Spaceflight Now

Sunday: May 18, 2003		0315 GMT

'Happy Face' crater of Mars Every day, the Mars Global Surveyor wide angle instruments obtain a global view of the planet to help monitor weather and seasonal patterns of frost deposition and removal. The two pictures here show Galle Crater, informally known as "Happy Face," as it appeared in early southern winter. FULL STORY

Proton rocket launch delayed by technical glitch Monday's planned launch of the Russian Proton rocket carrying the AMC 9 telecommunications satellite has been postponed, officials announced Saturday. MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP ORBIT INSERTION GRAPHIC

Saturday: May 17, 2003		0425 GMT

Lunar eclipse as seen out space station's window NASA astronaut Ed Lu, the flight engineer and science officer living aboard the international space station, snapped this image Thursday near the time of a total lunar eclipse. FULL STORY

Chaos theory explains origin of new moons The ability to understand how small bodies such as moons switch from orbiting the Sun to orbiting a planet has long remained one of the outstanding problems of planetary science. A paper published in Nature shows how this problem has been resolved using chaos theory, enabling scientists to predict where astronomers might search for new moons orbiting the giant planets. FULL STORY

NASA picks in-space propulsion innovations NASA has selected 15 industry, government and academic organizations to pursue 22 innovative propulsion technology research proposals that could revolutionize exploration and scientific study of the solar system. FULL STORY

Friday: May 16, 2003		0603 GMT

Brighter Neptune suggests a change of seasons Springtime is blooming on Neptune! This might sound like an oxymoron because Neptune is the farthest and coldest of the major planets. But Hubble Space Telescope observations are revealing an increase in Neptune's brightness in the southern hemisphere, which is considered a harbinger of seasonal change, say astronomers. FULL STORY

Russian rocket to launch U.S. communications craft Delayed three weeks to replace a faulty rocket component, a Russian Proton booster fitted with a Breeze M upper stage is set to launch a satellite on Monday that is destined to beam communications transmissions to users throughout North America. MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP ORBIT INSERTION GRAPHIC

Thursday: May 15, 2003		0812 GMT

NASA chief, CAIB chairman testify at Senate hearing A Senate hearing held in Washington on Wednesday saw NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Columbia Accident Investigation Board chairman Hal Gehman answer questions about the shuttle tragedy, what could have been done to save the astronauts and the controversy over NASA's decision not to seek spy satellite images of Columbia. The entire hearing is presented here for Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers.

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: SENATORS MAKE OPENING STATEMENTS QT VIDEO: ADMINISTRATOR SEAN O'KEEFE OPENING STATEMENT QT VIDEO: CAIB CHAIRMAN HAL GEHMAN OPENING COMMENTS QT VIDEO: QUESTIONING OF O'KEEFE AND GEHMAN DURING HEARING QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
A new way to explore the surface of Mars Students from North Carolina State University are helping NASA expand the exploration of the surface of Mars. The team of students and researchers has designed a wind-powered rover that can be blown, like tumbleweed, across the surface of the Red Planet collecting atmospheric and geological samples at multiple locations. FULL STORY

NASA finds soot has impact on global climate A team of researchers, led by NASA and Columbia University scientists, found airborne, microscopic, black-carbon (soot) particles are even more plentiful around the world, and contribute more to climate change, than was previously assumed by the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change. FULL STORY

Wednesday: May 14, 2003		0632 GMT

First Greek satellite launch performed by Atlas 5 rocket Tuesday's rocket launch from Cape Canaveral wasn't your every day satellite delivery mission. Sure, it had that unmistakable crackling roar and golden tail of fire. But the successful second flight of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 rocket began with a history-making accomplishment and ended with Greece achieving its first presence in space. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER ATLAS 5 VIDEO COLLECTION

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: TUESDAY'S ROLLOUT OF ATLAS 5 ROCKET TO THE PAD QT VIDEO: SHORT VERSION OF ATLAS 5 LAUNCH MOVIE QT VIDEO: LONGER VERSION OF ATLAS 5 LAUNCHING HELLAS SAT QT VIDEO: OUR LAUNCH FOOTAGE FROM THE CAPE PRESS SITE QT VIDEO: VAPOR CLOUD APPEARS IN THE SKY BEHIND ROCKET QT VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH SPEECHES DECLARE MISSION SUCCESS QT VIDEO: MONDAY'S ROLLOUT OF ATLAS 5 ROCKET TO THE PAD QT VIDEO: A PREVIEW OF THE ATLAS 5 LAUNCHING HELLAS SAT QT AUDIO: 54-MINUTE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Clearest video yet of foam strike as tests get underway The Columbia Accident Investigation Board Tuesday released the clearest video yet showing a tumbling piece of foam insulation slamming into the shuttle's left wing during launch Jan. 16. Investigators say the enhanced video, along with ongoing mathematical modeling, indicates the foam slammed into the wing at some 529 mph with a ton of force. FULL STORY

Tuesday: May 13, 2003		0145 GMT

Atlas 5 rocket launch rescheduled for today Delayed 24 hours to replace a faulty part on the rocket, the second flight of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 rocket has been reset for 5:57 p.m. EDT (2157 GMT) today from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket will propel the Greek Hellas Sat communications spacecraft into orbit. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates! PREVIEW STORY LAUNCH WEATHER FORECAST ATLAS 5 VIDEO COLLECTION

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: ROLLOUT OF ATLAS 5 ROCKET TO THE LAUNCH PAD QT VIDEO: A PREVIEW OF THE ATLAS 5 LAUNCHING HELLAS SAT QT AUDIO: 54-MINUTE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Your name could make a 'Deep Impact' on a comet People worldwide may celebrate July 4, 2005, as the day their names reach a comet. NASA is launching a campaign to send hundreds of thousands of names to comet Tempel 1. The names will be carried on board NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft, the first deep-space mission designed to really reach out and touch a comet. FULL STORY

Unique NASA satellite watches rainfall from space Your local weather forecaster uses Doppler radar systems, covering U.S. regions, to estimate rainfall and flooding, but NASA research satellites can see rainfall worldwide. FULL STORY

Monday: May 12, 2003		0200 GMT

Atlas 5 rocket to launch Greek satellite today Looking to make it two successes in a row, Lockheed Martin's next-generation Atlas 5 rocket is ready to take its second flight. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. EDT (2157 GMT) today from Florida's Cape Canaveral carrying the commercial Hellas Sat communications spacecraft. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates! PREVIEW STORY LAUNCH WEATHER FORECAST ATLAS 5 VIDEO COLLECTION

News Archive
May 5-11: CAIB accepts, agrees with NASA failure scenario; Japan launches asteroid sample return mission; New shuttle program manager named; Deepest view of space yields young stars in halo; India launches second GSLV rocket.

April 28-May 4: Columbia could not be saved, NASA study shows; Off-target Soyuz with outgoing station crew found after hours of searching; Satellite launched to trace the evolution of galaxies; BeppoSAX takes the plunge; Freewheeling galaxies collide in blaze of star birth; Hubble gyroscope fails.

April 21-27: Space station caretaker crew blasts off on Soyuz; NASA, CAIB investigators compare notes on disaster; Dittemore to leave after accident probe complete; Glowing hot transiting exoplanet discovered; Spectacular photos unveil mysterious nebulae; Titan reveals a surface dominated by icy bedrock.

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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.

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Apollo patches

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

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Mars Rover mission patch

A mission patch featuring NASA's Mars Exploration Rover is available from our online.

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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.

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Apollo 11 special patch

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

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Soviet Space

For the first time ever available in the West. Rocket & Space Corporation Energia: a complete pictorial history of the Soviet/Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day all in full color. Available from our store.

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Viking patch

This embroidered mission patch celebrates NASA's Viking Project which reached the Red Planet in 1976.

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Apollo 7 DVD

For 11 days the crew of Apollo 7 fought colds while they put the Apollo spacecraft through a workout, establishing confidence in the machine what would lead directly to the bold decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon just 2 months later.

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Gemini 12

Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.

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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.

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U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo patches

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

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Mars Rover mission patch

A mission patch featuring NASA's Mars Exploration Rover is available from our online.

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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.

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U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

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.

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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.

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Apollo patches

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

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