December 2016

Pluto with Charon in the background (Image NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI)

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An article published in the journal “Nature” describes a research that suggests a rapid formation of the large basin of Sputnik Planitia, a part of the heart-shaped region on the dwarf planet Pluto, in the early stages of its life. A team of researchers led by Douglas Hamilton, a professor of astronomy at the University of Maryland, concluded that its features might be the inevitable consequences of the processes that led to its evolution.

The Progress MS-4 spacecraft blasting off atop a Soyuz U rocket (Image NASA TV)

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A little while ago the Progress MS-4 spacecraft blasted off atop a Soyuz U rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After about nine minutes it separated successfully from the rocket’s last stage and was placed on its route. The cargo spacecraft began its resupply mission to the International Space Station also called Progress 65.

When the spacecraft was about to separate from the rocket’s last stage some problems with the reception of telemetry data started. It’s unclear whether the solar panels have been deployed and especially if it’s properly en route. The spacecraft was launched in the 2-day path but its status hasn’t been determined.