 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Speeding To Zeus On Route Pluto
Laurel MD (SPX) Feb 22, 2007 We're a week from Jupiter closest approach. And if you're monitoring the "Where Is New Horizons?" page, you've likely noticed that we're already accelerating because of Jupiter's gravity. Although the effect is relatively small now, it will build dramatically in the coming days, giving us a boost of approximately 9,000 miles per hour (nearly 14,500 kilometers per hours) by the middle of next week. That's half the speed of a space shuttle in Earth orbit - essentially for free! Meanwhile, the New Horizons spacecraft and payload are still performing well. As is the case most weeks, no unexpected events occurred; further, all of the Jupiter observations have been conducted just as planned. Additionally, continued tracking data shows us right on course to the "Pluto keyhole" - the spot near Jupiter we have to hit to remain on target to Pluto. This is the last week of the low-intensity observation period before the Jovian onslaught that begins this Saturday, February 24. The highlight of this coming week for me is a pair of observations by our Alice ultraviolet spectrometer, which will observe a stellar occultation of Jupiter on Thursday, probing its upper atmospheric temperature and density profile. Next week the pace of operations reaches its crescendo near Jupiter, with some 15-20 observation sequences each day. We'll observe Jupiter, its rings, its moons and its magnetosphere. Also next week, the New Horizons Science Team will meet to plan the data analysis activities to come, and to begin planning (already!) for our Pluto encounter. Sure the Pluto system is eight years away, but when I watched a movie last weekend on TV from 1999, I realized that eight years seemed like yesterday. So onward we go - it's a long but worthy haul to the frontier that is the Kuiper Belt. I'll be back with more news and views next week. Keep exploring! Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Pluto and New Horizons at APL All about the technology of space and more News About Space Exploration Programs Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
South Korean Astronauts Set For Training In Russia
Seoul (AFP) Feb 18, 2007South Korea's first two potential astronauts will this month start a year of training in Russia before one of them heads to the International Space Station, officials said Sunday. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said the pair will leave on February 27 and begin training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center from March 7 after a week of medical check-ups. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
