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Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers. Phoebe flyby preview This animation shows Cassini during its encounter with the tiny moon Phoebe on the route to Saturn. (42sec file) Play video Crew remembers Reagan The two-man crew living aboard the International Space Station pays tribute to President Ronald Reagan. (2min 20sec file) Play video Rover enters crater Ride along with Oppportunity as the rover drives into and back out of Endurance Crater on June 8. Play video June 8 Mars briefing Plans to drive the Mars rover Opportunity into Endurance Crater and new results from Spirit's search for past water at Gusev Crater are announced at this briefing from June 8. (38min 18sec file) Play video Drive path Opportunity's path into Endurance Crater and plans for the drive are explained by mission manager Jim Erickson. (1min 28sec file) Play video Crater science The rover lead scientist, Steve Squyres, explains what Opportunity will study inside Endurance Crater and what the results would say about Mars. (3min 09sec file) Play video Columbia Hills Steve Squyres, rover principal investigator, narrates a new panorama from Spirit showing the Columbia Hills. (2min 01sec file) Play video Tribute to Reagan This retrospective remembers President Ronald Reagan's influence on spaceflight, including support for the space shuttle program, proposing the space station and his speech at the Challenger memorial. (6min 34sec file) Play video Become a subscriber More video
Sunday:
June 13, 2004
1701 GMT
'Flagship mission of our time' nears its destination
Seven years after launch on a four-planet gravitational bank shot covering more than 2 billion miles, NASA's $3.3 billion nuclear-powered Cassini probe - the most sophisticated robotic spacecraft ever built - has finally reached the solar system's most spectacular target: The ringed planet Saturn. This is our 8,600-word, four-part preview of the Cassini-Huygens mission: MISSION PREVIEW
Close-up views of Phoebe show moon's battered past
First images from the Cassini flyby of Phoebe reveal it to be a scarred, cratered outpost with a very old surface and a mysterious past, and a great deal of variation in surface brightness across its surface. FULL STORY
Saturday:
June 12, 2004
1943 GMT
Cassini makes close observations of Phoebe
With its flyby of Phoebe on Friday, the Cassini spacecraft has completed the first encounter in its four-year tour of the Saturn system. "One down, 52 to go," the mission's chief navigator said Saturday from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. FULL STORY PHOEBE APPROACH PICTURES
Saturn's storm alley
This image from the Cassini spacecraft shows several dark storms confined to a region below 30 degrees south latitude in Saturn's atmosphere. This turbulent region has produced quite a few storms during Cassini's approach to Saturn, including some that have merged. FULL STORY
Galaxy formation theory no longer conflicts
Astrophysicists led by the University of Chicago's Andrey Kravtsov have resolved an embarrassing contradiction between a favored theory of how galaxies form and what astronomers see in their telescopes. FULL STORY
Date for upcoming ISS spacewalk in limbo
The Expedition 9 crew, commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS science officer Mike Fincke, spent their seventh week aboard the Station continuing to prepare for their first spacewalk, now under consideration to be conducted June 24. FULL STORY
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Friday:
June 11, 2004
0526 GMT
Radio telescopes reveal youngest stellar corpse
Astronomers using a global combination of radio telescopes to study a stellar explosion some 30 million light-years from Earth have likely discovered either the youngest black hole or the youngest neutron star known in the Universe. FULL STORY
Space shuttle solid rocket motor test fired
NASA's space shuttle program successfully fired a full-scale solid rocket booster in Utah on Thursday to test more than 76 objectives, including a modification that slightly changes the shape of the propellant in a segment of the motor, increasing the propellant's strength. FULL STORY
Zenit booster puts Russian military satellite into space
Delayed numerous times by technical troubles over the past few months, a Zenit 2 rocket finally launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome early Thursday carrying a classified Russian military payload. FULL STORY
Thursday:
June 10, 2004
0414 GMT
Mars rover Opportunity enters stadium-sized crater
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity dipped its wheels into Endurance Crater on Tuesday as controllers followed a cautious approach to ensure the robot doesn't become marooned inside the stadium-sized crater. FULL STORY
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Cassini to examine Saturn's mysterious 'black' moon
The science team is eager to study the data and images returned this week when the Cassini spacecraft makes the closest-ever flyby of Saturn's moon Phoebe. The information obtained from Friday's encounter will help scientists determine the icy moon's surface composition and properties. FULL STORY
Mars Express orbiter sees evidence of past flooding
The High Resolution Stereo Camera on Europe's Mars Express orbiter has captured new pictures of the martian region at the mouth of the Mangala Valles and Minio Vallis outflow channels. The small-scale chaotic terrain is characterised by isolated blocks of surface material which have been randomly arranged during the release of subsurface water and subsequent collapse of the surface. FULL STORY
Wednesday:
June 9, 2004
0435 GMT
Opportunity heads into crater; Spirit's water clue
NASA's Mars Opportunity rover began its latest adventure Tuesday inside the martian crater informally called Endurance. Opportunity was to roll in with all six wheels, then back out to the rim to check traction by looking at its own track marks. FULL STORY
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OPPORTUNITY'S DRIVE PATH AND PLANS DESCRIBED QT VIDEO:
EARTH TESTING OF ROVER MOCK-UP FOR CRATER DRIVE QT VIDEO:
LEAD SCIENTIST EXPLAINS OBJECTIVES INSIDE CRATER QT VIDEO:
OPPORTUNITY'S TARGET ROCK SHOWN WITH NARRATION QT VIDEO:
NEW COLUMBIA HILLS PANORAMA FROM SPIRIT ROVER QT VIDEO:
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GPS satellite targeted for Sunday launch from Florida
A Boeing Delta 2 rocket is aiming for a Sunday evening liftoff from Cape Canaveral with the next replacement Global Positioning System satellite, if Air Force officials become satisfied with an examination of wiring used on the booster. MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP DELTA LAUNCH ARCHIVE
Rocket valve swap delays launch of NASA craft
Engineers must remove a leaky valve on the Boeing Delta 2 rocket before NASA's Aura environmental satellite can be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, delaying the mission into early July. MISSION STATUS CENTER
NEWSWIRE Links to news across the internet
Thousands watch Venus pass across sun -- (AP) In this old center of stargazing, as in much of the world, thousands watched a rare heavenly show Tuesday: the black dot of Venus inching across the blazing face of the sun. Ex-NASA chief Richard Truly retiring -- (AP) Richard Truly, a former astronaut and NASA administrator who has headed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory since 1997, said Tuesday he will retire in November.
Tuesday:
June 8, 2004
0356 GMT
New theory for first stars
The very first stars that formed early in the history of the universe were smaller than the massive giants implied by the results of a NASA research satellite, but still larger than the typical stars found in our galaxy today, according to a research team led by the University of Chicago's Jason Tumlinson.
FULL STORY
FUSE pierces the Veil
The Veil Nebula, a delicate network of glowing gaseous filaments in the northern constellation of Cygnus the Swan, has long been a favorite of both amateur and professional astronomers. Part of a much larger nebula known as the Cygnus Loop, the Veil is comprised of the leftovers of a star that exploded between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago. FULL STORY
Origin of enigmatic galactic center filaments revealed
Twenty years ago, astronomers discovered a number of enigmatic radio-emitting filaments concentrated near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. These features initially defied explanation, but a new study of radio images of the Galactic center may point to their possible source. FULL STORY
Monday:
June 7, 2004
0457 GMT
Hubble refines distance to Pleiades star cluster
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have helped settle a mystery that has puzzled scientists concerning the exact distance to the famous nearby star cluster known as the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters. FULL STORY
Faintest survey of distant galaxies taken by Hubble
Researchers have measured accurate distances to several faint, red galaxies seen in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, confirming that three fourths are among the most distant galaxies yet studied. FULL STORY
News Archive May 31-June 6: Rutan announces manned spaceflight plans; Mars rover Opportunity will drive into Endurance Crater; Great Observatories find black holes, hidden objects; Proof found for gamma-ray burst in Milky Way; Looking to catch stars in the act as planets form; Boeing to study Neptune missions for NASA. May 24-30: Raw ingredients for life found around young stars; Cassini spacecraft executes crucial rocket firing; Supply ship safely arrives at space station; Suit problems alter station crew's spacewalk plans; Mars lander Beagle 2 was too risky, inquiry concludes; Proposed nuclear-powered Jupiter mission defined; Moon tells of unexpected Earth climate changes. May 17-23: Next-to-last Atlas 2AS rocket lofts TV satellite; Taurus XL rocket launches Taiwan's new orbiting eye; Mars rover inspects stone ejected from crater; First shuttle Columbia debris loaned for research; Asteroid with the smallest orbit discovered; Theory proposes new view of Sun and Earth's creation; Cassini peers closer at Titan. May 10-16: The Eventual Eleven: Meet the astronaut class of '04; Dying star sculpts rungs of gas and dust; New launch added to this year's Atlas 5 schedule; Boeing manager charged in trade secrets case; 'Smoking gun' evidence of giant meteor collision; Theory clues may be visible in Big Bang aftermath. More news See our weekly archive of space news. 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. -
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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. -
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Worldwide 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. Apollo 11 special patch Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Inside Apollo mission control
An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial. Choose your store: U.S. 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. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide 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! Choose your store: U.S. 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. -
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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. Expedition 20 The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Current Shuttle Mission Patch The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE 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 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. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Expedition 21 The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Contact us
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A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. 
Choose your store:
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!
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.
The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM.
Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available.
An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
Own a little piece of history with this official patch for the International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew. We'll ship yours today!
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 embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.
The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
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.
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.
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.
This animation shows Cassini during its encounter with the tiny moon Phoebe on the route to Saturn. (42sec file)
The two-man crew living aboard the International Space Station pays tribute to President Ronald Reagan. (2min 20sec file)
Ride along with Oppportunity as the rover drives into and back out of Endurance Crater on June 8.
Plans to drive the Mars rover Opportunity into Endurance Crater and new results from Spirit's search for past water at Gusev Crater are announced at this briefing from June 8. (38min 18sec file)
Opportunity's path into Endurance Crater and plans for the drive are explained by mission manager Jim Erickson. (1min 28sec file)
The rover lead scientist, Steve Squyres, explains what Opportunity will study inside Endurance Crater and what the results would say about Mars. (3min 09sec file)
Steve Squyres, rover principal investigator, narrates a new panorama from Spirit showing the Columbia Hills. (2min 01sec file)
This retrospective remembers President Ronald Reagan's influence on spaceflight, including support for the space shuttle program, proposing the space station and his speech at the Challenger memorial. (6min 34sec file)
