Further accomplishments of NASA follow.
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• “Water on The Moon? NASA Finds the Answer” — NASA finds water and hydroxyl molecules on the polar regions of the Moon using data from three separate spacecraft. The Moon is becoming more and more interesting as NASA and other space agencies continue to explore our nearest neighbor in the Solar System.
• “NASA Sends Recon Team to Map Moon's Terrain, Search for Ice” — NASA launches the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) in June, where one maps the Moon (in more detail than any other previous satellite) while the other one impacts a lunar crater and finds water. Just how much water lies under the Moon? We are learning more!
• “Methane, Carbon Monoxide Heat Up the Home Planet” — Methane and carbon monoxide are determined by scientists at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to have a much bigger effect on Earth’s global warming that previously thought. NASA helps to determine our climate and environment over the next several years.
• “NASA's Airborne Armada Studies Shrinking Polar Ice” — NASA’s airborne Operation Ice Bridge mission studies Earth’s polar region in the largest research project ever conducted of polar ice. The icy polar regions of Earth hold much information on what we can expect throughout the world with respect to global warming and other climate factors.
• “Methane On Mars Suggests 'It's Alive!” — Methane is found in the atmosphere of the planet Mars. Such a discovery by NASA indicates that the Red Planet could be biologically or geologically active—or both! What was the history of Mars? Will it help us learn more about our past and, maybe, our future?
• “NASA Discovers Your Place in the Universe” — The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBX) satellite makes the first comprehensive map of our Solar System, and its location within the much larger Milky Way galaxy. It's nice to know where we are in the big picture of the Universe.
• “NASA - We're in Your House” — NASA makes 49 notable accomplishments made by the governmental agency during 2009 that helps people here on Earth in such areas as transportation, health care, environmental protection, computer technology, and many more. NASA isn’t just a space agency.
• “Lithe Lunar Landers Launch, X Prize Winners Take Home Cash” — NASA awards $1.5 million to fledgling private aerospace technology companies through its Centennial Challenges program, managed by the X PRIZE Foundation. Private companies begin to make their mark on aviation and aerospace.
• “Nasa Programs Help Students Soar to New Altitudes of Learning” — NASA encourages students all around the world to study mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. The Buzz is that Education gives you a Lightyear advantage over others without such knowledge.
• “Global Community Agrees, Space Cooperation Is the Future” — NASA works with many countries (such as Japan, Russia, Canada, the countries of the European Space Agency, and others) throughout the world in peaceful and prosperous space programs that benefit humankind. Space is a peaceful place to live and work.
• “Stalwart Shuttle Fleet Ferries Food, Cargo to Orbiting Outpost” — NASA flew four space shuttle missions to the International Space Station (for further assembly and expansion of the structure, along with the completion of its power-generating system), and went to successfully repair the Hubble telescope.
• “NASA Aeronautics Wins Prestigious Award for Second Straight Year” — The Robert J. Collier trophy is presented to NASA’s Commercial Aviation Safety Team in May for its work at reducing fatalities in commercial aviation. The commercial aviation fatality rate has decreased by 80% over ten years.
Are there other accomplishments that are not listed? Think about what else NASA has done over the year 2009. Read page three for additional information.
