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NASA Baffled by Unexplained Force Acting on Space Probes

Started by mickw, Mar 01, 2008, 12:05:24

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mickw

Mysteriously, five spacecraft that flew past the Earth have each displayed unexpected anomalies in their motions.

These newfound enigmas join the so-called "Pioneer anomaly" as hints that unexplained forces may appear to act on spacecraft.

More:  http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080229-spacecraft-anomaly.html
Growing Old is mandatory - Growing Up is optional

doug


     Where are you getting this space information from, Mick??  It is fascinating to read, and the video of the satellite get a rocket is a wow.  Another question; are you not at DSC ??  If not, why not ???  ;)
Always look on the bright side of life ...

mickw

Hi Doug,
On my homepage (BT Yahoo) I have feeds from Yahoo Space and Astronomy News
http://news.yahoo.com/i/2117;_ylt=Aklxkcdf6hNhA_w5rdd2ISsPLBIF
They get feeds from Space.com amongst others
http://www.space.com/
I also get news alerts (usually a bit out of date ) from -
http://spaceflightnow.com/
Now that lot should keep you out of mischief for a while  :lol:

DSC  :
Bottom line - I chickened out, weather forecast looked too unpredictable - must admit that last night was a good call  ;)
Hopefully my courage will return for the next one  :oops:
Mick
Growing Old is mandatory - Growing Up is optional

doug


   Thanks for the information, Mick, I downloaded the Space.com site into my "favorites" thingy on the laptop.  There was a very good video of the trip around the Universes, which I sent on to Carole...she`ll probably shoot me for that.  Keep up the good posts, and see you in the pub on the 4th March.... hopefully. :)
Always look on the bright side of life ...

mickw

Growing Old is mandatory - Growing Up is optional

Mike

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan

mickw

Doh
Reputation under threat, must think of something tough to do..........................
Fire walking ?   No
Chainsaw juggling ?  NO
OK, I give up, I'm a wuss   :cry:
Growing Old is mandatory - Growing Up is optional

Mike

There are two theories i've seen about this :-

a) Our understanding of gravity is flawed
b) There is still an undiscovered planet in our own solar system, maybe even a huge one such as a brown dwarf, that is so far out and so slow moving that it has yet to be found.

I am personally convinced there are still large objects orbiting our sun to be discovered within or beyond the Kupier Belt so my money is on B.
We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan

mickw

Interesting program on TV last night - Birth of the Solar System (National Geographic).
Apart from the theory that large bodies can only be formed close to stars, there is also a bunch of other theories.
One of them was that if the orbits of 2 large objects (Jupiter and Saturn) cause them to pass closely, their combined gravity causes a wobble which can cause the objects to change their orbits.
If the theory is correct, and it has happened once, Option b) certainly is a contender.

Scheduled to be repeated Friday 7th 5pm - Sky 526  Virgin 230
Growing Old is mandatory - Growing Up is optional

Mike

Google the "Kuiper Cliff" - interesting stuff about possible earth sized or larger bodies beyond the Kuiper Belt.
We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan

Mike

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. Carl Sagan