WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NASA has selected Firefly Aerospace, Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas, to provide launch services for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) QuickSounder mission.

The selection is part of NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity awards during VADR’s five-year ordering period, with a maximum total value of $300 million across all contracts.

The QuickSounder mission will support NOAA’s next generation satellite architecture for its future low Earth orbit program, which will provide mission-critical data for the agency’s National Weather Service, the nation’s weather industry, and other users worldwide.

QuickSounder is the first small satellite in NOAA’s Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON). A collaborative effort between NASA and NOAA, NEON will provide a new approach to developing a new global environmental satellite system by quickly building small to medium-sized satellites with Earth-observing instruments for weather forecasting, disaster management, and climate monitoring. QuickSounder has a launch readiness date of February 2026.

NASA will manage the development and launch of the satellites for NOAA. As the mission lead, NOAA provides funding, technical requirements, and will manage post-launch operations. NASA and NOAA will work with commercial partners to design and build the network’s spacecraft and instruments.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov

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SOURCE NASA

BRISTOL, Pa., Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TESCO, a leading provider of utility testing solutions, is proud to introduce its newest product, the KCTS-8000X Current Transformer Testing System. This state-of-the-art system is engineered for traceable accuracy down to a 1% rating factor, setting a new standard for testing transformers with primaries up to 8000 amperes. With its advanced features, the KCTS-8000X offers power utilities unmatched precision, reliability, and efficiency, ensuring that their metering systems remain accurate and compliant.

Addressing Utility Industry Needs

Utility companies rely heavily on accurate transformer testing to ensure precise metering, which directly affects billing and grid stability. Current transformers (CTs) play a crucial role in this process, scaling down high currents so they can be accurately measured. Even minor inaccuracies can lead to incorrect billing, impacting both utility companies and customers.

The KCTS-8000X is designed to solve these issues by offering enhanced testing accuracy for a wide range of current transformers, ensuring that utilities can confidently test transformers and minimize errors. By incorporating advanced features such as electronically compensated burdens and real-time data integration, the KCTS-8000X guarantees precise results with every test.

“We developed the KCTS-8000X in response to the growing demand for more accurate transformer testing in the utility sector,” said Tom Lawton, President & CEO at TESCO. “This system provides the confidence utility companies need to ensure billing accuracy while reducing operational inefficiencies and test errors.”

Key Features of the KCTS-8000X

The KCTS-8000X offers a range of innovative features that set it apart from other transformer testing systems:

Traceable Accuracy Down to a 1% Rating Factor:
The system can test CTs with primaries up to 8000 amps, providing traceable accuracy down to a 1% rating factor. This makes the KCTS-8000X ideal for utilities needing to test a wide range of transformers with high precision, ensuring accurate billing and regulatory compliance.

Electronically Compensated Burdens:
The KCTS-8000X automatically adjusts for impedance and power factor, providing reliable results even at low current levels. These real-time adjustments improve the accuracy and reliability of test results without the need for manual intervention, making the testing process smoother and more efficient.

Real-Time Burden Measurement and Recording:
The system displays and records live burden measurements, ensuring thorough test validation. By capturing real-time data during the test, utilities can maintain comprehensive records, which are essential for audits and compliance reporting.

TESCO Device Manager Integration:
The KCTS-8000X seamlessly integrates with TESCO Device Manager (TDM), allowing for the efficient collection, storage, and analysis of test data. This feature streamlines the workflow and reduces time spent on data management, helping utility labs improve their operational efficiency.

Safety and Error Prevention Features:
The system includes several built-in safety features, such as protective circuitry and a zero-start safety function that prevents accidental test errors. These features ensure that both the testing system and the transformers being tested are protected from damage, reducing downtime and costly repairs.

Motorized Test Current Control with Automatic Rundown:
The KCTS-8000X automates the test current rundown process, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort. This automation allows technicians to focus on the accuracy of the results without being burdened by time-consuming manual adjustments.

Demagnetization of Transformers Prior to Testing:
The system features a transformer demagnetization function, which helps reduce erroneous results by ensuring that transformers are fully demagnetized before testing begins. This feature improves the reliability of the testing process and reduces the likelihood of incorrect readings.

Improving Utility Billing and Grid Reliability

With its unmatched accuracy and comprehensive data integration, the KCTS-8000X is poised to significantly improve billing accuracy and grid reliability for utility companies. The ability to test CTs with traceable accuracy down to a 1% rating factor ensures that even the smallest discrepancies in metering can be detected and corrected. This is crucial in today’s utility industry, where errors in energy measurement can lead to financial losses and customer dissatisfaction.

“The KCTS-8000X gives utilities the confidence to test transformers with greater accuracy, reducing billing errors and improving the overall efficiency of their operations,” said Tom Lawton. “By offering such precise testing capabilities, this system helps utilities ensure the long-term reliability of their grid infrastructure.”

About TESCO

For over 121 years, TESCO has been at the forefront of providing cutting-edge electrical testing and metering solutions to utilities worldwide. Specializing in transformer testing, metering accuracy, and grid reliability, TESCO is committed to delivering innovative products that help power companies optimize their operations and maintain compliance with industry standards. The KCTS-8000X is the latest addition to TESCO’s lineup of reliable, high-performance testing equipment.

For more information about the KCTS-8000X or to schedule a demonstration, please visit

KCTS | TESCO – The Eastern Specialty Company (tescometering.com)

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SOURCE TESCO – The Eastern Specialty Company

The National Center for Charter School Accountability provides research and recommendations on increasing transparency and accountability for charter schools.

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Network for Public Education (NPE) announces a new project, the National Center for Charter School Accountability (NCCSA), to provide research and recommendations on increasing transparency and accountability for charter schools. NPE is the leading organization that advocates revising state charter laws to make charter schools better align with the original vision of charter schools as teacher and parent-led schools of innovation that complement, not compete with, the public school system.

“The charter sector, now saturated with impersonal national chains and for-profit management corporations, has strayed far from the original mission of charter schools. A few states follow that vision; most do not. We regularly receive calls from charter school parents, teachers, and public school advocates raising concerns. The Center will educate the public with facts and provide information on how best to address concerns,” said Carol Burris, the Executive Director of NPE.

The Center includes a searchable database of news stories highlighting problems regarding charter schools. It also provides a portal where parents and taxpayers can submit questions and complaints. It also provides access to nine NPE research reports on charter schools, including reports on charter closures and for-profit-run charter schools.

In addition to research and reports, NCCSA evaluates state laws based on accountability, responsible growth, community input, and protections for students and taxpayers. An interactive map shows the number of open and closed charter schools in each state.

“The Center will grow over time, providing information unavailable on charter trade group sites. One million students have been displaced due to charter closures. In the age of choice, parents and taxpayers deserve the facts,” Burris added.

Commenting on the new project, NPE President Diane Ravitch noted, “NCCSA is a valuable resource for parents, taxpayers, policymakers, and the press who want to be informed about the status of charter schools. Accountability matters, and the Center will provide it via accurate and timely information.”

Access to NCCSA can be found here.

The Network for Public Education is a national advocacy organization with over 350,000 members and 200 grassroots groups. Its mission is to preserve, promote, improve, and strengthen public schools for current and future generations of students.

Contact: Carol Burris
cburris@networkforpubliceducation.org
(646) 678-4477

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-center-for-charter-school-accountability-launches-with-analysis-of-state-charter-school-laws-302256096.html

SOURCE Network for Public Education