A commission chartered by U.S. President George W. Bush to advise him on implementing a broad new space exploration vision is recommending streamlining the NASA bureaucracy, relying more heavily on the private sector, and maintaining more oversight of the nation
June 9th, 2004
Rovers Enter New Phase of Exploration
Mars research teams are ecstatic about the progress of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, each now in position to open new chapters in exploring the enigmatic red planet. The Opportunity Mars rover at Meridiani Planum has begun wheeling into a huge and deep impact crater, dubbed Endurance. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, sister ship Spirit has nearly reached the base of the impressive Columbia Hills, perhaps a geological paradise within Gusev Crater.
June 8th, 2004
Rover Update: Wintering on the Red Planet
That double-header of a rover mission to Mars — Spirit and Opportunity — are both moving toward fresh rounds of science-gathering and could survive far longer than once expected. Scientists and engineers that operate the robotic twosome are looking at “wintering over” schemes — putting the mechanized explorers in hibernation mode, and then restarting their duties on Mars next spring. Coming out of hibernation mode in the spring, “we
May 27th, 2004
Shields Up! New Radiation Protection for Spacecraft and Astronauts
NASA researchers are working hard to find their away around space radiation, a hazard future astronauts can’t avoid if they hope to fly on long missions to Mars and eventually set foot on its surface. Much of their focus is on new and better shielding materials to slap on the outer surface of a spacecraft, since the traditional aluminum shells won’t cut it during a multi-year mission.
May 26th, 2004
Survival of the Smallest: Mini-Microbes Redefine Extreme Living
world of mini-microbes discovered deep under ice in Greenland reveals apparent survival skills that could come in handy on Mars or other extreme worlds: Get small and hang in there. The tiny creatures are smaller than most commonly known bacteria and have endured at least 120,000 years in subzero temperatures, crushing pressure, low oxygen levels and almost no nutrients. They were found in ice core samples taken nearly 2 miles (3,000 meters) below a glacier. Researchers said they could be a million years old.
May 25th, 2004
Space Cycle Could Make Tour de Mars Possible
Pedal your way to Mars? Not quite. But an innovative “space cycle” that creates a miniature form of gravity might help keep a space traveler’s muscles in shape.
May 24th, 2004
Bigelow Aerospace to Tackle Inflatable Space Habitats
Making “space available” is at the heart of the global travel, tourist and lodging industry. That business axiom is no stranger to Robert Bigelow, owner of the Budget Suites of America Hotel Chain. But now the North Las Vegas, Nevada-based Bigelow is putting his money down on inflatable Earth orbiting modules. He
May 24th, 2004
Spirit Rover’s Next Steps
Mission planners for NASA’s Spirit rover on Mars are using this view from above to help plan the remainder of the robot’s travels. It shows the Columbia Hills in Gusev Crater. The picture was made by draping an image from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor over a digital elevation model that was derived from two other images from the orbiter. As of sol 135, or May 21, 2004 on Earth, Spirit sat approximately 0.4 miles (680 meters) away from its first target at the western base of the hills, a spot informally called West Spur. The team estimates that Spirit will reach West Spur by sol 146, or June 1, 2004. Spirit will most likely remain there for about a week to study the outcrops and rocks associated with this location.