The CloudSat spacecraft will produce detailed three-dimensional images of vertical cloud structures, missing from current weather forecasting models. Colorado State technology also contributes to a second NASA mission studying aerosols and thin clouds, enhancing climate change understanding.
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft is preparing for a January 3, 1999, engine burn to rendezvous with asteroid 433 Eros. The spacecraft will increase its speed by 2,100 mph and enter orbit around Eros after catching up with the asteroid in mid-February 2000.
The NEAR mission will orbit and study asteroid Eros for a year, taking millions of measurements and images to determine its physical and geological properties. The spacecraft will face significant engineering challenges in maneuvering within 9 miles of the asteroid's surface.
The Europa Orbiter mission aims to find evidence of a liquid ocean on the moon, which could support life. If confirmed, Europa and Earth would be the only two worlds in the solar system with liquid water.
The ASU geology team is collecting and analyzing data from the Galileo spacecraft, which shows strong evidence of a liquid ocean under Europa's surface. The images transmitted by the spacecraft reveal terrain types similar to an iceberg found on Earth near Europa's surface.
Deep Space 1, a miniaturized space probe powered by solar-electric propulsion, will navigate through space and analyze charged particles and magnetic fields surrounding an asteroid and two comets. The mission, led by CU-Boulder Professor Fran Bagenal, tests innovative technologies and aims to explore the outer solar system.
Two scientists suggest that satellites' waste heat could be causing distant spacecraft to slow down faster than expected. The heat is emitted in a direction opposite to the Sun, giving the spacecraft a small push towards the Sun and slowing them down.
Scientists discover Jupiter's ring system is composed of dust kicked up by meteoroids striking four inner moons, with the outermost ring consisting of two embedded rings. The system provides a unique dynamical laboratory for studying the solar system's early processes.
FUSE is the first large-scale space mission fully planned and operated by a university department. It will study the origin and evolution of hydrogen and deuterium, as well as galaxy evolution and star formation, analyzing clouds of gases between stars in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies.
The conference will bring together over 100 principal investigators to discuss recent microgravity materials science research, including results from the Microgravity Sciences Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. Researchers will also preview plans for the International Space Station and its Materials Science Research Facility.
Io's volcanic hot spots reach surface temperatures of over 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, more than double previous measurements. The extreme temperatures suggest a unique process of differentiation and heavy element composition, shedding light on the moon's geological history.
The Stardust mission, launched in February, will be the first mission since Apollo to return samples of space material to Earth for analysis. The spacecraft will encounter Wild 2, a comet that alters course among the inner planets, and trap small particles from its coma.
The meeting explores hyperbaric oxygen therapy's potential in minimizing damage from strokes and preventing paralysis after spinal cord injuries. Dr. Mary Anne Frey will discuss the results of the Neurolab Space Shuttle Mission, while Sen. John Glenn will talk about his upcoming space-based research on aging.
A team of researchers led by Stephen M. Highstein will study the response of saltwater fish to near-zero gravity conditions on a space shuttle mission. By analyzing signals from the fish's brains, they hope to reveal clues about why astronauts suffer from motion sickness in space.
A team at University of Colorado at Boulder has found a faint, doughnut-shaped ring of interplanetary and interstellar dust orbiting Jupiter. The ring is much larger and more sparse than previously detected rings, and most particles in it move in the opposite direction to Jupiter's rotation.
Researchers propose using an electrodynamic tether to propel and power a Europa orbiter, potentially reducing propellant needs and costs. The concept is still in its infancy, with challenges including Jupiter's dynamic environment and the need for sophisticated controls.
The University of Colorado's Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite is successfully returning science data, measuring nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere and X-rays from the sun. The NASA mission was controlled by students and faculty 24/7, marking the second university-led satellite to be operated.
Recent data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft suggests that Jupiter's moon Europa may have a slushy ocean beneath its icy surface, with evidence including shallow impact craters and gaps in the ice. The findings support the idea that warmth from tidal forces could be keeping parts of the ocean liquid.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a genetic algorithm that optimizes low-thrust trajectories for interplanetary missions, increasing payload capability and flexibility.
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft successfully completed its Earth swingby, putting it on course for a historic encounter with asteroid 433 Eros. Scientists released the first images from the mission on January 26, providing valuable insights into the spacecraft's performance and trajectory.
The STS-89 mission will conduct experiments on granular materials, studying their behavior under conditions that cannot be simulated on Earth. The Mechanics of Granular Materials experiment will make twice as many test runs under an expanded range of conditions, potentially leading to great ramifications for down-to-Earth engineering. ...
The discovery of glowing hydrogen gas on Io, a moon of Jupiter, was made using the Hubble Space Telescope. The findings indicate that hydrogen may be concentrated at the poles in the form of hydrogen sulfide frost, which could be broken up into constituent hydrogen and sulfur atoms with glow.
Scientists have discovered oxygen locked in ice on Callisto, a moon of Jupiter, with sunlight playing a key role in separating hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Meanwhile, the Galileo team has found that sulfur dioxide emissions from Io are caused by both volcanic activity and frost sublimation.
A NASA instrument package will measure atmospheric conditions on a record-breaking solo balloon flight around the world. The mission aims to simulate planetary missions and educate the public on Earth's lower atmosphere.
The USMP-4 mission successfully delivered a haul of science and samples to help scientists investigate the era of International Space Station. The mission made significant contributions to materials science, solidification processes, and ultrasmall electronics, with results expected to have practical applications in industries like eye...
The APXS instrument provides new insights into Martian soil and rocks, revealing a more Earth-like composition than previously assumed. The study suggests that Mars has complex geological provinces with varied compositions, indicating a more evolved planet.
The MEPHISTO experiment, part of NASA's USMP-4 mission, collected nearly three times as much data as planned, providing valuable insights into solidification phenomena. The data will help refine manufacturing processes on Earth, particularly in the electronics industry.
The USMP-4 space mission closed with ongoing astrophysics research using cosmic ray measurements to analyze Confided Helium Experiment data. The Confined Helium Experiment used liquid helium to measure the finite size effect, and scientists are analyzing radiation effects to understand background heating noise.
Researchers John H. Thomas and Benjamin Montesinos present a more realistic version of the siphon-flow model, predicting how gas flows from sunspots into the solar atmosphere. Their results match observations in considerable detail, shedding light on astrophysical processes involving strong magnetic fields and jets of gas.
Scientists use sensors to measure the intensity of vibrations at different frequencies, optimizing experiments for the US Microgravity Payload. By analyzing data from past missions, they can plan future ones more effectively and minimize disturbances.
The Mars 2001 Lander mission aims to investigate the geological record of ancient Martian waterways and possible biology. Cornell's Athena rover will use its integrated scientific instruments to collect data on the planet's surface, including an imager, infrared spectrometer, and Alpha-Proton-X-Ray spectrometer.
The Comet Nucleus Tour mission, led by Cornell University, aims to study the composition of comet nuclei and assess their diversity. The mission will take images and comparative spectral maps of at least three comet nuclei, analyzing dust and gas flowing from them.
The CU instrument package will study Saturn's spectacular ring system, moons and atmospheric gases. It will analyze the atmosphere of Titan, a moon with conditions similar to early Earth.
The Mars Global Surveyor mission will spend nearly two years collecting data as it maps Mars' surface and atmosphere. The spacecraft will use aerobraking to trim its path around the planet, allowing for a global portrait of Mars' topography, mineral composition, and interior.
The two miniature water worlds, designed by former Biosphere 2 crew members, have been safely transferred to the American space shuttle Atlantis for comprehensive testing of their effects on plants and animals in space. The experiments aim to provide insights into long-term human spaceflight and pharmaceutical research.
Observations by NASA's Galileo spacecraft indicate that UV radiation is breaking down Ganymede's ice into atomic hydrogen and atomic oxygen. This process could lead to the formation of molecular oxygen and ozone, which may be trapped in the ice or form a thin atmosphere above Ganymede's surface.
Expert researcher Juan Roederer is set to begin his long-awaited study of the radiation belts circling Jupiter after 20 years with the Galileo spacecraft. The research aims to understand how Io, one of Jupiter's moons, affects the planet's radiation belts and compare them to Earth's Van Allen belts.
UC Berkeley's Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Astrophysics will take over day-to-day operations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) observatory, fostering space science and technology innovation. The transfer aims to reduce costs and increase educational outreach through project-based learning experiences.
The ACE spacecraft, a NASA mission to study the nature and origin of energetic particles from the sun and beyond our solar system, is nearing completion at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The spacecraft will provide advance warning of powerful geomagnetic storms that can disrupt power grids and communications o...
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created a scale model of Jupiter that simulates the banding pattern, lending support to the idea that the atmospheric bands have deep roots. The model's findings are backed by data from the Galileo spacecraft, which shows that wind speeds persist deep into the atmosphere.