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News Archive 2009: December
Rebirth of Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope received its final servicing in May that will see it operate well into the next decade. Five teams of astronauts have visited Hubble, and who better to tell the story of Hubble's journey than two Hubble spacewalkers, Kathy Thornton and Jeff Hoffman, both part of the team for correcting Hubble's blurry vision in the very first 'make or break' servicing mission. FULL STORY
WISE observatory sheds lens cap, takes in starlight
NASA's new cosmic mapper successfully jettisoned a protective lens cover Tuesday, opening its infrared eyes to Universe for an unprecedented survey in 2010. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
NASA considers missions to Venus, moon and asteroid
The next medium-class New Frontiers mission to explore the solar system will land on Venus or return samples from the moon or an asteroid, NASA announced Tuesday. FULL STORY
China accelerates space research and development
China in 2010 will be engaged in the most ambitious and diverse manned and unmanned space system research and development surge since the U.S. and Soviet Union squared off in the 1960s space race. FULL STORY
Proton rocket launches with new satellite for DirecTV
A new high-definition television broadcasting satellite was deployed by a Proton rocket early Tuesday, bolstering DirecTV's programming lineup for customers in the United States. LAUNCH STORY PREVIEW STORY
Ocean-watching satellite facing delays in Argentina
The launch of a joint mission between NASA and Argentina to measure salt in Earth's oceans could be delayed nearly one year due to trouble at the spacecraft's factory. FULL STORY
NASA finds fix for Ares 1 vibration concerns
Engineers have identified a way to shield astronauts riding the Ares 1 rocket from potentially dangerous vibrations caused by the launcher's solid-fueled first stage, according to NASA. FULL STORY
This Week In Space
Welcome to the premiere of "This Week In Space With Miles O'Brien," a new show dedicated to keeping space lovers up to speed on the stories and issues making news off the planet. This week: an in-depth look at the future of human spaceflight as the Obama Administration prepares new marching orders for NASA, an interview with astronaut Nicole Stott, recently home from three months on the International Space Station, plus a news roundup.
Other Stories
New residents arrive at International Space Station
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying a crew of three docked with the International Space Station Tuesday after a two-day orbital chase. The problem-free automated approach to the huge lab complex concluded with docking to the Earth-facing port of the Zarya module at 5:48 p.m. EST.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
NEW CREW WELCOMED ABOARD PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ DOCKS TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
ESA inks contract for Ariane rocket enhancements
The European Space Agency has awarded a contract to the maker of the Ariane 5 rocket for early development of a new upper stage to increase the launcher's capacity. FULL STORY
Soyuz launches new crew in pursuit of the station
A Russian doctor, an American helicopter pilot and a Japanese engineer launched into orbit Sunday inside a Soyuz capsule bound for a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome occurred on schedule at 4:52 p.m. EST (2152 GMT). FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
FULL EXPERIENCE FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
CREW DEPARTS SITE 254 FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY VIDEO:
VIPS MEET THE CREW ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY VIDEO:
CREW MEMBERS DON THEIR SOKOL SPACESUITS PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH MORNING TRADITIONS AT CREW QUARTERS PLAY VIDEO:
BIOS OF KOTOV, CREAMER AND NOGUCHI PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF NEXT SIX MONTHS AT SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
POST-ROLLOUT COMMENTS FROM NASA OFFICIALS PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLED TO BAIKONUR LAUNCH PAD PLAY VIDEO:
HIGHLIGHTS OF CREW'S ACTIVITIES AT BAIKONUR PLAY VIDEO:
CELEBRATIONS MARK CREW'S DEPARTURE FROM STAR CITY PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Lunar orbiter yielding rich results at six-month mark
A NASA probe circling the moon has found an unexpected lunar radiation source and detected the coldest known location in the solar system, scientists announced last week. FULL STORY
Ariane 5 rocket successfully orbits French military craft
France successfully launched a new spy satellite on Friday during a midday launch from French Guiana, using Europe's trusted Ariane 5 rocket to send the nearly $1 billion payload to orbit. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE
White House says no decision on NASA's future
White House officials say President Obama has not yet made a decision on the fate of NASA's moon program, two days after an Oval Office meeting with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. FULL STORY
Sunlight glints off liquid lake on Saturn's moon Titan
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured the first flash of sunlight reflected off a lake on Saturn's moon Titan, confirming the presence of liquid on the part of the moon dotted with many large, lake-shaped basins. FULL STORY
Russian storage module arrives in Florida for launch
A Russian-built piece of the International Space Station flew into the Kennedy Space Center on a cargo plane Thursday, five months before the module is set to launch on a space shuttle mission. FULL STORY
The clock is ticking for stalwart Spirit rover
The Spirit rover is facing an approaching deadline to drive out of a Martian sand pit, as engineers on Earth race to analyze the health of two wheels and a potentially significant electrical glitch. FULL STORY
Obama, Bolden to meet in Oval Office on Wednesday
President Obama plans to meet with NASA Administator Charles Bolden on Wednesday afternoon as the White House draws a road map for the space program's future.
FULL STORY
More delays for new U.S. weather observatories
A weather satellite to fill a widening gap between old and new observatory fleets will be delayed several months because of problems with components in an infrared sounder, according to NASA. FULL STORY
Joint Mars mission pressing ahead toward 2016 launch
NASA and the European Space Agency will release next month the first solicitation for science instruments on a Mars orbiter mission scheduled for launch in 2016, signaling closer cooperation in a joint Mars exploration program. FULL STORY
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
DELTA ROCKET LAUNCHES WISE OBSERVATORY PLAY VIDEO:
RETRACTION OF PAD'S MOBILE SERVICE GANTRY PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED HIGHLIGHTS OF WISE LAUNCH CAMPAIGN PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED HIGHLIGHTS OF DELTA 2 LAUNCH CAMPAIGN PLAY VIDEO:
DELTA/WISE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
WISE SCIENCE PREVIEW BRIEFING PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Proton launches Russian navigation satellites
Flying for the 350th time, a Proton rocket launched three new satellites for Russia's space navigation network Monday to ensure the system continues providing coverage of its home territory. Liftoff was at 1038 GMT (5:38 a.m. EST) and success was confirmed four hours later. FULL STORY
Senate sends NASA budget bill to president's desk
The Senate passed an $18.7 billion budget for NASA on Sunday, sending to the White House a bill asserting new congressional oversight of the embattled Constellation moon program and funding a replacement climate satellite. FULL STORY
Refurbished Hubble observes oldest galaxies
The oldest galaxies in the universe, never before seen by any previous land or space observatories, show the power of the refurbished Hubble Space Telescope using the Wide Field Camera 3 installed by the space shuttle STS-125 astronaut crew in May. FULL STORY
Endeavour moves one step closer to February launch
Space shuttle Endeavour rolled from its processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Friday afternoon to begin preparing for the first mission of 2010. The orbiter will be attached to the fuel tank and booster rockets over the next few days, then spend the holidays in the VAB before an early January rollout to pad 39A. MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! PHOTOS:ENDEAVOUR ROLLS to VAB
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR MOVES TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE SHOWS ENDEAVOUR ASCENDING IN VAB PLAY VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE SHOWS THE MOVE TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Military agency studying space garbage service
The Pentagon's research and development division is studying concepts to remove dangerous space debris from orbit, an endeavor long dismissed as too costly but potentially feasible with technology advancements. FULL STORY
First SBIRS early warning satellite delayed until 2011
Lockheed Martin has finished environmental testing on the first satellite in a new series of space-based missile warning platforms, but the over-budget, behind-schedule system won't be delivered until 2011, according to the U.S. Air Force. FULL STORY
Second wheel problem dims hope for stuck Spirit rover
Problems with a second wheel on the Mars rover Spirit's right side have decreased the already slim possibility that the rover can free itself from a sand trap and return to roving operations. FULL STORY
Replacement satellite could play role in climate treaty
NASA still has not received approval for a replacement carbon-observing satellite that could provide baseline data for monitoring compliance with a new climate treaty being negotiated this week in Copenhagen.
FULL STORY
Chinese rocket launches with top secret spy satellite
A Chinese remote sensing mission, believed to be a military reconnaissance satellite, lifted off from a desert launch pad on a Long March rocket on Wednesday, state media reported. FULL STORY
Technical glitch postpones Ariane 5 rocket launch
The launch of a French military reconnaissance satellite was delayed after an anamoly occurred with a subsystem in the Ariane 5 rocket. Arianespace said the liftoff will be pushed back a few days.
PREVIEW STORY
Virgin Galactic unveils commercial SpaceShipTwo
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan, whose SpaceShipOne took the $10 million Ansari X Prize in 2004, unveiled SpaceShipTwo Monday, a sleek commercial rocket plane that represents the ultimate thrill ride for well-heeled space tourists and amateur astronauts.
FULL STORY PHOTOS:UNVEILING EVENT
U.S. military looking at Virgin Galactic launcher
As Virgin Galactic prepares to roll out its suborbital passenger spaceship, U.S. military officials seeking low-cost, responsive access to space are studying the company's latest exotic concept to deliver small satellites to orbit.
FULL STORY
Cassini images Saturn system as seasons change
The Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn a billion miles from Earth is beginning its new U.S.-European Equinox Mission with a series of high-value passes over Saturn's rings and close flybys of its scientifically most important moons.
FULL STORY
Logistics module to be modified for new mission
NASA and the Italian Space Agency are planning to strip the Leonardo cargo module of unnecessary parts and beef up shielding to equip the barrel-shaped spacecraft for a permanent stay at the International Space Station.
FULL STORY
NRO, Air Force working to formalize relationship
Senior government space officials are efforting to streamline their operations and boost their industrial base to improve mission assurance for a wide range of classified and unclassified programs, agency leaders said this week.
FULL STORY
NASA says test launch affirms Ares 1 concept
Managers in charge of the Ares 1-X test flight told reporters on Thursday the $445 million October mission confirmed NASA's concept for the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle will work as designed.
FULL STORY
Russia delays Angara rocket debut as testing progresses
The long-delayed Angara rocket family, a modular system designed to replace a range of Russian boosters, has finished a series of ground tests and could be put in commercial service to replace the Proton rocket by the middle of the next decade.
FULL STORY
Station partners assess logistics needs beyond 2015
Space officials in Europe and Japan are considering plans to build and launch additional indigenous cargo ships to the International Space Station if the program is extended beyond 2015.
FULL STORY
Soyuz capsule returns to Earth with station crew
Three men who helped form the first six-person resident crew aboard the International Space Station finished their mission and returned to Earth on Tuesday, capping a half-year in orbit by landing inside a parachute-equipped Soyuz descent capsule.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
VIDEO:
NEW CREW WELCOMED ABOARD 
