* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: ESApod

Blobrana · L

The project, called Mars500, due to start in 2008 will recreate all the phases of a mission to Mars. Six volunteers will remain confined in six modules of a mock-up ground-based spaceship: living quarters with individual cabins, an exercise room and storage area for food and supplies, a bio-medical and laboratory area and one recreating the Martian surface. The simulation will also focus on psychological aspects of such a long-duration confinement. In some respects, the Mars500 concept has many of the ingredients of a reality TV show, with cameras filming the interaction between people in all kinds of situations. But the comparison stops there. This is a serious scientific experiment, and the only way to prepare a really long-duration mission. The European Space Agency, as a 'strategic partner', is involved at all levels of this international project. Since June this year it has started selecting 12 volunteers, two of them will be part of the six-strong crew. ESA is also choosing the experiments to be carried out during their 500-day confinement.

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Blobrana · L

A 15 September meteorite strike in Peru highlights the need to expand scientists' understanding of asteroids, meteoroids and other NEO, or Near-Earth Objects. Scientists still don't know the precise composition of asteroids, for example, making any attempt to deflect one aimed at the Earth highly problematic. ESA's Rosetta 'comet-chasing' mission, now en route to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, will be the first to undertake the long-term exploration of a comet from close quarters and includes the deployment of a landing probe. Don Quijote is a precursor mission, designed to assess and validate the technology that one day could be used to deflect an asteroid threatening the Earth.

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Blobrana · L

In only a few weeks time, Italian ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli will join six NASA astronauts on board Space Shuttle Discovery to fly to the International Space Station (ISS).
Their task is a challenging one. The Esperia Mission is responsible for the safe delivery and attachment of the ESA financed Node 2 connecting module to the ISS, an essential step for the Station to be able to receive the European Columbus laboratory with the next Shuttle flight in December 2007.
In his role as a Mission Specialist, Paolo Nespoli is going to coordinate three spacewalks and carry out a programme of scientific experiments created jointly by the European and the Italian space agencies on top of other communication and educational activities.

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-- Edited by Blobrana at 11:42, 2007-09-14

Blobrana · L

ESA`s first deep-space ground station at New Norcia (Western Aus

ESA hosts international conference on tracking and commanding spacecraft

Highlight interviews with ESA and other top space agencies from a workshop aimed at sharing best practices and enhancing international cooperation for satellite tracking systems.

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Blobrana · L

ESAis providing a new free service, ESApod, where you can watch and listen to selected audio and video content anytime, anywhere.

ESApod delivers digital audio and video files directly to you, downloading the information onto your personal computer or portable digital device. You can choose to listen or view the content the traditional way, sitting at your desk, or receive the information right on your portable digital device, such as your iPod, and listen and watch whenever and wherever you want.
ESApod will provide new content on a weekly basis, covering subjects such as human spaceflight, space science, Earth observation, ground control and mission operations.

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESApod/