YES!!!! Up Up and Away!!!

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20010406/imdf06042001011516a.jpg Hubble shot of galaxies intermingling.

Eleven new planets (as reported by CNN): http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/04/05/new.planets/index.html?s=2

Really nice shot of the space station.

And, since I'm on such a roll, here's the log of the space station for the last couple of months. If you really want the nitty gritty of what goes on up there.

Here Comes the Sun (again!) Space Weather News for April 10, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com A powerful X-class solar flare erupted Tuesday morning, triggering radio blackouts and a minor radiation storm. The explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. Today's CME joins another already en route to our planet. Forecasters estimate a 25% chance of severe geomagnetic activity at middle latitudes when the CMEs arrive late Wednesday or Thursday. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras after sunset on Wednesday. Tune in to SpaceWeather.com for details and updates.

Leafy Green Astronauts NASA Science News for April 9, 2001 NASA scientists are learning how to grow plants in space. Such far-out crops will eventually take their place alongside people, microbes and machines in self-contained habitats for astronauts. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast09apr_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Monday, April 9, 2001 @ 1427 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now ODYSSEY SPACECRAFT HEADS TO MARS IN SEARCH OF WATER --------------------------------------------------- When the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft enters orbit around Mars later this year, it will kick off a restructured Mars science program that focuses on the search for water on the Red Planet, past and present. http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/odyssey/010408science.html On Sunday NASA gave an Odyssey status update: http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/odyssey/status.html INDIA RESCHEDULES DEBUT LAUNCH OF ITS GSLV ROCKET ------------------------------------------------- The first development launch of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle has been set for April 18. The original launch attempt of GSLV was aborted one second before the liftoff on March 28 because an engine failed to develop the required thrust. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/09gslv/ NEW INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE TO STUDY OUR EXPLOSIVE SUN ------------------------------------------------------ Life on Earth would be impossible without the light and heat generated by our nearest star, the Sun. However, this giant ball of hydrogen and helium gas can affect our world in many different ways. Not surprisingly, scientists want to learn as much as possible about our erratic neighbor, so spacecraft that can observe the Sun continuously are essential tools. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/09solarb/ SPACECOM CHIEF: SPACE MUST BE TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY --------------------------------------------------- American military involvement in space will become more critical to national security in coming years, says U.S. Space Command's top officer Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/09milspace/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HUBBLE CALENDAR FOR 2001 -- AVAILABLE NOW! This remarkable calendar features stunning images of planets, stars, gaseous nebulae, and galaxies captured by NASA's orbiting Hubble Space Telescope, which is one of the most important scientific instruments of our time. http://astronomynowstore.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- AOL USERS --------- The links below make it easier for AOL users to reach our stories. ODYSS EY SPACECRAFT HEADS TO MARS IN SEARCH OF WATER OUR MARS ODYSSEY MISSION STATUS CENTER INDIA RESCHEDULES DEBUT LAUNCH OF ITS GSLV ROCKET NEW INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE TO STUDY OUR EXPLOSIVE SUN SPACECOM CHIEF: SPACE MUST BE TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY

-------------------------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - April 9, 2001 ** forward SpaceDaily Express to a friend ** -------------------------------------------- ------------------ ADVERTISEMENT -------------------- The London Satellite Exchange - Buy or sell satellite capacity - Capacity on NewSat-I is available soon, and will provide attractive pricing combined with excellent coverage. The satellite is the former Palapa B2R, now in inclined orbit at 42.5 degrees East. Contact the traders +44 207 680 7268 -------------------- www.e-sax.com ------------------- ----------- QUICK SPACE - 2001 Mars Odyssey probe to launch new era in Mars exploration http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406133440.2lt8wb65.html - India To Relaunch Failed Satellite Rocket April 18 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/india-01c.html - Russia launches new Proton rocket http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407071752.r8b9p1f0.html - Endeavour Launch Set For April 19 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/shuttle-01h.html ---------------- MORE QUICK SPACE - A European Mars Moving Ahead http://www.spacedaily.com/news/marsexpress-01a.html - Search for water on Mars goes on http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406133404.yb30ugde.html - From triumph to catastrophe: NASA's missions to Mars http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406133339.ko8wpfcq.html - Space Critical For US Forces http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-01k.html - A Nukeless Ukraine Backs Current ABM Treaty Arrangements http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01z.html - Russian General Touts Western Support For Euro-Shield http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01za.html - Computer Security Threat Is Real Warns Space Command Chief http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cyberwar-01a.html - North Korea sold 540 missiles to Mideast countries: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406053343.iwdiyzpx.html - Delta IV RS-68 Engine Fires Up For Extended Test http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01c.html - EU launches satellite navigation system to rival GPS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010405165455.zvkd6rgz.html - Bonnet Calls For More European Investment In Space Science http://www.spacedaily.com/news/esa-general-01a.html - Competition Heats Up For GLAST http://www.spacedaily.com/news/glast-01a.html - Japan to join project to build giant space telescope http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406085455.zrbfuo02.html - Tropical Ocean Warming Driving Recent Northern Climate Change http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01l.html - Understanding Two Big Ice Cubes http://www.spacedaily.com/news/icesat-01a.html - Hitchhiking Molecules On Comets Can Survive Impacts With Earth http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01l.html - Man in space: "the greatest event in the history of the world" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407022221.l3jqoj70.html - 40 years after Gagarin, space remains the final frontier http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407013005.kvns1a0k.html ------------------ HEADLINES IN BRIEF April 9, 2001 --------- MARSDAILY - A European Mars Moving Ahead http://www.spacedaily.com/news/marsexpress-01a.html London - April 9, 2001 - If you live in Europe, there's almost certainly a research institute or industrial company near you that is contributing materials or expertise to Mars Express, Europe's first mission to the Red Planet. ----------------------- MARS 2001 LAUNCH SEASON - 2001 Mars Odyssey probe to launch new era in Mars exploration http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406133440.2lt8wb65.html - Search for water on Mars goes on http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406133404.yb30ugde.html - From triumph to catastrophe: NASA's missions to Mars http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406133339.ko8wpfcq.html -------- SPACEWAR - Space Critical For US Forces http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-01k.html Washington - April 9, 2001 - American military involvement in space will become more critical to national security in coming years, said U.S. Space Command's top officer. - A Nukeless Ukraine Backs Current ABM Treaty Arrangements http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01z.html Kiev (Interfax) April 8, 2001 - Ukraine is convinced that the ABM Treaty, the nucleus of the existing strategic arms limitation system, must be preserved, well-known Ukrainian military expert and Chairman of the State Commission for the Defense-Industrial Complex Vladimir Gorbulin writes in an article published by the Ukrainian newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli on Saturday. - Russian General Touts Western Support For Euro-Shield http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01za.html Moscow (Interfax) April 8, 2001 - Leonid Ivashov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's main department for international military cooperation, said the West has expressed an interest in Russia's proposals on the creation of a European ballistic missile defense system. - Computer Security Threat Is Real Warns Space Command Chief http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cyberwar-01a.html Washington - April 9, 2001 - The four-star general whose organization is responsible for DoD computer security says the "cyber" threat against U.S. military information systems is real. - North Korea sold 540 missiles to Mideast countries: expertv http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406053343.iwdiyzpx.html --------- SPACEMART - India To Relaunch Failed Satellite Rocket April 18 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/india-01c.html Bangalore (AFP) April 7, 2001 - India will relaunch its first major commercial satellite later this month after the previous attempt was aborted, dealing a blow to the country's ambitious space programme. - Delta IV RS-68 Engine Fires Up For Extended Test http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01c.html Hancock County - April 9, 2001 - Continuing with testing of the Delta IV Common Booster Core (CBC) and integrated RS-68 main engine at NASA's Stennis Space Center, Boeing officials today announced another successful test, the third in the program's series of integrated stage assembly tests. - Russia launches new Proton rocket http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407071752.r8b9p1f0.html - EU launches satellite navigation system to rival GPS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010405165455.zvkd6rgz.html -------------- Micro Satellite Tender --------------- COSMIC is a joint U.S.-Taiwan scientific project that will use a constellation of six microsatellites to collect atmospheric sounding measurements. Industry partners to build and deliver six GPS receivers, six solid-state recorders plus payload computers are now being sought by the University Corporation. ----------- http://www.ucar.cosmic.edu/ ----------- ------------- SPACE SCIENCE - Bonnet Calls For More European Investment In Space Science http://www.spacedaily.com/news/esa-general-01a.html Paris - April 9, 2001 - Greater investment in space science would help nurture Europe's scientific community and consequently build up the knowledge-based society that Europe's heads of state declared they wanted at the European Union summit in Lisbon last year. This was a common message delivered to the General Assembly of the European Geophysical Society in Nice last week by the outgoing and incoming directors of ESA's science programme. - Competition Heats Up For GLAST http://www.spacedaily.com/news/glast-01a.html Redondo Beach - April 9, 2001 - TRW has been awarded a six-month study contract by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., to refine its development concept for NASA's Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), a successor to the TRW-built Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (Compton GRO). - Japan to join project to build giant space telescope http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406085455.zrbfuo02.html ------- "SMALLER SATELLITES: BIGGER BUSINESS?" ------ Strasbourg will be the setting for the International Space University's 6th Annual Symposium. This year's theme will be small satellites with an emphasis on concepts, applications and markets. Join some of the world's leading experts, manufacturers and users in interdisciplinary presentations and discussions on a wide variety of issues pertaining to small satellites Strasbourg - May 21-23 - 2001 --------- http://www.isunet.edu/Symposium/ ---------- ---------- TERRADAILY - Tropical Ocean Warming Driving Recent Northern Climate Change http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01l.html Boulder - April 9, 2001 - A progressive warming of tropical oceans, likely due to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is driving major climate changes observed in the Northern Hemisphere since 1950, according to a new study published in the April 6 issue of the journal Science. - Understanding Two Big Ice Cubes http://www.spacedaily.com/news/icesat-01a.html Orono - April 9, 2001 - In a world that measures everything from hemlines to the speed of light, the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets present a special challenge. They are ancient and complex, the two most massive ice cubes on the planet. ---------- EXO WORLDS - Hitchhiking Molecules On Comets Can Survive Impacts With Earth http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01l.html Berkeley - April 9, 2001 - Simulating a high-velocity comet collision with Earth, a team of scientists has shown that organic molecules hitchhiking aboard a comet could have survived such an impact and seeded life on this planet. ------------ STATION NEWS - Endeavour Launch Set For April 19 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/shuttle-01h.html Houston - April 5, 2001 - Endeavour will launch April 19, 2001, to deliver a new generation of Canadian space robotics to the International Space Station. The robotic arm is longer, stronger, more flexible and more capable than even the Space Shuttle's venerable arm. ------------ YURI'S NIGHT - Man in space: "the greatest event in the history of the world" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407022221.l3jqoj70.html - Key dates in the history of space flight http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407013207.yyf5ftfl.html - 40 years after Gagarin, space remains the final frontier http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407013005.kvns1a0k.html - Cosmonauts biographies published in Gagarin anniversary volume http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406165110.gcrajr7s.html - Official Celebration Site http://www.yurisnight.net ----------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS LIST NOTES -------------------------------------------- SpaceDaily Express is issued daily and lists all new postings to www.SpaceDaily.com Subscription is free: subscribe@spacer.com

NEWSALERT: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 @ 1433 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now GIOTTO'S LEGACY IN THE EXPLORATION OF COMETS -------------------------------------------- Almost 15 years ago, ESA's Giotto spacecraft made history by obtaining the first close-up pictures of a comet's black, icy nucleus. Recently scientists and engineers who worked on the pioneering deep space mission came together to reminisce about past triumphs and to look forward to the next generation of comet explorers. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/11giotto/ WHITE HOUSE PROPOSES $14.5B NASA BUDGET FOR '02 ----------------------------------------------- NASA administrator Dan Goldin said Monday that the agency faces "difficult decisions" in a number of programs in the near future despite a 2002 budget request that gives the agency a modest funding increase. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/10nasabudget/ XEUS: A NEW CONCEPT IN EXPLORING X-RAY UNIVERSE ----------------------------------------------- Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or, in the case of the Universe, was it massive black holes or galaxies? To answer this question by studying black holes in the early Universe requires an extremely sensitive X-ray telescope. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/10xeus/ GALILEO BUSY BEAMING DATA ------------------------- Another quiet engineering week sees the spacecraft concentrate once again on data playback from the tape recorder. These data were recorded when Galileo flew through the depths of the Jupiter system last December. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/10galileothisweek/ XM SATELLITE RADIO LOOKS FORWARD TO NEXT LAUNCH ----------------------------------------------- XM Satellite Radio reports that its first spacecraft is performing well during initial testing and checkout in orbit while preparations continue for the launch of the sister digital radio broadcasting craft next month. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/11xmupdate/ GOES-M WEATHER SATELLITE ARRIVES IN FLORIDA FOR LAUNCH ------------------------------------------------------ The GOES-M environmental weather satellite, currently targeted for launch July 12, arrived Tuesday by C-5 air cargo plane at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility from the manufacturing plant in Palo Alto, Calif. http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac142/010411arrive/ TRMM SATELLITE CRITICAL TOOL IN MONITORING HURRICANES ----------------------------------------------------- As the 2001 Hurricane Season approaches, forecasters will once again rely on high-resolution rain data from a NASA satellite in its arsenal of tools used to monitor the size, location, and strength of hurricanes and tropical storms. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/10trmm/

Severe geomagnetic storming on Wednesday, April 11th Space Weather News for April 11, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com A strong solar wind disturbance hit our planet's magnetosphere around 1400 UT (noon EDT) on Wednesday, April 11th, triggering a severe geomagnetic storm. If the storm continues unabated, middle-latitude sky watchers could spot auroras tonight. Usually the best time to look for "Northern Lights" is around local midnight. In this case, it might be better to go outside not too long after sunset -- before the storm subsides and before the bright Moon rises. Visit spaceweather.com for updates and images from the ongoing storm.

Severe geomagnetic storming on Wednesday, April 11th (corrected) Space Weather News for April 11, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com A strong solar wind disturbance hit our planet's magnetosphere between 1300 and 1400 UT (9 to 10 a.m. EDT) on Wednesday, April 11th, triggering a severe geomagnetic storm. If the storm continues unabated, middle-latitude sky watchers could spot auroras tonight. Usually the best time to look for "Northern Lights" is around local midnight. In this case, it might be better to go outside not too long after sunset -- before the storm subsides and before the bright Moon rises. Visit spaceweather.com for updates and images from the ongoing storm. NOTE: Some subscribers may have received an earlier version of this announcement citing an incorrect time for the onset of the geomagnetic storm. This updated notice is correct. ---

-------------------------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - April 12, 2001 ** forward SpaceDaily Express to a friend ** -------------------------------------------- MAIN SPACE - Russia Clears Tito For April 28 Flight To ISS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01m.html - Japan's Space Agencies Under Mounting Pressure To Merge http://www.spacedaily.com/news/japan-general-01a.html - Defense Satellite Concerns May Kill SingTel Takeover of Optus http://www.spacedaily.com/news/optus-01a.html - Indonesia to launch telecom satellite in 2003 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411032252.ki5wswmd.html ---------- MORE SPACE - Space legend lives on as Russia remembers Gagarin http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411031049.gab5towd.html - Soviet Space Feats http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411024158.zx661hjx.html - NASA's space shuttle program turns 20 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411192826.dt8sx63k.html - Russia launches space conference despite snub by US, Britain http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411153526.0egmlwn3.html - Russia mulls rapid reaction force for missile defense shield http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010410180103.z8jb5zmj.html - Cuban Missile Crisis Veterans Warn of "Nuclear Folly" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/icbm-01f.html - Cooperation, not confrontation serves Europe-US relations better http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010412020629.61wrczzo.html - Concerned world looks on as Bush pursues foreign policy agenda http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010412024051.z4pp0bts.html ------------------ HEADLINES IN BRIEF April 12, 2001 ------------ SPACE TRAVEL - Russia Clears Tito For April 28 Flight To ISS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01m.html Moscow - April 11, 2001 - Russian space officials have announced the go ahead for Dennis Tito's flight to the space station via a Soyzu-TM taxi flight set for liftoff April 28. NASA remains opposed to the flight, but realizes it has little option but to accept the unilateral move by Russia to commercialize the station ahead of its own belated plans. ----------- JAPAN SPACE - Japan's Space Agencies Under Mounting Pressure To Merge http://www.spacedaily.com/news/japan-general-01a.html Tokyo - April 11, 2001 - Japan's three major space agencies have taken the first tentative steps to a possible merger later this decade with an agreement to establish an initial joint program office to coordinate launch vehicle development, along with the sharing of ground facilities such as tracking stations and IT support services. ------------- SPACE HISTORY - Space legend lives on as Russia remembers Gagarin http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411031049.gab5towd.html Gagarin - (AFP) Apr 11, 2001 - Russians above a certain age can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard that Yury Gagarin had died. And as with US president John F. Kennedy, the circumstances of the cosmonaut's death are shrouded in uncertainty, giving rise to outlandish conspiracy theories. - Soviet Space Feats http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411024158.zx661hjx.html - NASA's space shuttle program turns 20 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411192826.dt8sx63k.html Washington (AFP) Apr 11, 2001 - NASA marks 20 years of space shuttle flights Thursday -- an era of remarkable successes tainted by the tragedy of the Challenger explosion -- amid uncertainty over the future of the program. YURI'S NIGHT - Man in space: "the greatest event in the history of the world" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407022221.l3jqoj70.html - Key dates in the history of space flight http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407013207.yyf5ftfl.html - 40 years after Gagarin, space remains the final frontier http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010407013005.kvns1a0k.html - Cosmonauts biographies published in Gagarin anniversary volume http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010406165110.gcrajr7s.html - Official Celebration Site http://www.yurisnight.net --------- SPACEMART - Defense Satellite Concerns May Kill SingTel Takeover of Optus http://www.spacedaily.com/news/optus-01a.html Sydney - April 11, 2001 - A takeover bid of Australia's number two telecom carrier Cable and Wireless Optus, by Singapore's majority state owned telecom firm SingTel is under growing pressure following concerns over a conflict of interest. - Indonesia to launch telecom satellite in 2003 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411032252.ki5wswmd.html Jakarta (AFP) Apr 11, 2001 - The state-run PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (PT Telkom) is planning to launch its Telkom-2 telecommunications satellite in 2003 to replace the Palapa B4, a report said Wednesday. -------- SPACEWAR - Russia launches space conference despite snub by US, Britain http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010411153526.0egmlwn3.html Moscow (AFP) Apr 11, 2001 - An international conference aimed at outlawing a military build-up in space opened here Wednesday amid Russian anger that the United States and Britain had apparently snubbed a forum held at President Vladimir Putin's initiative. - Russia mulls rapid reaction force for missile defense shield http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010410180103.z8jb5zmj.html Moscow (AFP) Apr 10, 2001 - Russia's plans for a European missile defense system could include a joint center to monitor for rocket attacks and an international rapid-reaction force, a Russian official told Interfax Tuesday. - Cuban Missile Crisis Veterans Warn of "Nuclear Folly" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/icbm-01f.html Moscow (AFP) April 12, 2001 - Two leading US participants in the 1962 Cuban missile crisis and scores of veteran Russian diplomats and military officials have relived the 13 days that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. - Cooperation, not confrontation serves Europe-US relations better http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010412020629.61wrczzo.html - Concerned world looks on as Bush pursues foreign policy agenda http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010412024051.z4pp0bts.html ---------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS LIST NOTES -------------------------------------------- SpaceDaily Express is issued daily and lists all new postings to www.SpaceDaily.com Subscription is free: subscribe@spacer.com

NEWSALERT: Friday, April 13, 2001 @ 0257 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now MOLECULES HITCHHIKING ON COMETS MAY SURVIVE IMPACTS --------------------------------------------------- Simulating a high-velocity comet collision with Earth, a team of scientists has shown that organic molecules hitchhiking aboard a comet could have survived such an impact and seeded life on this planet. The results give credence to the theory that the raw materials for life came from space and were assembled on Earth into the ancestors of proteins and DNA. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/13molecules/ ODYSSEY'S LAUNCH PUT SPACECRAFT ON GOOD COURSE ---------------------------------------------- NASA has decided to postpone the first trajectory tweaking maneuver by the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft that was envisioned for next Monday, officials announced Thursday. http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/odyssey/status.html EXPEDITION TWO CREW WORKS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL --------------------------------------------- The international space station's Expedition Two Crew spent this week loading the Progress supply craft with trash and unneeded items in preparation for its undocking next week to clear the aft port on the Zvezda module for the relocation of the Soyuz capsule. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html ACCIDENT DELAYS COSMOS 1 SOLAR SAIL PROJECT LAUNCH -------------------------------------------------- The Planetary Society disclosed Wednesday that it's plans to launch a solar sail demonstration satellite later this month would be delayed indefinitely due to a testing accident that damaged the spacecraft. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/12cosmos1/ SUN TAKES ANOTHER SOLAR SHOT, THIS TIME AT EARTH ------------------------------------------------ An angry Sun fired off another powerful X-class flare Tuesday. X-class flares are the most powerful classification, and this flare, rated X-2, was the most recent in a series that included one of the most powerful solar blasts in 25 years. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/12flare/ FIRST MEASUREMENTS MADE OF COLD WATER IN MILKY WAY -------------------------------------------------- The search for water in space goes on. Using ESA's Infrared Space Observatory, astronomers have for the first time measured the total amount of water in cold regions of our galaxy. This is especially interesting because these regions are the birthplace of stars like the Sun, and Solar Systems like our own. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/12coldwater/ NASA TO TRACK MORE ASTEROIDS WITH NEW CAMERA -------------------------------------------- Asteroid search efforts got a boost from a new, improved camera installed this week for NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Tracking system on the 1.2-meter Oschin telescope at the Palomar Observatory near San Diego, Calif. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/13neat/ NEW WAY TO STUDY EVOLUTION OF WHITE DWARF STARS ----------------------------------------------- The Joint Astrophysical Plasmadynamic Experiment (J-PEX) recently launched successfully on a NASA sounding rocket. The J-PEX objective is to produce the first high-resolution spectrum of a white dwarf star at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/13jpex/ PRATT TO DEVELOP NEW UPPER STAGE ROCKET ENGINE ---------------------------------------------- Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion operations announced this week its plans to begin development of a full-scale engine demonstrator for a next generation high-performance liquid-hydrogen-fueled 60,000 pound-thrust-class rocket engine, designated the RL60. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/12rl60/

Interplanetary shock wave passes Earth, triggers magnetic storm Space Weather News for April 13, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com AURORA ALERT: An interplanetary shock wave struck Earth's magnetosphere early on Friday the 13th and triggered a strong geomagnetic storm. Forecasters anticipate that a second shock wave will arrive later Friday or Saturday, possibly intensifying the ongoing disturbance. Middle-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras after local sunset. AURORA GALLERY: A pair of coronal mass ejections that hit Earth's magnetosphere on April 11th sparked an intense display of auroras. Sky watchers in the United States saw "Northern Lights" as far south as the New Mexico-Texas border. Check out our aurora gallery for more than 50 images of the storm. Visit http://SpaceWeather.com

Life as We (Didn't) Know It NASA Science News for April 13, 2001 Biologists always thought life required the Sun's energy, until they found an ecosystem that thrives in complete darkness. A team of scientists including members of the NASA Astrobiology Institute are sailing the high seas on a daring expedition to explore this strange new world -- right here on our own planet. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast13apr_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Saturday, April 14, 2001 @ 1750 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now A VIRTUAL COLUMBIA ON ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY ------------------------------------------ Spaceflight Now toured the space shuttle Columbia at the Kennedy Space Center this week to mark the 20th anniversary of its maiden flight and captured the scene in two virtual reality panoramas. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/14ov102/ EUROPE GOES TO MARS ------------------- If you live in Europe, there's almost certainly a research institute or industrial company near you that is contributing materials or expertise to Mars Express, Europe's first mission to the Red Planet. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/14marsexpress/ TURNING DIAMOND FILM INTO SOLAR CELLS ------------------------------------- Timothy Fisher is taking a Tiffany's approach to converting sunlight into electricity: with a $348,000 grant from National Reconnaissance Office, the assistant professor of mechanical engineering is exploring the use of polycrystalline diamond as a replacement for the silicon solar cells currently used in many space applications. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/14diamondarrays/

NEWSALERT: Monday, April 16, 2001 @ 1651 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR LAUNCH ----------------------------------------------- Astronauts representing four countries -- the most diverse for any one crew -- flew to Kennedy Space Center today in preparation for blastoff aboard space shuttle Endeavour on Thursday bound of the international space station. Meanwhile, a Russian cargo ship undocked from the station earlier today. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html STS-100 MISSION THEATER IS NOW OPEN ----------------------------------- Sign up today for Spaceflight Now's Mission Theater Package, your front row seat for video coverage of shuttle Endeavour's mission to deliver the Canadian-made robotic arm to the International Space Station. You will gain access to online video clips, plus receive an embroidered mission patch like those worn by the astronauts and a VHS tape featuring the daily mission highlights and additional launch and landing footage. http://spaceflightnow.com/theater/sts100/pack.html CLIMATE CHANGE LINKED TO ANOMALY IN EARTH'S ORBIT ------------------------------------------------- About 23 million years ago, a huge ice sheet spread over Antarctica, temporarily reversing a general trend of global warming and decreasing ice volume. Now a team of researchers has discovered that this climatic blip corresponded with a rare combination of events in the pattern of Earth's orbit around the Sun. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/16anomaly/ X-40A CRAFT PAVES WAY FOR NASA'S X-37 SPACE PLANE ------------------------------------------------- The X-40A vehicle successfully performed a second free flight test on April 12 at Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, Calif. The X-40A was lifted by an Army Chinook helicopter and released. The craft made a smooth touchdown shortly thereafter. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/15x40a/ ANTIBIOTIC EXPERIMENT HEADING FOR SPACE STATION ----------------------------------------------- The University of Colorado at Boulder-based BioServe Space Technologies Center is sending an intriguing biomedical experiment to the international space station April 19 to test the effects of long-term weightlessness on antibiotic production. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/15issbioserve/ NASA SHOWS EARTH'S GLOBAL HEAT ENGINE DRIVING PLANTS ---------------------------------------------------- Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have assembled the first long-term global data set that demonstrates the connection between changing patterns of sea surface temperature and patterns of plant growth across the Earth's landscapes. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/15plantgrowth/

NEWSALERT: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 @ 1508 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now STATION TO GROW TWO-HANDED ARM DURING SHUTTLE VISIT --------------------------------------------------- The shuttle Endeavour stands poised for blastoff Thursday on the most complex space station assembly flight yet attempted, a two-spacewalk mission to install a $900 million Canadian robot arm able to move around the station's exterior like a 58-foot-long mechanical inchworm. Read our multi-part mission preview! http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/010416preview/ See the astronauts' master flight plan: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/fdf/100plan.html LAUNCH COUNTDOWN CONTINUES SMOOTHLY ----------------------------------- Endeavour's countdown began on schedule Monday evening and continued smoothly overnight. NASA officials report there are no technical problems standing in the way of liftoff on Thursday. You can follow the three-day countdown in our Mission Status Center: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html STS-100 MISSION THEATER IS NOW OPEN ----------------------------------- Sign up today for Spaceflight Now's Mission Theater Package, your front row seat for video coverage of shuttle Endeavour's mission to deliver the Canadian-made robotic arm to the International Space Station. You will gain access to online video clips, plus receive an embroidered mission patch like those worn by the astronauts and a VHS tape featuring the daily mission highlights and additional launch and landing footage. http://spaceflightnow.com/theater/sts100/pack.html CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR MARS SAMPLE RETURN STUDIES ------------------------------------------------ NASA's Mars Exploration Program has awarded four industry team contracts to conduct initial studies of specific implementation scenarios for a first Mars sample return mission that might be launched as early as 2011. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/17marssample/ NANOTECHNOLOGY GETS A BOOST --------------------------- In the forefront of nanotechnology development, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has acquired one of the world's finest electron beam lithography systems, one that will allow researchers to work on the sub-molecular scale. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/17nanotech/

-------------------------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - April 17, 2001 ** forward SpaceDaily Express to a friend ** -------------------------------------------- -------------- Micro Satellite Tender --------------- COSMIC is a joint U.S.-Taiwan scientific project that will use a constellation of six microsatellites to collect atmospheric sounding measurements. Industry partners to build and deliver six GPS receivers, six solid-state recorders plus payload computers are now being sought by the University Corporation. ----------- http://www.ucar.cosmic.edu/ ------------ ----------- QUICK SPACE - US space tourist flies to Baikonur to try out spacesuit http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010416133936.mnpr8ga4.html - India Set For Second Launch Bid http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010417011036.jwv9erln.html - Diamonds In The Sun http://www.spacedaily.com/news/solarcell-01b.html - Endeavour Launch Set For April 19 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/shuttle-01h.html - Turning Stars Into Gold http://www.spacedaily.com/news/neutron-star-01a.html - Satellite Industry Turns Over $80 Billion Annually http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-01e.html - Mutual Inspection Of Compliance For Missile Destruction Treaty Ends http://www.spacedaily.com/news/icbm-01g.html ------------------ HEADLINES IN BRIEF April 17, 2001 --------- SPACEMART - India Set For Second Launch Bid http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010417011036.jwv9erln.html Bangalore (AFP) April 17, 2001 - The India Space Research Organization was counting down Tuesday for its second attempt at launching a new rocket that carries the country's hopes of entering the commercial launch market. Countdown began early Monday with take-off scheduled for 3:43 pm (1013 GMT) Wednesday. - Satellite Industry Turns Over $80 Billion Annually http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-01e.html New York - April 9, 2001 - The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) latest annual survey found a 17 percent increase in revenues for 2000, with the commercial satellite industry now generating over $80 billion in revenues annually. ---------- TECH SPACE - Diamonds In The Sun http://www.spacedaily.com/news/solarcell-01b.html Nashville - April 10, 2001 - Timothy Fisher is taking a Tiffany's approach to converting sunlight into electricity: with a $348,000 grant from National Reconnaissance Office, the assistant professor of mechanical engineering is exploring the use of polycrystalline diamond as a replacement for the silicon solar cells currently used in many space applications. ------------- SPACE SCIENCE - Turning Stars Into Gold http://www.spacedaily.com/news/neutron-star-01a.html Leicester - April 15, 2001 - Many common elements, such as oxygen and carbon, are known to be made in stars and distributed through the Universe when a star explodes as a supernova. This is the origin of most of the material that makes up the Earth. -------- SPACEWAR - Mutual Inspection Of Compliance For Missile Destruction Treaty Ends http://www.spacedaily.com/news/icbm-01g.html Almaty (Interfax) April 11, 2001 - The United States, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine will end on May 31, 2001 the mutual inspection activities that have lasted for 13 years to check compliance with the treaty on elimination of medium and shorter range missiles. --------------------- YESTERDAY'S HEADLINES - Final Decision On Tito Flight Tuesday http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01n.html - Was The Big Bang A Big Bump http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cosmology-01b.html - Can Europe's RLV Plans Rise Like A Phoenix http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rlv-01c.html - Delayed Funding Could Torpedo Russia's ISS Contribution http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-01q.html - NASA Beefs Up Asteroid Tracking With NEAT New Camera http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01d.html - Violet Will Enable Chips Of Ultra New Level http://www.spacedaily.com/news/chip-tech-01a.html - Climate Wobble Linked To Rare Anomaly In Earth's Orbit http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iceage-01a.html - Khrunichev Space Center To Supply Rocket Boosters To India http://www.spacedaily.com/news/india-01d.html

Solving Charles Darwin's 'Abominable Mystery' NASA Science News for April 17, 2001 About 130 million years ago the first flowering plants suddenly appeared -- an event Charles Darwin described as an 'abominable mystery.' Now, scientists using chemical fossils are unraveling this ancient puzzle. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast17apr_1.htm?list89800

The Amazing Canadarm2 NASA Science News for April 18, 2001 9:00:00 AM Crawling around the International Space Station like an agile worm, the newest Canadian robotic arm will be essential for building and maintaining the ISS. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast18apr_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 @ 1519 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now EXPEDITION TWO CREW LEAVES STATION FOR SHORT TRIP ------------------------------------------------- For the Expedition Two astronauts today wasn't just another day aboard their orbiting outpost. The three-person crew left the station for a short time to move their escape capsule to a different docking port. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html STATION TO GROW TWO-HANDED ARM DURING SHUTTLE VISIT --------------------------------------------------- The shuttle Endeavour stands poised for blastoff Thursday on the most complex space station assembly flight yet attempted, a two-spacewalk mission to install a $900 million Canadian robot arm able to move around the station's exterior like a 58-foot-long mechanical inchworm. Read our multi-part mission preview! http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/010416preview/ STS-100 MISSION THEATER IS NOW OPEN ----------------------------------- Sign up today for Spaceflight Now's Mission Theater Package, your front row seat for video coverage of shuttle Endeavour's mission to deliver the Canadian-made robotic arm to the International Space Station. You will gain access to online video clips, plus receive an embroidered mission patch like those worn by the astronauts and a VHS tape featuring the daily mission highlights and additional launch and landing footage. http://spaceflightnow.com/theater/sts100/pack.html NEW INDIAN ROCKET MAKES SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL FLIGHT --------------------------------------------------- India's fledgling space program experienced a major boost Wednesday as the maiden Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle took to the skies and successfully delivered an experimental communications satellite into orbit. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/18gslv/ MOON'S DARK SIDE YIELDS CLUES TO EARTH'S CLIMATE ------------------------------------------------ Scientists have revived and modernized a nearly forgotten technique for monitoring Earth's climate by carefully observing "earthshine," the ghostly glow of the dark side of the moon. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/18earthshine/ PROGRESS REPORT ON GALILEO -------------------------- The pace of activity onboard NASA's Galileo spacecraft picks up a bit this week during the relatively quiet cruise portion of an orbit in order to maintain the health of the thrusters and of the tape recorder for when they are needed the most -- during the intense activities of the close satellite encounters. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/18galileothisweek/

NEWSALERT: Monday, April 23, 2001 @ 1514 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now TWO ROBOTIC ARMS AT WORK IN SPACE TODAY --------------------------------------- The Canadarm2 took its first step today by detaching one hand from its launch container and grabbing the international space station's Destiny module. Endeavour's robot arm is also in use today, hoisting the Raffaello cargo module for docking to the station. See our Status Center for live updates: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html CANADA'S ROBOT ARM INSTALLED ON STATION --------------------------------------- The Canadian-made space station robotic arm was attached to the orbiting outpost by spacewalking astronauts Sunday and moved its joints for the first time in space. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/010422fd4/ PROBE SHOWS EROS' SURFACE THE RESULT OF IMPACTS ----------------------------------------------- NEAR mission science team members have concluded that the majority of the small features that make up the surface of asteroid Eros more likely came from an unrelenting bombardment from space debris than internal processes. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/23near/ ESA AND CHINESE EXPLORE JOINT SPACE MISSION ------------------------------------------- A new East-West scientific collaboration recently took a further step towards acceptance when a group of European Space Agency delegates and space scientists travelled to Beijing to meet their Chinese counterparts. Under discussion was possible European participation in a dual-spacecraft mission known as Double Star. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/23esachina/ PANAMSAT LANDS IN KAZAKHSTAN FOR LAUNCH --------------------------------------- PanAmSat announced that the company's new PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellite has arrived in Kazakhstan in preparation for its May launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. PAS-10 will be rocketed into space aboard a Proton launch vehicle and will provide digital video, data and Internet services throughout a 30-million square mile footprint. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/23pas10/

NEWSALERT: Sunday, April 22, 2001 @ 0910 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now ACTION-PACKED DAY AHEAD IN SPACE FOR ASTRONAUTS ----------------------------------------------- The Canadian-made space station robotic arm, folded up in a pallet, is scheduled for attachment onto the orbiting outpost today as two spacewalking astronauts step outside Endeavour for a dramatic 6.5-hour excursion to assemble the $900 million limb. We have complete live coverage in the Status Center: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html See the astronauts' detailed timeline: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/fdf/100plan.html ENDEAVOUR ARRIVES AT SPACE STATION TO DELIVER ROBOT ARM ------------------------------------------------------- Shuttle skipper Kent Rominger guided Endeavour to a glacial docking with the international space station Saturday as the two spacecraft sailed 243 miles above the south Pacific Ocean at five miles per second. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/010421fd3/ A WRINKLE IN SPACE MAY GROUND LIGHTWEIGHT MIRRORS ------------------------------------------------- Inflatable structures are ideal for many space applications, but very small wrinkles may make enormous mirrors impractical, says a researcher. Wrinkles make the polymer membranes currently used for space-based inflatable structures unsuitable for use as mirrors. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/22inflate/ HONING IN ON IMPACT OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN SPACE -------------------------------------------------- Determining how nuclear explosions in space affect U.S. defense systems is what an Arnold Engineering Development Center team hope to determine using its new plasma radiation source "cold" X-ray test capability. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/21nukes/ NEW SPIN PUT ON MYSTERY OF MISSING SOLAR NEUTRINOS -------------------------------------------------- Every day the sun spews out subatomic particles called neutrinos, and instruments count how many make their way to Earth. But the instruments only detect half as many neutrinos as scientists expected to see. Where did all the neutrinos go? In recent years, scientists worldwide have converged on an answer. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/21neutrinos/ PRINCETON SCIENTISTS DESIGN TELESCOPE FOR NASA CONTEST ------------------------------------------------------ It is possible that human beings are only a decade away from finding out whether or not it is alone in the Universe, and Princeton University is playing a large role in this potential discovery. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/22planetfinder/

There was a theory concerning the extinction of the dinosaurs being linked to the appearance of flowering plants. It seems that the dinosaurs digestive systems weren't up to handling the new type of plants, consequently they died off from really bad constipation, more or less.

Thanks for reposting that - I went back to the old url to try to see what I could retrieve. You saved me from having to do that. I will repeat Terry's cooment that it will likely end up as part of a Jay Leno routine. Look Ma -- No Hands! Containerless Processing at MSFC NASA Science News for December , 20 Using a force field to float molten test samples precisely in mid-air, NASA's Electrostatic Levitator creates a unique environment for space-age materials processing. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast23apr_1.htm?list89800

QUICK SPACE - Global Hawk Makes Historic First Unmanned Flight To Australia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/uav-01d.html - Boeing Signs Brazil For Delta 4 Comsat Launch http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01d.html - Astronauts work aboard space station http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423214916.zwg7bj0k.html - Space tourist to make trip despite US reluctance: Russia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423202630.dx0jsorn.html - Space tourist Tito "happiest man in the world" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423143724.hbl3b49r.html - Human Evolution Punctuated By Cosmic Impacts http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01e.html - Nanotechnology Gets A Boost With Purchase Of EB System At JPL http://www.spacedaily.com/news/chip-tech-01b.html - Boeing Rocketdyne RS-68 Engine Triumphs In 10k Run http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01e.html - Air Pollution Control Could Impact Global Warming Trends http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01m.html - Wetter Upper Atmosphere May Delay Global Ozone Recovery http://www.spacedaily.com/news/ozone-01d.html ------------------ HEADLINES IN BRIEF April 24, 2001 -------- SPACEWAR - Global Hawk Makes Historic First Unmanned Flight To Australia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/uav-01d.html Adelaide - April 23, 2001 - The United States� Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Global Hawk made international aviation history Monday when it completed the first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean by an autonomous aircraft, flying from Edwards Air Force Base on the west coast of the U.S. to RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia - Raytheon To Develop And Validate Milstar Upgrade For SMART-T http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milstar-01b.html --------------------------------------------- - Advertise On SpaceDaily For One Year - $12,600 All Inclusive http://www.spacedaily.com/ad-deals-to-go.html email: advertise@spacer.com --------------------------------------------- --------- SPACEMART - Boeing Signs Brazil For Delta 4 Comsat Launch http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01e.html Huntington Beach - April 23, 2001 - Boeing and Space Systems/Loral officials confirmed today that a Brazilian telecommunications satellite will be launched on a Delta IV rocket next year. The launch of Estrela do Sul, which will provide telecommunications services to North and South America, is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., during the second half of 2002. Loral Skynet will operate the satellite built by Space Systems/Loral. - Boeing Rocketdyne RS-68 Engine Triumphs In 10k Run http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01d.html Canoga Park - April 23, 2001 - The Rocketdyne RS-68 engine, being developed by The Boeing Company for the Delta IV family of launch vehicles, has achieved a major milestone in logging more than 10,000 seconds of accumulated hot-fire test time. The engine program is on track for first launch of the Delta IV in early 2002. ------------ STATION NEWS - Astronauts work aboard space station http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423214916.zwg7bj0k.html - Space tourist to make trip despite US reluctance: Russia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423202630.dx0jsorn.html - ISS fitted out with Canadian, Italian contributions http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423181730.0jjqfkdn.html - No decision on controversial space tourist flight: NASA http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423160942.ke7mv69v.html - NASA agrees to controversial space tourist flight http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423152617.20stzgko.html - Space tourist Tito "happiest man in the world" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010423143724.hbl3b49r.html ---------- SPACEGUARD - Human Evolution Punctuated By Cosmic Impacts http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01e.html Liverpool - April 24, 2001 - The theory of gradual and uninterrupted human evolution has been called into question after two researchers found that human evolution has been repeatedly punctuated by large-scale cosmic catastrophes. ---------- TECH SPACE - Nanotechnology Gets A Boost With Purchase Of EB System At JPL http://www.spacedaily.com/news/chip-tech-01b.html Pasadena - April 23, 2001 - In the forefront of nanotechnology development, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., has acquired one of the world's finest electron beam lithography systems, one that will allow researchers to work on the sub-molecular scale. ---------- TERRADAILY - Air Pollution Control Could Impact Global Warming Trends http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01m.html Irvine - April 23, 2001 - Climate researchers are warning that efforts to reduce air pollution could, if not well designed, make global warming worse. Limiting emissions of man-made nitrogen oxides, a strategy to control ozone in the lower atmosphere, would result in increased methane abundance and lead to additional greenhouse warming. - Wetter Upper Atmosphere May Delay Global Ozone Recovery http://www.spacedaily.com/news/ozone-01d.html Greenbelt - April 23, 2001 - NASA research has shown that increasing water-vapor in the stratosphere, which results partially from greenhouse gases, may delay ozone recovery and increase the rate of climate change. ---------------- Space Transportation Summit --------------- The 2001 World Summit on the Space Transportation Business brings together the key players of the space launch industry to focus on the principal strategic issues of the business -- http://www.euroconsult-ec.com/web/space/space_h_ws.htm -- Hotel Inter-Continental Thursday 17 & Friday 18 May 2001 Paris ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS LIST NOTES -------------------------------------------- SpaceDaily Express is issued daily and lists all new postings to www.SpaceDaily.com Subscription is free: subscribe@spacer.com

NEWSALERT: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 @ 1734 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now SPACEWALKERS PLAY ELECTRICIANS OUTSIDE STATION ---------------------------------------------- Endeavour astronauts Chris Hadfield and Scott Parazynski have embarked a 6.5-hour spacewalk today to re-wire the Canadarm2 so it can operate from its new home on hull of the international space station's Destiny lab module. We have live coverage in the Status Center: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html THE RATIONALE BEHIND OUR MISSION THEATER ---------------------------------------- MARS ODYSSEY TAKES SNAPSHOT OF EARTH ------------------------------------ NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft turned its multipurpose camera homeward last week and took its first picture -- a shot of a faint crescent Earth -- as the spacecraft heads off toward its destination, the planet Mars. http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/odyssey/010424earth/ TWO U.S. COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES SUFFER DISRUPTIONS ----------------------------------------------------- Loral's Telstar 6 and PanAmSat's Galaxy 3R telecommunications satellites each went dark for a time over the weekend due to internal computer failures. Both craft, however, were working on backup systems by Monday. Telstar 6 story: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/24telstar6/ Galaxy 3R story: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/24g3r/ ALCATEL TO BUILD NEW GE CRAFT; ILS TO LAUNCH THEM ------------------------------------------------- France-based Alcatel Space has signed a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) for launch of two spacecraft for GE American Communications Inc. in 2002 and 2003. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/24geils/ GALILEO UNDERGOES CALIBRATION ----------------------------- This week on NASA's Galileo spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter sees the continuation of the set of instrument calibrations that began on Sunday. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/24galileothisweek/

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: The Webcast NASA Science News for April 25, 2001 Astrobiologists are visiting the Indian Ocean to explore a bizarre undersea ecosystem that doesn't need sunlight to flourish. You can join them via a live webcast on April 26th! FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast25apr_1.htm?list89800

-------------------------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - April 25, 2001 ** forward SpaceDaily Express to a friend ** -------------------------------------------- ---------------- Space Transportation Summit --------------- The 2001 World Summit on the Space Transportation Business brings together the key players of the space launch industry to focus on the principal strategic issues of the business -- http://www.euroconsult-ec.com/web/space/space_h_ws.htm -- Hotel Inter-Continental Thursday 17 & Friday 18 May 2001 Paris ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- QUICK SPACE - India's experimental satellite runs into minor snags http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010424155415.dnahk40o.html - Canadarm2's Installation Complete During Hadfield's Second Spacewalk http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-01s.html - "Space tourist" delighted with NASA green light http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425085931.47nejdq1.html - Russia To Propose Non-Strategic Missile Defense For Europe http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01zc.html - China To Develop Civil Satellite Technology Base http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-01zb.html - Boeing Signs Brazil For Delta 4 Comsat Launch http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01e.html - Boeing Rocketdyne RS-68 Engine Triumphs In 10k Run http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01d.html - Eutelsat Order New GEO Bird From Astrium http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-01f.html - Malaysian satellite operator gets backdoor listing in takeover bid http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425071737.lahvh8qk.html ---------------- MORE QUICK SPACE - Tito To Take Space Taxi To ISS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01q.html - Green light given for space tourist's trip: NASA http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425022847.xqathrhl.html - Endeavour astronauts complete second spacewalk http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425022352.xs5ov87d.html - Keep Galileo's Eyes Open, Say Petitioning Scientists http://www.spacedaily.com/news/galileo-01g.html - Japan To Test Hyper Plane At Woomera http://www.spacedaily.com/news/japan-hyperx-01a.html - MAP Spacecraft Arrives At KSC To Begin Launch Preparations http://www.spacedaily.com/news/map-01a.html - Impacts Shaped Eros Topography http://www.spacedaily.com/news/near-01n.html - 15 years later, nuclear industry struggles with Chernobyl's legacy http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425030348.wg469tva.html - Thinning of ozone layer over Arctic eases: meteorological agency http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010424143450.wnhc31hf.html ------------------ HEADLINES IN BRIEF April 25, 2001 --------- SPACEMART - Boeing Signs Brazil For Delta 4 Comsat Launch http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01e.html Huntington Beach - April 23, 2001 - Boeing and Space Systems/Loral officials confirmed today that a Brazilian telecommunications satellite will be launched on a Delta IV rocket next year. The launch of Estrela do Sul, which will provide telecommunications services to North and South America, is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., during the second half of 2002. Loral Skynet will operate the satellite built by Space Systems/Loral. - Boeing Rocketdyne RS-68 Engine Triumphs In 10k Run http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01d.html Canoga Park - April 23, 2001The Rocketdyne RS-68 engine, being developed by The Boeing Company for the Delta IV family of launch vehicles, has achieved a major milestone in logging more than 10,000 seconds of accumulated hot-fire test time. The engine program is on track for first launch of the Delta IV in early 2002. - Eutelsat Order New GEO Bird From Astrium http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-01f.html Paris - April 23, 2001 - Eutelsat has signed contracts with Astrium Space Industries for the delivery of a new satellite called W3A. The procurement of this new 50-transponder spacecraft will meet Eutelsat's ambitions to consolidate its market position in Europe for multimedia services, reinforce its expansion path into Africa and strengthen its in-orbit redundancy programme. - Malaysian satellite operator gets backdoor listing in takeover bid http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425071737.lahvh8qk.html - India's experimental satellite runs into minor snags http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010424155415.dnahk40o.html ------------------ ADVERTISEMENT -------------------- The London Satellite Exchange - Buy or sell satellite capacity - Capacity on NewSat-I is available soon, and will provide attractive pricing combined with excellent coverage. The satellite is the former Palapa B2R, now in inclined orbit at 42.5 degrees East. Contact the traders +44 207 680 7268 -------------------- www.e-sax.com ------------------- ------------ STATION NEWS - Canadarm2's Installation Complete During Hadfield's Second Spacewalk http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-01s.html Saint-Hubert - April 24, 2001 - Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield and NASA's Scott Parazynski stepped out of the Shuttle Endeavour for the second time today to rewire cables on the International Space Station and power up Canadarm2 from its new connecting point on the Destiny Lab. - Tito To Take Space Taxi To ISS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01q.html Moscow - April 24, 2001 - A US businessman who has paid to be the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, will make his controversial flight to the International Space Station even in the absence of US approval, the Russian Space Agency said Monday. Tito "will travel to the space station no matter what," RSA spokesman Sergei Gorbunov said. "We will guarantee Mr. Tito's safety during the flight." - "Space tourist" delighted with NASA green light http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425085931.47nejdq1.html - Green light given for space tourist's trip: NASA http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425022847.xqathrhl.html - Endeavour astronauts complete second spacewalk http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425022352.xs5ov87d.html -------- SPACEWAR - Russia To Propose Non-Strategic Missile Defense For Europe http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01zc.html Moscow - (Interfax) April 24, 2001 - The Russian president's strategic security advisor Marshal Igor Sergeyev and Head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Department for International Military Cooperation Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov are flying to Brussels on Wednesday, bringing along proposals for creating a non-strategic missile defense system for Europe. - Global Hawk Makes Historic First Unmanned Flight To Australia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/uav-01d.html ------------ DRAGON SPACE - China To Develop Civil Satellite Technology Base http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-01zb.html Shanghai - (Interfax) April 24, 2001 - China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that it will develop new generation satellites for civil spaceflight during the 10th Five-year Plan period (2001-2005). The gross investment in the program will greatly exceed the investment in civil spaceflight during the 9th Five-year Plan period (1996-2000), said Guo Baozhu, deputy director of CNSA. ------------- JOVIAN DREAMS - Keep Galileo's Eyes Open, Say Petitioning Scientists http://www.spacedaily.com/news/galileo-01g.html Leavenworth - April 24, 2001 - NASA recently extended the successful Galileo spacecraft's mission until January 2003 to continue study of Jupiter's fascinating moons, particularly the extremely volcanic moon Io. But scientists now say that a planned powerdown of Galileo's imaging suite at the end of this year will hamstring efforts to solve Io's many mysteries. ---------- TECH SPACE - Japan To Test Hyper Plane At Woomera http://www.spacedaily.com/news/japan-hyperx-01a.html Canberra - April 24, 2001 - An agreement was signed today between between the Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Defence) and the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) of Japan for use of the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia for flight testing scale model super-sonic transport planes. ------------- SPACE SCIENCE - MAP Spacecraft Arrives At KSC To Begin Launch Preparations http://www.spacedaily.com/news/map-01a.html KSC - April 24, 2001 - NASA's Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) arrived today at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The spacecraft will undergo final readiness preparations for its upcoming launch this summer aboard a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle. --------- EROSDAILY - Impacts Shaped Eros Topography http://www.spacedaily.com/news/near-01n.html Laurel - April 24, 2001 - NEAR mission science team members have concluded that the majority of the small features that make up the surface of asteroid Eros more likely came from an unrelenting bombardment from space debris than internal processes. ---------- TERRADAILY - 15 years later, nuclear industry struggles with Chernobyl's legacy http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425030348.wg469tva.html - Thinning of ozone layer over Arctic eases: meteorological agency http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010424143450.wnhc31hf.html

NEWSALERT: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 @ 1319 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now NASA LOSES BID TO STOP JOYRIDE FLIGHT OF DENNIS TITO ---------------------------------------------------- Faced with no options, the NASA-led panel that manages the International Space Station granted the Russians an exemption on Tuesday to fly tourist Dennis Tito to the orbital outpost. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/soyuz2s/010424titogo/ TITO ARRIVES IN BAIKONUR ------------------------ Aspiring space tourist Dennis Tito and his two Russian crewmates are at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan today in preparation for launch aboard a Soyuz spacecraft on Saturday. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/soyuz2s/010424titogo/index2.html SPACE STATION SUFFERS COMPUTER TROUBLES TODAY --------------------------------------------- Problems with two command and control computers aboard the international space station have delayed the start of today's robot arm operations. The station's new robot arm is supposed to be put to the test today, maneuvering a 3,000-pound cargo pallet about to make sure it can do the heavy lifting required for future assembly flights. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html SPACEWALKERS PLAY ELECTRICIANS OUTSIDE STATION ---------------------------------------------- Two spacewalking electricians wired the international space station's new robot arm into the lab's power grid Tuesday, completing the $900 million crane system's initial installation after extensive troubleshooting to activate an initially dead backup circuit. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/010424fd6/ HUBBLE MAKES POPULAR OBSERVATION FOR ITS BIRTHDAY ------------------------------------------------- Rising from a sea of dust and gas like a giant seahorse, the Horsehead nebula is one of the most photographed objects in the sky. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took a close-up look at this heavenly icon. The detailed view was released to celebrate the orbiting observatory's eleventh anniversary. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/25horsehead/ NEW SATELLITE TO REINFORCE EUTELSAT'S EXPANSION PATHS ----------------------------------------------------- Eutelsat has announced that it has signed a contract with Astrium Space Industries for the delivery of a new satellite called W3A. The 50-transponder spacecraft will meet Eutelsat's ambitions to consolidate its market position in Europe for multimedia services, reinforce its expansion path into Africa and strengthen its in-orbit redundancy program. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0104/25w3a/

The Mysterious Case of Crater Giordano Bruno NASA Science News for April 26, 2001 A band of 12th century sky watchers saw something big hit the Moon 800 years ago. Or did they? A new study suggests the event was a meteoritic trick of the eye. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast26apr_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Thursday, April 26, 2001 @ 2346 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now STATION COMPUTER FAILURES DELAY SHUTTLE DEPARTURE ------------------------------------------------- Mission managers have decided to keep shuttle Endeavour docked to the international space station two extra days, as controllers struggle to regain use of the command computers in the Destiny lab. Earlier this afternoon two more computers unexpectedly shut down. With the station computers crippled, NASA has requested that the Russians postpone Saturday's planned launch of the Soyuz spacecraft carrying U.S. space tourist Dennis Tito. Follow this developing story our space station mission status center: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html Tito's Soyuz rocket was rolled to the launch pad early Thursday: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/soyuz2s/010426rollout/

The Transparent Sun NASA Science News for April 27, 2001 Giant sunspot 9393 is making a rare second transit across the face of the Sun. Its unusual reappearance came as no surprise to scientists who tracked the behemoth by peering right through our star! Now, thanks to SOHO instrument teams, you too can see the hidden side of the Sun on the internet. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast27apr_1.htm?list89800

Weekend Aurora Watch Space Weather News for April 27, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com AURORA WATCH: Giant sunspot 9393 unleashed a powerful solar flare and hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space on Thursday, April 26. The CME will probably hit Earth's magnetosphere on Saturday or, perhaps, early Sunday. NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% chance of a major geomagnetic storm at middle latitudes. Stay tuned to http://SpaceWeather.com for updates.

Tourist Tito boards international space station NEWSALERT: Monday, April 30, 2001 @ 1435 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now SPACE TOURIST TITO CHECKS IN AT THE 'HOTEL ALPHA' ------------------------------------------------- The Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft carrying U.S. millionaire space tourist Dennis Tito and two cosmonaut crewmates successfully docked with the international space station today as the two vehicles sailed 240 miles above central Asia. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage6a/010430fd12/

-------------------------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - April 30, 2001 ** forward SpaceDaily Express to a friend ** -------------------------------------------- Hi Folks, We have been busy the past week moving servers and were unable to send out the newsletter until today. If you have any problems with accessing SpaceDaily.com this week please let us know. Thanks, Simon Mansfield ----------- QUICK SPACE - Technique Detects When Satellites Are Low On Fuel http://www.spacedaily.com/news/fuel-01d.html - Galileo Forges Ahead With New Release Of Funds http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-euro-01d.html - Clues To The Universe From Canada's First Microsatellite http://www.spacedaily.com/news/microsat-01d.html - Intelligent Nanostructures React To Environmental Changes http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nanotech-01g.html - A Wrinkle In Space May Ground Lightweight Mirrors http://www.spacedaily.com/news/ngst-01b.html - College Students Take Once-In-A-Lifetime Ride On Vomit Comet http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01r.html - MicroMachines Key To Maintaining Large Space Structures http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nanotech-01h.html - Gazkom Plans To Launch Two New Yamal Satellites In 2002 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launcher-russia-01f.html - ESA May Consider Soyuz Launches From Kourou Space Center In November http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launcher-russia-01g.html - Test Facility Hones In On Impact Of Nuclear Explosions In Space http://www.spacedaily.com/news/radiation-01c.html - Japanese consortium sets up satellite launch venture http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010426023507.rnaf0mq7.html - China plans to launch space telescope in 2005 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010425145037.5h9g2d9v.html - Arabsat to look into launch on world stage http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428175141.c85qq0gc.html ------------------ HEADLINES IN BRIEF April 30, 2001 ---------- TECH SPACE - Technique Detects When Satellites Are Low On Fuel http://www.spacedaily.com/news/fuel-01d.html West Lafayette - April 25, 2001 - A computer model originally applied to such theoretical problems as understanding the mathematics behind soap bubble formation could be worth millions of dollars for companies that operate communications satellites. - A Wrinkle In Space May Ground Lightweight Mirrors http://www.spacedaily.com/news/ngst-01b.html Fayetteville - April 25, 2001 - Inflatable structures are ideal for many space applications, but very small wrinkles may make enormous mirrors impractical., says a University of Arkansas researcher. Bob Reynolds, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has determined that wrinkles make the polymer membranes currently used for space-based inflatable structures, such as reflectors or communications antennae, unsuitable for use as mirrors. ---------- NANO SPACE - MicroMachines Key To Maintaining Large Space Structures http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nanotech-01h.html Fayetteville - April 25, 2001 - Tiny micro electro-mechanical systems dubbed MEMS may be the key to maintaining giant space-based structures, according to U of A researchers Steve Tung and Larry Roe. Although space-based solar collectors or antenna arrays can be many square miles in size, tiny MEMS devices can keep them oriented correctly to ensure their long-term operation. - Intelligent Nanostructures React To Environmental Changes http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nanotech-01g.html Albuquerque - April 25, 2001 - Intelligent nanostructures that report on their environment by changing color from blue to fluorescent red under mechanical, chemical, or thermal stress have been created by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico. -------------- MICROSAT BLITZ - Clues To The Universe From Canada's First Microsatellite http://www.spacedaily.com/news/microsat-01d.html Toronto April 25, 2001 - Clues to some of the universe's enduring mysteries could soon be captured, thanks to a space telescope and microsatellite set to go into space next year -- a Canadian first that is now being built by a team of U of T aerospace researchers. ------- "SMALLER SATELLITES: BIGGER BUSINESS?" ------ Strasbourg will be the setting for the International Space University's 6th Annual Symposium. This year's theme will be small satellites with an emphasis on concepts, applications and markets. Join some of the world's leading experts, manufacturers and users in interdisciplinary presentations and discussions on a wide variety of issues pertaining to small satellites Strasbourg - May 21-23 - 2001 --------- http://www.isunet.edu/Symposium/ ---------- --------- SPACEMART - Gazkom Plans To Launch Two New Yamal Satellites In 2002 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launcher-russia-01f.html Moscow (Interfax) April 25, 2001 - Gazkom, the operator of the Gazprom satellite network, plans to launch two new Yamal communications satellites at the end of next year, company Deputy General Director Andrei Shestakov said at a conference of operators and users of satellite communications and broadcast networks in the Moscow region town of Dubna. - ESA May Consider Soyuz Launches From Kourou Space Center In November http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launcher-russia-01g.html Moscow (Interfax) April 25, 2001 - The European Space Agency (ESA) in November may consider the possibility of launching Russian Soyuz launch vehicles from the Kourou space center in French Guyana, French Minister of Research Roger-Gerard Schwarzenberg told a Tuesday news conference at the Interfax central office. - Galileo Forges Ahead With New Release Of Funds http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-euro-01d.html Paris - April 25, 2001 - Galileo, Europe's global satellite navigation system, leapt an important hurdle on 5 April 2001 when European Union Transport Ministers agreed to make available Euro 100 million for the start of the programme. The ministers will decide on the release of a further Euro 450 million at their meeting next December, when they will also approve the setting up of an entity to manage the programme. - Arabsat to look into launch on world stage http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428175141.c85qq0gc.html ------------------ ADVERTISEMENT -------------------- The London Satellite Exchange - Buy or sell satellite capacity - Capacity on NewSat-I is available soon, and will provide attractive pricing combined with excellent coverage. The satellite is the former Palapa B2R, now in inclined orbit at 42.5 degrees East. Contact the traders +44 207 680 7268 -------------------- www.e-sax.com ------------------- -------- SPACEWAR - Test Facility Hones In On Impact Of Nuclear Explosions In Space http://www.spacedaily.com/news/radiation-01c.html Arnold AFB (AFNS) April 25, 2001 - Determining how nuclear explosions in space affect U.S. defense systems is what an Arnold Engineering Development Center team hope to determine using its new plasma radiation source "cold" X-ray test capability. - Bush will push missile defense next week http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010427213455.fzwqikr0.html ------------ SPACE TRAVEL - Tito prepares for rendezvous with International Space Station http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010429194504.aiokamzj.html Baikonur (AFP) Apr 29, 2001 - Space's first-ever tourist, US millionaire businessman Dennis Tito, spent Sunday aboard a Russian capsule that was hurtling toward a Monday rendezvous with the International Space Station. - College Students Take Once-In-A-Lifetime Ride On Vomit Comet http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01r.html St. Louis - April 25, 2001 - America's future scientists recently competed for a coveted prize in a NASA-sponsored contest. Vying not for fame or fortune, these bright students hoped for a trip aboard NASA's KC-135A, otherwise known as the Vomit Comet. - Endeavour says farewell to International Space Station: NASA http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010429191705.tu9js6ne.html - US tourist Tito spends first 24 hours in space http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010429101912.azfav7qr.html - Two ISS computers back online, Soyuz may dock Monday: NASA http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010429001613.u5zfoov9.html - Second space tourist in talks for ISS flight: Russia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428161841.7gvr255h.html - US businessman lifts off to become first-ever space tourist http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428155417.umibp11s.html - US spaceman's family, friends also take the strain http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428114444.m33xntmy.html - Business as usual for cosmonauts as Tito lives his dream http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428111400.0x9o3no7.html - Tito achieves dream through determination -- and money http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428105731.4jgfry5n.html - Reach for the sky: Tito blazes trail for space tourism http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428102227.pla50hor.html - Russia and US make peace over "space tourist" launch http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010428042157.odfj0rgq.html ---------------- Space Transportation Summit --------------- The 2001 World Summit on the Space Transportation Business brings together the key players of the space launch industry to focus on the principal strategic issues of the business. -- http://www.euroconsult-ec.com/web/space/space_h_ws.htm -- Hotel Inter-Continental Thursday 17 & Friday 18 May 2001 Paris ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- Micro Satellite Tender --------------- COSMIC is a joint U.S.-Taiwan scientific project that will use a constellation of six microsatellites to collect atmospheric sounding measurements. Industry partners to build and deliver six GPS receivers, six solid-state recorders plus payload computers are now being sought by the University Corporation. ----------- http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/ ----------- --------- AD MARKET - Advertise here for only $375 a week. http://www.spacedaily.com/ad-deals-to-go.html email: advertise@spacer.com ----------------------------- SPACEDAILY EXPRESS LIST NOTES -------------------------------------------- SpaceDaily Express is issued daily and lists all new postings to www.SpaceDaily.com Subscription is free: subscribe@spacer.com

The Crumbling Comet LINEAR A Space Weather News for May 2, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com Yesterday astronomers reported that the nucleus of comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR) has apparently split in two. This icy visitor from the outer solar system is growing in brightness as it approaches the Sun and could soon become a faint naked-eye object. Sky watchers with modest telescopes or binoculars can spot the fuzzy fragmenting comet near the feet of Orion after sunset. The comet is rapidly gliding toward southern skies, so southern hemisphere observers will enjoy the best views in the days and weeks ahead. For more information please visit http://www.spaceweather.com

Any discussion of Dennis, the $10 million dollar spaceman? They had a funny parody on him on NPR this morning, his fake voice "they're sening me home on this new re-entry vehcile, it's called "tinfoil" they say it's safe because it's over water, they tell me I should reach a pretty good speed." NASA definitely has been stodgy on space tourism, maybe this will loosen them up a bit.

The eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks this weekend Space Weather News for May 4, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com This weekend our planet will pass through a trail of dusty debris from distant Comet Halley, triggering the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower. The nearly-full Moon will reduce the visibility of this year's eta Aquarid shower. Nevertheless, southern observers could spot as many as 10 meteors per hour before local dawn on Saturday and Sunday. Meteor enthusiasts can also try listening to the shower by tuning in to NASA's online meteor radar. For more information please visit http://SpaceWeather.com

Funny you should ask, Terry: - US space tourist Tito denies causing problems on ISS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010504112923.2pgei1tt.html I have avoided posting much about him. Not that I am not envious - he just annoys me. I watched his interview with Larry King. Eech!

Seven Billion Miles and Counting Last week NASA received a weak signal from Pioneer 10, twice as far from the Sun as Pluto and speeding toward the constellation Taurus. The well-traveled spacecraft is currently exploring the outer heliosphere, but soon it will take on a new job: ambassador to the stars. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast03may_1.htm?list89800

Space Weather on Mars Future human explorers of Mars can leave their umbrellas back on Earth, but perhaps they shouldn't forget their Geiger counters! A NASA experiment en route to the Red Planet aims to find out. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast01may_1.htm?list89800

The Phantom Torso An unusual space traveler named Fred is orbiting Earth on board the International Space Station. His job? To keep astronauts safe from space radiation. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast04may_1.htm?list89800

--------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now COMMERCIAL EXPERIMENTS UNDERWAY ABOARD STATION ---------------------------------------------- Three new commercial experiments are getting started on the international space station, marking a major milestone for NASA's Commercial Space Centers -- 17 centers across the United States that help industry conduct space experiments. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/04isscomm/ NASA ISSUES ENDEAVOUR DAMAGE REPORT ----------------------------------- Inspections have revealed space shuttle Endeavour suffered the expected number of debris hits during its just-completed voyage into orbit, NASA said Thursday. The shuttle is undergoing work to prepare for next week's cross-country trek from Edwards Air Force Base in California back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html ODDS OF PLANET FORMATION IN ORION NEBULA REDUCED ------------------------------------------------ In 1993, when the Hubble Space Telescope surveyed the Orion nebula for the first time, its images provided a substantial boost for the argument that stars with planetary systems are commonplace in the galaxy. Now, however, the most recent analyses of one the youngest, closest and brightest nebulae suggest that planets may be far rarer than thought. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/03orion/ FUTURE AIRCRAFT MIGHT MORPH ITS FEATURES IN FLIGHT -------------------------------------------------- A future aircraft might morph its wings, use smart sensors and actuators and more accurately mimic nature's methods of flight. NASA Administrator Dan Goldin described the aircraft as one of the linchpins of the Agency's aerospace research for the next 20 years. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/03morph/ COLLIDING GALAXIES PROVIDE CLUES TO STAR FORMATION -------------------------------------------------- By comparing computer simulations of a galaxy collision with actual observations, astronomers at the University of Illinois have found discrete star-formation episodes that may help explain the prodigious star-formation rates that occurred in the early universe. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/03colliding/ NEW JPL DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES LAB REORGANIZATION --------------------------------------------- A reorganization designed to position the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a new generation of challenges in space exploration has been announced by incoming Director Dr. Charles Elachi. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/03jpl/

Space Tourist Tito Heads Home After Historic Trip Reuters May 5 2001 10:48PM ASTANA, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - Dennis Tito, the world's first paying space tourist, is due back on Earth on Sunday after fulfilling a lifelong ambition but also sparking a cosmic quarrel between erstwhile spacemates Russia and the United States. more... http://my.aol.com/news/news_story.psp?type=1&cat=0600&id=0105052248398232

Lighten up, NASA!

So much for Private enterprise. We should have taken his $20 million. Oh well!

Terry, get William to fix confifty please. I am lost!!!

Why don't you email Kaylene about the specific problem with confifty and copy me on it, I think that KarenR is having a similar problem with the last six responses item on the drool page. OK?

Will do, but miss William nonetheless... NEWSALERT: Tuesday, May 8, 2001 @ 1542 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now HEART OF BOEING'S DELTA 4 ROCKET PUT TO THE TEST ------------------------------------------------ The new rocket stage and liquid-fueled main engine that are the essence of Boeing's next-generation Delta 4 commercial launcher have, in all likelihood, completed a round of crucial firings at the same complex where NASA tested its Saturn 5 rocketships that carried men to the moon more than 30 years ago. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/08delta4/ SEA LAUNCH TO LOFT XM RADIO SATELLITE TODAY ------------------------------------------- A Ukrainian/Russian Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket is slated to haul the second XM Satellite Radio spacecraft into orbit today from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean. Liftoff is scheduled for 2210 GMT (6:10 p.m. EDT) and we will have live coverage. http://spaceflightnow.com/sealaunch/xm1/status.html U.S. WEATHER SATELLITE BOOSTED TO GRAVEYARD ORBIT ------------------------------------------------- The American GOES-2 weather satellite was officially retired Saturday after controllers guided the 24-year old spacecraft out of its geostationary orbit. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/08goes2/ EDGE OF ACCRETION DISK FOUND AROUND BLACK HOLE ---------------------------------------------- Using four NASA space observatories, astronomers have shown that a flaring black hole source has an accretion disk that stops much farther out than some theories predict. This provides a better understanding of how energy is released when matter spirals into a black hole. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/08chandra/

Wolfie says "Hi" to everyone (you know who you are!) She asked me to do so for her since she is working 12 hour shifts. Our tax dollars definitely at work!!!

NASA Science News for May 8, 2001 What makes the Red Planet red? Right now the answer is iron oxide, but one day it could be roses say NASA scientists debating the prospects for plant life on Mars. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast08may_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Wednesday, May 9, 2001 @ 1412 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now SEA LAUNCH ROCKET LOFTS SECOND XM RADIO SATELLITE ------------------------------------------------- "Long live Rock and Roll!" A jubilant launch team member made that exclamation on Tuesday after a Zenit 3SL rocket successfully carried XM Satellite Radio's second powerhouse broadcasting spacecraft into orbit from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean. http://spaceflightnow.com/sealaunch/xm1/ Read our call of the countdown and launch: http://spaceflightnow.com/sealaunch/xm1/status.html PENTAGON ANNOUNCES MILITARY SPACE REFORMS ----------------------------------------- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday a series of reforms first suggested by a panel he once chaired that will increase the importance of space within the American military. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/09milspace/ SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR DUE HOME TODAY -------------------------------- Riding piggyback atop a modified Boeing 747 jet, space shuttle Endeavour left Edwards Air Force Base in California on Tuesday for its cross-country ferry flight back to Florida. Arrival at Kennedy Space Center is expected today, weather permitting. Check our status center for updates: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html X-40A PERFORMS COMPLEX MANEUVERS DURING FIFTH FLIGHT ---------------------------------------------------- The X-40A vehicle successfully performed a fifth free flight test on Tuesday. The craft was carried aloft by an Army Chinook helicopter and dropped to test its flight computer's ability to maneuver the vehicle to a straight approach to the landing site. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/09x40a/

SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - May 9, 2001 - sponsored by - The London Satellite Exchange http://www.e-sax.com --------------------------------------------- ---------------- Space Transportation Summit --------------- The 2001 World Summit on the Space Transportation Business brings together the key players of the space launch industry to focus on the principal strategic issues of the business -- http://www.euroconsult-ec.com/web/space/space_h_ws.htm -- Hotel Inter-Continental Thursday 17 & Friday 18 May 2001 Paris ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- QUICK SPACE - Humans could set foot on Mars by 2020: NASA chief http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010509063324.phx7xydz.html - Genetically Modified Earth Plants Will Glow From Mars http://www.spacedaily.com/news/food-01c.html - A Rusty Old Rose http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-terraform-01b.html - No More Space Tourism For At Least Two Years: Russia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01w.html - US Space Tourist Tito Hopes To Blaze Trail For Other Cosmic Trippers http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01v.html - X-40A Free Flight Successful http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rlv-01e.html - Nature's Atmospheric Cleanser Needs Closer Look http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01o.html - US can produce more energy and protect the environment: Bush http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010509012853.m29th2on.html - XM Radio Bird Rolls Into Orbit http://www.spacedaily.com/news/xm-radio-01d.html - Rumsfeld To Reorganize Military Space Programs http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-01o.html - Rumsfeld Announces Space Management Shakeup http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-01p.html - US air force to coordinate military operations in space http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010508215247.hxq48pis.html - US launches worldwide missile defense road show http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010508161442.whd5jj4n.html - US-Russia missile talks in Moscow Friday http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010508115005.ipj541ef.html

Teaming Up on Space Plants NASA Science News for May 10, 2001 This week students, scientists, and astronauts will join forces to learn more about how plants grow on the International Space Station. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast10may_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Friday, May 11, 2001 @ 0335 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now NEW RADIO TELESCOPE MAKES FIRST SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS ------------------------------------------------------- The world's two largest radio telescopes have combined to make detailed radar images of the cloud-shrouded surface of Venus and of a tiny asteroid that passed near the Earth. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/11nrao/ THE HARSH DESTINY OF A PLANET? ------------------------------ Did the star HD 82943 swallow one of its planets? What may at a first glance look like the recipe for a dramatic science-fiction story is in fact the well-considered conclusion of a serious scientific study, to be published by a group of astronomers in Switzerland and Spain. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/10destiny/ ENDEAVOUR IS HOME ----------------- Riding piggyback atop a modified Boeing 747 jet, space shuttle Endeavour arrived at Kennedy Space Center Wednesday after a two-day cross-country ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base in California. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html NASA SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY GOES DOWN ON THE FARM ----------------------------------------------- Some of the people closest to the land will be the first to benefit from a new global positioning technology developed to make NASA satellites more efficient and cost-effective. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/11farm/ MARS-BOUND ODYSSEY TESTS THE HIGH-GAIN ANTENNA ---------------------------------------------- NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey space probe tested its high-gain communications antenna on Wednesday, sending and receiving commands. Since launch, the spacecraft has been receiving commands over its low-gain antenna and transmitting signals via its medium-gain antenna. http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/odyssey/status.html DEEP SPACE NETWORK UPGRADING FOR 'CRUNCH TIME' ---------------------------------------------- Preparing for the communication needs of an expected population boom in interplanetary spacecraft, NASA has selected a builder to add an advanced dish antenna, 112 feet in diameter, near Madrid, Spain, one of the three sites of the agency's Deep Space Network. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/10dsn/ INDIA AND FRANCE TO CONDUCT ATMOSPHERIC MISSION ----------------------------------------------- The Indian Space Research Organization and the French Space Agency have entered into a deal to design of a joint satellite mission, called Megha Tropiques, for atmospheric research. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/10isrocnes/

Do you have a gps, Marci?

My son has and now with software and a laptop you can get them for uner $100. Which I intend to do. The one David has is the size of a TV remote control and about twice as thick. Quite amazing actually! Are you considering purchasing one? http://www.thegpsstore.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/site/productcatalog.htm?L+thegpsstore+ogow3540+970797630

One of these days, next time I take a long trip. I don't really need it around Austin, I know the place so well.

I was planning a trip back east and thought my laptop and the $99 GPS would do me just fine. Going into the woods with wildlife and archaeology guys can get me lost and I want to be able to remember the trip! GeoStorm Warning, plus a crumbling comet and a durable sunspot Space Weather News for May 12, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: Our planet entered a high speed solar wind stream on Saturday, May 12th, which triggered a moderate geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers, especially those at high latitudes, should be alert for glowing auroras tonight near local midnight. THE SUNSPOT THE WOULDN'T DIE: Holographic images of the far side of the Sun reveal an old friend: active region 9393, the largest sunspot of the current solar cycle and the source of the most powerful x-ray solar flare ever recorded. The giant spot, which is probably now just a shadow of its former self, has already transited the Earth-facing side of the Sun twice. If AR9393 persists for another week it will emerge into direct view for a rare third transit. BRIGHTENING COMET: Southern hemisphere observers report that comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR), which split into two pieces last month, has surged in brightness again. For more information and updates, please visit http://www.spaceweather.com

"holographic images of the far side of the sun"; wonder how they do this?

NEWSALERT: Monday, May 14, 2001 @ 0414 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now COMMERCIAL PROTON ROCKET PREPARED FOR LAUNCH -------------------------------------------- The 20th Proton rocket to be flown under the joint Russian-American International Launch Services banner is poised for blastoff carrying a PanAmSat telecommunications satellite destined to serve three continents in a 30-million square mile footprint. Launch is set for 9:11 p.m. EDT tonight (0111 GMT Tuesday) and we will have live coverage. http://spaceflightnow.com/proton/pas10/status.html ASTRONOMERS FIND KEY TO X-RAY MYSTERY OF BLACK HOLES ---------------------------------------------------- Astronomers at the University of Southampton have made a discovery that promises to explain why X-ray binary stars are so variable -- a phenomenon that has been a long-standing mystery in X-ray astronomy. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/13blackhole/ RUSSIANS ASK WHETHER EARTH WILL SHARE THE FATE OF SATURN -------------------------------------------------------- Is it possible that space exploration will result in the formation of a ring around the Earth similar to the Saturn ring? All these satellites and debris can severely impede space flights in future, as plenty of objects brought out into space would stay in the near-earth orbit for hundreds and even thousands of years. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/12earthring/ PEROXIDE ENGINE BEING DEVELOPED FOR SPACEPLANE ---------------------------------------------- Aerojet has received a contract from the Air Force to develop the propulsion engine for the Air Force's Space Maneuvering Vehicle, a small reusable craft that could perform a variety of missions for the Department of Defense. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/14smv/ COLLAPSE OF SIMPLE LIFE FORMS LINKED TO MASS EXTINCTION ------------------------------------------------------- A mass extinction about 200 million years ago, which destroyed at least half of the species on Earth, happened very quickly and is demonstrated in the fossil record by the collapse of one-celled organisms called protists, according to new research led by a University of Washington paleontologist. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/13extinct/ STATUS CHECK ON SPACE STATION SCIENCE WORK ------------------------------------------ The Expedition Two crew and ground controllers activated five more experiments during the past week and continue troubleshooting work with two others. The Advanced Astroculture experiment activated Thursday, one of the three commercial experiments onboard, seeks to grow plants through an entire life cycle. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/status.html

Terry, I wonder that as well, but considering that the sun rotates before our very eyes, a series of photographs taken in one revolution could be merged into one image holographically. The moon is a whole different problem. It does not rotate and remains with the same hemisphere always pointing toward Earth.

NASA's Ames Research Centre Sponsors New Interactive Research Project NASA's Ames Research Centre is sponsoring a new interactive research project to help identify, map, and classify impact craters on the surface of the planet Mars; the project is modelled on the popular SETI@Home project which employs personal computers to scan for possible intelligent radio signals from extraterrestrial civilisations. In the Ames project, participants are taught how to identify and mark impact craters in photographs obtained from the Viking 1 & 2 Orbiters, as well as from the Mars Global Surveyor Spacecraft currently in orbit around the Red Planet. Using their computer's mouse, the "ClickWorkers" as they're called, select four points around the crater's rim, which the computer uses to draw a circle based on the points selected. With this, the computer logs the size of the crater as well as it's longitude and latitude. The purpose behind this exercise is to catalogue the huge volumes of data that have be gathered over the years by the various probes to Mars, but NASA is suffering from an embarassment of riches that would easily swamp individual researchers; so by employing the computer power spread around the world amongst private citizens, NASA can use many people to tackle the problem in parallel. The project's current status is experimental, but if it's successful, it's scope maybe expanded to include other martian surface features, and may even go on to include other solar system bodies, including Io and Europa. The project can be found at http://clickworkers.arc.nasa.gov but there are two proviso's in accessing it; first, it requires Netscape 6 to run, and secondly, the site is extremely popular amongst people who want to make a real contribution to planetary science, so it can be very difficult to access at times. But if you're interested in helping build up our knowledge on Mars, and maybe familiarizing yourself a little more with it, check it out!

Looks like I'd better reinstall my Seti@home and get crunching data once again. However, until Netscape gets the bugs out of Netcape 6.0 I am going to ope out of it. Anyone have reports of how well things are going? Thanks, Neil *HUGS*

The Great Mars Rush NASA Science News for May 15, 2001 Hurtling toward Mars at 22,000 mph, Earth is heading for its closest encounter with the Red Planet in a dozen years. Mars is already a brilliant morning star and it will soon become a dazzling all-night spectacle. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast15may_1.htm?list89800

QUICK SPACE - Gilat To Plug 100,000 Europeans Into Satellite Backbone http://www.spacedaily.com/news/vsat-01f.html - DirecTV Files Federal Suit Against Satellite Piracy Ring http://www.spacedaily.com/news/satellite-biz-01h.html - Two Billion To One And The Primordial Odds Get Heavy http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cosmology-01b.html - ATK Completes Static Tests of Nozzle For RS-68 Engine http://www.spacedaily.com/news/delta4-01h.html - TRW-Built NRO GeoLITE Satellite Slated for Launch on May 17y http://www.spacedaily.com/news/geolite-01a.html - Olof Lundberg Named Chairman And CEO of Globalstar http://www.spacedaily.com/news/globalstar-01c.html - Germany Commits Billions To Galileo Navigation Project http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-euro-01e.html - Australia says Kyoto Protocol "all over" http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010517035823.fwtpumsj.html - Top Polish general sees "no obstacles" to missile shield bases http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010516175047.2oj3pazz.html

The Pacific Dust Express NASA Science News for May 17, 2001 North America has been sprinkled with a dash of Asia! A dust cloud from China crossed the Pacific Ocean recently and rained Asian dust from Alaska to Florida. Scientists say that air pollution often travels this same Pacific Express. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast17may_1.htm?list89800

A Taste for Comet Water NASA Science News for May 18, 2001 When Comet LINEAR broke apart last year it revealed what many scientists thought all along: Water in Earth's oceans could have come from outer space. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast18may_1.htm?list89800

QUICK SPACE - Australia Signs Space Launch Agreement With Russia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/aust-01a.html - APT Satellite sees lower transponder rentals due to competition http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010522102006.0agymzy2.html - MirCorp Claims To Soyuz Flight Disputed By Russia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-01x.html - Global Hawk Clocks Up 1,000 Hours http://www.spacedaily.com/news/uav-01f.html - High-Tech Helium Tricks May Benefit Earth And Space http://www.spacedaily.com/news/superfluids-01a.html - New Shuttle Booster Engines Ready For Full Duration Test http://www.spacedaily.com/news/shuttle-01i.html - Russian supply vessel docks with international space station http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010523004805.qiyeu8hn.html - Bush hopes to unveil Kyoto alternative by June http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010522164330.0tgyl1fm.html

Water-Witching From Space NASA Science News for May 23, 2001 9:00:00 AM Farmers will soon have a new tool for getting the most out of their fields. NASA's Aqua satellite will provide crucial information about the water in the ground and the weather on the horizon. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast23may_1.htm?list89800

Dust Begets Dust NASA Science News for May 22, 2001 Everyone knows that dry weather leads to dusty soils, but new research suggests that dust might in turn lead to dry weather. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast22may_1.htm?list89800

QUICK SPACE - Magellan Brings Three Meter Accuracy To Handheld GPS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-01e.html - ESA's Artemis Telecommunications Satellite To Be Launched In July http://www.spacedaily.com/news/artemis-01a.html - Changes In Sun's Intensity Tied To Recurrent Droughts In Maya Region http://www.spacedaily.com/news/climate-01f.html - Saddam Drains Ancient Culture Away In A Decade http://www.spacedaily.com/news/earth-01e.html - Lockheed Martin Goes Live With Real-Time EO Datastream http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-01d.html - Getting In A Twist Over Time http://www.spacedaily.com/news/timetravel-01a.html - Cluster Quartet Move In Step http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cluster2-01a.html - ESA Books A Russian Taxi To ISS http://www.spacedaily.com/news/launcher-russia-01i.html - Artificial Enzyme Able to Synthesize RNA http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01n.html - Blair Election Rival Jailed For Anti-Missile Protest http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010521172453.kf3kr12u.html - Top Russian General Rejects US Missile Defence Plan http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010521164127.5anrxuxa.html

Binary asteroid to fly by Earth this weekend Space Weather News for May 24, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com Late Friday, May 25th, the near-Earth asteroid 1999 KW4 will fly by Earth 13 times farther from our planet than the Moon. The space rock will be brighter than 11th magnitude for much of the time between now and May 28th, making it an easy target for amateur astronomers with mid-sized telescopes and CCD cameras. Yesterday, radar astronomers using NASA's Goldstone Planetary Radar to monitor the approaching asteroid announced that 1999 KW4 is a binary system. Visit spaceweather.com for more information and (possibly) images of the asteroid as it passes our planet.

NEWSALERT: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 @ 0206 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now THE NEWSALERT IS BACK! ---------------------- After a two-week hiatus caused by a technical problem beyond our control, the NewsAlert returns today to provide you with a snapshot of the day's spaceflight and astronomy news. See our Breaking News page for a listing of all the stories from the past couple of weeks: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/ PROBE SPOTS NEWLY FORMED STREAKS ON MARTIAN SLOPES -------------------------------------------------- NASA's Mars Global Surveyor is currently searching for changes that have occurred in the past martian year on the Red Planet. In a rugged, ridged terrain north of the Olympus Mons volcano one such change is avalanching of dust as seen here. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/29marsstreak/ MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR SPOTS A MID-SUMMER'S DUST DEVIL ---------------------------------------------------- One objective for the Mars Global Surveyor's extended mission is to continue looking for changes and dynamic events taking place on the Red Planet. The feature shown here -- a dust devil -- elicited gasps of excitement among the camera operations staff when it was received. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/28dustdevil/ NASA APPROVES ROBOTIC MISSION TO BLAST A COMET ---------------------------------------------- Imagine intercepting a comet in deep space and using a heavy projectile to blow a hole in the celestial body, some seven stories deep and about the size of a football field. In a space exploration first, NASA's Deep Impact Mission will attempt to use a probe to collide with a comet in an attempt to peer beneath its surface. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/28deepimpact/ EVIDENCE FOUND FOR ACOUSTIC OSCILLATIONS IN EARLY UNIVERSE ---------------------------------------------------------- Astrophysicists say they have confirmed the existence of acoustic oscillations generated shortly after the explosive birth of the universe. Their evidence links the existence of acoustic oscillations, or wiggles, in the distribution of both the cosmic microwave background radiation and the distribution of matter throughout the universe. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/29oscillations/ SOLAR WIND FIND MAY HELP SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING -------------------------------------------------- Scientists have confirmed the existence of and imaged "free spirit" atoms in the solar wind for the first time. They hope to use the observations to better estimate the arrival time of solar storms and to estimate the amount of dust left over from the solar system's birth. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/28solarwind/

That comet blasting mission sounds like it could use Bruce Willis and the crew of Armageddon. That's pretty wild stuff.

It IS amazing! Hollywood will find a use for it. Count on that! QUICK SPACE - US Senate Switch Could Get Bush Off The Hook On Missiles http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01zi.html - Course Trains 'Space Cowboys' http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-01s.html - Galileo Comes Alive On Callisto Final Approach http://www.spacedaily.com/news/galileo-01h.html - IBM's 'Pixie Dust' Breakthrough to Quadruple Disk Drive Density http://www.spacedaily.com/news/materials-01m.html - Rocks From Mars http://www.spacedaily.com/news/lunarplanet-2001-01a8.html - Fengyun 1-C Stars In Environmental Monitoring As Sandstorms Rage http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-01zf.html - Satellite Broadband Could Solve Digital Divide http://www.spacedaily.com/news/internet-01i.html - US to make Moscow offer to abandon ABM treaty: report http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010528082526.hrcyeqe4.html - Senate Democrat promises review of Bush's anti-missile program http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010525173631.atl9vrma.html - Atlantis launch scheduled for June 20 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010525151354.fxvtoili.html - NASA high-resolution photograph dispels "Face on Mars" myth http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010525104821.bn6teg09.html

Wow, the face on Mars has been dispelled, there goes another Art Bell late night topic..

Even Art Bell argued with Richard Hoagland the other night. Art can no longer see the face at all and is highly skeptical. Looks like another of his topics did indeed bite the dust.

Brainy 'Bots NASA Science News for May 29, 2001 NASA's own 'Bionic Woman' is applying artificial intelligence to teach robots how to behave a little more like human explorers. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast29may_1.htm?list89800

QUICK SPACE - Cassini's Tour de Saturn http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cassini-01f1.html - Weather Directorate Strengthens International Relations http://www.spacedaily.com/news/dmsp-01b.html - Russia successfully launches Soyuz rocket with military satellite http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010529194547.398ukgc5.html - US to make Moscow offer to abandon ABM treaty: report http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010528181752.s1cysn6b.html - Martian Cook Up Closer Than Ever http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-life-01e.html - Orbital Offloads Navigation Business To Thales http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-01f.html - Prepare Now For Martian Samples Warns Scientists http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-life-01f.html - Send In The Robots http://www.spacedaily.com/news/robot-01b.html - Artificial Intelligence Software to Command Mission http://www.spacedaily.com/news/software-01a.html - Industrialized states postpone climate consultations http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010529115252.zw9x1cog.html

NEWSALERT: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 @ 0442 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now SHUTTLE LAUNCHES MIGHT BE SHUFFLED TO FIX STATION ARM ----------------------------------------------------- Shuttle Atlantis rolled out of its hangar and into the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, but when the ship will be allowed to launch an airlock to the international space station hinges on work to fix the outpost's new robotic arm. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage7a/010529arm/ BOEING'S DELTA 4 TESTING ROCKET ARRIVES IN FLORIDA -------------------------------------------------- Fresh off its series of critical test firings, Boeing's Delta 4 pathfinder rocket has arrived at Cape Canaveral to ensure the state-of-the-art launch facilities being built at Complex 37 are ready to handle the maiden flight of the next-generation launcher in March. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/29delta4/ REPORT RECOMMENDS QUARANTINE OF MARS SAMPLES -------------------------------------------- A report released Tuesday urges NASA to begin planning a system to quarantine Martian samples even through missions to return such samples are at least a decade in the future. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/30marsclean/ RUSSIAN SOYUZ ROCKET LOFTS MILITARY SATELLITE --------------------------------------------- Russia launched an unmanned Soyuz U rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Tuesday carrying a classified military spacecraft believed to be an imaging spy satellite. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/29soyuz/ ALL QUIET ON THE GALILEO FRONT ------------------------------ The excitement of the encounter week has settled down now, and activity levels drop to the quiet murmur which is usual for the cruise portion of an orbit. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/30galileothisweek/

What Space Needs: The Human Touch NASA Science News for May 30, 2001 NASA's Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) enterprise tackles one of the toughest and most redeeming problems of all: sending humans into space. This feature story also includes lessons and activities for educators. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast30may_1.htm?list89800

The Face on Mars has been discredited. Does this mean the internet will cease to have those insisting that it is a portrait of Elvis cluttering up cyberspace.

I thought all the Elvissses in the Universe were in Las Vegas! Do you mean there are some who suggested that? Lolol - worse than Art Bell! Jellyplants on Mars NASA Science News for June 1, 2001 Scientists are creating a new breed of glowing plants --part mustard and part jellyfish-- to help humans explore the Red Planet. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast01jun_1.htm?list89800

QUICK SPACE - JPL Radar Scans Asteroid Moon During Earth Flyby http://www.spacedaily.com/news/asteroid-01f.html - Galileo Gets One Last Frequent-Flyer Upgrade http://www.spacedaily.com/news/galileo-01i.html - X-43A Nears First Hypersonic Flight http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rlv-01l.html - TIMED Satellite Transported to Vandenberg for Upcoming Launch http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-timed-01a.html - Cellular Grab For 2Ghz Harms Rural Satellite Consumers: SIA Report http://www.spacedaily.com/news/internet-01j.html - Iranians View Russian Telecommunications Satellite Plant http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010530142208.ffpgd06e.html - The Quarantine And Certification Of Martian Samples http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-life-01g.html - Tropical Glaciers Formed While Earth Was Giant Snowball http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iceage-01c.html - US Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Delayed http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010530230011.uqmguivt.html - Russia Considering Applications From Would-Be Space Tourists http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010530115951.dq3xuc2j.html - Moscow Wants Dialogue With US, China, India on Missile Defence http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010531101942.gk8jrtyo.html - Iran Test Fires New Missile http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010531104225.85scojfo.html

NEWSALERT: Thursday, May 31, 2001 @ 0541 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now ATLANTIS DELAYED TO JULY IN WAKE OF STATION ARM TROUBLE ------------------------------------------------------- Problems with the international space station's new robotic arm has forced NASA to delay the next space shuttle flight, and the possibility is growing that a daring repair mission to replace one of the crane's joints might be needed before construction of the outpost can continue. http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage7a/010529arm/ NEAR-EARTH ASTEROID FOUND TO BE TWO CHUNKS IN ONE ------------------------------------------------- The clearest radar pictures of a near-Earth double asteroid system were taken by astronomers last week using NASA's Goldstone radar telescope, revealing clues to the system's current structure but raising questions about its origin and future. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/31chuncks/ WHY DOESN'T EROS HAVE A MAGNETIC FIELD? --------------------------------------- Scientists said this week that they may know the reason why the asteroid Eros appears to lack a measurable magnetic field. Eros was the subject of detailed study for over a year by the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/31eros/ QUASAR'S IDENTITY MAY SIMPLY BE IN EYE OF BEHOLDER -------------------------------------------------- Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have made the first detailed study of a peculiar type of quasar that is shrouded in clouds of gas and dust flowing outward at millions of miles per hour. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/31chandraeye/ MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR CAPTURES DUST STORMS ----------------------------------------- Daily global maps, created with images from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, provide a moving picture of Martian weather during 1999-2000 similar to the familiar satellite weather maps we see of Earth. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/31mgsdust/ AEROJET STUDIES NEW NOZZLE DESIGN FOR SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE --------------------------------------------------------- Aerojet has won an eight-month, $5 million contract from NASA to study the feasibility of developing a channel wall nozzle to replace the tube nozzle in the Space Shuttle Main Engine. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/31ssmenozzle/

NEWSALERT: Saturday, June 2, 2001 @ 0324 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now X-43A CRAFT TO MAKE FIRST HYPERSONIC FLIGHT TODAY ------------------------------------------------- Imagine an aircraft that can fly at rocket speeds, seven times the speed of sound. Engineers are preparing for the first test flight of NASA's scramjet-propelled aircraft atop a Pegasus rocket on Saturday over the Pacific Ocean. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/02x43a/ HUBBLE TELESCOPE UNVEILS A GALAXY IN LIVING COLOR ------------------------------------------------- In this incredible view of the center of the magnificent barred spiral galaxy NGC 1512, the Hubble Space Telescope's broad spectral vision reveals the galaxy at all wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared. The colors map where newly born star clusters exist in both "dusty" and "clean" regions of the galaxy. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0105/31hstcolor/ SPECTACULAR PHOTO CATCHES HUNGRY QUASAR IN THE ACT -------------------------------------------------- A new image of a distant quasar -- the luminous core of an "active" galaxy -- shows that it is engaged in a gravitational battle with its neighboring galaxies. It also provides information on how supermassive black holes present in the center of quasars are fed. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/01hungry/ ESCAPE ROUTE FOUND FOR JUPITER'S PARTICLES ------------------------------------------ Jupiter's magnetosphere, an ionized-gas bubble encasing the planet, is lopsided and leaky, with an unexpected abundance of high-energy particles bleeding out of one side, according to recent measurements by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/01cassjup/ SATELLITE MAPS PROVIDE BETTER URBAN SPRAWL INSIGHT -------------------------------------------------- A major advance in satellite-based land surface mapping has led to the creation of more accurate and detailed maps of our cities. These maps provide urban planners with a better understanding of city growth and how rainfall runoff over paved surfaces impact regional water quality. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/02landsat/ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO COMMAND SATELLITE MISSION ---------------------------------------------------- NASA software that thinks for itself and makes decisions without help from ground controllers will fly as the brains of triplet satellites in 2002. The spacecraft will be launched from the space shuttle in a stack configuration and fly in formation as part of the Three Corner Sat mission. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/01threecornersat/

I think that the suggestion that the Face on Mars was a portrait of Elvis was supposed to be a joke. Yes, someone did suggest that, but I think he was making fun of those who thought that a giant face had been carved on Mars. However, there are those who think that Elvis was a Venusian. Okay, these people think that they're from Venus too.

Nah, women are from Venus. He has to be from Mars!!!

Blame Canadarm: Space Station Crew Waits for Fix The International Space Station's current crew will probably stay aloft longer than planned as ground controllers work to fix the billion outpost's robotic arm, crew members said on Friday. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010601/sc/space_station_dc_1.html

- Test flight of hypersonic plane fails http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010603011442.pnzc6jhd.html - US demands back space debris that landed on S. African farm http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010603131813.g3a3h4dg.html - Russian military space force becomes operational http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010601150408.sqk5l00o.html - India approves development of nuclear-capable missile: report http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010531140524.e6i83sxb.html - Japan FM says Bush missile plan influenced by oil money: reports http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010602095847.epo5e233.html - Japanese foreign minister denies anti-US missile reports http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010603044056.ekmcyjff.html - No sex please, we're cosmonauts http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010601113838.sl06p9cz.html - French Arianespace hopes to ink satellite deal with Indonesia http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010601040941.rw06gkks.html

NEWSALERT: Monday, June 4, 2001 @ 0348 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now NASA'S X-43A CRAFT DESTROYED IN LAUNCH FAILURE ---------------------------------------------- NASA's bid to test a revolutionary scramjet aircraft on Saturday failed even before it began when the Orbital Sciences-built Pegasus rocket launching the X-43A vehicle veered off course and exploded only moments into flight. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/02x43failure/ BRITISH CRAFT ENDS MISSION AFTER MISSED RENDEZVOUS -------------------------------------------------- The United Kingdom's first nanosatellite has failed in its daring rendezvous attempt with a Chinese craft, but scientists say the mission's other tests and demonstrations of nanotechnology were successfully completed. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/04snap1/ SPACE TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS KEEP SATELLITES SAFE ---------------------------------------------- A bullet fired on Earth travels 2,700 miles per hour and can do damage for up to 1,000 yards before it stops. A loose bolt in space hits at 17,000 miles per hour, goes through a spacecraft and keeps going. It's one office's job to make sure such a catastrophe doesn't happen. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/03spacecontrol/ SATELLITE FORMATION FLYING CONCEPT BECOMING A REALITY ----------------------------------------------------- The intensive planning activities and calculations that are currently done in control rooms on Earth in preparation to maneuver Earth-orbiting research satellites are about to become a thing of the past. NASA's first-ever autonomous formation flying mission is now under way as part of the EO-1 satellite program. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/04formation/ DUO UNTANGLE MYSTERIES OF JUPITER'S MAGNETIC FIELD -------------------------------------------------- In a series of presentations this week at the American Geophysical Union spring meeting in Boston, space scientists have shown how data from the two spacecraft have revealed new features and explained old mysteries about Jupiter's magnetic field. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/03jup/ GIFT OF GALAXIES WILL FUEL NEW FINDINGS --------------------------------------- Redshift data and spectra from the first 100,000 galaxies measured by the 2dF (Two-degree Field) Galaxy Redshift Survey will be released to the world astronomical community on June 30. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/04galaxygift/

The Arietid Meteor Shower Peaks This Week Space Weather News for June 5, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com The annual Arietid meteor shower peaks this week on Thursday, June 7th. The Arietids are unusual because they are daytime meteors -- most of them streak through the sky unnoticed while the bright Sun is overhead. Nevertheless, early risers on Thursday could spot some beautiful "Earthgrazing" Arietids during the dark hours before dawn. Later in the day, after the Sun rises, you can listen to the shower by tuning in to NASA's online meteor radar. For details and updates visit http://www.SpaceWeather.com

SPACEDAILY EXPRESS - June 5, 2001 - sponsored by - APSC - Satellite Launching, Simplified http://www.apsc2orbit.com --------------------------------------------- ----------- QUICK SPACE - Touch the Universe http://www.spacedaily.com/news/braille-01a.html - Did Hades Freeze Over? http://www.spacedaily.com/news/early-earth-01d.html - Asteroids Belt Around Nearby Star Zeta Lep Spotted http://www.spacedaily.com/news/extrasolar-01d.html - Mars Invades Earth http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01p1.html - Active Volcanism On Mars And The Search For Water http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-volcano-01a1.html - Dust Devils At Arizona Targeted For Mars Experiment This Week http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-atmosphere-01a.html - Atlantis Shuttle Launch Delayed Until July 2 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010605041953.jkxw47gh.html - Ambassador Says Canada's Hand Influential In Missile Debate http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010604203340.rziishg4.html

NEWSALERT: Tuesday, June 5, 2001 @ 0411 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now SEARCH BEGINS FOR CAUSE OF X-43A LAUNCH MALFUNCTION --------------------------------------------------- Video shot during Saturday's doomed launch of a Pegasus booster with NASA's X-43A experimental aircraft shows what might be one of the rocket's aerosurfaces breaking off moments before the vehicle goes into an uncontrolled tumble through the sky. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/04x43/ Watch video of launch failure: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/04x43/010604x43video_qt.html NEXT PEGASUS ROCKET LAUNCH DELAYED IN X-43A AFTERMATH ----------------------------------------------------- NASA has postponed this week's planned flight of the Pegasus rocket carrying a Sun-studying probe while investigators determine what went wrong during Saturday's X-43A launch that used a similar booster. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/04hessidelay/ ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER EXTRASOLAR ASTEROID BELT --------------------------------------------- Astronomers announced Monday that they had found evidence for what could be a belt of asteroids forming around another star, a discovery that may help them better understand how solar systems like our own form. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/05exoasteroids/ QUIET TIMES ON GALILEO PROBE ---------------------------- Galileo, the spacecraft, is now settling into a three-week period of extreme rest, even while Galileo, the flight team, is gearing up in planning for the next flyby in early August. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/05galileothisweek/

Bracing for an Interplanetary Traffic Jam NASA Science News for June 6, 2001 NASA's is improving its already-extraordinary traffic control system for interplanetary spacecraft, the Deep Space Network, in preparation for a flurry of activity in deep space. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast06jun_1.htm?list89800

NEWSALERT: Wednesday, June 6, 2001 @ 0311 GMT --------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now RESEARCHERS SEEK OCEAN ON EUROPA THROUGH ITS SOUNDS --------------------------------------------------- Acoustic techniques used by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers to explore the Arctic Ocean may help determine whether there is a vast liquid ocean under the ice blanketing Jupiter's moon, Europa. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/06europasound/ WEALTH OF BLACK HOLES FOUND IN STAR-FORMING GALAXIES ---------------------------------------------------- NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has found new populations of suspected mid-mass black holes in several starburst galaxies, where stars form and explode at an unusually high rate. Although a few of these objects had been found previously, this is the first time they have been detected in such large numbers. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/06chandra/ METHOD TO MADNESS OF BLACK HOLE, NEUTRON STAR ERUPTIONS ------------------------------------------------------- In the fiery machinery of the night sky, where neutron stars and black holes wrapped in binary systems can flare and burst randomly, astronomers have uncovered a predictable mathematical pattern in the X-ray light emitted over time. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0106/06madness/ ARIANESPACE CLEARS ARIANE 4 ROCKET FOR FRIDAY LAUNCH ---------------------------------------------------- After a three-month lull in flights, Arianespace has entered the final stretch of preparations for Friday's predawn launch of an Ariane 4 rocket carrying the Intelsat 901 telecommunications satellite. http://spaceflightnow.com/ariane/v141/status.html