6761568
submission
Matt_dk writes:
Nearly 100 years ago, scientists detected the first signs of cosmic rays — subatomic particles (mostly protons) that zip through space at nearly the speed of light. The most energetic cosmic rays hit with the punch of a 98-mph fastball, even though they are smaller than an atom. Astronomers questioned what natural force could accelerate particles to such a speed. New evidence from the VERITAS telescope array shows that cosmic rays likely are powered by exploding stars and stellar “winds.”
6760366
submission
Matt_dk writes:
A glitch in the Kepler spacecraft's electronics means the space telescope will not have the ability to spot an Earth-sized planet until 2011, according to principal investigator William Borucki. Noisy amplifiers are creating noise that compromises Kepler’s view, and the team will have to generate and upload a software fix for the spacecraft. “We’re not going to be able to find Earth-size planets in the habitable zone — or it’s going to be very difficult — until that work gets done,” said Borucki, who revealed the problem last week to the NASA Advisory Council.
6726821
submission
Dagondanum writes:
Multiple missions have been sent to Mars with the hopes of testing the surface of the planet for life – or the conditions that could create life – on the Red Planet. The question of whether life in the form of bacteria (or something even more exotic!) exists on Mars is hotly debated, and still requires a resolute yes or no. Experiments done right here on Earth that simulate the conditions on Mars and their effects on terrestrial bacteria show that it is entirely possible for certain strains of bacteria to weather the harsh environment of Mars.
6685183
submission
Matt_dk writes:
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter maneuvered into its 50-km mapping orbit on September 15, which enables it to take a closer look at the Moon than any previous orbiter. This also allows for comparing previous images taken by LRO when it was at its higher orbit. These images of the Apollo 17 landing site have more than two times better resolution than the previously acquired images.
6667401
submission
Matt_dk writes:
The Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos has developed a design for a piloted spacecraft powered by a nuclear engine, the head of the agency said on Wednesday. “The project is aimed at implementing large-scale space exploration programs,” Anatoly Perminov said at a meeting of the commission on the modernization of the Russian economy. He added that the development of Megawatt-class nuclear space power systems (MCNSPS) for manned spacecraft was crucial for Russia if the country wanted to maintain a competitive edge in the space race, including the exploration of the Moon and Mars.
6515475
submission
xp65 writes:
Peering far beyond our solar system, NASA researchers have detected the basic chemistry for life in a second hot gas planet, advancing astronomers toward the goal of being able to characterize planets where life could exist. The planet is not habitable but it has the same chemistry that, if found around a rocky planet in the future, could indicate the presence of life.
6512569
submission
Matt_dk writes:
It’s exactly what everyone’s looking for: an engine that works on cheaper, less toxic, more readily available fuels. This engine just happens to be for a rocket. Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and White Sands Test Facility teamed up with Dallas-based Armadillo Aerospace through an Innovative Partnership Program agreement to design and test a rocket engine that runs on liquid oxygen and liquid methane, for use on the moon or other extraterrestrial surfaces. Armadillo developed the engine, JSC designed and fabricated the nozzle and provided oversight on the project, and White Sands contributed the testing facilities.
6444417
submission
Matt_dk writes:
Direct communication between Earth and Mars can be strongly disturbed and even blocked by the Sun for weeks at a time, cutting off any future human mission to the Red Planet. An ESA engineer working with engineers in the UK may have found a solution using a new type of orbit combined with continuous-thrust ion propulsion. An innovative solution to the Mars communication problem may be found by placing a pair of communication relay satellites into a very special type of orbit near Mars: a so-called ‘B-orbit’ (in contrast to an ‘A-orbit’, based on natural orbital laws).
6429549
submission
Matt_dk writes:
The Moon is a big sponge that absorbs electrically charged particles given out by the Sun. These particles interact with the oxygen present in some dust grains on the lunar surface, producing water. This discovery, made by the ESA-ISRO instrument SARA onboard the Indian Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter, confirms how water is likely being created on the lunar surface. It also gives scientists an ingenious new way to take images of the Moon and any other airless body in the Solar System.
6409621
submission
Matt_dk writes:
Some objects in the solar system are in a “gray area,” and can be classified under more than one heading. Add the asteroid Pallas to that group. New close-up images of Pallas from the Hubble Space Telescope reveal that the second largest asteroid in the solar system appears to be a protoplanet, as well. “We were trying to understand not only the object, but how the solar system formed,” Schmidt said. “We think of these large asteroids not only as the building blocks of planets but as a chance to look at planet formation frozen in time.”
6306555
submission
Matt_dk writes:
For the first time, astronomers have confirmed that an asteroid contains frozen water on its surface. Analysis of asteroid 24 Themis shows evidence of water ice along with organic compounds widespread across the surface. The scientists say these new findings support the theory that asteroids brought both water and organic compounds to the early Earth, helping lay the foundation for life on the planet.
6295731
submission
Matt_dk writes:
The LCROSS spacecraft is going to impact the Moon tomorrow, and here's your chance to watch the action, either just for fun, or to contribute to scientific observations. Whether you want to observe with your own equipment or watch the event on television or a webcast, here you'll find all the information and links you should need to be a part of history. Amateur astronomers need a 10-inch or bigger telescope to make observations.
6294755
submission
xp65 writes:
Iran plans to send a living creature into space within the next two years, the Fars news agency has reported. "We will launch a bio-capsule containing a living creature into space," Mohsen Bahrami, head of Iran's Aerospace Center, was quoted as saying on Tuesday. "We are currently working on the program," he said without specifying the "living creature." Iran had previously said it would put live animals into space as part of its plan to launch a manned spaceflight by 2021.
6285731
submission
xp65 writes:
Masten Space Systems successfully flew their "Xombie" craft in the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge (NGLLC) Level 1. To claim the prize the team had to complete two successful rocket flights within two hours and 15 minutes, with the rocket rising to 50 meters, translating over to a second landing pad, and remaining in the air for at least 90 seconds on each flight.
6277319
submission
Matt_dk writes:
For 1200 years, the Maya dominated Central America. At their peak around 900 A.D., Maya cities teemed with more than 2,000 people per square mile — comparable to modern Los Angeles County. Even in rural areas the Maya numbered 200 to 400 people per square mile. But suddenly, all was quiet. And the profound silence testified to one of the greatest demographic disasters in human prehistory — the demise of the once vibrant Maya society. What happened? Some NASA-funded researchers think they have a pretty good idea.
