November 6th, 2020
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There is need for an appropriate scientific program to measure launch and reentry plumes and conduct laboratory measurements of the microphysics of all the different particle types generated from launch to reentry. The effort would be a government and commercial partnership. Indeed, very little is known about reentry dust production, […]
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A new document by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) spotlights the future of Moon exploration as one scenario with three phases: Phase 1: Boots on the Moon Phase 2: Expanding and Building Phase 3: Sustained Lunar Opportunities A Global Exploration Roadmap (GER) supplement updates a 2018 report, reflecting the activities of several […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2933 tasks. “The rubbly terrain that Curiosity is currently driving over is reminiscent of other rubbly terrain encountered within the ‘Glen Torridon’ area and continues to be relatively easy to drive on,” reports Lucy Thompson, a planetary geologist at the University of New Brunswick; Fredericton, New Brunswick, […]
The extraordinarily resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans has been found to withstand harsh environmental conditions present in outer space. This bacterium was exposed in low Earth orbit (LEO) for one year outside the International Space Station (ISS) to investigate microbial survival and space travel. In addition, a ground-based simulation experiment with conditions, mirroring those from low […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2932 tasks. “Curiosity is on the road to the sulfate unit, but there are always stops on a road trip,” reports Kristen Bennett, a planetary geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. The rover’s drive did not finish in the weekend plan, so there […]
Japan’s Hayabusa2 asteroid explorer is slated for a December 6th jettison of its space rock-stuffed re-entry capsule, samples gathered during its intensive investigation of asteroid Ryugu. The re-entry capsule will parachute to Earth in South Australia, touching down within the Woomera Prohibited Area. A capsule separation dress rehearsal was completed today, report Hayabusa2 ground controllers, […]
Russia’s Channel One and Roskosmos are launching a competition, the winner of which will take the lead role in the first feature film shot in space. The motion picture has a tentative title “Challenge” – with filming to take place at the International Space Station in October 2021. This off-planet film shoot is a joint […]
Here’s a heads up from New Mexico’s Spaceport America. Virgin Galactic’s mothership – VMS Eve – is slated to carry out two flights today over Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. “The flights are held as part of a series of readiness exercises ahead of Virgin Galactic’s first rocket powered flight from […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2928 tasks. This weekend, Curiosity continues working toward the sulfate unit of Mt. Sharp while conducting science along the way, reports Scott Guzewich, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The plan calls for contact science at “Garth Ness” with the […]
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera’s (LROC) Lunar QuickMap has received a hefty fall 2020 update, including new interactive features and data layers that allow for even greater user customizations, on-the-fly data analysis, and lunar exploration. For those unfamiliar with the Lunar QuickMap, it’s a highly interactive, web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool that hosts […]
