The U.S. space agency, NASA, says the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis could happen in late January or early February.
Deputy shuttle program manager John Shannon told reporters Thursday during a conference call that everything would have to "go exactly right" to meet the earliest possible launch date of January 24.
Shannon added that a February lift-off is more likely.
The launch of Atlantis was delayed twice in December due to faulty sensors in the shuttle's external fuel tank. Shannon said engineers now believe the problem lies with a connector in the tank.
The next mission is meant to transport a European space laboratory, named Columbus, to the International Space Station.
NASA is on deadline to finish construction of the space station before the shuttles are retired in 2010.
Previous missions attached Russian- and U.S.-made laboratories. A Japanese lab, the Kibo, is scheduled for delivery to the station later this year.
Ref: http://www.voanews.com
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Friday, November 23, 2007
Mars Clouds Higher Than Any On Earth
Mars is home to the highest clouds ever discovered above the surface of a planet, astronomers said today.
The European Space Agency's orbiting Mars Express spacecraft found clouds that are between 50 and 62 miles (80 to 100 kilometers) above the red planet.
The highest clouds on Earth top out at about 52 miles (84 kilometers).
The surprising clouds are most likely made of carbon dioxide, researchers said. There were detected with a camera that senses ultraviolet and infrared light, so there is no conventional picture of them.
The clouds were spotted by observing distant stars just before they disappeared behind Mars. The stars would dim as they went behind clouds.
"If you wanted to see these clouds from the surface of Mars, you would probably have to wait until after sunset" says Franck Montmessin, a French researcher who works with the camera team.
This is because the clouds are very faint and can only be seen reflecting sunlight against the darkness of the night sky. In that respect, they look similar to the mesospheric clouds, also known as noctilucent clouds on Earth, which occur about 50 miles (80 kilometers) above our planet.
For clouds to form, vapor needs solid particles around which to condense. The researchers found a previously unknown population of minuscule dust grains above 38 miles (60 kilometers) in the Martian atmosphere. The dust, perhaps blown skyward from the surface, is likely the stuff around which the carbon dioxide forms. An alternative idea is that the dust if debris from meteors that have burned up in the thin air of Mars.
Mars is known to create dust storms that can shroud the entire planet.
The discovery suggests the upper layers of Mars' atmosphere can be denser than previously thought. That would be important to mission planners, who use the Martian atmosphere to "aerobrake" incoming spacecraft.
Ref: http://www.space.com
The European Space Agency's orbiting Mars Express spacecraft found clouds that are between 50 and 62 miles (80 to 100 kilometers) above the red planet.
The highest clouds on Earth top out at about 52 miles (84 kilometers).
The surprising clouds are most likely made of carbon dioxide, researchers said. There were detected with a camera that senses ultraviolet and infrared light, so there is no conventional picture of them.
The clouds were spotted by observing distant stars just before they disappeared behind Mars. The stars would dim as they went behind clouds.
"If you wanted to see these clouds from the surface of Mars, you would probably have to wait until after sunset" says Franck Montmessin, a French researcher who works with the camera team.
This is because the clouds are very faint and can only be seen reflecting sunlight against the darkness of the night sky. In that respect, they look similar to the mesospheric clouds, also known as noctilucent clouds on Earth, which occur about 50 miles (80 kilometers) above our planet.
For clouds to form, vapor needs solid particles around which to condense. The researchers found a previously unknown population of minuscule dust grains above 38 miles (60 kilometers) in the Martian atmosphere. The dust, perhaps blown skyward from the surface, is likely the stuff around which the carbon dioxide forms. An alternative idea is that the dust if debris from meteors that have burned up in the thin air of Mars.
Mars is known to create dust storms that can shroud the entire planet.
The discovery suggests the upper layers of Mars' atmosphere can be denser than previously thought. That would be important to mission planners, who use the Martian atmosphere to "aerobrake" incoming spacecraft.
Ref: http://www.space.com
Friday, October 19, 2007
No work to Missiles
Asteroid 2002 NT7 is only 2km in width. Then, no harm to earth.
If it enters in to Atmosphere it will dissolve into peaces.
Even Ash may or May not reach earth.
If it enters in to Atmosphere it will dissolve into peaces.
Even Ash may or May not reach earth.
Is This True?
Is this True?
If Asteroid 2002 NT7 hits, then what is result?
we are not worried about it, because there are missiles to help us.
Missiles should have some work!. We develop them to protect us.
If Asteroid 2002 NT7 hits, then what is result?
we are not worried about it, because there are missiles to help us.
Missiles should have some work!. We develop them to protect us.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Potential Earth Impact In 2019 Ruled Out
Asteroid 2002 NT7: Potential Earth Impact In 2019 Ruled Out
Don Yeomans
July 28, 2002
With the processing of a few more observations of asteroid 2002 NT7 through July 28, we can now rule out any Earth impact possibilities for February 1, 2019. While we cannot yet completely rule out an impact possibility on February 1, 2060, it seems very likely that this possibility will be soon ruled out as well as additional positional observations are processed. Because the SENTRY system tracks a multitude of test particles in an effort to map the uncertainties of the asteroid's future positions, some of these test particles can take slightly different dynamical paths. Hence there are currently two entries for 2060 in our IMPACT RISK table. The entry with the higher risk (larger Palermo Technical Scale) would be the value that would then take precedence.
Don Yeomans
July 28, 2002
With the processing of a few more observations of asteroid 2002 NT7 through July 28, we can now rule out any Earth impact possibilities for February 1, 2019. While we cannot yet completely rule out an impact possibility on February 1, 2060, it seems very likely that this possibility will be soon ruled out as well as additional positional observations are processed. Because the SENTRY system tracks a multitude of test particles in an effort to map the uncertainties of the asteroid's future positions, some of these test particles can take slightly different dynamical paths. Hence there are currently two entries for 2060 in our IMPACT RISK table. The entry with the higher risk (larger Palermo Technical Scale) would be the value that would then take precedence.
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