Moonandback Space News

News Capsules and Links to Stories From the Last Frontier

[moonandbackguy]

Mars Express Heading Towards Daring Flyby of Phobos - Is Mars Moon Solid or Puff Pastry?

Late this month, ESA’s Mars Express will skim past Phobos only 45 km above its surface, yielding the most accurate details yet of the moon’s gravitational field. Details… http://is.gd/XNsunR

[moonandbackguy]

The Day the Earth Smiled

The Skopje Astronomical Society (from Macedonia) made a video celebrating “The Day The Earth Smiled”, when the Cassini spacecraft looked at Earth from beyond Saturn. View the 1m 35s video… http://is.gd/Rx3aMk

[moonandbackguy]

First of Three EVAs Successful, But Suit Reconfiguration Needed

The first of three EVAs designed to replace a faulty refrigerator-sized ammonia pump module on the ISS was successfully completed, but a second spacewalk was postponed as another problem surfaced with spacesuits. Meryl Azriel reports… http://is.gd/YjrvDm 

(Photo) View from Rick Mastracchio’s helmet-cam.

[moonandbackguy]

Laser Demonstration Reveals Bright Future for Space Communication

The completion of the 30-day Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration or LLCD mission has revealed that the possibility of expanding broadband capabilities in space using laser communications is as bright as expected. Details… http://is.gd/ZM94F7

[moonandbackguy]

Imagine a Crater Named John Lennon – It’s Easy if You Try

The International Astronomical Union, the final authority on the names of planets and satellites in the solar system since 1919, recently approved the naming of a crater on Mercury after Beatles co-founder John Lennon. Details… http://is.gd/MCHeH8

(Photo) The 59-mile-wide John Lennon crater on Mercury.

[moonandbackguy]

NASA Lays Out Long-term Vision for Astrophysics

 NASA's Astrophysics Science Division has just released a road map (wish list) of future space missions - looking three decades into the future and beyond and identifies needed technologies. Read… http://is.gd/4Up5wj

[moonandbackguy]

Men Orbit Moon for the First Time | This Week In Space History

New Mexico Museum of Space History's Michael Shinabery tells the story of the breakthrough Apollo 8 mission and its crew who spent Christmas 1968 in lunar orbit. http://is.gd/eN55Ag

(Photo) Crew on deck after Apollo VIII splashes down on Dec. 27, 1968. 

[moonandbackguy]

LEGO Cuusoo Mars Curiosity Rover Creator Interviewed

Interview with the LEGO Cuusoo Mars Curiosity Rover's creator, Stephen Pakbaz, who worked on the real Curiosity rover at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  Pakbaz demos the model and shows off its functionality… http://is.gd/PfvGn3

[moonandbackguy]

Just in Time for the Holidays: Revell’s SS2 & WK2 Model Kit

The German web site of Revell is showing a 1:144 scale model of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo, with a release date of November 2013. Details… http://is.gd/5ljjad

[moonandbackguy]

ISS Spacewalkers Remove Degraded Ammonia Pump Expedition 38 Flight Engineers Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins wrapped up a 5-hour, 28 minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station ahead of schedule. Details… http://is.gd/apvxdK (Photo) Astronaut Rick Mastracchio works outside.

[moonandbackguy]

NASA Begins Series of Spacewalks to Fix Coolant Pump on ISS Video of Expedition 38 astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins in the first of a series of spacewalks to remove and replace a faulty coolant pump module. View… http://is.gd/6rgifQ

[moonandbackguy]

#wakeuprosetta -- Once upon a time... ...a spacecraft named Rosetta was launched into the sky to uncover mysteries of our Solar System. A long journey lay ahead… Some comments on this ESA video: “Seriously cute!”, “Adorable space science”, “Great video!”. View… http://is.gd/nF73GW

[moonandbackguy]

Copenhagen Suborbitals Opens New 'Giant' Facility

Copenhagen Suborbitals is expanding into a new, larger facility, tripling their workshop area.  Kristian von Bengtson provides a video tour. http://is.gd/lEDYbT

(Photo) Selfie by Kristian von Bengtson