John Glenn Talks Future Technology On This Week @ NASA

Senator John Glenn, spoke during a NASA Future Forum at the Ohio State University, about the fundamental elements that once made America a leading innovator are their importance to the nation's future. NASA officials, University representatives and students participated in a panel discussion about NASA's role in advancing innovation, technology, science, engineering, education and the economy. The Future Forum coincided with the 50th anniversary of Glenn's historic Friendship 7 space flight. Also, NASA Briefs its 2013 Budget, the year's first test of the J-2X rocket engine, the 30th Russian Spacewalk for The International Space Station, a milestone handshake in space between humanoid and an astronaut and Science Off the Sphere.

NASA Briefs 2013 Budget On This Week @ NASA

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Chief Financial Officer Beth Robinson outlined the president's Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal for NASA during a February 13th news conference at NASA Headquarters. The proposed budget would enable NASA to continue the space exploration program envisioned by President Obama, one that creates jobs and spurs the American economy well into the future while sending us farther into space than ever before. Also, the year's first test of the J-2X rocket engine, the 30th Russian Spacewalk for The International Space Station, a milestone handshake in space between humanoid and an astronaut, Science Off the Sphere, the 50th Anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight and more.

Orion On The Move On This Week @ NASA

Huntsville's U.S. Space & Rocket Center was the third scheduled stopover on a cross-country journey for a test module of the Orion spacecraft. The Journey, which started from White Sands, New Mexico made stops in Oklahoma City and Dallas where Orion was placed on display. Guests were able to meet Orion and Space Launch System team members and were even able to sign their names to a piece of flight hardware. The Orion module's final destination was the Kennedy Space Center; there, it'll be one of several used by NASA to test and develop the future spacecraft. Orion's first orbital flight test is scheduled for 2014. Also, a new Blue Marble image from space -- in HD, Grail Sees the Far Side of the Moon, how a Lincoln penny will help the Curiosity rover see better on Mars, NASA Technology news and more.

Matter That Matters On This Week @ NASA

New findings by NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX spacecraft, are helping scientists learn more about the matter found between the stars in our Milky Way galaxy. IBEX, whose primary focus has been the interaction between our solar system and what lies beyond, collects data on the interactions between the heliosheath and interstellar space. The heliosheath provides our solar system with a bubble of protection from deadly cosmic radiation emanating from interstellar space. Also, an update on astronaut job applications, two well known astronauts retire, the J-2X engine meets the media, Kepler "wows" again, a Facebook game to test your NASA knowledge and more.

Massive X-Flare Tops Sun's Active Week

The same sunspot to unleash a M.9 flare just a few days ago erupted again with the strongest of flares, X type, on January 27, 2012. Fortunately, the Earth was spared the full brunt of the solar shockwave, but a radiation storm may still be imminent.