NASA spacecraft provides first view of our solar system's position in Milky WayOctober 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, spacecraft has made it possible for scientists to construct the first comprehensive sky map of our solar system and its location in the Milky Way galaxy. The new view will change the way researchers view and study the interaction between our galaxy and sun.
Water on moon in daylight a 'huge surprise' for scientistsSeptember 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Discovery of water on the moon by India's first lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 with a thin layer of surface 'dew' appearing to form and then dissipating each day has set the scientific community agog. "Finding water on the Moon in daylight is a huge surprise, even if it is only a small amount of water and only in the form of molecules stuck to soil," writes University of Maryland astronomer Jessica Sunshine.
Moon's craters could be coldest spot in solar systemSeptember 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The shadowy craters of the moon's south pole could be the coldest spot in the solar system, NASA scientists said Thursday. NASA scientists announced the first data sent back to Earth from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a satellite that will spend the next year making the most detailed maps yet of the moon's surface to prepare for man's eventual return.
'Sailing spacecraft' may be used to keep watch on Earth's polar regionsSeptember 10th, 2009 LONDON - If engineers have their way, Earth's polar regions would soon have watchmen, in the form of 'sailing' spacecrafts poised above the planet, relaying vital data on polar climate change or solar storms. "Solar sailing" has long been a dream for space engineers, who have envisaged craft exploring the depths of the solar system, propelled only by light.
Scientists design "gravity tractor" to save earth from asteroidsAugust 30th, 2009 LONDON - British space scientists have designed a special spacecraft that can save the earth from a catastrophic asteroid collision. The 10 tonne spacecraft named "gravity tractor" would be deployed to intercept an asteroid en route to the earth and has the ability to fly 160 ft alongside it.
Scientists find 'stopwatch for the solar system'August 26th, 2009 LONDON - In a new study, a team of scientists has described how aluminium radioisotopes can now offer precise timing of events 4.5 billion years ago, and thus have been dubbed as the 'stopwatch for the solar system'. According to a report by BBC News, the study shows that the rate of decay of isotopes can now be relied upon to give accurate measures of time for that period.
Ulysses spacecraft ends 18-year exploration of space above sun's polesJuly 1st, 2009 Ulysses probe ends 18-year study of heliospherePASADENA, Calif. — The U.S.
NASA spacecraft detects ultra fast hydrogen coming from MoonJune 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft has made the first observations of very fast hydrogen atoms coming from the Moon, following decades of speculation and searching for their existence. During spacecraft commissioning, the IBEX team turned on the IBEX-Hi instrument, built primarily by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which measures atoms with speeds from about half a million to 2.5 million miles per hour.
NASA to test alternate concept for astronaut escape system on June 15June 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - NASA is going to test its alternate concept for astronaut escape system on June 15. Called the Max Launch Abort System, or MLAS, the system is scheduled to be tested on June 15 at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.
Mercury is more dynamic than scientists first suspectedMay 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A NASA spacecraft gliding over the surface of Mercury has revealed that the planet's atmosphere, the interaction of its surrounding magnetic field with the solar wind, and its geological past display greater levels of activity than scientists first suspected. The probe also discovered a previously unknown large impact basin about 430 miles in diameter - equal to the distance between Washington and Boston.
NASA spacecraft unravels anatomy of solar tsunami in 3DApril 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A NASA spacecraft provided scientists with their very first view of the speed, trajectory and three-dimensional shape of powerful detonations from the sun known as coronal mass ejections (CME). This new capability will dramatically enhance scientists' ability to predict if and how these solar tsunamis could affect the Earth.
NASA spacecraft provides scientists with 3D view of powerful solar explosionsApril 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Twin NASA spacecraft have provided scientists with their first view of the speed, trajectory, and three-dimensional shape of powerful explosions from the sun known as coronal mass ejections, or CMEs. This new capability will dramatically enhance scientists' ability to predict if and how these solar tsunamis could affect Earth.
NASA twin spacecraft may reveal how our moon was bornApril 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Two identical NASA spacecraft are preparing to enter a point in the universe that may eventually answer the question of how our moon originated. The spacecraft duet, called Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or Stereo, are nearing a zone known as the Lagrangian points.
NASA selects material for heat shield that will protect next gen space explorersApril 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - NASA has chosen the material for a heat shield that will protect a new generation of space explorers when they return from the moon. After extensive study, NASA has selected the Avcoat ablator system for the Orion crew module.
NASA, Europeans plan new missions to Jupiter, SaturnFebruary 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US space agency NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) would conduct missions to Jupiter, Saturn and many moons that circle the planets, the agencies announced. The missions include sending multiple spacecraft to the Jupiter and Saturn systems to explore the planets and their unique satellites, such as Jupiter's ice-covered Europa and Saturn's shrouded moon Titan.
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