Latest news with #MSFC
Observer
15-03-2025
- Science
- Observer
Oman professor to work on NASA project
STAFF REPORTER Muscat, March 14 Professor Rakesh Belwal from the Faculty of Business at Sohar University has been selected as a social scientist for a prestigious NASA-awarded research project entitled 'Impact Assessment of the Decision and Information System for the Coastal Waters of Oman.' The announcement was made by Professor Dale Kiefer, Principal Investigator from the University of Southern California, USA, during his keynote address at the recent Unesco Conference organised by Sohar University. The grant is part of an ongoing initiative to assess the impact of the Decision and Information System for the Coastal Waters of Oman (DISCO), a system designed to improve coastal resource management. DISCO, developed through a collaboration between a team of ocean scientists from the United States and the Marine Science and Fisheries Centre (MSFC) in Muscat, aims to empower MSFC in monitoring and forecasting coastal conditions and threats. These include harmful algal blooms, which can disrupt desalination plants, degrade water quality and impact fisheries and aquaculture. The system integrates satellite imagery, three-dimensional ocean simulations and systems-driven models to support decision-making for coastal stakeholders. A team of ten scientists from the US and Oman was involved in the previous phase of the DISCO project. 'This initiative represents a significant step towards integrating cutting-edge digital solutions into Oman's coastal resource management framework. I am honoured to contribute to this project by analysing stakeholder engagement and ensuring that the benefits of the DISCO system reach all relevant sectors,' Professor Belwal expressed his enthusiasm. With NASA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Oman supporting this effort, the research aims to pave the way for stronger scientific collaboration, enhanced digital literacy in marine sciences and sustainable management of Oman's coastal resources.
South China Morning Post
19-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Nasa shake-up casts doubt on moon programme, as Musk and Trump turn to Mars
Nasa is losing four key senior officials close to its flagship moon programme, according to people familiar with the changes, adding more uncertainty over the agency's space exploration trajectory as Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump play up missions to Mars. Jim Free, Nasa's associate administrator who has been a central voice defending the agency's Artemis moon programme, is planning to leave the agency by Saturday, two sources said. And in Huntsville, Alabama, three key officials at Nasa's Marshall Space Flight Centre – one of the agency's 10 field centres and the epicentre of its Artemis moon programme – had their retirements announced internally on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the announcement. Those roles at MSFC – chiefs of procurement, finance and information – were filled in an acting capacity by deputies and other Nasa officials, the source said. No replacement for Free was announced, the two sources said. Nasa spokespeople did not return requests for comment. Nasa's Jim Free speaks at a press conference at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in August 2023. Photo: Reuters The leadership shake-up adds more uncertainty over Nasa's direction in space as Musk, the CEO of SpaceX who has long envisioned crewed missions to Mars, oversees a sweeping review of Nasa records as a 'special employee' of the Trump administration seeking cuts to staff and programmes.
Reuters
19-02-2025
- Science
- Reuters
Key NASA officials' departure casts more uncertainty over US moon program
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - NASA is losing four key senior officials close to its flagship moon program, according to people familiar with the changes, adding more uncertainty over the agency's space exploration trajectory as Elon Musk and President Donald Trump play up missions to Mars. Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator who has been a central voice defending the agency's Artemis moon program, is planning to leave the agency by Saturday, two sources said. And in Huntsville, Alabama, three key officials at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center - one of the agency's ten field centers and the epicenter of its Artemis moon program - had their retirements announced internally on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the announcement. Those roles at MSFC - chiefs of procurement, finance and information - were filled in an acting capacity by deputies and other NASA officials, the source said. No replacement for Free was announced, the two sources said. NASA spokespeople did not return requests for comment.
