NASA will host a media teleconference about the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) mission on Thursday, March 1 at 11:00 am to discuss remarkable imagery from NASA’s recently launched STEREO spacecraft. For the first time, scientists are now able to track solar storms from the sun to Earth using the latest images from NASA’s twin STEREO spacecraft.

The new view from the STEREO spacecraft greatly improves scientist’s ability to forecast the arrival time of severe space weather. Previous imagery did not show the front of a solar disturbance as it traveled toward Earth, so scientists had to make estimates of when the storm would arrive.

During the media telecon, new panoramic images from Sun to Earth will be unveiled including a coronal mass ejection (CME) moving though wide-angle view. In addition updates on the spacecraft will be given.

Briefing participants:

  • Madhulika Guhathakurta, STEREO program scientist, NASA headquarters, Washington
  • Michael Kaiser, STEREO project scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
  • Russ Howard, SECCHI Principal Investigator, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington
  • Ron Dennison, STEREO project manager, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.

The nearly identical twin observatories will provide 3-D views of the sun and solar wind, perspectives critical to improving understanding of space weather, its impact on astronauts and Earth systems. The satellites launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on October 25, for a two-year mission.

Reporters should call: 888-791-1856 and use the pass code “STEREO” to participate in the teleconference. International media callers should call: 210-234-0006. Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

Related images will be available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/news/panorama_media.html

For interviews with Kaiser, contact Rani Gran at 301-286-2483. Video of the panorama will be available on March 1 on NASA TV at noon EDT. For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv