Spaceflight Now

Sunday: January 26, 2003		0550 GMT

Air-launched rocket gives boost to climate research Cruising about 39,000 feet above the open waters of the Atlantic, an air-launched Pegasus rocket was dropped from the belly of a carrier jet Saturday afternoon to blast a science satellite into orbit to study the Sun's influence on Earth's environment. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER SORCE SATELLITE FACT SHEET LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: WATCH ENTIRE 11-MINUTE LAUNCH OF PEGASUS QT or RV VIDEO: TAXI OF ORBITAL CARRIER AIRCRAFT TO RUNWAY QT or RV VIDEO: L-1011 CARRIER JET TAKES OFF FROM CAPE QT or RV VIDEO: T-38 DEPARTS THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER QT or RV VIDEO: AERIAL INSPECTION BY T-38 CHASE PLANE QT or RV VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH COMMENTS BY NASA MANAGER QT or RV VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT or RV VIDEO: AN OVERVIEW OF THE SORCE PROJECT QT or RV SUBSCRIBE NOW
Science mission continues Space shuttle Columbia's astronauts completed an experiment studying the activity of bone cells in microgravity and began final tests with a technology demonstration designed to investigate the behavior of capillary-pumped loops in space as the 16-day international science mission completed Flight Day 10. MISSION STATUS CENTER UPDATED NASA TV SCHEDULE ASTRONAUTS' MASTER FLIGHT PLAN

Saturday: January 25, 2003		0320 GMT

Launch campaign underway for second Delta 4 flight With a countdown dress rehearsal successfully completed, Boeing's Delta 4 launch team is preparing to mount an Air Force communications satellite cargo atop the rocket next week for the planned early February liftoff from Cape Canaveral. FULL STORY - updated with pictures!

Distant world in peril When, in a distant future, the Sun begins to expand and evolves into a "giant" star, the surface temperature on the Earth will rise dramatically and our home planet will eventually be incinerated by that central body. Fortunately for us, this dramatic event is several billion years away. However, that sad fate will befall another planet, just discovered in orbit about the giant star HD 47536, already within a few tens of millions of years. FULL STORY

Friday: January 24, 2003		0250 GMT

Air-launched Pegasus to carry NASA craft Saturday A spacecraft designed to study how the Sun influences the Earth's atmosphere and climate will ride an air-launched Pegasus XL rocket into orbit Saturday afternoon in a mission originating at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's runway. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates! SORCE SATELLITE FACT SHEET LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK

Shuttle Columbia midway through science mission The scientific research mission aboard Columbia is passing the halfway mark as the 80 microgravity investigations continue on schedule. Highlighting the investigations Thursday for both the Blue and Red Teams were the Structures of Flame Balls and Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System experiments, although both teams continued to support other experiments with a variety of activities. MISSION STATUS CENTER UPDATED NASA TV SCHEDULE ASTRONAUTS' MASTER FLIGHT PLAN
See more coverage here:
Shock waves may explain water in meteorites Shock waves through icy parts of the solar nebula could well be the mechanism that enriched meteorites with water -- water that some believe provided an otherwise dry Earth with oceans, according to a new study published in the current issue of Science. FULL STORY

NASA assigns 'Living with a Star' missions to APL NASA has authorized the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to proceed with the implementation of the Geospace missions under NASA's existing "Living with a Star" contract. LWS sets out to quantify the physics, dynamics and behavior of the Sun-Earth system over the 11-year solar cycle and improve understanding of solar variability and disturbances on terrestrial climate change. FULL STORY

Thursday: January 23, 2003		0420 GMT

First Milky Ways found at edge of Universe Astronomers have found the first direct evidence that galaxies as large as the Milky Way already had formed when the Universe was less than a billion years old. FULL STORY

X-rays reveal nature of galaxy's boisterous activity Chandra's image of M83 shows numerous point-like neutron star and black hole X-ray sources scattered throughout the disk of this spiral galaxy. The bright nuclear region of the galaxy glows prominently due to a burst of star formation that is estimated to have begun about 20 million years ago in the galaxy's time frame. FULL STORY

Wednesday: January 22, 2003		0402 GMT

Crew deals with cooling problem in laboratory The Columbia astronauts were pressing ahead with a full-slate of orbital research Tuesday, adjusting the shuttle's air conditioner to make up for a loss of cooling in their Spacehab research module. NASA managers describe the problem as an "annoyance," saying it will have no impact on the crew's science agenda. FULL STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: EVENT WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER QT or RV VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING QT or RV SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA announces Educator Astronaut Program Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Florida First Lady Columba Bush on Tuesday outlined a unique NASA program designed to show learning in a whole new light by giving students and teachers across the country an out-of-this-world experience. FULL STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: TUESDAY'S EDUCATOR ASTRONAUT ANNOUNCEMENT QT or RV SUBSCRIBE NOW
New challenge with Rosetta After the initial disappointment of postponing the Rosetta mission, the European Space Agency's Director of Science David Southwood expressed his firm determination to accept the delay and take it on as a galvanising challenge. FULL STORY

Tuesday: January 21, 2003		0703 GMT

'Stray particles' in engine blamed for launch failure The State Commission investigating the failure of a Proton/Block DM launch vehicle, which left the ASTRA 1K satellite in a lower-than-planned orbit, has submitted its final report to the Russian government, International Launch Services announced Monday. FULL STORY

Science research continues Columbia's astronauts conducted scientific studies ranging from the behavior of granular materials in weightlessness to the effects of microgravity on fungi, and filmed the sprites associated with thunderstorms across the globe as their scientific research flight continued in its fifth day. MISSION STATUS CENTER

Magnetic 'slinky effect' may power aurora The spectacular aurora borealis displays that light up the northern nights could be powered by a gigantic "slinky" effect in Earth's magnetic field lines, according to research performed at the University of Minnesota. FULL STORY

Homestretch for Mars rover naming contest NASA is reminding America's school kids that time is running out on a chance to make history by naming two rovers being launched to explore Mars. The "Name the Mars Rovers" contest closes January 31, so there is still time to submit the winning entries. FULL STORY

Monday: January 20, 2003		0602 GMT

Vandenberg receives first Boeing Delta 4 rocket The first Boeing Delta 4 rocket destined to fly from California came ashore Sunday, bringing closer a new era in launching critical national security satellites from the West Coast. FULL STORY

Panel says space tourism prospects upbeat for 2003 Despite the well-publicized failure of a pop star to buy a seat on a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station, the young space tourism business is alive and well with a number of key developments scheduled to take place in the coming year. FULL STORY

First 'full-body scan' of evolving thunderstorm A doctor gets a better view inside a patient by probing the body with CAT and MRI scanning equipment. Now, NASA meteorologists have done a kind of "full-body scan" of an evolving thunderstorm in the tropics, using advanced radar equipment to provide a remarkable picture of the storm's anatomy. The observations are expected to help double-check satellite rainfall measurements, improve computer models of storms, and make the skies safer for airplanes to navigate. FULL STORY

News Archive
Jan. 13-19: Shuttle Columbia rockets into orbit for science flight; Delta 2 pulls double duty with launch of two satellites; Three new moons found around Neptune; Researchers seek 'heart' of black hole mystery; Stellar cocoons found in harsh environment; Rocket issues keep Rosetta grounded indefinitely.

Jan. 6-12: Farthest known planet discovered; Coriolis launched to track ocean winds, solar storms; ; Nozzle failure doomed Ariane 5 rocket; Biggest zoom lens in space extends Hubble's reach; New lower limit for age of universe claimed.

Dec. 30-Jan. 5: China launches fourth Shenzhou capsule; Russian rocket delivers Canadian satellite in space; Ariane 5 launch failure investigation delays Rosetta; Engine 'destroyed' in Proton mission failure; Volcanoes on Jovian moon spew salt into atmosphere.

Dec. 23-29: Giant X-ray disk sheds light on elliptical galaxies; Integral's first look at the gamma-ray Universe; First elusive 'dark' gamma-ray burst caught; NASA tests future flight vehicle concepts.

Dec. 16-22: Clouds discovered at south pole of Saturn's moon Titan; Workhorse Ariane 4 rocket flies its next to last mission; Titan 2 off till January; Second Delta 4 rocket erected on the launch pad; Young star cluster aglow with mysterious cloud; Six satellite cargos ride Dnepr booster to space.

More news See our weekly archive of space news.

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD

This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.

U.S. STORE

U.K. WORLDWIDE STORE

Apollo patches

The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo 12 tribute DVD set

New! Featuring the jovial crew of Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Alan Bean, the Apollo 12 mission was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff but proceeded on the second successful exploration voyage to the lunar surface. This three-disc DVD brings the mission to life with extraordinary detail.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Fallen Heroes special patch

This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Women in Space

Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Includes CD-ROM.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Mars rover poster

This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

Choose your store:
U.S.

Get e-mail updates
Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose).

Apollo 11 special patch

Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Inside Apollo mission control

An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.

Choose your store:
U.S.

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD

This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Next ISS crew

Own a little piece of history with this official patch for the International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew. We'll ship yours today!

Choose your store:
U.S.

Expedition 18 patch & pin

The official embroidered patch and lapel pin for the International Space Station Expedition 18 crew is now available to from our stores.

U.S. STORE: PATCH | PIN

WORLD STORE: PATCH | PIN

Ares patch

The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.

U.S. STORE

Apollo patches

The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.
U.S. STORE

Columbus mission patch

The official astronaut embroidered patch of Atlantis' STS-122 mission that launched the Columbus science lab in February is available to U.S. customers from our store.

U.S. STORE

Station Calendar

NEW! This beautiful 12" by 12" wall calendar features stunning images of the International Space Station and of the people, equipment, and space craft associated with it, as it takes shape day by day in orbit high above the Earth.

U.S. STORE

U.K. & WORLDWIDE STORE
Contact us
If you have a comment or question for Spaceflight Now, just send us an e-mail.

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE