NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

June 2, 2025

Veil Nebula: Wisps of an Ancient Supernova

Wisps like this are all that remain visible of a Milky Way star. About 7,000 years ago that star exploded in a supernova, leaving the Veil Nebula. At the time, the expanding cloud was likely as bright as a crescent Moon, remaining visible for weeks to people living at the dawn of recorded history. Today, the resulting supernova remnant, also known as the Cygnus Loop, has faded and is now visible only through a small telescope directed toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus). The remaining Veil Nebula is physically huge, however, and even though it lies about 1,400 light-years distant, it covers over five times the size of the full Moon. The featured picture was taken in Kuwait in mid-2024 and features light emitted by hydrogen in red and oxygen in blue. In deep images of the complete Veil Nebula like this, even studious readers might not be able to identify the iconic filaments.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Thai Chicken Secures Historic Place as NASA Astronaut Food

MONDAY, JUNE 02, 2025

In a world first, specially prepared Thai chicken dishes have cleared NASA's rigorous safety and quality standards, earning a coveted spot on the menu for astronauts aboard the Axiom Mission 4, set to launch from Florida on 9th June

"Thai chicken" is poised to make a historic journey into the cosmos, marking the first time that food from Thailand will be consumed in outer space.

Dishes featuring Thai chicken have been rigorously selected by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the astronaut diet for the Axiom Mission 4 space flight.

The mission is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, on 9th June 2025 at 19:45 Bangkok time.

This upcoming mission will see astronauts from various nations travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

All food served aboard spacecraft must undergo stringent certification processes to ensure its quality, safety, nutritional value, and suitability for storage and consumption in zero-gravity conditions.

On this occasion, "Thai chicken" has successfully navigated NASA's demanding assessment, securing its place as an official menu item for the crew.

Behind the Scenes of "Thai Chicken in Space"

This ground-breaking project is the culmination of extensive collaboration between the Thai government and leading private sector entities.

Key players include the Department of Livestock Development (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives), the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association, and a prominent Thai food company, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).

Together, they developed processed Thai food menus to meet the exacting 'space-grade' standards, all under the meticulous oversight of NASA and Axiom Space, the firm responsible for mission organisation.

The selected Thai chicken dishes are "Green Curry Chicken" and "Baked Rice with Herbs and Chicken".

Both culinary creations underwent multi-stage laboratory testing, covering critical aspects such as shelf life, sterility, nutritional integrity, and performance during zero-gravity consumption trials.

From Thai Farms to the Astronauts' Plates

Thailand holds its position as one of the world's leading chicken meat exporters, with over 900,000 tonnes of processed chicken shipped to markets including Europe, Japan, and the Middle East in 2024 alone.

This latest selection as space food further underscores and bolsters international confidence in the already robust standards of Thai chicken.

Moreover, sending Thai chicken into orbit significantly elevates the global image of the Thai food industry. It extends the long-standing vision of "Thai Kitchen to the World," now proudly embracing the new frontier of "Thai Kitchen to the Universe.

This remarkable achievement is anticipated to substantially enhance the credibility and market standing of Thai food worldwide in the years to come.

Countdown to a Moment of National Pride

The Thai public is invited to follow the rocket launch and Axiom Mission 4 live on 9th June 2025 at 19:45 (Bangkok time).

Coverage will be broadcast via official NASA and Axiom Space channels, complemented by celebratory events organised across several provinces throughout Thailand.

The Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development remarked, "This represents a monumental leap for Thai agriculture, particularly for Thai chicken, which has met world-class standards and can now be served in space.

Beyond being a source of immense pride, it opens the door to high-value trade opportunities for the future."

The extraordinary journey of Thai food, specifically "Thai chicken," in overcoming global limits, stands as a potent symbol of Thai ingenuity on the international stage

It highlights the nation's capabilities in agriculture, food technology, and its talent for adding international value to indigenous raw materials.

On 9th June, the entire nation will unite in celebrating another proud chapter in Thailand's history, as "Thai chicken ascends to space" with distinction.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/food/40050749

>>23112093

Jesus moment comin' in hot?

Michael Altenhofen Is NASA Deputy Chief of Staff

June 1, 2025

Michael Altenhofen – who joined NASA from SpaceX in January 2025 as a “special “Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator” has been named as Deputy Chief of Staff according to his LinkedIn page.

If he was a ‘Special Government Employee (SGE)’ then his 130 days will be up very soon.

https://nasawatch.com/personnel-news/michael-altenhofen-is-nasa-deputy-chief-of-staff/

NASA Expert Points Out How No Human Has Really Left Earth’s Atmosphere

June 2, 2025 at 9:48 am

Everyone has heard the conspiracy theories that claim that the space program isn’t real and that the tens of thousands of people involved in the program are all involved in some massive cover up.

In 2002, astronaut and moonwalker Buzz Aldrin even punched a man harassing him square in the jaw for continually bothering him with this nonsense.

So you’ll forgive us if what we’re about to say sounds like something that would have us ducking from an astronaut fist.

No human has ever really left Earth’s atmosphere.

It sounds absolutely ridiculous when you first hear about it. After all, humans have walked on the surface of the moon.

But by some calculations, no person has ever left the absolute limits of Earth’s atmosphere, and here’s why.

Basically, it all depends on how you are defining “atmosphere.”

As NASA heliophysics expert Doug Rowland explains here, “As you think of the atmosphere where we live and breathe here on Earth, it doesn’t just stop right above our heads.

It doesn’t stop at Mount Everest. It doesn’t stop where the planes are flying. It goes on and on all the way up, and just gets less and less dense the higher you go. And it’s still there at a very high altitude.”

For orbiting satellites, the space station, and other manmade objects up there, it means they are still subject to a small amount of drag.

For the purposes of most scientists and space treaties, the atmosphere ends at “a delineation known as the Karman line, located 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth’s surface,” according to NASA.

This is because 99.999975 of Earth’s atmosphere lies within this limit.

But that isn’t all of it, and studies have identified an extremely thin layer of atmosphere called the geocorona that may extend over 391 thousand miles outside the Earth, encompassing the orbit of the moon.

No, you can’t breathe up there. And yes, it’s still “outer space.” But, technically, there’s a tiny, tiny bit of Earth’s atmosphere up there.

Sorry, Buzz.

https://twistedsifter.com/2025/06/nasa-expert-points-out-how-no-human-has-really-left-earths-atmosphere/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVWZOFrjdc