Archive for 2009

Changing Opinions: Fireball Likely Not Part of Soyuz Rocket
March 31, 2009
News and Features Changing Opinions: Fireball Likely Not Part of Soyuz Rocket

Officials are now saying the bright fireball seen over Virginia in the US on Sunday was probably a natural meteor event and not part of a Russian rocket, a reversal from yesterday's initial analysis.

Alien Safari Part 6: Generations
March 31, 2009
News and Features Alien Safari Part 6: Generations

At the most recent NASA Astrobiology Science Conference, a panel of scientists discussed different types of planets where we might find alien life. In part six of this series, the panelists answer audience questions about the origin and evolution of life elsewhere.

Station Crews Hard at Work
March 31, 2009
News and Features Station Crews Hard at Work

The joint Expedition 18 and 19 crews are working together on a newly expanded International Space Station. Expedition 18 returns to Earth on April 7.

NASA Flies to Greenland to Extend Polar Science
March 31, 2009
News and Features NASA Flies to Greenland to Extend Polar Science

Imagine a piece of ice 1,000 miles long, 400 miles wide, and 2 miles thick in the center. That's the Greenland ice sheet. But that island-sized piece of ice is melting, so NASA researchers are flying to the Arctic this week to learn more about the nature of those changes.

Lunar Gardening
March 31, 2009
News and Features Lunar Gardening

Teams of privately funded scientists are currently attempting to design robotic lunar missions as part of the Google Lunar X-Prize. One team in particular is hoping to grow the first plants on the moon. If successful, they could help pave the way for future lunar settlements.

Flooding on the Red River
March 31, 2009
News and Features Flooding on the Red River

Held in place by reinforced levees, the swollen Red River snakes through Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, in this image, captured by the Advanced Land Imager on the EO-1 satellite on March 28, 2009.

NASA Team Finds Riches in Meteorite Treasure Hunt
March 30, 2009
News and Features NASA Team Finds Riches in Meteorite Treasure Hunt

Just before dawn on Oct. 7, 2008, an SUV-sized asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere and exploded harmlessly over the Nubian Desert of northern Sudan. Scientists expected the asteroid, called 2008 TC3, had blown to dust in the resulting high-altitude fireball.

Big Fish are Toast
March 30, 2009
News and Features Big Fish are Toast

A new study pinpoints why large, bony fish suffered heavily during the last mass extinction 65 million years ago. The results of the study are helping scientists understand the evolutionary processes behind life's history on our planet.

Early Oxygen
March 30, 2009
News and Features Early Oxygen

Cores retrieved from layers of deep-sea rocks show that oxygen-producing organisms may have existed on Earth much earlier than previously thought. The chemical properties of the rocks indicate that the oceans and atmosphere of Earth were rich in oxygen 3.46 billion years ago.

Betsiboka River Floods, Madagascar–January 2009
March 30, 2009
News and Features Betsiboka River Floods, Madagascar–January 2009

Between January 18 and 20, 2009, Tropical Storm Eric swept along the east coast of the island nation of Madagascar.

Astronauts Back Home in Houston
March 30, 2009
News and Features Astronauts Back Home in Houston

Seven astronauts from space shuttle Discovery's STS-119 mission returned to Houston.

Discovery Heads For Home After Powering Up Station
March 27, 2009
News and Features Discovery Heads For Home After Powering Up Station

The STS-119 crew is set for a Saturday landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after leaving a newly symmetrical International Space Station, now with its full set of solar arrays.

Picking Up the Pieces
March 27, 2009
News and Features Picking Up the Pieces

Asteroid 2008 TC3 was the first space rock to have been spotted before it came crashing to Earth. On October 7, 2008, it exploded high above the Nubian Desert. Now, nearly 280 pieces of the asteroid have been collected from the deserts of the Sudan and they are unlike anything seen before.

A Greenhouse on the Moon by 2014?
March 27, 2009
News and Features A Greenhouse on the Moon by 2014?

Paragon has teamed up with Google Lunar XPRIZE contender Odyssey Moon to deliver a biological greenhouse to the lunar surface.

Mission Manager Update, March 26, 2009
March 27, 2009
News and Features Mission Manager Update, March 26, 2009

Scientists have analyzed "dark" calibration data taken by Kepler with its dust cover on, and have concluded that the telescope's focal-plane array, the area where light is focused, is behaving as expected.

Cyclone Izilda
March 27, 2009
News and Features Cyclone Izilda

Cyclone Izilda had estimated winds of 65 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour or 35 knots) at roughly the same time that the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image on March 25, 2009.

The World Archipelago, Persian Gulf
March 26, 2009
News and Features The World Archipelago, Persian Gulf

To expand the possibilities for beachfront tourist development, Dubai undertook a massive engineering project to create hundreds of artificial islands along its Persian Gulf coastline.

New Astronaut Crew Launches to International Space Station
March 26, 2009
Press Releases

The 19th crew to live and work aboard the International Space Station launched into orbit Thursday morning from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, and spaceflight participant and U.S. software engineer Charles Simonyi lifted off at 6:49 a.m. CDT.

New Views of Spring on Mars
March 26, 2009
News and Features New Views of Spring on Mars

New high-resolution images taken last month of Mars' south polar region are revealing signs of spring that are decidedly Martian.

Soyuz Rockets to Space; 13 Humans Now in Orbit
March 26, 2009
News and Features Soyuz Rockets to Space; 13 Humans Now in Orbit

It's a busy day in space, with 13 humans now in orbit. A Soyuz rocket blasted off amid clouds and drizzle at the Baikonur Cosmodrome today (Thursday) sending Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka , American astronaut Michael Barratt,and American spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi on their way to the International Space Station.

Mars Rover Update
March 26, 2009
News and Features Mars Rover Update

Back in 2004, most experts would have said this story is impossible. No rover could possibly survive long enough on Mars for a five-year update. Yet here it is. Mission scientists reveal what Spirit and Opportunity are up to on the Red Planet today--and what their prospects are for the future.

Discovery Set to Leave Station Today
March 25, 2009
News and Features Discovery Set to Leave Station Today

The STS-119 crew will undock from the International Space Station at 3:53 p.m. EDT, en route to a Saturday landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Attend the "No Boundaries" project Webinar to learn more!
March 25, 2009
News and Features

The "No Boundaries" project will help you explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as you learn about NASA.

Calling All Amateur Astronomers: Help Comb Arecibo Data for Gems
March 25, 2009
News and Features Calling All Amateur Astronomers: Help Comb Arecibo Data for Gems

Einstein@Home is one of the world’s largest public computing projects, with more than 200,000 people donating time on their own computers to mine gravitational wave data for the tell-tale signs of pulsars.

"Image of the Century" Now Refurbished
March 25, 2009
News and Features "Image of the Century" Now Refurbished

More imaging goodness is now available from the folks at the Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP), a cooperative effort between NASA and private business to give new life to some of the first ever close-up images of the Moon.

Cassini Provides Virtual Flyover of Saturn's Moon Titan
March 25, 2009
News and Features Cassini Provides Virtual Flyover of Saturn's Moon Titan

"Fly me to the moon" - to Saturn's moon Titan, that is. New Titan movies and images are providing a bird's-eye view of the moon's Earth-like landscapes.

Rewriting the DNA Alphabet
March 25, 2009
News and Features Rewriting the DNA Alphabet

Scientists have presented an artificial genetic system using a type of DNA with 12 chemical letters instead of the usual four. The technology is shedding light on the origins of life on Earth, and could be used to personalize medical treatment for millions of patients.

NASA and Microsoft to Make Universe of Data Available to the Public
March 24, 2009
Press Releases

NASA and Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday plans to make planetary images and data available via the Internet under a Space Act Agreement.

Former Astronaut To Take Social Media to New Heights
March 24, 2009
News and Features Former Astronaut To Take Social Media to New Heights

In 2008, astronaut Scott Parazynski came within 24 hours of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest when a painful back injury forced him to abandon his climb. Now, Parazynski is on his way back for another attempt at summitting the world's highest mountain peak. But this time, he wants to take the rest of the world with him.

President Obama Calls Shuttle, Station Astronauts
March 24, 2009
News and Features

Praising the crew's "sense of adventure and discovery," the President, joined by schoolchildren and members of Congress, asked the crew about station construction, science, and life in orbit.

New Instrument to Watch Sunlight Changes
March 24, 2009
News and Features New Instrument to Watch Sunlight Changes

When NASA launches the Glory satellite, researchers will have the most accurate instrument to date for measuring solar fluctuations.

Name NASA's Next Mars Rover
March 24, 2009
News and Features Name NASA's Next Mars Rover

Choose From Nine Finalists

Discovery Astronauts Making Mission's Third Spacewalk
March 23, 2009
News and Features

Spacewalkers Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold will move the crew and equipment translation aid, or CETA, carts from the P1 to S1 truss.

Rover Spots Distant Goal
March 23, 2009
News and Features Rover Spots Distant Goal

NASA's Opportunity rover has caught its first glimpse of the destination it's been seeking for the past six months – Endeavor Crater. On route to Endeavor, Opportunity will continue to examine the martian soil in search of clues about the past climate of Mars.

Alaska's Redoubt Volcano Erupts with Several Explosions
March 23, 2009
News and Features Alaska's Redoubt Volcano Erupts with Several Explosions

Overnight, Alaska's Redoubt volcano erupted with five large explosions. The National Weather Service has issued an Ashfall Advisory, with light ashfall already reported in some regions.

To See a Clear Day From Far Away
March 23, 2009
News and Features To See a Clear Day From Far Away

Astronomers are close to discovering Earth-sized planets in Earth-like orbits around distant stars – but the real question is, are they habitable? Do they have Earth-like atmospheres? Such questions may prove very difficult to answer.

Hubble Finds Rare Progenitor to a Supernova
March 23, 2009
News and Features Hubble Finds Rare Progenitor to a Supernova

Hubble has identified a star that was one million times brighter than Earth's sun before it exploded as a supernova in 2005.

Sunspots at Solar Maximum and Minimum
March 20, 2009
News and Features Sunspots at Solar Maximum and Minimum

Our Sun is always too bright to view with the naked eye, but it is far from unchanging. It experiences cycles of magnetic activity. Areas of strong activity manifest as visible spots—sunspots—on the Sun’s surface.

Too Salty to Freeze
March 20, 2009
News and Features Too Salty to Freeze

For the first time, liquid water has been detected on Mars. Salty, liquid water was identified on a leg of NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander. The discovery has important implications in determining whether or not Mars is habitable for life.

Mission Madness 2009: Vote For Your Favorite NASA Mission
March 20, 2009
News and Features Mission Madness 2009: Vote For Your Favorite NASA Mission

March means tournament time for college basketball fans, and NASA wants to make sure space exploration fans aren't left out of the action. A lineup of 64 missions face off in this bracket-style, single elimination tournament.

Solar Array Deployment Underway
March 20, 2009
News and Features Solar Array Deployment Underway

With the S6 truss in place, the final set of solar arrays will complete the station's complement of electricity-generating solar panels.

Final Hardware For Test Of NASA's New Rocket Arrives In Florida
March 19, 2009
Press Releases

After a seven-day, 2,917-mile journey, a train carrying the four motor segments for the Ares I-X rocket arrived Thursday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The motor is the final hardware needed for the rocket's upcoming test flight this summer.

Life’s Crystal Code
March 19, 2009
News and Features Life’s Crystal Code

What do we have in common with a crystal chandelier? We’re both made of material that replicates its own structure. In our case it’s DNA, while the crystals in the chandelier grew from minerals like quartz. One scientist thinks for early life on Earth, certain mineral crystals played the role that DNA does for us today.

This Month in Exploration - March
March 19, 2009
News and Features This Month in Exploration - March

Forty years ago, the first docking of two manned American spacecraft occurred during the Apollo 9 mission. Read more historical facts in This Month in Exploration.

Cathedral Fire, Wilson's Promontory, Victoria
March 19, 2009
News and Features Cathedral Fire, Wilson's Promontory, Victoria

Wilson’s Promontory National Park, located at the southern tip of Victoria, Australia, was one of many areas scorched by large bushfires in February 2009.

Simulation Shows World Without Ozone Layer
March 19, 2009
News and Features Simulation Shows World Without Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol has helped reduce contaminants responsible for damage to the ozone layer ... but what if the landmark treaty had never existed?

Discovery Crew Prepares for Thursday's S6 Truss Installation
March 18, 2009
News and Features Discovery Crew Prepares for Thursday's S6 Truss Installation

Astronauts Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold will conduct tomorrow's spacewalk to install the S6 Truss.

From the Top to the Bottom
March 18, 2009
News and Features From the Top to the Bottom

Scientists studying climate change in Antarctica are showing how global warming and loss of sea ice are affecting many facets of the food chain. Interestingly, at the base of the food chain, Antarctic phytoplankton is responding in two contrasting ways.

NASA's Fermi Mission, Namibia's HESS Telescopes Explore a Blazar
March 18, 2009
News and Features NASA's Fermi Mission, Namibia's HESS Telescopes Explore a Blazar

An international team of astrophysicists using telescopes on the ground and in space have uncovered surprising changes in radiation emitted by an active galaxy.

Expedition 19 Set for March 26 Launch to International Space Station
March 18, 2009
News and Features Expedition 19 Set for March 26 Launch to International Space Station

Commander Gennady Padalka, left, and Flight Engineer Michael Barratt will launch in a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan, along with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi. They'll join crewmate Koichi Wakata.

Space Station Construction Visible Through Backyard Telescopes
March 18, 2009
News and Features Space Station Construction Visible Through Backyard Telescopes

Space shuttle Discovery launched Sunday, March 15th, on a construction mission to the International Space Station. Perfect timing for sky watchers! The mission coincides with a series of ISS flybys over North American towns and cities. People who go outside after sunset can see the shuttle-station combo with their naked eyes and view the changing outlines of the ISS through backyard telescopes.

The Secret Life of Amino Acids
March 17, 2009
News and Features The Secret Life of Amino Acids

NASA scientists studying dust from meteorites have uncovered clues about how life works on its most basic, molecular level. The study shows that biological molecules created in space and delivered to Earth by meteorites may have had a profound effect on the development of life.

Discovery Heads to Station on Power Up Mission
March 17, 2009
News and Features Discovery Heads to Station on Power Up Mission

Discovery and crew are set to dock to the International Space Station at 5:13 p.m. EDT Tuesday. Commander Lee Archambault and crew will install the outpost's final set of solar arrays.

ROSES 2009 Clarifications, Corrections and Amendments
March 17, 2009
RSS Feeds ROSES 2009 Clarifications, Corrections and Amendments

(http://nasascience.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/roses-2009/RSS) Stay up to date with the latest ROSES 2009 clarifications, corrections and amendments.

NASA Scientists Find Clues to a Secret of Life
March 17, 2009
News and Features NASA Scientists Find Clues to a Secret of Life

Biological molecules created in space and brought to Earth by meteorite impacts may help explain why life is left-handed.

Hearts of Galaxies Close in for Cosmic Train Wreck
March 17, 2009
News and Features Hearts of Galaxies Close in for Cosmic Train Wreck

A new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope offers a rare view of a pending collision between the cores of two merging galaxies.

Mars, Then and Now: Google Mars Update
March 17, 2009
News and Features Mars, Then and Now: Google Mars Update

Antique maps, latest streaming satellite images now viewable with Mars in Google Earth

Discovery Lifts Off!
March 16, 2009
News and Features Discovery Lifts Off!

Discovery launched at 7:43 p.m. EDT on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Commander Lee Archambault and crew will install the outpost's final set of solar arrays.

Alien Safari Part 5: Alien vs. Predator
March 16, 2009
News and Features Alien Safari Part 5: Alien vs. Predator

At the most recent NASA Astrobiology Science Conference, a panel of scientists discussed different types of planets where we might find alien life. In the fifth segment of this series, the panelists address questions from the audience about the search for life on Mars and elsewhere.

Ares Super-chute
March 16, 2009
News and Features Ares Super-chute

NASA and U.S. Air Force test pilots have just dropped a 50,000-pound "dummy" rocket booster on the Arizona desert--and stopped it before it crashed. It's all part of NASA's plan to return to the Moon.

The Day the Sun Brought Darkness
March 16, 2009
News and Features The Day the Sun Brought Darkness

The Quebec Blackout was different, because this one was caused by a solar storm!

Ares I Rocket First Stage Igniter Successfully Tested
March 13, 2009
News and Features Ares I Rocket First Stage Igniter Successfully Tested

NASA has completed a successful test firing of the igniter that will be used to start the Ares I rocket first stage motor.

Cassini Swaps Thrusters
March 13, 2009
News and Features Cassini Swaps Thrusters

Early this morning the Cassini spacecraft relayed information that it had successfully swapped to a backup set of propulsion thrusters late Wednesday.

Teams Repairing Leak, Working Toward Sunday Shuttle Launch
March 13, 2009
News and Features Teams Repairing Leak, Working Toward Sunday Shuttle Launch

Teams have developed a plan for troubleshooting and repairing the leak that scrubbed Wednesday's launch attempt and are working toward a Sunday, March 15 launch at 7:43 p.m. EDT.

New Observing Technique Turns Gray Skies Blue
March 13, 2009
News and Features New Observing Technique Turns Gray Skies Blue

A new detection technique and a new satellite instrument should help ease the struggle of detecting tiny particles in the air that may affect global climate.

Galactic Dust Bunnies Found to Contain Carbon After All
March 13, 2009
News and Features Galactic Dust Bunnies Found to Contain Carbon After All

Using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, researchers have found evidence suggesting that stars rich in carbon complex molecules may form at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

Drought, Urbanization Were Ingredients for Atlanta's Perfect Storm
March 12, 2009
News and Features Drought, Urbanization Were Ingredients for Atlanta's Perfect Storm

On March 14, 2008, a tornado swept through downtown Atlanta, its 130 mile-per-hour winds ripping holes in the roof of the Georgia Dome, blowing out office windows and trashing parts of Centennial Olympic Park.

Cometary Life Limit
March 12, 2009
News and Features Cometary Life Limit

Large debris disks around certain stars may imply a high rate of killer comets that wipe out any chance of life forming in these stellar systems.

NASA's Observatory Sees Black Hole in Medusa
March 12, 2009
News and Features NASA's Observatory Sees Black Hole in Medusa

The mythological Medusa had hair of writhing snakes. But the "hair" of the galaxy Medusa is a tidal tail formed by colliding galaxies.

STS-119 to Launch No Earlier Than March 15
March 12, 2009
News and Features STS-119 to Launch No Earlier Than March 15

Discovery will deliver the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.

Recipe for Perfect Webb Telescope Mirror
March 12, 2009
News and Features Recipe for Perfect Webb Telescope Mirror

The Webb Telescope's mirrors are made of a special element that will enable them to withstand the rigors of space.

Rebooting Postponed for Mars Odyssey
March 11, 2009
News and Features Rebooting Postponed for Mars Odyssey

The team operating NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter postponed a planned rebooting of the spacecraft this morning after seeing an unexpected rise in the temperature of a star camera that is part of the navigation system.

NASA's Ares I Rocket First Stage Igniter Successfully Tested
March 11, 2009
News and Features

NASA has completed a successful test firing of the igniter that will be used to start the Ares I rocket first stage motor.

Protein Big Bang
March 11, 2009
News and Features Protein Big Bang

A new study on proteins is shedding light on the history of life on Earth. After eons of gradual evolution, proteins experienced an explosion of new forms that coincided with the increasing diversity of bacteria, archaea and eucarya.

Fermi's Best-Ever Look at the Gamma-Ray Sky
March 11, 2009
News and Features Fermi's Best-Ever Look at the Gamma-Ray Sky

A new map combining nearly three months of data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is giving astronomers an unprecedented look at the high-energy cosmos.

Discovery Set for Launch Tonight on STS-119 Mission
March 11, 2009
News and Features Discovery Set for Launch Tonight on STS-119 Mission

Weather is looking good for a liftoff at 9:20 p.m. EDT. Discovery and crew will deliver the final set of solar arrays to the space station.

Turning the Tide to Energy
March 10, 2009
News and Features Turning the Tide to Energy

A new concept in energy production could harness the power of ocean waves.

Shifting Through Sand
March 10, 2009
News and Features Shifting Through Sand

Robotic explorers are used to study the Earth's most difficult terrain, and they also play a major role in the exploration of our solar system. Now, scientists have provided detailed recommendations for building robots that can traverse sand and other granular surfaces. The study could aid in the future exploration of environments like Mars.

Join NASA in Celebrating Sun-Earth Day 2009
March 10, 2009
News and Features Join NASA in Celebrating Sun-Earth Day 2009

Sun-Earth Day is comprised of a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year culminating with a celebration on or near the Spring Equinox.

STS-119 Crew in Florida: Discovery Set for Tomorrow's Launch
March 10, 2009
News and Features STS-119 Crew in Florida: Discovery Set for Tomorrow's Launch

Weather is favorable for the STS-119 launch, which is set to lift off at 9:20 p.m. EDT on March 11. Discovery and crew will deliver the final set of solar arrays to the space station.

Expedition 18 Spacewalk at the Space Station Today
March 10, 2009
News and Features Expedition 18 Spacewalk at the Space Station Today

Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov will install EXPOSE-R, a European experiment that exposes seeds and spores to the space environment.

NASA's Mars Rover Spirit Faces Circuitous Route
March 09, 2009
News and Features NASA's Mars Rover Spirit Faces Circuitous Route

Loose soil piled against the northern edge of a low plateau called "Home Plate" has blocked NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit from taking the shortest route toward its southward destinations for the upcoming Martian summer and following winter.

Kepler Lifts Off on Planet Finding Mission
March 09, 2009
News and Features Kepler Lifts Off on Planet Finding Mission

Kepler is the world's first mission with the ability to find true Earth-like planets orbiting stars in the "habitable zone."

Starlight, Star Bright
March 09, 2009
News and Features Starlight, Star Bright

On March 6, NASA launched Kepler, a telescope designed to find Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars. Kepler will study 100,000 stars simultaneously. But to examine the atmospheres of distant Earths for signs of life, says Sara Seagar of MIT, NASA may need to build a fleet of hundreds of tiny orbiting telescopes, each one dedicated to staring at a single star.

Planetarium Show On Exploration Of The Outer Solar System Opens In Chicago
March 09, 2009
News and Features Planetarium Show On Exploration Of The Outer Solar System Opens In Chicago

A new NASA mission that explores the outer edges of our solar system is featured at the Adler Planetarium and Science Museum in Chicago.

Minchinmavida and Chaiten Volcanoes, Chile
March 09, 2009
News and Features Minchinmavida and Chaiten Volcanoes, Chile

The Andes Mountains along the western coastline of South America include numerous active stratovolcanoes (steep-sided, cone-shaped volcanoes).

NASA and Air Force Designate National Hypersonic Science Centers
March 06, 2009
News and Features

NASA and the United States Air Force have designated three university and industry partners in California, Texas and Virginia as national hypersonic science centers.

Microbe Mountain High
March 06, 2009
News and Features Microbe Mountain High

Scientists have shown how gases from within the Earth support microbial ecosystems at 19,850 feet high. They are the highest-known microbial communities on Earth, and highlight the unique ways in which life is connected to physical and chemical processes on our planet. The microbes could also help scientists understand how to search for life on Mars.

Kepler Set to Launch Tonight on Planet Finding Mission
March 06, 2009
News and Features Kepler Set to Launch Tonight on Planet Finding Mission

Kepler is the world's first mission with the ability to find true Earth-like planets orbiting stars in the "habitable zone."

Snow Cover, December 2008 and February 2009
March 06, 2009
News and Features Snow Cover, December 2008 and February 2009

By astronomical standards, Northern Hemisphere winter won’t end until March 20. But for meteorologists, who sometimes divide the year up into seasons on the basis of similarity in weather and temperature, winter is already over.

Mission Madness 2009
March 05, 2009
News and Features Mission Madness 2009

Counting Down to the Greatest Mission of All

Dust off the United Arab Emirates
March 05, 2009
News and Features Dust off the United Arab Emirates

Heat and dust storms plagued the United Arab Emirates at the end of February 2009. Temperatures soared to 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest February temperatures since record keeping began in 1974.

Could Life on Earth Have Come From Ceres?
March 05, 2009
News and Features Could Life on Earth Have Come From Ceres?

The dwarf planet Ceres is rarely mentioned as a candidate for habitability, but the possible presence of an ocean and hydrothermal vents suggests it is plausible. If life developed on Ceres long ago, could it have seeded the young Earth?

CALIPSO Finds Smoke at High Altitudes Down Under
March 05, 2009
News and Features CALIPSO Finds Smoke at High Altitudes Down Under

As smoke plumes from powerful bushfires clouded the Australian skies in early February, satellites orbiting the Earth captured the rapid dispersal of smoke in real-time. One particular satellite, however, saw the occurrence from a different perspective than the rest and uncovered a rare phenomenon.

Scientists Expose 'Buried' Fault That Caused Deadly 2003 Quake
March 05, 2009
News and Features Scientists Expose 'Buried' Fault That Caused Deadly 2003 Quake

Using satellite radar data, NASA-funded scientists have observed, for the first time, the healing of subtle, natural surface scars from an earthquake that occurred on a "buried" fault several miles below the surface-a fault whose fractures are not easily observed at Earth's surface.

Kepler Set for Friday Launch on Planet Finding Mission
March 04, 2009
News and Features Kepler Set for Friday Launch on Planet Finding Mission

It is the first mission with the ability to find planets like Earth -- rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface.

Flight Team to Check Status of Backup System
March 04, 2009
News and Features Flight Team to Check Status of Backup System

The team operating NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter plans a procedure next week to address a long-known, potential vulnerability of accumulated memory corruption.

Snow Along the East Coast
March 04, 2009
News and Features Snow Along the East Coast

Children were mostly back in school, and trains were mostly running on time by March 3, 2009, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite took this picture.

Trio of Galaxies Mix It Up
March 04, 2009
News and Features Trio of Galaxies Mix It Up

The Hubble Space Telescope has photographed three galaxies in the process of colliding.

Catching Pluto's Breath
March 04, 2009
News and Features Catching Pluto's Breath

Scientists have made surprising discoveries about the atmosphere of the dwarf planet Pluto. The atmosphere contains unexpectedly large amounts of methane and is much warmer than the surface of Pluto itself.

NASA, Cisco Partnering For Climate Change Monitoring Platform
March 03, 2009
News and Features

NASA and Cisco Inc. announced Tuesday a partnership to develop an online collaborative global monitoring platform called the "Planetary Skin" to capture, collect, analyze and report data on environmental conditions around the world.

Finding Earth’s Twin: No Easy Task
March 03, 2009
News and Features Finding Earth’s Twin: No Easy Task

Are there other Earths out there -- rocky planets capable of supporting life, orbiting sun-like stars at comfortable distances? NASA is about to launch a telescope designed to find the answer.

Newfound Moon May Be Source of Outer Saturn Ring
March 03, 2009
News and Features Newfound Moon May Be Source of Outer Saturn Ring

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found within Saturn's G ring an embedded moonlet that appears as a faint, moving pinprick of light.

Hubble's Next Discovery: We Have A Winner
March 03, 2009
News and Features Hubble's Next Discovery: We Have A Winner

The public has voted on where they want to aim the Hubble Space Telescope. And the winner is -- drum roll please -- a pair of close-knit galaxies (inset above) that look like they are shaking hands -- or rather spiral arms.

Reverse Ecology
March 03, 2009
News and Features Reverse Ecology

Researchers are using a technique called ‘reverse ecology’ to understand past environments on Earth. By examining the genes of bacteria, scientists are able to reconstruct what the organisms’ environments looked like millions of years ago. The data could help us understand key events in the history of life on Earth.

The Case of the Missing Asteroids
March 02, 2009
News and Features The Case of the Missing Asteroids

Scientists have determined that the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter should contain more asteroids than we actually observe today. The missing asteroids may be evidence of a dramatic event that occurred as the giant planets migrated to their present positions.

Earth-Observing Landsat 5 Turns 25
March 02, 2009
News and Features Earth-Observing Landsat 5 Turns 25

Like a trusty watch counting up the minutes, the Landsat 5 satellite keeps on ticking, orbit after orbit around Earth--well beyond its design lifetime of 15,000 orbits.

Sinkhole Soup
March 02, 2009
News and Features Sinkhole Soup

Researchers are studying life in an extreme environment not typically known for extremes. The dense, salty water of sinkholes in Lake Huron supports bizarre ecosystems composed of purple cyanobacteria mats and other strange microorganisms.

Kepler Set for Launch on Planet Finding Mission
March 02, 2009
News and Features Kepler Set for Launch on Planet Finding Mission

It is the first mission with the ability to find planets like Earth -- rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface.

Archive Summary