NASA launches spacecraft to study Mars atmosphere

NASA launches spacecraft to study Mars atmosphere

NASA on Tuesday launched its unmanned  MAVEN spacecraft toward Mars io study the Red Planet's atmosphere for clues as to why Earth's neighbor lost its warmth and water over time.

The white Atlas V 401 rocket earning the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter blasted off on schedule at 1:28 pm (2358 1ST).

"Everything is looking good" said NASA mission control. The flawless liftoff of the USD 671 million spacecraft kicked off the 10-month journey to the Red Planet. Arrival at Mars is scheduled for September 2014. with the science mission of the solar-wing paneled orbiter set to begin two months later. The probe is different from past NASA missions because it focuses not on the dry surface but on the mysteries of the never-before-studied upper atmosphere. Much of MAVEN's year-long mission will be spent circling the planet 6.000 kilometers above the surface. However, it will execute five deep dips to a distance of just 125 kilometers above the Martian landscape to get readings of the atmosphere at various levels. Researchers have described the mission as a search for a missing piece to the puzzle of what happened to Mars atmosphere, perhaps billions of years ago. to transform Earth's neighbour from a water-bearing planet that might have been favourable for life to a dry. barren desert. "MAVEN is the first spacecraft devoted to exploring and understanding the Martian upper atmosphere." the US space agency said.

NASA to launch mission to probe Mars atmosphere

NASA to launch mission to probe Mars atmosphere

NASA is set to launch its first mission to examine the upper atmosphere of Mars in unprecedented detail.

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission (MAVEN). to he launched on November 18 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will examine specific processes on Mars that led to the loss of much of its atmosphere.

Data and analysis could tell planetary scientists the history of climate change on the Red Planet and provide further information on the history of planetary habitability.

"The MAVEN mission is a significant step towards unraveling the planetary puzzle about Mars" past and present environments." said John Grunsfeld. associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "The knowledge we gain will build on past and current missions examining Mars and will help inform future missions to send humans to Mars." said Grunsfeld.

Planet-hunter Kepler beyond repair: NASA

Planet-hunter Kepler beyond repair: NASA

NASA on Friday said it cannot fix its hobbled planet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope and is considering what sort of scientific research it might be able to do at hall-capacity.

"Today, we are reporting we do not believe we can recover three-wheeled operations, or Kepler's original science mission." said Paul Hertz. NASA Astrophysics Division Director.

"So the Kepler project is turning attention to studying the possibility of two-wheeled operations." The unmanned spacecraft launched in 2009 on a search for rocky planets orbiting in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars - in other words, planets like Earth that might contain life.

It has so far found 3.500 planetary candidates including several hundred Earth-sized candidates from its first two years of data, according to William Borucki. Kepler science principal investigator.

From its final two years of data already collected, yet to be analyzed, "we expect hundreds, maybe thousands of new planet discovery" said Borucki. He said il will lake up to ihree years 10 pore over the findings Kepler has already collected through studying the distant signals of stars and planets crossing in front of each other, known as transits. "We really expect the most exciting discoveries are going to come in the next few years as we search through all this data."

In July 2012. NASA reported that one of Kepler's four reaction wheels which help orient the spacecraft had broken down, followed by a second in May this year.

One space agency expert described the problem as like trying to push a grocery cart with a stuck wheel. Experts tried to fix it by reversing it. but il soon failed again and the motors were unable to keep the wheel going. "The wheels are sufficiently damaged that they cannot sustain spacecraft pointing and control for any extended period of time." said Charles Sobeck. Kepler deputy project manager.

A pair of studies are expected to show in the coming months what sort of science might be possible with a hobbled Kepler.