Mars spacecraft survive comet flyby
Posted: Wed, Oct 22, 2014, 8:53 AM ET (1253 GMT)
Spacecraft from the United States, Europe, and India all reported no problems after a comet passed within 140,000 kilometers of Mars this week. Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring sped past Mars on Sunday, coming as close as 139,500 kilometers to the surface of Mars. Space agencies, concerned that high-velocity dust from the comet could harm spacecraft, maneuvered their spacecraft so that they would be on the opposite side of the planet from the comet during closest approach. NASA, ESA, and ISRO all reported afterwards that their spacecraft, including new Mars orbiters MAVEN from the US and MOM from India, experienced no problems during the flyby, and were able to collect observations of the comet as well. Images of the comet by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that its nucleus is less than half the size as previously expected.
Spacecraft from the United States, Europe, and India all reported no problems after a comet passed within 140,000 kilometers of Mars this week. Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring sped past Mars on Sunday, coming as close as 139,500 kilometers to the surface of Mars. Space agencies, concerned that high-velocity dust from the comet could harm spacecraft, maneuvered their spacecraft so that they would be on the opposite side of the planet from the comet during closest approach. NASA, ESA, and ISRO all reported afterwards that their spacecraft, including new Mars orbiters MAVEN from the US and MOM from India, experienced no problems during the flyby, and were able to collect observations of the comet as well. Images of the comet by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that its nucleus is less than half the size as previously expected.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 9
Irish company secures €1 million contract with European Space Agency
Irish Times — 5:52 am ET (0952 GMT) USSF Seeking Small, Medium-Launch Providers At Vandenberg
Aviation Week — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Virgin Galactic’s Shares Take Wild Ride
Orange County (CA) Business Journal — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) How Elon Musk’s Friendship With the F.C.C. Smooths the Way for SpaceX’s I.P.O.
New York Times — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) SpaceX IPO Is Well Oversubscribed With $10 Billion Orders
Bloomberg News — 5:45 am ET (0945 GMT) |
