Xenon – Behind The Black – Robert Zimmerman

Rosetta detects krypton and xenon at Comet 67P/C-G

June 14, 2016 8:44 am Robert Zimmerman

During Rosetta’s recent close approaches to Comet 67P/C-G scientists were able to confirm the presence of two noble gases, krypton and xenon.

Rosetta had already detected argon, which makes three of the six noble gases.

A NASA ion engine has successfully completed more than five and a half years of continuous operation.

June 24, 2013 9:56 pm Robert Zimmerman

A NASA ion engine has successfully completed more than five and a half years of continuous operation.

During the endurance test performed in a high vacuum test chamber at Glenn, the engine consumed about 1,918 pounds (870 kilograms) of xenon propellant, providing an amount of total impulse that would take more than 22,000 (10,000 kilograms) of conventional rocket propellant for comparable applications.

So, now what? Will this engineering achievement be filed away, like so many other past NASA engineering projects, or will it be used for something?

Scientists have failed to detect one of the leading theoretical candidates for dark matter.

July 18, 2012 9:29 am Robert Zimmerman

Null result: Scientists have failed to detect one of the leading theoretical candidates for dark matter.

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