July 2009 Top Stories | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference

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July 2009 Top Stories

AIP FYI #85: Senate FY 2010 NASA Funding Bill

»» AIP FYI #85: Senate FY 2010 NASA Funding Bill

[Wednesday, July 1, 2009] Taking a different approach to the funding of the human space flight program than did the House, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its report, 111-34, accompanying its FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill.

Ariane 5 soars to another heavy-lift success in lofting the TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite

»» Ariane 5 soars to another heavy-lift success in lofting the TerreStar-1 mobile communications satellite

[Wednesday, July 1, 2009] TerreStar-1 has a liftoff mass of 6,910 kg. and was carried as a solo payload on today's Ariane 5 heavy-lift mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Image: Dust Plumes off the West Coast of Africa

»» Image: Dust Plumes off the West Coast of Africa

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] Saharan dust formed giant arcs off the west coast of Africa on July 1, 2009. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite took this natural-color picture the same day.

MOST, Canada's Space Telescope, Celebrates Birthday Number Six

»» MOST, Canada's Space Telescope, Celebrates Birthday Number Six

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] The MOST microsatellite was launched June 30, 2003 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome with a 12-month mission to study the vibration of distant stars and draw inferences about their hidden composition -- a technique called asteroseismology.

Move An Asteroid 2009 Competition

»» Move An Asteroid 2009 Competition

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] Last few days remaining to win a scholarship to attend IAC'09 in Korea through SGAC "Move An Asteroid 2009" Competition!

Ulysses Spacecraft Ends Historic Mission of Discovery

»» Ulysses Spacecraft Ends Historic Mission of Discovery

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] Ulysses officially ceased operations on 30 June 2009, after receiving commands from ground controllers to do so. The spacecraft, which operated for more than 18 years, charted the unexplored regions of space above the poles of the Sun.

Space Station Appearing Nationwide Over July 4 Weekend

»» Space Station Appearing Nationwide Over July 4 Weekend

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] As America celebrates its 233rd birthday this holiday weekend, there will be an extra light in the sky along with the fireworks. Across the country, Americans will be treated to spectacular views of the International Space Station as it orbits 220 miles a

NASA Astronaut Jose Hernandez Starts Agency's First Bilingual Twitter

»» NASA Astronaut Jose Hernandez Starts Agency's First Bilingual Twitter

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez, set to fly aboard space shuttle Discovery in August, is providing insights about his training on Twitter in both English and Spanish. It will be the agency's first bilingual Twitter.

NASA TV to Broadcast Space Station Crew's Move of Return Craft

»» NASA TV to Broadcast Space Station Crew's Move of Return Craft

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] Three members of the International Space Station crew will board a Soyuz spacecraft attached to the station and move it to a different docking port on Thursday, July 2. The journey will be broadcast live on NASA Television.

First Moon Images From NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

»» First Moon Images From NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has transmitted its first images since reaching the moon on June 23. The spacecraft's two cameras, collectively known as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, or LROC, were activated June 30.

Aerojet to Test Advanced Liquid Oxygen Liquid Methane Rocket Engine for Lunar Ascent

»» Aerojet to Test Advanced Liquid Oxygen Liquid Methane Rocket Engine for Lunar Ascent

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] Aerojet has completed manufacturing and assembly of an advanced 5,500-lbf LOX LCH4rocket engine. Aerojet will soon begin testing this advanced engine.

A Fireworks Display in the Helix Nebula

»» A Fireworks Display in the Helix Nebula

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] A new image, taken with an infrared camera on the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, shows tens of thousands of previously unseen comet-shaped knots inside the nebula. The sheer number of knots is more than have ever been seen before .

NASA Phoenix Results Point to Martian Climate Cycles

»» NASA Phoenix Results Point to Martian Climate Cycles

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] Favorable chemistry and episodes with thin films of liquid water during ongoing, long-term climate cycles may sometimes make the area where NASA's Phoenix Mars mission landed last year a favorable environment for microbes.

NASA'S FERMI Telescope Probes Dozens of Pulsars

»» NASA'S FERMI Telescope Probes Dozens of Pulsars

[Thursday, July 2, 2009] With NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, astronomers now are getting their best look at those whirling stellar cinders known as pulsars.

APEX Telescope Provides New Guide to the Galaxy

»» APEX Telescope Provides New Guide to the Galaxy

[Saturday, July 4, 2009] An international team of astronomers has unveiled a new survey giving an unprecedented view of the inner regions of our home galaxy, the Milky Way peppered with thousands of previously undiscovered dense knots of cold cosmic dust.

International Year of Astronomy 2009 Raises Millions of Eyes to the Skies

»» International Year of Astronomy 2009 Raises Millions of Eyes to the Skies

[Saturday, July 4, 2009] As the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) reaches its six-month milestone, over a million people have already looked at the sky through a telescope for the first time.

Wayne Hale's NASA Blog: Stormy Weather

»» Wayne Hale's NASA Blog: Stormy Weather

[Sunday, July 5, 2009] My last assignment as Ascent/Entry Flight Director for the space shuttle was for STS-113 in the fall of 2002. It was a memorable flight, several technical delays and then a spectacularly successful mission to the International Space Station.

National Research Council Report: Approaches to Future Space Cooperation and Competition in a Globalizing World: Summary of a Workshop

»» National Research Council Report: Approaches to Future Space Cooperation and Competition in a Globalizing World: Summary of a Workshop

[Sunday, July 5, 2009] Numerous countries and regions now have very active space programs, and the number is increasing. These maturing capabilities around the world create a plethora of potential partners for cooperative space endeavors.

Plants put limit on ice ages

»» Plants put limit on ice ages

[Sunday, July 5, 2009] When glaciers advanced over much of the Earth's surface during the last ice age, what kept the planet from freezing over entirely?

NASA JSC Advanced Planning Office Blog: Is it time to start the Federation?

»» NASA JSC Advanced Planning Office Blog: Is it time to start the Federation?

[Sunday, July 5, 2009] In the next few weeks we will get a new Administrator and Deputy Administrator. Shortly after that we will hear from the new Augustine Committee their recommendations concerning the future of human space exploration.

NASA's Fermi Telescope Probes Dozens of Pulsars

»» NASA's Fermi Telescope Probes Dozens of Pulsars

[Monday, July 6, 2009] With NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, astronomers now are getting their best look at those whirling stellar cinders known as pulsars.

NASA Constellation Blog: Where Things Stand with Constellation (Jeff Hanley)

»» NASA Constellation Blog: Where Things Stand with Constellation (Jeff Hanley)

[Monday, July 6, 2009] "The development cost for achieving the first crewed flight today is roughly $30 billion, far short of estimates which have been recently bandied about."

Sidemount HLV: New Ways To Resupply The Space Station

»» Sidemount HLV: New Ways To Resupply The Space Station

[Monday, July 6, 2009] Two concepts are shown. One uses an ATV and two MPLMs or a mixture of MPLMs and external payload carriers. The other "barge" concept uses a propulsion module and a mixture of MPLM and external payload pallets.

New NASA Satellite Survey Reveals Dramatic Arctic Sea Ice Thinning

»» New NASA Satellite Survey Reveals Dramatic Arctic Sea Ice Thinning

[Tuesday, July 7, 2009] Arctic sea ice thinned dramatically between the winters of 2004 and 2008, with thin seasonal ice replacing thick older ice as the dominant type for the first time on record.

Ice Shouldn't Stop Dune Movement on Mars or Earth

»» Ice Shouldn't Stop Dune Movement on Mars or Earth

[Tuesday, July 7, 2009] Planetary scientists have monitored some Martian sand dunes for more than 30 years, and the dunes have not moved during that time, leading scientists to question whether snow and ice trapped inside the dunes might be preventing movement.

U.S. Space Program Should Align With Broader National Goals

»» U.S. Space Program Should Align With Broader National Goals

[Tuesday, July 7, 2009] The U.S. civil space program should be aligned with widely acknowledged national challenges, says a new report from the National Research Council.

Canadian Scientists Find Clues to the Water Cycle on Mars

»» Canadian Scientists Find Clues to the Water Cycle on Mars

[Tuesday, July 7, 2009] According to findings from the Phoenix Mars Lander mission, snow and water-ice clouds play a crucial role in the exchange of water between the atmosphere and surface of Mars, which suggests that Mars is even more like Earth than previously thought.

ATV-2 IS Called

»» ATV-2 IS Called "Johannes Kepler"

[Tuesday, July 7, 2009] In Bremen on Tuesday 7 July 2009, the second European space transporter, ATV-2 was officially given the name of the German astronomer and scholar Johannes Kepler.

NASA tests Alternate Launch Abort System for Astronaut Escape

»» NASA tests Alternate Launch Abort System for Astronaut Escape

[Wednesday, July 8, 2009] NASA has successfully demonstrated an alternate system for future astronauts to escape their launch vehicle. A simulated launch of the Max Launch Abort System, or MLAS, took place Wednesday morning at 6:26 a.m. at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.

NASA Research to Help Aircraft Avoid Ocean Storms, Turbulence

»» NASA Research to Help Aircraft Avoid Ocean Storms, Turbulence

[Wednesday, July 8, 2009] NASA is funding the development of a prototype system to provide aircraft with updates about severe storms and turbulence as they fly across remote ocean regions.

New Portrait of Omega Nebula's Glistening Watercolours

»» New Portrait of Omega Nebula's Glistening Watercolours

[Wednesday, July 8, 2009] The Omega Nebula, a stellar nursery where infant stars illuminate and sculpt a vast pastel fantasy of dust and gas, is revealed in all its glory by a new ESO image.

ESA and NASA establish a joint Mars exploration initiative

»» ESA and NASA establish a joint Mars exploration initiative

[Wednesday, July 8, 2009] The outcome of the bilateral meeting was an agreement to create a Mars Exploration Joint Initiative (MEJI) that will provide a framework for the two agencies to define and implement their scientific, programmatic and technological goals at Mars.

Statement of Charles Bolden Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

»» Statement of Charles Bolden Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

[Wednesday, July 8, 2009] Today we have to choose. Either we can invest in building upon our hard earned world technological leadership or we can abandon this commitment, ceding it to others who are working vigilantly to push the frontiers of space.

Simulations Illuminate Universe's First Twin Stars

»» Simulations Illuminate Universe's First Twin Stars

[Thursday, July 9, 2009] The earliest stars in the universe formed not only as individuals, but sometimes also as twins, according to a paper published today in Science Express.

Explosive growth of life on Earth fueled by early greening of planet

»» Explosive growth of life on Earth fueled by early greening of planet

[Thursday, July 9, 2009] Earth's 4.5-billion-year history is filled with several turning points when temperatures changed dramatically, asteroids bombarded the planet and life forms came and disappeared

Methane-eating microbes can use iron and manganese oxides to 'breathe'

»» Methane-eating microbes can use iron and manganese oxides to 'breathe'

[Thursday, July 9, 2009] Iron and manganese compounds, in addition to sulfate, may play an important role in converting methane to carbon dioxide and eventually carbonates in the Earth's oceans, according to a team of researchers looking at anaerobic sediments.

Did Galileo Discover Neptune? Galileo's Notebooks May Reveal Secrets of New Planet

»» Did Galileo Discover Neptune? Galileo's Notebooks May Reveal Secrets of New Planet

[Thursday, July 9, 2009] Galileo knew he had discovered a new planet in 1613, 234 years before its official discovery date, according to a new theory by a University of Melbourne physicist.

Living Fossils Hold Record of 'Supermassive' Black Hole Kick

»» Living Fossils Hold Record of 'Supermassive' Black Hole Kick

[Thursday, July 9, 2009] The tight cluster of stars surrounding a supermassive black hole after it has been violently kicked out of a galaxy represents a new kind of astronomical object and a fossil record of the kick.

Herschel Observes the Infrared Sky

»» Herschel Observes the Infrared Sky

[Friday, July 10, 2009] Herschel has carried out the first test observations with all its instruments, with spectacular results. Galaxies, star-forming regions and dying stars comprised the telescope's first targets.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Arrives at Kennedy Space Center

»» NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Arrives at Kennedy Space Center

[Friday, July 10, 2009] NASA's upcoming mission to study the sun in unprecedented detail and its effects on Earth, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. on July 9.

Virtuoso Prepares to Send Passengers into Sub-orbital Space as Virgin Galactic Completes Successful SpaceShipTwo Rocket Motor Testing

»» Virtuoso Prepares to Send Passengers into Sub-orbital Space as Virgin Galactic Completes Successful SpaceShipTwo Rocket Motor Testing

[Friday, July 10, 2009] At present, fewer than 500 people have ventured into space, but Virgin Galactic already has nearly 300 people from 42 countries waiting in the wings, including Virtuoso CEO, Matthew D. Upchurch.

GOES-O Satellite Reaches Orbit and Renamed GOES-14

»» GOES-O Satellite Reaches Orbit and Renamed GOES-14

[Friday, July 10, 2009] On June 27, 2009, GOES-O, soared into space during a spectacular launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. GOES-O has now been renamed and its solar array has been deployed.

NASA Solicitation: Biography of Dr. Thomas Paine

»» NASA Solicitation: Biography of Dr. Thomas Paine

[Friday, July 10, 2009] The NASA History Division has a requirement for the commercial service of writing a complete scholarly book-length biography of Dr. Thomas Paine, NASA's third Administrator.

Planck instruments reach their coldest temperature

»» Planck instruments reach their coldest temperature

[Friday, July 10, 2009] The extremely low operational temperature of just a tenth of a degree above absolute zero (0.1 K) has been reached on the detectors of Planck's High Frequency Instrument (HFI).

NASA Selects 20 Innovation Fund Projects

»» NASA Selects 20 Innovation Fund Projects

[Friday, July 10, 2009] NASA's Innovative Partnerships Program, working with the Office of the Chief Engineer at NASA Headquarters, has selected 20 projects for the 2009 NASA Innovation Fund.

NASA Briefing Charts: Mars Exploration Program Status Planetary Sciences Subcommittee of NAC

»» NASA Briefing Charts: Mars Exploration Program Status Planetary Sciences Subcommittee of NAC

[Friday, July 10, 2009] MSL overall budget needs remain around $400M at PMC, but reserves were unacceptably low (~13% cost-to-go). Expect a requirement for additional resources to restore reserves to adequate levels ($15-115M), predicted by several different cost models.

Wayne Hale's NASA Blog: Real Life is Not Like Star Trek

»» Wayne Hale's NASA Blog: Real Life is Not Like Star Trek

[Friday, July 10, 2009] For my birthday, my son and fellow Star Trek aficionado gave me some DVDs with the old TV series. Needless to say, I have made a lengthy review of the subject lasting far into the evenings over the last week or so.

Ares I-X Status Report 10 July 2009

»» Ares I-X Status Report 10 July 2009

[Friday, July 10, 2009] Super Stack 1 assembly is now complete with the attaching of the forward assembly to the fifth segment simulator.

Space Shuttle Endeavour's Launch

»» Space Shuttle Endeavour's Launch "No Go" Due to Weather

[Sunday, July 12, 2009] Officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida have called off today's liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour due to inclement weather.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Fueling Complete

»» Space Shuttle Endeavour Fueling Complete

[Monday, July 13, 2009] The countdown to launch of space shuttle Endeavour is under way at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the shuttle's large orange external tank has been filled with a half-million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

$NASA LRO LROC Image: The fractured floor of Compton$ »» NASA LRO LROC Image: The fractured floor of Compton

[Monday, July 13, 2009] Orbit 136 took LRO over the Imbrian-aged Compton Crater (162 km diameter) at an altitude of 172 kilometers.

NASA Holds Briefing to Release Restored Apollo 11 Moonwalk Video

»» NASA Holds Briefing to Release Restored Apollo 11 Moonwalk Video

[Monday, July 13, 2009] NASA will hold a media briefing at 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 16, at the Newseum in Washington to release greatly improved video imagery from the July 1969 live broadcast of the Apollo 11 moonwalk.

Would you like to join the crew of the Concordia station in Antartica?

»» Would you like to join the crew of the Concordia station in Antartica?

[Monday, July 13, 2009] Winter in Antarctica is harsh. Temperatures occasionally going as low as -84oC, permanent darkness and isolation are only some of the conditions that crews at the Antarctic station Concordia have to brave

105-Day Mars Simulation: U.S. studies focus on improving work performance

»» 105-Day Mars Simulation: U.S. studies focus on improving work performance

[Monday, July 13, 2009] From March 31 to July 14, a six-man international crew called an isolation chamber in Moscow their home. The crew simulated a 105-day Mars mission full of experiments and realistic mission scenarios.

NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour Now Scheduled to Launch Wednesday

»» NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour Now Scheduled to Launch Wednesday

[Monday, July 13, 2009] Space shuttle Endeavour's launch to the International Space Station has been postponed until Wednesday, July 15, due to poor weather conditions within the launch area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is scheduled for 3:03 p.m. PDT.

New map hints at Venus's wet, volcanic past

»» New map hints at Venus's wet, volcanic past

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] Venus Express has charted the first map of Venus's southern hemisphere at infrared wavelengths. The new map hints that our neighbouring world may once have been more Earth-like, with both, a plate tectonics system and an ocean of water.

The minerals on Mars influence the measuring of its temperature

»» The minerals on Mars influence the measuring of its temperature

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] A team of researchers from the CSIC-INTA Astrobiology Centre in Madrid has confirmed that the type of mineralogical composition on the surface of Mars influences the measuring of its temperature.

Unusual Antarctic Microbes Live Life on a Previously Unsuspected Edge

»» Unusual Antarctic Microbes Live Life on a Previously Unsuspected Edge

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] An unmapped reservoir of briny liquid chemically similar to sea water, but buried under an inland Antarctic glacier, appears to support unusual microbial life .

IPY Traverse Overland exploration of East Antarctica collects data for last thousand years of climate

»» IPY Traverse Overland exploration of East Antarctica collects data for last thousand years of climate

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] The 12 scientists and support staff made a slow crawl across a vast, blank stretch of East Antarctica this past austral summer for three months to study how regional climate variability relates to global climate change.

U.S. Human Space Flight Review Committee Announces Public Meetings

»» U.S. Human Space Flight Review Committee Announces Public Meetings

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee will hold three public meetings July 28-30. The meetings are open to news media representatives. No registration is required, but seating is limited to location capacity.

NASA Stirs Up the First Development Dome Welds for Ares I Upper Stage

»» NASA Stirs Up the First Development Dome Welds for Ares I Upper Stage

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] sing a metal joining technique called friction stir welding, the Ares Projects team at the Marshall Center has completed welding the first liquid hydrogen tank dome being developed to define manufacturing processes for the upper stage of the Ares I.

NASA Seeks Undergrads to Defy Gravity for Science and Engineering

»» NASA Seeks Undergrads to Defy Gravity for Science and Engineering

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] NASA is offering undergraduate students an opportunity to test experiments in microgravity aboard NASA's "Weightless Wonder" aircraft.

NASA Plays Audio

»» NASA Plays Audio "Time Capsule" of Historic Apollo 11 Mission

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] NASA will provide a "time capsule" in observance of the 40th anniversary of the first human lunar landing. Audio from the entire Apollo 11 mission will be replayed and streamed on the Internet at exactly the same time and date it was broadcast in 1969.

Book Review: Voices From the Moon

»» Book Review: Voices From the Moon

[Tuesday, July 14, 2009] Once again, in his book "Voices From the Moon: Apollo Astronauts Describe Their Lunar Experiences", author Andy Chaiken has managed to distill and then capture the essence of Apollo.

Primitive asteroids in the main asteroid belt may have formed far from the Sun

»» Primitive asteroids in the main asteroid belt may have formed far from the Sun

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] Many of the objects found today in the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter may have formed in the outermost reaches of the solar system, according to an international team of astronomers led by scientists from SwRI.

How Enceladus got its stripes

»» How Enceladus got its stripes

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] A new study has revealed the origins of tiger stripes and a subsurface ocean on Enceladus- one of Saturn's many moons.

Keeping a 'Trained Eye' on the James Webb Space Telescope

»» Keeping a 'Trained Eye' on the James Webb Space Telescope

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] NASA and Northrop Grumman are keeping a "trained eye" on the James Webb Space Telescope, by training their engineers on how to handle and assemble the telescope's Optical Telescope Element (OTE), also known as the "eye" of the telescope.

NPOESS Preparatory Project Ground Segment Ready for Operations

»» NPOESS Preparatory Project Ground Segment Ready for Operations

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) team reached a major milestone as the final portion of the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) ground system was transitioned to operations.

Apollo 11 Conversations Earth Didn't Hear Now Online at Nasa.Gov

»» Apollo 11 Conversations Earth Didn't Hear Now Online at Nasa.Gov

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] You're in a spacecraft, on a mission to land on the moon for the first time in history, and the microphone to Earth is off. What do you say?

NASA New Horizons Mission to Pluto: The PI's Perspective: A Summer's Work, Far From Home

»» NASA New Horizons Mission to Pluto: The PI's Perspective: A Summer's Work, Far From Home

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] The work is fun, no doubt there; but it never ends on this mission of exploration -- particularly in the summer, when we conduct our annual spacecraft checkouts.

Sixteen Craters on Mercury Have New Names

»» Sixteen Craters on Mercury Have New Names

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] The IAU recently approved a proposal from the MESSENGER Science Team to confer names on 16 impact craters on Mercury. The newly named craters were imaged during the mission's first two flybys of Mercury in January and October last year.

Statement from Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins

»» Statement from Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] The following is a series of questions and answers prepared by Michael Collins, command module pilot for Apollo 11. Collins issued the following statement in lieu of media interviews:

NASA's Shuttle Endeavour Launches to Complete Japanese Module

»» NASA's Shuttle Endeavour Launches to Complete Japanese Module

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew launched at 6:03 p.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Bolden and Garver Confirmed By Senate for Top NASA Posts

»» Bolden and Garver Confirmed By Senate for Top NASA Posts

[Wednesday, July 15, 2009] This evening the Senate voted to confirm Charles Bolden as NASA Administrator and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA Administrator by unanimous consent. The request was made on the Senate floor by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).

Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon Announces Historic Teaming with Top Industry Leaders for its Commercial Moon Venture

»» Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon Announces Historic Teaming with Top Industry Leaders for its Commercial Moon Venture

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] - Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon Limited announced today that top industry leaders Near Earth LLC, WPP Group, Aon and Milbank have joined its corporate team.

Study Predicts $1.5 Billion Market for Commercial Lunar Services over Next Decade

»» Study Predicts $1.5 Billion Market for Commercial Lunar Services over Next Decade

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] A study performed by the Futron Corporation predicts that companies such as those competing for the Google Lunar X PRIZE will be able to address a market in excess of $1 billion over the course of the next decade.

NASA STS-127 Report #02 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, July 16, 2009

»» NASA STS-127 Report #02 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, July 16, 2009

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] Seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour awakened at 7:03 a.m. to begin a day of heat shield inspections and preparations for Friday's rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.

Restored Apollo 11 Video Released

»» Restored Apollo 11 Video Released

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] NASA released Thursday newly restored video from the July 20, 1969, live television broadcast of the Apollo 11 moonwalk. The release commemorates the 40th anniversary of the first mission to land astronauts on the moon.

Boeing Signs 4-Satellite Contract With Intelsat

»» Boeing Signs 4-Satellite Contract With Intelsat

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] The Boeing Company today announced that Intelsat Ltd., the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, has selected Boeing to build four telecommunication satellites that will refresh and add new capacity to Intelsat's global satellite fleet.

USAF 45th Space Wing Study: Capsule~100%-Fratricide Environments (Implications for NASA's Ares-1 and Crew)

»» USAF 45th Space Wing Study: Capsule~100%-Fratricide Environments (Implications for NASA's Ares-1 and Crew)

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] Estimate of Secondary Effects of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Destruct Debris Environment on the Constellation Capsule (Illustrated with the Titan IV-A20 Destruct of Comparable SRBs, Propellant Mass, and comparable MET of ~40 sec)

NASA Airborne Expedition Chases Arctic Sea Ice Questions

»» NASA Airborne Expedition Chases Arctic Sea Ice Questions

[Thursday, July 16, 2009] A small NASA aircraft completed its first successful science flight Thursday as part of an expedition to study the receding Arctic sea ice and improve understanding of its life cycle and the long-term stability of the Arctic ice cover.

NASA Releases Orbiting Carbon Observatory Accident Summary

»» NASA Releases Orbiting Carbon Observatory Accident Summary

[Friday, July 17, 2009] A NASA panel that investigated the unsuccessful Feb. 24 launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, has completed its report.

Damaged Tape and Murky Moon Views

»» Damaged Tape and Murky Moon Views

[Friday, July 17, 2009] Alas, unlike the unprecedented resolution we obtained for these two sites, Apollo 11 was a let down. The image is murky and far less clear than previous images. This is not due to the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft or our restored hardware.

LRO Sends Back Images of Apollo Lunar Module Hardware On The Moon

»» LRO Sends Back Images of Apollo Lunar Module Hardware On The Moon

[Friday, July 17, 2009] LRO, has returned its first imagery of the Apollo moon landing sites. The pictures show the Apollo missions' lunar module descent stages sitting on the moon's surface, as long shadows from a low sun angle make the modules' locations evident.

LIFE.com Commemorates the Launch of Apollo 11

»» LIFE.com Commemorates the Launch of Apollo 11

[Friday, July 17, 2009] Exclusive Galleries include commentary from Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and never before published photos of astronauts with their families www.life.com.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Docks at Station

»» Space Shuttle Endeavour Docks at Station

[Friday, July 17, 2009] Commander Mark Polansky docked space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station�s Harmony node at 1:47 p.m. EDT while flying about 220 miles above the Gulf of Carpentaria, off the north coast of Australia.

NASA JSC Internal memo: New I-X Launch Date

»» NASA JSC Internal memo: New I-X Launch Date

[Friday, July 17, 2009] Today at CxCB, we presented an update to our schedule and a new launch date of 10/31/09 was approved. This is still a very aggressive schedule and requires a lot of tasks to complete on or before their planned dates.

NASA Mourns The Death of Walter Cronkite

»» NASA Mourns The Death of Walter Cronkite

[Friday, July 17, 2009] The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the death of veteran journalist Walter Cronkite.

NASA Cassini Significant Events 07/08/09 - 07/14/09

»» NASA Cassini Significant Events 07/08/09 - 07/14/09

[Saturday, July 18, 2009] The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired on July 14 from the Deep Space Network tracking complex at Goldstone, California. The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and all subsystems are operating normally.

Hurricane Season 2009: Two NASA Satellites See Remnant Low Dolores Go Out Kicking

»» Hurricane Season 2009: Two NASA Satellites See Remnant Low Dolores Go Out Kicking

[Saturday, July 18, 2009] The remaining clouds and showers that were once tropical storm Dolores are fading at sea, more than 940 miles west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Hurricane Season 2009: Carlos and Dolores

»» Hurricane Season 2009: Carlos and Dolores

[Saturday, July 18, 2009] The TRMM satellite captured the fading rainfall in Tropical Storms Carlos (lower left) and Dolores (upper right) on July 15.

NASA STS-127 Report #07 9 p.m. CDT Friday, July 18, 2009

»» NASA STS-127 Report #07 9 p.m. CDT Friday, July 18, 2009

[Saturday, July 18, 2009] In a complex and choreographed activity, the crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station installed the Exposed Facility on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory today.

Space Station Astronauts Transferring Integrated Cargo Carrier

»» Space Station Astronauts Transferring Integrated Cargo Carrier

[Sunday, July 19, 2009] Space shuttle Endeavour Commander Mark Polansky and Pilot Doug Hurley are using the shuttle robotic arm to grab the Integrated Cargo Carrier � Vertical Light Deployable, or ICC-VLD.

Opening Statement By Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: Hearing on Enhancing the Relevance of Space to Address National Needs

»» Opening Statement By Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: Hearing on Enhancing the Relevance of Space to Address National Needs

[Sunday, July 19, 2009] Good afternoon. I'm pleased to welcome everyone to today's hearing on this the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.

Let's Name the LCROSS Impact Crater After Walter Cronkite

»» Let's Name the LCROSS Impact Crater After Walter Cronkite

[Sunday, July 19, 2009] Editor's note: The other night I started to Twitter that I thought it would be a good idea that the crater LCROSS will form should be named in honor of veteran space journalist Walter Cronkite who died the other day. Others joined in and repeated that id

Astrobotic Technology Inc. unveils robot for Apollo 11 visit that survives the Moon's boiling-hot temperatures

»» Astrobotic Technology Inc. unveils robot for Apollo 11 visit that survives the Moon's boiling-hot temperatures

[Sunday, July 19, 2009] Astrobotic Technology Inc. today released details of a lunar robot that can survive the blistering heat at the Moon's equator, which is the robot's destination in May 2011 when it will visit the Apollo 11 site.

ISS Photo: Millennium Island

»» ISS Photo: Millennium Island

[Monday, July 20, 2009] Millennium Island is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 20 crew member on the International Space Station.

ISS Photo: Big Thompson Mesa

»» ISS Photo: Big Thompson Mesa

[Monday, July 20, 2009] Big Thompson Mesa in the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 20 crew member on the International Space Station.

Challenger Center for Space Science Education Mourns the Death of Walter Cronkite

»» Challenger Center for Space Science Education Mourns the Death of Walter Cronkite

[Monday, July 20, 2009] It is with great sadness that the Challenger Center family learned of Walter Cronkite's passing. Walter Cronkite was a wonderful friend to the families of the Challenger crew and to Challenger Center.

NASA and Google Launch Virtual Exploration of the Moon

»» NASA and Google Launch Virtual Exploration of the Moon

[Monday, July 20, 2009] Forty years ago on July 20, 1969, the world watched as the crew of Apollo 11 took the first steps on the surface of the moon. To celebrate this historic occasion, NASA and Google announced the launch of the Google Earth 5.0.

NASA Ares I First Stage Motor to be Tested August 25

»» NASA Ares I First Stage Motor to be Tested August 25

[Monday, July 20, 2009] NASA and ATK unveil the completed Ares I first stage five-segment solid rocket booster today in Promontory, Utah.

New NASA Images Indicate That an Object Hit Jupiter

»» New NASA Images Indicate That an Object Hit Jupiter

[Monday, July 20, 2009] Scientists have found evidence that another object has bombarded Jupiter, exactly 15 years after the first impacts by the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

NASA STS-127 Report #11 Monday, July 20, 2009 - 9 p.m. CDT

»» NASA STS-127 Report #11 Monday, July 20, 2009 - 9 p.m. CDT

[Tuesday, July 21, 2009] The crews aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle Endeavour honored the legacy of Apollo 11 by conducting a spacewalk on the same day that 40 years ago when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon for the first time.

Tests on Earth to Help Free Spirit Rover on Mars: Live Webcast, Chat

»» Tests on Earth to Help Free Spirit Rover on Mars: Live Webcast, Chat

[Tuesday, July 21, 2009] A live videocast and chat from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will give viewers a chance to ask questions of rover team members working to get Spirit rolling again.

Media Invited to View Last Planned Space Shuttle Main Engine Test

»» Media Invited to View Last Planned Space Shuttle Main Engine Test

[Tuesday, July 21, 2009] NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center invites journalists to view the last planned space shuttle main engine test scheduled for 2 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, July 29.

NASA's Second Chance

»» NASA's Second Chance

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] Charlie Bolden is no stranger to space exploration but he is a newbie in the Administrator's suite and the strange ecology of Washington, DC interactions that the job entails.

Space Shuttle to Constellation Workforce Transition Report Issued By NASA

»» Space Shuttle to Constellation Workforce Transition Report Issued By NASA

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] NASA is issuing the third edition of the Workforce Transition Strategy, which details the agency's plan to minimize job losses while transitioning from the Space Shuttle Program to the Constellation Program.

Newsletter #2 - Planetary Science Decadal Survey

»» Newsletter #2 - Planetary Science Decadal Survey

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] This is the second newsletter to the community regarding the 2009-2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. A great deal has happened since my first newsletter back in April.

NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Mission Passes Major Review

»» NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Mission Passes Major Review

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] NASA's desire to provide communications support for the ISS, Hubble, and other spacecraft moved closer to this goal in July when agency officials approved critical elements for the next generation of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, TDRS K & TDRS L.

Experiments show 'artificial gravity' can prevent muscle loss in space

»» Experiments show 'artificial gravity' can prevent muscle loss in space

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] As American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts began conducting longer-duration space flights, scientists noticed a disturbing trend: the longer humans stay in zero gravity, the more muscle they lose.

Saturnian Moon Enceladus Shows Evidence of Ammonia

»» Saturnian Moon Enceladus Shows Evidence of Ammonia

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] Data collected during two close flybys of Saturn's moon Enceladus by NASA's Cassini spacecraft add more fuel to the fire about the Saturnian ice world containing sub-surface liquid water.

LCROSS: Introduction to Cruise Phase

»» LCROSS: Introduction to Cruise Phase

[Wednesday, July 22, 2009] The most frequent questions I get about LCROSS go something like, "You've been flying for 'x' days...aren't you at the moon already?", "Why does it take so long to reach the moon?", or "What are you doing with all the extra time between now and impact?"

Earth Speaks

»» Earth Speaks

[Thursday, July 23, 2009] "If we discover intelligent life beyond Earth, should we reply, and if so, what should we say?"

NASA Ames to Host Energy Summit to Accelerate Innovation

»» NASA Ames to Host Energy Summit to Accelerate Innovation

[Thursday, July 23, 2009] News media are invited to attend the Council on Competitiveness� Western Energy Summit focusing on energy innovation and deployment on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

NASA's Spitzer Images Out-Of-This-World Galaxy

»» NASA's Spitzer Images Out-Of-This-World Galaxy

[Thursday, July 23, 2009] NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has imaged a wild creature of the dark -- a coiled galaxy with an eye-like object at its center.

NASA Celebrates Chandra X-Ray Observatory's 10th Anniversary

»» NASA Celebrates Chandra X-Ray Observatory's 10th Anniversary

[Thursday, July 23, 2009] Ten years ago NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched aboard the space shuttle Columbia and deployed into orbit. Chandra has doubled its original five-year mission, ushering in an unprecedented decade of discovery for the high-energy universe.

NRC Executive Office Approved Names for Inner Planets, Mars, Primitive Bodies and Satellites panels of the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey

»» NRC Executive Office Approved Names for Inner Planets, Mars, Primitive Bodies and Satellites panels of the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey

[Thursday, July 23, 2009] It is my pleasure to announce that the NRC's Executive Office has approved the nominations of the individuals listed below to serve on the Inner Planets, Mars, Primitive Bodies and Satellites panels of the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey.

Thirty Meter Telescope Selects Mauna Kea

»» Thirty Meter Telescope Selects Mauna Kea

[Thursday, July 23, 2009] After careful evaluation and comparison between two outstanding candidate sites the board of directors of the TMT Observatory Corporation has selected Mauna Kea as the preferred site for the Thirty Meter Telescope.

XCOR Aerospace Tests Lynx Aerodynamic Design in USAF Wind Tunnel

»» XCOR Aerospace Tests Lynx Aerodynamic Design in USAF Wind Tunnel

[Friday, July 24, 2009] XCOR Aerospace, Inc., announced today that it has finished a series of wind tunnel tests of the aerodynamic design of its Lynx suborbital launch vehicle.

NASA STS-127 Report #18 Friday, July 24, 2009 - 6:30 a.m. CDT

»» NASA STS-127 Report #18 Friday, July 24, 2009 - 6:30 a.m. CDT

[Friday, July 24, 2009] STS-127 Mission Specialists Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn will tackle a challenging 7 1/2-hour spacewalk today to finish swapping out batteries for the International Space Station's oldest set of solar arrays.

Mars Express Images: Close to Ma'adim Vallis

»» Mars Express Images: Close to Ma'adim Vallis

[Friday, July 24, 2009] The Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera imaged a region close to Ma'adim Vallis, one of the largest canyons on Mars, finding craters, lava flows and tectonic features.

NASA Student Airborne Research Program Takes Flight

»» NASA Student Airborne Research Program Takes Flight

[Friday, July 24, 2009] 29 undergraduate and graduate students are participating in a 6 week Airborne Science field experience designed to immerse them in NASA's Earth Science research. The students represent 26 colleges and universities across the U.S. and 9 foreign countries.

Video: Ad Astra VASIMR Full-Power, Full-Field Firing

»» Video: Ad Astra VASIMR Full-Power, Full-Field Firing

[Friday, July 24, 2009] This image shows our achievement of full-power full-field for the 1st stage of VASIMR. In addition, here are some recent video posts documenting this achievement with our new superconducting magnet.

Space Florida Hosts the Commercial Spaceflight Federation's Spaceport Executive Summit Leaders from Nine Spaceports Discuss Common Issues and Resolve Further Cooperation

»» Space Florida Hosts the Commercial Spaceflight Federation's Spaceport Executive Summit Leaders from Nine Spaceports Discuss Common Issues and Resolve Further Cooperation

[Friday, July 24, 2009] Space Florida hosted a group of spaceport leaders from around the globe to attend the Commercial Spaceflight Federation's Spaceport Executive Summit, the first such event of its kind.

Flometrics Flys Biofuel Rocket

»» Flometrics Flys Biofuel Rocket

[Friday, July 24, 2009] Flometrics, Inc. has successfully flown a liquid fueled rocket with a renewable version of JP-8. and liquid oxygen. The fuel was developed by the EERC under a DARPA contact.

NASA MSFC Internal Memo: Ares Personnel Announcement

»» NASA MSFC Internal Memo: Ares Personnel Announcement

[Friday, July 24, 2009] We are pleased to announce that effective immediately, Danny Davis will take over as manager of the Ares Vehicle Integration Office (VI), acting, pending approval by HQ.

Study Aims to Maximize Scientific Return from Moon Rovers

»» Study Aims to Maximize Scientific Return from Moon Rovers

[Saturday, July 25, 2009] NASA and other national space agencies are again focused on lunar exploration, which raises the question of how to best use semi-autonomous rovers to explore the Moon's surface.

Hubble Space Telescope Captures Rare Jupiter Collision

»» Hubble Space Telescope Captures Rare Jupiter Collision

[Saturday, July 25, 2009] Hubble has taken the sharpest visible-light picture yet of atmospheric debris from an object that collided with Jupiter on July 19.

NASA Presents Coins Flown in Space to National Federation of the Blind

»» NASA Presents Coins Flown in Space to National Federation of the Blind

[Saturday, July 25, 2009] During a ceremony July 31, senior NASA officials will present the National Federation of the Blind with two Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars that flew on space shuttle Atlantis's mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in May 2009.

European Space Agency launches UK centre

»» European Space Agency launches UK centre

[Saturday, July 25, 2009] Leading industrialists and academics from across the world have witnessed the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s first ever UK base at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus (HSIC).

Human Space Flight Review Committee Announces Meeting Agendas

»» Human Space Flight Review Committee Announces Meeting Agendas

[Saturday, July 25, 2009] The Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee will hold public meetings July 28, 29, 30, Aug. 5 and 12. The meetings are open to news media representatives.

NASA STS-127 Report #21 Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 1:00 p.m. CDT

»» NASA STS-127 Report #21 Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 1:00 p.m. CDT

[Saturday, July 25, 2009] The crews of space shuttle Endeavour and the ISS had a day off to rest in preparation of robotics operations to berth the Japanese experiment carrier in the shuttle's payload bay Sunday and the fifth and final planned spacewalk of the mission on Monday.

Hydrocarbons in the deep Earth?

»» Hydrocarbons in the deep Earth?

[Sunday, July 26, 2009] Now for the first time, scientists have found that ethane and heavier hydrocarbons can be synthesized under the pressure-temperature conditions of the upper mantle --the layer of Earth under the crust and on top of the core.

MDA to provide RADARSAT-2 imagery to the European Space Agency

»» MDA to provide RADARSAT-2 imagery to the European Space Agency

[Monday, July 27, 2009] MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. announced today that it has signed a contract for $4.6 million (CAD) to provide RADARSAT-2 satellite imagery to the European Space Agency (ESA). The imagery will be delivered from July 2009 until September 2010.

Photo Report: Progress M-67 Launched To the International Space Station

»» Photo Report: Progress M-67 Launched To the International Space Station

[Monday, July 27, 2009] At 14:56:56 Moscow Time a transport cargo space vehicle Progress M-67 was launched from the Baikonur launch site. The space vehicle was put into a reference near-earth orbit.

Aabar Investments and Virgin Group Agree Equity Investment Partnership in Virgin Galactic

»» Aabar Investments and Virgin Group Agree Equity Investment Partnership in Virgin Galactic

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] Abu Dhabi 's Aabar Investments and Virgin Group today announced that they have agreed to enter a strategic partnership, which will see Aabar take an equity stake in the world's first commercial spaceline - Virgin Galactic.

Commercial Spaceflight Federation Appoints Makovsky + Company as Public Relations Advisor

»» Commercial Spaceflight Federation Appoints Makovsky + Company as Public Relations Advisor

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] The Commercial Spaceflight Federation today announced the appointment of Makovsky + Company, one of the nation's largest independent public relations firms, as its public relations advisor.

NRL's Large Area Telescope explores high-energy particles

»» NRL's Large Area Telescope explores high-energy particles

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is making some exciting discoveries about cosmic rays and the Large Area Telescope aboard Fermi is the tool in this investigation.

Galaxy Zoo Hunters Help Astronomers Discover Rare 'Green Pea' Galaxies

»» Galaxy Zoo Hunters Help Astronomers Discover Rare 'Green Pea' Galaxies

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] Astronomers have discovered a group of galaxies called the "Green Peas" with the help of citizen scientists working through an online project called Galaxy Zoo. The finding could lend unique insights into how galaxies form stars in the early universe.

Moon Rock Aboard The International Space Station

»» Moon Rock Aboard The International Space Station

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] A moon rock brought to Earth by Apollo 11, humans' first landing on the moon in July 1969, is shown as it floats aboard the International Space Station.

NASA and NOAA's GOES-14 Satellite Takes First Full Disk Image

»» NASA and NOAA's GOES-14 Satellite Takes First Full Disk Image

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] The latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-14, provided its first visible full disk image of Earth on July 27, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Parts With International Space Station

»» Space Shuttle Endeavour Parts With International Space Station

[Tuesday, July 28, 2009] The crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station parted company today, with all of the docked mission's objectives complete.

Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon to put a British Science Instrument on the Moon

»» Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon to put a British Science Instrument on the Moon

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] Google Lunar X PRIZE contender Odyssey Moon Limited today is announcing its partnership with the International Space School Education Trust (ISSET) and their customer Moonlink Ltd. of Yorkshire to put a British science instrument on the Moon.

Statement by Michael Griffin to The Augustine Committee

»» Statement by Michael Griffin to The Augustine Committee

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] I very much appreciate your invitation to speak to the Commission. I hope for a wide-ranging discussion of civil space policy objectives, NASA's progress to date toward meeting those objectives, and possible alternative paths.

SpaceX Completes Qualification of Falcon 9 First Stage Tank and Interstage

»» SpaceX Completes Qualification of Falcon 9 First Stage Tank and Interstage

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces the successful completion of qualification testing for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle first stage tank and interstage.

Sharpest views of Betelgeuse reveal how supergiant stars lose mass

»» Sharpest views of Betelgeuse reveal how supergiant stars lose mass

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] Using different state-of-the-art techniques on ESO's Very Large Telescope, two independent teams of astronomers have obtained the sharpest ever views of the supergiant star Betelgeuse.

Lunar Exploration Roadmap: Exploring the Moon in the 21st Century: Themes, Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities

»» Lunar Exploration Roadmap: Exploring the Moon in the 21st Century: Themes, Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] The Lunar Exploration Roadmap Version 1.0 is the first version of a document that will be updated and further developed over time as more data becomes available from current missions, as further analyses by LEAG Specific Action Teams impact the roadmap.

NASA to Provide Web Updates on Objects Approaching Earth

»» NASA to Provide Web Updates on Objects Approaching Earth

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is introducing a new Web site that will provide a centralized resource for information on near-Earth objects � those asteroids and comets that can approach Earth.

NASA STS-127 Report #29 6 p.m. CDT Wednesday, July 29, 2009

»» NASA STS-127 Report #29 6 p.m. CDT Wednesday, July 29, 2009

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] Space shuttle Endeavour's crew spent the day inspecting the spacecraft's heat shield one last time and began early preparations for Friday's return home to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Space Shuttle Crew Set To Return To Earth Friday

»» Space Shuttle Crew Set To Return To Earth Friday

[Wednesday, July 29, 2009] Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew are scheduled to return to Earth on Friday after a 16-day mission. There are two landing opportunities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:48 a.m. and 12:23 p.m. EDT.

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