Spaceflight Now

Sunday: March 28, 2004		0539 GMT

Scramjet experiment soars off California coast NASA's experimental X-43A hypersonic research vehicle was successfully launched Saturday, demonstrating for the first time an airbreathing scramjet-powered aircraft while soaring 95,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean at seven times the speed of sound. FULL STORY

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: THE X-43A IS SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED SATURDAY QT VIDEO: EXTENDED CLIP OF LAUNCH AS SEEN LIVE QT VIDEO: SUCCESS DECLARED AT POST-LAUNCH PRESS BRIEFING QT VIDEO: TECHNICIANS PUT FINAL TOUCHES ON X-43A QT VIDEO: B-52 CARRIER AIRCRAFT ROLLS TO THE RUNWAY QT VIDEO: THE B-52 TAKES OFF FROM EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE QT VIDEO: X-43A AEROSUFACES TESTED IN THE AIR QT VIDEO: PEGASUS FINS CHECKED BEFORE LAUNCH QT VIDEO: PREVIEW ANIMATION SHOWING X-43A LAUNCH QT VIDEO: B-52 SAFELY LANDS FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH QT VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE FROM MARCH 24 QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
First Eurostar E3000 reaches geostationary orbit The W3A spacecraft, designed and built by EADS Astrium for EUTELSAT and launched by Proton on March 16, successfully performed early operations and is now in geostationary orbit. FULL STORY

Land cover changes affect U.S. summer climate While climate may be impacted by carbon dioxide emissions, aerosols and other factors, a new study offers further evidence land surface changes may also play a significant role. FULL STORY

Russia launches military spacecraft atop Proton A Proton K rocket successfully launched a classified satellite for the Russian Defense Ministry Saturday. Liftoff occurred at 0330 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The spacecraft has been named Kosmos 2406.

Saturday: March 27, 2004		0519 GMT

New phase of exploration beginning for Mars rovers NASA's Spirit will begin trekking toward hills on its eastern horizon in the next few days, entering a new phase of the rover's exploration of Mars just before its prime three-month mission ends and its extended mission begins, rover team members said Friday. FULL STORY

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: WATCH FRIDAY'S MARS ROVER NEWS CONFERENCE QT VIDEO: FUTURE PLANS FOR SPIRIT ARE EXPLAINED QT VIDEO: IMAGERY OF COLUMBIA HILLS WITH NARRATION QT VIDEO: NARRATED IMAGES OF SPIRIT'S ARM IN ACTION QT VIDEO: PANORAMA FROM INSIDE OPPORTUNITY'S CRATER QT VIDEO: OPPORTUNITY'S PANORAMA FROM OUTSIDE CRATER QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today

Space station status -- The oxygen-producing Elektron unit aboard the International Space Station continues to function well, as it has since it was restarted early last Saturday. Expedition 8 Commander Michael Foale and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri spent two days last week replacing a liquids unit and a water flow system of the Russian Elektron, in the Zvezda Service Module. New member states at ESA -- In the course of its meeting in Kiruna,Sweden on March 24 and 25, the European Space Agency Council approved the accession of Greece and Luxembourg to the ESA Convention.

Friday: March 26, 2004		0450 GMT

10-week launch delay adds 2 years to Mercury journey The already-long voyage from Earth to Mercury for the MESSENGER spacecraft got even longer this week when NASA delayed the probe's launch to a time that will require a more circuitous route. FULL STORY

Martian mystery explained The spiral troughs of Mars' polar ice caps have been called the most enigmatic landforms in the solar system. The deep canyons spiraling out from the Red Planet's North and South poles cover hundreds of miles. No other planet has such structures. FULL STORY

Thursday: March 25, 2004		0408 GMT

White dwarf explodes inside circumstellar disk By measuring polarized light from an unusual exploding star, an international team of astrophysicists and astronomers has worked out the first detailed picture of a Type Ia supernova and the distinctive star system in which it exploded. FULL STORY

Galaxy debris the smoking gun for dark matter? Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, or WIMPs, speeding at 670,000 mph on a "highway" in space may be raining onto Earth -- a phenomenon that might prove the existence of "dark matter" that makes up most our galaxy and one-fourth of the universe, says a study co-authored by a University of Utah physicist. FULL STORY

Wednesday: March 24, 2004		0326 GMT

Rover finds evidence of ancient sea on Mars Three weeks ago, NASA announced definitive evidence that Mars once featured an abundance of water supporting a habitable environment. But major questions remained. Tuesday, scientists unveiled photographs from NASA's Opportunity rover showing cross-bedded sedimentary rocks indicating that at least at one point on the martian surface - Meridiani Planum - a shallow, salty sea once ebbed and flowed. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: WATCH NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THIS DISCOVERY QT AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE NEWS CONFERENCE ON YOUR iPOD MP3 SUBSCRIBE NOW
A new star is born A timely discovery by American amateur astronomer Jay McNeil, followed immediately by observations at the Gemini Observatory, has provided a rare glimpse into the slow, yet violent birth of a star about 1,500 light-years away. The resulting findings reveal some of the strongest stellar winds ever detected around an embryonic Sun-like star. FULL STORY

New commercial Earth imaging satellite planned DigitalGlobe has unveiled details of the company's next-generation imaging satellite, WorldView. The new satellite, set to launch no later than 2006, will be the world's highest resolution commercial imaging satellite with better agility, accuracy and collection capacity than any other known commercial system. FULL STORY

Tuesday: March 23, 2004		0602 GMT

New Mars rover discovery to be unveiled today Another "major scientific finding" from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity mission will be announced today during a NASA news conference that begins at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT). FULL STORY

Opportunity rover bids farewell to crater home Two months after scoring an "interplanetary hole in one" by landing inside a crater on Mars, the rover Opportunity drove out of the bowl-shaped crater Monday and sent back images of the remarkably smooth, flat terrain at Meridiani Planum. FULL STORY

Shuttle workers find critical parts installed backward Space shuttle program manager Bill Parsons spoke with reporters Monday to discuss problems found with the actuators in the orbiters' rudder/speed brakes. He also gave updates on efforts to find suitable ways to repair damaged wing-leading edge panels in space and develop inspection equipment.

Coverage for subscribers only: AUDIO: PARSONS GIVES 7-MINUTE OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM QT AUDIO: ACTUATOR FAILURE WOULD DOOM SHUTTLE AND CREW QT AUDIO: NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO SHUTTLE LAUNCH SCHEDULE QT AUDIO: THE CHALLENGES TO GETTING SHUTTLES FLYING AGAIN QT AUDIO: GOOD PROGRESS IN WING RCC PANEL REPAIR OPTIONS QT AUDIO: PARSONS GIVES UPDATE ON SHUTTLE INSPECTION BOOM QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Monday: March 22, 2004		0231 GMT

Space program explains 'Dust Bowl' drought NASA scientists have an explanation for one of the worst climatic events in the history of the United States, the "Dust Bowl" drought, which devastated the Great Plains and all but dried up an already depressed American economy in the 1930's. FULL STORY

IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today

Steam micro-propulsion demonstrated in space -- Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd has demonstrated in-orbit the use of a steam propulsion system onboard the UK-DMC satellite. The novel experiment used 2.06 grams of water as propellant. Loral delivers MTSAT-1R satellite to Japan -- Space Systems/Loral says that it has completed integration and testing of the MTSAT-1R satellite and has shipped the spacecraft to Japan's space center in Tanegashima, Japan, where it will await launch on a H-2A rocket.

News Archive
March 15-21: Most distant object in Solar System discovered; Mineral in Mars 'berries' adds to water story; Newest GPS spacecraft successfully soars into orbit; New imagery of comet released from Stardust; Satellite solves 30-year gamma-ray mystery; W3A communications satellite put into orbit by Proton.

March 8-14: Hubble's deepest view ever unveils earliest galaxies; Rovers watch solar eclipses by Martian moons; The great 'bunny' chase at Mars rover landing site; Atlas launches mobile communications satellite for Asia; Clumps in Saturn's rings; Gehman's initial review of Hubble mission released.

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.

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

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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.

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

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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 1-X Patch

The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.

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Apollo Collage

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

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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.

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Fallen Heroes Patch Collection

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

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