Ken Kremer, Author at Universe Today

Landfall at Santa Maria for Opportunity on Mars

15 Dec , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover arrived today (Dec .15) at Santa Maria crater on Sol 2450. She sits just 20 meters from the crater rim. A multitude of inviting rocks and boulders are strewn about the 80 meter diameter crater, making this a Martian geologists dream. And so it goes too for a Martian photographer […]

The Longest Martian Odyssey Ever

13 Dec , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] At 3,340 days and counting, NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter established a new record for longevity as of Dec. 15 and thereby worked longer at the red planet than any other spacecraft in human history. The previous Martian record holder was the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) orbiter which operated in orbit from Sept. 11, 1997 […]

Apollo 12 anniversary celebrated at Martian Crater as Opportunity blazes ahead

9 Dec , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] NASA recently celebrated the anniversary of the historic Apollo 12 lunar landing mission with another history making craft – the long lived Opportunity Mars rover. Opportunity traversed around and photographed ‘Intrepid’ crater on Mars in mid November 2010. The crater is informally named in honor of the ‘Intrepid’ lunar module which landed two humans […]

First Orion Capsule forming rapidly

25 May , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] The first Orion crew capsule is rapidly taking shape as assembly work to construct the skeletal framework of the first pathfinder Orion capsule – the Ground Test Article – or GTA, is nearing completion. The Lockheed Martin team building Orion is just one weld away from completing the framework of an Orion cabin at […]

WORF and Klingons occupy ISS

17 Apr , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] WORF has finally joined the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). That’s great news for NASA as well as members and fans of the Klingon High Council who are delighted to occupy a prime location for exquisite surveillance of the Earth and Federation activities. WORF is the acronym for the Window Observational Research […]

President Obama Visits Kennedy Space Center on April 15

12 Apr , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption]A few details have finally emerged about Presidents Obama’s short visit to the Kennedy Space Center on April 15 to discuss his new plans for NASA as part of his 2011 NASA Budget Request to Congress. Obama’s visit to KSC will begin at 1:30 PM and end at 3:45 PM, when he departs for a […]

Mother of Pearl Colored Clouds form above Kennedy after Discovery Blast Off

8 Apr , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] (Editor’s Note: Ken Kremer is at the Kennedy Space Center for Universe Today covering the flight of Discovery) Beautiful billowing clouds of all shapes, sizes and appearance always form from rocket exhaust plumes following a mighty rocket launch, whether it’s from the Space Shuttle or an unmanned rocket like the Atlas for the SDO […]

Spectacular Radar Failed Belly Flip (Video) and Docking links Discovery to ISS

7 Apr , 2010 by Ken Kremer

Space Shuttle Discovery performed a spectacular “Radar Failed” rendezvous and docking at the International Space Station this morning (April 7) at 3:44 AM as the two massive ships were flying in formation some 225 miles over the Caribbean Sea near Caracas, Venezuela. Discovery’s blast off on April 5 began a two day pursuit of the […]

Antenna Glitch hinders Data Flow from Inspection of Discovery

6 Apr , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] (Editor’s Note: Ken Kremer is at the Kennedy Space Center for Universe Today covering the flight of Discovery) Following their spectacular predawn blastoff on Monday April 5, the crew of seven astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Discovery is busy with many important chores in preparing for their scheduled link up with the International Space Station […]

Discovery Dazzles with Two Dawns in One Day

5 Apr , 2010 by Ken Kremer

[/caption] (Editor’s Note: Ken Kremer and Alan Walters are at the Kennedy Space Center for Universe Today covering the flight of Discovery) Space Shuttle Discovery blasted to orbit this morning (April 5) precisely on time at 6:21 AM EDT in the predawn skies at the Kennedy Space Center. Hints of sunlight cracking through the horizon […]

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