On Friday, NASA launched the Juno spacecraft on a five-year journey to Jupiter. The craft is carrying a variety of instruments that it will use to study the planet, including, as it turns out, one with a Star Wars-inspired name. Astrobiology Magazine explains (emphasis mine):
"A Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) instrument that will delve into the dynamics of the solar system?s largest planetary magnetic field was launched aboard NASA?s Juno spacecraft.
The Jupiter Energetic-particle Detector Instrument (JEDI) will measure energetic particles that flow through and are trapped within Jupiter?s space environment, called a ?magnetosphere,? and study how those particles interact with Jupiter?s swirling atmosphere."
Sounds like someone at Johns Hopkins APL is a Star Wars fan -- not surprising, given the nature of their work. You can read more about Jupiter's JEDI instrument at Astrobiology Magazine's website.
Rebelscum Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Patch Posted By Philip on November 25, 2014: Thanks to everybody that ordered patches. I sent a check for $1,600.00 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation on Monday. While it's not as much as I hoped for, it's still very much appreciated. They will remain for sale in the store for anybody that still wishes to purchase them. Details after the jump.