Space

Aug. 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- Scientists are analyzing results from soil samples delivered several weeks ago to science instruments on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander to understand the landing site's soil chemistry and mineralogy.

Within the last month, two samples have been analyzed by the Wet Chemistry Lab of the spacecraft's Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer, or MECA, suggesting one of the soil constituents may be perchlorate, a highly oxidizing substance.    » read more »

ST. LOUIS, July 01, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has completed environmental tests of the first of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites, which confirm the mechanical integrity of the spacecraft. The program is on track to deliver the first satellite to the U.S. Air Force this year.

Boeing GPS IIF Satellite: The first GPS IIF satellite (shown here in an artist's rendering) has completed a series of acoustic tests that replicate the noise levels expected during the spacecraft's launch into orbit. (Photo Credit: Boeing)    » read more »

June 25, 2008 -- PASADENA, Calif. -- New analysis of Mars' terrain using NASA spacecraft observations reveals what appears to be by far the largest impact crater ever found in the solar system.

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Global Surveyor have provided detailed information about the elevations and gravity of the Red Planet's northern and southern hemispheres.

Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Image by NASA/JPL

A new study using this information may solve one of the biggest remaining mysteries in the solar system: why does Mars have two strikingly different kinds of terrain in its northern and southern hemispheres? The huge crater is creating intense scientific interest.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- HOUSTON -- NASA engineers and scientists completed a milestone review June 20 that will help determine the systems needed to return humans to the moon and establish a lunar outpost. The three-day Lunar Capability Concept Review capped a nine-month study led by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington that incorporated science and exploration objectives earlier developed by representatives of 14 countries as part of the Global Exploration Strategy.

NASA Lunar Crew Mobility Chassis Prototype: The Crew Mobility Chassis Prototype is NASA's new concept for a lunar truck. NASA graphic.    » read more »

How did the star Eta Carinae create this unusual nebula? No one knows for sure. About 165 years ago, the southern star Eta Carinae mysteriously became the second brightest star in the night sky. In 20 years, after ejecting more mass than our Sun, Eta Car unexpected faded.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day - Eta Carinae and the Homunculus Nebula: Photo by N. Smith, J. A. Morse (U. Colorado) et al., NASA    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- Almost every object in the photograph below is a galaxy. The Coma Cluster of Galaxies pictured above is one of the densest clusters known - it contains thousands of galaxies. Each of these galaxies houses billions of stars - just as our own Milky Way Galaxy does.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Inside the Coma Cluster of Galaxies: NASA photo.

Although nearby when compared to most other clusters, light from the Coma Cluster still takes hundreds of millions of years to reach us. In fact, the Coma Cluster is so big it takes light millions of years just to go from one side to the other!    » read more »

June 14, 2008 -- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery and its crew landed at 11:15 a.m. EDT Saturday, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., completing a 14-day journey of more than 5.7 million miles in space. The STS-124 mission was the second of three flights to launch components to the International Space Station to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory.

Space shuttle Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.: Photo by NASA/Kevin O'Connell    » read more »

CONTRACT RELEASE : C08-035

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- NASA has signed a $16.8 million contract modification to space shuttle main engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc. of Canoga Park, Calif., to incorporate an employee retention plan implemented by the company. Incentives are being provided to eligible personnel to ensure mission success and construction of the remaining engines to support space shuttle requirements through September 2010.

Retention of the knowledgeable and skilled space shuttle main engine workforce is necessary to produce the remaining shuttle hardware. This contract modification supports the agency's priorities of safely flying and retiring the space shuttles.    » read more »

CONTRACT RELEASE : C08-037

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded a contract to Oceaneering International Inc. of Houston, for the design, development and production of a new spacesuit system. The spacesuit will protect astronauts during Constellation Program voyages to the International Space Station and, by 2020, the surface of the moon.

The subcontractors to Oceaneering are Air-Lock Inc. of Milford, Conn., David Clark Co. of Worcester, Mass., Cimarron Software Services Inc. of Houston, Harris Corporation of Palm Bay, Fla., Honeywell International Inc. of Glendale, Ariz., Paragon Space Development Corp. of Tucson, Ariz., and United Space Alliance of Houston.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The space shuttle Discovery crew is expected to complete its 14-day flight to the International Space Station with a landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, June 14.

STS-124 Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg: STS-124 Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg looks through a window at the Earth below in the newly installed Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station. NASA/JSC photo.    » read more »

What do Saturn's rings look like from the other side? From Earth, we usually see Saturn's rings from the same side of the ring plane that the Sun illuminates them.

Geometrically, in the below picture taken in April by the robot Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn, the Sun is behind the camera but on the other side of the ring plane.

Saturn's Rings from the Other Side: Photo Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA

This vantage point, specifically 17 degrees above the ring plane, gives a breathtaking views of the most splendid ring system in the Solar System. Strangely, the rings have similarities to a photographic negative of a front view.    » read more »

June 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, unveiled Monday a new vertical test stand that will be used later this summer to support NASA's Constellation Program. The stand will be used to test fire the full-scale abort motor for the launch abort system, which will sit atop the Orion crew exploration vehicle.

The abort motor is designed to pull the crew module away from the Ares I launch vehicle in an emergency situation on the launch pad or during the first 300,000 feet after launch.    » read more »

Washington -- 10 June 2008 -- Astronauts from the U.S. space shuttle Discovery have finished their final jobs on the International Space Station, and held a news conference from space. The Discovery astronauts Monday flexed the robotic arm that is part of the Japanese science laboratory they helped to install on the space station.

Japanese Experiment Module, or JEM, also called Kibo: Japanese Experiment Module, or JEM, also called Kibo, in its new home on the International Space Station. This view depicts Kibo's exterior, backdropped by solar array panels for the orbital outpost and one of its trusses. NASA photo.    » read more »

CONTRACT RELEASE : C08-034

June 6, 2008 -- CLEVELAND -- NASA has awarded a contract to the Universities Space Research Association, or USRA, of Columbia, Md., to advance understanding of the effects of the space environment on the functioning of space exploration systems.

The association will perform research, analysis and testing for technology and system development in fire prevention, detection and suppression, and other technologies necessary to sustain human life in the harsh environment of space. Other areas of research will include power, environmental control and life support systems, resource utilization and crew health.    » read more »

June 2, 2008 -- Is that ice under the Phoenix spacecraft on Mars? Quite possibly. Phoenix, which landed a week ago, was expected to dig under the Martian soil to search for ice, but the lander's breaking jets may already have uncovered some during descent.

Unusual Light Patch Under Phoenix Lander on Mars: Photo credit: Phoenix Mission Team, NASA, JPL-Caltech, U. Arizona

Pictured above is an image taken last week by the Robotic Arm Camera showing the unusual light-colored substance just in front of Phoenix's landing pad.    » read more »