Space Forum / Space Science / November 2004

-> In all, SMART-1 clocked up 332 orbits around Earth. It fired its engine
-> 289 times during the cruise phase, operating for a total of about 3700
-> hours. Only 59 kilograms of xenon propellant were used (out of 82
-> kilograms). Overall, the engine performed extremely well, ...

This is prompted by my recently being amongst (BBC) Radio 4's audience
for the latest adaptation of part of the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the
Galaxy series.
The part about Earth's entry in the guide being expanded from one to two

Fantastic mission, hope it goes and goes.  Started wondering though
haven't heard about many (if any) press conferenceshave since the
extended mission came into swing.  My questions are these.  Is the
same science team running the show or has it gone over to another

I do not know if this is an existing theory, I
only came up with it today, so please bear with
my ignorance. Consider the moon (since its diameter
is so much smaller than the Earth's and its gravity

Here's an article:
http://www.physicsweb.org/articles/news/8/11/8/1
You know how when you look at curved outlines on hi-resolution games,
you can see the pixelation (tesselation?)?

Please save this column on your computers and email accounts and also
forward this to all your friends, family, coworkers, democracy
websites, civil liberties websites and as many americans as possible
who are genuinely concerned about CIVIL LIBERTIES and FREEDOM in

Cassini Significant Events
for 11/11/04 - 11/17/04
The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired from the Madrid tracking
station on Wednesday, November 17. The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent

I've been seeing statements in the press that
Titan is the only moon in the solar system with an
atmosphere.  But doesn't Triton have a rather thin
atmosphere with geysers or dust devils?  And if you

November 12, 2004
http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1389_1.asp
Thomas  Lee Elifritz
http://elifritz.members.atlantic.net

-> rock, surrounded by water, ammonia and methane slush . The Voyager
-> spacecraft also measured the length of the Uranian day - 17 hours, 14
-> minutes in Earth time - based on the rotation of the planet's magnetic
-> field.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM2S8WJD1E_index_0.html
Europe reaches the Moon
European Space Agency
16 November 2004

Folks,
     I hope that someone here might be able to help with background for
a story that I'm writing. I have some familiarity with brown stars (the
super-jovian, not-quite fully ignited stars). Does anyone know if brown

Can we send a plane to Mars and let it fly over the surface or will
the plane crash into Olympus Mons ?
Or would it be better to send a Zeppelin to Mars ?

-> Have you ever seen frozen muddy water in reality ?
Especially if the sun shines on it.
Here in Canada, in springtime, we see a lot of snow and ice being
melted or sublimed by the sun. Almost always, there is some dirt mixed

I'm sure the science results eventually will be spectacular, but
so far there hasn't been much explanation for what they are seeing
of the surface of Titan. I would think they would keep up a dialogue
with the public even if they are stumped.