(05-30-2020 05:02 PM)grol Wrote:  Well that felt good!

Yes it did.

Go, you beauty, go!!!

Saturn's largest moon is rapidly drifting off into space

Quote:Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is distancing itself from its planet at a rapid speed, astronomers announced this week. The moon is drifting away into space much faster than previously predicted, the scientists said, possibly altering their understanding of our solar system.

In 2026, NASA plans to further study the moon with its Dragonfly mission, which will arrive at Titan by 2034. The drone will monitor the moon for nearly three years to figure out if it could one day be habitable.

Fling it into the inner solar system and it might be even more habitable (and easier to get to, as well)

Splashdown near Pensacola is expected at 2:48 p.m.EDT on Sunday, August 2, 2020

SpaceX Crew Dragon astronauts undock for historic Sunday splashdown

Conditions are 'GO' for Pensacola as primary target SpaceX splashdown site

Mystery Solved: Bright Areas on Dwarf Planetoid Ceres Come From Salty Water Below

SOFIA discovers Water on sunlit surface of Moon!

Quote:NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface, and not limited to cold, shadowed places.

"We had indications that H2O—the familiar water we know—might be present on the sunlit side of the Moon," said Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Now we know it is there. This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration."

As a comparison, the Sahara desert has 100 times the amount of water than what SOFIA detected in the lunar soil. Despite the small amounts, the discovery raises new questions about how water is created and how it persists on the harsh, airless lunar surface.

(10-26-2020 01:01 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  SOFIA discovers Water on sunlit surface of Moon!

Quote:NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface, and not limited to cold, shadowed places.

"We had indications that H2O—the familiar water we know—might be present on the sunlit side of the Moon," said Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Now we know it is there. This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration."

As a comparison, the Sahara desert has 100 times the amount of water than what SOFIA detected in the lunar soil. Despite the small amounts, the discovery raises new questions about how water is created and how it persists on the harsh, airless lunar surface.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (Rice '98) mentioned this in his talk today as part of Owl Together, Rice's online Homecoming week for 2020. I didn't realize the news was so hot off the presses!

another SpeceX launch coming up this weekend...this time with 4 astronauts:

Baker College alum Shannon Walker floats into the International Space Station on Monday night:

Shannon's on the far left as the joint crews begin the welcome ceremony.

not exactly NASA, but interesting nonetheless...

Pentagon Narrows List for Space Command Headquarters to 6 Locations

Quote:Six locations are in the running to be the permanent headquarters for the U.S. Space Command, Stars and Stripes reported Thursday.

The Air Force named the finalists as Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, Port San Antonio in Texas, and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, the news outlet reported.

A final decision is expected in early 2021.

''The Department of the Air Force evaluated each location and will now conduct both virtual and on-site visits at each candidate location to assess which location is best suited to host the U.S. Space Command Headquarters,'' Ann Stefanek, a spokeswoman for the service, told Stars and Stripes.

In case you're wondering, Port San Antonio is what used to be Kelly AFB. It's on the near west side of town, near the San Antonio Missions ballpark and not far from Southwest Research Institute.

This thread is subject to the thread clean up announcement. Mods please proactively split this thread.

Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico Collapses Weeks After Suffering Major Damage

Quote:The renowned Arecibo Observatory radio telescope in Puerto Rico, closed because of damage, completely collapsed Tuesday morning.

"Friends, it is with deep regret to inform you that the Arecibo Observatory platform has just collapsed," tweeted Deborah Martorell, a senior meteorologist for WAPA-TV and El Nuevo Dia in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Martorell, who was at the observatory on Monday, received a call from a scientist at the site Tuesday saying the giant reflector dish and the Gregorian Dome that held instruments above it had both collapsed, El Nuevo Dia reported.