Saturn's hexagon: An amazing phenomenon
Pais Vasco, Spain (SPX) Apr 15, 2014 -
In 1980 and 1981 NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 space probes passed for the first time over the planet Saturn, located 1,500 million km from the Sun. Among their numerous discoveries they observed a strange, hexagon-shaped structure in the planet's uppermost clouds surrounding its north pole.
The hexagon remained virtually static, without moving, vis-a-vis the planet's overall rotation that was no ...
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Egypt to launch new satellite from Kazakhstan
Cairo (XNA) Apr 15, 2014 -
Egypt will launch a new satellite from Kazakhstan on Wednesday, official news agency MENA reported on Monday.
"Egypt will launch a new satellite, named 'Egyptsat,' from Baikonur Cosmodrome, located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan to enhance modern scientific research," Egyptian cabinet spokesperson Houssam Qawish was quoted as saying.
The satellie will also contribute to developme ...
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Russia will continue rocket engines supplies to US
Moscow (Voice of Russia) Apr 15, 2014 -
Earlier, the media reported that the US was seeking a license for domestic manufacturing of RD-180 rocket engines. Russia will continue supplying powerful RD-180 rocket engines to the US, the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia president Vitaly Lopota said.
"No one has cancelled engines supplies. We are continuing manufacturing in compliance with the effective contracts," TASS reports. ...
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Better climate predictions within grasp
London, UK (SPX) Apr 15, 2014 -
A proposed satellite mission - that will improve our understanding of the consequences of climate change and could save the global economy up to $30 trillion - has received funding to develop a more detailed design of the technology and identify partners. It is hoped the satellite could be in orbit in 3-5 years.
The proposed TRUTHS (Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- ...
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Dragon Cargo Craft Launch Scrubbed; Station Crew Preps for Spacewalk
Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Apr 15, 2014 -
Monday's launch attempt of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft, loaded with nearly 5,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station's Expedition 39 crew, was scrubbed due to a helium leak on the Falcon 9 first stage. The next launch opportunity would be Friday, April 18 at 3:25 p.m. EDT if the issue can be resolved.
The launch of the third SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply services m ...
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Meteorite studies suggest hidden water on Mars
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Apr 15, 2014 -
Geochemical calculations by researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology to determine how the water content of Mars has changed over the past 4.5 billion years suggest as yet unidentified reservoirs of water on the planet.
A warmer more watery primordial Martian landscape more closely resembling Earth has long been suggested from geochemical and geological observations. However, as Hiroyuk ...
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How a Silly Putty ingredient could advance stem cell therapies
Ann Arbor MI (SPX) Apr 17, 2014 -
The sponginess of the environment where human embryonic stem cells are growing affects the type of specialized cells they eventually become, a University of Michigan study shows.
The researchers coaxed human embryonic stem cells to turn into working spinal cord cells more efficiently by growing the cells on a soft, utrafine carpet made of a key ingredient in Silly Putty. Their study is pub ...
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