Satellites the size of toaster ovens. Ridesharing in Space. Particle storms. Eruptions. All in one new NASA mission!
Tag: Nasa
Lake Superior, from Space
Picture it: the International Space Station, where astronauts frequently observe atmospheric and surface phenomena in ways that are impossible to see from our vantage point on the ground. In the above photograph of northeastern Lake Superior, astronauts documented two of those phenomena—gravity waves and sunglint. From NASA, who posted the photo: At the top…
NASA to launch new solar satellite
On June 26, NASA will launch it’s next solar satellite which the agency hopes will provide the most detailed look ever at the sun’s lower atmosphere. The spacecraft will orbit “for almost continuous solar observations” during its 2-year mission. It will carry an ultra-violet telescope that can take high-res images and catch areas as small…
The little comet that could: Pan-STARRS
The Pan-STARRS comet is streaking its way across the northern hemisphere and should be visible to unaided eye still. From the Department of Interior: “Use binoculars if you have them. Start looking 30 minutes after sunset in the direction of sunset. Look low about 10 degrees above the horizon near the top edge of…
“It’s like Winnipeg, Manitoba, moving to Minneapolis-Saint Paul”
Using data from 1982 to 2011, scientist Ranga Myneni of Boston University’s Department of Earth and Environment and colleagues studied vegetation rates at different latitudes, and the relationship between changes in surface temperature and vegetation growth 45 degrees north latitude to the Arctic Ocean. And their findings, published in a study in the journal Nature…
Cool shit at work: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
There is a fascinating thing NASA uses called a Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which launched in 2005. It’s primary mission is to search for evidence on water on the planet. Per NASA’s mission overview, “While other Mars missions have shown that water flowed across the surface in Mars’ history, it remains a mystery whether water…
On This Day, 44 years ago
On March 3, 1969, NASA launched the Apollo 9, the first manned flight of the lunar module and tested all of the components for the lunar landing mission. On the flight, the module performed many of the same maneuvers, like docking and rendezvous, that would be used in the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. It…
Mission to Space Station eyed for March
Today, NASA announced its targeting Fri., March 1, as the launch date for the next cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station. The launch is currently scheduled for 10:10 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The mission is to resupply the station via a capsule called Dragon, with more than 1,200…
Lasagna in Space
No sooner did we check the European Space Agency’s Twitter account after posting about the JUICE mission did we see perhaps the greatest part of this day: Lasagna in Space. Here’s the link to the ESA blog on the story: Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano testing the first lasagna that will be sent to space. “As…
Cool shit at work: Jupiter Edition
NASA today announced instruments and hardware that will be taken on a 2022 European Mission to Jupiter. Per the press release, eleven instrument suites will be developed by scientists from across the world through national funding in said countries. NASA’s contribution will be one instrument and hardware to fly on ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer…
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