Latest news with #ASIM
NDTV
04-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
NASA Astronaut Captures Stunning 'Sprite' Light Show Above Earth's Atmosphere
A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has captured a stunning image of glowing red lights in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The bright lights are associated with a phenomenon known as Transient Luminous Event (TLE), which was captured by Nichole Ayers while orbiting above Mexico and the United States. Sprites are a type of TLE, which create brilliant flashes of light high above powerful thunderstorms and are difficult to observe from the ground. "Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the US this morning, I caught this sprite," wrote Ms Ayers on X (formerly Twitter). "Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below," she added. The NASA astronaut said they had a great view of the unique space phenomenon above the clouds which could help scientists "better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms". Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite. Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below. We have a great view above the clouds, so… — Nichole 'Vapor' Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) July 3, 2025 A view of lightning that's nothing like what we see on the ground: crew observations and instruments on the @Space_Station can help us better understand the behaviors of storms. — NASA (@NASA) July 3, 2025 Social media reacts As the image went viral, social media users reacted in awe and expressed fascination at how nature can conjure such a spectacle. "Funny how we separate everything with borders when up there it's all one place," said one user while another added: "This is the best orbital sprite image I have ever seen." A third commented: "I simply cannot imagine how amazing it would be to see this sort of thing from the space station." As per NASA, the ISS crew members capture TLEs using wide focal lengths during Earth time-lapses. Instruments mounted outside the station, like Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), can capture a range of data for researchers on Earth using cameras, photometers, X-ray and gamma-ray detectors.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Area first responders participate in Active Shooter Incident Management training
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The Johnson City police officers and firefighters, as well as other first responders, participated in Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) training in Bristol, Virginia on Wednesday. Organized by the Johnson City Fire Department, the multi-agency training uses the advanced NIMSPro #D Simulation System, which places participants inside realistic active shooter situations. WCSO: Duo found with 'gallon-sized baggie' containing suspected meth The training may look like a video game, but it's important training for area law enforcement, firefighters, medics and dispatchers. Fifty-four first responders from more than half a dozen agencies took part in the three-day course facilitated by C3 Pathways. 'What we're trying to do is to reduce the time that it takes to neutralize the threat, reduce the time that it takes to treat and transport the injured off of that site,' said Russell Woody, an instructor with C3 Pathways. Woody said funding comes from several sources, including FEMA, making it free for area agencies. He said C3 Pathways uses information from 434 past active shooter events for the training. The training tries to depict an event from start to finish and helps agencies from neighboring jurisdictions practice working together. Jason Powell, Assistant Chief of Administration with the Johnson City Fire Department, helped organize the event. He said it's important to get representation of all agencies that would respond to a critical event. 'One result of that is when we come together like this, we find that we're really more similar than we are different,' Powell said. 'And it just helps us to be able to have that confidence and, more importantly, the trust that we're going to do our thing and our law enforcement counterparts and our dispatch counterparts. They're going to do their thing to take care of those needs.' Powell said the training is especially important for newer employees. Since real-life events like those in the simulation don't happen very often, the training gives them a chance to get experience. 'If we just wait for those experiences to come, we're not going to do very well,' Powell said. 'We're not going to live up to the expectations that we've set for ourselves and the expectations that our communities have for us. So we have to put our younger folks through these paces and get them some experience and training. So they've at least had some or some point of reference that they can refer back to.' The training even includes how to talk to the media through mock interviews. Dispatchers are now considered first responders in Tennessee, and Washington County, Tennessee dispatcher Cynthia Vanhoy said the training has been invaluable by giving her confidence to handle such an event in the future. 'I've learned so much, and I feel so much more prepared than I was for if and when an incident like this happens in our jurisdiction or even a neighboring jurisdiction, because we've learned so much about mutual aid and helping other agencies,' Vanhoy said. 'But yes, this has by far been the best training I've ever been to.' The training includes a pre-test and post-test so all first responders can evaluate what they've learned. The ASIM course ran from Tuesday through Thursday. In addition to the Johnson City agencies, the following agencies also participated: Bristol, TN Police, Bristol, TN Police Communications, Bristol, VA Police, Bristol, VA Police Communications, Bristol, VA Fire, City of Johnson City Communications and Marketing, Washington County-Johnson City EMS and Washington County 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Illinois Fire Service Institute offering active shooter course in Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) has scheduled an active shooter course in Champaign for this May. IFSI is holding an Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) course from May 6-8 at the First Christian Church at 3601 S Staley Road. This advanced course is a 24-hour performance-level class designed to improve incident management and integration of law enforcement, fire and EMS responders to active shooter events. Champaign community invited to enjoy coffee with a cop 'The course provides a model framework for use by law enforcement, fire and EMS command staff to manage active shooter event response to improve time to threat neutralization, medical intervention and survivability of victims,' an ASIM flyer reads. This course is being hosted by the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency. ASIM is also providing the statistical profile of a typical Active Shooter Event (ASE), which includes: A model ASE integrated response process The Active Shooter Incident Management Checklist(TM) Organizational building blocks for an integrated response including: Contact Team Rescue Task Force Tactical Perimeter Triage Transport Intelligence Reunification Progressively challenging full length ASE functional exercise scenarios Hands-on experience in multiple response roles Introduction to Complex Coordinated Attacks (CCA) Experience applying and working with the NIMS Incident Command System Improvised Explosive Device and Static/Barricade scenarios CCA Case Studies and capstone exercise scenario The City of Champaign wants your input on downtown improvements The ASIM course provides participants, and enrollment is limited to command and supervisory level personnel, including: 30 Law Enforcement 20 Fire/EMS personnel Five Emergency Communicators (dispatchers) Two Public Information Officers (PIOs) Two Emergency Managers One Helicopter Pilot The course is provided by grant funded training, meaning there is no cost to student or agency. The registration deadline is March 21, and the registration pin (case sensitive) is FY25CHMAY. The two ways to register are by visiting the c3pathways website or by scanning the QR code on the flyer. The local point of contact is John Dwyer, who can be reached at 217-384-3826 or jdwyer@ For more information on the course, contact David Saitta, NIMS/ICS Program Manager, at 217-333-6952 or dsaitta@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
