This week we looked back at the success of NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft as it prepares to plunge to its death on the planet it has been studying for the last four years. Like many NASA robots, MESSENGER has greatly exceeded its estimated lifetime after a six year journey. Initially expected to study Mercury for one year, it has been
This week, Russia appointed itself the sheriff of space by creating the Aerospace Monitoring Force. Tasked with apprehending space criminals, the new force will use satellites to monitor for illegal activities, and enforce space traffic law. Performing daily orbital patrols, the AMF has at its disposal a refurbished Soyuz to chase down miscreants and even collect
Recent data has uncovered evidence of extensive ice hidden under the Martian dust. The latest calculations are equivalent to 150 billion cubic meters of ice, which is enough to cover the entire planet in a layer of ice over 1 meter thick if it were spread evenly. Perhaps the original Total Recall movie was correct? Meanwhile