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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor

 

A Large Space Station Over EarthCredit: STS-131 Crew, Expedition 23 Crew, NASA Explanation: The International Space Station is the largest object ever constructed by humans in space. The station perimeter now extends over roughly the area of a football field, although only a small fraction of this is composed of modules habitable by humans. The stationis so large that it could not be launched all at once — it is being built piecemeal with large sections added continually by flights of the Space Shuttle. To function, the ISS needs huge trusses, some over 15 meters long and with masses over 10,000 kilograms, to keep it rigid and to route electricity and liquid coolants. Pictured above, part of the immense space station was photographed out of a window by a member of the visiting Space Shuttle Discovery STS-131 crew. Visible in the foreground is Japan’s Kibo research module, while a large truss is visible toward the left. On the far right, a crescent Earth slices through the blackness of space. (via APOD)

A Large Space Station Over Earth
Credit: STS-131 Crew, Expedition 23 Crew, NASA

Explanation: The International Space Station is the largest object ever constructed by humans in space. The station perimeter now extends over roughly the area of a football field, although only a small fraction of this is composed of modules habitable by humans. The stationis so large that it could not be launched all at once — it is being built piecemeal with large sections added continually by flights of the Space Shuttle. To function, the ISS needs huge trusses, some over 15 meters long and with masses over 10,000 kilograms, to keep it rigid and to route electricity and liquid coolants. Pictured above, part of the immense space station was photographed out of a window by a member of the visiting Space Shuttle Discovery STS-131 crew. Visible in the foreground is Japan’s Kibo research module, while a large truss is visible toward the left. On the far right, a crescent Earth slices through the blackness of space.

(via APOD)

Chaotic terrain between Kasei Valles and Sacra Fossae (via ESA)

Chaotic terrain between Kasei Valles and Sacra Fossae

(via ESA)

Meet the ExoMars rover.

Meet the ExoMars rover.

The Planck mission has captured its first rough images of the sky, demonstrating the observatory is working and ready to measure light from the dawn of time. The Planck image shows how the sky looks at millimeter-long wavelengths. Red areas are brighter, blue areas are darker. The large red strips show the Milky Way. The small bright and dark spots far from the galactic plane are from the cosmic microwave background — relic radiation leftover from the birth of our universe. (via NASA)

The Planck mission has captured its first rough images of the sky, demonstrating the observatory is working and ready to measure light from the dawn of time.

The Planck image shows how the sky looks at millimeter-long wavelengths. Red areas are brighter, blue areas are darker. The large red strips show the Milky Way. The small bright and dark spots far from the galactic plane are from the cosmic microwave background — relic radiation leftover from the birth of our universe.

(via NASA)

19 June 2009 Herschel opened its ‘eyes’ on 14 June and the Photoconductor Array Camera and Spectrometer obtained images of M51, ‘the whirlpool galaxy’ for a first test observation. Scientists obtained images in three colours which clearly demonstrate the superiority of Herschel, the largest infrared space telescope ever flown. view the full article on the ESA website here.

19 June 2009 Herschel opened its ‘eyes’ on 14 June and the Photoconductor Array Camera and Spectrometer obtained images of M51, ‘the whirlpool galaxy’ for a first test observation. Scientists obtained images in three colours which clearly demonstrate the superiority of Herschel, the largest infrared space telescope ever flown.
view the full article on the ESA website here.

Engineers dressed in Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble, or SCAPE suits, fuel Planck with liquid hydrazine on 15 April 2009. Planck will use its thrusters, propelled by liquid hydrazine, for manoeuvres once in orbit. This is a volatile and toxic substance, commonly used as rocket fuel. The critical fuelling operations required plenty of preparation, including safety training exercises for the fuelling team, and was executed with great care. (via ESA)

Engineers dressed in Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble, or SCAPE suits, fuel Planck with liquid hydrazine on 15 April 2009.

Planck will use its thrusters, propelled by liquid hydrazine, for manoeuvres once in orbit. This is a volatile and toxic substance, commonly used as rocket fuel. The critical fuelling operations required plenty of preparation, including safety training exercises for the fuelling team, and was executed with great care.

(via ESA)

Herschel instruments are ‘good to go’ Herschel will be the largest space telescope ever launched. Its 3.5 m-diameter mirror will give astronomers their best view yet of the Universe at far-infrared and sub-millimetre wavelengths. Image credit: ESA (via spaceref.com)

Herschel instruments are ‘good to go’
Herschel will be the largest space telescope ever launched. Its 3.5 m-diameter mirror will give astronomers their best view yet of the Universe at far-infrared and sub-millimetre wavelengths.
Image credit: ESA

(via spaceref.com)

COROT discovers smallest exoplanet yet, with a surface to walk on. (ESA News) - 3 February 2009 COROT has found the smallest terrestrial planet ever detected outside the Solar System. The amazing planet is less than twice the size of Earth and orbits a Sun-like star. Its temperature is so high that it is possibly covered in lava or water vapour. Read more…

COROT discovers smallest exoplanet yet, with a surface to walk on.

(ESA News) - 3 February 2009 COROT has found the smallest terrestrial planet ever detected outside the Solar System. The amazing planet is less than twice the size of Earth and orbits a Sun-like star. Its temperature is so high that it is possibly covered in lava or water vapour.

Read more…