NASA has released an app for the iPad called NASA Visualization Explorer or NASA Viz for short. The app is designed to deliver stories from NASA’s space based Earth science research.

This is the NASA Visualization Explorer, the coolest way to get stories about advanced space-based research delivered right to your iPad. A direct connection to NASA’s extraordinary fleet of research spacecraft, this app presents cutting edge research stories in an engaging and exciting format. See the Earth as you’ve never seen it before; travel to places otherwise unavailable to even the most intrepid explorers! Download it now, tap into the power of NASA’s cutting-edge research today and check for new stories every week.

[Free – iTunes link]

NASA has created a chemical sensor accessory for the iPhone. Gizmodo calls this the day the first Tricorder was created, we call it cosmically cool in any time/space continuum.

The low-cost, low-power system can detect minimal concentrations of ammonia, chlorine gas, and methane, showing the values in an iPhone application. It can automatically communicate the results with other cellphones or the Enterprise’s computer using Wi-Fi or 3G, and order massive teleportation evacuations if needed. OK, not true. No teleportation yet, but we are getting there.

Beam. Us. Up.

NASA for iPhone [Free - iTunes link] lets you:

enjoy fast, direct access to accurate, up-to-date space mission content from a wide range of U.S. Space Agency sources – all in one easy-to-use mobile platform. [...] Receive and share dynamic NASA mission updates, out-of-this-world images, and intriguing video links. Follow the path and progress of space exploration in real time while tracking the global orbits of your favorite spacecraft, all in the palm of your hand.

Our buddy Bla1ze from CrackBerry.com also tells us:

NASA Ares I-X set for launch tomorrow morning watch it on tv or iPhone users you can check out the Ares I-X via the NASA iPhone app!

[Thanks Bla1ze!]