Spaceflight Now

Sunday: March 14, 2004		0332 GMT

Satellite finds something fishy about Santa Ana winds Southern California's legendary Santa Ana winds wreak havoc every year, creating hot, dry conditions and fire hazards. Despite their often-destructive nature, a study of the "Devil Winds," conducted using data from NASA's Quick Scatterometer (Quikscat) spacecraft and its SeaWinds instrument shows the winds have some positive benefits. FULL STORY

Telescope on high mountain plateau in Chile studied Cornell University and the California Institute of Technology have signed an agreement committing the two institutions to collaborate on the planning for a 25-meter infrared telescope high in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. FULL STORY

Student experiments to fly aboard future NASA flights NASA has selected students from six high schools around the country to prepare and fly their experiments on future NASA space flights. The student experiments will be flown on a NASA suborbital sounding rocket in June or on a future Space Shuttle flight, following the program's Return to Flight. FULL STORY

Saturday: March 13, 2004		2212 GMT

Mobile communications satellite launched for Asia Lockheed Martin's Atlas 3 rocket put on a late-night sky show Saturday, ripping a fiery trail to space to deploy the Mobile Broadcasting Satellite that will transmit video, music and news to the palm of your hand. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER TIME-LAPSE PHOTO OF LAUNCH

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: ATLAS 3A ROCKET LIFTS OFF WITH MBSAT QT VIDEO: THE LAUNCH AS SEEN THROUGH T+5 MINUTES QT VIDEO: NARRATED ANIMATION OF THE LAUNCH SEQUENCE QT VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF MBSAT SPACECRAFT AND MISSION QT VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH COMMENTS FROM MANAGERS QT ADDITIONAL VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Clumps in Saturn's rings Scientists have only a rough idea of the lifetime of clumps in Saturn's rings - a mystery that Cassini may help answer. The latest images taken by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft show clumps seemingly embedded within Saturn's narrow, outermost ring. FULL STORY

NEWSWIRE Links to news across the internet

Russia replaces space agency chief -- (Reuters) Russia replaced without explanation its long-serving space agency chief on Friday and appointed a top general to replace him, Russian media reported. Neil Armstrong endorses Bush's space plan -- (AP) Former astronaut Neil Armstrong says Americans should support President Bush's plan for renewed missions to the moon and beyond. Yellowstone could help find life on Mars -- (AP) A study of microscopic organisms that inhabit the park's hot springs may help NASA researchers in their efforts to find life on Mars.

Friday: March 12, 2004		0147 GMT

MBSAT satellite cleared for Saturday morning launch After resolving last-minute insurance issues, builder of the MBSAT mobile broadcasting satellite has affirmed plans to launch the craft in the predawn hours Saturday atop a Lockheed Martin Atlas 3A rocket. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP

Gehman's initial review of Hubble mission released At Thursday's hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NASA, Administrator Sean O'Keefe was questioned about his decision to cancel the final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. Sen. Mikulski released an initial review of the safety issues related to a servicing mission prepared by Admiral Harold Gehman, chair of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. FULL STORY

Spirit looks down into crater after reaching rim NASA's Spirit has begun looking down into a crater it has been approaching for several weeks, providing a view of what's below the surrounding surface. FULL STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: THURSDAY'S SCIENCE AND ROVER STATUS BRIEFING QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Thursday: March 11, 2004		0428 GMT

Spirit heads for crater rim The Spirit rover has nearly reached its long-sought destination -- Bonneville Crater. Meanwhile, Opportunity is passing the halfway mark of its primary mission by studying the hole it cut in the bedrock outcropping. MISSION STATUS CENTER

Atlas 3 rocket launch postponed 24 hours Launch of the Lockheed Martin Atlas 3A rocket and MBSAT mobile communications spacecraft has been pushed back to the predawn hours of Saturday. The satellite's builder requested the 24-hour postponement. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP

Mercury orbiter undergoes final launch preps NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, the first Mercury orbiter, has arrived in Florida in advance of its May 11 launch a Boeing Delta 2 rocket. The "MESSENGER" name is short for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging. FULL STORY

Wednesday: March 10, 2004		0319 GMT

Hubble's deepest view ever unveils earliest galaxies Astronomers on Tuesday unveiled the deepest portrait of the visible universe ever achieved by humankind. Called the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the million-second-long exposure reveals the first galaxies to emerge from the so-called "dark ages," the time shortly after the big bang when the first stars reheated the cold, dark universe. The new image should offer new insights into what types of objects reheated the universe long ago. FULL STORY

NASA creates portrait of life and death in the universe In a small galaxy lies a luminous cloud of gas and dust, called a nebula, which houses a family of newborn stars. If not for the death of a massive star millions of years ago, this stellar nursery never would have formed. FULL STORY

New method measures bone loss in astronauts A team of NASA-funded researchers from University of California-San Francisco and Baylor College of Medicine has used a new method to measure and characterize bone loss caused by prolonged spaceflight. FULL STORY

Opportunity rover carves another hole in bedrock After its earlier attempt stalled, Opportunity has successfully used the Rock Abrasion Tool to grind a 3.1 millimeter-deep hole in the "Mojo 2" target on "Flatrock." The cutting occurred early Tuesday -- the rover's 44th workday on Mars. MISSION STATUS CENTER

Tuesday: March 9, 2004		0629 GMT

Rovers watch solar eclipses by Martian moons NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers have become eclipse watchers. Opportunity is the first space probe to see moons pass in front of the sun from the surface of another world. FULL STORY

Atlas to launch mobile communications satellite Lockheed Martin's next-to-last Atlas 3 rocket is ready to launch a satellite that will broadcast video, radio and data services to portable receivers across Japan and South Korea for mobile users on the go. Liftoff from Florida is scheduled for Thursday night/Friday morning. MISSION STATUS CENTER

X-rays from Saturn pose puzzles for scientists The first clear detection of X-rays from the giant, gaseous planet Saturn has been made with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandra's image shows that the X-rays are concentrated near Saturn's equator, a surprising result since Jupiter's X-ray emission is mainly concentrated near the poles. Existing theories cannot easily explain the intensity or distribution of Saturn's X-rays. FULL STORY

Monday: March 8, 2004		0425 GMT

The great 'bunny' chase at Mars rover landing site Like a rabbit in a hat, the identity of an oddity that looks like "bunny ears" in a picture from Mars has eluded the science and engineering teams. The public, also fascinated with the mysterious object, has asked in a slew of e-mails: What is it? FULL STORY

NASA embarks on sweeping airborne expedition An international team of scientists from NASA and other research institutions embarked on a three-week expedition of discovery that will take them from the lush, dense rain forests of Central America to the frigid isolation of Antarctica. FULL STORY

News Archive
March 1-7: Rover confirms past liquid water on Mars; Rosetta soars on ambitious comet intercept mission; Hubble picture of space phenomenon imitates art; Enigmatic X-rays may point to new class of black holes.

Feb. 23-29: Rover shows sunset on Mars; Cassini captures stunning view of Saturn; Nearest, youngest star with planet nursery found; Two simultaneous 'naked-eye' comets expected; Suit problem forces early end to station spacewalk; Scientists watch neutron star explosion in real time.

Feb. 16-22: Next shuttle flight delayed as rescue scenario formed; Shuttle tank modifications more complex than expected; Planetoid found in Kuiper Belt, maybe the biggest yet; Prime mission half over, Spirit looks for bonus time; Farthest known galaxy in the Universe discovered; Was Einstein right about dark energy after all?

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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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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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 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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