September 15th, 2014
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The European Space Agency has picked a spot for the Philae lander touchdown on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. According to ESA, Site J offers unique scientific potential, with hints of activity nearby, and minimum risk to the lander compared to the other candidate sites. Site J is on the ‘head’ of the comet. The backup landing zone, […]
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Space travelers from around the globe are taking part in the 27th Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers in Beijing, China. The theme of the Congress is “Cooperation: To Realize Humanity’s Space Dream Together.” The program has been underway from September 10-15. Yang Liwei, deputy director of China Manned Space Agency – and […]
NASA has announced that the Mars Curiosity rover has reached the Red Planet’s Mount Sharp, a Mount-Rainier-size mountain at the center of the vast Gale Crater. That’s the rover mission’s long-term prime destination. Curiosity’s trek up the mountain will begin with an examination of the mountain’s lower slopes. In late 2013, the Curiosity team realized […]
Decision time is nearing! The European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft arrived at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on August 6. Scientists and engineers are on the prowl to find a suitable location for the comet lander, Philae. Five candidate touchdown spots were announced on August 25 for further investigation. By September 14, the five possible sites will have […]
It’s called a “science splashdown.” The undersea environment is the closest analogue on Earth to a gravity-weak environment like that of asteroids, the moons of Mars or Mars itself. Therefore, other than being in outer space, going to inner-space is the best place to test relevant exploration concepts. The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, known […]
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a constant hotbed of creativity and cultivation central for startup companies. One such firm that’s attracting attention is Accion Systems, developing liquid ion sources for micro-propulsion systems in satellites. The target for Accion propulsion is to keep ultra-small satellites – CubeSats — in orbit for far-longer periods of […]
India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is that country’s first interplanetary mission to the Red Planet. Launched November 5, 2013 from Sriharikota, India, the spacecraft is nearing its September 24 rendezvous with Mars. Nudging itself into orbit will require a nearly half-hour burn of a bi-propellant engine. Space officials at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) […]
Space travelers from around the world are headed to China this month for an international Planetary Congress, which will explore the possibilities for expanding human spaceflight cooperation among different countries. A new story from me, up today on Space.com Astronaut All-Stars Will Visit China to Talk Space Cooperation By Leonard David, Space.com’s Space Insider Columnist […]
A nasty asteroid headed toward Earth is on a collision course – how best to protect our home turf? First of all, knowing its density and structure is important. Is it a rubble pile, solid as rock, Swiss cheese, has a core, or something else? With that information in hand, dealing with the threatening object […]
China to Launch Recoverable Moon Orbiter Prototype This Year The country plans to launch a lunar “test orbiter” by year’s end with the intention of laying the foundation for China’s Chang’e 5 lunar sample-return mission in 2017. http://www.space.com/27011-china-moon-orbiter-recoverable-prototype-launch.html
