European Space Agency Flickr Update

Ariane 5 VA 213 in BAF

04-06-2013 02:44 PM CEST

Ariane 5, in the BAF (Final Assembly Building) ready for transfer to the launch pad.

ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, is ready for launch on an Ariane 5 to the International Space Station on 5 June, 2013, from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Liftoff is set for 23:52 CEST (21:52 GMT), and three hours and four minutes later the vessel will separate from the launcher to begin ten days of health checks and orbital manoeuvres, bringing it to an automated docking with the Station on 15 June, 2013.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Cosmic Collision Between Galaxies

Cosmic Collision Between Galaxies

06/04/2013 12:00 AM EDT

This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captures an ongoing cosmic collision between two galaxies — a spiral galaxy is in the process of colliding with a lenticular galaxy.

The image also reveals further evidence of the collision. There is a bright stream of stars coming out from the merging galaxies, extending out towards the top of the image. The bright spot in the middle of the plume, known as ESO 576-69, is what makes this image unique.

This spot is believed to be the nucleus of the former spiral galaxy, which was ejected from the system during the collision and is now being shredded by tidal forces to produce the visible stellar stream.

Image Credit: European Space Agency/NASA Hubble

NOAA's National Weather Service SPC Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm Watches Update

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 275 Status Reports

06/04/2013 06:44 AM EDT

WW 0275 Status Updates

    STATUS REPORT ON WW 275 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE 

FROM 40 SW SPS TO  10 N FSI TO 20 SE CQB. 

 ..THOMPSON..06/04/13    ATTN...WFO...OUN...TSA... 

STATUS REPORT FOR WS 275 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING 

AREAS 

OKC005-013-019-027-029-031-033-049-051-063-067-

069-085-087-095-099-107-123-125-133-137-141-

041140-    OK   . 

OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE 

ATOKA                BRYAN               CARTER 

CLEVELAND            COAL                COMANCHE 

COTTON               GARVIN              GRADY 

HUGHES               JEFFERSON           JOHNSTON 

LOVE                 MCCLAIN             MARSHALL 

MURRAY               OKFUSKEE            PONTOTOC 

POTTAWATOMIE         SEMINOLE            STEPHENS 

TILLMAN 

TXC009-077-485-041140-    TX   . 

TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE 

ARCHER               CLAY                WICHITA 

Bye-bye, ATV-4

Bye-bye, ATV-4

04-06-2013 11:48 AM CEST

Human spaceflight and operations image of the week: engineers enclose ATV-4 in protective Ariane 5 fairing.

Forest fires

Forest fires

04-06-2013 11:58 AM CEST

Satellites allow these crisis situations to be carefully monitored and mapped.

Watch ATV-4 launch

Watch ATV-4 launch

04-06-2013 10:40 AM CEST

Follow the launch of ATV Albert Einstein on board Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport on 5 June. Webcast starts at 22.30 CEST

NOAA's National Weather Service SPC Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm Watches Update

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 274 Status Reports

06/04/2013 02:57 AM EDT

    STATUS REPORT ON WW 274 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE FROM 

55 SE BGD TO  45 SSW GAG TO 20 NW GAG. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0951 

 ..THOMPSON..06/04/13    ATTN...WFO...OUN...AMA... 

STATUS REPORT FOR WS 274 

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS