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Launch of SpaceShipOne
Watch the hair-raising flight of SpaceShipOne during the first of two launches needed to win the $10 million X Prize. The craft experienced a major rolling motion and early engine shutdown. (3min 40sec file)
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The roll close up
This high bandwidth clip focuses on the unplanned rolling motion that SpaceShipOne saw during its engine firing. (1min 25sec file)
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Reentry descent
SpaceShipOne feathers its wings for a "care-free" reentry into Earth's atmosphere that doesn't require a precise angle of attack. (2min 59sec file)
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SpaceShipOne landing
SpaceShipOne glides to landing on the runway at Mojave airport under the control of astronaut Mike Melvill. (1min 41sec file)
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Melvill emerges
A truck tows SpaceShipOne from the runway to the spectator viewing spot where Mike Melvill climbs out for welcoming by Burt Rutan and others. (2min 01sec file)
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Post-flight speeches
Hear from Mike Melvill, Burt Rutan and others during post-flight speeches on the runway at Mojave airport. (6min 40sec file)
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X-43A test
NASA's X-43A research craft and its Pegasus rocket booster complete a captive carry test flight aboard a B-52 launch aircraft. (1min 48sec file)
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See the KSC damage
See damage to the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Saturn 5 Center and other facilities at Kennedy Space Center caused by Hurricane Jeanne. (4min 31sec file)
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Cape damage report
Jim Kennedy, director of the Kennedy Space Center, and Col. Mark Owen, 45th Space Wing commander, hold a news conference on Monday, Sept. 27 to provide a preliminary report on damage from Hurricane Jeanne at KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. (49min 30sec file)
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Hurricane Jeanne
Cameras aboard the International Space Station captured these views of Hurricane Jeanne on Saturday, Sept. 25 as the storm approached Florida. (3min 59sec file)
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Station news briefing
International Space Station program manager Bill Gerstenmaier holds a news conference Sept. 24 to discuss problems with the oxygen generation system and Expedition 10 launch preparations. (44min 06sec file)
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Galaxy clusters collide
Scientists describe a cosmic hurricane in this news conference from Sept. 23, explaining how two merging galaxy clusters churn high-pressure shock waves that leave thousands of galaxies strewn in the wake. (53min 24sec file)
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Meet next station crew
The three men to launch aboard the next Soyuz spacecraft bound for the International Space Station -- Expedition 10 commander Leroy Chiao, flight engineer Salizhan Sharipov and Russian taxi cosmonaut Yuri Shargin -- hold a pre-flight news conference near Moscow on Sept. 23. (43min 05sec file)
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DART spacecraft moves one step closer to fall launch
NASA NEWS RELEASE
Posted: October 2, 2004

NASA is planning to launch the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) flight demonstrator in late October. The launch is planned no earlier than Oct. 26 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The mission is an in-space demonstration of an autonomous rendezvous prototype system.


An artist's concept of DART satellite rendezvous mission. Credit: Orbital Sciences
 
NASA successfully ground tested technologies that will enable unmanned spacecraft to rendezvous autonomously, something never done before in the history of U.S. spaceflight. The ground tests were performed at the Flight Robotics Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.

The tests demonstrated the capability of hardware and software to communicate with each other and to drive the spacecraft autonomously to achieve a safe, assured rendezvous and close approach to a target.

Video guidance sensor and autonomous rendezvous guidance technologies have performed flawlessly, according to NASA managers. The tests verified critical autonomous rendezvous technologies, including the ability of the Advanced Video Guidance Sensor to combine with other technologies, such as the Global Positioning System and Automated Rendezvous and Proximity Operations calculations.

The video guidance sensor sees and determines a spacecraft's exact location, then feeds the information to Automated Rendezvous and Proximity Operations calculations, or algorithms, that function as a brain. The brain commands the spacecraft to turn, throttle, or brake, allowing it to rendezvous with another craft.

The tests were performed using mock-ups of the DART spacecraft and target satellite, demonstrating successful proximity operations with video guidance sensors for target location. DART navigation guidance transitioned successfully from the Global Positioning System to direct use of the video guidance information. The DART spacecraft then moved progressively closer to the target satellite under direct video guidance.

A number of maneuvers were demonstrated in the simulated ground tests, including collision avoidance, horizontal approaches toward the target satellite, transition to docking guidance, and docking-hold to within five meters of the target.

"The successful automation of these types of maneuvers, demonstrated by DART technologies, will benefit future space systems development requiring in-space assembly, services or other autonomous rendezvous operations," said Jim Snoddy, DART project manager. "This milestone moves us one step closer to a DART launch, where technologies proven on the ground will be demonstrated in space," he added.

DART will be carried into space aboard a Pegasus rocket. The Pegasus rocket will be launched from a Stargazer L-1011 jet aircraft at approximately 40,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. The Pegasus will boost DART into an approximately 471-by-479- mile polar orbit.

DART will travel around the Earth to rendezvous with the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Site Communications experimental satellite. The target satellite was designed for use with a video guidance system like the Advanced Video Guidance Sensor on DART.

While on orbit, DART will perform several close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the target satellite using navigation data provided by onboard sensors. DART will also test additional algorithms by calculating and executing collision avoidance maneuvers and will travel around the target. To conclude the mission, DART will fly away from the satellite. The entire 24-hour mission will be accomplished without human intervention.

DART and the Pegasus vehicle were developed by Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, Va. NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, Washington, funds the DART project.