Space Travel News  
Twin space probe design phase begins

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only
by Staff Writers
Laurel, Md., April 21, 2008
The U.S. space agency said design has started on its radiation storm probes -- twin spacecraft that will be launched into the Earth's radiation belts.

Researchers said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration spacecraft are being designed to provide insight into the physical dynamics of near-Earth space, where violent space weather can affect astronauts, satellites and even ground-based technologies.

Researchers and engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., will build and operate the twin probes, which are scheduled for a 2011 launch and a primary mission of two years.

The radiation belts are two doughnut-shaped regions encircling Earth, where high-energy particles are trapped by the planet's magnetic field, scientists said. Most Earth-orbiting spacecraft pass through the belts, which can affect both astronauts and spacecraft.

Scientists hope the space mission will resolve decades-old scientific mysteries of how such particles become energized to such high levels and how the radiation belts vary so dramatically with changing conditions on the sun.

The instruments will be provided by teams managed by Boston University, the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the National Reconnaissance Office.

Related Links
Space Technology News - Applications and Research



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Communication From Car To Car - DLR Brings Mobile Communications Network Into Operation
Cologne, Germany (SPX) Apr 14, 2008
A new mobile communications network between vehicles (car-to-car, or C2C for short) has been brought into operation at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Oberpfaffenhofen site. Scientists are using it to find out to what extent specially-equipped vehicles can 'inform' each other of their relative positions, state, and the traffic situation. The aim is totally new applications, leading to increased road safety and traffic-flow efficiency.







  • Rocket Mystery Explained With New Imaging Technique
  • NASA Awards Contract For Engine Technology Development
  • SpaceX Conducts First Three-Engine Firing Of Falcon 9 Rocket
  • European Space Truck Jules Verne In Parking Orbit

  • Ariane 5 rocket lifts Brazilian, Vietnamese satellites into space
  • Orbital Awarded USAF Contract For Three Minotaur Space Launch Vehicles
  • Its A Go For Arianespace's Second Ariane 5 Mission Of 2008
  • C/NOFS Satellite Built By General Dynamics Successfully Launched From Reagan Test Site

  • Hope Takes Flight On Shuttle Discovery
  • NASA reschedules shuttle launch date
  • Shuttle Endeavour returns after record-setting mission to ISS
  • Endeavour Crew Prepares For Landing

  • Expedition 16's Whitson Hands Over Command Of Station
  • NASA Awards Space Station Water Contract To Hamilton Sundstrand
  • Russia Needs Billions More To Complete It's ISS Segment
  • Russia to call for extending ISS use

  • Stephen Hawking urges new era of space conquest
  • Space Radiation May Cause Prolonged Cellular Damage To Astronauts
  • Russian Space Capsule Lands 260 Miles Away From Target Site
  • Indian Government Actively Considering Sending Man Into Space

  • China Launches New Space Tracking Ship To Serve Shenzhou VII
  • Three Rocketeers For Shenzhou
  • China's space development can pose military threat: Japan
  • Cassini Tastes Organic Material At Saturn's Geyser Moon

  • Canada rejects sale of space firm to US defense firm
  • The Future Of Robotic Warfare Part Two
  • Robot anaesthetist developed in France: doctor
  • Surgeons use robots during heart surgery

  • Mars Radar Opens Up A Planet's Third Dimension
  • Russia Continues Flight Simulation Experiments For Mars-500
  • Missions To Mars
  • NASA Spacecraft Fine Tunes Course For Mars Landing

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement