Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Space Highlights - December 16, 2015

December 16, 2015


Arianespace is preparing for the launch of two satellites this coming Thursday, as part of its Galileo constellation of global positioning satellites - a European competitor to the U.S. GPS system.
http://phys.org/news/2015-12-europe-readies-satellite-closer-satnav.html


Russia successfully launched a  military satellite aboard a Proton-M booster this past week, following two unsuccessful rocket launches earlier this year.  The recently launched satellite is part of a data-relay system.
http://www.valuewalk.com/2015/12/russia-launches-military-satellite/
http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/12/13/russian-data-relay-satellite-launched-by-proton-rocket/


SpaceX is expecting to launched an Orbcomm communications satellite this coming week - its first launch since a booster failed last June.
http://www.ibtimes.com/spacex-returns-orbcomm-satellite-launch-may-attempt-ground-based-landing-next-week-2220806


NASA has released new images of Saturn's moons Enceladus and Tethys as captured by the Cassini space probe.
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/34593/20151215/saturns-moons-captured-stunning-view-nasas-cassini-spacecraft.htm


NASA has also released new images of Titan, as captured by Cassini during a recent flyby, in which the probe came within 6,200 miles of the surface of Saturn's largest moon.
http://nhv.us/content/15123616-new-image-saturn-s-moon-titan-sent-back-home-cassini-probe
http://perfscience.com/content/2142882-nasa%E2%80%99s-cassini-spacecraft-captures-image-saturn%E2%80%99s-moon-titan


NASA has released the first color images from the New Horizons space probe's closest encounter with Pluto.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-12/11/pluto-colour-image-high-res-new-horizons-nasa
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/tech/see-nasa-releases-sharpest-images-of-pluto-in-colour-1177299.html


NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity has reached the edge of a patch of Martian sand dunes, and has begun probing the composition and characteristics of the sandy, wind-shaped formations.
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/116181/20151214/nasas-mars-rover-curiosity-reaches-sand-dunes.htm
http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/12/13/curiosity-rover-reaches-martian-sand-dunes/


Japan's Akatsuki probe has sent back its first pictures from Venus.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/12/09/akatsuki-probe-relays-its-first-images-from-venus-orbit/
http://www.cnet.com/news/japans-akatsuki-orbiter-sends-back-triumphant-venus-images/


Analysis of data from the Dawn spacecraft indicates that the surface of Ceres is rich in ammonia-based clays.
http://www.satprnews.com/2015/12/12/dawn-mission-team-reports-first-results-from-ceres/
http://www.universetoday.com/123793/dawn-spacecraft-unraveling-mysteries-of-ceres-intriguing-bright-spots-as-sublimating-salt-water-residues/

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