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Mars’ Atmosphere ‘Supersaturated With Water Vapour’

October 1, 2011 by ·

The upper atmosphere of Mars contains up to a hundred times more water vapour than anyone had ever imagined, according to a new study.

It seems that previous models have greatly underestimated the quantities of water vapour at heights of 20-50 km.

This surprising discovery has major implications for understanding the Martian water cycle and the historical evolution of the atmosphere, researchers say.

Using data from the European Space Agency’s Mars Express probe and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, astronomers determined that water in the upper Martian atmosphere undergoes a process known as supersaturation – something astronomers thought could not occur on the dry, dusty planet. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Solar System, Space Programme ·

NASA Unveils New Launcher Design For Mars

September 20, 2011 by ·

NASA has unveiled its design selection for a massive new launcher capable of powering manned space flights well beyond low-Earth orbit and ultimately to Mars.

NASA chief Charles Bolden made the announcement of the design for the new Space Launch System, which the space agency touted as the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V rocket put US astronauts on the moon.

“President Obama challenged us to be bold and dream big, and that’s exactly what we are doing at NASA,” said Mr Bolden. “While I was proud to fly on the space shuttle, tomorrow’s explorers will now dream of one day walking on Mars.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Science, Solar System, Space Programme ·

Earth ‘May Have Had Two Moons’

August 10, 2011 by ·

Earth may once have had two moons, the one that shines at night today and a smaller companion, according to a new theory.

A collision between the two created the mountainous highlands on the moon’s far side that have long puzzled scientists, according to this theory.

The side of the moon facing the Earth and the side facing away have strikingly different topographies. While the near side is relatively low and flat, the far side is high and mountainous with a much thicker crust.

Scientists have proposed different theories to explain this lack of symmetry. One leading idea is that gravitational tidal forces reshaped the moon’s crust and made it lopsided. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Science, Solar System, Space Programme ·

Lining Up Backup Plans For The International Space Station

August 1, 2011 by ·

With the retirement of the space shuttle, NASA is now reliant on Russia’s Soyuz. But what happens if that fails?

The space shuttle flew to the International Space Station 37 times, but its retirement leaves NASA reliant on the Russian Soyuz for future trips, raising the question of what would happen if the Soyuz is grounded for an accident or another problem.

As it turns out, NASA does not have a formal contingency plan, said Michael Suffredini, NASA’s program manager for the space station. But without hesitation, he rattled off a list of steps the agency could take.

“We would keep the crew on orbit for some months and likely extend that if we thought that was viable,” Suffredini said. Crews normally stay six months. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Solar System, Space Programme, Technologies ·

What’s Next For U.S. Space Program?

July 12, 2011 by ·

Looks like America will just have to ride shotgun.

The Atlantis space shuttle launched into orbit Friday, marking the final flight of the 30-year-old space shuttle program. That leaves the United States without any vehicles capable of human spaceflight.

Some experts believe that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s abandoning of spaceflight could have far-reaching implications on scientific discovery. Others say the focus of tomorrow’s engineers will shift to new areas that may have been overlooked if their efforts were spent on the costly travel.

Either way, it is the end of an era.

“I grew up with the shuttle, it was my generation’s Apollo,” said Laura Venner, a NASA ambassador and educator for New Jersey. “It’s something that makes you so proud and patriotic.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Humanities, Science, Space Programme, Technologies ·

Asteroid Passes Just 8,700miles From Earth – With Only 15 Hours Warning

November 11, 2009 by ·

asteroid passes just 8,700 miles from earth_Although no one noticed at the time, the Earth was almost hit by an asteroid last Friday.

The previously undiscovered asteroid came within 8,700miles of Earth but astronomers noticed it only 15 hours before it made its closest approach.

Its orbit brought it 30 times nearer than the Moon, which is 250,000 miles away

But before you head for the nuclear bunkers you will be relieved to learn the tumbling rock was only 23ft across. Similar sized objects pass by this close to Earth about twice a year and impact on the planet about once every five years.

Astronomers believe the object, called 2009 VA, would have almost completely burned up while entering Earth’s atmosphere, causing a brilliant fireball in the sky but no major damage to the surface.

The asteroid was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey on November 6, 2009. It was then identified by the Minor Planet Centre in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a near Earth object.

Nasa’s Near Earth Object Programme plotted the orbit of the object and determined that although it would fly extremely close to our planet it wouldn’t hit us.

It was the third-closest known (non-impacting) Earth approach on record for a cataloged asteroid.

The Nasa NEO programme aims to detect and track at least 90 per cent of the 1,000 asteroids and comets that approach Earth and are larger than 0.6miles in diameter, by 2020.

They monitored a 100ft asteroid that whizzed 45,000 miles above the Earth’s surface on March 2 this year. A similar sized object slammed into Tunguska, Siberia in 1908. The impact created a blast so powerful it levelled 1,200 square miles of forest. By Claire Bates, The Daily Mail

Filed Under: Environment, Research & Study, Space Programme ·