Space Traffic Coming And Going 2008

14 November Chandrayaan-1 took up orbit around the Earth moon and will map mineral, chemical and topographical features of the moon surface. The spacecraft separated a small lander that after 25 minutes landed on the surface of the moon. This is India's first spacecraft to the Moon.18 November NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiting Mars used its gamma ray package which discovered evidence that suggests 1/3 of Mars was once covered with water.21 November NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around Mars discovered glaciers of water ice under rocky debris away from the North and South pole. One glacier is over one mile thick.24 November The ESA's Mars Express has been studying and sending back images of the aurora on Mars.24 November NASA's Dawn spacecraft shut down its ion propulsion system for a flyby of Mars [gravity assist] on its way to Vesta [asteroid].October 2009 the Phobos Explorer [Russia ">after it is launched in 2011 and is a lander like Spirit and Opportunity. However this lander will travel higher, farther and faster on the surface and not totally rely on solar power. It will carry its own power supply similar to previous Viking spacecraft.

Origin: space-wanderers.blogspot.com