Blog Archive
Ever Plan Ahead? How About Six Years Ahead?
Posted by Alan Stern on 2009/05/19 07:05 CDT
Despite still being more than six years and just over 18 Astronomical Units from the Pluto system, the project team for New Horizons is conducting the second and final portion of our Pluto Encounter Preliminary Design Review (EPDR) tomorrow and the next day.
Exciting Times Ahead: 2010 Will Sizzle, and 2011 Will Really Cook!
Posted by Alan Stern on 2009/05/18 03:56 CDT
Today, I'm kicking the week off with a look at the unusually intense confluence of far flung planetary exploration that's just around the corner, starting the middle of next year.
Posted by Jim Bell on 2009/05/04 12:46 CDT
Jim Bell describes his proposal to join the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Cameras science team.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Endures Reboots and Amnesia, Opportunity Races Forward
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2009/04/30 12:00 CDT
The Mars Exploration Rovers challenged their ground crews with an April full of high drama, a little suspense, and a lot of energy. While Spirit lived through a kind of robot soap opera, complete with bewildering reboots and bouts of amnesia, Opportunity roved forward and back into the fast lane on a restored front wheel, slowing down for a brief visit to a series of small, intriguing craters and an unplanned close encounter with a pesky little purgatoid.
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/04/29 05:52 CDT
Dawn Journal: Upgrades!
Dawn Journal: Safe without Safe Mode
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/04/06 12:45 CDT
Dawn Journal: Safe without Safe Mode
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Breaks Rove Record, Opportunity Sees Endeavour's Distant Rim
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2009/03/31 12:00 CDT
The Mars Exploration Rovers logged a memorable March, with Spirit finally making some serious tracks and setting a new driving record for a five-wheeled rover, and Opportunity getting a first glimpse on the distant horizon of its next big attraction, Endeavour Crater as it crossed a geologic boundary into a new field of "blueberries."
Dawn Journal: Safely past Mars
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/03/09 05:47 CDT
Dawn swooped close to Mars and then left it behind on a new course, having taken advantage of Mars's gravity.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Gains A little Power, Opportunity Loses a Little Steam
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2009/02/28 11:00 CST
Despite some struggles with terrain and technology, the Mars Exploration Rovers moved their missions forward in February, as Spirit and Opportunity pressed on toward their next major Martian attractions.
John Spencer: Cassini's proposed extended-extended mission tour
Posted by John Spencer on 2009/02/24 02:58 CST
John Spencer: Cassini's proposed extended-extended mission tour
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/02/13 10:34 CST
Dawn Journal: Mars encounter
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit and Opportunity Begin Sixth Year of Exploration
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2009/01/31 11:00 CST
The Mars Exploration Rover mission crossed the finish line of another major milestone this month, marking its fifth anniversary of exploring the Red Planet. As team members celebrated and shared stories in events all around Los Angeles, Spirit and Opportunity kept on roving, bucking up under the inevitable pains of growing older. They're heading now for their next major destinations.
Dawn Journal: Just missing the bull's eye at Mars
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/01/30 10:51 CST
Dawn Journal: Just missing the bull's eye at Mars
Dawn Journal: Conjunction junction
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2009/01/05 11:10 CST
Dawn Journal: Conjunction junction
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: As Spirit and Opportunity Rove On, We Look Back on 2008
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2008/12/31 11:00 CST
As 2008 fades to the pages of history, Spirit and Opportunity are closing in on the end of their fifth year of exploration on the Red Planet and moving the Mars Exploration Rover mission forward into a new year of bold scientific objectives.
What's up in the solar system for the week of December 8: Getting ready for AGU
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2008/12/08 11:58 CST
What's up in the solar system for the week of December 8: Getting ready for AGU
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Recuperates from Dust Storm, Opportunity Hits on Santorini
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2008/11/30 11:00 CST
The Mars Exploration Rovers are nearing the end of their fifth year of exploring the Red Planet in dramatically different ways.
Dawn Journal: Aiming away from a bull's eye at Mars
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2008/11/30 10:12 CST
Dawn Journal: Aiming away from a bull's eye at Mars
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Phones Home After Life-Threatening Dust Storm
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2008/11/13 11:00 CST
After taking a "direct hit" from one of Mars' notorious dust storms last weekend, Spirit phoned home today at 11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, exactly like its ground team had asked it to do and members of the rover team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) cheered. "She's talking!"
What's up in the solar system for the week of November 10
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2008/11/10 05:27 CST
What's up in the solar system for the week of November 10











