Saturn Moon May Hide a ‘Fossil’ Core or an Ocean October 16, 2014 This mosaic of Saturn’s moon Mimas was created from images taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft during its closest flyby of the moon on Feb. 13, 2010. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute Full image and caption A new… Read more“Saturn Moon May Hide ‘Fossil’ Core Or Ocean”
Commercial Rocket Data May Help Future Mars Landings
New Commercial Rocket Descent Data May Help NASA with Future Mars Landings NASA successfully captured thermal images of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on its descent after it launched in September from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The data from these thermal images may provide critical engineering information… Read more“Commercial Rocket Data May Help Future Mars Landings”
NASA’s Hubble Maps the Temperature and Water Vapor on an Extreme Exoplanet
NASA’s Hubble Maps the Temperature and Water Vapor on an Extreme Exoplanet This is a temperature map of the “hot Jupiter” class exoplanet WASP 43b. The white-colored region on the daytime side is 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit. The nighttime side temperatures drop to under 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Image Credit: NASA/ESA A… Read more“NASA’s Hubble Maps the Temperature and Water Vapor on an Extreme Exoplanet”
NASA Prepares its Science Fleet for Oct. 19 Mars Comet Encounter
Image Credit: NASA Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring will make a close flyby of Mars on Oct. 19. At a distance of only 87,000 miles, it’s a near miss of the Red Planet. Larger version NASA’s extensive fleet of science assets, particularly those orbiting and roving Mars, have front row… Read more“NASA Prepares its Science Fleet for Oct. 19 Mars Comet Encounter”
ISS-RapidScat to Launch Aboard SpaceX Rocket
Launching aboard SpaceX’s fourth commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station, NASA’s ISS Rapid Scatterometer (ISS-RapidScat) will monitor ocean winds from its perch on the station. It will track hurricanes and storms, and provide a better understanding of Earth’s climate. The space station’s orbit will take ISS-RapidScat across almost the… Read more“ISS-RapidScat to Launch Aboard SpaceX Rocket”
NASA Mars Spacecraft Ready for Sept. 21 Orbit Insertion
NASA Mars Spacecraft Ready for Sept. 21 Orbit Insertion This artist concept depicts the process of orbital insertion of NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft. Image Credit: NASA/GSFC NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft is nearing its scheduled Sept. 21 insertion into Martian orbit after completing… Read more“NASA Mars Spacecraft Ready for Sept. 21 Orbit Insertion”
Five Things About NASA’s ISS-RapidScat
Five Things About NASA’s ISS-RapidScat ISS-RapidScat will have a close-up view of ocean winds from its perch on the International Space Station, as this 2010 astronaut photo of Hurricane Earl illustrates. Image Credit: NASA NASA’s ISS-RapidScat mission will observe ocean wind speed and direction over most of the globe, bringing… Read more“Five Things About NASA’s ISS-RapidScat”