Asteroid to pass by Earth on Friday

An asteriod, dubbed 1998 QE2, is set to pass the Earth on Friday. The main rock is about 1.7 miles across and has its own moon. At 4:59 it will be closest to Earth. It is expected to pass 3.6 million miles away from Earth. You will be able to watch live telescope webcasts at space.com

Coronal Hole

The sun may have calmed down, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Earth shouldn't expect to receive storms from it. A coronal hole opened up earlier today. For those who don't know, a coronal hole is a place within the sun's magnetic field which spreads apart. This allows 'solar wind' to escape. This means that a windy stream of plasma should reach our wonderful Earth June second or third. The impact of this plasma could cause geomagnetic storms, similar to those caused by solar flares, and auroras around our poles.

The sun is no longer angry

The sun has finally calmed down after days of tremendous activity. The NOAA estimates a mere 1 percent chance of X-class solar flares today

Astronauts Arrive at International Space Station in Record Time

 Yesterday, May 28, the newest arrivals at the International Space Station made the fastest voyage yet. After launching from Kazakhstan, Fyodor Yurchikhin, Karen Nyberg, and Luca Pamitano, docked the spacecraft after a mere five hour and forty minute voyage from Earth.
You can get more information at:
http://news.yahoo.com/international-astronaut-crew-arrives-space-station-record-time-023833708.html

International Space Station Astronauts Returning to Earth

Here is a video from the Canadian Space Agency. It depicts a video from a few days ago of the return to Earth of the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield. He is accompanied by his crew mates, Roman Romanenko and Tom Marshburn. It looks like these guys had a rough ride.

Meteroid hits moon

NASA is reporting that a meteroid hit the surface of the moon. The result was an explosion which could be seen from our very own Earth, even without a telescope. The great blast only lasted for a second. You may be asking how the impact caused an oxygen free explosion. This is really from the molten rock landing at the site of impact.

NASA is currently monitoring the moon. This is an attempt to monitor space debris which could possible collide with our planet. Hollywood must have tipped them the off about that threat.

AR1748 Update

AR1748 has been surprisingly calm the last 48 hours, especially when compared to the activity observed earlier this week. Therefore, the NOAA has lowered the daily odds of X-class flares to 50 percent. This area still has a highly magnetic field, so there is still a pretty good chance we'll experience a flare sometime today.

NASA's next Mars challenge? Farming

NASA is planning a mission to Mars in 2030. The goal of the mission will not necessarily be aimed at an extended stay on the planet. However, if NASA does decide to send astronauts to Mars for an extended period of time, it may be necessary for the inhabitants to learn how to farm in space. Since Mars has reduced gravity, it is unknown exactly how difficult this monumental task would be. The lack of an atmosphere, like the one surrounding Earth, may also be an obstacle.

For more information, Fox News has posted an article:
 http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/05/15/farming-on-mars-nasa/

Kepler Space Telescope

Fox news is reporting that the Kepler space telescope has run into another problem. Every three months, the telescope, needs to be turned 90 degrees in order to ensure the solar panels are facing the sun. Unfortunately for NASA, one of the wheels is malfunctioning. Will this mean the end of the $600 million dollar tool?

Sunspot AR1748

The active region of the sun, sunspot AR1748 is quickly moving towards Earth. This sunspot has already unleashed four X-class solar flares, yet it continues to grow. The NOAA predicts that the odds of another flare occurring today is 60 percent. The AR1748 has already produced more solar flares than every other sunspot combined this year.
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=16&month=05&year=2013

Water Recycling on the International Space Station

This video is from the Canadian Space Agency. It is about water recycling on the International Space Station. About 93 percent of the water on the ISS is recycled.

Coronal Mass Ejection May hit Earth's Magnetic Field

A Coronal Mass Ejection from an X-1 flare from May 15, 2013 may be approaching Earth. Spaceweather.com is reporting that is possible the CME it will hit the Earth's magnetic field on May 17, 2013. There is an estimated 40 percent chance of geomagnetic storms when and if it hits.

May 13: Strongest Solar Flare of the Year

On May 13, 2013, the strongest solar flare thus far this year occurred at 02:17 Universal Time. Once again, it was located behind the sun's northeastern limb. NASA classified the flash as a X1.7-class eruption. In a few days, this side of the sun will be facing Earth.

International Space Station Crew Space Walk

Here is a link to watch the Space Walk currently happening on the International Space Station.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/6540154

NASA Communicating With International Space Station

Here is a video from NASA.gov which shows the crew discussing the ammonia leak with the astronauts aboard the International Space Space Station.

Video of the Solar Eclipse From Australia on May 10, 2013

This is a youtube video of views of the solar eclipse from Cape York in Australia. They are from the webcast provided by Columbus State University's Coca-Cola Space Science Center and were put together by Videofromspace.

Crew of the International Space Station Will do a Spacewalk Tomorrow

The crew of the International Space Station has officially decided to conduct a spacewalk tomorrow, May 11, 2013 in order to address the ammonia leak we reported earlier. The cooling system was losing about 5 pounds of ammonia a day. The 6 person crew aboard the station is reportedly optimistic. Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn, two spacewalking veterans from 2009, will perform a visual inspection of the damage.







photo courtesy of nationalgeographic.com.

An Oldie But A Goodie

Here is a youtube video depicting the first Saturn V test. This occurred on April 23, 1966. Thank you for sharing this valuable footage with us all.

Sunspot number 5/10

The sun spot number today is 154

Possible space walk

Members of the international space station are preparing for a possible space walk tomorrow. The ammonia leak is reported as being in the cooling system. The crew is still determining whether or not it will be necessary. A decision should be made sometime late today.

Another Solar Flare Ocurred this Morning

Another solar flare erupted early this morning. A sunspot behind the northeastern limb of the sun erupted creating an M3-class solar flare. This region will be facing the Earth in mere days.

The International Space Station is Leaking

The International Space Station reported leaking from a radiator. The radio, unfortunately, is located in the power system. The crew discovered this leak because they noticed ammonia leaking out of the station as reported by NASA. The crew is currently rerouting electronics in case they need to shut the radiator down. They, however do not consider this particular situation to be dangerous or life threatening in any way as they have backups.

A View from a Rocket During Lift Off

This youtube view of a launch is from 2010. It features a MER-A being launched on a Boeing Delta II rocket.

Anniversary of America's First Space Station Coming Up

   It may seem as though it was only yesterday that we decided to engage in a space race with the Soviets. However, on May 13, 2013, America will be commemorating forty years since their first international space station. How does NASA plan on celebrating this time over the hill? With a round table featuring astronauts and scientists discussing present and future missions. It will begin at 2:30 PM EDT and will air on NASA television!

Solar Impulse Update

The next stop on the Solar Impulse's (the first solar airplane) journey is going to be Dallas, Texas. The data has not yet been confirmed. It is doubtful it will occur before May 13, 2013. This plane is entirely solar powered, yet weighs the same as an average sized car. It has already completed the first leg of it's journey from San Fransisco, California to Phoenix, Arizona.

Solar Flare TONIGHT!!

Beginning at 5 PM E.D.T. TONIGHT. The solar flare will occur in Australia. Webcasts will be available on Space.com and from the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. More than ninety-five percent of the sun's surface will be covered.

Solar Flare on May Third

 

This was the second solar flare within three days. This storm happened in the same region as the previous storm. It occurred on the eastern limb of the sun on the third of May at 1730 Universal Time. 

Another Glass video

Corning Glass Concept Video

This video displays how Corning envisions their glass technology being implemented in daily life

Australians to View Solar Eclipse on May Tenth

Annular Eclipse







Australians will be able to view a solar eclipse on May 10. This will not be a total eclipse, but an annular eclipse. This type of eclipse shows a ring, as the moon is smaller than the sun and is near the point at which it is furthest away from the earth. Therefore, even though the moon is closer to the Earth than the sun, it will still appear smaller during this eclipse.

Spock Audi Commercial

An Image of the Hubble

The Hubble Space Telescope Slated to study Venus

The Hubble telescope will be using the moon to view Venus on June fifth and sixth. During this time, Venus will be traveling across the sun’s face. The Hubble will face the opposite side towards the moon, to view the reflection of Venus in a way that is similar to the one in which we view the moon at night. This infamous telescope will attempt to view the light that passes through the atmosphere of Venus. This will be done in an attempt to uncover the makings of the planet’s atmosphere.

Solar Impulse Lands in Phoenix, Arizona

Cinco de Mayo Tomorrow

Happy early Cinco de Mayo! We hope everyone stays safe!

Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse flight

The Solar Impulse took off early yesterday from San Francisco.  It will hopefully take the plane two months to make it all the way across the United States during its flight across the country. Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg will take turns flying the tiny plane.

The plane utilizes energy which is collected in 12,000 solar cells. In turn, these cells charge batteries, which are equivalent to those found in small cars. This allows the aircraft to fly both during the day, and at night. This plane is certainly the first of its kind.

Solar Powered Plane

A solar powered plane made in Switzerland is scheduled to take off today (Friday). More to come.

Space Shuttles: A little bit of NASA history, A little bit of William Shatner

Sun Storm

A huge sun storm occurred yesterday. It may sound small to those of us who are used to storms that last for days. However, the sun doesn’t play. This two-and-a-half hour storm was capable of spitting billions of tons of fun at more than a million miles per hour. Not to worry, none of it was aimed at our lovely planet.

This is a good time to remind everyone: Wear sun screen.

A Rover named Grover

NASA has a new Rover.

It’s named Grover.

Grover, or Goddard Remotely Operated Vehicle for Exploration and Research, is solar powered. Not only is this machine Earth friendly, it’s going to be used to study Greenland’s ice sheets. The goal of this study is to discern how the ice sheets form, and also how quickly they may be melting. That’s right, we stayed politically correct for those who deny global warming, and said MAY. Hopefully this study will help everyone agree (When you wish upon a star…).

The mission will run from May 3 through June 8. Weighing in at a whopping 800 pounds, Grover may have to join Cookie Monster at fat camp. Hopefully none of the ice sheets are too melty, Right?

The machine will use a radar to send waves to bounce through the ice and off of anything buried to create pictures of the layers. This seems similar to geophysical archaeological surveys.

New book

A new Game of Thrones book will be released this winter!!!

NASA Launch Happening this Month

The next NASA launch will happen this month. On May 28,2013, the Expedition 36/37 Soyuz Launch to the International Space Station willoccur. It will launch from Kazakhstan. The Soyuz 35 will carry three people tothe station