The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an United States government organization.
Questions tagged [nasa]
60 questions
30
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1 answer
Why is Anti-helium so important in the search for dark matter?
I've been reading/hearing that if the AMS satellite measures a significant flux of anti-helium in cosmic rays, that would be an irrefutable proof of dark matter. I was wondering:
Why is that? what is the dark matter decay/annihilation that produces…
Juanjo
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21
votes
2 answers
Land proportions in NASA blue marble photographs
What is the explanation for the apparent size difference of North America in these two photos from NASA?
Image source
Image source
Simplex
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20
votes
3 answers
Cameras in Voyager probes
I've always wondered about the cameras in the space probes, especially in the Voyagers.
1) What kind of cameras do they have? Digital? (Electronic - what kind of sensor and megapixel count?) Analog? (Do they develop the film and then scan it, as…
Andres
15
votes
3 answers
What does "rarely" mean in NASA's statement: "technically referred to as an exosphere because it’s so thin, its atoms rarely collide."?
The following statement is from this article:
The behavior of a dense atmosphere is driven by collisions between its
atoms and molecules. However, the moon's atmosphere is technically
referred to as an exosphere because it’s so thin, its atoms…
15
votes
3 answers
Is it possible to avoid the radiation that caused the American flag turned into white on the Moon?
While lunar images have proven that the American flags planted during the Apollo missions are still standing on the moon, lunar scientists have now said that they probably no longer hold the iconic stars and stripes — radiation from the sun most…
Sufiyan Ghori
- 731
12
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1 answer
The most distant point from the earth that a space shuttle has reached
What is the most distant point from the Earth that a space shuttle has reached? When did this happen?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
10
votes
2 answers
What happened to Apollo's Saturn-third-stage rockets?
I read recently the original Apollo 11 press release and it mentions that the Saturn V's third stage (used for Trans-Lunar Injection) was deployed into a solar orbit of some kind:
(Source: Press Kit - Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission. NASA Release…
Emilio Pisanty
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9
votes
2 answers
Where are the Voyagers going?
Given enough time, where are the Voyager spacecrafts heading? (Assuming some alien civilization doesn't pick them up.)
Will they pass by any interesting stars on the way to the black hole at the center of our galaxy or will it perhaps leave the…
billpg
- 856
7
votes
4 answers
How do aerospace engineers choose a landing system? (Curiosity rover)
The Sojourner rover with the Mars Pathfinder used a entry, descent, and landing system involving airbags to land on Mars.
The Spirit and Opportunity rovers each used more-or-less the same system involving airbags to land on Mars.
The Curiosity rover…
David Cary
- 1,063
7
votes
2 answers
How can Y-dwarf stars have such a low temperature?
A recent article from NASA said they found some stars with temperatures "as cool as the human body." How is this possible? Does fusion still occur in these stars?
yx.
6
votes
2 answers
Why aren't space probes like New Horizons sped up in space?
So the New Horizons project is sending a probe out to image Pluto and Charon. As they're pretty far away, it will take the New Horizons probe nearly 10 years to get there (in 2015, having been launched in 2006). It even received a 'slingshot'…
Jez
6
votes
2 answers
After the Space Shuttle is retired, how will the new sections of ISS be launched?
The International Space Station (ISS) had many of its components launched by the Space Shuttle. After the Space Shuttle's retirement, what is the proposed launch vehicle for new ISS sections?
hayalci
6
votes
1 answer
ISS live stream 'experiments' explanation
I am not sure if this question would be appropriate on Physics.SE (or SE in general) so please redirect me if necessary.
I have been recently watching some of the International Space Station live stream and they appear to show some 'experiments' or…
Mark N
- 451
5
votes
5 answers
Curiosity Rover (MSL): specification / dimensions
I have been looking all over and I can't find a detailed specification about the Curiosity Rover.
The length is about 10 feet but it would be cool to find out the dimensions of the wheels, clearance and so on.
Anybody know where I would find this…
Seth
5
votes
1 answer
NASA Theoretical Faster Than Light Space Travel (IXS-Enterprise)
I was recently reading about NASA Faster than Light proposed spaceship, it supposedly will bend spacetime behind the spacecraft, so technically instead of bringing the ship to the destination, "it will bring the destination to you." now, I have an…
Lucian09474
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