After a smooth countdown to date, and a promising weather forecast, NASA is set to launch space shuttle Atlantis on STS-129 tomorrow afternoon.
STS-129 is scheduled to be an eleven day mission, and its main objective will be to deliver large spare parts to ISS, the latest in NASA's series of missions to prepare ISS for its post-shuttle future. If this mission is flown largely on time, it will keep to NASA's schedule to wind down the shuttle program roughly a year from now.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
SPECIAL SATURDAY POST: Lunar Water
Upon analyzing data gathered by the impact of the LCROSS spacecraft into the south polar region of the Moon, NASA scientists have determined there is not only water on the Moon, but there is more water than expected. The discovery completely changes our view of the Moon, and bears directly on the future of lunar exploration.
The Moon is still an extremely dry place, but not as dry as the driest deserts on Earth, for example-- an extraordinary shift from the view developed after studying Apollo samples that the lunar surface was bone dry. A significant amount of water ice at or near the lunar surface suggests there's enough to provide drinking water to a lunar base, produce rocket fuel by breaking the water down into its constituent components of hydrogen and oxygen, and to provide a radiation shield for the base. Water, it turns out, is very good at blocking harmful radiation.
The Obama administration is currently considering what the next goal of NASA's manned spaceflight program should be, and how that goal should be pursued. The confirmation of so much lunar water could be the factor that tips the decision towards establishing a base on the Moon and structuring it to be a springboard to the rest of the Solar System.
The Moon is still an extremely dry place, but not as dry as the driest deserts on Earth, for example-- an extraordinary shift from the view developed after studying Apollo samples that the lunar surface was bone dry. A significant amount of water ice at or near the lunar surface suggests there's enough to provide drinking water to a lunar base, produce rocket fuel by breaking the water down into its constituent components of hydrogen and oxygen, and to provide a radiation shield for the base. Water, it turns out, is very good at blocking harmful radiation.
The Obama administration is currently considering what the next goal of NASA's manned spaceflight program should be, and how that goal should be pursued. The confirmation of so much lunar water could be the factor that tips the decision towards establishing a base on the Moon and structuring it to be a springboard to the rest of the Solar System.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Releasing Spirit
After months of study and experimentation, NASA is ready to try to get its Mars rover Spirit moving again.
Spirit has been stuck in soft soil since April, and NASA engineers have finally determined the best chance to free it rests with moving the rover over the tracks it made getting to its current position. The first order to begin that process will be sent to Mars Monday, but the rover team cautions it'll be a slow extrication, assuming it works at all.
Spirit has been stuck in soft soil since April, and NASA engineers have finally determined the best chance to free it rests with moving the rover over the tracks it made getting to its current position. The first order to begin that process will be sent to Mars Monday, but the rover team cautions it'll be a slow extrication, assuming it works at all.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tracking Stellar Lithium
Astronomers may have stumbled upon a simple and efficient way to quickly determine which stars are most likely to have planetary systems. The element lithium might be a reliable marker. A new study suggests that stars with low levels of lithium tend to have planets, while stars with higher levels tend to be barren.
Exactly why that is remains to be worked out. Indeed, a detailed, comprehensive model of how planetary systems form remains a major challenge for theorists. If this new marker turns out to be solid, however, those theorists will have one more factor they'll know their model will have to produce. This discovery should also lead to finding more planetary systems, which will eventually give theorists more data to feed into their models.
Exactly why that is remains to be worked out. Indeed, a detailed, comprehensive model of how planetary systems form remains a major challenge for theorists. If this new marker turns out to be solid, however, those theorists will have one more factor they'll know their model will have to produce. This discovery should also lead to finding more planetary systems, which will eventually give theorists more data to feed into their models.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
V
ABC's remake of "V" seems to be off to a good start in the ratings. Of course, most viewers probably already know the basic story, so continued success will likely depend upon execution.
No attempt to hide the true, reptilian nature of the aliens was made in this version, presumably because the audience is already familiar with the story, but there have been updates. Technology is better om both sides, for example. This version has suggested that the aliens have been living among us for some time before the mother ships arrived-- a risky strategy on Their part, given how easily their human suit can be ripped away. A subplot about a terrorist network seems to be developing. Early on, the favorite to lead the human resistance is a tough female detective.
We'll see if this version takes off like the original.
No attempt to hide the true, reptilian nature of the aliens was made in this version, presumably because the audience is already familiar with the story, but there have been updates. Technology is better om both sides, for example. This version has suggested that the aliens have been living among us for some time before the mother ships arrived-- a risky strategy on Their part, given how easily their human suit can be ripped away. A subplot about a terrorist network seems to be developing. Early on, the favorite to lead the human resistance is a tough female detective.
We'll see if this version takes off like the original.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Solar Sail
The Planetary Society is planning to build and launch a solar sail by the end of next year thanks to $1 million from an anonymous donor.
Solar sails are basically sheets of extremely lightweight material that propel spacecraft by capturing the photons of the solar wind, much as nautical sails propel ships by harnessing the energy of terrestrial winds. Literally, solar sails ride on light. The acceleration, of course, is tiny, but it is constant. Over years, so the theory goes, that constant, tiny acceleration could develop impressive speed-- and, of course, the energy is free.
Solar sails are basically sheets of extremely lightweight material that propel spacecraft by capturing the photons of the solar wind, much as nautical sails propel ships by harnessing the energy of terrestrial winds. Literally, solar sails ride on light. The acceleration, of course, is tiny, but it is constant. Over years, so the theory goes, that constant, tiny acceleration could develop impressive speed-- and, of course, the energy is free.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Searching For Intelligent ETs
A new study looking at determining which stars are most likely to harbor intelligent aliens concludes the best candidates are stars that closely resemble the Sun.
The money spent on the study probably could have been better spent elsewhere. Many research papers, television documentaries, and science books over three or four decades have asked the same question and come to the same conclusion. The reason is pretty basic. If you start out with a definition of life based on what we know about what's necessary for Earth life, and you narrow that to focus on the development of intelligence, the only model we have is what we think happened on Earth-- and why high level intelligence arose here is still something of a mystery-- you are actually replaying Earth history. Of course, Earth revolves around the Sun, so you're likely to conclude intelligent life is most likely to rise on planets circling Sun-like stars. There's a circularity not only to the orbits, but also to the logic.
The conclusion could still be correct, of course, especially if intelligence on the human level or beyond is rare in the cosmos, but a more interesting question may be: Where should we look for alien civilizations? If an extremely advanced technological civilization planned in terms of millions of years, it might well colonize the systems of small, extremely stable red dwarf stars-- the most numerous stars in the galaxy-- even if the species originated in the system of a Sun-like star. Under that theory, red dwarfs should be carefully examined.
The money spent on the study probably could have been better spent elsewhere. Many research papers, television documentaries, and science books over three or four decades have asked the same question and come to the same conclusion. The reason is pretty basic. If you start out with a definition of life based on what we know about what's necessary for Earth life, and you narrow that to focus on the development of intelligence, the only model we have is what we think happened on Earth-- and why high level intelligence arose here is still something of a mystery-- you are actually replaying Earth history. Of course, Earth revolves around the Sun, so you're likely to conclude intelligent life is most likely to rise on planets circling Sun-like stars. There's a circularity not only to the orbits, but also to the logic.
The conclusion could still be correct, of course, especially if intelligence on the human level or beyond is rare in the cosmos, but a more interesting question may be: Where should we look for alien civilizations? If an extremely advanced technological civilization planned in terms of millions of years, it might well colonize the systems of small, extremely stable red dwarf stars-- the most numerous stars in the galaxy-- even if the species originated in the system of a Sun-like star. Under that theory, red dwarfs should be carefully examined.
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