Asteroids

NASA Statement on Student Asteroid Calculations Regarding Asteroid Apophis Collision

By admin - Posted on April 17th, 2008

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON -- The Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., has not changed its current estimates for the very low probability (1 in 45,000) of an Earth impact by the asteroid Apophis in 2036.

Contrary to recent press reports, NASA offices involved in near-Earth object research were not contacted and have had no correspondence with a young German student, who claims the Apophis impact probability is far higher than the current estimate.

Asteroid Apophis radar detection » read more »

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Enroute to Shed Light on Asteroid Belt

By newsdesk - Posted on October 1st, 2007

Sept. 27, 2007 -- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Dawn spacecraft is on its way to study a pair of asteroids after lifting off Thursday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:34 a.m. EDT.

Mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., received telemetry on schedule at 9:44 a.m. indicating Dawn had achieved proper orientation in space and its massive solar array was generating power from the sun. » read more »