Latest Explorer program Stories

WASHINGTON - After an eight-year run that gave astronomers a completely new perspective on the universe, NASA has concluded the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer mission. The satellite, known as FUSE, became inoperable in July when the satellite lost its ability to point accurately and steadily at areas of interest. NASA will terminate the mission Oct. 18."FUSE accomplished all of its mission goals and more," said Alan Stern, associate administrator for the Science Mission...

BALTIMORE -- Having coaxed all the life they can out of an 8-year-old ultraviolet light-detecting space telescope, scientists will reluctantly turn it off later this month.After that, NASA's Fuse observatory will be "just another piece of space junk," orbiting the earth every 100 minutes until it falls back to Earth in about 30 years, said Bill Blair, the Fuse operations chief and an astronomy professor at Johns Hopkins University.Fuse, short for Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic...

NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer is celebrating its fourth year in space with some of M81's "hottest" stars. In a new ultraviolet image, the magnificent M81 spiral galaxy is shown at the center. The orbiting observatory spies the galaxy's "sizzling young starlets" as wisps of bluish-white swirling around a central golden glow. The tints of gold at M81's center come from a "senior citizen" population of smoldering stars. "This is a spectacular view of...

Proof that certain double star systems can erupt in full-blown explosions and then continue to flare up with smaller bursts has been spotted by the ultraviolet eyes of NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The finding bolsters a 20-year-old theory that suggests such double-star, or binary systems, should eventually undergo both types of explosion, rather than just one or the other. It implies the systems probably cycle between two blast types, hiccupping every few weeks with small surges until...

By JIM ELLIS CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Five science satellites blasted off on a single rocket into a golden sunset Saturday on a mission to figure out the source of powerful geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere.The launch at 6:01 p.m. from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station came a day after it was scrubbed Friday after strong upper winds forced officials to wait 24 hours, said Rani Gran, NASA spokeswoman.Scientists hope the $200 million Themis mission unravels the mystery behind the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Strong upper level winds forced NASA to abort plans to launch five satellites on a single rocket Friday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, officials said.NASA will attempt to launch the five science satellites again Saturday. The probes are all part of a mission to figure out the source of powerful geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere."The strong winds would have affected the rocket's path," said Rani Gran, a NASA spokeswoman.Scientists hope...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- So many satellites. Just one rocket.Five NASA satellites stacked like a wedding cake are set to launch on a single rocket Friday, part of a mission to figure out the source of powerful geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere.These storms can damage communications satellites, disable power grids and shoot high levels of radiation down on spacewalking astronauts and airplane passengers flying over northern latitudes. Scientists believe they also periodically...

Canadian scientists help new NASA satellite project gain a closer look at the aurora borealisAn international team of scientists -- including physicists from the University of Calgary -- will begin gathering the most detailed information yet about the ever-changing northern lights, as a multi-year research project enters its ultimate phase with the launch of five NASA satellites from Cape Canaveral next month.Researchers in the U of C's Institute for Space Research will play a critical role...

A pair of interacting galaxies might be experiencing the galactic equivalent of a mid-life crisis. For some reason, the pair, called Arp 82 (see photo), didn't make their stars early on as is typical of most galaxies. Instead, they got a second wind later in life "“ about 2 billion years ago "“ and started pumping out waves of new stars as if they were young again. The new observations are from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Southeastern...

A giant black hole has been caught red-handed dipping into a cosmic cookie jar of stars by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. This is the first time astronomers have seen the whole process of a black hole eating a star, from its first to nearly final bites. "This type of event is very rare, so we are lucky to study the entire process from beginning to end," said Dr. Suvi Gezari of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. Gezari is lead author of a new paper appearing...