Tag Archives: Science Weekend

It was scripted to happen this way, but when it did what it was supposed to do, ground controllers and scientists elation was clearly evident. What had just happened? A spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, had just “touched” down, albeit it for seconds, on asteroid Bennu, grabbed a bunch of “dust and pebbles,” and taken off again with its prize. It lasted mere seconds, yet took years to …

This week on Science Weekend we look at new stunning images of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. The active moon which has a subsurface salt ocean is revealing more of itself from data retrieved from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.

While we look outward from the Earth into space, exploring and working in space, we do so not only to learn more about our universe, but also on how we can improve things here on Earth.

The first weather satellite launched on April 1, 1960, 60 years ago. In this feature on Science Weekend from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the five things that changed weather forecasting forever are discussed by some of the pioneers in the field.

Let’s start with WOW. The image you see and the video below, are from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile and show for the first time ever a Sun-like star with two exoplanets. The star system known as TYC 8998-760-1 is 300 light years from us.

You could say that all the past rovers that NASA sent to Mars have been leading up the Mars Perseverance rover mission. The rover may look similar to the Curiosity rover currently exploring Mars, but there are differences. And it’s those differences that have scientists really excited that they might now be able to find signs of ancient life on the Red planet.

In 2017 scientists were surprised and delighted when a mysterious object was discovered transiting out solar system in an unusual trajectory. That object was named ‘Oumuamua.

Is time travel possible? In this episode of Science Weekend, time travel is examined by the Science Channel plus NASA chimes in with their view.

Today on Science Weekend we’re featuring a video from the educational Astro at Home series about growing food in extreme environments, including growing food on Mars.

The ship tracking ESAIL satellite is one of 53 satellites that will be launched next week on an Arianespace Vega mission.