STM Daily News
UPDATE: NASA and Boeing to Stream Flight Test Mission Briefing on NASA+
Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by Daily News Staff
On Thursday, July 25, at 11:30 a.m. EDT, NASA and Boeing will hold an important news conference to discuss the latest updates regarding the Boeing Crew Flight Test aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This briefing is a significant step forward in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and will now be streamed live on various platforms, including NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s official website.
What to Expect in the Briefing
Instead of the initially planned audio-only teleconference, this live briefing will provide a more engaging way for the public to follow the discussion. Attendees can expect insights from key mission leaders, including:
- Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
- Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program
These leaders will share updates on the mission status, including recent testing achievements and what they mean for future space travel.
Recent Testing Milestones
One of the recent highlights in the mission’s preparation was the successful completion of ground hot fire testing for a Starliner reaction control system thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. During these tests, engineers simulated the conditions that the spacecraft will experience during its approach to the ISS. They also conducted various stress tests to prepare for critical moments during the mission, such as undocking from the ISS and the deorbit burn, which positions the spacecraft for a safe landing in the southwestern United States.
As the engineering teams analyze the data collected from these tests, initial findings will be discussed during the briefing, helping to shed light on Starliner’s readiness for upcoming missions.
Current Mission Status
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are currently aboard the ISS, having arrived on June 6 following their launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Since joining the Expedition 71 crew, they have been engaged in vital scientific research and maintenance tasks aboard the space station.
This mission serves as an end-to-end test of the Starliner system, and a successful return to Earth will be a crucial step toward certifying Starliner for future rotational missions to the ISS. This initiative is part of NASA’s broader strategy to collaborate with American private industry, thereby opening up low Earth orbit and the space station to more people, scientific research, and commercial opportunities.
Media Participation
For media representatives interested in attending the briefing in person, please contact the newsroom at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston by 9:30 a.m. EDT on July 25. Those wishing to participate via phone must reach out to either NASA Johnson or NASA’s Kennedy Space Center by 10:30 a.m. that same day.
Stay Informed
This upcoming briefing is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the future of human spaceflight. We encourage you to tune in to learn more about NASA and Boeing’s ongoing efforts to advance space exploration. Be sure to follow NASA on social media for updates and insights as we continue to explore the final frontier together!
For NASA’s blog and more information about the mission, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
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Last Updated on May 9, 2026 by Daily News Staff
National Small Business Month
Every May, communities across the United States recognize Small Business Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the entrepreneurs, family-owned companies, startups, and local shops that help drive the American economy. From neighborhood restaurants to innovative tech startups, small businesses continue to play a vital role in creating jobs, supporting communities, and inspiring innovation.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for millions of jobs nationwide and represent the backbone of local economies. Throughout May, organizations, chambers of commerce, and business leaders host networking events, educational workshops, and promotional campaigns to support entrepreneurs and encourage consumers to shop locally.
One of the highlights of the month is National Small Business Week, which honors outstanding entrepreneurs and business owners making a difference in their communities.
For consumers, Small Business Month is also a reminder that supporting local businesses helps strengthen neighborhoods and keeps communities thriving. Whether it’s dining at a local café, shopping at an independent store, or hiring a local service provider, every purchase can make an impact.
Learn more about Small Business Month and related events through the official U.S. Small Business Administrationwebsite.
Related External Links
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- National Small Business Week – SBA
- SCORE – Mentoring and Resources for Small Businesses
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Small Business Resources
- Forbes Small Business News and Insights
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
The Knowledge
Artemis II crew brought a human eye and storytelling vision to the photos they took on their mission
Artemis II crew: Artemis II’s astronaut photos show how human perspective and storytelling make space imagery feel authentic—especially in an era of AI-generated visuals.
Christye Sisson, Rochester Institute of Technology
In early April 2026, the Artemis II mission captivated me and millions of people watching from across the world. The crew’s courage, skill and infectious wonder served as tangible proof of human persistence and technological achievement, all against the mysterious backdrop of space.
People back on Earth got to witness the mission through remarkable photos of space captured by astronauts. Images created and shared by astronauts underscore how photography builds a powerful, authentic connection that goes beyond what technology alone can capture.
As a photographer and the director of the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, I am especially drawn to how these photographs have been at the center of the public’s collective experience of this mission.
In an era when image authenticity is often questioned and with the capabilities of autonomous, AI-driven imaging, NASA’s choice to train astronauts in photography has placed meaning over convenience and prioritized their human perspectives and creativity.
Capturing space from the crew’s perspective
Photography was not originally placed as a high priority in NASA’s Apollo era. The astronauts only took photographs if they had the chance and all their other tasks were complete.
Thanks largely in part to public response to those images from Apollo, including “Earthrise” and the “Blue Marble” being widely credited for helping catalyze the modern environmental movement, NASA shifted its approach to utilize photography to help capture the public’s imagination by training their astronauts in photographic practices.
The Artemis II mission’s photographs have helped cut through the increasing volume of artificially generated images circulating on social media. NASA’s social media releases of the crew’s photographs have garnered thousands of shares and comments.
This excitement could be explained by the novelty of photos from space, but these images also distinguish themselves as products of astronauts experiencing these sights and interpreting them through their photographs. These differences require an important distinction around where technology ends and humanity begins.
Human perspective versus AI tools
Photography has long integrated AI-powered software and data-driven tools in a variety of ways: to process raw images, fill in missing color information, drive precise focus and guide image editing, among others. These modern technological assists help human photographers realize their vision.
Artificial intelligence is also increasingly capable of operating machinery competently and autonomously, from cars to drones and cameras.
And AI can generate convincing, realistic images and videos from nothing more than a text prompt, using readily available tools.
Researchers train AI to mimic patterns informed by millions of sample images, and the algorithm can then either take or create a photograph based on what it predicts would be the most likely version of a successful, believable image.
Human-created photos are rooted in direct observation, intent and lived experience, while AI images – or choices made by AI-driven tools – are not. While both can produce compelling and believable visuals, the human photographs carry emotional power because the photographer is drawing from their experiences and perspective in that moment to tell an authentic story.
Artemis II photographs resonate, not only because they are historic, but because they reflect the deliberate choices and intent of a human being in that specific moment and context. The exposure, camera setting, lens choice and composition are all dictated by the astronaut’s vision, skill, perspective and experience. Each image is unique in comparison with the others. These choices give the images narrative power, anchoring them in human perspective.
Images to tell a story
Photographers choose what to include in the final version of their image to tell a story. In the Artemis II images, this human perspective comes out. In the “Earthset” photo, you see a striking juxtaposition of the Moon’s monochromatic, textured surface in the foreground against a slivered, bright Earth.
The choice to include both in the frame contrasts these objects literally and figuratively, inviting comparison. It creates a narrative where Earth is contrasted against the Moon – life is contrasted against the absence of it.
Another photo shows the nightside of the whole Earth, featuring the Sun’s halo, auroras and city lights. The choice to include the subtle framing of the window of the capsule in the lower left corner reminds the viewer where and how this image was captured: by a human, inside a capsule, hurtling through space. That detail grounds the photograph in the human perspective.
Both photos are reminiscent of Earthrise and the Blue Marble. These past images hold a place in the global collective consciousness, shaped by a shared historical moment.
The Artemis II photographs are anchored in this collective moment of lived human experience, yet also shaped by each astronaut’s viewpoint. The crew’s unique perspectives exemplify photography’s transformative power by inviting viewers to engage emotionally and intellectually with their journey. These photographs share the astronauts’ awe and wonder and affirm the value of human creativity and its ability to connect us in a captured moment.
Christye Sisson, Professor of Photographic Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Last Updated on May 6, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Second Nature Brands has issued a voluntary recall for certain 10-ounce pouches of SECOND NATURE KETO CRUNCH SMART MIX™ after discovering the product may contain undeclared cashews, pistachios, and cherries. For anyone with allergies or severe sensitivities—especially to tree nuts like cashews and pistachios—this is a serious safety issue.
The company says the affected product was distributed nationwide, both in retail stores and through online orders.
Why this matters
Undeclared allergens are one of the most urgent types of food safety alerts because consumers rely on labels to avoid ingredients that can trigger reactions. Second Nature Brands warns that people with allergies or severe sensitivity to cashews, pistachios, other tree nuts, or cherries could face serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the recalled product.
As of the announcement, no illnesses have been reported.
How to identify the recalled product
Check your pantry (and any recent online snack orders) for the following details:
- Product: SECOND NATURE KETO CRUNCH SMART MIX™
- Size: 10-ounce pouch
- UPC: 077034013405
- Best if used by date: 2/12/2027 (printed on the backside of the pouch)
Only pouches with the “Best if used by 2/12/2027” date are included. Other Best if used by dates are not affected, according to the company.
What happened
Second Nature Brands says the recall began after it was discovered that product containing cashews, pistachios, and cherries was placed into packaging that did not disclose those allergens. The company reports that a follow-up investigation indicates the issue was caused by a temporary breakdown in production and packaging processes.
The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What consumers should do right now
If you have the affected product:
- Do not consume it.
- Keep the pouch (and take a photo of the UPC and Best if used by date if helpful).
- Contact Second Nature Brands for a full refund.
Contact information for refunds and questions
Second Nature Brands says consumers can reach them by phone or email:
- Phone: +1.800.651.7263
- Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM ET
- Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM ET
- Email: recall@secondnaturebrandsus.com
Health & fitness note: “Keto” doesn’t equal “risk-free”
Keto-friendly snacks can be convenient for people managing carbs, training schedules, or busy workdays—but this alert is a reminder that label accuracy is non-negotiable, especially for anyone balancing nutrition goals with medical dietary restrictions.
If you or someone in your household has a tree nut or cherry allergy, consider doing a quick sweep of:
- Snack drawers at home and work
- Gym bags and travel kits
- Recent bulk orders or subscription deliveries
Bottom line
If you have a 10-ounce pouch of SECOND NATURE KETO CRUNCH SMART MIX™ with UPC 077034013405 and Best if used by 2/12/2027, do not eat it. Contact Second Nature Brands for a refund and share the alert with anyone who may have purchased the product—especially those with tree nut or cherry allergies.
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