Spaceflight Now

Sunday: June 22, 2003		0114 GMT

Work on launch vehicle delays next Mars rover Officials have delayed the launch of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover "Opportunity" so workers can replace insulation of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket that will propel the spacecraft to the Red Planet. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates

Trio peeks at secret recipe for stormy solar weather A three-spacecraft collaboration recorded for the first time the entire initiation process of a high-speed eruption of electrified gas from the Sun, providing clues about the Sun's secret recipe for stormy weather. FULL STORY

Universe slightly simpler than expected The universe just became a little less mysterious. Using images from the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers at the University of Florida have concluded that two of the most common types of galaxies in the universe are in reality different versions of the same thing. FULL STORY

Saturday: June 21, 2003		0230 GMT

Space shuttle tile repair options in development Shuttle engineers believe the tools and techniques needed for spacewalking repair crews to access and patch areas of potentially catastrophic damage to an orbiter's heat-shield tiles should be in place by the end of the year, sources say, assuming upcoming tests go well. FULL STORY

Mars-bound Spirit rover adjusts trajectory NASA's Spirit spacecraft, the first of twin Mars Exploration Rovers, performed its first trajectory correction maneuver Friday. The craft first performed a calibration and check of its eight thrusters, then fired the thrusters to fine-tune its flight path toward Mars. FULL STORY

Friday: June 20, 2003		0640 GMT

The secret lives of galaxies unveiled in deep survey Two of NASA's Great Observatories, bolstered by the largest ground-based telescopes around the world, are beginning to harvest new clues to the origin and evolution of galaxies. It's a bit like finding a family scrapbook containing snapshots that capture the lives of family members from infancy through adolescence to adulthood. FULL STORY

Stardust tweaks course for comet rendezvous 198 days before its historic rendezvous with a comet, NASA's Stardust spacecraft successfully completed the mission's third deep space maneuver. This critical maneuver modified the spacecraft's trajectory, placing it on a path to encounter and collect dust samples from comet Wild 2 in January 2004. FULL STORY

Molniya satellite deployed from Plesetsk spaceport Russian space forces successfully launched a military communications satellite into orbit from its northern cosmodrome Thursday, wire reports said. FULL STORY

Lu talks of 'silver lining' from the Columbia tragedy Space station science officer Ed Lu sees a potential "silver lining" in the aftermath of the Columbia disaster, saying today the loss of the shuttle may prompt renewed debate about development of more modern follow-on vehicles. FULL STORY

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Thursday: June 19, 2003		0552 GMT

Space shuttle flights could restart in December NASA expects to announce its shuttle return to flight plans soon after the Columbia Accident Investigation Board reports this summer and could realistically resume missions as early as December, a senior space agency official said Wednesday. FULL STORY

Engineers assess bi-pod redesign options NASA is considering five options for redesigning the so-called "bi-pod" ramp system on the shuttle's external fuel tank, the area where a chunk of foam insulation broke away during Columbia's launch, hit the left wing and possibly caused a catastrophic breach. The currently favored option calls for eliminating the use of foam in the area in favor of an exposed fitting equipped with heaters to prevent pre-launch ice buildups. FULL STORY STS-107 STORY DIRECTORY

Two key modules for space station arrive in Florida Despite the on-going grounding of space shuttle flights, work continues at Kennedy Space Center to ready massive pieces of the international space station for launches to finish assembling the orbiting complex. FULL STORY

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Wednesday: June 18, 2003		0116 GMT

Have a question for station crew? Here's your chance! Spaceflight Now will be conducting an exclusive live interview with the Expedition 7 crew living aboard the international space station on Tuesday, June 24. As part of this event, we are giving readers the opportunity to submit questions for commander Yuri Malenchenko and science officer Ed Lu. Please include your name and location in the email with the question. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

Space station transport ship gets go-ahead In early June, the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle program reached a milestone in successfully passing the Critical Design Review during which some 140 international space experts expressed their full confidence in the design of the vehicle after analysing 55,000 pages of technical documentation. The ATV will deliver supplies to the space station. FULL STORY

Scientists image 3-D surface of the sun Solar physicists have analyzed the highest resolution images ever taken near the solar limb, and found a surprising variety of structure. Their results address long-standing theories on how the brightness of the Sun varies over the course of its magnetic cycle. Such changes may influence the Earth's climate on long timescales. FULL STORY

Tuesday: June 17, 2003		0111 GMT

New launch date set for 'Opportunity' rover Launch of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has been put off one day -- to June 26 -- to give workers more time to complete pre-flight preparations, the space agency said Monday. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART

'Solar tsunamis' used to study the solar corona Since the launch of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory in 1995, scientists have used it to study flares, filaments and coronal mass ejections. The telescope has also discovered solar tsunamis, huge propagating waves that are triggered along with coronal mass ejections and can travel the entire diameter of the sun. Researchers are applying this unusual phenomenon for the first time to new studies of the solar corona. FULL STORY

Monday: June 16, 2003		0159 GMT

Evidence for meteor in early mass extinction found It's the stuff of science fiction movies. Bruce Willis, by a mighty effort, saving the world from extinction by a huge meteor. But Bruce Willis won't do it, and in our current state of readiness, neither will anyone else. FULL STORY

Veteran astronaut begins new adventure in education James Voss, one of NASA's most experienced astronauts having logged five shuttle flights and served as a member of the space station's Expedition 2 crew, has left the agency for a position at Auburn University. FULL STORY

News Archive
June 9-15: 'Spirit' rover begins seven-month cruise to Mars; Cargo-carrying craft docks to space station; Bolt catcher a possible shuttle return to flight issue; Comets survive plunge through Sun's atmosphere; Ariane 5 launches double cargo with success; Sea Launch rocket lofts second Thuraya spacecraft.

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.

More news See our weekly archive of space news.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Mars rover poster

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

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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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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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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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