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Relative and absolute ages in the histories of Earth and the Moon: The Geologic Time Scale
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/09/30 03:04 CDT
A few days ago, I wrote a post about the basins of the Moon -- a result of a trip down a rabbit hole of book research. Here's the next step in that journey: the Geologic Time Scales of Earth and the Moon.
A Big Day for Commercial Spaceflight
Posted by Jason Davis on 2013/09/29 11:42 CDT
On Sunday, Orbital Sciences Corporation's Cygnus resupply spacecraft was berthed to the ISS, while SpaceX's upgraded Falcon 9 lifted off from the California coast.
Dawn Journal: Sixth anniversary of leaving Earth
Posted by Marc Rayman on 2013/09/28 06:29 CDT | 2 comments
On the sixth anniversary of leaving Earth to embark on a daring deep-space expedition, Dawn is very, very far from its erstwhile planetary residence. Now humankind's only permanent resident of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the seasoned explorer is making good progress toward the largest object in that part of the solar system, the mysterious dwarf planet Ceres.
Posted by David Shortt on 2013/09/27 01:30 CDT | 10 comments
With the recent announcement by NASA that the 36 year-old spacecraft Voyager 1 has officially entered interstellar space at a distance from the sun about four times further than Neptune's orbit, and with Voyager 2 not far behind, it seems worthwhile to explore how humans managed to fling objects so far into space.
Posted by Geraint Jones on 2013/09/26 05:02 CDT
Recently, almost a thousand researchers gathered in London for Europe’s annual meeting of planetary scientists. Here's a report from one session on cometary science.
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/09/26 03:33 CDT | 4 comments
A paper in press in the Journal of Geophysical Research uses new data from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to update our story for the history of the Moon's massive impacts.
Posted by Bill Dunford on 2013/09/25 03:51 CDT | 2 comments
The final moments of a lunar orbiter, as told in a song composed by the moon itself.
Bill Nye 'Dancing With the Stars' Update
Posted by Abigail Fraeman on 2013/09/25 01:52 CDT
We're two weeks in to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 17, and Bill Nye has shown that, true to his TV-theme song lyric, "science rules" in the eyes of the audience.
Europe Will Select Its Next Major Science Mission in November
Posted by Van Kane on 2013/09/25 01:22 CDT | 2 comments
The European Space Agency will announce two major science missions this November, one of which is likely to be devoted to solar system exploration.
Posted by Stephen J. Pyne on 2013/09/25 11:15 CDT | 2 comments
The Voyagers were special when they launched. They have become more so thanks to their longevity, the breadth of their discoveries, the cultural payload they carried, and the sheer audacity of their quest.
Dawn on Mars: Waypoint 1 Mysteries
Posted by Dawn Sumner on 2013/09/24 06:38 CDT
Dawn Sumner describes the preparations for maximizing the science at Curiosity's short stop at "Waypoint 1" from sols 385 to 401.
A Russian Guide to Wednesday's Союз Старт (Soyuz Launch)
Posted by Jason Davis on 2013/09/24 11:28 CDT | 6 comments
Follow along with Roscosmos during the launch of Soyuz TMA-10M using this list of common Russian flight terms.
Touching the Stars
Conversations with Lou Friedman and Gregory Benford about the starships in our future.
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2013/09/24 10:29 CDT
Two new programs about renewed interest in the technologies that will enable humanity to cross the interstellar gulf. Lou Friedman talks with Mat from the 100-Year Starship Symposium, while physicist and science fiction author Gregory Benford is Mat's guest for a webcast.
More fancy Phobos and Deimos photography by Curiosity
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/09/24 10:19 CDT
Curiosity looked up after dark and captured more cool photos of Mars' moons. They include Phobos and Deimos passing in the night, and Phobos entering Mars' shadow.
Photos and Video of India's Mars Orbiter Mission, proceeding toward October 28 launch
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/09/23 01:33 CDT | 1 comments
Indian media reported over the weekend that the Mars Orbiter Mission has passed some senior review, and has been approved to proceed toward a launch date of October 28, a week later than previously planned.
Cygnus Aborts Station Approach, Will Retry Tuesday
Posted by Jason Davis on 2013/09/22 05:46 CDT
The private spacecraft Cygnus was forced to abort its first attempt to berth with the International Space Station Sunday morning due to a software glitch.
Plutonium-238 is Crucial for Space Exploration – and it's Running Out
The Planetary Society works to maintain plutonium availability for deep space missions
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/09/20 11:29 CDT | 3 comments
Plutonium-238 provides electricity to deep space missions, but NASA only has a little bit left. A new article in Wired highlights the disastrous consequences of no plutonium for use in space, something the Planetary Society is currently fighting for in Washington, D.C.
The Deep Impact Mission is officially over
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/09/20 11:10 CDT | 1 comments
Efforts to regain contact with Deep Impact have been ended. The last contact with the spacecraft was on August 8, 2013.
Book Review: Rock Star: Adventures of a Meteorite Man, by Geoff Notkin
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/09/20 10:41 CDT | 3 comments
Rock Star -- the memoir of television "Meteorite Man" Geoff Notkin -- is a life's journey full of joy, wonder, and fun, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Field Report From Mars: Sol 3431 - September 18, 2013
Posted by Larry Crumpler on 2013/09/18 11:27 CDT | 2 comments
On sol 3425 Opportunity "waded ashore" at Solander Point after crossing a sea of sand between here and Cape York. Cape York was an "island" remnant of the rim of Endeavour crater that Opportunity left back in May. Since then it has been driving south to the next largest and mountainous remnant of the crater rim, Solander Point.
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