Ladee « AmericaSpace

Our 'Glowing Moon': LADEE Spacecraft Discovers Neon in Lunar Atmosphere

By Paul Scott Anderson, on August 18th, 2015

Artist’s conception of the LADEE spacecraft orbiting the Moon. Its findings will help scientists to better understand thin exospheres, such as the one our own Moon has. Image Credit: NASA Ames/Dana Berry

The existence of neon gas in our Moon’s ultra-thin atmosphere has been confirmed for the first time, by NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere […]

NASA Solicits Commercial Mars Telecom Relay Proposals to Avoid Science Transmission Gap

By Ken Kremer, on July 24th, 2014

Artist rendering of commercial Mars satellites providing communications back to Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL

Facing the undeniable reality of a looming communications gap in the 2020s in getting gigabits of precious data back from NASA’s highly productive science armada exploring Mars, the agency is now soliciting information on the potential for utilizing commercial Mars-orbiting […]

LADEE Sees Zodiacal Light at Moons Horizon Just Prior to Crash

By Ken Kremer, on April 30th, 2014

Video caption: A series of star tracker images taken by LADEE on April 12, 2014. The lunar horizon is ahead, a few minutes before orbital sunrise. Click to see gif animation. Credit: NASA Ames

Mere days before its planned mission ending crash on April 17, scientists directing NASA’s wildly successful LADEE lunar orbiter sought […]

NASA’s LADEE Dust Probe Plunges Deliberately Into Lunar Surface

By Ken Kremer, on April 21st, 2014

Depiction of NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) observatory as it approaches lunar orbit. Credit: NASA Ames/Dana Berry

NASA’s newest Moon probe, the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), aimed at studying the moon ultra tenuous atmosphere and dust, has deliberately plunged into the lunar surface after successfully completing its […]

Minotaur-1 Rocket Set to Launch Military Payloads and First High School Satellite

By Ben Evans, on November 19th, 2013

High-angle view of the Minotaur-1 vehicle for the ORS-3 mission during pre-launch checkout. Photo Credit: Ball Aerospace

Bookended by yesterday’s launch of NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission and the impending departure of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) from Earth orbit, both bound for the Red Planet, a quieter mission will […]

Ahoy From LOI: NASA's LADEE Spacecraft Enters Lunar Orbit

By Ben Evans, on October 6th, 2013

One month after its launch, a series of “phasing loops” has gradually increased LADEE’s orbit until it was captured by lunar gravity. Today’s Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI)-1 burn is the first step to achieving a stable orbit around the Moon. Image Credit: NASA / Ames

One month since its launch atop the first […]

'Space Frog' Joins List of Wayward Animal Launch Day Casualties

By Jason Rhian, on September 12th, 2013

Being an animal who calls one of the locations that NASA launches from home can be extremely hazardous to your health. Images courtesy of NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — The list of animal launch day casualties increased by one (that we’re aware of) this past week with the launch of NASA’s LADEE spacecraft […]

Moon-Bound LADEE Spacecraft Back On Track After Minor Problem

By Mike Killian, on September 10th, 2013

NASA’s latest spacecraft bound for the Moon, LADEE, has encountered and recovered from a glitch on the way to survey the lunar atmosphere. Image Credit: NASA / Ames

NASA’s $280 million Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer mission, or LADEE, is well on its way to the Moon after the compact car-size spacecraft […]

NASA to Share the Universe With Instagram Users Through Its Images

By NASA, on September 10th, 2013

NASA’s LADEE mission begins its journey to the Moon with a spectacular liftoff from Pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Va., on 6 September 2013. The mission marked the maiden voyage of the five-stage Minotaur V rocket. Photo Credit: NASA-Wallops/Chris Perry

NASA is launching an official Instagram profile […]

NASA 'Hawks' Keep Eye on Hurricanes

By Mark Usciak, on September 9th, 2013

How does NASA keep an eye on hurricanes that threaten the U.S.? Via high-tech “Hawks” circling high overhead! Photo Credit: Mark Usciak / AmericaSpace

I was given the opportunity to visit one of the hangars at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) to review NASA’s Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that are stationed there. […]

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