NASA has selected Astra Space Inc. to provide a launch service for the agency’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) mission.
Read MoreMonth: February 2021
Space Station Science Highlights: Week of February 22, 2021
Scientific investigations conducted aboard the International Space Station the week of Feb. 22 included examining differences in aromas of herb, changes in muscle gene expression, and rates of simultaneous flow of liquid and gas in microgravity, as well as testing software for autonomous vehicles.
Read MoreThis Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 26 – March 6
Mars is passing the Pleiades. Sirius and Canis Major take over the early-evening meridian from Orion. And low in the dawn, Jupiter closes in on Mercury. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 26 – March 6 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSeed Film Brings New Way to Grow Plants in Space
NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins harvested ‘Outredgeous’ red romaine lettuce grown in the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) aboard the International Space Station on Feb. 2, 2021.
Read More60-second Astro News: Venus Close-up and Supernova 1987A
Now, there’s more evidence that astronomers have found the pulsar at the heart of Supernova 1987A. Plus, a new stunning image of Venus. The post 60-second Astro News: Venus Close-up and Supernova 1987A appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreMary W. Jackson: NASA’s First Female African American Engineer
On Feb. 25, 2021, the NASA Headquarters Building in Washington D.C. was officially renamed after Mary W. Jackson, the agency’s first African American female engineer.
Read MoreNASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars is carrying an adorable ‘family portrait’ of Martian rovers
NASA’s Perseverance rover has brought the “family portrait” bumper sticker fad to a whole new world. Raw images from the Perseverance rover, which safely landed on the surface of Mars last Thursday (Feb. 18), have revealed a small plaque featuring a lineup of little spacecraft. At first glance, the small white decals may look like pixelated cats marching across the rover’s deck. But upon closer inspection, the symbols appear to represent all of NASA’s Mars missions that have made it to the surface of the Red Planet. Related: 5 weird…
Read MoreNASA, SpaceX to Launch Second Commercial Crew Rotation Mission to International Space Station
NASA and SpaceX are continuing a regular cadence of missions with astronauts launching on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station.
Read MoreNASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars: Live updates
Refresh 2021-02-25T19:25:27.371Z Watch live today: NASA tours Percy’s epic Mars panorama The team of scientists behind the first HD Mars panorama from Perseverance will discuss the new imagery in a live Q&A today (Feb. 25) at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT). You can watch it live here: [embedded content] 2021-02-25T19:22:34.373Z Watch Perseverance’s sky crane crash into Mars Rest In Pieces, sky crane! The Perseverance Mars rover’s “sky crane” descent stage made the ultimate sacrifice last week, and we now have a photo to memorialize the flying robot’s heroic death. Check it…
Read MoreHere’s what we know about planetary protection on China’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission
This spring, China will attempt its first Mars landing. But in anticipation of that milestone, scientists are wondering whether the Tianwen-1 rover may carry Earthly contamination with it to the surface. Because scientists have high hopes of someday discovering traces of life on Mars, spacecraft that will land on the planet are kept as immaculately free of Earthly life as possible. These days, that means a complicated cleaning procedure throughout the spacecraft’s assembly and frequent testing for spores, an inactive form of bacteria that are particularly hardy. NASA’s Perseverance rover…
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