Sunday: September 21, 2003  0054 GMT
Goodbye Galileo
After 14 years in space, NASA's Galileo spacecraft will plunge into Jupiter's crushing atmosphere Sunday to conclude its productive and successful mission. With its fuel supply nearly gone, the craft is on a collision course with Jupiter to eliminate any chance of an unwanted impact with the Jovian moon Europa, which is likely to have a subsurface ocean and possibly life.
   PREVIEW STORY
   SUNDAY'S ENTRY TIMELINE
   REVIEW OF GALILEO MISSION
   TOP 10 SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENTS
Saturday: September 20, 2003  0127 GMT
Distant star bursts provide key to the origin of galaxies
Revealing images produced by one of the world's most sophisticated telescopes are enabling a team of Edinburgh astronomers to see clearly for the first time how distant galaxies were formed 12 billion years ago.
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Problem shuts down Telstar 4 communications satellite
Loral Skynet said that its Telstar 4 satellite experienced a short circuit of its primary power bus Friday morning, causing the satellite to cease operations. Teams are working to determine the cause of the problem and to restore service on the satellite, if possible.
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Friday: September 19, 2003  0311 GMT
First supernovae seeded universe with stuff of life
The early universe was a barren wasteland of hydrogen, helium, and a touch of lithium, containing none of the elements necessary for life as we know it. From those primordial gases were born giant stars 200 times as massive as the sun, burning their fuel at such a prodigious rate that they lived for only about 3 million years before exploding.
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'Transparent' galaxy discovered
Astronomers have announced the discovery of a new galaxy, termed Andromeda VIII. The new galaxy is so widespread and transparent that astronomers did not suspect its existence until they mapped the velocity of stars thought to belong to the well-known and nearby large Andromeda spiral galaxy and found them to move independently of Andromeda.
   FULL STORY
IN OTHER NEWS  Additional stories making news today
China and Europe cooperating on navigation system -- The European Commission, the European Space Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology have decided to establish a training, cooperation and information center for satellite navigation in China.
Thursday: September 18, 2003  0218 GMT
Mission management team gets major revamp
In perhaps the most convincing demonstration yet that NASA "gets it," the new chairman of the agency's mission management team Wednesday outlined major changes to improve communications among engineers and managers, to ensure dissenting views are heard and to correct the cultural shortcomings blamed in part for the Columbia disaster.
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NASA: 'Iron-clad' evidence for spinning black hole
Telltale X-rays from iron may reveal if black holes are spinning or not, according to astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton Observatory. The gas flows and bizarre gravitational effects observed near stellar black holes are similar to those seen around supermassive black holes.
   FULL STORY
IN OTHER NEWS  Additional stories making news today
Ocean may sponge up some warmth over next 50 years -- NASA's improved global climate computer model, which simulates and projects how the Earth's climate may change, indicates that the oceans have been absorbing heat since 1951 and will continue to absorb more heat from the atmosphere over the next 50 years. This increasing ocean heat storage suggests that global surface temperatures may warm less than previous studies projected, while the ocean acts as a bigger heat sponge.
Wednesday: September 17, 2003  0259 GMT
NASA managers re-think next shuttle launch date
In the coming weeks, NASA managers hope to establish a new target launch date for the resumption of space shuttle missions after they acknowledged Tuesday that a mid-March liftoff wasn't plausible.
   FULL STORY
Lunar prospecting with Chandra space observatory
Observations of the bright side of the Moon with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected oxygen, magnesium, aluminum and silicon over a large area of the lunar surface. The abundance and distribution of those elements will help to determine how the Moon was formed.
   FULL STORY
IN OTHER NEWS  Additional stories making news today
Lab research yields the biggest chill -- NASA-funded researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge have cooled sodium gas to the lowest temperature ever recorded -- one-half-billionth degree above absolute zero. Absolute zero is the point where no further cooling is possible.
Tuesday: September 16, 2003  0001 GMT
Prevailing theory about cosmic explosions opposed
University of Chicago scientists have challenged the reigning theory about the puzzling nature of gamma-ray bursts, which signal the birth of black holes.
   FULL STORY
Patterns in Martian north polar dunes imaged
This Mars Global Surveyor picture shows dark, windblown sand forming spectacular geometric patterns in the north polar sand seas, particularly in regions where strong winds converge from different directions over the course of a year.
   FULL STORY
Monday: September 15, 2003  0115 GMT
Satellites sample hurricane 'ingredients' for forecasters
The Atlantic Ocean becomes a meteorological mixing bowl from June 1 to November 30, replete with all needed ingredients for a hurricane recipe. NASA turns to its cadre of satellites to serve up a feast of information to the forecasters who seek to monitor and understand these awesome storms.
   FULL STORY
IN OTHER NEWS  Additional stories making news today
Three members added to Stafford-Covey Task Group -- NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe on Friday announced the appointment of three additional members to the task group assigned to perform an independent assessment of the agency's implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board's recommendations.

NASA administrator supports Columbia trust effort -- NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe is among the speakers scheduled to formally inaugurate a campaign Tuesday to raise funds to support the families of the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Columbia Memorial Trust was announced Sept. 16 and will assist the families of Columbia's crew, help erect memorials in honor of STS-107, and pursue various activities that build awareness about space programs.

Connexion by Boeing selects Intelsat for satellite delivery -- Following successful service demonstrations with Lufthansa and British Airways earlier this year, Connexion by Boeing signed a contract with Intelsat for satellite connectivity that will enable airborne travelers to access high-speed Internet and data services via Intelsat's powerful 907 satellite, the newest spacecraft in Intelsat's global fleet.
News Archive
Sept. 8-14: Titan 4 rocket launches cargo cloaked in secrecy; Farthest, faintest solar system objects found; The slant on Saturn's rings; Sunlight makes asteroids spin in strange ways; MIT researchers reassess asteroid hazards.

Sept. 1-7: Mysterious 'giant domes' of Europa could be explained; 'Cannonball pulsar' seen flying across space; Hubble assists Europe's Rosetta comet mission; Progress ship leaves station for Russian science mission.

Aug. 25-31: CAIB report blasts NASA for Columbia tragedy; 300th Delta rocket launches new window on Universe; Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite; Cargo vessel safely docks to space station; NASA gives Chandra X-ray Observatory life extension.

More news  See our weekly archive of space news.

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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Inside Apollo mission control
An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.
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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.
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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!
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Columbia Report
The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM.
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Columbia Report
A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Columbia Report
A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven.
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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.
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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.
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U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide
Expedition 20
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.
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Current Shuttle Mission Patch
The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
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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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One Giant Leap
Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts.
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Expedition 21
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.
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