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Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers. Station news conference The five crew members aboard the International Space Station answer questions from reporters in the U.S. and Europe during this in-flight news conference. (20min 26sec file) Play video Gravity Probe-B flies The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launches with NASA's Gravity Probe-B spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. (4min 16sec file) Play video More clips Atlas launches Superbird The Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket launches the Japanese Superbird 6 communications spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (3min 09sec file) Play video More clips Lion King panorama The stunning "Lion King" high-resolution color panorama from the Opportunity rover shows the vast landing site. Expert narration by Jason Soderblom, science team collaborator. (2min 12sec file) Play video Opportunity trench Opportunity rover uses one of its wheels to dig another trench in the soil for science investigations. Narration by Jan Chodas, flight software manager. (25sec file) Play video April 14 rover briefing The software overhaul performed on both Mars rovers, new science information and photographs are discussed at this briefing from Wednesday, April 14. (31min 29sec file) Play video Changing NASA's culture Administrator Sean O'Keefe holds a discussion with agency workers around the country about organizational culture change at NASA. (56min 12sec file) Play video Become a subscriber More video
Sunday:
May 2, 2004
0322 GMT
Astronaut Hall of Fame inducts 2004 class
The shuttle commander killed in the Challenger explosion, the first American woman to walk in space, the first American to live aboard Russian's space station Mir, the first African-American to command a space mission and the commander of the first mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Saturday. FULL STORY
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INDUCTION OF NORM THAGARD QT VIDEO:
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Scientists announce cosmic ray theory breakthrough
University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have proposed a new theory to explain the movement of vast energy fields in giant radio galaxies (GRGs). The theory could be the basis for a whole new understanding of the ways in which cosmic rays -- and their signature radio waves -- propagate and travel through intergalactic space. FULL STORY
Saturday:
May 1, 2004
0531 GMT
All future shuttle missions geared to space station
NASA's latest return-to-flight implementation plan for the first time codifies an earlier decision by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe ruling out any non-space station flights, like one to save the Hubble Space Telescope, after shuttle flights resume next spring. FULL STORY
Hubble telescope shows demise in ice and fire
The Bug Nebula is one of the brightest and most extreme planetary nebulae known. At its center lies a superhot, dying star smothered in a blanket of hailstones. A new Hubble image reveals fresh detail in the wings of this cosmic butterfly. FULL STORY
Paper probes pulsar pair
The only known gravitationally bound pair of pulsars -- extremely dense, spinning stars that beam radio waves -- may be pirouetting around each other in an intricate dance. FULL STORY
Friday:
April 30, 2004
0738 GMT
Soyuz capsule brings station crew back to Earth
The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three departing space station astronauts landed in Kazakhstan at 0012 GMT Thursday night, capping the 195-day mission by the Expedition 8 crew of Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri and the 11-day voyage by Dutch researcher Andre Kuipers. LANDING STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER UNDOCKING STORY
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CREW MEMBERS BOARD SOYUZ AND CLOSE THE HATCH QT VIDEO:
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CAPSULE FIRES THRUSTERS TO INCREASE SEPARATION SPEED QT VIDEO:
CREWMATES WELCOMED IN KUSTANAI, KAZAKHSTAN QT VIDEO:
THE CREW SPEAKS ABOUT THEIR RETURN TO EARTH QT VIDEO:
POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF NASA ASTRONAUT QT VIDEO:
POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH EXPEDITION 10 COMMANDER QT VIDEO:
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Mars Express radar deployment postponed
The European Space Agency has delayed deployment of the MARSIS radar instrument on board Mars Express, scheduled for this week. New and improved computer models suggest that, during deployment, the radar booms may swing back and forth with larger amplitudes than previously expected. If this happened, the booms might come too close to delicate components of the spacecraft body. FULL STORY
Cassini snaps its final full view of Saturn and rings
Saturn and its rings completely fill the field of view of Cassini's narrow angle camera in this natural color image. It is the last single "eyeful" of Saturn and its rings achievable with the camera on approach to the planet. From now until orbit insertion, Saturn and its rings will be larger than the field of view of the camera. FULL STORY
Thursday:
April 29, 2004
0525 GMT
Rocket options examined for moon-Mars initiative
It's too soon to say what sort of rocket, or family or rockets, might be needed to support NASA's new moon-Mars initiative, officials said Wednesday. But engineers across the nation are studying a variety of options, including use of upgraded Atlas and Delta rockets, development of new, "clean sheet" designs and use of existing shuttle hardware and infrastructure. FULL STORY
Station's Expedition 8 crew set for landing today
There will be a changing of the guard aboard the International Space Station today as the Expedition 8 crew bids farewell to the orbiting complex and heads home after six months circling 250 miles above Earth. Meanwhile, the newly-arrived Expedition 9 crew takes control of the station for its half-year tour-of-duty. MISSION STATUS CENTER
Comprehensive space station video coverage
Hours of video capturing launch of the new International Space Station resident crew, known as Expedition 9, and preparations for the Expedition 8's return to Earth after a half-year in orbit is provided to Spaceflight Now Plus users: FULL REPORT
NASA's Gravity Probe in its science mission orbit
In its first week on orbit, Gravity Probe B has achieved many successes that will ensure a smooth transition into the science phase of the mission and the best possible experimental accuracy. The spacecraft has already achieved a science mission orbit, within the plane of the Guide Star, IM Pegasi, and its inclination error is six times better than expected. FULL STORY LAUNCH COVERAGE
IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today
EADS Astrium to build Anik F3 satellite -- EADS Astrium has been selected by Canadian-based operator Telesat to build the company's new Anik F3 satellite. Planned to enter into service in 2006, Anik F3 will provide satellite communications services in C, Ku and Ka-bands over a large area covering North America. ILS Proton rocket selected to launch Anik F3 -- International Launch Services and Telesat are teaming up once again to launch a satellite on a Russian rocket. Telesat announced Wednesday that it has chosen an ILS Proton/Breeze M launch vehicle for the Anik F3 mission in 2006.
Wednesday:
April 28, 2004
0352 GMT
Clouds from aircraft exhaust may warm climate
NASA scientists have found that cirrus clouds, formed by contrails from aircraft engine exhaust, are capable of increasing average surface temperatures enough to account for a warming trend in the United States that occurred between 1975 and 1994. FULL STORY
Japanese-Korean venture accepts advanced satellite
The MBSAT broadcast communications satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) for Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBCO) of Japan and SK Telecom of Korea, has successfully completed its in-orbit testing and was officially delivered on-orbit Tuesday. The satellite was formally accepted during a signing ceremony at MBCO's Tokyo headquarters. FULL STORY LAUNCH COVERAGE
NEWSWIRE Links to news across the internet
Boeing probe widened, sanctions end seen delayed -- (Reuters) U.S. federal prosecutors have expanded a criminal investigation into Boeing Co.'s rocket launch contracts to examine whether Boeing used a rival's documents to bid for NASA work, industry officials and sources familiar with the probe said on Tuesday. China 'shocked' at U.S. cold shoulder in space -- (Reuters) The Chinese, who launched their first astronaut into space last year, are "shocked" the United States has not welcomed them into the tight-knit community of space-faring nations, a leading U.S. expert said on Tuesday.
Tuesday:
April 27, 2004
1518 GMT
Spaceflight Now interviews station astronauts
The two American astronauts aboard the International Space Station -- Expedition 8 commander Michael Foale and Expedition 9 flight engineer Michael Fincke -- took a few minutes to talk with Spaceflight Now's Justin Ray on Tuesday. The live interview is presented here in its entirety. WATCH THE INTERVIEW [1MB QuickTime file]
Scientist leading Einstein mission has amazing tale
In 1960, Francis Everitt ventured from his home country of Great Britain for "two or three years" to conduct physics research in the United States. More than 40 years later, he's still here. And when Gravity Probe-B was launched April 20, it represented the culmination of decades of his career Everitt devoted to help make it happen. FULL STORY
Russian communications satellite launched on Proton
The newest Russian communications satellite was successfully launched Monday as a Proton rocket boosted the Express-AM11 craft into geostationary orbit. FULL STORY
IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today
Arctic ozone loss more sensitive to climate change than thought -- A cooperative study involving NASA scientists quantifies, for the first time, the relationship between Arctic ozone loss and changes in the temperature of Earth's stratosphere. Arctic sea ice study may stir up climate models -- Contrary to historical observations, sea ice in the high Arctic undergoes very small, back and forth movements twice a day, even in the dead of winter. It was once believed ice deformation at such a scale was almost non-existent.
Monday:
April 26, 2004
0343 GMT
Spying the surface of Titan
New images of unsurpassed clarity have been obtained with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope of formations on the surface of Titan, the largest moon in the Saturnian system. FULL STORY
News Archive April 19-25: Soyuz delivers new residents to space station; NASA mulls new problem with station gyroscopes; Spacecraft launched to test Albert Einstein's theories; Intermediate mass black hole mystery resolved; Researcher predicts Jupiter spots will disappear. April 12-18: Hubble observes planetoid Sedna as mystery deepens; Invisible giants exposed in new Spitzer image; Japanese Superbird soars to space atop Atlas launcher; Cassini spots Saturn moons; Mars rover finds rock like meteorites on Earth; SOHO sees its 750th comet. April 5-11: Mars rovers have missions extended through Sept.; Successful X-43A mission proves scramjets work; Saturn moon casts 'once-in-a-lifetime' shadow; Cassini watches as two storms merge on Saturn; Stars appear as grains of sand in nearby galaxy. March 29-April 4: Spirit finds hints of past water at Gusev site; Probe confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere; Cassini examines high winds on Saturn; Radio astronomers lift 'fog' on Milky Way's dark heart; Hunt for extrasolar Earth-like planets intensifies. 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Mars rover poster This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Choose your store: U.S. Columbia Report The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM. Choose your store: U.S. 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. -
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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. -
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Worldwide Mars Rover mission patch A mission patch featuring NASA's Mars Exploration Rover is available from our online. Choose your store: U.S. -
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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. -
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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). 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
U.K. -
E.U. -
Worldwide 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
U.K. -
E.U. -
Worldwide 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
U.K. -
E.U. -
Worldwide Mars rover poster This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Choose your store: U.S. 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. U.S. STORE: PATCH | PIN WORLD STORE: PATCH | PIN 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. U.S. STORE Apollo patches The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price. U.S. STORE 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. U.S. STORE Contact us
If you have a comment or question for Spaceflight Now, just send us an e-mail.
Choose your store:
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.
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.
This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM.
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.
The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price. 
A mission patch featuring NASA's Mars Exploration Rover is available from our online.
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.
The official embroidered patch and lapel pin for the International Space Station Expedition 18 crew is now available to from our stores.
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.
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.
The five crew members aboard the International Space Station answer questions from reporters in the U.S. and Europe during this in-flight news conference. (20min 26sec file)
The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launches with NASA's Gravity Probe-B spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. (4min 16sec file)
The Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket launches the Japanese Superbird 6 communications spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (3min 09sec file)
The stunning "Lion King" high-resolution color panorama from the Opportunity rover shows the vast landing site. Expert narration by Jason Soderblom, science team collaborator. (2min 12sec file)
Opportunity rover uses one of its wheels to dig another trench in the soil for science investigations. Narration by Jan Chodas, flight software manager. (25sec file)
The software overhaul performed on both Mars rovers, new science information and photographs are discussed at this briefing from Wednesday, April 14. (31min 29sec file)
Administrator Sean O'Keefe holds a discussion with agency workers around the country about organizational culture change at NASA. (56min 12sec file)
