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The Planetary Society Blog
Archive
Archived posts are listed in reverse chronological order.
Sep. 28, 2010 | 10:14 PDT | 17:14 UTC
China to launch Chang'E 2 on Friday, October 1
Via the Lunar Listserv this morning I learned of the impending launch of a new lunar orbiter, Chang'E 2, planned for this Friday, October 1, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan. If I understand things correctly, most of the spacecraft... More»
Sep. 28, 2010 | 09:48 PDT | 16:48 UTC
Dawn Journal: Third anniversary in space, and how to map Vesta
Here's our monthly checkup with the Dawn mission, contributed by Marc Rayman, the mission's Project System Engineer. Thanks Marc! --ESLClick to enlarge >Marc RaymanBy Marc Rayman
Dear Dawnniversaries,
On the third anniversary of traveling through... More»
Sep. 27, 2010 | 15:59 PDT | 22:59 UTC
Fourth MSL Landing Site Workshop: A review
Today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, about 200 scientists and engineers will sit in an over-air-conditioned room in Monrovia, California (which must have been one of the cool spots in the Los Angeles area) to participate in what is officially titled the... More»
Sep. 24, 2010 | 11:27 PDT | 18:27 UTC
Voyager Mission Status Bulletins: Jupiter and Saturn
Last week I posted a stack of Voyager Mission Status Bulletins, which were once the main resource for space enthusiasts to follow the dramatic events and photos of an in-flight space mission. (There was also a phone number that people could dial at... More»
Sep. 24, 2010 | 10:13 PDT | 17:13 UTC
Review: Recess Monkey: The Final Funktier
The Final Funktier is a kids' music album that is (a) delightful for grownups too and (b) features largely space-themed tracks. Win! As much as I enjoy They Might Be Giants' Here Come the 123s and Here Comes Science and Barenaked Ladies' Snack... More»
Sep. 23, 2010 | 10:12 PDT | 17:12 UTC
Venus: Not so neat and tidy as we thought
When Pioneer Venus visited our sister planet in 1979, it found an atmospheric feature called a "dipole" near Venus' north pole -- a pair of eddies swirling and rotating around each other as Venus rotated. When ESA's Venus Express arrived in 2006,... More»
Sep. 22, 2010 | 15:17 PDT | 22:17 UTC
Opportunity rolls up to Oileán Ruaidh
Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is continuing to make tracks toward Endeavour crater, but just because she's got a goal for her road trip doesn't mean she won't stop and smell the flowers from time to time. Er, did I say "flowers?" I meant... More»
Sep. 22, 2010 | 14:23 PDT | 21:23 UTC
Deep Impact approaching Hartley 2
The Deep Impact spacecraft team has released a third image from their approach to comet Hartley 2, and for me, three images is an invitation to make an animation! (To be honest, two is enough for me to want to make an animation, but I didn't have... More»
Sep. 21, 2010 | 15:29 PDT | 22:29 UTC
Pretty picture: Europa and Jupiter
Photos like this always make me think about how unimportant size is in determining whether one of the worlds of the solar system is an exciting place. We have Jupiter, the largest of the planets and the undisputed gravitational ruler of everything... More»
Sep. 20, 2010 | 14:32 PDT | 21:32 UTC
Seeing Curiosity
I've been itching to get back to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to get a good look at Curiosity, the next Mars rover. (I was not excited about the name when it was first bestowed upon the rover, but, like Spirit and Opportunity, it's growing on me,... More»
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