NASA NEWS:
NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, created twin impacts on the moon's surface early Friday in a search for water ice. Scientists will analyze data from the spacecraft's instruments to assess whether water ice is present.
The satellite traveled 5.6 million miles during an historic 113-day mission that ended in the Cabeus crater, a permanently shadowed region near the moon's south pole. The spacecraft was launched June 18 as a companion mission to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
"The LCROSS science instruments worked exceedingly well and returned a wealth of data that will greatly improve our understanding of our closest celestial neighbor," said Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS principal investigator and project scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "The team is excited to dive into data."
2009-10-09
2009-10-08
NASA plan to crash unmanned spacecraft on the Moon
On Friday morning, an unmanned spacecraft launched in June will crash into the moon's surface. On purpose.
NASA wants to know if the twin impacts of the Lunar Crater Observation and its Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will reveal any ice or water under the moon's surface. The cosmic collisions are expected to kick up tons of moon dirt in giant debris plumes that will then be scanned for signs of water ice suspected to be buried beneath the floor of a permanently shadowed crater at the lunar south pole. NASA will start broadcasting the event live on NASA TV at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
More than a few folks are wondering how much the soon-to-be-destroyed LCROSS costs. Answer: $79 million, according to Christian Science Monitor.
NASA wants to know if the twin impacts of the Lunar Crater Observation and its Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will reveal any ice or water under the moon's surface. The cosmic collisions are expected to kick up tons of moon dirt in giant debris plumes that will then be scanned for signs of water ice suspected to be buried beneath the floor of a permanently shadowed crater at the lunar south pole. NASA will start broadcasting the event live on NASA TV at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT).
More than a few folks are wondering how much the soon-to-be-destroyed LCROSS costs. Answer: $79 million, according to Christian Science Monitor.
2009-09-30
Water On Moon and Mars
Source: www.scientificamerican.com
Two major discoveries revealed on September 24, 2009 may have made it a lot easier for humans to leave Earth and establish new colonies on the Moon and Mars. In a sensational announcement, NASA announced that there are vast quantities of water on the Moon, which has always been considered an arid world. A second discovery revealed that water ice exists at mid-latitudes on Mars. This is much further from the poles and closer to the equator than water was previously thought to lie and means there should be supplies for human explorers to drink.
Two major discoveries revealed on September 24, 2009 may have made it a lot easier for humans to leave Earth and establish new colonies on the Moon and Mars. In a sensational announcement, NASA announced that there are vast quantities of water on the Moon, which has always been considered an arid world. A second discovery revealed that water ice exists at mid-latitudes on Mars. This is much further from the poles and closer to the equator than water was previously thought to lie and means there should be supplies for human explorers to drink.
2009-09-15
Few intresting Questions and Answers on Life in Space -- Part 2
Answered by mission specialist Ron Parise & astronomer Dr. Cathy Imhoff
What kind of training must an astronaut go through?
An astronaut must undergo extensive practice on the experiments that will be operated during the mission; training on living in space like eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom, housekeeping; and emergency procedure practice in case you have to get out in a hurry under many circumstances both on the pad and in flight.
How long does it take to actually get into space after the launch?
It takes 8.5 minutes to reach space after launch.
What does it feel like to be floating?
Wild!!! It is like going down a hill on a roller coaster! Maybe a combination between that and being in a swimming pool without the viscosity of the water
What shape must you be in, physically and mentally?
To be an astronaut you must be in good physical shape (but not an athlete!) and ready to work with the rest of the crew without getting mad at anyone in close quarters over the length of the flight.
How does the pressure in space affect you?
Well, there isn't any pressure, because space is nearly a vacuum. That is one of the reasons that astronauts wear spacesuits.
How can astronauts breathe in the space shuttle?
In order to breathe on the shuttle, they take along a supply of oxygen. There are also filters that take carbon dioxide out of the air. Did you see the movie Apollo 13? One of the biggest dangers for them was that their oxygen tank exploded, and their carbon dioxide filters were clogging up!
When you're out of a spaceship, how do you prevent being sucked into space?
Well, if you are out of the spaceship, you ARE in space. I hope you have your spacesuit on!
What kind of training must an astronaut go through?
An astronaut must undergo extensive practice on the experiments that will be operated during the mission; training on living in space like eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom, housekeeping; and emergency procedure practice in case you have to get out in a hurry under many circumstances both on the pad and in flight.
How long does it take to actually get into space after the launch?
It takes 8.5 minutes to reach space after launch.
What does it feel like to be floating?
Wild!!! It is like going down a hill on a roller coaster! Maybe a combination between that and being in a swimming pool without the viscosity of the water
What shape must you be in, physically and mentally?
To be an astronaut you must be in good physical shape (but not an athlete!) and ready to work with the rest of the crew without getting mad at anyone in close quarters over the length of the flight.
How does the pressure in space affect you?
Well, there isn't any pressure, because space is nearly a vacuum. That is one of the reasons that astronauts wear spacesuits.
How can astronauts breathe in the space shuttle?
In order to breathe on the shuttle, they take along a supply of oxygen. There are also filters that take carbon dioxide out of the air. Did you see the movie Apollo 13? One of the biggest dangers for them was that their oxygen tank exploded, and their carbon dioxide filters were clogging up!
When you're out of a spaceship, how do you prevent being sucked into space?
Well, if you are out of the spaceship, you ARE in space. I hope you have your spacesuit on!
2009-08-11
Strong Meteor Shower Expected Tonight
By Robert Roy Britt
The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show this week for those willing to get up in the wee hours of the morning and wait patiently for the shooting stars.
In North America, the best time to watch will be between midnight to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, but late Tuesday night and also Wednesday night could prove fruitful, weather permitting.
The Perseids are always reliable, and sometimes rather spectacular. The only things that puts a damper on the August show are bad weather or bright moonlight. Unfortunately this week, as the Perseids reach their peak Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the moon will be high in the sky, outshining the fainter meteors.
Still, skywatchers around the globe will have a good chance of spotting the brighter meteors. Some already are enjoying the show.
Already underway
The Perseids are bits of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which has laid down several streams of debris, each in a slightly different location, over the centuries as it orbits the sun. Every August, Earth passes through these debris streams, which spread out over time.
"They are typically fast, bright and occasionally leave persistent trains," says Joe Rao, SPACE.com's Skywatching Columnist. "And every once in a while, a Perseid fireball will blaze forth, bright enough to be quite spectacular and more than capable to attract attention even in bright moonlight."
Low numbers of Perseids, including some dazzling fireballs, have already been reported as Earth began entering the stream in late July. Seasoned observers have counted up to 25 per hour already, or nearly one every two minutes.
Most meteors are no bigger than a pea. They vaporize as they enter Earth's atmosphere, creating brilliant streaks across the sky.
The Perseids appear to emanate from the constellation Perseus, which rises high in the sky around midnight and is nearly overhead by dawn. Like most meteor showers, the hours between midnight and daybreak are typically the best time to watch, because that's when the side of Earth you are on is rotating into the direction of Earth's travels through space, so meteors are "scooped up" by the atmosphere at higher rates, much like a car's windshield ends the lives of more bugs than does the rear bumper.
Astronomers expect up to 200 meteors per hour in short bursts of up to 15 minutes or so. But many of the fainter meteors will simply not be visible due to moonlight, and rates will go down even more for those in urban areas. More likely a typical observer under reasonably dark skies might hope to see a meteor every couple minutes when the bursts come, and fewer during lulls.
When to watch
The best time to watch is between midnight and dawn Wednesday. Forecasters say the best stretch could come between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. ET (1-2 a.m. PT), which would be after daybreak in Europe. Some Perseids might be visible late Tuesday night, and Wednesday night into Thursday morning could prove worthwhile, too.
Meteor forecasting is still in its infancy, however, so the best bet for anyone truly hungry to spot shooting stars is to get in as much observing time as possible from around 11 p.m. Tuesday night until dawn Wednesday, and if you miss that show, try the same time frame Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
Meteors should be visible in the pre-dawn hours, weather permitting, all around the Northern Hemisphere.
"Earth passes through the densest part of the debris stream sometime on Aug. 12," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "Then, you could see dozens of meteors per hour."
Viewing tips
The best location is far from city and suburban lights. Ideally, find a structure, mountain or tree to block the moon. Then scan as much of the sky as possible. The meteors can appear anywhere, heading in any direction. If you trace their paths backward, they'll all point to the constellation Perseus.
People in locations where any chill might occur should dress warmer than they think necessary to allow for prolonged viewing.
Seasoned skywatchers advise using a blanket or lounge chair for comfort, so you can lie back and look up for long periods. Allow at least 15 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness. Then expect meteors to be sporadic: You might see two in a row, or several minutes could go by between shooting stars.
Avid meteor watchers might want to try scanning the northeastern horizon from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. local time (your local time, wherever you are) Tuesday and Wednesday for Perseids that graze the horizon.
Cooke points out that these earthgrazers, as they are called, are rare but remarkable.
"Earthgrazers are meteors that approach from the horizon and skim the atmosphere overhead like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond," Cooke explained. "They are long, slow and colorful – among the most beautiful of meteors."
The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show this week for those willing to get up in the wee hours of the morning and wait patiently for the shooting stars.
In North America, the best time to watch will be between midnight to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, but late Tuesday night and also Wednesday night could prove fruitful, weather permitting.
The Perseids are always reliable, and sometimes rather spectacular. The only things that puts a damper on the August show are bad weather or bright moonlight. Unfortunately this week, as the Perseids reach their peak Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the moon will be high in the sky, outshining the fainter meteors.
Still, skywatchers around the globe will have a good chance of spotting the brighter meteors. Some already are enjoying the show.
Already underway
The Perseids are bits of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which has laid down several streams of debris, each in a slightly different location, over the centuries as it orbits the sun. Every August, Earth passes through these debris streams, which spread out over time.
"They are typically fast, bright and occasionally leave persistent trains," says Joe Rao, SPACE.com's Skywatching Columnist. "And every once in a while, a Perseid fireball will blaze forth, bright enough to be quite spectacular and more than capable to attract attention even in bright moonlight."
Low numbers of Perseids, including some dazzling fireballs, have already been reported as Earth began entering the stream in late July. Seasoned observers have counted up to 25 per hour already, or nearly one every two minutes.
Most meteors are no bigger than a pea. They vaporize as they enter Earth's atmosphere, creating brilliant streaks across the sky.
The Perseids appear to emanate from the constellation Perseus, which rises high in the sky around midnight and is nearly overhead by dawn. Like most meteor showers, the hours between midnight and daybreak are typically the best time to watch, because that's when the side of Earth you are on is rotating into the direction of Earth's travels through space, so meteors are "scooped up" by the atmosphere at higher rates, much like a car's windshield ends the lives of more bugs than does the rear bumper.
Astronomers expect up to 200 meteors per hour in short bursts of up to 15 minutes or so. But many of the fainter meteors will simply not be visible due to moonlight, and rates will go down even more for those in urban areas. More likely a typical observer under reasonably dark skies might hope to see a meteor every couple minutes when the bursts come, and fewer during lulls.
When to watch
The best time to watch is between midnight and dawn Wednesday. Forecasters say the best stretch could come between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. ET (1-2 a.m. PT), which would be after daybreak in Europe. Some Perseids might be visible late Tuesday night, and Wednesday night into Thursday morning could prove worthwhile, too.
Meteor forecasting is still in its infancy, however, so the best bet for anyone truly hungry to spot shooting stars is to get in as much observing time as possible from around 11 p.m. Tuesday night until dawn Wednesday, and if you miss that show, try the same time frame Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
Meteors should be visible in the pre-dawn hours, weather permitting, all around the Northern Hemisphere.
"Earth passes through the densest part of the debris stream sometime on Aug. 12," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "Then, you could see dozens of meteors per hour."
Viewing tips
The best location is far from city and suburban lights. Ideally, find a structure, mountain or tree to block the moon. Then scan as much of the sky as possible. The meteors can appear anywhere, heading in any direction. If you trace their paths backward, they'll all point to the constellation Perseus.
People in locations where any chill might occur should dress warmer than they think necessary to allow for prolonged viewing.
Seasoned skywatchers advise using a blanket or lounge chair for comfort, so you can lie back and look up for long periods. Allow at least 15 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness. Then expect meteors to be sporadic: You might see two in a row, or several minutes could go by between shooting stars.
Avid meteor watchers might want to try scanning the northeastern horizon from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. local time (your local time, wherever you are) Tuesday and Wednesday for Perseids that graze the horizon.
Cooke points out that these earthgrazers, as they are called, are rare but remarkable.
"Earthgrazers are meteors that approach from the horizon and skim the atmosphere overhead like a stone skipping across the surface of a pond," Cooke explained. "They are long, slow and colorful – among the most beautiful of meteors."
2009-08-02
Few intresting Questions and Answers on Life in Space -- Part 1
How do astronauts eat in space?
Most of their food has to be prepared in a special way to ensure that it can be eaten in weightlessness. The most common preparation for space is dehydration; the astronauts rehydrate it simply by putting it in their mouth or adding water.
How do astronauts take showers in space?
They do not take showers in space. With such limited access to the ISS, the Station has to work as efficiently as possible - and water is one of the most precious onboard resources. Anyway, showers are not convenient in weightlessness - the water just floats around. Instead, astronauts use wet towels.
How do astronauts go to the toilet in space?
The toilet is designed for use by both males and females. A seat belt and foot restraints hold the astronaut on the seat, while high-speed air currents pull the waste into the respective receptacles. The urine is combined with other water waste and the faeces are vacuum-dried, chemically treated to remove odour and bacteria, and stored.
How do astronauts sleep in space?
Astronauts cannot lie 'down' in a bed because of the weightlessness. Sleeping bags are strapped to bunks to keep them from floating around. Astronauts can sleep standing up, upside-down, or even suspended in the air.
What do the astronauts wear in space?
There are no special clothes - the astronauts wear ordinary clothes like T-shirts. There is no washing machine on the ISS, and it is hard to pack enough clothes like underwear or socks, because each kilogram launched into space is very expensive. The result is that they cannot change their clothes every day: underwear is changed every 2-3 days. On average, ISS crewmembers get one pair of shorts and a T-shirt for every 3 days of exercising. Their work shirts and trousers/shorts are changed, on average, once every 10 days. There is usually a new T-shirt to wear under their work shirts every 10 days.
Part 2 coming soon......
Most of their food has to be prepared in a special way to ensure that it can be eaten in weightlessness. The most common preparation for space is dehydration; the astronauts rehydrate it simply by putting it in their mouth or adding water.
How do astronauts take showers in space?
They do not take showers in space. With such limited access to the ISS, the Station has to work as efficiently as possible - and water is one of the most precious onboard resources. Anyway, showers are not convenient in weightlessness - the water just floats around. Instead, astronauts use wet towels.
How do astronauts go to the toilet in space?
The toilet is designed for use by both males and females. A seat belt and foot restraints hold the astronaut on the seat, while high-speed air currents pull the waste into the respective receptacles. The urine is combined with other water waste and the faeces are vacuum-dried, chemically treated to remove odour and bacteria, and stored.
How do astronauts sleep in space?
Astronauts cannot lie 'down' in a bed because of the weightlessness. Sleeping bags are strapped to bunks to keep them from floating around. Astronauts can sleep standing up, upside-down, or even suspended in the air.
What do the astronauts wear in space?
There are no special clothes - the astronauts wear ordinary clothes like T-shirts. There is no washing machine on the ISS, and it is hard to pack enough clothes like underwear or socks, because each kilogram launched into space is very expensive. The result is that they cannot change their clothes every day: underwear is changed every 2-3 days. On average, ISS crewmembers get one pair of shorts and a T-shirt for every 3 days of exercising. Their work shirts and trousers/shorts are changed, on average, once every 10 days. There is usually a new T-shirt to wear under their work shirts every 10 days.
Part 2 coming soon......
2009-08-01
Sleeping in Space is Easy, But There's No Shower
By Tariq Malik
Astronauts may have some tough jobs in orbit - like building a $100 billion International Space Station - but apparently getting a good night's sleep isn't one of them.
In fact, sleeping is pretty comfy in space because you can slumber without gravity's incessant pull, according to Canadian astronaut Julie Payette, who has been living aboard the linked space station and shuttle Endeavour for more than a week.
"We sleep very well in space. Can you imagine?" Payette told reporters in a recent interview broadcast by NASA. "We have a sleeping bag each, and when you get into it you float in the sleeping bag. The sleeping bag floats in the module. So all you have to do is just attach it somewhere, which is a good idea by the way because during the night while your sleeping you might start drifting and end up somewhere you didn't intend to be in the first place."
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is returning home aboard Endeavour after living on the station for 4 1/2 months, has said that anchoring yourself at night is key because otherwise you might bump into sensitive computers and equipment and switch them on accidentally.
Some astronauts have complained in the past that the first night's sleep in space can be fitful because their minds are racing ahead to the coming mission's complexity. But Endeavour's six-man, one-woman crew is in the homestretch of a 16-day spaceflight that included five challenging spacewalks to deliver spare parts and a Japanese experiment porch to the space station.
About the only thing missing, Payette said, is a shower. The thing that makes sleeping in space so comfortable - that weightless feeling - also makes it impossible to start the next morning with a refreshing shower.
"Of course, we're in weightlessness, so a showerhead with water dripping on top of your head would not work," Payette said. "We don't have a shower. We don't even have a faucet or a tap."
NASA's first space station, Skylab, and Russia's Mir space station did include a shower facility for crewmembers. On Skylab, astronauts floated into the shower, pulled up a privacy curtain, and were able to shower in water from a push-button hose and dry off using a vacuum system.
But on the International Space Station and NASA shuttles, astronauts have a squirt gun that shoots water and a wash cloth. They also have a special rinse-less shampoo to keep their hair clean.
"We wash like we would if we were on an expedition or a camping trip or something," Payette explained. "It works."
Shuttle Endeavour safely touches down at Florida's Kennedy Space Center
From topnews.us
Gliding through the overcast conditions, space shuttle Endeavour, piloted by Shuttle commander Mark Polansky, safely touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 10:48 a.m. EDT (1448 GMT). The shuttle's landing came after an over 100,000 feet descent through the Earth's atmosphere, at speeds more than 1,000 miles per hour!
It was on July 15 that Endeavor had taken off, after days of delays resulting from mechanical flaws and weather-related problems. It reached the ISS two days later to commence its ambitious construction flight. The seven-member shuttle crew, along with the six-man station staff together constituted the historic biggest-ever 'crowd' aboard any one spacecraft.
As Polansky and his six crewmates left the runway of the shuttle's home port in Cape Canaveral, - after successfully completing a 16-day space mission concerning Japan's $1 billion Kibo science laboratory at the International Space Station (ISS) - Polansky remarked: "It's a great day to be here at Kennedy."
The installation of Kibo laboratory - the external platform for supporting space experiments - which included the addition of three initial payloads, came about after five spacewalks and the use of three robotic arms.
Commenting on the completion of the Endeavor mission, Bill Gerstenmaier - NASA's space operations chief - said: "I can't say enough how great this mission was. The crew and the ground teams pulled it all together."
Gliding through the overcast conditions, space shuttle Endeavour, piloted by Shuttle commander Mark Polansky, safely touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 10:48 a.m. EDT (1448 GMT). The shuttle's landing came after an over 100,000 feet descent through the Earth's atmosphere, at speeds more than 1,000 miles per hour!
It was on July 15 that Endeavor had taken off, after days of delays resulting from mechanical flaws and weather-related problems. It reached the ISS two days later to commence its ambitious construction flight. The seven-member shuttle crew, along with the six-man station staff together constituted the historic biggest-ever 'crowd' aboard any one spacecraft.
As Polansky and his six crewmates left the runway of the shuttle's home port in Cape Canaveral, - after successfully completing a 16-day space mission concerning Japan's $1 billion Kibo science laboratory at the International Space Station (ISS) - Polansky remarked: "It's a great day to be here at Kennedy."
The installation of Kibo laboratory - the external platform for supporting space experiments - which included the addition of three initial payloads, came about after five spacewalks and the use of three robotic arms.
Commenting on the completion of the Endeavor mission, Bill Gerstenmaier - NASA's space operations chief - said: "I can't say enough how great this mission was. The crew and the ground teams pulled it all together."
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