Like every solar-panel-powered vehicle on Mars, maintaining electrical power always becomes an issue at some point in the mission. Last week, mission controllers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory lost contact with the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. While they were able to re-establish communications, which is done through the Perseverance rover, engineers know that keeping Ingenuity’s batteries charged is going to be increasingly difficult as the dark winter is on the way to Jezero Crater.
Continue reading “Martian Dust is Starting to Darken Ingenuity’s Solar Panels”Astronaut Jessica Watkins Floats Above the Earth in the Space Station’s Cupola
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is seen here floating above Earth in the International Space Station’s cupola, which provides a spectacular viewing spot for those who live and work on the space station.
Continue reading “Astronaut Jessica Watkins Floats Above the Earth in the Space Station’s Cupola”Webb is Almost Ready. There’s One Last Thing To Do
The James Webb Space Telescope is now in the final phase of commissioning as it readies for science observations. Of the more than 1,000 milestones the observatory has needed to reach since launch to become fully operational, the team said today they are down to about two hundred activities to go. But those 200 are all part of the final phase of commissioning the instruments.
“I call it the home stretch,” said Michael McElwain, Webb observatory project scientist in a media briefing on May 9. “There are 17 scientific modes we need to bring online in the next two months, and we need to demonstrate the telescope’s operational capabilities before we are ready to turn the science instruments loose on the Universe.”
Continue reading “Webb is Almost Ready. There’s One Last Thing To Do”This Crater on Mars is Just a Couple of Years Old
Changes are always taking place on Mars, from factors like seasonal variations and wind. But there’s one other aspect that changes the surface of Mar quite often: impacts.
Here’s a new impact crater that was seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Exactly when the crater formed is not known, but this image was taken on July 24, 2020 and in a previous image of this site taken in 2018, the crater is not there.
Continue reading “This Crater on Mars is Just a Couple of Years Old”This is a Dust Avalanche on Mars
For decades, scientists have observed dark landslides called slope streaks on Mars. First seen by the Viking orbiters in the 1970s, every orbiter mission since has observed them, but the mechanism behind the slope streaks has been hotly debated: could they be caused by water activity on the Red Planet, or are they the result of some sort of dry mechanics?
Turns out, the leading candidate is “dry.” But scientists with the Mars Odyssey mission have verified an additional culprit behind the slope streaks: carbon dioxide frost.
Continue reading “This is a Dust Avalanche on Mars”A Magnetic Bubble Could Protect Astronauts From Dangerous Space Radiation
Humans have long dreamed of setting foot on Mars or beyond, and the advances by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin means perhaps the dream could be closer than ever to becoming reality. But as it stands now, sending astronauts on long-duration missions to other worlds would be impossible because of the hazardous radiation levels in space, outside of Earth’s protective magnetic field.
However, a new concept offers hope on the horizon, and the researchers behind it have received funding from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program to build a prototype. Called CREW HaT, the proposal takes advantage of the latest advances in superconducting magnet technology to effectively shield spacecraft – and the astronauts inside — from harmful space radiation.
Continue reading “A Magnetic Bubble Could Protect Astronauts From Dangerous Space Radiation”Ingenuity is now Scouting Ahead of Perseverance, Helping it Navigate Difficult Terrain
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is providing scientists a look at what is on the road ahead for the Perseverance rover. And acting as a scout, Ingenuity can tell the team what places to avoid, too.
Continue reading “Ingenuity is now Scouting Ahead of Perseverance, Helping it Navigate Difficult Terrain”Now, We can Finally Compare Webb to Other Infrared Observatories
The images released by the James Webb Space Telescope team last week aren’t officially ‘first light’ images from the new telescope, but in a way, it feels like they are. These stunning views provide the initial indications of just how powerful JWST will be, and just how much infrared astronomy is about to improve.
Continue reading “Now, We can Finally Compare Webb to Other Infrared Observatories”Watch What Happens to Astronauts When the International Space Station Gets an Orbital Reboost
This is reminiscent of going down slide on the playground – and then immediately getting back in line to go down again. Except in space.
Here’s what it looks like on board the International Space Station when thrusters fire for an orbital reboost. While it seems like the astronauts are moving inside the station, in in reality it is the Space Station that is moving around them. And in actuality, the acceleration doesn’t happen this fast – the video is sped up eight times. But it still looks like fun!
Continue reading “Watch What Happens to Astronauts When the International Space Station Gets an Orbital Reboost”Antarctica Lost an Ice Shelf, but Gained an Island
Collapsing ice shelves on the eastern coast of Antarctica has revealed something never seen before: a landform that might be an island. But this is not the first newly revealed island off the Antarctic coast. A series of islands have appeared as the ice shelves along the continent’s coastline has disintegrated over the past few years.
Continue reading “Antarctica Lost an Ice Shelf, but Gained an Island”