Tag Archive for 'NASA'

Hubble Space Telescope Upgraded

Published on May 21, 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?

CNY Partial Solar Eclipse

Published on January 22, 2009 in Astronomy Malaysia, Eclipse, NASA and Photo Op. View Comments Tags: , , , .

hartwig luethen1 01aug08 280x190 CNY Partial Solar Eclipse

An annular solar eclipse taken by Hartwig Luenthen on 01 August 2008

On 26 January 2009, we celebrate Chinese New Year, the Ox Year. This year, we are “favored” a partial solar eclipse here in Malaysia. I said “favored” as if we were in centuries ago, a solar eclipse meant a terrible nightmare to the Chinese. Not in these days, we are now equipped with scientific minds, a solar eclipse now means a wonder from the sky.

Now, let’s cut straight into the title. Go to this NASA website and look out for your location. You will be given exact time when the solar eclipse will start and reach the maximum and finally end. Check out Solar Eclipse 2009 too. There’s useful information like the coverage of the obscured sun, basic skills to look at the sun, sunglasses making and so on. This booklet is made by Miss Lau at National Planetarium in Malaysia.

Make sure you are well equipped with solar filter before looking at the sun. The damage to the eyes but the strong rays of light from the sun is irreversible!

Wish everybody enjoys the Chinese New Year! This maybe my last year celebrating CNY in Malaysia until another 4 years with my family members if I go to US for tertiary education.

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/

Earth Day – Every Day Is Earth Day

Published on April 23, 2008 in Earth and NASA. View Comments Tags: , , .

22nd April, a day to be remembered, today is Earth Day.

The mother earth is undergoing disastrous changing. It’s obvious enough that everyone of us can feel it. For instance, the climate warming strongly affected the crops, which in return we have to pay for 20% more. Now, we pay back for what we had done to the earth.

My hosting service provider – Exabytes emailed me some interesting way to keep the earth green. Read them here.

The earth scientists at JPL, NASA also have some words.

Continue reading ‘Earth Day – Every Day Is Earth Day’

STS-122 Launches In 1h 40m

Published on February 8, 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

NASA’s Future Plans

Published on January 6, 2008 in NASA. View Comments Tags: , , , .

In the next 20 years, NASA will be laying the groundwork for sending humans not only beyond Earth’s orbit, but further into to space than they’ve ever been. The next key steps are:

  • Complete the International Space Station and retire the Space Shuttle by 2010
  • Begin robotic missions to the moon by 2008 and return people there by 2020
  • Continue robotic exploration of Mars and the Solar System
  • Develop a crew exploration vehicle and other technologies required to send people beyond low Earth orbit.

Though nearly 50 years old, NASA is only beginning the most exciting part of its existence.

Source:NASA