Archive for the 'Aerospace' Category

Hubble Space Telescope Upgraded

Published on May 20, 2009 in Aerospace and Astronomical Instruments. View Comments Tags: , , , , .

hubble-space-telescope-from-atlantisHubble Space Telescope

Our beloved Hubble Space Telescope (HST) launched 19 years ago has now been upgraded by NASA space shuttle mission STS125. The Servicing Mission 4 is Hubble’s last repair mission, so the crew members of STS125 riding on space shuttle Atlantis are the astronauts who touched HST one last time. After the refurbishment of  HST, it is expected to work fine until 2014 and by then, it will be replaced by James Webb Space Telescope (only on infrared).

Hubble Space Telescope is now equipped with 2 new instruments, Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Its Advanced Camera for Survey down in 2007 and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph failed in 2004 are now back to online. HST is also reloaded with new batteries, six new gyroscopes, a refurbished fine guidance sensor, a new outer blanket layer and a soft capture and rendezvous system.

The WFC3 has higher resolution and wider field of view than Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2). It will be used to study dark energy and dark matter, formation of individual star and discover extremely remote galaxy which helps us know more about the early universe. The COS is key to understand galaxy evolution, the formation of planets, the rise of the elements needed for life, and the “cosmic web” of gas between galaxies as spectrograph can reveal the elements by breaking lights into spectrum.

Direct-proof-of-dark-matter

Direct evidence of dark matter. Imaged by HST.

Hubble Space Telescope has long been delivering Earthlings amazing astronomical discoveries and stunning pictures. Now, its ability has been enhanced to a further step that it can do 10x better than before. The secrets of the dark matter and more exoplanets may soon be revealed. We shall anticipate more jaw-dropping discoveries by HST.

I am sure that the info above is not able to satisfied your hungers, read NASA SM4 Essentials. Don’t miss it!

By the way, I am curious about the privacy that the only female astronaut, K. Megan McArthur has. What do you think?

Send Yourself To The Moon

Published on May 5, 2008 in Aerospace, Lunar and NASA. View Comments Tags: , , .

Join NASA’s return to the Moon by sending yourself to the Moon!

Alright, it’s just your name. :P Just sumbit your name to the website below, you’ll be given a certificate to show your support of the mission. The names will be collected and placed onboard the LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) spacecraft.

LRO’s objectives are to find safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology. This will be a historic mission.

The deadline of submission of names is 28 June 2008.

http://lro.jhuapl.edu/NameToMoon/

STS-122 Launches In 1h 40m

Published on February 7, 2008 in Aerospace and NASA. View Comments Tags: , .
STS-122 Crew
STS-122 Crew Ready To Launch

STS-122 mission is to deliever the Columbus, the European Space Agency’s new laboratory. Columbus will be installed on Harmony Node 2 which was delivered by the STS-120 mission. Harmony allows the addition of European laboratory (Columbus) and Japanese laboratory (Kibo) which will be transfered during STS-123.

The weather is not that great as forecasted so their chance to lift off is 30%. They’re going to launch on 8 Feb 2007 at 7:45pm UT. Good luck to them!

Did I mention that the every crew’s badge is so nicely designed?

More mission information at NASA

First Image by Chang’e-1

Published on December 3, 2007 in Aerospace and Lunar. View Comments Tags: , .
Chang'e-1 First Image
Chang’e-1’s First Release by China

This is a bit late but late is always better than none. :D

Chang’e-1 was launched on 24 Oct 2007 at Xi Chang Satellite Launch Site. It’s China’s first lunar orbiter. Following Japan’s Kaguya (Goddess of Moon in Japanese), Chang’e-1 is the second lunar orbiter owned by Asia countries. By the way, Russia is planning on a robotic lunar mission in 2009.

Continue reading ‘First Image by Chang’e-1′

Brief News Report, Stay Tuned!

Published on October 26, 2007 in Aerospace. View Comments Tags: .

As you know, the China moon orbiter, Chang’e 1 has been launched at the same day of NASA’s Discovery. One’s destination is the 200 km orbit above the moon and another is ISS. More information will come after I finished my paper tomorrow. :)

Sheikh Muszaphar & Other Crew Members Entered The Orbit

Published on October 10, 2007 in Aerospace. View Comments Tags: .

Congratulations to the crew for successfully entering the orbit! It’s so excited to see the live transmission, the blast of the rocket is so powerful. Now, they will stay in the orbit for 2 days until they dock with the ISS. From the live transmission, I saw that the driving capsule is really small. I would be very uncomfortable if I were them but no choice, we have to adapt.

Yes, adapt is one of the key to choose an astronaut because you have to withstand the recoil force of the rocket when it’s accelerating and able to work under microgravity environment. If you fail this, sorry, you are limited to the ground.

I will update with you what will they do in the lounge. I can’t wait to see Sheikh eating the Malaysian’s food. :)

T minus 22: Malaysia First Astronaut Blasts Off!

Published on October 9, 2007 in Aerospace. View Comments Tags: , , .
The Crew on Soyuz TMA-11
From left: Sheikh Muszaphar Shukur (Malaysia), Yuri Malanchenko (Russia) and Peggy Whitson (U.S.)

T minus 22 hours (2120 UT8, 10 Oct), Malaysia first astronaut will blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) on Soyuz TMA-11. Dr.Sheik Muszaphar Shukur (35) is the final candidate since the open selection process for “Angkasawan” (Malaysian language for astronaut) started from October 2003 to September 2006. Dr.Faiz (another angkasawan) is in the backup crew. There are 3 members in the main crew, including Dr.Sheik, Yuri Malanchenko and Peggy Whitson.

When do we have the technology to send astronauts to space? Russia offered a deal to send an angkasawan to the ISS as we bought Sukhoi-30MKM fighter jets from them. So, what will Dr.Sheik do in the ISS?

He will do scientific experiments of cancer cells, bacterias, protein crystallization and a few more collaborating with the European Space Agency. They will install 4 modules to the ISS, which are Node 2, Columbus, ATV and the Japanese Laboratory Module. Since it is now “puasa” (fasten), he will fast in the space and pray to Allah. I hope he will have enough energy. He will also use his Nikon D2X (hmm.. expensive camera) to image the Petronas Twin Tower (landmark of Malaysia) from the ISS.

His other “mission” is to share the Malaysian’s food and spread the Malaysia culture to the other cosmonauts on board. He will bring Biryani Chicken, Satay Ayam, Rendang Tok, Sliced dried Mango, Banana rolls, Tempe, Ginger Jelly, Roselle Granola Bar and Kuih Raya Bangkit. Hopefully they will enjoy!

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