A new study of unusual ripples on Pluto’s far side add to the evidence for a subsurface ocean on this distant and cold dwarf planet. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/pluto-subsurface-ocean-new-horizons…
Tag: propulsion
BepiColombo’s snaps of Earth en route to Mercury
The European-Japanese Mercury mission, BepiColombo, completed its first flyby last night, sweeping near Earth. The gravity assist fine-tuned the craft’s trajectory. BepiColombo’s images during the flyby show Earth shining in darkness. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/bepicolombos-snaps-of-earth-en-route-to-mercury…
NASA Contemplates Turning a Moon Crater Into a Giant, Powerful Telescope
NASA has selected a lunar-crater radio telescope idea to receive funding through its NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, the agency announced on Tuesday. The Phase I award goes to projects in very early stages of development. CNET reports: Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, a robotics technologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is the mind behind the moon dream. Making it happen would require…
See Curiosity’s epic new selfie from Mars
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has taken a beautiful new selfie. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/mars-curiosity-rover-new-selfie-image…
NASA’s Mars perseverance rover gets its sample handling system
With the launch period for NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover opening in a little less than four months, the six-wheeler is reaching significant pre-launch milestones almost daily at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rover had some components removed prior to being shipped from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California to the Cape in early February. Last week,…
Here’s how to see that huge asteroid that’ll safely pass Earth in April
The huge asteroid known as (52768) 1998 OR2 will pass closest on April 29, 2020. Observers peering through telescopes will see it as a slow-moving “star.” Charts, tips – plus how to watch online – here. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/asteroid-52768-1998-or2-april-2020-how-to-see…
When Voyager 2 Calls Home, Earth Soon Won’t Be Able to Answer
NASA will spend 11 months upgrading the only piece of its Deep Space Network that can send commands to the prob, which has crossed into interstellar space. From a report: Voyager 2 has been traveling through space for 43 years, and is now 13 billion miles from Earth. But every so often, something goes wrong. At the end of January, for…