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NASA releases iPad app for science research

The free application lets users access "science visualizations" taken with the government organization's satellites. The app will be updated with new editorials twice per week.

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NASA's Visualization Explorer in action.
NASA's Visualization Explorer in action. NASA

NASA has launched an iPad application for those interested in Earth science.

Dubbed the NASA Visualization Explorer, the application delivers real-satellite data, including movies and stills, of Earth, that enable users to learn a bit more about the "natural world." Short stories accompany the videos and stills to explain what users are seeing and why it's important.

"The app will explore stories of climate change, Earth's dynamic systems, plant life on land and in the oceans--all of the small and large stories captured in data by NASA satellites and then visualized," Michael Starobin, a senior producer at the Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement.

"Science should be accessible to everyone, and visualization reveals the meaning and value of the often intangible, but essential, data delivered by NASA's research efforts," Starobin continued. "Data visualization makes information immediately visual and understandable when it otherwise might go unnoticed."

In addition to visualizations, the app also comes with six editorial features related to Earth science. According to NASA, two new editorials will be added each week. The organization also said it might include stories about the sun and solar system at some point.

Last September, the space agency launched its NASA App HD, which features thousands of images from its image bank, as well as video documentaries. NASA also offers an iPhone app with the same features.

The free NASA Visualization Explorer is available now in Apple's App Store.