Spaceflight Now

Sunday: June 15, 2003		0452 GMT

Flattest star ever seen To a first approximation, planets and stars are round. Think of the Earth we live on. Think of the Sun, the nearest star, and how it looks in the sky. But if you think more about it, you realize that this is not completely true. FULL STORY

Saturday: June 14, 2003		0003 GMT

Hot news for cold dark matter from Chandra Astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to make the most detailed probe yet of the distribution of dark matter in a massive cluster of galaxies. Their results indicate that about 80 percent of the matter in the universe consists of cold dark matter -- mysterious subatomic particles left over from the dense early universe. FULL STORY

Bridges moves from Kennedy to Langley Gen. Roy D. Bridges, Center Director for NASA's Kennedy Space Center, has been named Center Director for the agency's Langley Research Center. Bridges, a retired U.S. Air Force Major General and former space shuttle pilot will assume his new duties Aug. 10. FULL STORY

Friday: June 13, 2003		0205 GMT

Bolt catcher a possible return to flight issue Accident investigators have stumbled on a potentially catastrophic shortcoming in the explosive bolt attachment system used to latch a space shuttle's boosters to its external fuel tank. While there is no evidence Columbia was struck by falling debris from a faulty "bolt catcher" during its launching Jan. 16, corrective actions almost certainly will be required before shuttle flights resume. FULL STORY

Comets survive plunge through Sun's atmosphere A run through the jungle is too easy; for the ultimate reality show contest, try a race through the Sun's atmosphere, where two comets recently lost their heads. The tails from a pair of comets survived a close encounter with the Sun, even after the Sun's intense heat and radiation vaporized their heads, an extremely rare event photographed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft. FULL STORY

Thursday: June 12, 2003		0317 GMT

Ariane 5 rocket launches double cargo with success A pair of Australian and Japanese telecommunications satellites shared the ride into Earth orbit Wednesday night, blasting off from the jungles of South America aboard Europe's Ariane 5G rocket. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER

First measurement made of a dead star's magnetism Using the superior sensitivity of ESA's X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, a team of European astronomers has made the first direct measurement of a neutron star's magnetic field. The results provide deep insights into the extreme physics of neutron stars and reveal a new mystery yet to be solved about the end of this star's life. FULL STORY

Cargo-carrying craft docks to space station A Russian Progress resupply ship made a successful automated docking to the international space station Wednesday, linking up with the orbiting lab complex to deliver vital supplies. FULL STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: DOCKING AS SEEN FROM CAMERA ABOARD THE PROGRESS QT VIDEO: CAMERAS ON STATION SEE APPROACHING SPACECRAFT QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Wednesday: June 11, 2003		0001 GMT

'Spirit' rover begins seven-month cruise to Mars NASA kicked off an $800 million mission to Mars Tuesday, launching the first of two golf cart-sized robots that will creep across the red planet's surface looking for the geological traces of a warmer, wetter past and the environmental conditions necessary for the evolution of life. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE ASCENT GROUND TRACK

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: MARS ROVER SPIRIT LAUNCHED QT VIDEO: SPACEFLIGHT NOW LAUNCH VIEW FROM PRESS AREA QT VIDEO: TRACKING CAMERA VIEW FROM PATRICK AFB QT VIDEO: POWERFUL TRACKER FOLLOWS THE ROCKET QT VIDEO: CAPE CANAVERAL PRESS SITE 1 REPLAY QT VIDEO: VIEW FROM THE SKID STRIP RUNWAY QT VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT VIDEO: NAMING CEREMONY FOR MARS ROVERS QT VIDEO: WEATHER SCRUBS SUNDAY LAUNCH ATTEMPT QT VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Sea Launch rocket lofts second Thuraya spacecraft The Sea Launch consortium has successfully launched its first mission in a year. A Zenit 3SL rocket, carrying a mobile communications satellite, lifted off from a platform in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at 1356 GMT (9:56 a.m. EDT) Tuesday. MISSION STATUS CENTER

Tuesday: June 10, 2003		0301 GMT

Mars rover mission ready for another launch attempt If NASA can catch a break with the weather, the space agency's Mars Exploration Rover "Spirit" will depart Earth at 1:58:47 p.m. EDT (1758:47 GMT) Tuesday for the seven-month cruise to the Red Planet. The liftoff was scrubbed for the past two days because of stormy weather conditions at Cape Canaveral launch site. MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE TUESDAY'S WEATHER FORECAST ASCENT GROUND TRACK

Supernova shock wave paints cosmic portrait Remnants from a star that exploded thousands of years ago created a celestial abstract portrait, as captured in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of the Pencil Nebula. Officially known as NGC 2736, the Pencil Nebula is part of the huge Vela supernova remnant. FULL STORY

Comet X-ray emissions simulated in laboratory Physicists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have produced X-ray emissions in a laboratory setting by recreating the conditions that exist when solar winds collide with gases surrounding comets. FULL STORY

Monday: June 9, 2003		0150 GMT

Mars rover 'Spirit' poised for blastoff Monday After stormy weather thwarted Sunday's initial attempt, another try at launching NASA's Mars Exploration Rover "Spirit" aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral will be made Monday. Liftoff is scheduled for 2:02 p.m. EDT (1802 GMT), weather permitting. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE MONDAY'S WEATHER FORECAST ASCENT GROUND TRACK

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: MARS ROVER LAUNCH SCRUBBED QT VIDEO: NAMING CEREMONY FOR MARS ROVERS QT VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Mars rovers named 'Spirit' and 'Opportunity' Twin robotic geologists NASA is sending to Mars will embody in their newly chosen names -- Spirit and Opportunity -- two cherished attributes that guide humans to explore. FULL STORY

Russian rocket launches supplies to space station A cargo freighter packed with vital supples to keep the international space station manned while NASA's space shuttle fleet remains grounded roared away its launch pad in Central Asia Sunday. FULL STORY

Sea Launch to loft second Thuraya spacecraft The Sea Launch consortium plans to conduct its first mission in a year on Tuesday, boosting a mobile communications satellite into orbit atop the Zenit 3SL rocket from the middle of the Pacific Ocean. MISSION STATUS CENTER

News Archive
June 2-8: Foam impact cracks wing leading edge panel; Europe's first adventure to Mars successfully launched; Russian Proton rocket flies its 300th launch; Thermal data from Odyssey reveals a changing Mars; 'Razor-sharp image' of star cluster snapped from Earth.

May 26-June 1: Foam impact test causes significant T-seal movement; Demonstration flight not likely for space shuttle; 'Slick Six' launch pad hosts its first Delta 4 rocket; Japanese science cargo returns to Earth for study; Mars rover launch delayed.

May 19-25: Columbia rescue mission feasible, but unlikely; Slag on shuttle debris suggests location of breach; Martian view of Earth; Satellite of Milky Way found in retrograde orbit.

May 12-18: Clearest video yet of foam strike as tests get underway; NASA chief, CAIB chairman testify at Senate hearing; First Greek satellite launch performed by Atlas 5 rocket; Brighter Neptune suggests a change of seasons; NASA picks in-space propulsion innovations.

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.

More news See our weekly archive of space news.

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. - 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.

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

Mars Rover mission patch

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

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

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

Choose your store:
U.S.

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.

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

Viking patch

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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).

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

Rocket DVD

If you've ever watched a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base or even Kodiak Island Alaska, there's no better way to describe what you witnessed than with this DVD.

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

Apollo Collage

This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.

U.S. STORE

STS-127 Patch

The official embroidered patch for shuttle Endeavour's flight to finish building Japanese section of the space station.

U.S. STORE

WORLDWIDE STORE

Hubble Patch

The official embroidered patch for mission STS-125, the space shuttle's last planned service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, is available for purchase.

U.S. STORE

WORLDWIDE STORE

Project Orion

The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.

U.S. STORE

Fallen Heroes Patch Collection

The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.

U.S. STORE

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