2012 DA14 « AmericaSpace

Orion Fairing Test Encounters Problem

By Jason Rhian, on June 13th, 2013

The Orion service module fairing panels fall into the Fairing Catch Systems after being jettisoned via Separation Strut/Ordnance actuations. Photo Credit: NASA

At first blush, the fairing of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) might not seem to be a vital piece of equipment; however, it is crucial. NASA is currently testing the […]

Orion Spacecraft Cool Under Pressure

By Jason Rhian, on June 7th, 2013

NASA has addressed issues that Orion has encountered during testing and has also conducted new tests that move Orion closer to launch next year. Photo CredIt: Jim Grossman / NASA

The Orion spacecraft at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has undergone extensive testing to prepare it for its first flight, currently scheduled […]

What Might NASA's Mission to Snag Asteroid Look Like?

By Jason Rhian, on April 12th, 2013

[youtube_video]http://youtu.be/hstKzxqn29c[/youtube_video]

Video courtesy of NASA

The recent announcement that $100 million had been earmarked in the White House’s FY 2014 Budget Proposal Request to send an unmanned probe to an asteroid and have it transported back to lunar orbit to be studied by astronauts has generated a lot of buzz. What would such […]

On @ The 90: How Mission to Capture Asteroid Could Change NASA

By Jason Rhian, on April 9th, 2013

Could a new initiative proposed in the FY 2014 Budget Proposal make space exploration a highly profitable endeavor? Image Credit: NASA

In April 2010, President Obama announced a plan that, at the time, received a rather tepid response. This was the president’s announcement that NASA would conduct a mission to an asteroid. The […]

Will Mars Be Hit By Comet?

By Jason Rhian, on April 3rd, 2013

Will a comet strike the planet Mars next year? If it does, what does this mean for NASA’s Mars Program? Image Credit: NASA

We might lose one of the two rovers currently roaming Mars, maybe even one of the orbiters that are presently circling the Red Planet—but not due to age or a […]

Last Week's Meteor and Asteroid Mayhem: A Review

By David Darling, on February 17th, 2013

[youtube_video]http://youtu.be/svzB0QYNIWI[/youtube_video]

Video courtesy of Sky News

The universe fired two warning shots across the Earth’s bow within the same 24-hour period this past week. The first was a large meteor that exploded over central Russia, which was followed by the closest predicted pass of an asteroid. These two events took place only half […]

NASA to Chronicle Earth Flyby of Asteroid 2012 DA14

By Ben Evans, on February 15th, 2013

Diagram showing today’s passage of 2012 DA14 through the Earth-Moon system. The celestial visitor will make a closest approach of around 17,150 miles, bringing it within the sphere of the orbits of geosynchronous satellites. Image Credit: NASA

Move over, Bruce Willis. Your asteroid-pulverizing, Home Planet–saving career might not be ready for a resurgence […]

Does Asteroid 2012 DA14 Spell Armageddon? NASA Says, 'Not So Much' ...

By Jason Rhian, on February 12th, 2013

An asteroid will make a very close approach to Earth on Feb. 15, and NASA is preparing for the encounter. Image Credit: Jeff Darling

An asteroid is barreling toward Earth! But no worries … there’s no need to get Bruce Willis into a space shuttle and have him save us with a nuclear […]

Newly Discovered Asteroid To Pass Very Close Next Year

By Mike Killian, on March 20th, 2012

In this oblique view, the path of near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 is seen passing close to Earth on Feb. 15, 2013. Image Credit: NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office

Last month an amateur team of astronomers from the La Sagra Sky Survey Observatory in southeast Spain discovered an asteroid roughly 150 feet wide as […]

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