Once you can accept the Universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy.

— Albert Einstein

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Do We Have Enough Bird Flu Vaccines for a Potential Pandemic?

Scientific American.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 11:15am

The U.S. government has a stockpile of H5N1 vaccines, and several companies could make millions more if needed. But scaling up the supply could take time

Categories: Astronomy

Why Do We Sing? New Analysis of Folk Songs Finds Similarities around the World

Scientific American.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 10:45am

Across the globe, singing traditions are vast and varied. Their commonalities may help explain how music evolved

Categories: Astronomy

DxO PhotoLab 7 review

Space.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 10:30am
How does DxO PhotoLab 7's famous DeepPRIME XD noise reduction stack up for astrophotography?
Categories: Astronomy

Students Across US to Hear from NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station

NASA - Breaking News - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 10:15am
An image of NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps using the glovebox BioFabrication Facility in the Columbus European Laboratory during Expedition 71 on April 10, 2024. Credits: NASA/Michael Barratt

Students of a volunteer service organization will have the opportunity next week to hear from NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps aboard the International Space Station.

The Earth-to-space call will stream live at 11:40 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 21, on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

Media interested in covering the event must RSVP no later than 5 p.m., Monday, May 20, by contacting Kimberly Sweet at knoelsweet@gmail.com or 601-260-1208.

Junior chapters of The Links, Incorporated, and the National Society of Black Engineers across the United States will ask pre-recorded questions and host a live viewing event. The Links is an international, not-for-profit, volunteer service organization focused on the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.

For more than 23 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network.

Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the International Space station benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for other agency missions. As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Inspiring Artemis Generation explorers and ensuring the United States will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

See videos and lesson plans highlighting space station research at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

-end-

Gerelle Dodson
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
gerelle.q.dodson@nasa.gov

Sandra Jones 
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

Share Details Last Updated May 16, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms
Categories: NASA

India makes breakthrough by test-firing new 3D-printed rocket engine (photo)

Space.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 10:00am
India recently performed a successful hot-fire test of a rocket engine that was built using 3D printing technology, a breakthrough that could boost the nation's spaceflight prospects.
Categories: Astronomy

Spiderweb Thread Inspires Ultrasmall Microphones

Scientific American.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 10:00am

Sound recording could take a cue from arachnid acoustics

Categories: Astronomy

Hera plus one: enter the CubeSat

ESO Top News - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 9:31am
Image: Hera plus one: enter the CubeSat
Categories: Astronomy

Accounts Payable

NASA - Breaking News - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 9:18am
6 Min Read Accounts Payable Welcome to NSSC Accounts Payable where we process all accounts payable invoices, centrally billed accounts, and government charge card transactions for the Agency.

Vendor Payment

NASA is committed to expedient and accurate payment of invoices.  Any questions or inquiries should be addressed to the Contracting Officer designated on your award or to the NSSC Customer Contact Center.

NSSC Customer Contact Center telephone: 1-877-677-2123 (1-877-NSSC123)
Fax: 1-866-779-6772 (1-866-779-NSSC)

Vouchers and invoices are to be submitted in the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform for awards that include the new voucher or invoice submission clause, 48 CFR § 1852.232-80.

**NOTES: 

  • In the case of commercial item contracts, electronic invoicing is allowed via the IPP Portal.
  • Invoices for awards in closeout should be submitted via hardcopy/e-mail/fax to one of the addresses at the bottom of the page.

For assistance with IPP, please use the contact information below:

If your award does not include 48 CFR § 1852.232-80, invoices are to be submitted in one of the following ways until you receive a modification from the NASA Contracting Officer to change your invoice/voucher submission:

via e-mail to:  NSSC-AccountsPayable@nasa.gov
via hardcopy paper to: 
NSSC – FMD Accounts Payable
Building 1111, Jerry Hlass Road
Stennis Space Center, MS  39529

Payment Status

For payment status questions or problems, vendors and employees should contact the NSSC Customer Contact Center.

How to Avoid Delayed Payment from the NSSC

We try very hard to ensure all payments arrive in a timely fashion. Occasionally, payments take longer to process than expected. Sometimes, invoices are returned to the vendor because they do not comply with the payment terms of the contract or problems processing the invoice delay payment. To facilitate processing of your invoice and to expedite your payment, we compiled the following list of reasons payments are delayed:

The invoice does not contain the following information per the Prompt Payment Act:

  • Vendor name
  • Contract/purchase order number
  • Date
  • Amount
  • Shipping and/or payment terms
  • Invoice number
  • Description of service/good invoiced
  • The invoice was not sent to the correct Designated Billing Office (DBO).
    Check your contract/purchase order to ensure that the NSSC is the proper Designated Billing Office.
  • Incorrect banking information for payment
  • Partial shipments or billings not stated in terms or conditions of contract
  • Submission of multiple invoices in one e-mail or fax
  • Encryption of email
  • Embedding multiple invoices or instructions and complicated attachments in e-mails
  • Invoice or file is not in a standard print format (Word, Excel or PDF)
  • Submission of documents as Microsoft Document Writer images and some TIFF applications

If your invoice form does not contain this information you may want to use the Standard Form (SF) 1034.

Check the Status of an Invoice Payment from NASA

To check the status of your payment or if you have a payment problem, you can contact the NSSC by:

Calling the NSSC Customer Contact Center at: 1-877-677-2123 (1-877-NSSC123)
Faxing your inquiry to: 1-866-829-6772

When you contact the NSSC, please have the following information on hand:

Vendor Name
Contract/Purchase Order Number
Date Submitted to Designated Billing Office
Invoice Number
Invoice Amount
Applicable NASA Center

Collections for NASA Vendor Over-Payments

Vendor overpayments that are due back to NASA can be made via cash, checks, or electronically at the Pay NASA link.
Pay.gov Payments
Payments may also be made using the Pay.gov payment system.  Pay.gov has been developed to meet the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Management Service Division’s commitment to process collections electronically.

  • Pay.gov is a secure, government-wide, internet collection portal.
  • Pay.gov provides the ability to make payments by check, credit card, or debit card 24 hours a day.  
  • Pay.gov is web based, allowing customers to make payments from any computer with Internet access.
  • Pay.gov does NOT require a login ID or password to use the service.

For check payments in Pay.gov you will need:

  • Company/Contact Information
  • ABA Routing Number
  • Checking Account Number
  • Check Number
  • NASA Center to be paid
  • Bill or Debt ID #

For credit or debit card payments, you will need:

  • Company/Contact Information
  • Debit or Credit Card
  • NASA Center to be paid
  • Bill or Debt ID #

For more information, please visit the Accounts Receivable page.

Payment Cut-Off Dates

In order for the NSSC to receive confirmation of vendor disbursements by Treasury, payments are cut off (not processed) three business days prior to the last day of the month.

For FY2023 the last day for processing vendor payments to Treasury is September 26, 2023.  The next day for payments will begin on October 2, 2023.

The established monthly cut-off dates for payments are listed below:

Vendor References

IRS 1099-MISC Form Instructions

Prompt Payment Rule

NASA FAR Supplement

Small Business Administration

Submitting Proper Invoices to NASA

Make certain your invoice contains all the information stipulated in the Invoicing clause of your contract to avoid delays and expedite the payment process. Generally, each Invoicing clause requires the following:

  • Name and Address
  • Invoice Date/Number
  • Contract/Purchase Order Number
  • Description of Goods or Services (CLIN, QTY, U/P), Quantity, Unit Price, Total Amount of Invoice
  • Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) (if applicable)

All vouchers for cost reimbursable contracts have to be submitted through IPP. 

Before you submit your invoice for payment, please check each contract/purchase order to see where invoices for each contract/purchase order are to be submitted.

System for Award Management (SAM) for NASA Vendors

System for Award Management (SAM) for NASA Vendors

Payments against NASA contracts and other procurement actions are made by the NSSC. In order to better align with Federal-wide vendor databases, NASA uses the System for Award Management (SAM) to validate vendor information across all of the Agency’s Integrated Enterprise Management (IEM) business systems. NASA payments to vendors are processed using the banking information in SAM.

To ensure continued accurate and prompt payments, please maintain a current registration, including banking information in SAM.  SAM can be accessed at www.sam.gov.
If you need assistance registering or have questions about SAM, contact the SAM Help Desk at www.fsd.gov.
NASA will use the clause at FAR 52.232-33 in contracts as the default Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) requirement. 

Please note that any information provided in your registration may be shared with authorized federal government offices. Registration does not guarantee business with the federal government. 

Categories: NASA

'Smiling' black bear caught on camera in Pasadena goes viral

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 9:15am
Wildlife photographer Johanna Turner used a trail camera to capture this cheery shot of a black bear, which is going viral after she posted it on social media
Categories: Astronomy

'Smiling' black bear caught on camera in Pasadena goes viral

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 9:15am
Wildlife photographer Johanna Turner used a trail camera to capture this cheery shot of a black bear, which is going viral after she posted it on social media
Categories: Astronomy

In the Milky Way, 3 intruder stars are 'on the run' — in the wrong direction

Space.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 9:00am
Three ancient stars that hail from cannibalized dwarf galaxies are "on the run" at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour in the Milky Way's galactic halo.
Categories: Astronomy

Canada’s wildfire season begins

ESO Top News - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 8:15am

Wildfire season has arrived in full force in Canada, prompting evacuation orders and alerts in several towns in British Columbia and Alberta due to the danger of uncontrolled blazes.

Hazardous smoke from the fires has also triggered air quality alerts in Canada and the northern US. Satellite technology, including the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite and ESA’s Fire Atlas, plays a crucial role in monitoring these wildfires.

Categories: Astronomy

The Strongest Solar Storm in 20 Years Did Little Damage, but Worse Space Weather Is Coming

Scientific American.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 8:00am

Years of careful planning helped safeguard against last weekend’s severe space weather, but we still don’t know how we’d cope with a monster event

Categories: Astronomy

Genetic mutation gives cats a 'salty liquorice' coat colour

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 7:56am
Researchers have discovered the gene variant responsible for a distinctive colour pattern seen in cats in Finland, named salmiak after a variety of liquorice
Categories: Astronomy

Genetic mutation gives cats a 'salty liquorice' coat colour

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 7:56am
Researchers have discovered the gene variant responsible for a distinctive colour pattern seen in cats in Finland, named salmiak after a variety of liquorice
Categories: Astronomy

Virtual power plants could ease growing strain on US electric grid

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 7:00am
Energy-saving networks that link smart devices, solar panels and batteries could regulate power demand and help avoid fossil fuel use at peak times
Categories: Astronomy

Virtual power plants could ease growing strain on US electric grid

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 7:00am
Energy-saving networks that link smart devices, solar panels and batteries could regulate power demand and help avoid fossil fuel use at peak times
Categories: Astronomy

Mental Time Travel Helps Birds Remember Food Stashes

Scientific American.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 7:00am

Eurasian Jays use something similar to humans’ episodic memory to remember where they stored their food

Categories: Astronomy

How New Science Fiction Could Help Us Improve AI

Scientific American.com - Thu, 05/16/2024 - 6:45am

We need to tell a new story about AI, and fiction has that power, humanities scholars say

Categories: Astronomy