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Finally Returning Home After Spending 340 Days In Space

February 26, 2016 By Rebecca McGhee Leave a Comment

NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly prepares to return home, after spending 340 days in space.

On Tuesday, March 1, US astronaut Scott Kelly is finally returning home, after spending 340 days in space. He traveled 144 million miles around the Earth. He performed 400 experiments. He posted 700 mesmerizing photos to Instagram.

Scott Joseph Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American astronaut, engineer and a retired U.S. Navy Captain. A veteran of three previous missions, Kelly was selected for this special year-long to the International Space Station, which began in March 2015.

Kelly commanded the International Space Station (ISS) on Expedition 26. Kelly’s identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, is a former astronaut. The Kelly brothers are the only siblings to have traveled in space.

Also, Kelly was featured on the cover of Time Magazine’s December 2014/January 2015 Issue and was included in one of Time’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2016. During the January 2015 State of the Union Address, President Obama recognized Kelly, who was in the audience, for his upcoming Year In Space mission.

Now, he returns to Earth after nearly a year in orbit aboard the ISS. High on his to-do list when he gets back: jumping into his pool and dining at a real table.

However, he stated that he could hold out another year in the “harsh environment” of space – where nothing ever feels normal – if he had to.

Yeah, I could go another 100 days. I could go another year if I had to. It would just depend on what I was doing and if it made sense, although I do look forward to getting home here next week.

Kelly assured reporters Thursday in a video news conference from orbit.

Going without running water for a year has made hygiene difficult, Kelly acknowledged: ‘It’s kind of like I’ve been in the woods camping for a year.’ But the hardest part of all, he said, is being separated from his loved ones, a situation that will pose even more of a challenge for astronauts sent to Mars.

Kelly took questions on Day 335 of what already is NASA’s longest single spaceflight. By the time Kelly checks out Tuesday and rides a Russian capsule to a landing in Kazakhstan, his mission will have lasted 340 days.

The world record for a single spaceflight is 438 days, set by a Russian cosmonaut in the 1990s. Even that will pale in comparison to a Mars expedition, expected to last two to three years round trip.

Scientists hope to learn much from Kelly’s mission to pave the way to Mars in two decades. They will also collect data from his Russian roommate for the year, Mikhail Kornienko.

On the other hand, Kelly will undergo a battery of medical and physical tests at the landing site. He will then be hustled home to Houston for more tests and weeks if not months of rehabilitation to recover from the punishing effects of an extended stay in zero gravity, including degraded vision and the loss of bone and muscle.

Awaiting his arrival in Houston will be his two daughters, his girlfriend, who works in public affairs at Johnson Space Center, and his identical twin, former astronaut Mark Kelly.

The brothers have submitted to similar medical tests for more than a year and will keep it up in the months ahead. NASA hopes the research on the genetically identical brothers will illuminate some of the more extreme effects of weightlessness on the body.

The Kellys talked often during the mission, more than they did before the flight, in fact. The 250-mile-high outpost has an Internet phone capable of calling anyone. Mission Control also arranges regular video conferences between astronauts and their families.

Scott Kelly said he was more anxious to return home following his last space station stint five years ago, which lasted 159 days. That was because of the assassination attempt two months earlier on his congresswoman sister-in-law, Gabrielle Giffords, Mark’s wife.

This time, Kelly said, he didn’t focus on the end of his mission but rather on each upcoming milestone: the arrival of supplies and crews, major experiments, spacewalks, maintenance tasks. Even so, he said, events from last summer or fall seem like forever ago.

On another note, the astronaut lightened things up recently by donning a gorilla suit – a gag gift from Mark – and cavorting through the station while the cameras rolled.

All in all, the next milestone in Scott’s journey is coming home, as he affirmed in the news conference. He ended the conference with a slow-motion backflip, undoubtedly one of the pluses of space.

Image Source: nasa.gov.

Watch Out, Planet Earth – An Asteroid Is About To Pass Close By

February 4, 2016 By Rebecca McGhee Leave a Comment

‘Oh… I just wanted to say hello. I’m not staying.’

’Watch out, planet Earth – an asteroid is about to pass close by’ – this is how the experts’ warning would sound like. According to NASA, there is this small asteroid is expected to fly past the Earth during the first week of March.

The asteroid (as long as a basketball court) is called asteroid 2013 TX68. Two years ago, it flew past Earth at a comfortable distance of about 1.3 million miles (2 million kilometers) and who now will fly by our planet again in a few weeks. The difference between the last time and this time is that this time it may be much closer.

So close and yet so far.

The predicted range of distance at which the asteroid will go by is very wide, due to the short tracking time of it, which provided limited information for making future tracking predictions.

It could come as close as 11,000 miles (17,700 kilometers) — less than 5 percent of the distance from Earth to the moon — or stay up to 9 million miles (14.5 million km) away during the flyby.

NASA officials said.

On the other hand, scientists that are interested in the case, hope that the asteroid will be close enough to track more thoroughly during its next flyby, for the purposes of adding extra data to the study and to predict the asteroid’s future path.

Graphic indicating the possible locations asteroid 2013 will be in at the time of its closest approach to Earth on March 5.

Experts believe that if an object as big as asteroid 2013 TX68 were to penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, it would generate an air burst that is twice as powerful as the one produced during the meteor crash in Chelyabinsk.

Despite the expected close flyby of 2013 TX68 on March 5, there is no danger that the asteroid will collide with Earth on this pass, researchers said. However, there is an extremely slight chance — less than 1 in 250 million — of an impact on Sept. 28, 2017, and even lower odds during flybys in 2046 and 2097.

The possibilities of collision on any of the three future flyby dates are far too small to be of any real concern.

CNEOS manager Paul Chodas declared. He also added that he fully expects any future observations to reduce this probability even more.

As a conclusion, it is not as bad as it looks. But as you lay down in bed on March 5, think of the rocky body that is about to fly past the Earth – it should suddenly make you feel small.

Image Source: yournewswire.com; www.space.com.

SpaceX Knocked Down another Record with Crew Dragon

January 23, 2016 By Chen Lai 1 Comment

The spacecraft succesfully landed on an airstrip in McGregor, using its SuperDraco hover engine.

It would seem like the space race has begun to produce results. This time, the term of “space race” doesn’t refer to a contest between space-ready countries, but between civilian agencies. SpaceX knocked down another record with Crew Dragon, Musk’s latest gadget.

To show the public that SpaceX means business, the space company just released the footage of their newest spacecraft, the Crew Dragon. According to the ship’s specs, the new prototype of spacecraft is capable of landing almost anywhere thanks to its SuperDraco hovering engine.

Yes, you heard it right! Now the astronauts can put the bird down almost anywhere, with the precision of a military helicopter. According to NASA’s and SpaceX’s estimates, the new type of spacecraft might be employed in manned space missions at the beginning of 2017.

The spacecraft will be mounted on top of the Falcon 9, SpaceX’s newest rocket engine. The goal of the mission is to bring a full complement of astronauts safe and sound aboard the International Space Station.

The first test of the novel spacecraft was conducted in McGregor back in November. Although no human crew was involved in the first phases of the test, SpaceX is confident that the results will show that the craft can safely transport astronauts.

According to SpaceX, when the craft will be launched into space, it will not make use of its SuperDraco hover engine. Instead, the spacecraft will rely on giant parachutes for landing procedures. The engine needs further research before it can be put to use.

NASA also stated that the engine will come in handy for the upcoming Mars mission. Parachutes and inflatable cushions (Boeing CST-100) are great when it comes to controlled landings on patches of water, but the hover engine is far superior when it comes to landing on planets with no waters, like Mars.

Crew Dragon, along with its novel SuperDraco hover engine will be able to transport up to seven people into space, and it is the second ship prototype designed and constructed entirely by a civilian agency.

The program has its roots back in 2010, when NASA began to exploit the possibility of civilian companies to be involved in the construction of feasible spacecraft. Although many companies applied for the contract, only two companies were selected to participate in the space program. SpaceX was among one of them, followed by Boeing, which is currently testing the CST-100, a spacecraft which is able to perform a safe landing using inflatable cushions.

SpaceX knocked down another record with Crew Dragon, a new spacecraft that is able to hover, thanks to its engine called the SuperDraco.

Photo credits:www.wikipedia.org

NASA Established a Planetary Defense Program

January 13, 2016 By Chen Lai Leave a Comment

NASA and ESA managed to piece together a full-fledged planetary defense program aimed at protecting Earth from hazardous NEOs.

With all the space junk floating around Earth, it’s no wonder that people are beginning to thinks that apocalyptic scenarios like the one depicted in Armageddon can become reality. For this reason, NASA established a planetary defense program, a collaboration between several space agencies aimed at protecting the Earth from space threats.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that we are going to get hit by a big hunk of space debris, but it is very important to exercise caution in this matter. And as more NEO’s (Near Earth Objects) are being detected each day, NASA’s initiative couldn’t have come at a better time.

And so NASA officially announced its brand new space defense program called the Planetary Defense Coordination Office or PDCO for short.

PDCO’s mandate will be to identify NEO’s, assess the potential threat of the object, and, if necessary, to take any measures to prevent the object from colliding with our planet. I don’t think that we’ll be getting a Harry Stamper to drill the brains out of an asteroid, but we can sure that the boys and girls from NASA have some decent pieces of equipment standing by to offer protection from this kind of threat.

NASA established a planetary defense program in the hope that doomsday scenarios will never take place. As said, the Office has a dual mandate: to identify and catalog potential hazardous near-Earth object and, if it necessary, to coordinate a with other space agencies in order to protect Earth.

On the subject of protection against potentially hazardous NEOs, NASA has cooked up quite a plan. With the office in the state, the North American space agency was partnered up with the European Space Agency to refine the defense plan.

Moreover, it would seem that the ESA has worked, for some time now, on certain projects in involving planetary defense.

The Planetary Defense Coordination Office is run by NASA’s Science Directorate. As we mentioned, the program must be capable of detecting near-Earth objects large enough to pose a threat to our planet.

A space object can be regarded as a threat towards out planet if it has more than 30 to 50 meters in diameter. Also, the office would declare a critical condition if such an object gets within a range of 150 million kilometers.

The most common methods employed to identify hazardous space objects are NASA’s ground telescopes and the novel near-Earth object wise infrared telescope, which is NASA’s newest asset.

NASA established a planetary defense program in order to react in case an asteroid decides to pay us a visit.

Photo credits:www.wikipedia.org

NASA’s Satellite Spotted Intense Lights on Earth During Holidays.

December 21, 2014 By Germaine Hicks Leave a Comment

Recently, researchers of NASA reported that in majority of the countries lights are more intense during holiday season.

Experts carefully analyzed the daily data of Suomi NPP Satellite for the study.

The data shows that the lights shine up to 20 percent brighter in the United States at New Year season, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas season.

Normally, it is considered as a norm of Christians to decorate their gardens and lawns with lights for the celebration of Christmas. Moreover, the family dinners and late night parties are also the reason of the extra usage of lights in festivals. In a nutshell, the ratio of lightning in holidays is comparatively higher than the normal usage of electricity in the US.

Miguel Roman, the co author of the report informs that everyone know that America is the centre of cultural and religious mixtures. However, the increase in lightening at the time of festivals is pretty evident in all the states of US. Most of the intense lights are spotted at the Southern part of the country. The snow on the grounds is the chief reason behind more reflection of light in Southern region.

In comparison, the Eastern countries illuminate approximately 50 percent brighter in the Ramadan season.

Generally, it is a tradition in almost every country to switch on more lights in festivals. Sadly, a single day of increase in the utilization of energy can have a negative impact on the overall power consumption. The rise in the usage of energy was so prominent that NASA even detected it from Space.

NASA Observed Spectacular Meteor Shower on Mercury

December 16, 2014 By Germaine Hicks Leave a Comment

NASA’s Messenger spacecraft found a frequent meteor shower on Mercury. The spacecraft reveals that recently a periodic meteor shower hit the Mercury.

The “halo of gases” in the exosphere indicates the occurrence of meteor shower. Currently, NASA’s Messenger is closely analyzing the exosphere of the planet.

A few researchers believe that Comet Encke is linked with the meteor shower of Mercury. The particular comet is considered as the originator of numerous annual events on the Earth. Every year several meteor showers such as Germinids, Perseids occur on the Earth. It gives birth to the Southern and Northern Taurids. These meteor shower usually happen in the month of October or November

Meteor shower is an outer space event in which numerous meteors are radiate and originate from a single point. Generally, these meteor showers are named as the constellation from where they begin.

Rosemary Killen, the main author of the research stated that the findings of a meteor shower at Mercury are indeed really thrilling. It is quite momentous as the scientists have not yet analyzed the plasma and dust environment of Mercury.

The proposed trademark of a meteor shower on Mercury is the usual flow of calcium in the exosphere. MESEENGER’s Mercury Atmosphere and Surface Composition Spectrometer captured images that divulge the seasonal surges of calcium. These cyclic gush took place repeatedly on the first nine years of Mercury.

Climate Research Shows: Greenland Ice Sheets Melting Faster Than the Expectations

December 16, 2014 By Germaine Hicks Leave a Comment

A new study dismissed all the early predictions of melting ice sheets of the Greenland. It demonstrates that previously scientists underestimated the ratio of the melting ice sheets. These ice sheets would probably cover double of its current land till 2060.

The melting ice sheets of Greenland plays a vital role in the elevation of sea level. The ignored impact of global warming can considerably increase the proportion of melting ice sheets.

NASA observed changes in the huge Ice Sheets of Greenland in the last five years. Recently, experts accumulated data from NASA and released a comprehensive image of the alteration in ice sheets.

The picture reveals the entire process through which ice sheets moves towards the sea. It provides significant information regarding the melting of water beneath the snow surface.

The chief goal of the study is to offer information which can help scientists in making an exact prediction of the melting of Greenland ice sheets. The outcome of the study shows that the melting of all the ice sheets can increase the level of oceans up to 6 meters. Such an increase would certainly cause a great harm to the coastal communities. Currently, the ice sheets of Greenland are 1.7 million square kilometer wide.

As per the early predictions, these melted ice sheets of Greenland mount up the sea level up to 22 centimeters till 2100. However, the new study completely rejected all these assumptions.

Dr. Amber Leeson, a researcher of University of Leeds’ School of Earth and environment informs that super glacial lake can boost up the present speed at which ice sheets melts. The new report uncovers that the region of Greenland would be double in the future.

The report is explained in detail in the Journal Proceedings of the National

Orion Returns to San Diego After Successful Test flight

December 9, 2014 By Rebecca McGhee Leave a Comment

NASA’s Orion Spacecraft reached to San Diego after the first test flight. The U.S Navy sent the capsule through a space ship named as USS Anchorage.

Two days ago, the U.S Navy loaded the 11 foot tall cone shaped spacecraft on a truck for Florida. The spacecraft reached Cape Canaveral at 10 p.m on Monday. The sailors of Anchorage shifted the heavy capsule to the naval base. The Orion spacecraft stopped there for two or three days. Afterwards, the US agency sent the spacecraft to the Kennedy Space Center.

Suni Williams, an astronaut travelled on the USS Anchorage in order to study the capsule’s recovery from the Pacific Ocean. Earlier, William successfully accomplished two major expeditions on the International Space station. She spent around 322 days in the space in these two journeys. She took part in the Orion mission from the ground.

William expressed that it is indeed an incredible end of a difficult mission. She thinks it is just the start of the plans to send astronauts into deep space.

Orion traveled nearly 3,600 miles above the first layer of the Earth. The main purpose of this flight is to test all the system of the spacecraft.

The spacecraft completed a journey of four and a half hours. It arrived back in to the Earth with a speed and temperature of 20,000 mph and 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit respectively.

Enigmatic Landform Spotted on the Surface of Mars

December 8, 2014 By Rebecca McGhee 2 Comments

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter of NASA captured the images of “wart” present on the surface of the Mars. The image is pretty similar to a distorted waffle. The government space agency named this image as the “enigmatic landform”

The object was found from the center of the Mars’s youngest lava flows. It is a region which contains most of the youngest lava flows on the planet. Scientists believe that this particular location is around 500-100 million years old. The entire area is wrapped with numerous rings and cones created from the steam of lava flow.

Hence, researchers of NASA suppose that the strange texture on the “wart” is formed through some natural processes such as lava flowing.

On the other hand, a few scientists suggest that a special kind of sand worms is responsible to shape the surface of the “wart” like this.

There are several other features similar to the “wart” in that region. The discovery of a wide collection of features perplexes researchers to a great extent. However, scientists hope that close examination of the images will reveal some significant clues about the origin of these things.

Earlier, a rock shaped object similar to jelly doughnut was discovered from the Mars. The object that had an appearance of human femur gave birth to lots of questions in the minds of scientists. Later on, researchers realized that it was merely a pareidolia. After a few years of this discovery, NASA’s Curiosity Rover located a ball from the outer layer of the Mars.

Scientists of NASA utilized the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment for this purpose. It is the largest telescope which researchers used specifically in deep space missions.

Finally NASA’s Orion Space Capsule Lift Off With ‘Bullseye’ Splashdown!

December 5, 2014 By Rebecca McGhee Leave a Comment

An unmanned NASA’s Orion spaceship –designed to carry to carry humans to an asteroid and inevitably Mars sprinkled down in the Pacific Ocean Friday to wrap up a prolific first test run.

After two laps of Earth, the Orion shuttle plunged through the atmosphere at 20,000 mph, encompassed in a fireball that singed its heat shield with temperatures up to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The spaceship evolved intact from its 3,600-mile fall and installed three orange-and-white-striped parachutes to brake its speed to 20 mph as it hit the water at 11:29 a.m. EST, 270 miles west of Baja California. NASA called it a “bull’s eye” landing.

“There’s your new rocket, America,” Mission Control analyst Rob Navias said as the Orion capsule neared the water.

Navias called the adventure “the best flight you could ever envision.”

The scene of a potential profound space crew capsule weaving in the sea, 4.5 hours after lifting off from Florida, reviewed the last return of space explorers from the Apollo moon missions 42 years back.

Recuperation crews promptly started endeavors to tow the capsule to a holding up Navy ship, where heat shield investigations will start and information from 1,200 sensors will be secured on the way back to a San Diego port this weekend.

The $375 million Exploration Flight Test-1 mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station just after dawn at 7:05 a.m., on the mission’s second endeavor.

“Launch at sunrise, the beginning of Orion and a new epoch of American space investigation,” said NASA TV reporter Mike Curie.

The organization reported some positive results, saying aboard computers were unaffected by high radiation in space.

The capsule arrived at a top elevation more than 14 times more distant from Earth than the International Space Station. No spaceship planned for space travelers had gone so far since Apollo 17 — NASA’s last moon shot — 42 years back.

NASA required to send Orion that high keeping in mind the end goal to set the group module up for a 20,000-mph, 4,000-degree way in. That was viewed as the most discriminating part of the whole flight — testing the biggest of its kind heat shield for survival before people move on board.

As per the NASA officials, in 11 minutes, Orion impedes from to 20 mph at splashdown, its last plunge helped by eight parachutes installed in sequence. A team aboard would have persevered as much as 8.2 Gs, or 8.2 times the force of Earth gravity, twofold the Gs of a returning Russian Soyuz capsule.

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