Colbert rallied enough of his viewers that the “Colbert” node was the winner.
Final Call: Allegiant Air Flight Leaves Dozens Behind, NASA Open Sources Aircraft Design Software - NYCAviation
• An Allegiant flight left about 30 of its passengers behind when departing Lafayette, Louisiana for Las Vegas last week. [The Advertiser] • Air traffic controller Patrick Harten and 52 passengers of the “Miracle on the Hudson” joined the wrecked Airbus A320 at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte for the third anniversary of US Airways Flight 1549.
LIVE VIDEO: Launch of Mars Science Laboratory Spacecraft - NYCAviation
An Atlas V rocket carrying the Mars Science Laboratory is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral at 10:02 AM ET on Saturday. Watch live streaming video from spaceflightnow at livestream.com
On This Day in Aviation History: November 13th - NYCAviation
1980 – Double Eagle V, piloted by Benihana-founder Rocky Aoki, as well as Ben Abruzzo, Larry Newman and Ron Clark, lands in California’s Mendocino National Forest 84 1/2 hours after taking off from Nagashima, Japan, becoming the first balloon to cross the Pacific Ocean. 1971 – NASA’s Mariner 9 begins to orbit Mars, becoming the first manmade object to successfully orbit another planet. The spacecraft would image 100% of the Martian surface.
Video: NASA Launches New Weather Satellite Aboard Delta II Rocket - NYCAviation
More articles by admin » Tags: Delta II Rocket, NASA, NOAA, satellites a climate research and weather forecasting satellite took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California early Friday morning. The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) lifted off at 2:48am PT (5:48am ET). After a successful separation, the satellite entered orbit 514 miles above the earth.
On This Day in Aviation History: September 22nd - NYCAviation
2006 – The F-14 Tomcat is retired from the Navy. Being first deployed in 1974 on the USS Enterprise, replacing the F-4 Phantom II, the F-14 was replaced by the F/A-18 super Hornet. The F-14 is known in popular culture as being the aircraft flown in the 1980s movie classic Top Gun. 2003 – David Hempleman-Adams becomes the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an open-air, wicker-basket hot air balloon from New Brunswick, Canada to Ireland.
NASA's Kepler Telescope Discovers Darkest Planet Ever - NYCAviation
Astronomers have discovered the darkest known exoplanet, according to a report released by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) on Friday. The CfA report said that a distant, Jupiter-sized gas giant known as TrES-2b is blacker than coal or any planet or moon in our solar system, as it only reflects less than one percent of the sunlight falling on it. More than a third of the sunlight reaching planet Jupiter in our solar system is reflected in bright clouds of ammonia.
Watch Live: NASA Juno Spacecraft Launch from Florida - NYCAviation
NASA’s Jupiter-exploring Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Florida on Friday, August 5 at 11:34 am ET. Perched inside the top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket, Juno will take five years to reach Jupiter, where it will remain in orbit for about a year before crashing down to the red planet.
Drought Reveals Large Piece of Space Shuttle Columbia Debris at Bottom of Texas Lake - NYCAviation
Previously undiscovered debris from NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia was found in Lake Nacogdoches in eastern Texas last week, a spokeswoman for the agency confirmed on Tuesday. Lisa Malone, who is the Director of Public Affairs at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center, said the agency received a phone call from the Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office in Texas last week which informed them of the discovery of the debris.
Space Shuttle Atlantis Concludes Final Mission with Perfect Landing - NYCAviation
Space Shuttle Atlantis on Thursday landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to end its final mission after 30 years of the administration’s Space Shuttle Program. Atlantis launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 11:29 am EDT on Friday July 8 to begin its final mission to the International Space Station.
PHOTOS: Space Shuttle Atlantis Lifts Off on Final Mission
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Space Shuttle Atlantis, the United States’ last serviceable manned spacecraft, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:26am local time on Friday, beginning the final mission of NASA’s groundbreaking Space Shuttle program.
Astronaut Mark Kelly Announces Retirement from NASA - NYCAviation
Astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of wounded U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, on Tuesday announced that he will retire from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on October 1 in order to focus on his family. “We salute Commander Mark Kelly and his contributions to NASA as an extremely accomplished member of the astronaut corps and the final commander of the space shuttle Endeavour,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
LIVE VIDEO: Space Shuttle Atlantis Rolls to Launch Pad While Endeavour Makes Late Night Landing - NYCAviation
A big night ahead of us as Space Shuttle Atlantis is rolled slowly out of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) toward launch pad 39A for what will be the final Space Shuttle launch in early July, while Space Shuttle Endeavour will be landing later on at 2:35am EST. Watch live progress of both this evening, courtesy of NASA:
NASA Plans Asteroid Mission in 2016 - NYCAviation
NASA on Wednesday said it is eying deep space exploration and will begin with a mission in 2016 that will take samples from a distant asteroid back to Earth. The announcement came on the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s historic speech to a joint session of Congress in which he announced a dramatic and ambitious goal: sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade. “No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind,” Kennedy said.
Space Station Crew Returns to Earth Aboard Soyuz Spacecraft - NYCAviation
Expedition 27 Commander Dmitry Kondratyev and Flight Engineers Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli safely landed their Soyuz spacecraft on the Kazakhstan steppe early Tuesday morning, bringing to an end a five-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft landed at approximately 8:27 a.m. local time at a site southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan. Kondratyev was at the controls of the spacecraft as it undocked about five hours earlier from the station’s Rassvet module.
NASA Announces Tweetup for Final Space Shuttle Launch - NYCAviation
NASA will invite 150 of its Twitter followers to view the final launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis scheduled for July 8th. The mission, designated STS-135, is the last planned mission of the space shuttle program. “Inviting people to attend the last shuttle launch and share it with their friends, family and followers is one way NASA can enable more people to experience this historic event,” said Stephanie Schierholz, social media manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
On This Day in Aviation History: May 15th
1987: The USSR launches the Polyus spacecraft, designed to destroy American “Star Wars” satellites with high-powered lasers, but it fails to reach orbit. Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper's face is visible in the background while his oxygen hose stands out clearly in this picture made from the broadcast of a live TV camera onboard "Faith 7" during the 17th orbit. The picture was received at Cape Canaveral, Florida, one of three points set up to receive the slow-scan TV picture.
Russia Accuses Atlas Rocket Engine Builder of Selling to United States Below Cost
The Russian Comptroller’s Office on Wednesday informed that Energomash, an engineering corporation, was accused of selling rocket engines to the United States at half of the production cost. Energomash RD-180 engine on an Atlas V rocket. (Photo courtesy of NASA) According to RIA Novosti, the Russian company sold many RD-180 engines between 2008 and 2009 at a much lower price which resulted in the loss of $32 million or 68 percent of Energomash’s total losses.
Live Video: NASA Announces Space Shuttle Destinations
NASA administrator Charles Bolden will announce which institutions are to receive the four remaining Space Shuttles today at 1pm EDT. Live video of the event will stream below. Video courtesy of Spaceflight Now Space Shuttle Atlantis: Kennedy Space Center, Florida Space Shuttle Discovery: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F.
NASA Tests Chicken Fat-Based Jet Fuel Using DC-8 Airborne Laboratory - NYCAviation
NASA on Monday announced that a group of scientists from its Langley Research Center traveled cross-country this month for an experiment with eco-friendly jet fuel made out of chicken fat.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Headed for Display at USC School of Theatre Thanks to Alumnus LeVar Burton - NYCAviation
A week and a half before NASA’s official announcement, NYCAviation can exclusively report that the Space Shuttle Endeavour has been earmarked for the University of Southern California’s School of Theatre, made possible by a generous donation by a famous alumnus: Star Trek and Reading Rainbow star LeVar Burton. The USC Theatre School is a dark horse winner in the sweepstakes for NASA’s retiring shuttles.
Live Video: Space Shuttle Discovery Lands for the Last Time - NYCAviation
Watch the last scheduled de-orbiting and landing of Space Shuttle Discovery from Spaceflight Now and chat about it in real time via Facebook below. Touch-down at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is expected at 11:58am ET, with a second attempt possible at 1:34pm ET should the first be delayed. Weather conditions are expected to be clear.
Shuttle Discovery Final Launch Coming No Sooner than December 3rd: NASA - NYCAviation
NASA on Thursday said that the launch of the final mission of the space shuttle Discovery will take place no earlier than December 3 as necessary repairs have not been completed. The decision was made at the Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) in which the Space Shuttle Program clearly identified the analysis and repairs that are required to safely launch the space shuttle on its STS-133 mission. A special PRCB will be hold on November 24 to review the analysis and repairs.
NASA to Send Three Aircraft to Study Hurricanes - NYCAviation
NASA announced on Wednesday that three aircraft will begin flights to study tropical cyclones on August 15. The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes mission, or GRIP, will study the creation and rapid intensification of hurricanes, becoming NASA’s first major U.S.-based hurricane field campaign since 2001.
MIT-Designed, Fish-Shaped Airliners Could Burn 70% Less Fuel - NYCAviation
A team of MIT researchers has unveiled their aircraft designs for NASA’s N+3 initiative, an engineering study intended to help define the next three generations of commercial aviation while reducing fuel usage by 70% and NOx emissions by 75%.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Nathan
Contact Nathan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack