Space shuttle Atlantis undocked from ISS this morning and is scheduled to land on Thursday at Cape Kennedy.
With that landing, the space shuttle era of spaceflight will be over. The shuttle did not achieve the goals of the program, for various reasons, but it did give us a glimpse of a future based on reusable spaceships. The challenge now is to reach that era as quickly as possible.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Dawn Enters Orbit
NASA's Dawn spacecraft became the first space probe to orbit a Main Belt asteroid last night as it slipped under the gravitational influence of the large, bright asteroid, Vesta.
Exactly when Dawn entered orbit is unclear as Vesta's mass, which determines the strength of its gravitational field, is not precisely known. That will be nailed down soon. Also to be determined is why Vesta is so bright.
After studying Vesta, Dawn is scheduled to move on to the even larger asteroid, Ceres-- which in fact is currently classified as a dwarf planet.
Exactly when Dawn entered orbit is unclear as Vesta's mass, which determines the strength of its gravitational field, is not precisely known. That will be nailed down soon. Also to be determined is why Vesta is so bright.
After studying Vesta, Dawn is scheduled to move on to the even larger asteroid, Ceres-- which in fact is currently classified as a dwarf planet.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Neptune
This year marks the 165th Earth year since the human discovery of the planet Neptune. That comes out to one Neptunian year.
Neptune is the first planet discovered after a deliberate attempt to find it. Using Newton's Laws to analyze the orbit of Uranus, two mathematicians independently concluded that another large planet was gravitationally acting on Uranus, and they worked out where in the sky that planet should be. Astronomers pointed telescopes in that direction, and quickly found Neptune. It was a stunning demonstration of the power of science and mathematics to understand the universe.
Nearly a century later, similar reasoning led to the search for Planet X, which culminated in the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Pluto, however, never really measured up, and it was eventually decided that there were in fact no unexplained irregularities in the motion of Neptune. Serendipity also plays a part in scientific discovery.
Neptune is the first planet discovered after a deliberate attempt to find it. Using Newton's Laws to analyze the orbit of Uranus, two mathematicians independently concluded that another large planet was gravitationally acting on Uranus, and they worked out where in the sky that planet should be. Astronomers pointed telescopes in that direction, and quickly found Neptune. It was a stunning demonstration of the power of science and mathematics to understand the universe.
Nearly a century later, similar reasoning led to the search for Planet X, which culminated in the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Pluto, however, never really measured up, and it was eventually decided that there were in fact no unexplained irregularities in the motion of Neptune. Serendipity also plays a part in scientific discovery.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Bolden On Capitol Hill
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden testified before Congress this week, arguing for funding for both a new heavy-lift vehicle and the James Webb Space Telescope. Given the state of federal finances, Bolden has a couple tough sells.
Congress has in fact ordered NASA to build a new heavy-lift launcher, but, with the cancellation of the Constellation Moonbase program, critics contend there is no need on the horizon for such a big rocket. To the extent that argument is seen as credible, it could be used to save money in these tough times.
The same holds for JWST. Bolden argued the follow-on to the Hubble Space Telescope could produce discoveries even more profound than the ones Hubble enabled. First, that's a tall order, however well supported the statement may seem. Second, the JWST program has been plagued by slipping schedules and cost overruns. In a period of extremely tight money, that wouldn't seem the type of program likely to win support.
Congress has in fact ordered NASA to build a new heavy-lift launcher, but, with the cancellation of the Constellation Moonbase program, critics contend there is no need on the horizon for such a big rocket. To the extent that argument is seen as credible, it could be used to save money in these tough times.
The same holds for JWST. Bolden argued the follow-on to the Hubble Space Telescope could produce discoveries even more profound than the ones Hubble enabled. First, that's a tall order, however well supported the statement may seem. Second, the JWST program has been plagued by slipping schedules and cost overruns. In a period of extremely tight money, that wouldn't seem the type of program likely to win support.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Cutting Satellites
The U. S. House may vote today to cut funding for two satellite programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Part of the money saved may go to a different satellite program that is backed by the White House.
Of course, the House vote is just one step in the process. The Senate gets its say, too, for instance. Still, a willingness in the House to cut satellites that would have focused on Earth may not bode well for NASA, with its focus on other worlds.
Of course, the House vote is just one step in the process. The Senate gets its say, too, for instance. Still, a willingness in the House to cut satellites that would have focused on Earth may not bode well for NASA, with its focus on other worlds.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
JWST In Trouble
The James Webb Space Telescope, a huge, orbiting infrared telescope designed to take up where the Hubble Space Telescope leaves off in deepening our understanding of the universe, is in jeopardy of being canceled. The program is both far over budget and behind schedule, leading the House committee writing NASA's budget to stop funding JWST in the early phases of hammering out the next budget.
Though only preliminary, the committee's decision has upset a large part of the science community. While that's understandable, the current fiscal state of the federal government has to be acknowledged. Keeping JWST is still possible, but its backers will have to deal with the political realities of the moment.
Though only preliminary, the committee's decision has upset a large part of the science community. While that's understandable, the current fiscal state of the federal government has to be acknowledged. Keeping JWST is still possible, but its backers will have to deal with the political realities of the moment.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Dawn At Vesta
After four years in space, NASA's Dawn spacecraft is finally approaching the Main Belt asteroid Vesta. Dawn will go into orbit around Vesta, thoroughly map its surface, and determine its composition.
One of Dawn's first tasks will be to search for a moon or moons orbiting Vesta. A few smaller asteroids are known to have one or two moons, so Vesta, one of the largest asteroids at 330 miles across, could well have company in its travels.
One of Dawn's first tasks will be to search for a moon or moons orbiting Vesta. A few smaller asteroids are known to have one or two moons, so Vesta, one of the largest asteroids at 330 miles across, could well have company in its travels.
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