2005 was a busy year in the field of space exploration. From the amazing images sent back by the Cassini-Huygens probe orbiting Saturn to the unexpected longevity of the Mars Rovers, we are learning more about the planets of our solar system than ever before.
With the deep space views from Hubble, Spitzer, and Chandra telescopes orbiting Earth, we have peered ever deeper into the vast recesses of space, discovering new details about our solar system, our galaxy, and the millions of galaxies that make up our universe.
Two missions currently en route, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and ESA's Venus Express, are expected to add even more to our growing storehouse of data about our two closest planetary neighbors.
NASA is hard at work testing a new variation of the external fuel tank (modified PAL ramp) and hopes to launch phase two of its Return To Flight by mid year.
Also on the table this year is the long awaited launch of America's first private industry satellite launch system from SpaceX. They had near launches in November and December scrubbed by technical glitches, and hope to try again in February.
The holidays were a bit too busy, and I didn't get to put together my planned "Space Year In Review", but here are two images from December (with NASA text) that caught my eye:
With its thick, distended atmosphere, Titan's orange globe
shines softly, encircled by a thin halo of purple light-scattering haze.
Cassini images taken using blue, green and red spectral filters were used to create this enhanced-color view; the color images were combined with an ultraviolet view that makes the high-altitude, detached layer of haze visible. The ultraviolet part of the composite image was given a purplish hue to match the bluish-purple color of the upper atmospheric haze as seen in visible light.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great job as always Bennett and fantastic images! I'm very excited about the notion of private industry innovation in space. Where do you see things going on this year / over the next five?
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2 - gonzo marx
Bennett, as alway...awesome Stuff
thanks so much for sharing it with us all...
"Have Spacesuit, Will Travel"
i hear ya , bro
Excelsior!
3 - Bennett
Thanks Eric! I'm currently digesting the rather massive NASA Roadmap To Space report, and will be writing about in a week or so. One of the key elements is a transition from NASA (or Soviet) delivery of supplies and personel to a private industry supplier.
SpaceX is one of the prime cadidates for this duty, and I'm sure the Boeing-Lockheed Martin folks want a big piece of that pie as well. I question if they'll be willing to do it for a more standard profit than provided by the reletively no-bid contracts that have been the norm to date.
SpaceX, if successful, will bring the price down to a level that allows for more flights and more supplies over the next 5-10 years. This is good for everyone concerned and will force the big guys to sharpen their pencils.
Outside the USA, Russia and France are the big lifters of satellite payloads, and with the recent agreements between Ariane and Russian agencies, Russia will be launching its Soyuz rockets from Ariane's French Guiana facilities, gaining efficiency from the relatively equatorial launch base.
Things are heating up in the race to provide both satellite and exploration launches worldwide, and payloads are getting bigger as a matter of course.
NASA's new CEV configuration will be the biggest lifter to date, absolutely necessary to implement the proposed return to the moon as a colony building move as opposed to just a one-off visit.
The next few years should be interesting!
4 - Eric Berlin
Awesome!
Totally random: Is there any realistic talk of space elevators these days?