Still waiting, but i the meantime...   
       
       
   Nov. 18, 2016   
   CONTRACT RELEASE C16-028   
   NASA Awards Space Studies Board Contract   
       
   NASA has awarded a sole-source contract to the National Academy of Sciences,   
   Engineering and Medicine of Washington to conduct studies on questions of   
   national importance within the domain of NASA science and technology programs   
   relating to space science, Earth science, and biological and physical science   
   in space.   
       
   The Space Studies Board contract is a cost reimbursement, no-fee,   
   indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with a maximum ordering   
   value of $34 million. The five-year period of performance begins Dec. 1.   
       
   The objective of this contract is to provide the means by which NASA can   
   obtain access to an independent, authoritative forum for information, dialogue   
   and advice on all aspects of space science and applications, and serve as the   
   focal point within the academies for activities on space research.   
       
   The Space Studies Board oversees advisory studies and program assessments,   
   facilitates international research coordination, and promotes communications   
   on space science and science policy between the research community, the   
   federal government, and the interested public. The board also serves as the   
   U.S. National Committee for the International Council for Science Committee on   
   Space Research.   
       
   The work will be performed at the contractor's facility in Washington.   
       
   For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:   
       
   http://www.nasa.gov   
       
   -end-   
       
   Dwayne Brown   
   Headquarters, Washington   
   202-358-1726   
   dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov   
       
   Cynthia M. O'Carroll   
   Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.   
   301-286-4787   
   cynthia.m.ocarroll@nasa.gov   
   Last Updated: Nov. 18, 2016   
   Editor: Karen Northon   
   Tags:  Goddard Space Flight Center Hazards   
   Nov. 18, 2016   
   Wildfires Still Plaguing Southeastern United States   
   fires in Southeastern U.S.   
       
   On November 14, 2016, the Aqua satellite captured a relatively close up image   
   of fires in the Southeastern U.S. and a detailed description was given of the   
   major fires.  This image, taken by NOAA/NASA's Suomi NPP satellite on November   
   17, 2016 shows a wider angle of these same fires.  The fires all continue to   
   grow due to the weather conditions in the area and terrain hampering   
   firefighting efforts.  Drought conditions are contributing to drier and larger   
   forest fuels being available. These range from the undergrowth to sticks,   
   leaves and logs. Even the smallest of sparks can ignite these very dry fuels.    
   The major goal of firefighters is to try to have the fires burn inward as   
   opposed to expanding, but weather conditions and available fuel is allowing   
   these fires to expand leaving fire officials to try to combat incredibly   
   difficult conditions.  The U.S. Forest Service expects some fire activity   
   during the fall with hunting season providing a chance of human caused fires   
   and the annual leaves causing more dry tinder but this type of fire activity   
   is unheard of in this part of the country.   
   This natural-color satellite image was collected by the Moderate Resolution   
   Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite. Actively burning   
   areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red.  NASA image   
   courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn   
   Jenner with information from Inciweb.   
   Last Updated: Nov. 18, 2016   
   Editor: Lynn Jenner   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- DB 3.99 + W10 (1607)   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)