I was thinking about the space shuttle landing and last week I heared that today is the launch of the Juno Space probe which will head out to Jupiter.
So, I thought of making a topic where people can place in some news about launches, spacetravel, spotting, etc.
Well, I will be the first to give a news item:
As I said, today will be the launch of an Atlas V rocket, containing the Juno Space Probe which will return to Earth in 2013 and then make a 'sling' around the earth to head for Jupiter which will be there in the year 2016.
For those who want to follow this event can watch it here on NASA TV:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ustream.html
The launch is now 2 hours and counting.
What it will do on it's mission:
The ratio of oxygen to hydrogen, effectively measuring the abundance of water in Jupiter, which will help distinguish among prevailing theories linking the gas giant's formation to the solar system.
Obtain a better estimate of Jupiter's core mass, which will also help distinguish among prevailing theories linking the gas giant's formation to the solar system.
Precisely map Jupiter's gravity to assess the distribution of mass in Jupiter's interior, including properties of the planet's structure and dynamics.
Precisely map Jupiter's magnetic field to assess the origin and structure of the field and how deep in Jupiter the magnetic field is created. This experiment also will help scientists understand the fundamental physics of dynamo theory.
Map the variation in atmospheric composition, temperature, structure, cloud opacity and dynamics to depths far greater than 100 bars at all latitudes.
Characterize and explore the three dimensional structure of Jupiter's polar magnetosphere and its auroras.
