New Atlas

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NASA outlines plans to return to the Moon – and beyond

David Szondy September 27, 2018

NASA has laid out a detailed plan of its goals over the next six years and beyond that includes the commercialization of low Earth orbit, the long-term return of US astronauts to the Moon, and testing of technologies for a future manned Mars mission.

The new NASA plan places a premium on exploration missions

Space

Silent Opportunity Mars rover sighted from orbit

David Szondy September 25, 2018

Though NASA's Opportunity Mars rover remains silent after a global dust storm, the space agency has located the robotic explorer. Images returned by a NASA orbiter show Opportunity as a tiny object on the slopes of Perseverance Valley, where it has sat since radio contact was lost over 100 days ago.

Artist's concept of the Opportunity rover

Space

Cassini data shows first evidence of organic dust storms on Titan

David Szondy September 24, 2018

The Cassini mission continues to pay dividends long after its demise as data gathered during its flybys of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, between 2004 and 2017 indicate that the satellite has dust storms made of complex organic molecules.

Artist’s impression of a dust storm on Titan

Environment

NASA study uncovers three factors responsible for Earth's irregular spin

Michael Irving September 20, 2018

The Earth’s spin naturally drifts on its axis over time, and that’s generally chalked up to the way mass is distributed and redistributed across the planet’s surface. Now, NASA scientists studying data gathered across the entire 20th century have identified three broad processes that play a part.

A NASA study has found three main factors contributed to a shift in the Earth's axis ...

Space Audio available

NASA's Solar Parker Probe snaps first image on its way to "touch the Sun"

Nick Lavars September 19, 2018

Following a successful launch last month that set it on a path to rendezvous with the Sun, NASA’s Solar Parker Probe has fired up its scientific instruments for the first time, demonstrating that all is in working order as it hurtles away from Earth.

A rendering of NASA's Solar Parker Probe

Robotics

Multipurpose robotic skins bring stuffed animals to life

Michael Irving September 19, 2018

In an effort to make robots that are more adaptable, Yale researchers have developed “robotic skins” that can be fitted over a range of everyday objects, like soft toys or pieces of foam, to turn them into robots programmed for different tasks.

Robotic skins can be wrapped around everyday objects, like stuffed animals, to make them move

Space

Systems integration complete on Orion Service Module

David Szondy September 18, 2018

The European Service Module for the 25-day unmanned Exploration Mission-1 Orion mission in June 2020 has completed final system integration at the Airbus facility in Bremen, Germany after technicians installed the last radiator unit.

Orion European Service Module-1 seen from below

Space

First science image from NASA's TESS exoplanet hunter captures swathe of the southern sky

Nick Lavars September 18, 2018

NASA today shared the first science image captured by its TESS space telescope, providing researchers with plenty of inspiration in their search for other worlds that might resemble our own.

One of the panels making up the first science image captured by NASA's TESS telescope. The ...

Space

NASA releases Cassini's final look at Titan's polar lakes

David Szondy September 17, 2018

NASA's Cassini probe burned up in Saturn's atmosphere about a year ago, but a newly-released image shows that its last days were anything but idle. Four days before its fiery end, Cassini's a mosaic view of the Saturnian largest moon Titan's north polar lakes filled with liquid methane and ethane.

View of Titan's north polar lakes as seen by Cassini

Space

NASA launches ice laser satellite atop retiring US booster

David Szondy September 16, 2018

A revolutionary satellite entered space and a veteran rocket retired today as ICESat-2 lifted off from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. At 6:02 am PDT atop the last Delta II booster as it headed into a polar orbit 2 to monitor the ice caps using a new laser system.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket lifting off with the NASA Ice, Cloud and ...