The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently listed the animals as "critically endangered," after their numbers dropped to between 2,400 and 2,800 from an estimated 5,000 in 1985
HOUSTON:
Individuals interested in becoming America's future space explorers have until Friday to submit their applications. The deadline to apply for NASA's next astronaut class is Jan. 27.
The agency typically receives as many as 3,500 applicants for each astronaut class. Thus far, NASA has received more than 3,000 applications since November for this class.
"We are excited about the response we have received, and we want to encourage anyone contemplating this dynamic and exciting career to apply," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "We are entering a new phase in human spaceflight with amazing opportunities to live and work in space. We want the best, the brightest and the most talented mix of professionals to join our team."
Those interested in applying for the astronaut corps can submit their applications through the federal government's USAJobs.gov website. Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience. Educators teaching kindergarten through 12th grade also are encouraged to apply.
NASA expects to announce the final selections in 2013 with initial training to begin that summer.
For more information about the astronaut application and selection process and to follow the latest news via NASA accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/flynasa
More news about NASA
night and has sent a burst of radiation in the form of protons toward Earth, possibly fouling up satellite communication and forcing the rerouting of planes near the poles. Even traveling at 1,400 miles per second (2,200 kps), the particles needed a while to cover the 93 million miles (149 million km) that separate the sun from Earth. The 2005 blast was a lot more powerful — and a lot faster too, with the leading edge of the particle storm hitting us in less than an hour. That’s one reason to expect only mild effects from this blast, but that doesn’t mean there will be no danger. A sudden onslaught of storm-related radiation can potentially disrupt electrical grids, not to mention satellite communication.
The strongest flood of radiation may slide north of Earth, but polar-traveling airplanes will likely reroute to skip the increased radiation and intense communication jamming. NASA notes that “no adverse effects” will fall upon the six astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Along with the possible issues comes potential beauty. The storm of radiation may send the northern lights a touch south (but likely not as far south as Alabama, as seen during an October solar storm), sending off a new wave reaction: floods of new aurora photos from Tuesday evening’s skies.
Read more: Time.com
