News: NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy(SOFIA) has confirmed for the first time water on the sunlit surface of the Moon.This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface and not limited to cold, shadowed places. Facts: SOFIA: It is an airborne observatory jointly built by NASA and German Aerospace Centre.It features… Continue reading NASA’s SOFIA Discovers Water on Sunlit Surface of Moon
Tag: NASA
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully touches asteroid
News: OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully touched an asteroid Bennu to collect dust and pebbles from the surface for delivery to Earth. Facts: OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) is a NASA asteroid-study and sample-return mission. Aim: To travel to a near-Earth asteroid named Bennu and bring a small sample back to… Continue reading NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully touches asteroid
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon successfully returns NASA astronauts back to Earth
News: SpaceX and NASA have successfully completed the final phase of their Demo-2 mission for the Crew Dragon spacecraft after two NASA astronauts returned to Earth safely. Facts: Crew Dragon Demo-2: It is the first crewed test flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.It is a part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Demo-1 mission… Continue reading SpaceX’s Crew Dragon successfully returns NASA astronauts back to Earth
NASA launches Mars rover Perseverance to look for signs of ancient life
News: National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has launched Mars 2020 rover ‘Perseverance.’ Facts: Mars Perseverance rover mission: It is a part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. Objectives: Explore a geologically diverse landing site Assess ancient habitability Seek signs of ancient life, particularly in special rocks… Continue reading NASA launches Mars rover Perseverance to look for signs of ancient life
NASA to launch ASTHROS Mission to stratosphere
News: NASA has announced the launch of ASTHROS mission from Antarctica in 2023. Facts: ASTHROS stands for Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths. Aim: To send a telescope into the stratosphere to observe wavelengths of light invisible from the Earth. Significance: The mission will help in trying to find answers about… Continue reading NASA to launch ASTHROS Mission to stratosphere
Explained: NASA research says the Moon is more metallic than thought before.What this means
News: NASA has found evidence of greater quantities of metals such as iron and titanium on the Moon’s subsurface. Facts: The metallic distribution was observed by the Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter(LRO) spacecraft. Significance of the study: The observations could help in drawing a clearer connection between Earth and the… Continue reading Explained: NASA research says the Moon is more metallic than thought before.What this means
Explained: What is NASA’s Gateway lunar orbiting outpost?
News: NASA has finalised the contract for the initial crew module called habitation and logistics(HALO) support for Gateway lunar orbiting outpost. Facts: HALO: It refers to the pressurised living quarters where astronauts will spend their time while visiting the Gateway lunar orbiting outpost. Gateway Lunar Orbit outpost: It is a small spaceship that will orbit… Continue reading Explained: What is NASA’s Gateway lunar orbiting outpost?
NASA discovers Earth like Exoplanet- Kepler-1649c
News:NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has discovered an Earth like exoplanet called Kepler-1649c. Facts: Kepler-1649c is an exoplanet which is nearly the size of Earth and is located nearly 300 light-years from Earth. The planet is located in its star’s habitable zone. Additional Facts: Exoplanet:It is a planet outside the Solar System.The first confirmation of detection… Continue reading NASA discovers Earth like Exoplanet- Kepler-1649c
NASA’s Mars rover gets a name:Perseverance
News:National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has announced that the official name of its Mars 2020 rover will be ‘Perseverance.’ Facts: About Perseverance Rover: The mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The rover weighs less than 2,300 pounds and is managed by NASA’s Jet… Continue reading NASA’s Mars rover gets a name:Perseverance
NASA’s InSight mission for Mars
News: Recently, the findings of 10 months of NASA’s InSight mission on Mars are described in a set of six papers. Facts: About InSight mission: The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport (InSight) mission is a robotic lander designed to study the deep interior of the planet Mars The mission is part… Continue reading NASA’s InSight mission for Mars
