NASA Mars Rover Churns Up Questions With Sulfur-Rich Soil

NASA's Martian rover has found some intriguing stuff in the soil and rock that it has dug up. The soil contains lots of sulfur and traces of water. "This material could have been left behind by water that dissolved these minerals underground, then came to the surface and evaporated, or it could be a volcanic deposit formed around ancient gas vents," said Dr. Ray Arvidson. it should be interesting for the scientists to find out which one of these ideas is correct. The soil was dug up when Spirit was trying to cross a soft part of soil with one bad wheel.

New mission to collect, return Martian samples

New mission to collect, return Martian samples

Working with design experts at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., the student engineers have worked out the parts and processes needed to send two landers the 100 million miles to Mars, land them, take samples of soil, rock and atmosphere, and return the samples safely to Earth. The samples will then be distributed to hundreds of research labs to see if they can detect signs of past or present life on Mars.

Mark III Spacesuit Hardware

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=23765

NASA has new requirements for the Mark II spacesuit which may be used in a manned mission to Mars. The required components include a lightweight, aluminum waist joint ring, adapter rings, and a pivot elliptical waist shaft.

First Steps To Mars

The landing site is unknown. The rockets are still on the drawing board. Some of the astronauts haven't been born yet. Never mind all that. NASA's journey to Mars has already begun.

The first steps are being taken onboard the International Space Station (ISS). "Astronauts are stationed on the ISS for six months at a time," says Dr. Clarence Sams, lead scientist for the ISS Medical Project at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Parking Trouble

We can't escape it, there is even parking trouble in space. Three astronauts went around the International Space Station for a brief trip in order to clear a parking spot for a later mission."The Expedition 15 cosmonauts are slated to launch April 7 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with U.S. space tourist Charles Simonyi, who will return with the Expedition 14 crew on April 20. Simonyi is paying more than $20 million for his 13-day spaceflight under an agreement between Russia’s Federal Space Agency and the Virginia-based firm Space Adventures.

Spirit Loses And Then Re-Establishes Contact with Orbiter

Spirit, one of the two rovers that is currently exploring Mars briefly lost contact with Earth while the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was in Safe mode. The rover and the orbiter both share the same frequency with Earth and must coordinate communications. Ultimately, Spirit sent data to Earth while the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was on the other side of Mars, out of reach of Earth.

V is for Virus, Volkov, and Vandenberg

A crew of working-class misfits on a beat up old tub encounters a massive derelict ship whose crew is either dead or missing. They investigate and awake an Ancient Unspeakable Evil(™) that begins killing them one by one…
Yes, it’s the plot of the 1979 movie Alien, and the 1997 movie Event Horizon, and probably half a dozen other movies since then (you can throw in John Carpenter’s terribly underrated 1982 movie The Thing for good measure). In essence, it’s the classic haunted house story placed in a science fiction setting.

Evan Justin goes to Mars

Local school teacher in Mojave Desert tryin to understand the common pathways of life.

Evan Justin, a local middle school teacher's passion for space began when he was a small child watching Space Race. This week he is in the Mojave Desert working with astrobiologists and other scientists who are trying to understand Mars-like environments. His passion for space exploration is in hopes to find answers to the unknown, and he remarks, "What if we spread this across the country to kids everywhere? Our odds of finding something interesting go way up."

World Working Together To Reach Mars

China, Russia plan joint Mars probe
China and Russia have signed a deal to explore Mars and one of its moons (Phobos). The two countries will jointly send a probe to study the planet and its atmosphere. Russia will launch the explorer, which will carry Chinese-made scientific equipment. It will study the atmosphere of the planet and try to find an answer to the mystery of what happened to the planet's water. The exploration will start in 2009.

Hong Kong dentist designs tools for space

A dentist in Hong Kong, Ng Tze, has designed a small rock grinder, called a Soil Preparation System, to be used in Russia's space missions. The grinder will accompany a 2009 mission to one of Mars moons. Ng's tools have been used in space before, in '95 and '03. The grinder is designed to help collect samples for analysis and is specifically made for working with difficult materials.

Ng Tze began designing his own dentist tools after noticing how inadequate the existing tools were. He then decided to give the tools to astronauts because of their high quality. This unusual business venture has put Ng on the map, however he doesn't want any money from his inventions. "It is an honor just for my designs to go to space. Maybe all we'll ask in return is a gram of soil," he said.

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Inflatables in Space

The new fad in space involves air. NASA is currently working on inflatable structures to put up on the moon.Created by NASA contractor ILC Dover LP these devices were tested in Virginia at NASA's Langley Center. Though the structures have been viewed by Congressmen and touring others there are still some kinks to work out. "“We also want to look at logistics: how well this is actually going to package up, how much mass it actually has, how do you arrange the internal parts [to create] sleeping quarters, walls and floors,” Watson told SPACE.com. “Those are some of the issues we’re going to be tackling in the next year or two.” So the inflatables are still being finalized.

Inflatables in Space

The new fad in space involves air. NASA is currently working on inflatable structures to put up on the moon.Created by NASA contractor ILC Dover LP these devices were tested in Virginia at NASA's Langley Center. Though the structures have been viewed by Congressmen and touring others there are still some kinks to work out. "“We also want to look at logistics: how well this is actually going to package up, how much mass it actually has, how do you arrange the internal parts [to create] sleeping quarters, walls and floors,” Watson told SPACE.com. “Those are some of the issues we’re going to be tackling in the next year or two.” So the inflatables are still being finalized.

The Evolution of Climate and Weathering on Mars

The Evolution of Climate and Weathering on Mars

SO on Monday we discussed a lot about how Mars was formed and much of the weathering that has accorded geologists actually look at differently. Things that appear to be deltas on mars are actually lava flows…so I thought that I would add a little information about Evolution of Mars and weathering…enjoy

China, Russia to launch joint mission to Mars

China and Russia have signed an agreement to launch a joint space mission to Mars in 2009.

The agreement was reached during a recent visit to Russia by the Chinese President, Hu Jinato. The agreement calls for a small satellite developed by China to be launched along with Russian spacecraft Phobos Explorer. This satellite will detach from the spacecraft after entering Mars' orbit and probe the Martian space environment. The mission hopes to find information on the orgins of the solar system and Earth.

Review: Space transportation systems, present and future

NASA is undergoing what is arguably its biggest transition since the end of the Apollo program and the beginning of the Shuttle program over 30 years ago. Now it’s the Shuttle’s turn to go the way of the Saturn 5 rocket and Apollo spacecraft, to be replaced by something that combines some elements of both of its predecessors.

Ailing Mars camera is stable – for now

Ailing Mars camera is stable – for now



The best camera ever sent to Mars was thought to have major problems, but luckily they have been stabilized. Why this camera had issues is still unknown to NASA, but the camera that is on the Reconnaissance Orbiter is taking pictures and sending back information. These photos are making NASA lots of money, since they have evidence to support many of their conclusions.

Nasa Studies Life Limits in China's Extreme Desert

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=22195

NASA is studying China's desert in search for clues about potential life on Mars. Scientists are exploring microbial communities in some of the oldest and driest parts of the world and it is believed that the conditions of some of China's remote deserts may be very similar to those on Mars.

Bigelow Shoots for the Moon!

As Bigelow Aerospace prepares for the launch of its second prototype space station, the company explains its main goal. Bigelow wants to assemble full blown space villages at a work space between Earth and the Moon and then drop them on the surface of the Moon so that people can move in immediately. Bigelow is currently working with NASA so it can begin the first tests later this year. Watch this space!

Polar Ice

Mars Express Confirms Lots of Polar Ice! Where's the Rest?
Jeffrey Plaut is a Jet Propulsion Lab Principal Scientist and also a Co-Principal Investigator on the MARSIS radar carried by the European Space Agency's Mars Express Orbiter. On this site he talks about what the instrument has learned about the 2.5-mile thick ice at the Martian south pole and about where the rest of the Red Planet's once vast amount of surface water may have gone.

Puzzlement Over Missing Craters

Titan is missing its craters! " The Cassini spacecraft’s radar sweep of Saturn’s largest moon Titan in January revealed a portion of what appears to be a 110 mile (180 kilometer) diameter impact crater." This would only be the fourth crater of this magnitude to be found on Titan. Astronomers are a little worried as to why there are such few numbers of craters on Titan....suspicious.

International Partnerships Plan Continued Exploration of Mars

International Partnerships Plan Continued Exploration of Mars


Partnering up is the way to get more information to about Mars, so that is why space exploration has moved from once being a competition among nations, to now being an international enterprise with scientist from all countries participating in EACH mission. In July the Seventh International Conference on Mars will be held in California. This conference was first created to make sure the community was able to reflect on the questions.

New space shield may help make Mars mission reality

Scientists working toward a manned Mars mission say they're closing in on a new, high-tech material that can shield astronauts from deadly deep-space radiation. Known as graphite nanofiber, the new material would be much lighter than the dense materials used on Earth as radiation shielding in nuclear power plants.

The dozen space weapons myths

The successful Chinese anti-satellite missile test two months ago, the launch on Thursday of the Pentagon’s robot rendezvous craft that can service—or terminate—other satellites, and an impending US test of an orbiting rocket-tracking sensor package (the controversial NFIRE mission) have blasted “space warfare” back into the front of national attention. The timing is critical, too, with changing political winds in Congress and new agendas still taking shape

Mission to Mars

Mission to Mars soon to be a reality with help of a space shield.
Scientists are currently working on a new high-tech material that can shield astronauts from deadly deep-space radiation that they would face during a manned mission to Mars. The material, known as graohite nanofiber, is much lighter than the dense materials used on Earth as radiation shielding in nuclear power plants.

NASA Studies Life's Limits in China's Extreme Deserts

Could there be life on Mars? Earths deserts suggest that there could be. Scientists are using some of the most extreme places on earth to test to see if there could possibly be life on earth. The most recent study was done in China's northwest region in one the worlds oldest and driest deserts. The study found evidence that suggests that Mars may have similar conditions and so may have some form of tiny life forms.

Space Tourist Set for Travel

Charles Simonyi, a software developer will be the next paying tourist to the ISS. Not only does he get to go to space but also for an extended two days. Simonyi will be in space on a 13 day long trip with two Russian cosmonauts. The lucky lad will take off on April 7th with the Expedition 15 crew and explore outer space. "Simonyi is paying more than $20 million for his spaceflight under a deal brokered with Russia’s Federal Space Agency by the Virginia-based space tourism firm Space Adventures. " IF this isn't a money maker I don't know what is!

Space preservation or space destruction?

The destruction of the Feng Yun-1C weather satellite during a Chinese ASAT test on January 11, 2007 has prompted a global reaction. The recent Celestrak animation of this ASAT test should further succeed in pushing forward the notion of arms control for the purpose of environmental preservation.

Mechanized Explorers Study The Depths, Chemistry Of Mars

There have been many attempts to understand the Fourth Planet from the Sun. Some have failed miserably, while others have gotten us some very valuable information. With the help of technology and other machines we have been able to explore the very makeup of the planet Mars. Explorers like Spirit and Opportunity have done much for the knowledge that we have gained.

International Partnerships Plan Continued Exploration of Mars

Future missions will search for evidence of life on Mars
Space exploration began as a competion between nations, but today it is more of an international interprise as Mars is the focus of four missions with interantional participation. These missions are designed to see whether the Red Planet can support life.

International Partnerships Plan Continued Exploration of Mars

Future missions will search for evidence of life on the Red Planet

Mars is the focus of four missions with international participation – NASA’s Mars Odyssey (launched in 2001), the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express (2003), NASA’s Mars exploration rovers (2003) and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (2005). The missions are designed to study everything from planetary geology, mineral composition, water supply, radiation and atmosphere, to whether the Red Planet can support life.

Going (almost) all the way to Mars

Going (almost) all the way to Mars

The Earth’s own Moon will play a critical role in the future of human exploration of the solar system. While some might quibble whether the Moon should lie in the critical path for future human missions elsewhere in the solar system, it’s clear under the Vision for Space Exploration that, at least for the US, the Moon will be not just a major goal for exploration, but a place to test some of the systems and technologies needed for missions to Mars and beyond.

Mars and Venus Express Missions Extended

The Mars Express and Venus Express missions were both extended recently. The decision was made by the ESA's Science Programme Committee last week and they are sticking by their decision. Th e Committee "noted the invaluable heritage that these missions are leaving to future missions to these planets" and couldn't resist the urge to extend their missions.

Mars and Venus Express Missions Extended

The Mars Express and Venus Express missions were both extended recently. The decision was made by the ESA's Science Programme Committee last week and they are sticking by their decision. Th e Committee "noted the invaluable heritage that these missions are leaving to future missions to these planets" and couldn't resist the urge to extend their missions.

High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)

The University of Arizona is leading an "advanced digital imaging project" using HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) to enable better pictures to be taken from space. This equipment is currently orbiting Mars on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This imaging equipment is able to take very high resolution/detailed pictures of Mars for better analysis and planning for future Mars landings. The file sizes can be more than 2GB each and therefore take up a lot of space and are difficult to manage. This technology helps mamage the growing imaging requirements of these types of missions.

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LINCOLN Explore red planet at planetarium

LINCOLN Explore red planet at planetarium

Why not make some money off Rovers…NASA has allowed individuals to create a 30 minute program that includes talk from James Rice and many others from an Arizona State University team. The program will be showing in Nebraska if anyone wants to attend!

NASA Scientists and Teachers to Study Mars in the Mojave Desert

NASA’s Spaceward Bound project at the agency’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., will take a team of NASA scientists and 40 teachers from throughout the country to study the unique geologic formations of California’s Mojave Desert and the supremely adapted microbes that call it home. The Mojave’s inhospitable, sun-scorched environment presents scientists with opportunities to study environments similar to what explorers will find on the moon and Mars.

Martian Caves Spotted by Spacecraft

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6461201.stm

Recently NASA's spacecraft the Odyssey was able to spot Caves around the Arsia Mons volcano. These caves are belived to be important as they may be the only natural structures capable of protecting primitive life forms from micrometeoroids, UV radiation, solar flares and high energy particles that bombard the planet's surface.

Mars Rover Team Investigating Spirits Front Wheel

Mars Rover Team Investigating Spirits Front Wheel

Spirit's mission team continues to investigate problems with the rover's right-front wheel. They have conducted a diagnostic test at a different temperature, but the result continues to indicate the wheel's circuit remains open, meaning it is inoperative.
At the same time, team members are conducting experiments with a rover duplicate at Jet Propulsion Laboratory to understand the new characteristics of five-wheel driving.

NUANCES OF MARS' RED LANDSCAPE AWAIT THE PLANET'S FUTURE TRAVELERS

NUANCES OF MARS' RED LANDSCAPE AWAIT THE PLANET'S FUTURE TRAVELERS



In 50 years they think that humans will be making rounds around Mars. They say that “like any good Boy or Girl Scout on earth, these adventures will be well prepared.” They are going to study the landscape and look at how it is always changing due to the wind and heat! I guess we will just have to wait and see…

NASA Selects Proposals for Future Mars Missions and Studies

NASA Selects Proposals for Future Mars Missions and Studies

WASHINGTON - On Monday, NASA selected for concept study development two proposals for future robotic missions to Mars. These missions would increase understanding of Mars' atmosphere, climate and potential habitability in greater detail than ever before. In addition, NASA also will fund a U.S. scientist to participate in a proposed European Mars mission as well as fund instrument technology studies that could lead to further contributions to future Mars missions.

Mars Express radar gauges water quantity around Mars' south pole

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=22126

A scientific radar gauge has estimated the amount of water trapped in frozen layers over Mars' south polar to be equivalent to a liquid layer about 11 metres deep covering the planet. This estimate was extracted from 300 virtual slices through layered deposits covering the south pole. This project is said to be much more accurate than its predecessors providing useful information that will help scientists in planning the inevitable manned mission to Mars.

Space For Survival of Our Species

In this article, Robert Shapiro talks about motivations for creating a permanent lunar base. An entertaining read, Shapiro discusses how in a dooms day scenario (which he believes we're headed to), having a lunar base mere hours would make the difference between the extinction of the human race and being able to repopulate the planet.

Urey 'Life Detector' Going to Mars

The Urey: Mars Organic Oxidant Detector has been designed by NASA-funded researchers to look for life on Mars. This "life detector" will check for life's essential molecules at incredibly small concentrations. Urey will also distinguish between amino acids made by biological and non-biological processes.

Caves on Mars

Holes may be the enterance to subterranean caverns.
Pictures from a Mars orbiter show giant holes (about the size of football fields) on the surface of Mars that researchers say may be the enterance to subterranean caverns. If there truely are caverns, then they will likely be the prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life, and prime real estate for future human settlements on the Red Planet.

Even NASA has to cut costs

The practice of business is partly all about cutting costs to maintain parity or gain profit. Unfortunately even NASA has to worry about options, cutting costs, and conscientious spending. NASA can't do whatever they want. On the space shuttle Atlantis scientists are trying to figure out which is the best way to fix all the dings and wholes in the fuel tank of the shuttle. Trying to fix the 2000+ dings that exist on the fuel tank might cause Atlantis to delay its scheduled departure time, but buying a whole new one is very spendy. So the question of costs versus profits arise.

Scientists Measure Depth of Ice Deposits at Mars' South Pole

Scientists Measure Depth of Ice Deposits at Mars' South Pole

Scientist are measuring the amount of ice that is on the Planet Mars. This is something that the US space agency could not do by themselves so they are teaming up Italy to explore the south. Scientists know the width of the ice that is on Mars, but they do not know the depth. Knowing this information will not do ANYTHING to benefit NASA or an actual trip to Mars, but for some reason they are still to learn more.

Mars Express

Scientific Journal Publishing Findings Mars Express
Tomorrow, a mojaor scientific journal will publish the findings of the Mars Express. Since December 2003, the European Space Agency's Mars Express has been studying the Red Planet. However this mission has a special quest, to collect more evidence that water once flowed on the planet and could still be present. Almost three years of data has been collected, and will finally be published for the world to see.

Possible seas discovered on Saturn moon

Nasa has discovered that there may be seas on one of Saturn's moons Titan. The international space craft Cassini. Nasa Scientists believe that the seas are hydrocarbon. While there's no scientific definition of a lake or sea on Titan, the newly found features are significantly larger than previously discovered bodies of liquid on the frigid moon and should be considered seas. Methane is a flammable gas on Earth but is liquid on Titan because of the moon's intense atmospheric pressure and cold. Check out the photos!

New View of Ancient Mars Water System

http://www2.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8007133348084089678

A new theory as to the origin of water on Mars suggests that groundwater once bubbled up from beneath the surface of Mars to form transient, shallow pools before evaporating and leaving behind thick layers of salty minerals. It also suggests that ancient Mars had a global connected water system.

Hawaii Hopes for More Space Projects

Hawaii hopes to become a place for serious investment in space exploration with an agreement signed this week with the California-based NASA Ames Research Center.

Isolated Hawaii has long been known as one of the best spots on the globe for viewing deep into space through telescopes operated by astronomers from about a dozen countries atop Haleakela on Maui and Mauna Kea on the Big Island. The two inactive volcanoes' top observatories also provide an edge to astronomers at the University of Hawaii, who have access to those telescopes as well as the university's own facilities at the summits.

The Daily Martian Weather Report

The Daily Martian Weather Report

The launch of the Mars Global Surveyor from the Cape Canaveral Air Station took place on November 7, 1996. After a ten-month cruise to Mars, the MGS spacecraft executed its orbit insertion maneuver on September 12, 1997. The period of the initial orbit of Mars was nearly two days. The mission plan called for a three- to four-month aerobraking sequence to modify the orbit to one suitable for mapping the red planet. The mapping phase of the mission was then scheduled to begin in the spring of 1998, and to continue for one complete martian year (687 days).

Urey to Test for Life on Mars

NASA-funded researchers are refining a tool that could not only check for the faintest traces of life's molecular building blocks on Mars, but could also determine whether they have been produced by anything alive.The instrument, called Urey: Mars Organic and Oxidant Detector, has already shown its capabilities in one of the most barren climes on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. The European Space Agency has chosen this tool from the United States as part of the science payload for the ExoMars rover planned for launch in 2013. Last month, NASA selected Urey for an instrument-development investment of $750,000.

Don't Breathe the Moondust

Don't Breathe the Moondust

In 1972, Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt sniffed the air in his Lunar Module, the Challenger. "[It] smells like gunpowder in here," he said. His commander Gene Cernan agreed. "Oh, it does, doesn't it?"
The two astronauts had just returned from a long moonwalk around the Taurus-Littrow valley, near the Sea of Serenity. Dusty footprints marked their entry into the spaceship. That dust became airborne--and smelly.

New Scientist For Mars Scout Program

Joel Levine Named Mars Scout Program Scientist
A Mars exploration program based on a series of rapid-response, science-driven low-cost missions has a new program scientist. Joel S. Levine of NASA's Langley Research Center was announced by NASA Headquarters as the Mars Scout Program Scientist for the newly selected Scout mission launching in 2011.

Rebuilding Bone After Space Flight

Business is all about rebuilding. You have to rebuild empires, companies, and sometimes even yourself. So after space flight astronauts wonder how long it will take to rebuild lost bone mass when they return. A four year study has shown that astronauts lose about 11% of their hip bone mass after space travel. The study also found that a year later much of that bone mass was recovered. That is faster than trying to change or regroup any kind of business. There is an increased risk of bone fractures on Mars during Martian activity. Just a little tidbit that astronauts should know upon their adventures into Mars!

Romance Does Exist

With quotes from a steamy email, it is true that Astronaut Bill Oefelein had a girlfriend waiting his arrival back home after space flight. It is also true he received the email while in space in which Lisa Nowak came across and sent her on her 900 mile trip to reclaim her prize. Other documented emails reveal that Nowak and Oefelein did have a romantic relationship as well.

Interesting that NASA does not screen or read emails that astronauts are sent while in space, they give them total privacy. Now because of this incident these privacy settings just may have to change.

IPS Medal

IPS MEDAL


Beagle 2 which is a Mars lander, received lots of support on this mission from outside people due to the knowledge that was shared to the outside world. I believe that there are many people who do not fully understand space exploration so they do not give it a chance…with an increase in education on this issue could help increase support and perhaps more funding!

Bone loss due ot long-term space travel

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=22046
Bone loss during the course of a long voyage to Mars could result in an increased risk of a bone fracture during activities on the Martian surface or even back on Earth as a result of aging. Scientists are finding that long term space travel will likely cut down on a significant portion of astronauts bone mass. They have also found that although bone mass will likely be replaced, the bone structure and density of returning astronauts will not return to normal.

Latest Studies of Mars, Saturn, Moon Highlight Conference

Initial science data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Detailed images of Saturn's icy moons and results from a deliberate crash on the moon highlight the 38th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference March 12-16 in Houston. Data from recent missions continues to offer space scientists worldwide new information and imagery to study. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the latest mission to arrive at Mars, began returning data last November, providing higher-resolution imagery than has been previously obtained from orbit.

Current issues in NewSpace

The issues facing the entrepreneurial space industry (commonly called “NewSpace” by its advocates) have been shifting over the years. In the late 1990s supporters of space tourism struggled to be taken seriously, given the focus on what seemed to be more real markets: namely, the launching of hundreds of satellite for low Earth orbit telecommunications systems. After that market fell through and space tourism began to be taken more seriously, there were concerns about regulatory matters in the United States, including whether suborbital vehicles would be treated as aircraft or launch vehicles by the FAA.

Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says

Over the past decade or so Earth's climate has been warming up. Many people have believed that this global warming affect was caused by humans. Scientists now say that global warming is also happening on Mars, which suggests that our planet's recent climate changes are from natural causes. Researchers say that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" on Mars have been slowly shrinking over the last three Martian Summers. So the global warming affect may have more to do with solar cycles that with the pollution that humans have created.

35 Years After Apollo, Return to Moon Will Take New Direction

35 Years After Apollo, Return to Moon Will Take New Direction


With NASA constraints –unlike the blank check they were given for Apollo—they are trying to make due with what they are given and make it to Mars. Getting to the Moon in 1972 seemed unreachable, but now getting to the moon is just a jumping off point for Mars exploration. Now, NASA is considering lift off taking place from the Moon to Mars in hopes that a lunar launch will cut costs and increase the probability of success of hitting Mars at the right time (as we have seen with the simulation it can be tough!).

Blood-red moon 'like Mars next door'

Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon.

This is an uncommon event because the moon spends most of its time either above or below the plane of the Earth's orbit. Sunlight still reaches the moon during total eclipses, but it is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere, bathing the moon in an eerie crimson light.

So that’s what they mean by sustainable and affordable

NASA Looking to Launch Only A Couple Manned Spacecrafts A Year
Indications are that NASA actually does have have a long-rngae plan for sustainable and affordable human spaceflight: launch two manned Orion missions a year forever. According to administrator Mike Griffin, due to budget problems the agency will not be able to resume human space operations until 2015.

New Sensor Being Developed

There is a new sensor being developed that will be able to detect if there is life on Mars. The sensor will detect even the slightest hint of life's building blocks on Mars and tell if they were made by anything that was or had been alive. "The instrument, called Urey: Mars Organic and Oxidant Detector" has already proven successful. It was tested in the barren desert of Chile the Atacama Desert. As we see in business new technology always gets some kind of funding for the advantages it brings to the field. So maybe this device will bring a new spin to the business and science worlds.

Destination Is the Space Station, But Many Experts Ask What For

Destination Is the Space Station, But Many Experts Ask What For


So the United States is having a hard time forking over the money to pay for the space station that was put into action in 2004 with sixteen other nations and costs $40 billion dollars, but they are wondering about using their money to make a international base camp on the Moon by 2024. This seems really silly that they will stop funding for something that sixteen nations have agreed upon and go start something new on the Moon. Also, with the cuts in NASA’s budget I really do not see how they will fund this exploration/establishment on their own—why not finish what they have started and then try to get more people to help with the base camp.

With this new base camp they are also really worried about the astronauts because they will lose a lot of their muscles. They are planning on using the moon as a launch pad for astronauts to go to Mars.

NASA-Backed Team Developing Sensor to Check for Life on Mars

NASA-funded researchers are refining a tool that could not only check for the faintest traces of life's molecular building blocks on Mars, but could also determine whether they have been produced by anything alive. The instrument, called Urey: Mars Organic and Oxidant Detector, has already shown its capabilities in one of the most barren climes on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. The European Space Agency has chosen this tool from the United States as part of the science payload for the ExoMars rover planned for launch in 2013. Last month, NASA selected Urey for an instrument-development investment of $750,000.

Water on Mars?

New Evidence of Water on Mars
New detailed photos taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter provide further evidence that water once flowed beneath the martian surface. The photos have revealed rock that appears to have been chemically altered by the long-term presence of flowig water.

How Long Does It Take to Rebuild Bone Lost During Space Flight?

Are bigger bones stronger bones? Not necessarily, according to a recent NASA study that seeks to ensure healthy bones in astronauts.
A four-year study of the long-term effects of microgravity on the bones of International Space Station crew members showed that the astronauts, on average, lost roughly 11 percent of their total hip bone mass over the course of their mission.

Rebuilding bone lost during Space Flight

scientists believe that astronauts on average lose about 11 % of their bone structure during their space flight. Luckily within a year of the space flight the bone structure has mostly been rebuilt although the strength and density of the bone had not returned to normal within one year. The researchers say that it could take much longer to strength the bones that were lost during the space mission. So drink your milk!

Stephen Hawking to Experience Weightlessness

On April 16th Professor Stephen Hawking is going to experience weightlessness for the first time on the Zero-G Experience. The flight was organized for a number of reasons including raising money for charity organizations as well as advertising the company itself and the space flights it offers. Hawking's flight is sponsored by Space Florida, a company that is in charge of promoting the commercialization of space in the state of Florida. Zero G Experience is the only company to offer this unique adventure to the public.

Comet-bound probe to pass by Mars

Comet-bound probe to pass by Mars

More pictures to come…
A European Space Agency probe will pass within 250 kilometers of Mars on it was to see a distance comet which it hopes to get there by 2014. This pass by will allow for instruments to be tested, photos to be taken which will increase our knowledge of the red planet and Europe will make some money on selling the photos to other space agencies.

Mars attacked by solar wind

Mars attacked by solar wind

The solar wind has a much bigger impact on Mars than previously thought according to the first results from the ASPERA-3 instrument on Mars Express. Rickard Lundin of the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and an international team of co-workers have found that the solar wind -- a supersonic plasma of charged particles that flows from the Sun -- can penetrate deep into the atmosphere of Mars. One consequence of this is that water and other volatile molecules could escape from the planet (R Lundin et al. 2004 Science 305 1933).

ESA Director Discusses Space Missions

European Space Agency Director Discusses Growing Expertise In Flying Interplanetary Spacecraft

Europeans have increased interest in space exploration and look to jump in with Americans and Russians as leaders in space exploration.

Sensor being developed to check for life on Mars

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=22020

NASA scientists have been working on and excavating tool called the Urey that can not only check for the faintest traces of life on Mars but also determine whether or not these life forms were produced by anything alive. NASA selected Urey for an instrument development project worth over $750,000 and is planned to be put to use during the European ExoMars rover mission set to launch in 2013. Urey will be able to detect key molecules associated with life at a sensitivity roughly a million times greater than previous instrumentation.