Archive for 2008

NASA Tests Moon Imaging Spacecraft at Goddard
July 31, 2008
Press Releases

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, also known as LRO, has completed the first round of environmental testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. These tests ensure the spacecraft is prepared for its mission to collect the highest resolution images and most comprehensive geological data set ever returned from the moon.

NASA Spacecraft Confirms Martian Water, Mission Extended
July 31, 2008
News and Features NASA Spacecraft Confirms Martian Water, Mission Extended

Laboratory tests aboard NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander have identified water in a soil sample. The lander's robotic arm delivered the sample Wednesday to an instrument that identifies vapors produced by the heating of samples.

Titan's Ethane Lake
July 30, 2008
News and Features Titan's Ethane Lake

Cassini scientists have concluded that at least one of the large lakes observed on Saturn’s moon Titan contains liquid hydrocarbons, and have positively identified ethane.

OSTM/Jason 2 Begins Mapping Oceans
July 30, 2008
News and Features OSTM/Jason 2 Begins Mapping Oceans

Less than a month after launch, the NASA-French space agency Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason 2 oceanography satellite has produced its first complete maps of global ocean surface topography, surface wave height and wind speed.

Snow Queen Showing Her Age
July 30, 2008
News and Features Snow Queen Showing Her Age

When Phoenix landed on the martian surface, the spacecraft’s thruster exhaust blew away dirt and exposed a hard surface. Cracks now have appeared in this bright-toned area, which was nicknamed “Snow Queen” due to the assumption it is made of water ice.

Quake Demonstrates Ongoing Forecasting Experiment
July 30, 2008
News and Features Quake Demonstrates Ongoing Forecasting Experiment

This week's magnitude 5.4 earthquake in Southern California marks another demonstration of an ongoing experiment by a NASA/Department of Energy-funded research team to forecast the location of large earthquakes in California.

Partial Eclipse, Total Fun
July 29, 2008
News and Features Partial Eclipse, Total Fun

On Friday, August 1st, millions of people in Greenland, Siberia, Mongolia and China—especially China—are going to witness a total eclipse of the sun. The Moon's cool shadow will sweep across the landscape, silencing wildlife with sudden darkness, filling the sky with the sun's ghostly corona, transforming ordinary folks into life-long eclipse chasers.

At the Edge of the Pinwheel
July 29, 2008
News and Features At the Edge of the Pinwheel

A new infrared image has revealed the distribution of important organic molecules in a distant galaxy. The finding is providing information about molecules in space that could have played a role in the origin of life.

Phoenix Mars Lander Working With Sticky Soil
July 28, 2008
News and Features Phoenix Mars Lander Working With Sticky Soil

Scientists and engineers on NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission spent the weekend examining how the icy soil on Mars interacts with the scoop on the lander's robotic arm, while trying different techniques to deliver a sample to one of the instruments.

GLAST Burst Monitor Team Hard at Work Fine-Tuning Instrument and Operations
July 28, 2008
News and Features GLAST Burst Monitor Team Hard at Work Fine-Tuning Instrument and Operations

While only on orbit for 40 days and still in the process of a two-month checkout, NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Telescope (GLAST) has already detected 12 powerful gamma-ray bursts, an encouraging harbinger of good things to come for this mission.

NASA Phoenix Mission Scientists to Discuss Martian Studies
July 28, 2008
Press Releases

NASA and the University of Arizona, Tucson, will hold a media briefing Thursday, July 31, at 11 a.m. PDT, in the mission's Science Operations Center at the university.

Reading Archaean Biosignatures
July 28, 2008
News and Features Reading Archaean Biosignatures

A high-precision atom-counter called NanoSIMS produces maps of key biological atoms and suggests new way to analyze possible biosignatures from the beginning of life.

Lander Collects Icy Soil But Needs to Work on Delivery
July 26, 2008
News and Features Lander Collects Icy Soil But Needs to Work on Delivery

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's robotic arm collected a more than adequate amount of icy soil for baking in one of the lander's ovens but will need to adjust how it delivers samples.

The Deep Dark Biosphere
July 26, 2008
News and Features The Deep Dark Biosphere

Scientists have shown evidence that microbes living deep below the oceans of Earth make up a carbon reserve of about 90 billion tons. The study highlights the abundance and importance of microbes on Earth.

'Impressionist' Spacecraft to View Solar System's Invisible Frontier
July 25, 2008
News and Features 'Impressionist' Spacecraft to View Solar System's Invisible Frontier

At the edge of our solar system in December 2004, the Voyager 1 spacecraft encountered something never before experienced during its then 26-year cruise through the solar system — an invisible shock formed as the solar wind piles up against the gas in interstellar space.

Extinction Followed Eruption
July 25, 2008
News and Features Extinction Followed Eruption

A new study indicates that undersea volcanic activity may have triggered an extinction event in the Earth's oceans. The extinction occurred 93 million years ago and is responsible for creating some of today's major oil reserves.

Dolly Now a Tropical Storm, Shattered Brownsville Rainfall Records
July 24, 2008
News and Features Dolly Now a Tropical Storm, Shattered Brownsville Rainfall Records

After making landfall yesterday afternoon as a Category 2 hurricane, Dolly has weakened into a tropical storm and continues dumping heavy rains inland over Texas and northeastern Mexico.

NASA Successfully Tests Parachute for Ares Rocket
July 24, 2008
Press Releases

NASA and industry engineers have successfully completed the first drop test of a drogue parachute for the Ares I rocket. The drogue parachute is designed to slow the rapid descent of the spent first-stage motor, cast off by the Ares I rocket during its climb to space.

NASA Satellites Discover What Powers Northern Lights
July 24, 2008
Press Releases

Researchers using a fleet of five NASA satellites have discovered that explosions of magnetic energy a third of the way to the moon power substorms that cause sudden brightenings and rapid movements of the aurora borealis, called the Northern Lights.

Stars of the Deep
July 24, 2008
News and Features Stars of the Deep

Researchers studying life deep beneath the Earth's surface in a South African platinum mine have discovered microbes with a unique appearance. In fact, these tiny bacteria are the 'stars' of their community.

Phoenix Lander Completes Longest Work Shift
July 23, 2008
News and Features Phoenix Lander Completes Longest Work Shift

Phoenix early Tuesday finished its longest work shift of the mission. The lander stayed awake for 33 hours, completing tasks that included rasping and scraping by the robotic arm, in addition to atmosphere observations in coordination with simultaneous observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Earth: An Alien World
July 23, 2008
News and Features Earth: An Alien World

NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has filmed the moon transiting Earth from 31 million miles away. The event is now being used to develop techniques for studying alien worlds.

Tropical Storm Dolly
July 23, 2008
News and Features Tropical Storm Dolly

Tropical Storm Dolly strengthened into a Category One Hurricane with 85 mph maximum sustained winds and may get even stronger before her eye makes landfall this morning (July 23, 20080. Dolly's center will be along the coast near the Texas/Mexico border around midday today, according to the National Hurricane Center, but she's already generated one tornado in south Texas this morning.

'No Organics' Zone Around Pinwheel Galaxy
July 22, 2008
News and Features 'No Organics' Zone Around Pinwheel Galaxy

The fluffy-looking galaxy, officially named Messier 101, is dominated by a mishmash of spiral arms. In Spitzer's new view, in which infrared light is color coded, the galaxy sports a swirling blue center and a unique, coral-red outer ring.

Vocal communication evolved with ancient species
July 22, 2008
News and Features Vocal communication evolved with ancient species

Scientists have discovered that the neural network behind sound production in vertebrates can be traced back to marine organisms. The finding provides a unique perspective on life's evolutionary mechanisms.

Rocketing Through Water - at Olympic Speed
July 22, 2008
News and Features Rocketing Through Water - at Olympic Speed

A space-age swimsuit made of fabric tested at NASA.

Song from the Past
July 22, 2008
News and Features Song from the Past

Scientists have discovered that the neural network behind sound production in vertebrates can be traced back to marine organisms. The finding provides a unique perspective on life's evolutionary mechanisms.

The 2008 Perseid Meteor Shower
July 22, 2008
News and Features The 2008 Perseid Meteor Shower

Mark your calendar: The 2008 Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th and it should be a good show.

NASA works to improve short-term weather forecasts
July 21, 2008
News and Features NASA works to improve short-term weather forecasts

Sometimes seconds count. If a furious, tornado-spitting thunderstorm was bearing down on your home town, a few moments might make all the difference in the world.

3-D Views Posted From Phoenix Mars Lander
July 21, 2008
News and Features 3-D Views Posted From Phoenix Mars Lander

NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission has released stereo images of the Martian surface near the Phoenix lander. The images in the new 3-D Gallery combine views from the left and right "eyes" of the lander's Surface Stereo Imager (SSI) so that they appear three-dimensional when viewed through red-blue glasses.

Muriwai Black Sand Beach in New Zealand
July 18, 2008
News and Features Muriwai Black Sand Beach in New Zealand

Less than an hour from downtown Auckland, New Zealand, Muriwai Black Sand beach is a favorite destination for picnickers, day-trippers, bird watchers, surfers, land yachters, and anyone looking for a nice day out of town.

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Extending Trench
July 14, 2008
News and Features NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Extending Trench

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is using its Robotic Arm to enlarge an exposure of hard subsurface material expected to yield a sample of ice-rich soil for analysis in one of the lander's ovens.

Signals from an Infant Earth
July 14, 2008
News and Features Signals from an Infant Earth

Precise dating of zircon crystals suggests that Earth may have been conducive to life even before an epic influx of asteroids pummeled our planet 4 billion years ago.

NASA Evaluates Sensor Technology for Future Aircraft Efficiency
July 14, 2008
Press Releases

NASA is evaluating an advanced, fiber optic-based sensing technology that could aid development of active control of wing shape. Controlling a wing's shape in flight would allow it to take advantage of aerodynamics and improve overall aircraft efficiency.

NASA Imagery of Fire and Smoke
July 14, 2008
News and Features NASA Imagery of Fire and Smoke

Clouds were banked against the California coastline and skies were filled with smoke on July 13, 2008, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of the state.

Our Watery Moon
July 13, 2008
News and Features Our Watery Moon

Scientists have discovered water inside beads of volcanic glass from moon rocks collected by the Apollo missions. The finding could alter our understanding of how the moon formed and evolved.

Summer Storms Could Mean More Dead Zones
July 11, 2008
News and Features Summer Storms Could Mean More Dead Zones

It's summertime and people are flocking to the coasts around the country. But when summer storms arrive, it's not only beach-goers who are affected; the rains can also have an impact on living creatures far below the ocean surface. Summer storms sweep fertilizers into the rivers and streams and carry them to the shoreline.

Rare Jupiters?
July 11, 2008
News and Features Rare Jupiters?

Astronomers have found that fewer than 10 percent of the stars in the Orion Nebula have enough dust to make giant planets. The study suggests that our solar system may have been lucky to form a planet like Jupiter.

Rare 'Star-Making Machine' Found in Distant Universe
July 10, 2008
News and Features Rare 'Star-Making Machine' Found in Distant Universe

Astronomers have uncovered an extreme stellar machine -- a galaxy in the very remote universe pumping out stars at a surprising rate of up to 4,000 per year. In comparison, our own Milky Way galaxy turns out an average of just 10 stars per year.

Unlocking Martian Rocks
July 10, 2008
News and Features Unlocking Martian Rocks

A new study offers a simplified technique for detecting biological molecules in martian rock. The equipment is too large to be put on a rover, but it could be used to analyze samples brought back from Mars.

A Telescope Made of Moondust
July 09, 2008
News and Features A Telescope Made of Moondust

A gigantic telescope on the Moon has been a dream of astronomers since the dawn of the space age. A lunar telescope the same size as Hubble (2.4 meters across) would be a major astronomical research tool. One as big as the largest telescope on Earth—10.4 meters across—would see far more than any Earth-based telescope because the Moon has no atmosphere.

Ocean Wind Power Maps Reveal Possible Wind Energy Sources
July 09, 2008
News and Features Ocean Wind Power Maps Reveal Possible Wind Energy Sources

Efforts to harness the energy potential of Earth's ocean winds could soon gain an important new tool: global satellite maps from NASA. Scientists have been creating maps using nearly a decade of data from NASA's QuikSCAT satellite that reveal ocean areas where winds could produce energy.

Early Diversity
July 09, 2008
News and Features Early Diversity

A new study has found that, contrary to a long-held belief, marine species diversified early in history rather than becoming more diverse with time.

Ocean Wind Power Maps Reveal Possible Wind Energy Sources
July 09, 2008
Press Releases

Efforts to harness the energy potential of Earth's ocean winds could soon gain an important new tool: global satellite maps from NASA. Scientists have been creating maps using nearly a decade of data from NASA's QuikSCAT satellite that reveal ocean areas where winds could produce wind energy.

What's Wrong with the Sun? (Nothing)
July 09, 2008
News and Features What's Wrong with the Sun? (Nothing)

Stop the presses! The sun is behaving normally. So says NASA solar physicist David Hathaway.

NASA Mission to be Crystal Ball into Oceans' Future, Mirror to the Past
July 08, 2008
News and Features NASA Mission to be Crystal Ball into Oceans' Future, Mirror to the Past

Imagine the lives that could be saved from flash floods and drought, the millions of dollars in fuel costs that could be avoided for fishing vessels, and the homes that could be spared from the effects of coastline erosion if only scientists could more accurately predict the dynamics of Earth's often unpredictable oceans.

Sample-Collection Tests Continue
July 08, 2008
News and Features Sample-Collection Tests Continue

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's science and engineering teams are testing methods to get an icy sample into the Robotic Arm scoop for delivery to the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA).

Revising Earth's History
July 08, 2008
News and Features Revising Earth's History

Geologists have found that major basins in India are 500 million years older than previously thought. The study may lend weight to idea that complex life originated earlier in Earth's history.

An Exploding Asteroid
July 06, 2008
News and Features An Exploding Asteroid

New evidence indicates that a comet or asteroid exploded over Canada 12,900 years ago. The event occurred at the end of the last Ice Age and coincides with an age of extinction.

100 Years After Tunguska
July 04, 2008
News and Features 100 Years After Tunguska

One hundred years ago, 800 square miles of forest was destroyed in Siberia by a powerful impact. Studying the site has revealed clues about how impacts affect ecosystems and human populations on Earth

Cosmic Collisions
July 03, 2008
News and Features Cosmic Collisions

Researchers have been using a vast database to show that asteroids are shaped by small impacts over time.

NASA Reveals New Discoveries From Mercury
July 03, 2008
Press Releases

Scientists have argued about the origins of Mercury's smooth plains and the source of its magnetic field for more than 30 years. Now, analyses of data from the January 2008 flyby of the planet by the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft have shown that volcanoes were involved in plains formation and suggest that its magnetic field is actively produced in the planet's core.

California Fires Captured by Aqua
July 03, 2008
News and Features California Fires Captured by Aqua

The fires raging in California were captured by the Aqua satellite on July 02, 2008

MESSENGER Settles Old Debates and Makes New Discoveries at Mercury
July 03, 2008
News and Features MESSENGER Settles Old Debates and Makes New Discoveries at Mercury

Scientists have argued about the origins of Mercury's smooth plains and the source of its magnetic field for more than 30 years. Now, analyses of data from the January 2008 flyby of the planet by the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft have shown that volcanoes were involved in plains formation and suggest that its magnetic field is actively produced in the planet's core.

Planets Align for the 4th of July
July 01, 2008
News and Features Planets Align for the 4th of July

News Flash: On 4th of July weekend, NASA forecasts lights in the sky. No, not those lights. Look beyond the fireworks. Almost halfway up the western sky, just above the twilight glow of sunset, a trio of worlds is gathering: Saturn, Mars and the crescent Moon.

CA Wildfires Continue to Burn Out of Control
July 01, 2008
News and Features CA Wildfires Continue to Burn Out of Control

Numerous wildfires continue to burn out of control throughout California. Many of these fires were ignited in late June by dry lighting and made worse by parched conditions and a lack of rainfall, fire officials report.

Solar Shield Experiment Aims to Keep the Power On
July 01, 2008
News and Features Solar Shield Experiment Aims to Keep the Power On

When you flip a light switch to illuminate the pages of your favorite book or reach into your refrigerator for that last piece of key lime pie, you expect the electric current coursing through the outlets to power everything from your lights to your nifty new big-screen television. When the power goes out, it can be more than just an inconvenience.

Phoenix to Bake Ice-Rich Sample Next Week
July 01, 2008
News and Features Phoenix to Bake Ice-Rich Sample Next Week

The next sample delivered to NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA) will be ice-rich. A team of engineers and scientists assembled to assess TEGA after a short circuit was discovered in the instrument has concluded that another short circuit could occur when the oven is used again.

Rain Showers on Mars
July 01, 2008
News and Features Rain Showers on Mars

A new study of martian soil suggests there was once enough water in Mars' atmosphere for a light drizzle to reach the ground. The finding has important implications in understanding the potential for past life on Mars.

Archive Summary