Two days after touching down on asteroid Bennu, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission team received on Thursday, Oct. 22, images that confirm the spacecraft has collected more than enough material to meet one of its main mission requirements – acquiring at least 2 ounces (60 grams) of the asteroid's surface material.

The spacecraft captured images of the sample collector head as it moved through several different positions. In reviewing these images, the OSIRIS-REx team noticed both that the head appeared to be full of asteroid particles, and that some of these particles appeared to be escaping slowly from the sample collector, called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head. They suspect bits of material are passing through small gaps where a mylar flap – the collector's "lid" – is slightly wedged open by larger rocks.

"Bennu continues to surprise us with great science and also throwing a few curveballs," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator for science at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "And although we may have to move more quickly to stow the sample, it's not a bad problem to have. We are so excited to see what appears to be an abundant sample that will inspire science for decades beyond this historic moment."

The team believes it has collected a sufficient sample and is on a path to stow the sample as quickly as possible. They came to this conclusion after comparing images of the empty collector head with Oct. 22 images of the TAGSAM head after the sample collection event.

The images also show that any movement to the spacecraft and the TAGSAM instrument may lead to further sample loss. To preserve the remaining material, the mission team decided to forego the Sample Mass Measurement activity originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, and canceled a braking burn scheduled for Friday to minimize any acceleration to the spacecraft.

From here, the OSIRIS-Rex team will focus on stowing the sample in the Sample Return Capsule (SRC), where any loose material will be kept safe during the spacecraft's journey back to Earth.

"We are working to keep up with our own success here, and my job is to safely return as large a sample of Bennu as possible," said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in Tucson, who leads the science team and the mission's science observation planning and data processing. "The loss of mass is of concern to me, so I'm strongly encouraging the team to stow this precious sample as quickly as possible."

The TAGSAM head performed the sampling event in optimal conditions. Newly available analyses show that the collector head was flush with Bennu's surface when it made contact and when the nitrogen gas bottle was fired to stir surface material. It also penetrated several centimeters into the asteroid's surface material. All data so far suggest that the collector head is holding much more than 2 ounces of regolith.

OSIRIS-REx remains in good health, and the mission team is finalizing a timeline for sample storage. An update will be provided once a decision is made on the sample storage timing and procedures.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the spacecraft and is providing flight operations. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace of Tempe, Arizona, are responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

SOURCE NASA
Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov

Media accreditation is open for the launch of the next SpaceX delivery of NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.

This mission will be the first cargo resupply mission on the company's upgraded version of its Dragon spacecraft and is targeted to launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than December.

Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at Kennedy. Credentialing deadlines are as follows:
International media residing in the United States must apply by 4:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 1.
U.S. media must apply by 4:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 15.


Media with special logistics requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, tents or electrical connections must contact Jerry Bernfeld at jerrold.s.bernfeld@nasa.gov by Sunday, Nov. 15.

For questions about accreditation, please email ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, contact Kennedy's newsroom at 321-867-2468.

The Nanoracks Bishop Airlock is packed in the Dragon spacecraft's trunk for its ride to the orbiting laboratory. The first commercially funded space station airlock – an airtight segment used for transfer of payloads between the inside and outside of the station – will provide payload hosting, robotics testing, and satellite deployment while also serving as an outside toolbox for astronauts conducting spacewalks.

Among the investigations riding inside the Dragon's pressurized capsule will be a variety of research, including studies on the effects of microgravity on cardiovascular cells and how space conditions affect the interaction between microbes and minerals, as well as a technology demonstration of a blood analysis tool in space.

Each resupply mission to the station delivers scientific investigations in the areas of biology and biotechnology, physical sciences, and Earth and space science. Advances in these areas will help to keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space travel and demonstrate technologies for future human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Space station research through the ISS National Lab also provides opportunities for other U.S. government agencies, private industry, and academic and research institutions to conduct microgravity research that leads to new technologies, medical treatments, and products that improve life on Earth.

This is the 21st SpaceX mission to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment for NASA and the first under the agency's second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical science research to the space station, significantly increasing NASA's ability to conduct new investigations at the only laboratory in space. With this first flight under the CRS-2 contract, SpaceX and NASA will build upon the success of the missions flown under the first commercial resupply contract. SpaceX has completed 20 Dragon missions to and from the space station, providing more than 95,000 pounds of supplies and 75,000 pounds of return mass.

The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that demonstrates new technologies and enables research not possible on Earth. The space station has been occupied continuously since November 2000. In that time, 241 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft have visited the orbiting laboratory. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next great leap in exploration, including future missions to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/spacex

SOURCE NASA
Related Links

https://www.nasa.gov

Google and Skipify, inc., the frictionless commerce network, have teamed up to enable shopping, and purchasing, inside of Gmail.

Email has historically been the highest-ROI marketing channel, and with online revenue growing at nearly 5x pre-COVID levels, email has never been more important to brands. But in our world where cars drive themselves, it still takes shoppers nearly two minutes to purchase products from emails. During these two minutes, almost 70% of shoppers abandon the purchase.

The new Shoppable Email program unlocks real time product information and a fully functional Shopping Cart inside of email. Merchants participating in the Shoppable Email program have seen revenue from email increase 30%+ while lowering unsubscribe rates by 50%.

Merchants access the new Shoppable Email program by working directly with Skipify (skipify.com/email). In most cases, brands can join the program without changing their Email Provider. There is no additional email coding required on the merchant's side. Skipify works with each brand to enable access to the Shoppable Email program, and to maintain the dynamic shopping functionality of their emails inside Gmail. "We're thrilled to be working with the team at Google Gmail to help merchants bring shopping into the inbox for the first time." Says Ryth Martin, CEO and Founder of Skipify. "We are in the very early stages of a shift to unlock commerce and payments within and across channels. Skipify is here to help brands drive and capitalize on that shift."

Google and Skipify are hosting a free event on Monday, Oct. 26th. Attendees will learn about the components of dynamic, AMP-enabled emails and how to get started with the Google + Skipify Shoppable Email program. A link to register for the event is here. If you register and can't attend the event a recording will be emailed to you.


SOURCE Skipify
Related Links

https://www.skipify.com

On October 23, SmallRig officially announced "Discover" accessories for DJI RS 2/RSC 2 ecosystem, two revolutionary stabilizers especially designed for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, both of which were released on October 15. The Discover solution includes mounting plate, monitor mount, quick release plate, extended quick release plate, sling handle, dual handgrip, NATO rail, toughened screen protector, counterweight and mounting clamp kit, focus motor component and lens support.

With carbon fiber arm, RS 2 has a lighter body but allows heavier payload, which provides a complete solution for filmmakers under different scenarios. RSC 2 adopts a unique foldable design that integrates excellent performance and portability.


Sling handle for RS 2/RSC 2

The steepness can be adjusted by 180° to freely switch the gripping center, which efficiently releases the tired wrist and supports long shooting sessions. Featuring cold shoe, 1/4 threaded holes and 3/8 ARRI locating holes, the sling handle is able to smooth low angle shooting while satisfying multiple mounting needs.


Dual handgrip for RS 2/RSC 2

Unveiling different holding scenarios with both hands while reducing arm fatigue and improving shooting stability, SmallRig dual handgrip provides multiple mounting options to fit external lighting, monitors, video transmission, microphones and other accessories to satisfy professional shooting needs. With NATO clamp and knob locking design, filmmakers can quickly disassemble or assemble the gear without tools.


Monitor Mount for RS 2/RSC 2

The monitor mount provides multiple ports to facilitate accessories mounting such as monitors, microphones, video transmission, actions cameras, etc. The tilt angle can be adjusted upwards or downwards up to 165 degrees.


Extended Manfrotto Quick Release Plate for RS 2

Securing to the camera by 1/4 and 3/8 screws, the extended Manfrotto Quick Release Plate maximizes the compatibility of RS 2 to fit professional cinema cameras. 1/4 threaded hole is provided at the tail end of the plate to support installation of counterweights for balancing.


Manfrotto to Arca Quick Release Plate for RS 2/RSC 2

Compatible with standard Arca quick release plate and DJI original accessories, SmallRig Manfrotto to Arca Quick Release Plate enables quick switch between gimbal shooting, tripod shooting and handheld shooting.

In the future, SmallRig will further cooperate with DJI to develop a more comprehensive ecosystem for multiple shooting scenarios, witnessing more impressive stories with all content creators.

SOURCE SmallRig

Polycade, the modern arcade gaming system, today announced Polycade Arcade Gaming Software (Polycade AGS) turning any PC into a Polycade video game system. Polycade also announced today Polycade 2600, a PC gaming console designed for the living room, Polycade eZpZ Controller, a SNES-styled classic controller, and Polycade Arcade Controller, bringing arcade style gaming to the couch. To help curate games for casual and midcore players, Polycade also introduced it's new game store platform that allows players to easily find the right game for them.

Polycade AGS provides players with an easy and powerful way to organize and launch games they own from multiple platforms such as Steam, GOG, and Utomik, creating one unified library that can be played with Polycade game controllers or typical arcade controls. Additionally, for the seasoned gamer, Polycade AGS includes popular emulators baked-in and pre-configured, to make running retro ROMs easier than ever. Also included are leaderboards for nearly any retro arcade game, an achievements system that awards players with real cloth patches similar to what Activision did in the 80's, and a unique game rating system to help make it even easier to find the right games for the right player, and the right game for the right moment.

"Nearly everyone likes video games, but not everyone's a gamer," said Tyler Bushnell, co-founder and CEO of Polycade. "The higher the learning curve and commitment a game requires, more people will opt out. Everyone enjoys a game that's easy to learn, but difficult to master. We designed Polycade AGS to be super easy for the low-commitment players, yet with a lot of customizability and extensibility for the midcore and power users."

Also included in Polycade AGS is a game store that allows players to purchase legally licensed retro games and well-curated modern titles with a focus on social, in-person play. Polycade AGS will have over 100 games to choose from at launch.

For those that want a console-style experience in the living room, Polycade 2600 is a plug and play PC preloaded with Polycade AGS. The clean-lined powder coated steel case is designed with modern aesthetics in mind. Polycade 2600 includes two Polycade eZpZ Controllers, a 240GB SSD with option to upgrade to 1TB.

Two different high quality controllers complement Polycade's casual and mid-core gaming platform: Polycade eZpZ Controller and Polycade Arcade Controller. Both controllers feature bluetooth wireless, rechargeable battery, and support for additional platforms like the Switch. Polycade eZpZ Controller is a back-to-the-basics SNES style controller, and The Polycade Arcade Controller gives players a real arcade feel from the comfort of their couch.

Due to Polycade's launch success with its first crowdfunding campaign (raising over $125k for a $25k ask), and in order to engage new and old Polycade fans, Polycade is conducting a second crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo. Backers will receive early access to the Polycade software at the end of the campaign, and will also get a number of exclusive perks. Polycade consoles and controllers will ship within six months.

Learn more about the Polycade software here.

SOURCE Polycade

The migration toward digital payments and digital representations of value continues to accelerate, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased interest in digital currencies from central banks and consumers. PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) today announced the launch of a new service enabling its customers to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrency directly from their PayPal account, and signaled its plans to significantly increase cryptocurrency's utility by making it available as a funding source for purchases at its 26 million merchants worldwide.

Mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies has traditionally been hindered by their limited utility as an instrument of exchange due to volatility, cost and speed to transact. However, the promise of advanced technological platforms offers the possibility of mainstreaming digital currencies. According to a survey by the Bank for International Settlements, one in 10 central banks – representing approximately one-fifth of the world's population – expect to issue their own digital currencies within the next three years.

"The shift to digital forms of currencies is inevitable, bringing with it clear advantages in terms of financial inclusion and access; efficiency, speed and resilience of the payments system; and the ability for governments to disburse funds to citizens quickly," said Dan Schulman, president and CEO, PayPal. "Our global reach, digital payments expertise, two-sided network, and rigorous security and compliance controls provide us with the opportunity, and the responsibility, to help facilitate the understanding, redemption and interoperability of these new instruments of exchange. We are eager to work with central banks and regulators around the world to offer our support, and to meaningfully contribute to shaping the role that digital currencies will play in the future of global finance and commerce."

Building Understanding and Adoption of Cryptocurrency

To increase consumer understanding and adoption of cryptocurrency, the company is introducing the ability to buy, hold and sell select cryptocurrencies, initially featuring Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin, directly within the PayPal digital wallet. The service will be available to PayPal accountholders in the U.S. in the coming weeks. The company plans to expand the features to Venmo and select international markets in the first half of 2021. The service is enabled in the U.S. through a partnership with Paxos Trust Company, a regulated provider of cryptocurrency products and services.

PayPal has also been granted a first-of-its-kind conditional Bitlicense by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).

"NYDFS' approval today follows our June 2020 announcement for a new framework for a conditional Bitlicense to encourage, promote, and assist interested institutions to have a well-regulated way to access the New York virtual currency marketplace in a way that is both timely and protective of New York consumers, through partnerships with New York authorized virtual currency firms," said Linda A. Lacewell, superintendent, NYDFS. "NYDFS will continue to encourage and support financial service providers to operate, grow, remain and expand in New York and work with innovators to enable them to germinate and test their ideas, for a dynamic and forward looking financial services sector, especially as we work to build New York back better in the midst of this pandemic."

As part of this offering, PayPal will provide accountholders with educational content to help them understand the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the risks and opportunities related to investing in cryptocurrency, and information on blockchain technology. There are no service fees when buying or selling cryptocurrency through December 31, 2020, and there are no fees for holding cryptocurrency in a PayPal account.


Increasing the Utility of Cryptocurrency in Digital Commerce

Beginning in early 2021, PayPal customers will be able to use their cryptocurrency holdings as a funding source to pay at PayPal's 26 million merchants around the globe. Consumers will be able to instantly convert their selected cryptocurrency balance to fiat currency, with certainty of value and no incremental fees. PayPal merchants will have no additional integrations or fees, as all transactions will be settled with fiat currency at their current PayPal rates. In effect, cryptocurrency simply becomes another funding source inside the PayPal digital wallet, adding enhanced utility to cryptocurrency holders, while addressing previous concerns surrounding volatility, cost and speed of cryptocurrency-based transactions.


Exploring and Investing in the Next Generation of Financial Services Infrastructure

In addition to providing these significant cryptocurrency services, PayPal has been exploring the potential of digital currencies through partnerships with licensed and regulated cryptocurrency platforms and with central banks around the world. For the past five years, PayPal has increased its focus and resources on exploring the next generation of digital financial services infrastructure and enhancements to digital commerce through an internal blockchain-focused research team. In 2019, PayPal Ventures, the company's venture capital arm, invested in TRM Labs, a company focused on helping financial institutions prevent cryptocurrency fraud and financial crime, and Cambridge Blockchain, a blockchain-based identity management and compliance software company. PayPal will continue exploring the potential of distributed ledger technologies to improve financial services and assure they are faster, more secure and less expensive. The company intends to work hand-in-hand with regulators, governments and central banks in this quest.

To learn more and join the waitlist for PayPal's cryptocurrency services, click here.


SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc.

Today, Facebook is launching Dating in Europe to help more people find meaningful relationships through things they have in common, like interests, events and groups. Since the launch of Facebook Dating, over 1.5 billion matches have been created in the 20 countries where the feature is available.

Facebook Dating is a dedicated, opt-in space within the Facebook app, and you can create a Facebook Dating profile in just a few taps. Facebook Dating makes it easier to share your true self and gives you a more authentic look at who someone is.

Safe Spacer is a lightweight, wearable device that helps factories, warehouses, offices, museums, hotels and other workplaces and public spaces to operate with peace of mind by enabling workers and visitors to maintain safe social distancing. Now available, it gives businesses of practically any size a simple, yet effective solution with convenient ways to wear, charge and sync. It also offers comprehensive integration options for large-scale enterprises using their own proprietary data systems. These tools, along with a range of charging and data retrieval accessories, make Safe Spacer the most convenient, flexible system for virtually any organization.

Safe Spacer accurately detects when other Safe Spacer units come within 2m/6ft*, alerting wearers with a choice of visual, vibrating or audio alarm. Using Ultra-wideband technology, Safe Spacer offers accuracy up to 10x better than Bluetooth, and also gives users the option to store "collision" data to monitor compliance or perform fast contact tracing.

Users can choose from a range of lanyard, wristband, and belt loop options to adapt to any workplace without compromising existing safety protocols.


To help organizations manage multiple devices, the optional S-Charger docking/charging station allows up to 25 Safe Spacers to charge simultaneously. The S-Charger can be connected to a computer running Safe Spacer's free software to retrieve compliance and collision data, customize settings and more.

For organizations wanting more real-time compliance data, Safe Spacer can also sync wirelessly via the optional S-Bridge UWB access unit. It can be positioned in strategic locations, such as entry or exit points, to read the data from Safe Spacer devices as users approach, eliminating the need for long employee queues to download their device data.

Both the S-Bridge and S-Charger can connect to any computer via USB, and the free Safe Spacer software will extract this data for review, analysis and if needed, contact tracing. To maintain high privacy standards, no data except the device's ID and proximity is stored on the device; associating IDs with wearers' names is completely optional.


Safe Spacer and all related accessories are now available directly from IK Multimedia. An online guide assists users in selecting the best options for their organization's requirements and lets them request a personal consultation with the Safe Spacer team.

Safe Spacer - $99.99/€85.00 each*
S-Charger - $299.99/€270.00 each
S-Bridge - $139.99/€120.00 each*All prices excluding taxes. Safe Spacer software included. Volume discounts available.

For additional product info, a video about how Safe Spacer works, and ordering information, please visit
www.safespacer.net

NASA will announce an exciting new discovery about the Moon from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) at a media teleconference at 12 p.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 26. Audio of the teleconference will stream live on the agency's website.

This new discovery contributes to NASA's efforts to learn about the Moon in support of deep space exploration. Under NASA's Artemis program, the agency will send the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 to prepare for our next giant leap – human exploration of Mars as early as the 2030s. Understanding the science of the Moon also helps piece together the broader history of the inner solar system.

Briefing participants are:
Paul Hertz, Astrophysics division director at NASA Headquarters, Washington
Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters
Casey Honniball, postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Naseem Rangwala, project scientist for the SOFIA mission, NASA's Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley, California

To participate in the teleconference, members of the news media should contact Felicia Chou at felicia.chou@nasa.gov by 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, to receive the dial-in information.

As the world's largest airborne observatory, SOFIA is a modified 747 that flies high in the atmosphere to provide its nearly 9-foot telescope with a clear view of the universe and objects in our solar system. Flying above 99% of the atmosphere's obscuring water vapor, SOFIA observes in infrared wavelengths and can pick up phenomenon impossible to see with visible light.

For more information about NASA's Artemis program, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/

For more information about the SOFIA mission, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/index.html

SOURCE NASA
Related Links

https://www.nasa.gov

SuperCharge (www.supercharge.live), an all-new global motorsport series based on electric crossover road cars, today broke cover on its plans to help shape the new future for motorsport.

The inaugural series, planned to start in 2022, will target eight events globally, in cities from Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and USA, aiming to provide spectacular racing entertainment and promote the uptake of electric cars.

Designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, SuperCharge has been created, in consultation with some of the world's leading car manufacturers, as a new racing concept to showcase next-generation electric road cars in the volume and growth part of the market - compact SUVs and crossovers, as well as leading-edge battery technologies. Resetting the relevance and appeal of motorsport, the world's newest racing series aims to inform, educate and inspire in bustling urban environments, based around an access all areas, fun, informative, festival-style atmosphere.

SuperCharge is based on cars recognisable on the outside as electric road cars the public can, or will be able to, buy. Nevertheless, the race cars, codenamed SC01, will offer awe-inspiring performance. With similar acceleration to a Formula 1 car, they will have up to 500kW power (equivalent to 670bhp) and rocket to 0-100 km/h in a staggering 2.5 seconds.

Set in 1km (approx.) SuperTrack circuits, the action-packed entertainment experience has been carefully crafted to captivate spectators and viewers across the globe. Among the highlights will be a 2.5 ramp that could project the cars up to 10 metres on every lap, plus a water gantry and a SuperLoop lap extension and low friction zones that will allow the cars to slide, drift and touch. A knockout format will pit 16 cars and some of the world's top drivers drawn from eight teams against each other in a series of 15 quick-fire races, with a maximum of six laps each.


SOURCE SuperCharge


Related Links

http://www.supercharge.live

Wemo, the connected home division within the Belkin International and Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) (HK:6088) entity, today unveils the WiFi Outdoor Smart Plug at this year's Pepcom Holiday Spectacular virtual event.

Joining the award-winning Wemo portfolio, the WiFi Outdoor Smart Plug provides total control over lights, holiday decorations and other outdoor devices and appliances with no subscription or hub required. Featuring two, splash-proof and weather-resistant outlets, users can simply and safely plug in their devices and control wirelessly from phone or tablet or using voice. The WiFi Outdoor Smart Plug works with with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Hey Google, providing easy integration into smart home ecosystem for seamless whole-home control at the touch of a button or single voice command.


Key features:

Belkin, the connected things division within the Belkin International and Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) (HK:6088) entity, today announces the smallest GaN 60W solution on the market*, the BOOST↑CHARGE™ PRO USB-C PD GaN Wall Charger 60W.