Space Exploration Archives - Page 5 of 16

SOFIA Detects Molecular Water on Nominally Dry Asteroids

By News Staff February 13, 2024

Using the FORCAST instrument on NASA’s retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), astronomers have obtained mid-infrared spectra of four S-type (silicate-rich) asteroids: Iris, Parthenope, Melpomene, and Massalia. They’ve detected…

Early Mars was Tectonically and Volcanically Active, Study Suggests

By News Staff February 12, 2024

The relatively well-preserved ancient crust of Mars provides a natural window into early planetary evolution not available on Earth. Mars has generally been considered a one-plate basaltic planet, though recent…

NASA’s Juno Orbiter Captures Stunning Images of Jupiter’s Moon Io

By Natali Anderson February 9, 2024

On February 3, 2024, NASA’s Juno spacecraft made a second close flyby of Io, the fifth of Jupiter’s moons and the third largest. Like the previous flyby on December 30,…

Saturn’s Moon Mimas Harbors Global Ocean beneath Its Icy Shell, Study Suggests

By News Staff February 7, 2024

From detailed analysis of Mimas’ orbital motion based on data from NASA’s Cassini mission, planetary researchers from Sorbonne Université, Nantes Université, Queen Mary University of London, Université de Franche-Comté and…

Earth’s Moon is Shrinking, New Modeling Study Suggests

By News Staff January 29, 2024

Earth’s Moon shrank more than 46 m (150 feet) in circumference as its core gradually cooled over the last few hundred million years, according to a paper published in the…

NASA Announces End of Ingenuity Mission

By News Staff January 29, 2024

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter made history by achieving the first powered, controlled flight on another planet on April 19, 2021. Despite initial plans for up to five flights, the helicopter has…

Mars Express Finds New Evidence for Ice-Rich Layered Deposits in Medusae Fossae

By News Staff January 22, 2024

Over 15 years ago, ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft studied the Medusae Fossae Formation, revealing enigmatic deposits up to 2.5 km deep. From those early observations, it was unclear what the…

Wild 2 Comet Contains High Fraction of Dust from Young Solar System, Study Shows

By Enrico de Lazaro January 17, 2024

NASA’s Stardust mission returned rocky material from the coma of comet 81P/Wild 2 (pronounced ‘Vilt 2’) to Earth on January 15, 2006. Comet Wild 2 contains volatile ices and likely…

Scientists Solve Major Puzzle in Moon’s Geology

By News Staff January 15, 2024

New research from the University of Bristol sheds light on the origin of titanium-rich basaltic magmas on the Moon. A map of the titanium abundances of the Moon’s surface, obtained…

Combination of Two Minerals Can Explain Mysterious UV Absorber in Clouds of Venus

By Enrico de Lazaro January 8, 2024

The clouds of Venus are believed to be composed of sulfuric acid and minor constituents including iron-bearing compounds. Respective concentrations of these compounds vary with height in the thick atmosphere…