Supermassive black hole at core of skinny galaxy
Scientists have uncovered a supermassive black hole at the core of a svelte, spiral galaxy, a finding that questions a recently devised rule of thumb in which only galaxies with bulging cores have such black holes. FULL STORY
X-rays chart the wakes of supersonic galaxies
A new observation of the galaxy cluster Abell 160 is giving astronomers important insight into the motion of galaxies as they plough through tenuous gas in space at supersonic speeds. Observations made with the Chandra X-ray Observatory reveal the wakes they create behind them. FULL STORY
Saturday:
April 12, 2003
0625 GMT
Atlas 3 rocket gives Asian satellite ride to orbit
An Asian telecommunications spacecraft that will cover over 40 countries from the Middle East to New Zealand was successfully launched Friday night by a Lockheed Martin Atlas 3B rocket from Cape Canaveral. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER ARCHIVED ATLAS COVERAGE
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Friday:
April 11, 2003
0621 GMT
Atlas 3 to try again today
A last-minute shift in upper level winds delayed Thursday's launch of a Lockheed Martin Atlas 3B rocket carrying a communications satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region. Another launch attempt is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. EDT today.
MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP ARCHIVED ATLAS COVERAGE
Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF THIS LAUNCH QT VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE HELD THURSDAY QT VIDEO: REPLAY OF LAST YEAR'S MAIDEN ATLAS 3B LAUNCH QT VIDEO: ATLAS 3B ROCKET PRE-LAUNCH PROCESSING QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
SIRTF launch delayed
The launch of NASA's final "Great Observatory" -- the Space Infrared Telescope Facility -- is being delayed due to concerns associated with the Boeing Delta 2 rocket that will send $1.2 billion mission into space, sources said on Thursday. FULL STORY
Far-flung supernovae shed light on dark universe
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys have found two supernovae that exploded so long ago they provide new clues about the accelerating universe and its mysterious "dark energy." The supernovae are approximately 5 and 8 billion light-years from Earth. The farther one exploded so long ago the universe may still have been decelerating under its own gravity. FULL STORY
Giant solar tadpoles born in explosion
Dark features resembling Earth-sized tadpoles were seen swimming in the atmosphere of the Sun after it was heated to millions of degrees following an enormous explosion, according to scientists who made the observation using NASA's Transition Region and Coronal Explorer spacecraft. FULL STORY
Thursday:
April 10, 2003
0425 GMT
Ariane 5 program resumes flights with a success
Europe's battered Ariane 5 rocket program scored a much needed success Wednesday night, lofting a pair of communications satellites while making strides to repair the heavy-lifting booster's reputation. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER ARCHIVED ARIANE COVERAGE
Third Atlas 3 rocket awaits liftoff from Cape today
Just after sunset tonight along Florida's Space Coast, a Lockheed Martin Atlas 3B rocket is expected to fire off the launch pad carrying a telecommunications satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP ARCHIVED ATLAS COVERAGE
Galileo makes discovery during moon encounter
NASA's Galileo spacecraft serendipitously discovered seven to nine space rocks near Jupiter's inner moon Amalthea when Galileo flew past that moon five months ago. FULL STORY
Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission moves ahead
The solar system's farthest known planetary outpost is closer to getting its first visitor. This week NASA gave The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute and their partners the go-ahead to start full development of the first mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. FULL STORY
Wednesday:
April 9, 2003
0251 GMT
No 'privileged' testimony to be made public
Harold Gehman, chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, said today two interim recommendations will be released late this week or early next and that the panel likely will write its final report in June. Gehman also said "privileged," or confidential testimony from senior shuttle managers, engineers and technicians, will never be made public, either in a public hearing or in final report transcripts. FULL STORY
News Archive March 31-April 6: Gehman calls recorder data a 'treasure trove'; NASA formally announces Expedition 7 station crew; Delta doesn't disappoint in successful GPS launch; Hubble's rainbow image of a dusty star; NASA researchers put new spin on relativity theory. March 24-30: Plan calls for shuttles to be imaged by spy satellites; Expert says NASA lost sight of safety margin; Japan enters spy satellite arena with rocket launch; Rocket troubles delay pair of ESA research projects; Stunning Hubble images of mysterious erupting star; New class of hot-tempered black holes bucks trends. More news See our weekly archive of space news. Columbia Report A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Mars Panorama DISCOUNTED! This 360 degree image was taken by the Mars Pathfinder, which landed on the Red Planet in July 1997. The Sojourner Rover is visible in the image. Choose your store: U.S. Apollo 11 Mission Report Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD! Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide 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. 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. -
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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. -
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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. 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). Gemini 7 Gemini 7: The NASA Mission Reports covers this 14-day mission by Borman and Lovell as they demonstrated some of the more essential facts of space flight. Includes CD-ROM. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Apollo 9 DVD On the road to the moon, the mission of Apollo 9 stands as an important gateway in experience and procedures. This 2-DVD collection presents the crucial mission on the voyage to the moon. Choose your store: U.S. -
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