Richard Leis

Month: July 2005

  • Deep Impact Coverage: Impactor Away!

    Deep Impact successfully deployed its impactor spacecraft early this morning on a one-way trip to destruction by Comet Tempel 1. The flyby spacecraft then burned its engines to take it out of the path of the oncoming comet before turning around and snapped the above image of the impactor spacecraft drifting away as it sparkled…

  • Let’s Make a Crater!

    I cannot express just how excited I am by tonight’s Deep Impact with Comet Tempel 1. Because all that energy has to go somewhere (my energy, not the impact energy), I decided to keep up on the latest images and scientific data all night while providing coverage on my own website, Frontier Channel. The articles…

  • Deep Impact Coverage: Early Composition Results for Comet Tempel 1

    Deep Impact has taken an early look at some of the chemicals in the coma of Comet Tempel 1, detecting water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons via spectral analysis. The coma is an envelope of gas and dust that becomes more active as a comet approaches the Sun. Outbursts of material occur as the…

  • Extreme Driving Comfort

    Hardy explorers of Antarctica may soon travel in stylish and warm comfort thanks to a design concept by James Moon working with the British Antarctic Survey. “Ninety Degrees South” is a concept vehicle designed to seat two people while providing protection from the elements. Outfitted with both wheels and tracks, the vehicle would theoretically be…

  • Deep Impact with Comet Tempel 1

    The space probe Deep Impact will attempt to make history this weekend by blasting a crater into Comet Tempel 1. Scientists expect the crater – perhaps as large as a football field – will provide them a glimpse of fresh material uncovered by the impact. While comets are plentiful in our solar system, scientists know…