NASA Breaking News NASA Education Offers Summer of Innovation 'Mini-Awards' NASA's Summer of Innovation project is accepting proposals through Monday, June 10, from organizations that want to offer students science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational experiences this summer. read more... NASA'S Hubble Space Telescope Reveals the Ring Nebula's True Shape The Ring Nebula's distinctive shape makes it a popular illustration for astronomy books. But new observations by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of the glowing gas shroud around an old, dying, sun-like star reveal a new twist. read more... NASA Hosts Google+ Hangout with Recently Returned Space Station Astronauts NASA will host a Google+ Hangout with the three recently returned International Space Station astronauts from 3-4 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 23. read more... NASA Announces Global Best in Class Winners for the International Space Apps Challenge A panel of international judges from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and other partner organizations has selected five "best in class" solutions as winners of the 2013 International Space Apps Challenge. read more... Herschel Space Observatory Finds Mega Merger of Galaxies A massive and rare merging of two galaxies has been spotted in images taken by the Herschel space observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA participation. read more... Massachusetts Students Speak Live With Orbiting NASA Astronaut NASA Expedition 35 astronaut and flight engineer Chris Cassidy will speak live from the International Space Station with students at Talbot Innovation Middle School in Fall River, Mass., at 10:05 a.m. EDT, Thursday, May 23. read more... NASA Calls For Phase II Visionary Advanced Concepts NASA is looking for far-out ideas. NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program is seeking Phase II proposals for continuation of promising studies selected during the first phase of the visionary program. read more... NASA and The White House Pay Tribute to Sally Ride NASA and President Obama are honoring the life and legacy of Sally Ride on the day a national tribute was held for the first American woman in space. read more... NASA, Bigelow to Discuss Private Sector Human Space Exploration and Development NASA and Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas are holding a media availability at 1:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 23, to discuss the agency's Space Act Agreement with the company for its insight on collaborating with commercial industry on exploration beyond Earth orbit. Journalists can participate in-person or by teleconference. read more... Vanderbilt Takes Top Prize in NASA Student Launch Challenge The Aerospace Club of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., took first prize in the 2013 annual NASA Student Launch Projects challenge, in which student teams design, build and fly small rockets with science payloads to an altitude of 1 mile and return them safely to Earth. read more...