SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS: July 2006
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Dark matter cloud found sucking in nearby gas
(Jul 6, 2006)
A strange, glowing blob in the distant universe may be a clump of dark matter sucking in gas from its surroundings, astronomers say. If so, it would be the first observation of the phenomenon and would provide a glimpse of the way our own galaxy was born billions of years ago. The blob resembles previous observations of huge hydrogen clouds – each several times wider than our galaxy – that glow brightly in ultraviolet light.
Read more. Source: New Scientist |
Sunshade to look for distant life
(Jul 6, 2006)
A huge sunshade a million miles from Earth could help astronomers search for signs of life on planets orbiting distant stars, a study says. The daisy-shaped "occulter", as it is known, would use a powerful telescope trailing thousands of miles behind. The shade, described in the journal Nature, would stop light from the planet's star swamping the telescope.
Read more. Source: BBC |
Shuttle's tank 'performed well'
(Jul 5, 2006)
The Discovery space shuttle's external fuel tank performed "very well" during its launch, NASA officials have said. Soon after lift-off, small pieces of insulating foam were seen to fall away from the tank, but officials said that was expected and had posed no danger. There had been fears Tuesday's launch would be delayed after a small crack was found in the foam.
Read more. Source: BBC |
Shuttle Discovery races skyward
(Jul 4, 2006)
The Discovery orbiter has blasted away from the Kennedy Space Center – on a hot and sunny US Independence Day. The shuttle left its Florida launch pad right on schedule at 1438 EDT (1838 GMT) and roared skywards to the cheers of spectators. The vehicle's mission will take it to the International Space Station.
Read more. Source: BBC |
Was there life on Mars? Shiny rock coating may hold the answer
(Jul 3, 2006)
A mysterious shiny coating found on rocks in many of Earth's arid environments could reveal whether there was once life on Mars, according to new research. The research, published in the July edition of the journal Geology, reveals that the dark coating known as desert varnish creates a record of life around it, by binding traces of DNA, amino acids and other organic compounds to desert rocks. Samples of Martian desert varnish could therefore show whether there has been life on Mars at any stage over the last 4.5 billion years.
Read more. Source: Imperial College, London |
Weather frustrates shuttle again
(Jul 2, 2006)
Poor weather conditions have prevented the space shuttle Discovery from launching for the second day running. NASA went through the business of preparing the orbiter on Sunday but scrubbed the flight when it became obvious lift-off was a "no go". Sending Discovery up through the stormy clouds around Cape Canaveral would have been a violation of launch rules.
Read more. Source: BBC |
Asteroid set for close encounter
(Jul 1, 2006)
A large asteroid is set to pass Earth in a close encounter which scientists say will pose no danger. The asteroid, estimated at half a mile (800m) wide, will sweep within 270,000 miles (433,000km) of the planet – only slightly further away than the moon. "It's not Earth-threatening," said Don Yeomans, who heads NASA's Near Earth Object Program. The asteroid, 2004 XP14, should be visible by telescope from N America and Europe, most clearly on Monday.
Read more. Source: BBC |
NASA chooses names for future launchers
(Jul 1, 2006)
NASA has chosen "Ares I" and "Ares V" as the names for the rockets that will launch the space shuttle's successor to the Moon and Mars. The disclosure of the new generation launcher's name came in the final hours of the space agency's countdown to Saturday's launch of the space shuttle Discovery. The shuttles are due to be retired in 2010.
Read more. Source: New Scientist |
Space station's future rides on next shuttle launch
(Jul 1, 2006)
The future of the International Space Station, as well as that of the shuttle prograe itself, hinges on the flight of the shuttle Discovery scheduled for Saturday. NASA has already lost two shuttles and their crews – Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has said that the loss of a third orbiter would end the shuttle program. That nightmare scenario would ground manned US spaceflight until the completion of the shuttle's successor, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, now planned for 2014.
Read more. Source: New Scientist |
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