Weekly Spacecraft Mission News (English, German) – 27.06.19

Front Page / Titelseite

Please note: Summer break for Spacecraft Mission News . The next issue will be published on August, 8th, 2019.

Bitte beachten: Spacecraft Mission News geht in die Sommerpause. Die nächste Ausgabe erscheint am 8. August 2019.

Methan as possible Sign of Life on Mars – Methan als möglicher Indikator für Leben auf dem Mars

Mars: Methan-Rätsel geht weiter

Mysteriöses Phänomen: Erst letzte Woche hat der Marsrover Curiosity den höchsten je registrierten Methanwert auf dem Roten Planeten gemessen – doch jetzt ist das Methan wieder verschwunden. Offenbar handelte es sich um eine vorübergehende Ausgasung. Woher dieses Gas jedoch kommt und ob es geochemischen oder doch biologischen Ursprungs ist, bleibt weiterhin rätselhaft.

NASA confirms Curiosity rover’s surprising Mars methane discovery

High methane levels detected by the rover hinted at the possibility of life but follow up experiments show it was a transient plume.

Curiosity’s Mars Methane Mystery Continues

The Curiosity rover’s follow-on sampling shows last week’s methane levels have sharply decreased.

More Mars Methane: Curiosity Rover Spots Biggest Surge Yet

NASA’s Curiosity rover has sniffed out another spike of the potentially life-indicating gas methane, and this one is the biggest yet.

Further News

OSIRIS-REx Sets Low-Orbit Record, Enters New Orbital B Mission Phase

Last week, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission announced that they had achieved an orbit above asteroid Bennu with an altitude of only 680 meters. Now they are surveying for landing sites and have invited the public’s help.

Atomic Clocks Explained: NASA Set To Launch a Deep Space Timekeeper Monday

NASA is set to launch an incredible new atomic clock into orbit on a Falcon Heavy tomorrow (June 24) in a technology demonstration mission that could transform the way humans explore space.

X-Ray Telescope Designed for Dark Energy Search Ready to Launch

A German telescope is ready to search for dark energy and other strange things in the universe.

A Triple-Threat ‘Comet Interceptor’ Could Explore an Undiscovered Space Object

ESA plans to intercept a comet entering our solar system

SpaceX Test-Fires Falcon Heavy Megarocket for Its 1st Night Launch

SpaceX is gearing up for the next flight of the company’s megarocket, the Falcon Heavy.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket Lofts 24 Satellites in 1st Night Launch

SpaceX marked a milestone today (June 25) as the company’s Falcon Heavy megarocket successfully lofted two dozen satellites into orbit.

Virtual Reality Filming, Final Tests Before Crew Splits Up Monday

The Expedition 59 crew is going into the weekend preparing to split up on Monday amidst an array of ongoing human research. The orbital residents are also working on power upgrades and filming a virtual reality experience today. Astronauts Anne McClain and David Saint-Jacques are in their final weekend aboard the International Space Station. They will ride back to Earth on Monday with Commander Oleg Kononenko inside the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft. Their Soyuz vehicle undocks at 7:25 p.m. EDT and lands in Kazakhstan at 10:47 p.m. (8:47 a.m. Tuesday Kazakh time). NASA TV will broadcast all the homecoming activities live.

read more … https://go.nasa.gov/2J00OBx

via Space Station https://go.nasa.gov/1YeiiOv

Station Trio Reviews Landing Procedures During Human, Physics Research

Three Expedition 59 crewmembers are reviewing the procedures they will use on their way to Earth after undocking from the International Space Station early next week. In the midst of the departure preparations, the six orbital residents also had time set aside for biomedical science and physics research aboard the orbiting lab.

read more … https://go.nasa.gov/31MUA0w

via Space Station https://go.nasa.gov/1YeiiOv

Three Station Residents Back on Earth After 204 Days in Space

NASA astronaut Anne McClain and two of her Expedition 59 crewmates returned to Earth from the International Space Station Monday, landing safely in Kazakhstan at 10:47 p.m. EDT (8:47 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, local time) after months of science and four spacewalks aboard the microgravity laboratory.

read more … https://go.nasa.gov/2ZIqZ6v

via Space Station https://ift.tt/1YeiiOv

Expedition 59 Trio Leaves Station for Ride to Earth

NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain, Expedition 59/Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency undocked from the International Space Station at 7:25 p.m. EDT to begin their trip home.

Departing Trio Boards Soyuz Crew Ship for Undocking

At 4:15 p.m. EDT, the hatch closed between the Soyuz spacecraft and the International Space Station in preparation for undocking. NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain, Expedition 59/Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency are scheduled to undock their Soyuz at 7:25 p.m.

Watch 3 ‘BIRDS’ Take Flight from the International Space Station

Three small cubesats were released into low Earth orbit last week as part of a program that helps countries build their first satellites.

Expedition 59: The Space Station Mission in Photos

See photos of the astronauts and cosmonauts of the 59th Expedition to the International Space Station.

Philadelphia Refinery Explosion Shoots Fireball Visible from Space

A massive refinery explosion in Philadelphia was so hot and expansive that it was visible on weather satellites, according to the National Weather Service.

MMX: Rover soll einen Marsmond erkunden

Der Mars wurde schon mehrfach von robotischen Sonden besucht, die beiden Monde des Roten Planeten allerdings sind bislang noch unerforschtes Gebiet. Das soll sich durch die japanische Mission Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) ändern, deren Start derzeit für 2024 geplant ist. Teil der Mission wird auch ein deutsch-französischer Rover sein, der einen der Marsmonde erkunden soll.

PIA22949: Tumultuous Clouds of Jupiter

read more … https://go.nasa.gov/2RpR47m

via NASA’s Photojournal: Images taken by the Juno Mission https://go.nasa.gov/2mlXY1E

ESA to Launch Comet Interceptor Mission in 2028

With Comet Interceptor, ESA plans to meet a comet on its first trip into the inner solar system. The mission was selected yesterday after a fast-track proposal process and will be developed on a rapid (for ESA) timeline, with a launch planned for 2028.

BepiColombo Spacecraft Snaps Selfies En Route to Mercury

Road-trip selfies are a must, especially when you’re on your way to another planet.

Join our asteroid hunt

Space Science Image of the Week: Spot the trails left by asteroids in archive images from the Hubble Space Telescope

Galaxy Clusters Caught in a First Kiss

Two galaxy clusters located about 1.2 billion light years from Earth.

X-rays reveal how cosmic giants meet

Scientists have uncovered an extremely powerful shock wave in a distant part of the Universe where two massive galaxy clusters appear to come into first contact ahead of merging. The study is based on data from several astronomical facilities, including ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray space observatory.

SpaceX Heavy Falcon and LightSail2

Here’s Our First Look at LightSail 2 Installed on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Rocket

LightSail 2 is one of 24 spacecraft hitching a ride to orbit as part of the U.S. Air Force’s STP-2 mission.

Bill Nye and Planetary Society Set to Ride a Sunbeam with LightSail 2 Solar Sail

This Monday (June 24), the nonprofit organization The Planetary Society will launch LightSail 2, the first spacecraft propelled solely by sunlight.

LightSail 2 Has Launched!

The Planetary Society’s solar sail CubeSat lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 25 June at 02:30 EDT (06:30 UTC).

SpaceX Test-Fires Falcon Heavy Ahead of First Night Launch

SpaceX is gearing up for the next flight of the company’s megarocket, the Falcon Heavy.

This Is What 2 Dozen Satellites Look Like Packed for Launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy

SpaceX is gearing up for its busiest Falcon Heavy megarocket launch yet and now, thanks the U.S. Air Force, we know what the epic rideshare looks like.

Further News / Weitere Nachrichten

Ariane 5 Rocket Lofts 2 Satellites into Orbit in Gorgeous Sunset Launch

An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched two new communications satellites into orbit Thursday (June 20) after a gorgeous sunset liftoff from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

In Photos: Ariane 5 Rocket Launches DirecTV 16 and Eutelsat 7C Satellites

An Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched two new communications satellites, DirecTV 16 and Eutelsat 7C, into orbit on June 20, 2019. See photos of the mission here!

Mars 2020 Rover Gets Its Wheels

With the mobility suspension in place, the rover not only looks more like a rover but has many of its ‘big-ticket items’ installed.

read more … https://go.nasa.gov/2ZBX53C

via Latest News – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program https://go.nasa.gov/2gRBMK4

China Launches Latest Beidou Satellite for Global Navigation System

A Long March 3B lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 2:09 p.m. Eastern Monday, sending a Beidou satellite toward an inclined geosynchronous orbit.

NASA’s Webb Telescope Tech Improves Patients’ Vision

The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch in 2021, but NASA technology developed for this upcoming innovative observatory is already hard at work here on Earth, helping improve LASIK eye surgery.

NASA Contractors Support Artemis Cost Estimate

estimate that landing humans on the moon by 2024 will require an additional $20 billion to $30 billion for the agency.

China’s Moon, Mars and Space Station Missions May be Facing Delays

China’s major space missions including a lunar sample return, Mars orbiter and rover and a modular space station could be facing delays due to an apparent issue affecting rockets required for launches.

Buchtipp: „Neil Armstrong Der erste Mensch auf dem Mond“ von Katrin Hahnemann“

Mond brachte der Verlag arsEdition eine Überarbeitung der 2013 erschienen Biografie über Neil Armstrong für Kinder und Jugendliche heraus. Dabei ist sie jedoch so detailreich geschrieben, dass auch Erwachsene viel Freude damit haben. Natürlich beginnt das Buch mit der Beschreibung, als Neil auf dem…

Take One Giant Leap to the Moon with New Augmented Reality Apps

If you weren’t born when the first crewed moon-landing mission launched — or you want to relive the experience — USA Today’s two augmented reality apps will take you step by step through history.

Sci-Fi Classic ‘Moon’ Available on 4K Ultra HD for Apollo 11 Anniversary

As part of a double anniversary celebration, the modern sci-fi classic “Moon” will be available for the first time on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray.

‘Apollo 11’ Documentary Lands on CNN, in Museums, on Space Station

“Apollo 11” is launching onto the small screen, the giant screen and the only screen in outer space.

Schaufenster für grüne Raumfahrtforschung

Wie können sich Astronauten im All selbst versorgen? Woher kommt ihre Nahrung, woher der Sauerstoff, den sie zum Atmen brauchen? Bereits heute werden die Grundsteine für diese Zukunftstechnologien entwickelt. Wie genau das aussehen kann, zeigt seit Juni 2019 die Ausstellung „Pflanzen im Weltraum“ in der botanika in Bremen.

Mars May Have Escaped Life-Threatening Impacts Early On

A storm of cosmic impacts may have ended relatively early on Mars, suggesting that the Red Planet was habitable longer than scientists previously thought, a new study finds.

1 Month to Apollo: How NASA Prepared for the Moon Landing 50 Years Ago

One month from today will mark the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on the moon — but 50 years ago today, NASA still had plenty of work to do to make the Apollo 11 mission a success.

How Apollo 8 Morphed Into a Moon Mission: Exclusive Clip

NASA’s bold decision to send the Apollo 8 mission around the moon – instead of sticking around Earth to do more testing – comes to the fore in an exclusive clip from the PBS special, “Chasing the Moon.”

Snoopy: Bei der Generalprobe zur Mondlandung verloren und jetzt (vielleicht) wieder da!

Vor 50 Jahren sind wir das erste Mal auf dem Mond gelandet. Aber jede Premiere hat auch eine Generalprobe. Im Fall der Apollo-11-Mission die am Ende Neil Armstrond und Buzz Aldrin auf die Oberfläche des Mondes gebracht hat, war das die Apollo-10-Mission. Und um die soll es heute in meinem 50tägigen Blog-Countdown zum Jubiläum gehen. Denn ein wichtiges Stück Technik das damals verschwunden ist, ist heute (vielleicht) wieder aufgetaucht.

Was wäre wenn… wir vor 50 Jahren nicht auf dem Mond gelandet sind?

Ich wurde gebeten über die Verschwörungstheorien zur Mondlandung zu sprechen. Was ich ja eigentlich gar nicht so extrem gerne tue. Das ist ein Thema, zu dem wirklich schon jeder alles gesagt hat, was gesagt werden kann. Natürlich kann man immer noch ein weiteres Mal erklären, warum die Schatten der Astronauten auf der Mondoberfläche genau so sind, wie sie sein sollen; warum die Fahne sich so bewegt, wie sie es tun muss; warum der Staub so fällt, wie er es tut, und so weiter. Aber damit reproduziert man nur wieder all die Diskussionen, die in den letzten Jahrzehnten mehr als genug geführt sind und wenn man sich in all diesen Details verzettelt, überzeugt man nicht nur sowieso niemanden der wirklich daran glauben will, sondern verpasst auch die eigentlich spannende und beeindruckende Geschichte!