NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, launched aboard the space shuttle in 1991, will re-enter Earth's atmosphere in late September or early October.
UARS is 35 feet long, 15 feet in diameter, and weighs 6.5 tons. Computer models suggest, however, that only about a thousand pounds of that will reach the ground. That's still quite a bit of stuff, but NASA points out no one has ever been injured by such falling debris.
Exactly where that debris will hit is not yet clear, but NASA is closely monitoring the satellite's path, and will refine its projections of where and when the debris will reach the surface right down to the event, and will keep the public informed.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
T-Plus 45 Years
On September 8, 1966, Star Trek premiered on NBC with Captain James T. Kirk commanding the Federation starship Enterprise. The original series aired only three seasons, but that was long enough to build a fan base that demanded the show be continued in some way. It was, first as feature films starring the bridge crew of the television series, and later as several new television series. Star Trek: The Next Generation, like the original series, also had a good run in the movies.
The lasting appeal of the concept has been the subject of much discussion. Clearly, every television producer would love to hit upon a fictional universe that explodes into a multi-billion dollar industry encompassing television, films, novels, etc. Part of the appeal of the original series can be put down to the excitement engendered by the Space Race of the 1960s, but that wouldn't seem to account for the show's ongoing, worldwide popularity. That seems more due to the show's portrayal of an optimistic future in which mankind has come together to solve its myriad problems and is engaged, with other races, on a wonderful journey of discovery.
The lasting appeal of the concept has been the subject of much discussion. Clearly, every television producer would love to hit upon a fictional universe that explodes into a multi-billion dollar industry encompassing television, films, novels, etc. Part of the appeal of the original series can be put down to the excitement engendered by the Space Race of the 1960s, but that wouldn't seem to account for the show's ongoing, worldwide popularity. That seems more due to the show's portrayal of an optimistic future in which mankind has come together to solve its myriad problems and is engaged, with other races, on a wonderful journey of discovery.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
More Apollo Pics
NASA has released another batch of images of Apollo landing sites taken by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The new images show the sites of Apollo 12, Apollo 14, and Apollo 17 in unprecedented detail as LRO swooped to within 14 miles of the lunar surface.
Among the details distinguishable are the lunar module descent stages, the lunar rovers the astronauts drove, the instrument packages left by the astronauts, and the tracks left by both the rovers and the astronauts on foot. Studied closely, the two types of tracks can be separated. It's a remarkable historical record-- and one with scientific value. Scientists can now pinpoint where specific samples were taken, for example.
Among the details distinguishable are the lunar module descent stages, the lunar rovers the astronauts drove, the instrument packages left by the astronauts, and the tracks left by both the rovers and the astronauts on foot. Studied closely, the two types of tracks can be separated. It's a remarkable historical record-- and one with scientific value. Scientists can now pinpoint where specific samples were taken, for example.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Future Spacesuits
NASA is looking at developing a new spacesuit design that would simulate the effects of gravity on the astronaut wearing it. The suit would anticipate the astronaut's movements, and resist those movements. NASA hopes the resistance will simulate gravity to the extent that it will allow astronauts to retain their coordination during long spaceflights.
NASA is pursuing the project with Draper Laboratory and MIT, and hopes to have a prototype suit ready within a decade.
NASA is pursuing the project with Draper Laboratory and MIT, and hopes to have a prototype suit ready within a decade.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Curiosity Contamination Concern
A new study says the risks of contaminating Mars with Earth bacteria could be higher with the upcoming Curiosity rover than with previous rovers.
The difference involves differing landing strategies. Up to now, rovers have landed on a platform and haven't come into physical contact with the Martian surface for hours or days. That gave the harsh Martian environment time to kill whatever microbes might have survived the long spaceflight from Earth. Curiosity, however, will not land on a platform. Instead, it will land directly on its six wheels, thus giving whatever live microbes it might contain immediate access to Mars.
Of course, odds are any Earthly bacteria that make it to Mars won't survive long in any case.
Curiosity is scheduled to land on Mars in August, 2012, after months in space.
The difference involves differing landing strategies. Up to now, rovers have landed on a platform and haven't come into physical contact with the Martian surface for hours or days. That gave the harsh Martian environment time to kill whatever microbes might have survived the long spaceflight from Earth. Curiosity, however, will not land on a platform. Instead, it will land directly on its six wheels, thus giving whatever live microbes it might contain immediate access to Mars.
Of course, odds are any Earthly bacteria that make it to Mars won't survive long in any case.
Curiosity is scheduled to land on Mars in August, 2012, after months in space.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Blue Origin Failure
Blue Origin, the NewSpace company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, lost a suborbital vehicle during a test flight last week. According to Bezos, the vehicle developed a "flight instability" problem and had to be destroyed by the range safety team.
Also according to Bezos, the company will push ahead with its plans. Blue Origin is working on both a suborbital and an orbital craft, and has contracts with NASA. It plans to develop a spacecraft that will ferry humans to and from low Earth orbit.
Also according to Bezos, the company will push ahead with its plans. Blue Origin is working on both a suborbital and an orbital craft, and has contracts with NASA. It plans to develop a spacecraft that will ferry humans to and from low Earth orbit.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Space Junk Study
A new study of the problem of spent rockets, dead satellites, and smaller bits of debris cluttering up orbital space around Earth suggests the problem may be at or near a critical phase. Even if no more junk was left in orbit, the stuff already there could be enough to initiate a cascade of crashes that in the worst case could render orbital space essentially useless.
The study calls on NASA to give the problem a higher priority and more resources. Of course, given the current fiscal problems of the U. S. Government, getting more resources for NASA may be about as difficult as solving the space junk problem itself.
The study calls on NASA to give the problem a higher priority and more resources. Of course, given the current fiscal problems of the U. S. Government, getting more resources for NASA may be about as difficult as solving the space junk problem itself.
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