Articles tagged with Spacecraft
NASA is launching a new effort to develop a safer and cheaper reusable launch vehicle system, relying on commercial industry to meet NASA's science and exploration goals. The agency aims to reduce risk and technical challenges by partnering with industry partners.
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft has captured a striking image of an asteroid featuring a heart-shaped depression. The feature, located below a large ridge on the potato-shaped asteroid, is approximately 3 miles wide and was visible from 1,609 miles away.
The NASA space shuttle Endeavour will gather information key to the University of Hawaii's research on the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. The mission aims to provide more extensive topographic data on volcanoes, including Mount Pinatubo, using advanced radar interferometry.
The NEAR spacecraft is set to embark on a historic asteroid rendezvous with Eros, the largest near-Earth asteroid discovered so far. Using its instruments, scientists will study the asteroid's chemical and physical features, evolutionary history, and magnetic field to gain insights into asteroids' origins.
University of Colorado researchers found that the production of antibiotic actinomycin D was 75% higher in space than on Earth, with a 20-fold increase in fermentation efficiency. This breakthrough has implications for developing new anti-cancer therapies.
The TIMED spacecraft, designed and built by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, will undergo final environmental testing at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center before its May 18 launch. The mission aims to study the sun's influence on Earth's Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere region.
The University of Iowa team will use a low-frequency radar to probe beneath the Martian surface and study the planet's ionosphere. The goal is to detect signs of liquid water, which may be responsible for carving the planet's canyons.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new propulsion system called M2P2 that could potentially increase spacecraft speeds by up to 10 times, surpassing Voyager I's distance from Earth. The system uses a plasma chamber and electromagnetic field to harness the solar wind for propulsion.
Two Stanford University scientists argue that large amounts of water ice are unlikely on the Moon, suggesting an alternative explanation involving the reaction of lunar dust with hydrogen and oxygen. They propose that the Lunar Prospector crash could produce a plume of water vapor and hydroxyl ions without ice being present.
The University of Iowa is conducting a space shuttle experiment to study human cell growth and metabolism in space. The oxygen-sensing system developed by the university will be used to monitor oxygen levels and provide feedback control for optimal growth conditions.
A team of scientists from Montana State University designed an experiment to study the role of gravity on infection-fighting white blood cells. The goal is to understand why astronauts are more vulnerable to infections in space and develop pharmaceuticals to boost immune responses.
BioServe will fly three bioprocessing payloads and industry experiments, including a National Institutes of Health experiment and two K-12 student outreach projects, on the space shuttle Columbia. The experiments focus on developing new wastewater treatments and improving techniques used to evaluate pharmaceutical compounds.
JHU/APL's MESSENGER spacecraft will be the first to visit Mercury in over three decades, gathering data on the planet's density, atmosphere, and magnetosphere. The $286 million mission has potential applications in industry beyond scientific research.
NASA has selected 23 organizations to develop revolutionary space-based power generating systems that harness the Sun's energy for Earth and space. The selected teams will receive $6.4 million in funding to create commercially viable space solar power technologies.
A study by NASA's Johnson Space Center found that spaceflight increases the levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in astronauts' saliva samples. EBV can cause glandular fever and has been associated with Burkitt's lymphoma, a type of cancer common in Africa.
A team of young researchers, mentored by Associate Professor Max Vercruyssen, are developing a computerized driving simulator to evaluate astronaut fitness for space travel. The simulator aims to determine alertness, judgment, and motor skills related to operating an automobile, similar to assessing fitness-for-duty in the space shuttle.
A team of Cornell University mission engineers created a last-minute fix to send commands to the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft, allowing it to capture hundreds of new images of asteroid 433 Eros. The fix was completed in just 12 hours and was tested for errors before being sent to the craft.
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.
Russian scientists are developing a bacterial mixture to break down organic waste from astronauts' underwear, reducing storage issues in space. The disposal unit will process plastic, cellulose, and other waste aboard spacecraft, addressing the acute problem of waste management in space.
The University of Michigan's VORTEX experiment, launched on the Space Shuttle Endeavour, investigates fluid atomization in microgravity. The study aims to answer fundamental questions about the process by which liquids are converted into tiny droplets.
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.
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.
Researchers have developed new methods to visualize the magnetosphere, a complex region surrounding Earth, by analyzing images of charged particles. The technique uses neutral atoms in space to create detailed maps of the magnetosphere's structure and behavior.
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.
NASA scientists have discovered an anomaly in Pioneer 10's trajectory, suggesting the spacecraft may be experiencing an unexplained force pulling it towards the Sun. The effect has been observed in multiple Pioneer and Ulysses probes, challenging current theories of gravity.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute created a 2D system to study fire propagation, revealing that flame dynamics follow simple laws governing penetration of liquids into porous materials. This breakthrough provides a low-cost alternative to studying fire in space and could aid in detecting slow-moving flames in aircraft.
Materials scientists will use microgravity conditions to study material formation and behavior, producing high-value products. The U.S. Laboratory Module will house three Materials Science Research Racks, with each rack capable of conducting various experiments.
Researchers have developed a unique antenna design called the Orlan antenna to provide communications and vital signs for astronauts on the International Space Station. The antenna's special loop design couples sufficient energy to transmit radio-frequency signals while minimizing reflections.
A new computer simulation shows how a small cosmic cloud could suddenly burst the heliosphere, potentially leading to catastrophic climate changes and increased exposure to deadly cosmic radiation. The simulation may help guide Voyager 1 and 2 through a series of shock waves and a massive 'wall' in space nearly two decades from now.
The Aerospace Medical Association has issued medical guidelines for air travel to help doctors advise patients with illnesses. These guidelines provide recommendations for patients with conditions such as pulmonary disease, asthma, and emphysema, emphasizing the importance of stable health before traveling.
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.
Scientists from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center discuss approaches to building lunar and Martian bases using in situ materials. Processing materials will be a challenge due to low gravity, which affects metal behavior and microstructure formation.
Researchers will present findings on prevention, treatment of neurological problems like stroke, epilepsy, and brain injury. The meeting aims to develop international collaborations and transfer lessons learned in space and undersea research to patient care.
The CU-Boulder payload, dubbed COLLIDE, analyzes the gentle collisions of dust particles in space to understand the dynamics of larger particles. Four different impact speeds and two different depths of dust will be tested to shed light on the mysterious disappearance of dust from planetary ring particles.
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.
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.
Scientists will observe how airglow changes during the eclipse to estimate oxygen densities at different altitudes in the upper atmosphere. The Polar spacecraft, equipped with a UVImager and other cameras, will take images of the Earth's shadow as the Moon's shadow moves across the globe.
The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite, designed and built by a team of University of Colorado at Boulder students and faculty, is set for launch on Feb. 4. The mission aims to measure nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere affecting Earth's ozone layer, x-rays from the sun, and ultraviolet light from Earth's aurora.
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 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory's NEAR spacecraft has detected a major gamma-ray burst, validating its instrument as a true partner in the interplanetary network. The detection expands the network to locate gamma-ray sources with greater accuracy.
The ACIS camera will record the energy of each X-ray detected from high-energy objects as unique charge, converting it into a signal to detect different elements. It has very high angular resolution and spectral resolution, allowing scientists to see individual stars for the first time in crowded regions.
Researchers will test the effects of microgravity on plant species known as sweet wormwood and rosy periwinkle, which naturally produce pharmaceutically important compounds. The goal is to develop new drugs or lower production costs.
The Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph Experiment (LASCO) on the SOHO spacecraft has made public images and movies taken during the week of December 22-27, 1996. The released data includes coronagraphic images and a movie with an image cadence of approximately 50 minutes.
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.
SRI International will operate a 150-foot parabolic reflector antenna to test UHF communication signals from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. The team will analyze received signals in real-time and send simulated signals to check the UHF link for future Mars missions.
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.
The MSX satellite has released the highest resolution mid-infrared maps of the Galactic Center, providing insights into the thermal radiation from cool dust and HII regions. The images reveal hot objects like stars as blue and cool objects as red, offering a new understanding of the galaxy's structure and composition.
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.