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News Archive 2010: August

Test article could facilitate space station applications
Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center are cleaning and studying a grounded space station module that could be launched in a few years as a hub for inflatable habitats and technology demonstrations.
   FULL STORY
Big rocket tested in Utah
Locked in a massive horizontal test fixture near Promontory, Utah, a huge five-segment solid-fuel booster roared to life with a torrent of flame Tuesday, generating some 3.6 million pounds of thrust in a ground-shaking $75 million test of a rocket the Obama administration wants to cancel.
   FULL STORY
Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: SOLID ROCKET MOTOR GROUND TEST-FIRING PLAY
VIDEO: POST-TEST NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
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Military satellite relying on backup plan to save itself
A rescue plan is being implemented to salvage the U.S. military's pricy new communications satellite despite a serious malfunction that knocked out its main engine and stymied the craft's maneuvering ability.
   FULL STORY
   EARLIER LAUNCH COVERAGE
ICESat takes a plunge to conclude successful mission
The ICESat spacecraft fell back into Earth's atmosphere Monday after a seven-year mission to measure the thickness of the planet's land and sea ice, according to NASA.
   FULL STORY
This Week In Space



The International Space Station's antimatter detector gets ready to launch aboard the space shuttle, next Martian rover gets an arm, SpaceX drop-tests its Dragon and new planetary discoveries. Subscribe on iTunes to This Week in Space. Support This Week in Space by making a contribution to keep the show online. If you're interested in supporting This Week in Space through advertising, contact our team to find out how we can connect your organization with our viewers.

News Headlines

Europe's GOCE satellite set to receive software patches
Engineers expect to know in September whether a series of software patches will restore functionality in two faulty computers on GOCE, a European gravity-mapping satellite that stopped transmitting science data in July.
   FULL STORY
Europe, Japan weigh cargo return from space station
The European and Japanese space agencies are considering upgrades to outfit their robotic space station servicing spacecraft to return cargo to Earth, potentially laying the groundwork for crewed capsules by the 2020s.
   FULL STORY
Astrophysics experiment touches down in Florida
An international particle physics experiment flew into the Kennedy Space Center on a U.S. Air Force cargo plane Thursday, reaching the mission's last stop on Earth before launching in February on a hunt for an anti-universe and dark matter.
   FULL STORY
Kepler finds first double planet transiting system
The Kepler space mission has discovered two new Saturn-sized planets and a possible third planet one-and-a-half times bigger than Earth orbiting a star over 2,200 light years away in the constellation Lyra. The discovery also heralds the first time that it has been possible to measure the masses of planets using transit observations.
   ASTRONOMY NOW STORY
Canadian government supports Radarsat fleet
Canada's prime minister endorsed the development of a constellation of Radarsat remote sensing satellites Wednesday, promising $397 million in fresh funding over the next five years.
   FULL STORY
Russia plans to start cosmodrome work in 2011
The construction of a new rocket launch site in Russia's Far East will begin next year, the country's top space official said in a scientific council meeting.
   FULL STORY
Dark matter experiment is space shuttle's 'last hurrah'
After a late magnet switch forced NASA to order a six-month deferment of the final planned space shuttle flight, the Kennedy Space Center is preparing to receive a $1.5 billion physics experiment Thursday to seek out the cosmic signature of enigmatic, ubiquitous dark matter.
   FULL STORY
Astronomers discover another solar system
Using the European Southern Observatory's sensitive HARP instrument, astronomers have discovered a solar system containing at least five planets, with indications that two more, including a hot, rocky world, might also be present.
   ASTRONOMY NOW STORY
A new way to weigh planets
Instead of determining the mass of a planet by measuring the orbits of moons or spacecraft around them, astronomers have come up with a new method using radio signals from pulsars.
   ASTRONOMY NOW STORY
Chinese mapping satellite deployed in Earth orbit
A Chinese mapping satellite is circling Earth after launching on a Long March rocket Tuesday, according to official media reports. The Tianhui 1 satellite was released in a circular orbit more than 300 miles above Earth following liftoff aboard a Long March 2D booster.
   FULL STORY
Air Force takes steps to build more WGS satellites
The U.S. Air Force is paying Boeing $182 million to lay the groundwork for a seventh wideband military communications satellite to route video, voice and data messages to deployed troops, the company announced Monday.
   FULL STORY
New GPS satellites pass critical design review
The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin have completed the critical design review for an upgraded Global Positioning System constellation, clearing the way for the production of a new generation of navigation satellites.
   FULL STORY
SpaceX: Dragon testing will determine launch schedule
SpaceX delivered the first space-worthy Dragon capsule to Florida in early August as engineers dropped a replica of the craft in the Pacific Ocean to simulate the ship's return from orbit.
   FULL STORY
NASA considering June 2011 for final shuttle flight
Awaiting word on whether one additional shuttle flight will be approved by Congress and the Obama administration, NASA managers are protectively considering June 28, 2011, for launch of shuttle Atlantis on a rescue mission if a major problem threatens the crew of the final planned shuttle flight in late February. If not, and if NASA gets the required funding, the agency would launch Atlantis on an actual space station resupply mission to close out the shuttle program.
   FULL STORY
Station crew recaps repairs as coolant system restarts
The International Space Station's coolant system is back up and running normally after a three-spacewalk repair job, the astronauts said Thursday, allowing the crew to power up science equipment and other systems that had to be shut down when an ammonia pump shorted out July 31.
   FULL STORY
Spaceflight Now Plus
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Lunar orbiter images show signs of moon shrinkage
The moon may be shrinking. That's the word from scientists analyzing data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a NASA probe returning tantalizing pictures of young faults on the moon.
   FULL STORY
Iridium merges science with communications
Working under a U.S. government grant, researchers are calling upon the Iridium satellite constellation for the first real-time global space weather observations from low Earth orbit.
   FULL STORY
Task force recommends grants to aid Space Coast
A presidential task force released its recommendations Tuesday on how to best invest $40 million in aid for Florida's Space Coast workforce as the space shuttle program is retired next year.
   FULL STORY
Chinese mini-station moves one step closer to liftoff
China has finished building an unmanned module that will be the centerpiece of the country's first space laboratory, state media reported Tuesday. The Tiangong 1 spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2011.
   FULL STORY
This Week In Space



Spacewalkers continue working on repairs, an interview with EVA'er Dave Wolf, success for Atlas 5 rocket and a new shot from Hubble. Subscribe on iTunes to This Week in Space. Support This Week in Space by making a contribution to keep the show online. If you're interested in supporting This Week in Space through advertising, contact our team to find out how we can connect your organization with our viewers.

News Headlines

Spacewalkers complete station cooling repairs
Astronauts Doug Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson went back outside the International Space Station for their third spacewalk and finished fixing the coolant loop that broke down two weeks ago.
   FULL STORY
   AMMONIA LINES HOOKED UP
   REPLACEMENT PUMP INSERTED
   SPACEWALK BEGINS EARLY
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - LIVE COVERAGE!
Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: POST-SPACEWALK STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS CONCLUDE THE THIRD EVA PLAY
VIDEO: AMMONIA HOSES ARE ATTACHED TO THE PUMP PLAY
VIDEO: POWER AND DATA LINES BRING PUMP TO LIFE PLAY
VIDEO: REPLACEMENT PUMP SECURELY BOLTED DOWN PLAY
VIDEO: PUMP INSERTED INTO SPACE STATION SLOT PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER HAULS PUMP OVER TO TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO: RETRIEVING THE REPLACEMENT PUMP PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALK NO. 3 BEGINS PLAY
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Cassini sees three Saturn moons in one flyby
The Cassini orbiter has returned more vivid imagery from Saturn after collecting snapshots of three moons during a flyby Friday. This photo gallery showcases a handful of raw images from Cassini last weekend.
   IMAGES: PHOTO GALLERY
Dark energy, alien planets are focus of decadal survey
NASA's top new astrophysics mission should be a multipurpose infrared space telescope to study planets beyond our solar system and seek out dark energy, the driving force of the universe, according to an independent science panel.
   FULL STORY
Rise and shine: Atlas 5 rocket soars at dawn
A sophisticated satellite was launched into space Saturday to improve the preeminent path of communications between the president, military commanders and troops on the battlefield, ensuring a survivable line of contact even in hellish scenarios of nuclear warfare.
   FULL STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - LIVE COVERAGE!
   IMAGES: LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY
   IMAGES: THE VIEW FROM UP CLOSE
   IMAGES: PRESS SITE'S LAUNCH VIEW
   IMAGES: ATLAS ON THE PAD
   IMAGES: ROCKET'S ROLLOUT
   IMAGES: AEHF 1 SATELLITE
   THE ROCKET
   GROUND TRACK MAP
   LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE
   OUR ATLAS ARCHIVE
Photo gallery: Atlas on pad
An Atlas 5 rocket stands perched atop Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 on the eve of its scheduled launch to deploy the Advanced Extremely High Frequency 1 military communications satellite.
   ENTER PHOTO GALLERY
Photo gallery: Prepping the Atlas rocket's payload
This collection of photographs shows the inaugural AHEF satellite being encapsulated within the Atlas 5 rocket's nose cone at the Astrotech processing cleanroom near Titusville and then delivered to the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 for mating atop the launch vehicle.
   ENTER PHOTO GALLERY
NASA says JWST cost impeding new missions
NASA will be listening when scientists present their recommendations for the next decade of astrophysics research Friday, but some of the proposed missions could be at the mercy of soaring costs on the $5 billion successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
   FULL STORY
Cooling pump removed; more spacewalks ahead
The International Space Station astronauts successfully disconnected and pulled out the faulty ammonia pump Wednesday during the second in a series of repair spacewalks. A new pump will be installed on Monday and a fourth spacewalk likely will be required later to wrap up loose ends.
   FULL STORY
   SPACEWALKERS EXTRACT OLD PUMP
   THE OLD PUMP PREPPED FOR REMOVAL
   FINAL FLUID LINE DISCONNECTED
   SPACEWALK BEGINS
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - LIVE COVERAGE!
Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: POST-SPACEWALK STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED COOLANT PUMP REMOVED FROM THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM MANEUVERS SPACEWALKER AROUND PLAY
VIDEO: POWER AND DATA LINES UNPLUGGED PLAY
VIDEO: TROUBLESOME UMBILICAL DETACHED PLAY
VIDEO: NO REPEAT OF AMMONIA LEAK PLAY
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Asteroid probe, rocket get nod from Japanese panel
The board governing Japan's space program last week formally approved a successor to the Hayabusa asteroid explorer and the Epsilon small satellite launch vehicle to continue development.
   FULL STORY
Sweden's Prisma satellites go their separate ways
Two small Swedish satellites split apart Wednesday, commencing several months of trials in orbital formation flying and rendezvous techniques using sensors from across Europe.
   FULL STORY
Government contract will hasten new imaging birds
A $7.3 billion imaging contract awarded by the U.S. government to two commercial satellite operators will help accelerate the launch of new privately-owned reconnaissance spacecraft.
   FULL STORY
This Week In Space



Space station repairs run into trouble, NASA budget makes slow progress through Congress, Commerce Secretary visits shuttle workers, retirement homes for the shuttle, Ariane 5 launch and more. Subscribe on iTunes to This Week in Space. Support This Week in Space by making a contribution to keep the show online. If you're interested in supporting This Week in Space through advertising, contact our team to find out how we can connect your organization with our viewers.

News Headlines

NASA changes spacewalk strategy for station repair
Flight controllers are revising plans for a second spacewalk Wednesday to replace a coolant pump aboard the International Space Station, adding work to isolate an ammonia leak that should clear the way for installation of a new pump during a third spacewalk Sunday.
   FULL STORY
Previous NASA chief survives plane crash
Former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and his son have survived the plane crash in Alaska Monday night that took life of former Sen. Ted Stevens.
   ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY
New spy satellite launched by Long March rocket
A secret Chinese reconnaissance payload successfully launched on a Long March rocket Monday, the sixth time China has sent a satellite into orbit so far this year.
   FULL STORY
Cassini's latest dispatches reach across a billion miles
The Cassini probe continues to send back dramatic images of Saturn as it nears the end of its first extended mission at the iconic ringed planet a billion miles from Earth.
   FULL STORY
Robotics work held up by spacewalks, stuck spring
The first maintenance task for a Canadian space robot is on hold until astronauts finish up urgent repairs to the International Space Station's external cooling system.
   FULL STORY
Troubles stall replacement of station coolant pump
An unexpected ammonia leak and a jammed quick-disconnect fitting disrupted an eight-hour spacewalk Saturday to replace a faulty coolant system pump on the International Space Station. Assuming engineers can come up with a quick fix for the leak, the astronauts may attempt to replace the pump during a second spacewalk Wednesday.
   FULL STORY
   LEAK HALTS FAILED PUMP REMOVAL
   TROUBLE WITH STUCK CONNECTOR
   SPACEWALK BEGINS
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - LIVE COVERAGE!
Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: POST-SPACEWALK STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: PROBLEM CONNECTOR FINALLY FREED BUT THEN LEAKS PLAY
VIDEO: LEFT-HAND AMMONIA UMBILICAL COMES OFF WITH EASE PLAY
VIDEO: SKIPPING OVER PROBLEM CONNECTOR TO DO ANOTHER PLAY
VIDEO: TROUBLES AND ADVICE FOR STUCK AMMONIA LINE PLAY
VIDEO: PUMP'S SMALL COOLING LINE UNPLUGGED PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER DOUG WHEELOCK WORKS ON OLD PUMP PLAY
VIDEO: BRIEFING ON PUMP FAILURE AND SPACEWALKS PLAY
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Funnel cloud develops over Kennedy Space Center pad
A funnel cloud appeared over the Kennedy Space Center on Friday, hanging over the space shuttle's launch complex and triggering warning sirens. Check out photos of the ominous cloud above the launch pad.
   FULL STORY
Senate approves bill adding extra space shuttle flight
The U.S. Senate passed a compromise NASA bill Thursday night that would order the agency to fly an extra space shuttle mission next June and immediately start work on a new heavy-lift rocket for human voyages beyond Earth.
   FULL STORY
Executives provide outlook on ATK's rocket business
Two different NASA authorization bills assembled winding through Congress are both encouraging for rocket-builder ATK, a top contractor for the endangered Ares rocket family, company officials said Thursday.
   FULL STORY
Station EVAs delayed
Citing the need for more time to finalize details for the upcoming spacewalks to replace a failed cooling pump module outside the International Space Station, officials have pushed back the EVAs to Saturday and next Wednesday.
   FULL STORY
Atlas 5 rocket receives its satellite passenger
An advanced satellite for relaying secure U.S. military communications and the Atlas 5 rocket that will launch the craft into space next week were brought together inside a Cape Canaveral assembly building Thursday.
   FULL STORY
   THE ROCKET
   GROUND TRACK MAP
   LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE
   OUR ATLAS ARCHIVE
Ariane 5 rocket powers African satellites to orbit
Europe's Ariane 5 rocket accomplished its third commercial mission of the year Wednesday, delivering to orbit two African communications satellites to broadcast television programming and boost connectivity with rural villages.
   FULL STORY
   PREVIEW STORY
   OUR ARIANE ARCHIVE
Two Delta 4-Heavy rockets now pointed toward space
Heavy-duty Delta 4 rockets now stand atop the nation's two launch pads in Florida and California for vitally important missions carrying clandestine spy satellites.
   FULL STORY
   OUR DELTA ARCHIVE
Solar blast heads for Earth
The sun appears to have jolted from its deep slumber, blasting tons of plasma into interplanetary space on Sunday in an eruption aimed squarely at planet Earth.
   FULL STORY
Game plan coming together for station spacewalks
NASA astronauts and engineers are refining plans for two spacewalks by astronauts Douglas Wheelock and Tracy Caldwell Dyson to replace a large ammonia pump module that shut down Saturday, knocking out one of the International Space Station's two cooling loops. The EVAs are now scheduled for Friday and Monday.
   FULL STORY
   EARLIER STORY
   THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM INFO (.pdf download)
Joint panel selects payload for 2016 Mars orbiter
NASA and the European Space Agency have selected five instruments for a methane-sniffing Mars orbiter scheduled for launch in 2016, the first mission of a transatlantic partnership to reconnoiter the Red Planet.
   FULL STORY
Long March rocket delivers Chinese satellite to space
Another Chinese navigation satellite blasted off late Saturday on its way to a 22,000-mile-high perch above Earth to bolster the government-owned fleet of Beidou positioning spacecraft.
   FULL STORY
This Week In Space



Russians take a spacewalk, Elon meets the Colbert Nation, touring Titan's Lake District, ZombieSat looms and KSC to the turtle rescue. Subscribe on iTunes to This Week in Space. Support This Week in Space by making a contribution to keep the show online. If you're interested in supporting This Week in Space through advertising, contact our team to find out how we can connect your organization with our viewers.

Read our earlier news archive page.