NetMassimo Blog Articles in 2012, Page 60

Artistic concept of ESA Venus Express space probe orbiting Venus (Image ESA)

Venus rotation is slowing down

Massimo Luciani February 11, 2012 1

Using the VIRTIS at infrared waves, the space probe Venus Express can study the surface of Venus despite the thick layer of clouds that cover it finding a change in the planet’s rotation speed.

Artistic concept of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover on Mars (Image NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover computer problem resolved

Massimo Luciani February 10, 2012 0

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), namely the new Mars rover called Curiosity, left for Mars on November 26, 2011 but after only three days when it was using its star scanner there was a computer reset that obviously left NASA engineers very concerned. Now the problem has been fixed.

Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Massimo Luciani February 9, 2012 1

The novel “Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman” by Walter M. Miller Jr. was published for the first time in 1997. It’s set in the same future of the novel “A Canticle for Leibowitz”.

Janice Voss on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2000 (photo NASA)

R.I.P. Janice Voss

Massimo Luciani February 8, 2012 1

American astronaut Janice Voss died of breast cancer. She was born on October 8, 1956 in South Bend, Indiana. As an astronaut she was part of five missions on the Space Shuttles.

Artistic concept of an ancient ocean on Mars (Image ESA, C. Carreau)

There’s evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars

Massimo Luciani February 7, 2012 1

Data received from the Mars Express space probe contain what are regarded as evidence that there was an ocean on Mars. The instrument used was the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding), a radar developed by NASA and the Italian Space Agency.