U.S. Spacecraft Finds New Ring of Saturn

                      Mystery Solved

Cassini spacecraft (above), an unmanned probe, has solved a mystery surrounding a strange blotch on one side of  Saturn's moon Lapetus (left).  Meteor impacts with another moon, Phoebe (right) have kicked out dust into space.  Some of this dust has landed on Lapetus, staining one face of the moon.   It's a head on collision.   "The particles smack Lapetus like bugs on a windshield,"  Professor Anne Verbiscer said,  according to a BBC report.  The rest of the dust has formed a vague ring around Saturn, in a different plane than the other rings. 

      The Space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station on August 30. The two crews have embarked on a joint operation. Thirteen people will be working at the facility for eight days.  Commander Rick Sturckow performed a back flip in his craft to effect the rendezvous. Pilot Kevin Ford fine tuned his course with a series of rocket bursts.       

The Space Station is Growing Up

     The station (top right) has been under construction for almost 11 years  and and it's big and bright. It's wider than a football field with 12,600 cubic feet of labs and crew quarters.  The Earth weight is some  670,000 lb.

    The current mission will involve five space walks and a major health experiment to study the effects of space on the human heart.                                                         Photo: NASA

       USA TODAY Produces Space Station Learning Module

     Using NASA sources, graphic artists Robert W. Ahrens and Julia Schmalz, of USA TODAY, have produced an animated learning module which demonstrates the construction of the International Space Station.  The artists have created a learning tool which teaches the reader the names of the various units, their purpose, date of attachment and dimensions.  You can see the learning module here.

     The animated graphics show the assembly in space.  Details of the modules and nodes are shown by hovering over enlargements of the various sections.  The artists have included the final trusses, yet to be installed. 

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Hubbel Telescope release

Sandra Magnus in space.  "Everyday's a bad hair day."The result of micro-gravity is not readily seen on men. 

Photos: NASA