entire Web this site SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS: November 2008 home > space & science news > space & science news: November 2008: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 New report lists NASA's biggest challenges (Nov 19, 2008) Transitioning to the next generation of space vehicles is NASA's "greatest challenge", says the agency's independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The office released its annual assessment of NASA's 'most serious' challenges on Tuesday. Topping the list of issues is the agency's ability to fly the space shuttle safely while developing its replacement, the Ares I rocket and Orion crew capsule, slated to be ready to fly by 2015. Read more. Source: New Scientist Gamma-ray evidence suggests ancient Mars had oceans (Nov 18, 2008) An international team of scientists who analyzed data from the Gamma Ray Spectrometer onboard NASA's Mars Odyssey reports new evidence for the controversial idea that oceans once covered about a third of ancient Mars. Results from Mars Odyssey and other spacecraft suggest that past watery conditions likely leached, transported and concentrated such elements as potassium, thorium and iron. Read more. Source: University of Arizona Sun shines on future Mars colonies (Nov 18, 2008) is weighing up the pros and cons of nuclear and solar power for a human mission to Mars. It was generally thought that the sun's rays would be too weak on Mars to supply a significant amount of energy. However, the MIT team concludes that with a careful choice of location, solar energy can provide all the power a colony would need – even in the teeth of the Red Planet's infamous dust storms. Read more. Source: New Scientist Shuttle docks with space station (Nov 17, 2008) A NASA shuttle, carrying seven astronauts, has docked with the International Space Station as part of a mission to refit its living quarters. Endeavour is carrying 14,000lb (6,350kg) of fittings to allow the station to accommodate six crew members instead of the current three. A new astronaut, Sandra Magnus, is also joining the ISS crew. Read more. Source: BBC Planet wobbles could reveal Earth 2.0 (Nov 15, 2008) Hidden alien moons that could harbour life can be revealed by the wobbles of their planets. Almost all the 30 known exoplanets that sit within the habitable zone of their stars are gas giants. "But they might have rocky, possibly Earth-like moons," says David Kipping of University College London. Read more. Source: New Scientist Endeavour space shuttle lifts off (Nov 15, 2008) The US space shuttle Endeavour has launched on the final orbiter mission of 2008, carrying cargo bound for the International Space Station. Endeavour is taking equipment to refit the ISS for six crew members, instead of the current three, and will also drop off astronaut Sandra Magnus. Read more. Source: BBC Cassini finds mysterious new aurora on Saturn (Nov 15, 2008) Saturn has its own unique brand of aurora that lights up the polar cap, unlike any other planetary aurora known in our solar system. This odd aurora revealed itself to one of the infrared instruments on NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Read more. Source: NASA/JPL Indian probe touches down on Moon (Nov 14, 2008) India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft, Chandrayaan 1, has placed a probe on the surface of the Moon. The probe, painted with the Indian flag, touched down at 2034 (1504 GMT), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said. It will perform various experiments, including measuring the composition of the Moon's atmosphere. Read more. Source: BBC Exoplanets finally come into view (Nov 14, 2008) The first pictures of planets outside our solar system have been taken, two groups report in the journal Science. Visible and infrared images have been snapped of a planet orbiting a star 25 light-years away. In a separate study, an exoplanetary system comprising three planets, has been directly imaged, circling a star in the constellation Pegasus. Read more. Source: BBC Shuttle Endeavour ready for launch (Nov 13, 2008) Countdown clocks began ticking down on Tuesday toward Friday's launch of the space shuttle Endeavour on a mission to outfit the International Space Station for an expanded live-aboard crew. Lift-off is targeted for 1955 EST (0055 Saturday GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At a news conference on Tuesday, managers said the shuttle was in good shape for launch. Read more. Source: New Scientist 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 BACK TO TOP

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