MASCOT Asteroid Lander on Japan's Hayabusa2 | DLR

Animation | On December 3, 2014, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa2 embarked on a sample return mission to asteroid (162173) Ryugu (formerly designated 1999 JU3). On board is the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT), a lander built by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt; DLR) in collaboration with the French space agency CNES. The aim of the Hayabusa2 mission is to learn more about the origin and evolution of the Solar System. As asteroids account for some of the most primordial celestial bodies, researching them gives us a glimpse into our cosmic past. Furthermore, Ryugu is a near-Earth asteroid, which means it could pose a threat to Earth and must be investigated in order to reduce this threat.

Credit: German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt; DLR)
Duration: 7 minutes, 14 seconds
Release Date: May 16, 2018

#JAXA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Asteroid #162173Ryugu #Ryugu #竜宮城 #NEO #Mascot #Lander #AsteroidLanding #DLR #Germany #Deutschland #Hayabusa2 #Spacecraft #SolarSystem #Exploration #Japan #日本 #STEM #Education #Animation #HD #Video

Mascot Asteroid Landing Successful | DLR/JAXA

"Hello Earth...I promised to send you some pictures of Ryugu so here’s a shot I took during my descent. Can you spot my shadow?"
The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) has landed on asteroid Ryugu.
Hayabusa2 is a Japanese space agency (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; JAXA) mission to the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu. The German-French lander MASCOT on board Hayabusa2 was developed by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and built in close cooperation with the French space agency CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales). DLR, the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale and the Technical University of Braunschweig have contributed the scientific experiments on board MASCOT. The MASCOT lander and its experiments are operated and controlled by DLR with support from CNES and in constant interaction with the Hayabusa2 team.

The DLR Institute of Space Systems in Bremen was responsible for developing and testing the lander together with CNES. The DLR Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems in Braunschweig was responsible for the stable structure of the lander. The DLR Robotics and Mechatronics Center in Oberpfaffenhofen developed the swing arm that allows MASCOT to hop on the asteroid. Das DLR Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin contributed the MasCam camera and the MARA radiometer. The asteroid lander is monitored and operated from the MASCOT Control Center in the Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC) at the DLR site in Cologne.

162173 Ryugu, provisional designation 1999 JU3, is a near-Earth object and a potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group. It measures approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 mi) in diameter and is a dark object of the rare spectral type Cg, with qualities of both a C-type asteroid and a G-type asteroid.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Ryugu orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.96–1.41 AU once every 16 months (474 days; semi-major axis of 1.19 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.19 and an inclination of 6° with respect to the ecliptic. It has a minimum orbital intersection distance with Earth of 95,400 km (0.000638 AU), which translates into 0.23 lunar distance. (Source: Wikipedia)

The name refers to Ryūgū (Dragon Palace), a magical underwater palace in a Japanese folktale. In the story, the fisherman Urashima Tarō travels to the palace on the back of a turtle, and when he returns, he carries with him a mysterious box, much like Hayabusa2 returning with samples.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Image Date: October 3, 2018

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Explore Mars: Hebes Chasma | NASA MRO

Hebes Chasma is an isolated chasma just north of the Valles Marineris canyon system of Mars.

In planetary geology, a chasma is a deep, elongated, steep-sided depression. (Source: Wikipedia)

Imagery captured 267 km above the planet's surface (less than 1 km top to bottom and north is to the right)

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The University of Arizona, Tucson, operates HiRISE, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colorado.

Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Duration: 3 minutes, 32 seconds
Release Date: October 1, 2018

#NASA #Mars #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planet #HebesChasma #Chasma #VallesMarineris #Canyon #Geology #Landscape #Terrain #Geoscience #RedPlanet #MRO #Reconnaissance #Orbiter #Spacecraft #HiRISE #Camera #JPL #University #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #4K #UHD #Video

Mars: Eastern Hebes Chasma | NASA MRO

Hebes Chasma is an isolated chasma just north of the Valles Marineris canyon system of Mars.

In planetary geology, a chasma is a deep, elongated, steep-sided depression. (Source: Wikipedia)

Image captured 267 km above the planet's surface (less than 1 km top to bottom and north is to the right)

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The University of Arizona, Tucson, operates HiRISE, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colorado.

Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Release Date: October 1, 2018

#NASA #Mars #Space #Astronomy #Science #Planet #HebesChasma #Chasma #VallesMarineris #Canyon #Geology #Landscape #Terrain #Geoscience #RedPlanet #MRO #Reconnaissance #Orbiter #Spacecraft #HiRISE #Camera #JPL #University #Arizona #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Skywatching: What's Up for October 2018 | NASA/JPL

Oct. 1, 2018: What's up in the night sky this October? International Observe the Moon Night! Here's how to spot all six Apollo lunar landing sites, plus bays, seas and impact craters on the Moon. See Jupiter, Saturn and Mars near the Moon, and Venus just before dawn.

You can find out more about International Observe the Moon Night at moon.nasa.gov/observe

Credit: NASA"s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Duration: 2 minutes, 7 seconds
Release Date: October 1, 2018

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Moon #ObserveTheMoon #Apollo #History #Planets #Jupiter #Saturn #Mars #Venus #SolarSystem #Stars #Skywatching #JPL #Caltech #Pasadena #California #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA: 60 Years in 60 Seconds

NASA's 60th Anniversary (1958-2018)

Oct. 1, 2018: Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, on July 16 and President Eisenhower signed it into law on July 29, 1958. NASA opened for business on Oct. 1, 1958, with T. Keith Glennan as our first administrator. Our history tells a story of exploration, innovation and discoveries. The next 60 years, that story continues.

Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/60

Credit: NASA
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: October 1, 2018

#NASA #Earth #Space #Astronomy #History #NASA60th #Anniversary #Moon #Mars #Saturn #Jupiter #Venus #Planets #Sun #SolarSystem #Pluto #Mercury #Gemini #Apollo #Skylab #ISS #SpaceShuttle #SLS #Orion #Human #Spaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Greetings "Fellow Earthlings!" | International Space Station

Credit: NASA Astronaut Ricky Arnold/JSC
Release Date: October 1, 2018

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #Earthlings #Astronaut #RickyArnold #UnitedStates #Expedition56 #Human #Spaceflight #Spacecraft #Photography #STEM #Education #OrbitalPerspective #OverviewEffect

A Comet's Landscape | European Space Agency

On September 30, 2016, ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft came closer than ever to the target it had studied from afar for more than two years, concluding its mission with a controlled impact onto the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G).

This second comet landing followed the pioneering endeavor of Rosetta’s lander, Philae, which became the first probe to successfully touch down on a comet on November 12, 2014.

With a suite of 11 scientific instruments on board, Rosetta collected an impressive amount of images and other data at this now iconic comet, scanning its surface, probing its interior, scrutinizing the gas and dust in its surroundings, and exploring its plasma environment. Scientists have been using these measurements to advance our understanding of comets as well as of the history of our Solar System.

This image shows a portion of 67P/C-G as viewed by Rosetta on September 22, 2014, only one and a half months after the spacecraft had made its rendezvous with the comet. At the time, the spacecraft was 28.2 km from the comet center (around 26.2 km from the surface). Amateur astronomer Jacint Roger Perez, from Spain, selected and processed this view by combining three images taken in different wavelengths by the OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on Rosetta.

Seen in the center and left of the frame is Seth, one of the geological regions on the larger of the two comet lobes, which declines towards the smoother Hapi region on the comet’s ‘neck’ that connects the two lobes. The landscape in the background reveals hints of the Babi and Aker regions, both located on the large lobe of 67P/C-G. For a wider image of this region in the overall context of the comet see here.

The sharp profile in the lower part of the image shows the Aswan cliff, a 134 m-high scarp separating the Seth and Hapi regions. Observations performed by Rosetta not long before the comet’s perihelion, which took place on 13 August 2015, revealed that a chunk of this cliff had collapsed—a consequence of increased activity as the comet drew closer to the Sun along its orbit.

Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA; J. Roger – CC BY 4.0
Release Date: October 1, 2018
#ESA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Comet #Comet67P #Philae #Lander #Rosetta #Spacecraft #OSIRIS #Churyumov #Gerasimenko #DLR #Germany #Deutschland #Europe #SolarSystem #Exploration #STEM #Education

Celestial fairy lights | Hubble

This glittering ball of stars is the globular cluster NGC 1898, which lies towards the center of the Large Magellanic Cloud—one of our closest cosmic neighbors. The Large Magellanic Cloud is a dwarf galaxy that hosts an extremely rich population of star clusters, making it an ideal laboratory for investigating star formation.

Discovered in November 1834 by British astronomer John Herschel, NGC 1898 has been scrutinized numerous times by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Today we know that globular clusters belong to the oldest known objects in the Universe and that they are relics of the first epochs of galaxy formation. While we already have a pretty good picture on the globular clusters of the Milky Way—still with many unanswered questions—our studies on globular clusters in nearby dwarf galaxies just started. The observations of NGC 1898 will help to determine if their properties are similar to the ones found in the Milky Way, or if they have different features, due to being in a different cosmic environment.

This image was taken by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). The WFC3 observes light ranging from near-infrared to near-ultraviolet wavelengths, while the ACS explores the near-infrared to the ultraviolet.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
Release Date: October 1, 2018

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #GlobularCluster #Stars #Cluster #NGC1898 #LMC #LargeMagellanicCloud #Cosmos #Universe #ESA #Goddard #GSFC #STScI #STEM #Education

Japan's Kounotori 7 Captured | International Space Station

U.S. Astronaut Drew Feustel: "Last Thursday I captured Japan’s HTV-7 resupply vehicle using the Canadarm2 robotic arm with the support of Serena Auñón-Chancellor. This cargo vehicle delivered much needed science and supplies to the International Space Station. Great teamwork with our International partners!"

Credit: A.J. (Drew) Feustel
Release Date: September 27, 2018

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #JAXA #Kounotori #Kounotori7 #HTV7 #Resupply #Cargo #Japan #日本 #Canadarm2 #Robotics #CSA #Canada #Astronaut #DrewFeustel #UnitedStates #Expedition56 #Human #Spaceflight #Spacecraft #Photography #STEM #Education #International #OrbitalPerspective #OverviewEffect

NASA's Kennedy Spaceport Magazine: September 2018

Read KSC's September 2018 Spaceport Magazine (Free 21-Page PDF)
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/spaceport-magazine.html
Direct Download:
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/spm_september2018_web.pdf
Spaceport Magazine has you covered!
In this September 2018 issue:
· Mobile launcher moves toward Exploration Mission-1
· NASA’s Parker Solar Probe begins journey to the Sun
· NASA Administrator meets Kennedy employees
· Flight tests to prove commercial systems fit for human
spaceflight
· NASA, SpaceX agree on plans for crew launch day
operations
· Heat shield install brings Orion closer to space
· Successful test proves important step toward safeguarding
astronauts
· Orion pressure vessel for Exploration Mission-2 arrives
· NASA research supported by new program at Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex
· First-time event sparks wide range of innovation
· First Nations launch winners briefed on aerospace careers

Spaceport Magazine is a monthly NASA publication that serves Kennedy Space Center employees and the American public. The magazine’s wide topic variety mirrors Kennedy's diverse spaceport operations. From launch processing to center development and employee stories, Spaceport Magazine covers it all.

Credit: NASA/Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
Release Date: September 2018

#NASA #KSC #Space #Science #Astronomy #SLS #Orion #EM1 #MobileLauncher #Earth #Moon #ISS #SpaceX #CrewDragon #Falcon #Rocket #ParkerSolarProbe #Astronauts #Kennedy #Spaceport #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #Magazine #PDF

Inside NASA's Kennedy Space Center! | Week of Sept. 28, 2018

The first science observations from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, are providing valuable data to help NASA scientists discover and study exoplanets—planets beyond our solar system. Children around the world, from ages four to 12, have an opportunity to contribute to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Winning artwork from a contest that runs through Oct. 17 will be used to create a 2019 calendar with different space themes for each month.

To learn more, go to: https://www.nasa.gov/tess

Credit: NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
Duration: 1 minute, 38 seconds
Release Date: September 28, 2018

#NASA #Space #Satellite #Science #Stars #Transit #Planets #Exoplanets #TESS #Spacecraft #Astrophysics #Cosmos #Universe #ISS #CommercialCrew #Human #Spaceflight #Kennedy #KSC #Spaceport #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Ariane 5 Liftoff Posters | Arianespace

Congratulations on 100th Launch!

Flight VA243. Horizons 3e and Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38

Credit: Arianespace
Image Date: September 25, 2018

#Arianespace #Space #Satellite #Ariane5 #Rocket #Launch #Telecommunications #Horizons3e #Intelsat #Intelsat38 #Azerspace2 #Flight #VA243 #Commercial #Boeing #SSL #Europe #Spaceport #Kourou #FrenchGuiana #GuianaSpaceCenter #SouthAmerica #ESA #CNES #STEM #Education

Ariane 5 Rocket: 100th Launch

Ariane 5 V243 ascends from the European Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone on its 100th flight, carrying a dual payload of the Horizons 3e and Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 telecommunications satellites, September 25, 2018.

This was Arianespace’s sixth mission of the year, as well as the 100th mission by the Ariane 5 heavy launcher. In 22 years of operations, Ariane 5 has orbited a total of 207 satellites.

Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace
Image Date: September 25, 2018
Release Date: September 28, 2018

#Arianespace #Space #Satellite #Ariane5 #Rocket #Launch #Telecommunications #Horizons3e #Intelsat #Intelsat38 #Azerspace2 #Flight #VA243 #Commercial #Boeing #SSL #Europe #Spaceport #Kourou #FrenchGuiana #GuianaSpaceCenter #SouthAmerica #ESA #CNES #STEM #Education

Opportunity Spotted as Mars Dust Settles | This Week @NASA

Week of Sept. 28, 2018 | A dusty Opportunity rover spotted on Mars, hot firing the rocket engine that will power us to deep space, and a visit with our newest class of astronaut candidates . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!


Credit: NASA
Duration: 3 minutes, 25 seconds
Release Date: September 28, 2018

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Planet #Mars #Opportunity #Rover #DustStorm #SLS #Rocket #DeepSpace #Orion #Astronauts #Astronaut #Candidates #ISS #JPL #UnitedStates #SolarSystem #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA's Space to Ground: Japan's Kounotori 7 | Week of Sept. 28, 2018

Week of Sept. 28, 2018 | Ground controllers successfully installed the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Kounotori 7 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-7) to the International Space Station’s Earth-facing port of the Harmony module at 10:09 a.m. EDT, Sept. 27, 2018.

The spacecraft’s arrival supports the crew members’ research off the Earth to benefit the Earth. The cargo spacecraft began its trip on an H-IIB rocket at 1:52 p.m. EDT (2:52 a.m. Japan time) on Saturday, Sat. 22 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.

The early Thursday morning cargo delivery includes more than five tons of supplies, water, spare parts and experiments for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The spacecraft also is carrying a half dozen new lithium-ion batteries to continue upgrades to the station’s power system.

NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station.

Credit: NASA/JSC
Duration: 3 minutes, 5 seconds
Release Date: September 28, 2018

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #JAXA #Kounotori #Kounotori7 #HTV7 #Resupply #Cargo #Spacecraft #EVA #Spacewalk #Astronauts #Expedition56 #Human #Spaceflight #Spacecraft #JSC #Houston #Texas #STEM #Education #HD #Video