1.13.2005
ESA - Cassini-Huygens - Huygens descent timeline
ESA - Cassini-Huygens - Huygens descent timeline: "Timeline of expected events during the Huygens descent to the surface of Titan on 14 January 2005."
11.08.2004
9.20.2004
Space probes feel cosmic tug of bizarre forces
EducationGuardian.co.uk | Higher | Space probes feel cosmic tug of bizarre forces: "Something strange is tugging at America's oldest spacecraft. As the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes head towards distant stars, scientists have discovered that the craft - launched more than 30 years ago - appear to be in the grip of a mysterious force that is holding them back as they sweep out of the solar system.
Some researchers say unseen 'dark matter' may permeate the universe and that this is affecting the Pioneers' passage. Others say flaws in our understanding of the laws of gravity best explain the crafts' wayward behaviour.
As a result, scientists are to press a European Space Agency (Esa) meeting, called Cosmic Visions, in Paris this week for backing for a mission that would follow the Pioneers and pinpoint the cause of their erratic movements."
Some researchers say unseen 'dark matter' may permeate the universe and that this is affecting the Pioneers' passage. Others say flaws in our understanding of the laws of gravity best explain the crafts' wayward behaviour.
As a result, scientists are to press a European Space Agency (Esa) meeting, called Cosmic Visions, in Paris this week for backing for a mission that would follow the Pioneers and pinpoint the cause of their erratic movements."
9.17.2004
Space's largest window is built
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Space's largest window is built: "The largest window built for use in space has been completed, promising to give astronauts a spectacular view from the International Space Station.
The 80cm-wide window is one of seven fitted to an observation dome called Cupola, which will be attached to the ISS in January 2009.
Cupola has six trapezoid-shaped side windows around the large, circular one."
The 80cm-wide window is one of seven fitted to an observation dome called Cupola, which will be attached to the ISS in January 2009.
Cupola has six trapezoid-shaped side windows around the large, circular one."
9.06.2004
Pilots will help bring Genesis capsule to soft landing
HoustonChronicle.com - Pilots will help bring Genesis capsule to soft landing: "In a harrowing feat high over the Utah desert Wednesday, two helicopter stunt pilots will try to snatch a floating space capsule that holds 'a piece of the sun' and bring it safely down.
Their biggest fear: What if they flub it on live TV? And that's entirely possible. The pilots rate it 8 or 9 on a difficulty scale of 10. 'It's like flying in formation with a giant floating jellyfish,' says pilot Dan Rudert.
The stuntmen will be trying to hook the 400-pound Genesis capsule as it hurtles 400 feet a minute. Inside it are fragile solar wind particles -- so small they're invisible -- which scientists hope will reveal clues about the origin of our solar system."
Their biggest fear: What if they flub it on live TV? And that's entirely possible. The pilots rate it 8 or 9 on a difficulty scale of 10. 'It's like flying in formation with a giant floating jellyfish,' says pilot Dan Rudert.
The stuntmen will be trying to hook the 400-pound Genesis capsule as it hurtles 400 feet a minute. Inside it are fragile solar wind particles -- so small they're invisible -- which scientists hope will reveal clues about the origin of our solar system."
News
News: "Hurricane Frances did more damage to the Kennedy Space Center than any other storm in history, tearing an estimated 1,000 exterior panels from a giant building where space vehicles are assembled, officials said Monday.
No space shuttles were inside the 525-foot-high building, a familiar landmark at the space center. But center director James Kennedy said he feared the damage could set back NASA's effort to resume shuttle launches next spring.
Monday marked the first time anyone from NASA had seen the damage from the storm because the agency completely evacuated the space center - the first time NASA made such a move.
The holes left by the missing panels created 40,000 square feet of ``open window'' on two sides of the building, Kennedy said. Each panel measures 4 feet by 10 feet.
Kennedy said it was too soon to provide a dollar figure for all the damage. Hurricane Charley three weeks earlier caused $700,000 worth of damage, and this will be ``significantly more,'' he noted.
"
No space shuttles were inside the 525-foot-high building, a familiar landmark at the space center. But center director James Kennedy said he feared the damage could set back NASA's effort to resume shuttle launches next spring.
Monday marked the first time anyone from NASA had seen the damage from the storm because the agency completely evacuated the space center - the first time NASA made such a move.
The holes left by the missing panels created 40,000 square feet of ``open window'' on two sides of the building, Kennedy said. Each panel measures 4 feet by 10 feet.
Kennedy said it was too soon to provide a dollar figure for all the damage. Hurricane Charley three weeks earlier caused $700,000 worth of damage, and this will be ``significantly more,'' he noted.
"
8.30.2004
Antarctic craters reveal asteroid strike
EducationGuardian.co.uk | Higher | Antarctic craters reveal asteroid strike: "Scientists using satellites have mapped huge craters under the Antarctic ice sheet caused by an asteroid as big as the one believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs 65m years ago.
Professor Frans van der Hoeven, from Delft University in the Netherlands, told the conference that the evidence showed that an asteroid measuring between three and seven miles across had broken up in the atmosphere and five large pieces had hit the Earth, creating multiple craters over an area measuring 1,300 by 2,400 miles.
The effect would have been to melt all the ice in the path of the pieces, as well as the crust underneath. The biggest single strike caused a hole in the ice sheet roughly 200 by 200 miles, which would have melted about 1% of the ice sheet, raising water levels worldwide by 60cm (2ft).
But the climatic conditions were different at the time of the strike - about 780,000 years ago - from when the asteroid that is believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs struck Yucatan in Mexico.
That impact created dust storms and fires that, by blocking out the sun, cooled the Earth's atmosphere so much that the dinosaurs could not survive. The Antarctica strike occurred during an ice age, so even tidal waves would have been weakened to mere ripples by the calming effect of icebergs on the ocean."
Professor Frans van der Hoeven, from Delft University in the Netherlands, told the conference that the evidence showed that an asteroid measuring between three and seven miles across had broken up in the atmosphere and five large pieces had hit the Earth, creating multiple craters over an area measuring 1,300 by 2,400 miles.
The effect would have been to melt all the ice in the path of the pieces, as well as the crust underneath. The biggest single strike caused a hole in the ice sheet roughly 200 by 200 miles, which would have melted about 1% of the ice sheet, raising water levels worldwide by 60cm (2ft).
But the climatic conditions were different at the time of the strike - about 780,000 years ago - from when the asteroid that is believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs struck Yucatan in Mexico.
That impact created dust storms and fires that, by blocking out the sun, cooled the Earth's atmosphere so much that the dinosaurs could not survive. The Antarctica strike occurred during an ice age, so even tidal waves would have been weakened to mere ripples by the calming effect of icebergs on the ocean."
8.29.2004
Big shuttle repairs not possible
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Big shuttle repairs not possible: "Space shuttle astronauts will fly next year without the ability to repair in orbit the type of damage that destroyed the Columbia vehicle in February 2003.
Flying foam debris on launch punched a 15-25cm opening in the shuttle's left wing, resulting in catastrophic heating of the airframe on its return to Earth.
The US space agency says no method of repair tested so far could withstand the 1,600C temperature of re-entry.
Nasa's answer to the problem is to stop debris damage occurring at lift-off.
To that end, the space shuttle fuel tanks have been redesigned. The agency believes they should no longer shed chunks of insulating foam of the size that fatally damaged Columbia."
Flying foam debris on launch punched a 15-25cm opening in the shuttle's left wing, resulting in catastrophic heating of the airframe on its return to Earth.
The US space agency says no method of repair tested so far could withstand the 1,600C temperature of re-entry.
Nasa's answer to the problem is to stop debris damage occurring at lift-off.
To that end, the space shuttle fuel tanks have been redesigned. The agency believes they should no longer shed chunks of insulating foam of the size that fatally damaged Columbia."
8.28.2004
Bananas could power Aussie homes
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Bananas could power Aussie homes: "Australian engineers have created an electricity generator fuelled by decomposing bananas, and hope to build a full size fruit-fired power station.
At present, much of Australia's annual banana crop goes to waste, because the fruit are too bruised or small.
But rather than just letting them rot, the researchers would like to put the rejects to good commercial use.
If all goes according to plan, a banana-fuelled power plant capable of powering 500 homes could be built."
At present, much of Australia's annual banana crop goes to waste, because the fruit are too bruised or small.
But rather than just letting them rot, the researchers would like to put the rejects to good commercial use.
If all goes according to plan, a banana-fuelled power plant capable of powering 500 homes could be built."
8.18.2004
Duke's Vomit Comet Crew
Duke's Vomit Comet Crew: "Through the NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program (RGSFOP), four juniors from Duke University: John Fang, Isaac Chan, Dan Choi, and Gary Sing, have the chance to design and perform a study on the effects of microgravity (nearly zero-g) on a subject of their own choosing aboard the KC-135A, a.k.a. NASA's "Vomit Comet." This blog will provide information about their experiments and document their adventure."
8.17.2004
MarsBlog--News and Commentary on Space
