Blogs

Volna Failure Review Board Reports on Loss of Cosmos 1

Louis D. Friedman • July 20, 2005

The Volna Failure Review Board convened by the Makeev Rocket Design Bureau, manufacturers of the Volna launch vehicle, has made its final report to the Russian space agency, Roskosmos, concerning the attempted June 21 launch of our Cosmos 1 spacecraft.

A couple cool raw Cassini pics -- and a break in the data

Emily Lakdawalla • July 19, 2005

I monitor the Cassini website to keep my eye out for cool pictures, and it's usually relatively easy to figure out what the spacecraft is looking at (rings, moon, Saturn, whatever). Sometimes, though, the images can be very confusing.

A change of plans for Cassini: higher altitude for the "T7" Titan flyby

Emily Lakdawalla • July 15, 2005

The June 15 Cassini Project Update includes a note about a difficult decision -- they are raising the altitude of an upcoming Titan flyby, "T7," which is scheduled for September 7.

Deep Impact Data Surprises Scientists

A.J.S. Rayl • July 12, 2005

When Deep Impact crashed into the nucleus of Tempel 1 at 23,000 miles per hour on July 4, it sent a huge, bright cloud of stuff upward and outward from the comet, providing a spectacular image that is already assured a place in the space history books, and may well be seared into the brains of all those who watched the event.

A little break

Emily Lakdawalla • July 08, 2005

Analyzing Signals in Real Time

Amir Alexander • July 07, 2005

Candidate signals sent in by users around the world will be quickly analyzed and compared to existing signals.

Another gorgeous Deep Impact image

Emily Lakdawalla • July 06, 2005

The team has just released a really pretty high-resolution view of Tempel 1 just 67 seconds after the impact.

Reflecting on Deep Impact

Emily Lakdawalla • July 05, 2005

So yesterday, after covering the Deep Impact press conference at JPL and recording for Planetary Radio, my husband and I drove to his parents' house for an Independence Day barbeque. When I explained the nature of the Deep Impact mission my mother-in-law exclaimed, "What! What gives you the right to go around smashing up a comet that was minding its own business?"

Rockin' to Bill Haley and his Comets

Emily Lakdawalla • July 05, 2005

There was a stage set up on the steps of the administration building, and the quad in front of it was filled with JPLers of all ages and descriptions. Rick Grammier and Don Yeomans introduced the band -- five guys, all members of the band since 1953 or earlier, still rockin' and rollin'.

News: Deep Impact Delivers the Science; Years of Work Ahead for Science Team

Emily Lakdawalla • July 04, 2005

"Our cratering experiment went very very well," reported impact scientist Peter Schultz in what may have been the understatement of the weekend. A first look at early science results from the mission suggest that while some events unfolded according to scientists' predictions, Tempel 1 provided many enticing surprises as well.