Universe Today (Page 568)

Researchers Create a New Plasma Thruster

By Fraser Cain - January 29, 2004 05:07 AM UTC | Physics

Researchers from the Australian National University have created a prototype thruster that could offer a new form of propulsion for spacecraft. The thruster is called the Helicon Double Layer Thruster (HDLT), and it works by passing hydrogen atoms through a magnetic field to create a beam of plasma. Like an ion engine, it's electrically powered and very efficient - solar arrays could provide the energy to power the thruster. Other agencies, including NASA, are working on plasma thrusters, but this is the first to be proven to work with hydrogen.

Opportunity Begins Standing Up

By Fraser Cain - January 29, 2004 03:57 AM UTC | Planetary Science

NASA controllers gave Opportunity the commands on Wednesday that would begin the process of getting the rover to stand up from its compact landing configuration. The rover has untucked its front wheels and latched its suspension system in place. Controllers are going to try and tilt the landing platform forward 5-degrees to make it easier for Opportunity to roll of the platform next week - possibly as early as Sunday or Monday. Repairs are continuing on Spirit, but operators don't have full control of the lander yet.

Scientific Equipment Headed to the Station

By Fraser Cain - January 29, 2004 02:38 AM UTC | Space Exploration

A Russian-built Progress spacecraft lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome today atop a Soyuz booster. Mission 13P is carrying a full load of supplies and scientific equipment and will reach the International Space Station within two days. The spaceship will deliver two dummies designed to measure the long-term effects of space radiation on the human body; one will be attached to the outside of the station to get a direct exposure. The station's previous Progress ship was detached on Wednesday to make room.

Opportunity Landing Site Named for Challenger Crew

By Fraser Cain - January 28, 2004 11:53 AM UTC | Missions

NASA announced today that it has dedicated Opportunity's landing site to the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, which were killed when the shuttle was destroyed shortly after takeoff on January 28, 1986 - 18 years ago today. Its new name will be The Challenger Memorial Station. This joins memorials for the Columbia and Apollo 1 crews which were also recently announced.

Ocean Patterns Dictate Dry and Wet Periods

By Fraser Cain - January 28, 2004 11:33 AM UTC | Planetary Science

New data gathered by NASA's Topex/Poseidon and Jason satellites seems to indicate that the cooler and drier periods in Southern California are a direct result of a long-term ocean pattern called the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. By measuring the ocean and atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, forecasters can predict the temperatures and rainfall estimates for up to a year in advance. The full cycle of this effect can last 50 years, and right now the trend is towards a drier climate for the next five years.

Martian Terrain Named for Lost Apollo Astronauts

By Fraser Cain - January 28, 2004 03:23 AM UTC | Planetary Science

NASA has memorialized the three members of Apollo 1 by naming terrain near the Spirit rover's landing site. Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died in a fire when their capsule was being tested exactly 37 years ago. Grissom Hill is located 7.5 km to the southwest of Spirit's landing location; White Hill is 11.2 km to the northwest; and Chaffee hill is 14.3 km south-southwest.

Volcanoes Would Be Good Future Targets

By Fraser Cain - January 28, 2004 03:01 AM UTC | Planetary Science

When selecting targets for Spirit and Opportunity, NASA engineers were very cautious about where the rovers could land. They needed to choose targets which had a low elevation, flat terrain, and free of large boulders that could destroy the spacecraft. Fortunately, both Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum have enough scientific value to make the trip worthwhile. Since the airbag technology has been so successful, future missions might get a little more dangerous, like landing on a volcano.

What is that Bedrock?

By Fraser Cain - January 27, 2004 10:33 AM UTC | Planetary Science

The most intriguing part about Opportunity's landing spot is the big slab of bedrock exposed on the rim of the crater the rover is in. The region is important because it means that planetary geologists know where this rock was formed - right there. Other rocks can be moved by water and wind erosion, volcanic events or asteroid impacts, but this bedrock hasn't been moved. When the rover is ready to drive off its lander, it will climb up to the bedrock and examine it carefully for any layers that could answer if there was once standing water in this region. And where there was once water, there could be life.

Mars Society Responds to Bush Announcement

By Fraser Cain - January 27, 2004 10:15 AM UTC | Space Policy

When US President George W. Bush announced his government's new space initiative, to return humans to the Moon and then on to Mars, many space advocacy groups saw this as an opportunity to advance the goals of space exploration. The Mars Society recently announced their analysis and recommendations about the initiative. Overall, the society welcomed the new policies, but felt there was room for improvement in several areas, including an emphasis on acquiring heavy lift boosters and developing methods for creating fuel, water, etc on the Moon or Mars.

Opportunity's Hardware is Working Properly

By Fraser Cain - January 27, 2004 03:51 AM UTC | Missions

Opportunity has tested out the three scientific sensing tools on its robotic arm, and it appears they all survived the brutal entry and landing on Mars without a problem. The spacecraft took its first 24-image panoramic view of its surroundings which clearly shows the discoloured soil where the rover bounced inside an impact crater. Opportunity is still more than a week away from the point where it too will be rolled onto the Martian surface. On the other side of the planet, repairs on Spirit are ongoing, but it's not clear when the rover will be able to continue its mission.

Astronomers See a Star Before it Exploded

By Fraser Cain - January 26, 2004 10:27 AM UTC | Stars

Astronomers working with the Gemini observatory were able to make detailed observations of an aging star only a little while before it exploded as a supernova. The star was first imaged a year ago as part of a comprehensive survey of galaxies. When the supernova was discovered in June 2003, astronomers found out its precise position with the Hubble Space Telescope. They could then look back through the photos taken with Gemini, and spot the exact star that exploded - it was 10 times more massive, and 500 times larger than our own Sun.

Halo Around a Gamma Ray Burst

By Fraser Cain - January 26, 2004 10:09 AM UTC | Physics

Using the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton and Integral observatories, astronomers have discovered glowing X-ray halos around powerful, but short-lived, gamma ray bursts (GRBs). GRBs are the most energetic explosions in the known Universe, and could be created when a giant star turns into a black hole. The halos are created when the radiation from the GRB scatters through two clouds of gas and dust located only few thousand light-years away.

Search for Beagle 2 is Winding Down

By Fraser Cain - January 26, 2004 09:47 AM UTC | Missions

After three more days of intense searching for the Beagle 2 lander, team leader Colin Pillinger said, "we have to begin to accept that, if Beagle 2 is on the Martian surface, it is not active." Before they completely give up hope, however, they're going to have the Mars Odyssey spacecraft send a command that will force the lander to reload its software. The lander should have entered a special mode on January 22 that kept it turned on all day and communicating.

Opportunity is in a Small Crater

By Fraser Cain - January 26, 2004 05:05 AM UTC | Planetary Science

NASA's Opportunity rover landed in an incredibly lucky spot on Sunday morning; inside a small impact crater, and very near a larger crater. The crater is only 20 metres across, but the first photos sent back by the rover show that there is exposed bedrock on one wall of the crater. Scientists have already got a preliminary journey for Opportunity planned, which involves examining the exposed rock and then traveling to the larger crater. Opportunity still needs to spend a week, maybe even two, on the lander before controllers feel comfortable rolling it out onto the Martian soil.

Engineers Restore Communications With Spirit

By Fraser Cain - January 25, 2004 05:29 AM UTC | Missions

NASA engineers think they've got a way to communicate reliably with Spirit after it stopped responding normally last week. They believe the glitch - which caused the rover to reboot more than 100 times, transmit gibberish, and stay awake at night - was caused by a problem with its 256 MB flash memory (similar to what you might have in your digital camera). Until they can come up with a solution, they will wake the rover each morning in a way that stops it from using this troublesome component. For now, it's stable and open to new commands.