Asteroids & Comets, Education, Space Systems

Video: Ion propulsion and the Dawn mission

December 30, 2014 TopSpacer

A quick intro to ion propulsion from NASA JPL:

Ion propulsion isn’t something found only in science fiction. JPL engineer Mike Meacham looks at how ion engines are being used to drive NASA’s Dawn spacecraft through the solar system. Dawn is approaching dwarf planet Ceres in the main asteroid belt with arrival expected in March 2015. Previously, Dawn orbited Vesta, the second-largest body in the asteroid belt. Learn how ion propulsion works and why it’s the reason Dawn will be the first spacecraft ever to orbit two solar system bodies. More about Dawn at: http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/

Gas giants Saturn, Jupiter, et al, Space Science

A wall of rubble in a ring of Saturn

December 29, 2014 TopSpacer 3 Comments

Saturn’s B ring has shadows cast by “mountainous waves of icy rubble extending more than 2 miles high above the 30-feet-thick disk of debris that forms the plane of the rings” :

This image from the Cassini probe shows vertical structures casting shadows on Saturn’s B ring: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

From Porco:

I have often thought: What a surreal sight this would be if you were flying low across the rings in a shuttle craft. To your eyes, the rings would seem like a gleaming white, scored, gravelly

sheet below you, extending nearly to infinity. And as you flew, you would see in the distance a wall of rubble that, eventually, as it neared, you would come to realize towered 2 miles above your head. There isn’t another sight like it in the solar system!

Michael Carroll, a beloved and skilled astronomical artist, took this idea, mentioned often in my public lectures, and turned it into a piece of art.

Activism, General, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week – Dec.29.14

December 29, 2014 TopSpacer

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, Dec. 29, 2014: 2:00-3:30PM PST (5:00-& 6:30 PM EST, 4:00-5:30 PM CST): GOLDEN OLDIE IN ADVANCE OF THE TOM OLSON 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW SHOW ON DEC. 30. The show today is Tom’s 2013 Space Year in review program. This is the last of our previous year Tom Olson summaries. Take notes, see how accurate our discussion was year by year. When you see the program archived on the website and blog, it is ready for play. When you see the show on the website and blog it is read to play.

2. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014:,7-8:30 PM PST (10-11:30 PM EST, 9-10:30 PM CST): We welcome back TOM OLSON live for his Space Year 2014 in Review program.

3. Friday, Jan. 2, 2015; , 9:30 -11 AM PST (12:30-2 PM EST; 11:30-1 PM CST): No show today due to New Years holiday. .

4. Sunday, Dec.4, 2014, 12-1:30 PM PST (3-4:30 PM EST, 12-1:30 PM CST): We welcome back CHRIS CARBERRY, Executive Director for Explore Mars, Inc.

See also:
/– The Space Show on Vimeo – webinar videos
/– The Space Show’s Blog – summaries of interviews.
/– The Space Show Classroom Blog – tutorial programs

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.