NASA's Curiosity rover has powered down to wait out a Mars-bound solar blast, complicating efforts to bring the 1-ton robot back from a computer glitch.

Curiosity's handlers put the rover on standby after the sun unleashed a medium-strength flare in the Red Planet's direction Tuesday (March 5). It's the second recent shutdown for Curiosity, which had just come out of protective "safe mode" Saturday (March 2) as engineers work through an issue with its primary computer system.

"Storm's a-comin'! There's a solar storm heading for Mars. I'm going back to sleep to weather it out," NASA officials wrote on behalf of the rover via Curiosity's Twitter feed today (March 6).

The rover team views the shutdown as merely a precaution, as Curiosity was designed to withstand such solar outbursts, the Associated Press reported. But the move could delay the rover's return to science operations, which had been anticipated as early as this weekend.

Curiosity landed inside Mars' huge Gale Crater last August to determine if the area has ever been capable of supporting microbial life. The robot had been operating pretty much flawlessly on the Red Planet until last Wednesday (Feb. 27), when it failed to send recorded data home to Earth and didn't shift into its daily sleep mode as planned. [Curiosity Rover's Latest Amazing Mars Photos]

The mission team determined that a glitch had affected the flash memory on Curiosity's main, or A-side, computer system. So engineers swapped the rover over to its backup (B-side) computer, which spurred Curiosity to go into safe mode on Thursday (Feb. 28).

Since then, the robot's handlers have been working to configure the B-side computer for surface operations and fix the problem with the A-side, which they think may have been caused by a fast-moving charged particle known as a cosmic ray.

Curiosity has been on the road to recovery. The rover came out of safe mode on Saturday and began using its high-gain antenna again a day later. Mission officials have expressed confidence that engineers will fix or troubleshoot the glitch soon, saying Curiosity may resume science operations as early as this weekend if all continues to go well.

The solar flare may now push that timeline back a bit, however.

NASA officials do not expect Tuesday's solar flare to seriously affect any of the agency's other robotic Mars explorers, such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter or Opportunity rover, the Associated Press reported.

Tuesday's flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which blasted a huge cloud of solar plasma toward the Red Planet. CMEs that slam into Earth inject large amounts of energy into our planet's magnetic field, spawning potentially devastating geomagnetic storms that can disrupt GPS signals, radio communications and power grids for days.

But CMEs don't have a similar impact on Mars, which lacks a global magnetic field, scientists say.

Curiosity Mars Rover· Mars· NASA· News· Space

NASA Puts Mars Rover Curiosity on Standby After Solar Flare

NASA's Curiosity rover has powered down to wait out a Mars-bound solar blast, complicating efforts to bring the 1-ton robot back from a computer glitch.

Curiosity's handlers put the rover on standby after the sun unleashed a medium-strength flare in the Red Planet's direction Tuesday (March 5). It's the second recent shutdown for Curiosity, which had just come out of protective "safe mode" Saturday (March 2) as engineers work through an issue with its primary computer system.

"Storm's a-comin'! There's a solar storm heading for Mars. I'm going back to sleep to weather it out," NASA officials wrote on behalf of the rover via Curiosity's Twitter feed today (March 6).

The rover team views the shutdown as merely a precaution, as Curiosity was designed to withstand such solar outbursts, the Associated Press reported. But the move could delay the rover's return to science operations, which had been anticipated as early as this weekend.

Curiosity landed inside Mars' huge Gale Crater last August to determine if the area has ever been capable of supporting microbial life. The robot had been operating pretty much flawlessly on the Red Planet until last Wednesday (Feb. 27), when it failed to send recorded data home to Earth and didn't shift into its daily sleep mode as planned. [Curiosity Rover's Latest Amazing Mars Photos]

The mission team determined that a glitch had affected the flash memory on Curiosity's main, or A-side, computer system. So engineers swapped the rover over to its backup (B-side) computer, which spurred Curiosity to go into safe mode on Thursday (Feb. 28).

Since then, the robot's handlers have been working to configure the B-side computer for surface operations and fix the problem with the A-side, which they think may have been caused by a fast-moving charged particle known as a cosmic ray.

Curiosity has been on the road to recovery. The rover came out of safe mode on Saturday and began using its high-gain antenna again a day later. Mission officials have expressed confidence that engineers will fix or troubleshoot the glitch soon, saying Curiosity may resume science operations as early as this weekend if all continues to go well.

The solar flare may now push that timeline back a bit, however.

NASA officials do not expect Tuesday's solar flare to seriously affect any of the agency's other robotic Mars explorers, such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter or Opportunity rover, the Associated Press reported.

Tuesday's flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which blasted a huge cloud of solar plasma toward the Red Planet. CMEs that slam into Earth inject large amounts of energy into our planet's magnetic field, spawning potentially devastating geomagnetic storms that can disrupt GPS signals, radio communications and power grids for days.

But CMEs don't have a similar impact on Mars, which lacks a global magnetic field, scientists say.

Code Red, I Repeat, Code Red!

The internet has never been safe with keeping log-in details of websites secure, and this latest outbreak has buried this fact for definite because latest news state that the hacktivist group 'Ghost Shell' has gained access and spread 1.6 million log-in details from lots of different websites and posted them onto the internet for the whole world to see! The details released indicated that it was not only just log-in details, but it was also email addresses, CVs and contents of some online databases. 

The attack was mainly aimed at the space agencies across the globe such as NASA and the European Space Agency, but it was also aimed at the FBI. However approximately 37 different organisations were hit with the attack that the hackers cleverly put together but using specific coding which would make databases which store website information, spill out all of this data.

Freedom of Information, Or the Freedom of Confidential Information?

The main principal for the attack was to spread awareness of the freedom of information online, however not many people would agree that the information they gained access to is that right sort of information related to this topic. 

It said #ProjectWhiteFox was the last operation it would carry out in 2012.

This quote as you can see does state that they will not carry out anymore attacks for the rest of 2012, but is this true, or is this a plan to give people a sigh of relief, making them completely unaware of an attack that may come later on this month? 

My last comment would be that even though the attacks were mainly carried out in the USA, for the other readers of Rumournal who are not situated in America, I would recommend that you keep an eye on online accounts and possibly change passwords if required and this will also apply for the readers in the USA aswell.

European Space agency· FBI· Ghost shell· Hacker attacks· hacktivists· log-in details spread· NASA· Project white fox

Hacktivists 'Ghost Shell' Dump 1.6 Million Log-in Details onto the Web, Beware!

Code Red, I Repeat, Code Red!

The internet has never been safe with keeping log-in details of websites secure, and this latest outbreak has buried this fact for definite because latest news state that the hacktivist group 'Ghost Shell' has gained access and spread 1.6 million log-in details from lots of different websites and posted them onto the internet for the whole world to see! The details released indicated that it was not only just log-in details, but it was also email addresses, CVs and contents of some online databases. 

The attack was mainly aimed at the space agencies across the globe such as NASA and the European Space Agency, but it was also aimed at the FBI. However approximately 37 different organisations were hit with the attack that the hackers cleverly put together but using specific coding which would make databases which store website information, spill out all of this data.

Freedom of Information, Or the Freedom of Confidential Information?

The main principal for the attack was to spread awareness of the freedom of information online, however not many people would agree that the information they gained access to is that right sort of information related to this topic. 

It said #ProjectWhiteFox was the last operation it would carry out in 2012.

This quote as you can see does state that they will not carry out anymore attacks for the rest of 2012, but is this true, or is this a plan to give people a sigh of relief, making them completely unaware of an attack that may come later on this month? 

My last comment would be that even though the attacks were mainly carried out in the USA, for the other readers of Rumournal who are not situated in America, I would recommend that you keep an eye on online accounts and possibly change passwords if required and this will also apply for the readers in the USA aswell.

Ever wondered what the earth looks like from outer space? Well the space agency has posted beautiful cloud-free photos and videos of the Earth illuminated by man-made light sources at night. To get these amazing pictures, NASA used new sensors placed onboard the Suomi satellite in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, composite images were assembled of the Earth over short periods in April and October using the new "day-night band" filter.

NASA said that the technique is more sensitive to light originating from our planet than previous sensors due to the way it analyses images. The filter scans photos multiple times in order to detect the amount of light in individual pixels, boosting and dimming different parts of the image as necessary.

 

amazing· earth· NASA· Photography· pictures· Space

Amazing Pictures from NASA: The Earth As Seen At Night

Ever wondered what the earth looks like from outer space? Well the space agency has posted beautiful cloud-free photos and videos of the Earth illuminated by man-made light sources at night. To get these amazing pictures, NASA used new sensors placed onboard the Suomi satellite in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, composite images were assembled of the Earth over short periods in April and October using the new "day-night band" filter.

NASA said that the technique is more sensitive to light originating from our planet than previous sensors due to the way it analyses images. The filter scans photos multiple times in order to detect the amount of light in individual pixels, boosting and dimming different parts of the image as necessary.

 

Today Angry Birds Space has been updated with an awesome new episode tied to NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover. NASA and Rovio have partnered extensively on marketing for Angry Birds Space, using the game to promote NASA's educational scientific discoveries.

The new update sees the piggies hijacking the Curiosity Mars Rover and introducing 20 new levels on Mars for the Angry Birds.

NASA is helping pigs and birds explore the Martian terrain and shed light on the agency's missions to the Red Planet in the latest update to the game Angry Birds Space. Rovio Entertainment, creator of Angry Birds, announced the update Thursday, complete with a cast of agency rovers and landers. 

Earlier this year, millions of gamers were introduced to concepts of microgravity in Angry Birds Space, which was supported through a partnership with NASA and includes links to a variety of education information. 

"Rovio is teaching huge new audiences about NASA's missions to Mars thanks to this collaboration," said David Weaver, associate administrator for communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "It's a great way to introduce both kids and adults to the wonders of the planet in a fun and entertaining way."

Angry Birds Space is available on the iPhone, iPad and the Mac

Angry Birds· Angry Birds Space· Curiosity· Curiosity Mars Rover· Games· iOS· iPad· iPhone· Mac· Mars· NASA· PC· updates

Angry Birds Space Updated With Curiosity Mars Rover Content

Today Angry Birds Space has been updated with an awesome new episode tied to NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover. NASA and Rovio have partnered extensively on marketing for Angry Birds Space, using the game to promote NASA's educational scientific discoveries.

The new update sees the piggies hijacking the Curiosity Mars Rover and introducing 20 new levels on Mars for the Angry Birds.

NASA is helping pigs and birds explore the Martian terrain and shed light on the agency's missions to the Red Planet in the latest update to the game Angry Birds Space. Rovio Entertainment, creator of Angry Birds, announced the update Thursday, complete with a cast of agency rovers and landers. 

Earlier this year, millions of gamers were introduced to concepts of microgravity in Angry Birds Space, which was supported through a partnership with NASA and includes links to a variety of education information. 

"Rovio is teaching huge new audiences about NASA's missions to Mars thanks to this collaboration," said David Weaver, associate administrator for communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "It's a great way to introduce both kids and adults to the wonders of the planet in a fun and entertaining way."

Angry Birds Space is available on the iPhone, iPad and the Mac