Orbit 17 +++ Space and beyond
galaxies, science, exploration, astronomy (blog)
Posts tagged Mars
Huge ocean ‘once covered much of northern half of Mars’
Nov 24th
The large body of water was fed through rivers carrying rainwater, scientists believe.
These created a network of valleys on the surface of the planet more than twice as extensive as previously thought, new research reveals.
The findings come just a week after Nasa, the American space agency, announced that they had found water on the surface of the Red Planet, raising hopes of finding life on Mars.
New maps showing that the valleys cover a larger area than previously appreciated has led scientists to believe there was once a single ocean covering much of planet’s northern half.
The extent of the Martian valleys, and what they mean for the chances of life on the planet, have been hotly debated since they were first discovered by the Mariner 9 Spacecraft in 1971.
NASA will radiate monkeys for Mars mission, that’s right… radiate.
Nov 21st
NASA says it would take almost a year using conventional rockets to get to Mars. By that time a human body would likely turn to jello due to exposure to space radiation. But the space agency has come up with a solution – in fact two of them.
First they want to build the nuclear rocket (Project Prometheus) which NASA says would cut in half the amount of time it would take to get to the red planet. With nuclear reactors for engines NASA also says they could carry heavier payloads which would make it possible to “mine the sky” for precious minerals.
The other solution to the space radiation problem seems to rely on testing monkeys by exposing them to doses of radiation so NASA can further study the effects on the human body.
Space Shuttle Atlantis ‘Go’ For Monday Launch, but possibly on the 17th
Nov 14th
NASA cleared the space shuttle Atlantis to launch toward the International Space Station Monday on a delivery mission.
Atlantis is set to lift off at 2:28 p.m. EST (1928 GMT) on Nov. 16 at from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. to carry six astronauts and two cases of large spare parts to the station.
The weather outlook is optimistic for Monday, with a 90 percent chance of clear skies predicted.
“Overall Monday is looking good so hopefully we’ll go off on Monday,” weather officer Kathy Winters said during a Saturday briefing.
An Atlas V unmanned rocket slated to launch from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station early Saturday stood down at the last minute for crews to investigate a power glitch. The cancellation frees up the schedule for Atlantis to proceed as planned, and Atlas managers will aim to try again to launch after Atlantis lifts off.
NASA, European Space agency want to go to Mars
Nov 14th
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are aiming to cooperate on all manner of robotic orbiters, landers and exploration devices for a future trip to Mars.
Specifically, NASA and ESA recently agreed to consider the establishment of a new joint initiative to define and implement their scientific, programmatic, and technological goals for the exploration of Mars. The program would focus on several launch opportunities with landers and orbiters conducting astrobiological, geological, geophysical, climatological, and other high-priority investigations and aiming at returning samples from Mars in the mid-2020s.