{ "id": 12783, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/", "page_type": "Infographic", "title": "SuperTIGER Ready to Fly Again in Study of Heavy Cosmic Rays", "description": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available. || SuperTIGER_Skype_Still.png (1280x720) [1.2 MB] || SuperTIGER_Skype2.webm (1280x720) [135.1 MB] || SuperTIGER_Skype2.mp4 (1280x720) [608.6 MB] || SuperTIGER_Skype2_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [22.5 KB] || SuperTIGER_Skype2_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [22.5 KB] || SuperTIGER_Skype2_best.mp4 (1280x720) [1.2 GB] || ", "release_date": "2017-12-06T12:45:00-05:00", "update_date": "2020-01-23T07:32:08-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 409214, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Name_STILL.jpg", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Name_STILL.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 }, "main_video": null, "main_credits": { "Produced by": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, "progress": "Complete", "media_groups": [ { "id": 328432, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328432", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Complete transcript available.

", "items": [ { "id": 253393, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409200, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Skype_Still.png", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Skype_Still.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 253394, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409201, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Skype2.mp4", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Skype2.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 253397, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409202, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Skype2_best.mp4", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Skype2_best.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 253398, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409203, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Skype2.webm", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Skype2.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available.", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } }, { "id": 253395, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 851394, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Skype2_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Skype2_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available.", "label": "English", "language_code": "" } }, { "id": 253396, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 851395, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Skype2_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Skype2_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER team members Brian Rauch, Jason Link and Nathan Walsh join NASA Blueshift's Sara Mitchell for a Skype conversation in November 2017 about the instrument's science, technology and upcoming launch from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterComplete transcript available.", "label": "English", "language_code": "" } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328431, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328431", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Due to uncooperative weather in Antarctica, SuperTIGER was unable to launch during the 2017-18 balloon season. The team returned to the ice in November 2018, preparing for their first launch opportunity of the 2018-19 season!


Scientists in Antarctica are preparing to loft a NASA balloon-borne instrument to collect information on cosmic rays, high-energy particles from beyond the solar system that enter Earth's atmosphere every moment of every day. The instrument, called the Super Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (SuperTIGER), is designed to study rare heavy nuclei, which hold clues about where and how cosmic rays attain speeds up to nearly the speed of light.

The most common cosmic ray particles are protons (hydrogen nuclei), making up roughly 90 percent, followed by helium nuclei (8 percent) and electrons (1 percent). The remainder contains the nuclei of other elements, with dwindling numbers of heavy nuclei as their masses rise. With SuperTIGER, researchers are looking for the rarest of the rare -- so-called ultra-heavy cosmic ray nuclei beyond iron, from cobalt to barium.

These elements are formed in some of the most extreme environments in the cosmos -- outflows from massive stars, supernova explosions, and mergers of neutron stars. Learning more about the distribution of the heavy cosmic rays will help astronomers further narrow down the places and processes forming them.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328433, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328433", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Explore this infographic to learn more about SuperTIGER, cosmic rays and scientific ballooning.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 253399, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409204, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic_1k_print.jpg", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic_1k_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore this infographic to learn more about SuperTIGER, cosmic rays and scientific ballooning. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1024, "height": 1755, "pixels": 1797120 } }, { "id": 253402, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409208, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic_1k.png", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic_1k.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore this infographic to learn more about SuperTIGER, cosmic rays and scientific ballooning. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1000, "height": 1714, "pixels": 1714000 } }, { "id": 253403, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409207, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic_1k.jpg", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic_1k.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore this infographic to learn more about SuperTIGER, cosmic rays and scientific ballooning. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1000, "height": 1714, "pixels": 1714000 } }, { "id": 253400, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409206, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic.png", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore this infographic to learn more about SuperTIGER, cosmic rays and scientific ballooning. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 4200, "height": 7200, "pixels": 30240000 } }, { "id": 253401, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409205, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic.jpg", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Balloon_Infographic.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Explore this infographic to learn more about SuperTIGER, cosmic rays and scientific ballooning. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 4200, "height": 7200, "pixels": 30240000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328434, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328434", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "When SuperTIGER’s balloon reaches its maximum altitude, near 130,000 feet (40,000 meters), its envelope has expanded to a diameter of 460 feet (140 meters) -- big enough to spin a football field in its center.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 253405, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409210, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Football_Field_Scale.gif", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Football_Field_Scale.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "When SuperTIGER’s balloon reaches its maximum altitude, near 130,000 feet (40,000 meters), its envelope has expanded to a diameter of 460 feet (140 meters) -- big enough to spin a football field in its center. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1000, "height": 1000, "pixels": 1000000 } }, { "id": 253404, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409209, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Football_Field_Scale-500.gif", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Football_Field_Scale-500.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "When SuperTIGER’s balloon reaches its maximum altitude, near 130,000 feet (40,000 meters), its envelope has expanded to a diameter of 460 feet (140 meters) -- big enough to spin a football field in its center. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 500, "height": 500, "pixels": 250000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328435, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328435", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Cosmic rays are protons, electrons, and atomic nuclei traveling at up to nearly the speed of light originating from beyond the solar system. SuperTIGER seeks the heaviest nuclei, ranging from neon to barium, that make up less than 1 percent of the cosmic ray population. The distribution of these heavy nuclei enable scientists to hone ideas about where cosmic rays originate and how they’re boosted to high energies.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 253406, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409211, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Periodic_Table.gif", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Periodic_Table.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Cosmic rays are protons, electrons, and atomic nuclei traveling at up to nearly the speed of light originating from beyond the solar system. SuperTIGER seeks the heaviest nuclei, ranging from neon to barium, that make up less than 1 percent of the cosmic ray population. The distribution of these heavy nuclei enable scientists to hone ideas about where cosmic rays originate and how they’re boosted to high energies. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1000, "height": 520, "pixels": 520000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328436, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328436", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Launching balloons in Antarctica during the austral summer has two big advantages. A persistent high-pressure system forms a unique counterclockwise circulation called a polar vortex in the upper atmosphere above the continent. These upper-level winds guide balloons around the continent, letting scientists recover their instruments near the launch site once the mission concludes. Constant daylight during the Antarctic summer minimizes day-night temperature fluctuations, which is an important factor for long-duration flights.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 253407, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409212, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/Antarctica-1000.gif", "filename": "Antarctica-1000.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Launching balloons in Antarctica during the austral summer has two big advantages. A persistent high-pressure system forms a unique counterclockwise circulation called a polar vortex in the upper atmosphere above the continent. These upper-level winds guide balloons around the continent, letting scientists recover their instruments near the launch site once the mission concludes. Constant daylight during the Antarctic summer minimizes day-night temperature fluctuations, which is an important factor for long-duration flights. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1000, "height": 1000, "pixels": 1000000 } }, { "id": 253408, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409213, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/Antarctica-800.gif", "filename": "Antarctica-800.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Launching balloons in Antarctica during the austral summer has two big advantages. A persistent high-pressure system forms a unique counterclockwise circulation called a polar vortex in the upper atmosphere above the continent. These upper-level winds guide balloons around the continent, letting scientists recover their instruments near the launch site once the mission concludes. Constant daylight during the Antarctic summer minimizes day-night temperature fluctuations, which is an important factor for long-duration flights. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 800, "height": 800, "pixels": 640000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328437, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328437", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 253409, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409216, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Name_STILL.png", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Name_STILL.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 253410, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409214, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Name_STILL.jpg", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Name_STILL.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 253411, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409215, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Name_STILL_print.jpg", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Name_STILL_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 253412, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409217, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Name_STILL_searchweb.png", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Name_STILL_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 253413, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409218, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/SuperTIGER_Name_STILL_thm.png", "filename": "SuperTIGER_Name_STILL_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328438, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328438", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The SuperTIGER instrument in Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in preparation for December 2017 launch opportunities.

Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "items": [ { "id": 253414, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409219, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/ST2_A.jpg", "filename": "ST2_A.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The SuperTIGER instrument in Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in preparation for December 2017 launch opportunities. Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "width": 5184, "height": 3456, "pixels": 17915904 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328439, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328439", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Brian Rauch (right), a Research Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and Washington University graduate student Nathan Walsh work on SuperTIGER in Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in preparation for December 2017 launch opportunities.

Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "items": [ { "id": 253415, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409220, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/ST2_B.jpg", "filename": "ST2_B.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Brian Rauch (right), a Research Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and Washington University graduate student Nathan Walsh work on SuperTIGER in Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in preparation for December 2017 launch opportunities. Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "width": 5184, "height": 3456, "pixels": 17915904 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328440, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328440", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "On Dec. 1, 2017, SuperTIGER was brought onto the deck of Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, to test communications in preparation for its second flight. Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth, appears in the background.

Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "items": [ { "id": 253416, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409221, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/ST_comm_test_Dec_1A.jpg", "filename": "ST_comm_test_Dec_1A.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "On Dec. 1, 2017, SuperTIGER was brought onto the deck of Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, to test communications in preparation for its second flight. Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth, appears in the background. Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "width": 5184, "height": 3456, "pixels": 17915904 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328441, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328441", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "SuperTIGER rests on the deck of Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during communications tests on Dec. 1, 2017, in preparation for its second flight.

Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "items": [ { "id": 253417, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 409222, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012700/a012783/ST_comm_test_Dec_1B.jpg", "filename": "ST_comm_test_Dec_1B.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "SuperTIGER rests on the deck of Payload Building 2 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during communications tests on Dec. 1, 2017, in preparation for its second flight. Credit: NASA/Jason Link", "width": 3456, "height": 5184, "pixels": 17915904 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 328442, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12783/#media_group_328442", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasas-supertiger-balloon-flies-again-to-study-heavy-cosmic-particles](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasas-supertiger-balloon-flies-again-to-study-heavy-cosmic-particles)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Astrophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "Syneren Technologies" } ] }, { "role": "Associate producer", "people": [ { "name": "Sara Mitchell", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" }, { "name": "Barb Mattson", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] } ], "missions": [], "series": [ "Astrophysics Presentations", "Astrophysics Stills", "Balloon", "Narrated Movies" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Black Hole", "Gamma Ray Burst", "HDTV", "Infographic", "Neutron Star", "Supernova" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14979, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14979/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Early Testing of Aerogel and Silicon Detectors for TIGERISS", "description": "Nick Cannady, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, examines a block of silica aerogel in May 2025. Cannady uses the light weight material in detectors for the upcoming TIGERISS (Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder for the International Space Station) mission, which is designed to study high-speed charged particles called cosmic rays.Credit: NASA/Scott WiessingerAlt text: A man studies a transparent block of aerogel.Image description: A man with glasses wearing a blue checkered shirt examines a block of transparent material resting on a table. He is leaning and rests his right hand on the table. The block glows faintly blue. The table is gray with evenly spaced rows of holes. || Tigeriss-Aerogel__Nick_Cannady-3.jpg (6393x4718) [17.4 MB] || Tigeriss-AerogelNick_Cannady-3-small.jpg (3196x2359) [1.6 MB] || ", "release_date": "2026-03-26T14:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2026-04-01T11:57:02-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1202764, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014979/Tigeriss-Aerogel-1_searchweb.png", "filename": "Tigeriss-Aerogel-1_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Engineers will use aerogel, like the block shown here, to help determine the charge and velocity of cosmic rays that strike TIGERISS’s detectors. Aerogel is also an excellent insulating material. \rCredit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\rAlt text: A block of aerogel lying a table\rImage description: A block of translucent material rests on a table. The block glows faintly blue. The table is gray and full of evenly spaced holes.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }