The new global network of listening posts will track atmospheric signals from diverse events like secret nuclear tests, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes. Infrasound energy is generated by meteors, chemical explosions, supersonic aircraft, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Marshall engineers reported a peak of 1,700 Leonids meteors per hour, confirming the accuracy of computer models used to predict meteor showers. The joint operation center worked well, with representatives from NASA, U.S. Air Force and University of Western Ontario collaborating to ensure safe satellite operations.
Scientists from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center will launch a weather balloon equipped with a digital camera to broadcast web images of the Perseid Meteor Shower. The camera will provide a clearer view of the meteor shower and capture particles from the stratosphere during the event.
The AGU Spring Meeting will feature new press conferences on Leonid Meteors, which created a temporary lunar atmosphere, and Yucca Mountain as a potential site for long-term nuclear waste storage. The sessions will also include discussions on Mars Global Surveyor findings and the impact of magnetic storms on Earth.
A two-month research trip to Antarctica led by Temple University biologist Robert W. Sanders aimed to study microorganisms and retrieve samples from the extreme environment. The National Science Foundation funded the work, which will contribute to understanding biology at the limits of life.
The Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft is taking precautions to withstand the November 17 Leonid meteor storm, which could pose a risk due to its close proximity to the comet's wake. NASA technicians are adjusting the spacecraft's orientation and instruments to minimize damage from the massive cloud of Leonid particles.
This week, Earth will pass by the orbit of comet Giacobini-Zinner on October 8th, which could lead to a historic Giacobinid meteor storm. If debris is present ahead of the comet, hourly rates may exceed 3000 meteors per hour, rivaling the predicted Leonid storm.
The Leonid meteor storm may pose a significant threat to satellites due to the high likelihood of invisible meteors. Astronomers predict that most meteors will burn up at low temperatures, making them undetectable.
Scientists discuss ways to use lightweight materials like hydrogen, boron, and lithium for radiation shielding. Researchers also explore using composites and polyamide binders for efficient protection against space radiation.
Researchers have demonstrated an instance of a thin ion layer being pushed downward to create a neutral sodium layer. Contrary to predictions, the formation of this layer was not significantly affected by intense auroral ionization, revealing new insights into the physics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere.
A computer network manager proposes using obsolete ICBMs to create spectacular pyrotechnic displays, releasing thousands of artificial meteors into the atmosphere with different colours depending on their chemicals. The plan aims to reuse Cold War relics for entertainment rather than scrap them.
Penn State researchers investigate the ionosphere and atmospheric sodium using a six-minute rocket flight. They aim to determine if sodium can be used as a tracer of atmospheric motion and understand its relationship with sodium ions.
Researchers Mark Boslough and Randy Gladstone suggest that entry of ordinary meteoroids can form dark spots similar to those observed by satellites, contradicting a theory of frequent small comet bombardment. Their study provides evidence for the existence of high-altitude plumes generated by meteors.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered that millions of tiny, previously undetected invaders enter the Earth's atmosphere daily. These micrometeorites are thought to be leftover material from the formation of the solar system and carry significant energy, potentially damaging satellites and spacecraft.
A new study led by a University of Colorado astrophysicist suggests that dust grains dominating Jupiter's peculiar ring may have lifetimes of just hours or days. The study indicates the swelling of the inner ring is caused by positive electrical charges on the dust grains resulting from solar radiation.
The Penn State students will test off-the-shelf semiconductor chips to learn the effect of high energy particle radiation on standard semi-conductors. They will also measure how much micro debris hits the shuttle using a piezoelectric device, and map the Earth's magnetic field as it flies through it.