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THEMIS launch (2007)  (Source: NASA)
UC Berkeley researcher Jonathan Eastwood spoke with DailyTech regarding the current status of the NASA THEMIS mission

The NASA THEMIS satellite mission, which launched in 2007, is designed to let researchers to learn more about the causes of the aurora.  

Using five identical satellites that are in orbit around Earth, researchers are able to successfully measure the local magnetic field and properties of the particles trapped in the magnetic field.  The project, which was proposed to NASA by UC Berkeley -- with the satellites also built in Berkeley -- as UC Berkeley researchers maintain control of the satellites via radio satellite dish.

"Two of the five THEMIS probes are now on their way to the moon, for a new life studying the lunar environment!" exclaimed Jonathan Eastwood, UC, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory Assistant Research Physicist.  "Although the two-year 'prime mission phase' of THEMIS is now over, three of the THEMIS probes, closest to the Earth, will continue to operate (for many years) collecting scientific data about the solar wind interaction, space weather, geomagnetic storms, etc."

In our brief interview, Eastwood added the following:  "However because of the vagaries of colestial mechanics, the outer two probes would encounter long eclipses in the shadow of the Earth, which they couldn't survive.  If nothing was done, they would be lost."  

Although there are concerns of fuel levels, researchers will have the probes utilize complex orbits that will involve flying them by the moon using Lagrange points to help reduce fuel consumption.  The Lagrange points are described as the location where gravity of two bodies balance -- i.e. the Earth and the Moon, or Sun and Earth, according to Eastwood.

Instead of launching a new mission, which would cost a significant amount -- along with time necessary to prep the new mission -- researchers decided to send the probes to the moon.  Dubbed 'ARTEMIS,' the two space probes will not arrive until fall 2010, despite first maneuvers taking place on July 20.  According to Eastwood, the two moon probes will conduct several flybys of the lunar surface later this year, then will go into orbit.

UC Berkeley and NASA researchers are looking forward to the information they can gather from the THEMIS mission, with a high-level of anticipation for future successes.

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nuclear
By Randomblame on 10/20/2009 12:03:39 PM , Rating: 1
lol it took almost 8 years for nasa to get approval to launch Casini because of it's nuclear TEG and that didn't even have enough nuclear material to irradiate a kitchen if it crashed. These hippies will always throw a fit whenever you use the N word - we need to start calling it by the code name "hemp" that way it would be perfectly acceptable. "The new deep space probe is powered by a hemp reactor" - that'll shut them up!

-We uncovered intel that terrorists have obtained a nuclear device, and they have most likely hidden it in Mrs. Clinton's snatch




RE: nuclear
By Smartless on 10/20/2009 3:47:48 PM , Rating: 2
Too bad its taking so long for nuclear engines to be used since there isn't a better solution right now.

- A Snuke sir.

And you could have quoted a different N-word. Like N%ggers. Someone that's annoying. The correct answer was... Naggers. Oooohhh.


RE: nuclear
By ipay on 10/20/2009 5:47:46 PM , Rating: 3
And that has what to do with the article, exactly?

Oh that's right, nothing at all.


RE: nuclear
By Divide Overflow on 10/21/2009 1:16:54 AM , Rating: 2
Don't tell the hippies that the earth is currently being irradiated by an exposed nuclear reaction or they'd try to ban the sun.


RE: nuclear
By Boze on 10/21/2009 2:45:05 AM , Rating: 2
You seem to have forgotten that its much easier to cry and whine and yell loudly than actually educate yourself, or even ask to be educated, for that matter.

The reason the entire world is in the shape it's in is because people listen to the criers and whiners instead of doing the right thing and using logic and reason.


send a couple nuclear replacements
By kattanna on 10/20/2009 10:45:37 AM , Rating: 2
they should really look into sending up a couple of nuclear powered replacements that can handle being in the shadow of the earth.

anyways, if they were going to be lost, sending them to the moon is a good idea.




RE: send a couple nuclear replacements
By DEVGRU on 10/20/09, Rating: -1
"So if you want to save the planet, feel free to drive your Hummer. Just avoid the drive thru line at McDonalds." -- Michael Asher

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