Launch Media Kit: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope
Served as an editor and one of three writers for 50-page press kit on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
Writing Portfolio
Q&A: Who created the Diversity Style Guide?
Rachele Kanigel is editor of the Diversity Style Guide, a resource for media professionals containing terms and guidance on covering the nuances of race, gender, sexuality, mental health, and more. For The Objective, I spoke with Kanigel to understand more about how she navigates research and attribution in her work, as well as how she believes word choice can shape coverage.
How to Ship the World’s Largest Space Telescope 5,800 Miles Across the Ocean
When NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launches, it will undergo one of the most harrowing deployment processes any spacecraft has ever endured. But before it even gets on top of its ride to space, Webb had to complete a final journey here on Earth: a roughly 5,800-mile (9,300-kilometer) voyage at sea.
Webb was shipped from California on Sept. 26, ultimately passing through the Panama Canal to reach the P
Webb was shipped from California on Sept. 26, ultimately passing through the Panama Canal to reach the P
10 Things: What We Learn About Earth by Studying the Moon
In the vast expanse of our solar system, there is one place that, in some ways, we know even better than parts of Earth. It’s a spinning rock that’s a constant throughout our lives: our natural satellite, the Moon.
Around the world, people have found ways to make the Moon their own. The Chinese tell the tale of Chang’e, a Moon goddess. The Ancient Egyptians had the Moon god Khonsu, protector of night-time travelers. The Ancient Greeks had the Moon goddess Selene, who was said to drive a Moon chariot across the dark sky.
Not only have our stories helped us make sense of the Moon, but the Moon has informed our understanding of Earth. So here are 10 things we’ve learned about Earth by studying our closest neighbor.
Around the world, people have found ways to make the Moon their own. The Chinese tell the tale of Chang’e, a Moon goddess. The Ancient Egyptians had the Moon god Khonsu, protector of night-time travelers. The Ancient Greeks had the Moon goddess Selene, who was said to drive a Moon chariot across the dark sky.
Not only have our stories helped us make sense of the Moon, but the Moon has informed our understanding of Earth. So here are 10 things we’ve learned about Earth by studying our closest neighbor.
NASA’s Webb Telescope Packs Its Sunshield for a Million Mile Trip
Engineers working on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have successfully folded and packed its sunshield for its upcoming million-mile (roughly 1.5 million kilometer) journey, which begins later this year.
The sunshield — a five-layer, diamond-shaped structure the size of a tennis court — was specially engineered to fold up around the two sides of the telescope and fit within the confines of its launch vehicle, the Ariane 5 rocket. Now that folding has been completed at Northrop Grumman in Redo
The sunshield — a five-layer, diamond-shaped structure the size of a tennis court — was specially engineered to fold up around the two sides of the telescope and fit within the confines of its launch vehicle, the Ariane 5 rocket. Now that folding has been completed at Northrop Grumman in Redo
10 Ways the Webb Telescope ‘Trains’ for Space
The James Webb Space Telescope will peer at the first stars and galaxies as a cosmic time machine, look beyond to distant worlds, and unlock the mysteries of the universe. But before it can do any of those things, it needs to “train” for traveling to its destination — 1 million miles away from Earth!
So how does Webb get ready for space while it’s still on the ground? Practice makes perfect. Different components of the telescope were first tested on their own, but now a fully-assembled Webb is
So how does Webb get ready for space while it’s still on the ground? Practice makes perfect. Different components of the telescope were first tested on their own, but now a fully-assembled Webb is
NASA’s Webb “Powerhouse” Solar Array Reconnects to the Telescope
One kilowatt is about what it takes to heat up some leftovers in a microwave — or to power the largest and most technically advanced telescope ever built. Thanks to its solar array, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will stay energy-efficient more than 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth.
Webb’s 20-foot (6-meter) solar array was recently attached to the main observatory for one of the final times before launch. The “powerhouse” of the telescope, the array will supply energy to a
Webb’s 20-foot (6-meter) solar array was recently attached to the main observatory for one of the final times before launch. The “powerhouse” of the telescope, the array will supply energy to a
NASA’s Webb Telescope Looks Back on 2020 Engineering Milestones
2020 was a year of monumental progress for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
The world’s largest and most powerful space observatory advanced through a series of engineering milestones at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Redondo Beach, California, in preparation for its launch in 2021. These successes are a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of mission engineers and technicians, who have persevered through the unprecedented challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Take a l
The world’s largest and most powerful space observatory advanced through a series of engineering milestones at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Redondo Beach, California, in preparation for its launch in 2021. These successes are a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of mission engineers and technicians, who have persevered through the unprecedented challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Take a l
Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Alicia Garza: “Black People Deserve to Live in Dignity”
Black Lives Matter co-founder and Marshall College alumna (‘02) Alicia Garza returned to UC San Diego on February 26 to speak about issues pertaining to the Black Lives Matter movement. Hundreds of students, staff, and faculty packed the Price Center Ballroom for the event, presented by the Marshall College Speaker Series in honor of Black History Month.
Garza began by highlighting the persistence of violence against Black people. After a moment of silence to honor the family of Trayvon Martin
Garza began by highlighting the persistence of violence against Black people. After a moment of silence to honor the family of Trayvon Martin
Student Workers Stand Behind Graduate Student Facing Unemployment Due to Disability
A coalition of student labor organizations, including the UC Student-Workers Union (UAW 2865) and the UCSD Labor Commission, led an on-campus demonstration last Friday on behalf of a student worker facing unemployment because of his disability status.
Wearing red shirts (the official UAW 2865 color), about 30 students coalesced outside the DisAbility Counseling and Consulting (DCC) center to stand in solidarity with Krys Mendez, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Ethnic Studies.
Mendez has aggressi
Wearing red shirts (the official UAW 2865 color), about 30 students coalesced outside the DisAbility Counseling and Consulting (DCC) center to stand in solidarity with Krys Mendez, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Ethnic Studies.
Mendez has aggressi
NASA Launching RiTS, a ‘Robot Hotel’ to the International Space Station
Sometimes robots need a place to stay in space, too. NASA is attaching a “robot hotel” to the outside of the International Space Station with the upcoming launch of the Robotic Tool Stowage (RiTS), a protective storage unit for critical robotic tools.
RiTS is set to launch on Dec. 4 aboard the 19th SpaceX commercial resupply mission. Its first residents will be two Robotic External Leak Locators (RELL). Outfitted with mass spectrometers capable of “sniffing” out the presence of gases such as am
RiTS is set to launch on Dec. 4 aboard the 19th SpaceX commercial resupply mission. Its first residents will be two Robotic External Leak Locators (RELL). Outfitted with mass spectrometers capable of “sniffing” out the presence of gases such as am
NASA to Launch New Refueling Mission, Helping Spacecraft Live Longer and Journey Farther
NASA will lay the foundation for spacecraft life extension and long duration space exploration with the upcoming launch of Robotic Refueling Mission 3 (RRM3), a mission that will pioneer techniques for storing and replenishing cryogenic spacecraft fuel.
The third phase of an ongoing technology demonstration, RRM3 will attach to the International Space Station and build on two previous missions — RRM and RRM2. These first two phases practiced the robotic tasks of removing caps and valves on spac
The third phase of an ongoing technology demonstration, RRM3 will attach to the International Space Station and build on two previous missions — RRM and RRM2. These first two phases practiced the robotic tasks of removing caps and valves on spac
Animator, Illustrator, and Poet Wendy Rodriguez Shares “Things She Didn’t Know How to Say”
Wendy Rodriguez is a Visual Arts–Media major who came to UCSD studying the completely different discipline of astrophysics, not quite knowing what she wanted to do. As a daughter of immigrants, she is one of the first people from her family to attend college.
As a woman of color from a low-income community and a disruptive family environment, much of Wendy’s artwork is driven around her own identity; specifically, she is open about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
As a woman of color from a low-income community and a disruptive family environment, much of Wendy’s artwork is driven around her own identity; specifically, she is open about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
Anika Ullah Continues to Push the Boundaries of Health, Science, and Activism Through Art
The first thing Anika Ullah wants to make clear is that she is not just an “documentary filmmaker,” a term that she finds limiting for her diverse body of work. As someone who is always experimenting with emerging technology, Anika’s art often bridges the world of health and data with the world of
Two UCSD Artists Featured in “25 and Under” Art Showcase at MCASD
Two UC San Diego artists and graduating seniors, Wendy Rodriguez and Anika Ullah, were both featured in the annual “25 and Under” Art Showcase at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego (MCASD). Out of 25 finalists, Wendy took home the Curator’s Choice First Place award for her short animation “Photographs,” while Anika exhibited her documentary film “Impacts of the Border: Air Quality and Health in San Ysidro, CA.”
This is the seventh year of the contest and the 11th year of the museum’s s
This is the seventh year of the contest and the 11th year of the museum’s s
NASA’s Refueling Mission Completes Second Set of Robotic Tool Operations in Space
NASA’s Robotic Refueling Mission 3 (RRM3) has successfully completed its second set of robotic tool operations on the International Space Station, demonstrating key techniques for transferring cryogenic fluids, used as coolants, propellants, or for life support systems in orbit. These technologies have applications for extending spacecraft life and facilitating exploration to the Moon and Mars.
From October 19-22, RRM3 – with the help of the station’s Dextre robot – connected an 11-foot long ho
From October 19-22, RRM3 – with the help of the station’s Dextre robot – connected an 11-foot long ho
UC Regents Delay Vote on Nonresident Tuition Increase
The University of California (UC) Board of Regents voted on March 14 to table the vote for a nonresident tuition raise until their May meeting, following strong opposition from the UC Student Association (UCSA) and several regents.
While the motion did not specify a date to revisit the proposal, Regent Chair George Kieffer said that tabling the bill will give the board and student advocates time to lobby the legislature for more funds in the state budget.
The UC Office of the President (UCOP)
While the motion did not specify a date to revisit the proposal, Regent Chair George Kieffer said that tabling the bill will give the board and student advocates time to lobby the legislature for more funds in the state budget.
The UC Office of the President (UCOP)
UCPD Arrests Second Individual for Carrying Loaded Firearm on Campus
The UC Police Department (UCPD) arrested 23-year-old courier Menooa Azizian for possession of a loaded firearm inside a vehicle parked on campus last Thursday, May 24, at 3:28 a.m.
According to police records, a Residential Security Officer (RSO) discovered the firearm while conducting parking enforcement near Lot 201 by Peterson Lecture Hall.
Azizian was arrested on six charges, including: carrying a loaded, stolen firearm in public, carrying a firearm on school grounds, possession of control
According to police records, a Residential Security Officer (RSO) discovered the firearm while conducting parking enforcement near Lot 201 by Peterson Lecture Hall.
Azizian was arrested on six charges, including: carrying a loaded, stolen firearm in public, carrying a firearm on school grounds, possession of control