So many things are happening in humanity's various Space Programs that I'm forced to do a consolidated review of recent news and pictures.
The European Space Agency's Mars Express has succesfully deployed its boom radars and will soon start prospecting for ice and minerals beneath the surface of Mars. I have an in-depth article this remarkable spacecraft almost ready to post, sometime next week. Last week I presented some of the amazing high resolution pictures of the "Grand Canyons" of Mars, worth a look.
Here is a new picture of some surface ice nestled in a 22 mile wide impact crater. I believe this is the first picture taken of surface ice on Mars (ice that is not part of the polar ice caps - thanks Victor!).
Ice hockey anyone?
Cosmos 1 Crashes During Liftoff
The big news of the week, the story that garnered the most press coverage at any rate, was the attempted launch of Cosmos 1 aboard a Russian ICBM from a Russian submarine. This solar sail craft was conceived and funded by the widow of Astronomer Carl Sagan, and was funded in part by The Planetary Society.
"A solar sail is a spacecraft without a rocket engine. It is pushed along directly by light particles from the Sun, reflecting off its giant sails. Because it carries no fuel and keeps accelerating over almost unlimited distances, it is the only technology now in existence that can one day take us to the stars."
Unfortunately, the first stage of the ICBM failed (shut down prematurely) and the missile and Cosmos 1 crashed into the Arctic Ocean.
NASA Appropriations Bill Includes $250 Million for Hubble
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski announced today that the Senate version of the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill includes $250 million for a Hubble servicing mission.
The Senate has also increased the budget for Aeronautics, a part of NASA that was going to lose funding in order to push ahead with NASA's "Vision For Space Exploration".
There seems to be a trend building. As Mike Griffin and NASA reassign resources to achieve the primary goal of establishing colonies on the moon and Mars, the Senate rejects the phase-out of equally important science research, Hubble repair, aeronautics development, and the completion of the International Space Station. I'm amazed to see this level of intelligent decision-making come from Washington.
Article comments
1 - Victor Plenty
Perhaps you mean the ice in the image above is the first surface ice photographed other than the polar caps?
Either way, great image! Thanks for the updates on so much of what's been happening in space exploration.
2 - Bennett
Yes Victor, that's exactly what I meant. Thanks for the clarification!
:-]