Spaceflight Now

Sunday: February 29, 2004		0001 GMT

Nearest, youngest star with planet nursery found Astronomers have discovered the nearest and youngest star with a visible disk of dust that may be a nursery for planets. The dim red dwarf star is a mere 33 light years away, close enough that the Hubble Space Telescope or ground-based telescopes with adaptive optics to sharpen the image should be able to see whether the dust disk contains clumps of matter that might turn into planets. FULL STORY

Anomalies in makeup of interplanetary dust particle Scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Washington University have seen carbon and nitrogen anomalies on a particle of interplanetary dust that provides a clue as to how interstellar organic matter was incorporated into the solar system. FULL STORY

IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report -- Updates about work being performed on NASA's three space shuttles -- Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour -- as well as preparations for Return to Flight is released by Kennedy Space Center. Bound for Space Technology Hall of Fame -- The Space Foundation has announced the selection of four "down to earth" technologies for induction into the Space Technology Hall of Fame. Three were spawned by NASA efforts, and the fourth by the work of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

Saturday: February 28, 2004		0231 GMT

Cassini captures stunning view of Saturn Four months before its scheduled arrival at Saturn, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft sent its best color postcard back to Earth of the ringed world. The spacecraft is expected to send weekly postcards, as it gets closer to the ringed giant. FULL STORY

Two simultaneous 'naked-eye' comets expected A naked-eye comet - one visible to the unaided eye without telescope or binoculars - is an enjoyable sight, particularly for the brighter comets. On average, a naked-eye comet graces our skies about once every two years. Only rarely do two relatively bright naked-eye comets appear simultaneously. Such an event will take place in April and May. FULL STORY

Friday: February 27, 2004		0733 GMT

Rocket trouble delays Rosetta until next week Launch of Europe's ambitious Rosetta mission to orbit a comet and deliver a tiny lander onto the icy surface has been postponed yet again -- this time by insulating foam that detached from the Ariane 5 rocket's main stage. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates ROSETTA FACT SHEET LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE

Suit problem forces early end to station spacewalk Astronaut Michael Foale and cosmonaut Alexander Kalari cut short their spacewalk from the International Space Station Thursday evening because of a cooling problem with Kalari's space suit. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER EARLIER STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: ANNOUNCEMENT OF EARLY END TO SPACEWALK QT VIDEO: ANIMATION SHOWS SPACEWALK TO-DO LIST QT VIDEO: COMMANDER FOALE DISCUSSES THE SPACEWALK QT VIDEO: SPACEWALK PREVIEW NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Rover shows sunset on Mars Capturing an awe-inspiring view, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has photographed the setting Sun from its landing site. In addition to the sunset images, scientists released a variety of other pictures at Thursday's rover science news conference. MISSION CONTROL REPORT MISSION STATUS CENTER

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: WATCH MARTIAN SUNSET WITH NARRATION QT VIDEO: 3-D TOPOGRAPHIC MODEL OF OPPORTUNITY CRATER QT VIDEO: REAR-LOOKING PANORAMA FROM SPIRIT W/NARRATION QT VIDEO: FRONT-LOOKING PAN W/NARRATION SHOWS BONNEVILLE QT VIDEO: NEW COLOR IMAGERY IS EXPLAINED BY SCIENTIST QT VIDEO: STUDY OF WIND BLOWN EFFECTS ON MARS QT VIDEO: THURSDAY'S ROVER SCIENCE NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Thursday: February 26, 2004		0735 GMT

Winds keep Rosetta comet chaser Earthbound Today's launch of the Ariane 5 rocket to propel the Rosetta spacecraft on its voyage to intercept comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko has been postponed due to unfavorable high-altitude winds. Liftoff has been rescheduled for early Friday morning. MISSION STATUS CENTER ROSETTA FACT SHEET LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE

Second star, not planet, explains 'winking star' Since its discovery in 1998, the "winking star" called KH 15D has baffled astronomers seeking to explain its long-lasting (24-day) eclipses. Many hypothesized that the eclipses were caused by intervening blobs of material within a protoplanetary disk surrounding a single, young Sun-like star. FULL STORY

Cosmic dark ages lasted for more than a billion years The early universe was veiled with a fog of neutral hydrogen and helium. Even the brilliant ultraviolet (UV) light of stars in the first primordial galaxies could barely penetrate the all-absorbing curtains of gas, leading some astronomers to term that era the cosmic "Dark Ages." FULL STORY

Space station spacewalk set for Thursday The International Space Station will be unoccupied for several hours Thursday as the two residents step outside for a spacewalk to work on external experiments and equipment. The EVA by Expedition 8 commander Michael Foale and flight engineer Alexander Kaleri begins at 4:14 p.m. EST (2114 GMT) and is scheduled to last five-and-a-half hours.

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: SPACEWALK PREVIEW NEWS CONFERENCE QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Wednesday: February 25, 2004		0620 GMT

Rosetta comet chaser to launch Thursday morning Europe's vaunted $1 billion Rosetta comet explorer is poised to set off on its decade-long journey early Thursday morning. In the last major event before the final countdown begins, the Ariane 5 rocket rolled out of its assembly building to the launch pad Tuesday. MISSION STATUS CENTER ROSETTA FACT SHEET LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE

SORCE satellite celebrates year of operations Having marked its first anniversary on orbit, NASA's Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite has hit its stride. In concert with other satellites, SORCE's observations of the sun's brightness are helping researchers better understand climate change, climate prediction, atmospheric ozone, the sunburn-causing ultraviolet-B radiation and space weather. FULL STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: WATCH ENTIRE 11-MINUTE LAUNCH OF PEGASUS QT or RV VIDEO: TAXI OF ORBITAL CARRIER AIRCRAFT TO RUNWAY QT or RV VIDEO: L-1011 CARRIER JET TAKES OFF FROM CAPE QT or RV VIDEO: T-38 DEPARTS THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER QT or RV VIDEO: AERIAL INSPECTION BY T-38 CHASE PLANE QT or RV VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH COMMENTS BY NASA MANAGER QT or RV VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT or RV VIDEO: AN OVERVIEW OF THE SORCE PROJECT QT or RV SUBSCRIBE NOW
IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today

NASA selects 22 projects to advance human support technologies -- NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research recently selected 22 researchers to receive grants of up to four years to conduct research and development in advanced human support technologies. These technologies are expected to have a significant impact on the ability of humans to conduct long-duration space flight missions safely. 'And the Laurel Goes to...The Spitzer Space Telescope!' -- Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine has honored the teams that built NASA's new Spitzer Space Telescope with a 2003 Aerospace Laurel award. The awards, now in their 47th year, recognize outstanding achievements in the global field of aerospace.

Tuesday: February 24, 2004		0419 GMT

Scientists watch neutron star explosion in real time A neutron star halfway across the Milky Way galaxy is ready for its close-up. A rare and massive explosion on this star illuminated the region and allowed scientists to view details never seen before, virtually bringing the scientists to the action occurring just a few miles above the star's surface. FULL STORY

Video coverage for subscribers only: VIDEO: ANIMATION SHOWS THE NEUTRON STAR EXPLOSION QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Europe prepares mission to search for life on Mars Before humans can leave their boot prints on the dusty surface of Mars, many questions have to be answered and many problems solved. One of the most fundamental questions - one that has intrigued humankind for centuries - is whether life has ever existed on Mars, the most Earthlike of all the planets. FULL STORY

IN OTHER NEWS Additional stories making news today

Study moves in on why astronauts suffer bone loss -- A new study by researchers at San Francisco VA Medical Center moves in on the physiological basis for the bone density loss experienced by people subjected to prolonged periods of bed rest and by astronauts who fly lengthy missions under the weightless conditions of space. Lockheed Martin creates exploration organization -- Lockheed Martin has formed a new organization to manage the Corporation's efforts in support of NASA's space exploration initiative. The organization, which will be called Space Exploration, will be led by John C. Karas and be headquartered in Denver, Colo., as part of the Space Systems Company.

Monday: February 23, 2004		0343 GMT

Explaining Martian colors How do you display a picture of Mars taken with an electronic eye, capable of seeing wavelengths of light that are invisible to humans? Welcome to the wonderful world of 'false' color... FULL STORY

Mars Express shoots Kasei Vallis outflow channel This image shows various details which give an insight into the erosional history of the outflow channel. The image also illustrates how difficult it is to achieve near-true color in images of Mars when atmospheric dust and haze have a major disturbing influence on the scene. FULL STORY

Rovers probing rocks, soil The twin Mars Exploration Rovers spent the weekend hard at work on opposite sides of the planet as Opportunity examined exposed bedrock and Spirit studied the trench it dug in the soil. MISSION STATUS CENTER

News Archive
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?

Feb. 9-15: Beagle failure investigation formally begins; Orbiter sees Opportunity rover on the Martian surface; Titan 4B rocket launches U.S. military satellite; Spitzer Space Telescope sends cosmic Valentine rose.

Feb. 2-8: Oxygen, carbon discovered in exoplanet atmosphere; Spirit grinds hole in rock; Martian hills dedicated to fallen Columbia crew; American TV watchers to reap benefits of Atlas launch; Supernova blast bonanza in nearby galaxy; New study shows how black holes get their 'kicks'.

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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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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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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Soviet Space

For the first time ever available in the West. Rocket & Space Corporation Energia: a complete pictorial history of the Soviet/Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day all in full color. Available from our store.

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Viking patch

This embroidered mission patch celebrates NASA's Viking Project which reached the Red Planet in 1976.

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Apollo 7 DVD

For 11 days the crew of Apollo 7 fought colds while they put the Apollo spacecraft through a workout, establishing confidence in the machine what would lead directly to the bold decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon just 2 months later.

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Gemini 12

Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.

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STS-134 Patch

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The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!

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Final Shuttle Mission Patch

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The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is now available in our store. Get this piece of history!

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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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STS-133 Patch

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The final planned flight of space shuttle Discovery is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-133. Available in our store!

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Anniversary Shuttle Patch

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This embroidered patch commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program. The design features the space shuttle Columbia's historic maiden flight of April 12, 1981.

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Mercury anniversary

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Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alan Shephard's historic Mercury mission with this collectors' item, the official commemorative embroidered patch.

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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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