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| Year in Space 2004 |
Nov 25, 2003 - I'd like to thank the Year in Space 2004 calendar for sponsoring the Universe Today newsletter for the next few weeks - that's their banner on the right-hand side. If you're interested in a 2004 day planner with one cool astronomy picture for each week of the year, why don't you check it out?
Click here to access their site.
Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today
P.S. I'm going to be moving Universe Today to a new webserver tonight, so there might be a slight interruption in service. If you notice any errors in the website, or if you don't receive the newsletter for a few days, please let me know.
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| Image credit: Hubble |
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| Fundamental Force of Nature Has Changed Over Time? |
| Nov 25, 2003 - Physicists from Northeastern University believe that a fundamental force of nature, the bond between electrons and protons, has been strengthening since the Big Bang. In fact, they believe it might have been 200,000 times weaker ten billion years ago - and this could mirror the discovery that the Universe seems to be accelerating apart. They've based their research on the light from quasars ten billion light-years away. This theory is very controversial; however, as another experiment has demonstrated that the strength of the bond hasn't changed in at least two billion years. |
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| Image credit: SWRI |
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| Pluto Mission Will Study Jupiter Too |
| Nov 25, 2003 - Although the main goal of the NASA's New Horizons mission will be to send a spacecraft to Pluto, the mission designers figure they can examine Jupiter on the way out as well - and get a valuable gravity boost that would shave years off the mission. If all goes as planned, New Horizons would launch in 2006, and pass Jupiter in early 2007 (probably three times closer than Cassini did in 2000); it will reach the Pluto-Charon system in 2015. After Pluto, New Horizons would then be re-targeted to fly past a Kuiper Belt Object. |
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| Image credit: NASA |
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| Shuttle Improvements Set to Cost $280 Million |
| Nov 25, 2003 - NASA has estimated that implementing the improvements to the space shuttle fleet suggested by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board will set the agency back $280 million USD. One problem that NASA still hasn't found the solution for is how to give astronauts the ability to repair holes in the wing, like the one that brought down Columbia. The agency is soliciting suggestions from outside as well; since November 12, they've received 286 suggestions - mostly from the public. |
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