Universe Today - September 8, 1999

the
U N I V E R S E
T O D A Y

Space Exploration News From Around the Internet, Updated Every Weekday.
September 8th, 1999 - Issue #93
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Space News from SpaceDaily.com for today

Small and Nimble Is Fleeter's Way
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/microsat-99h.html

Space Media Network - The Definitive Space Marketing Platform
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/spacedaily-99c.html

Telenor Gears Up For Mobile Multimedia
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/inmarsat-99a.html

NASA Extends Kelly Future Launch Study
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/rlv-99t.html

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-- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY --

* Mir in Free Drift Mode
* France Withdraws Support for Vega Small Satellite Launcher
* Second Meteorite Found to Contain Water
* Japanese Prove Remote Robot Arm Technology


MIR IN FREE DRIFT MODE
------------------------
Without a crew on board, the Mir onboard computer has placed the
spacestation into "free drift" mode, to help conserve power. The
newly installed computer program keeps Mir's solar panels pointed
at the sun so its batteries will remain charged. On Earth, Russian
space officials continue to decide the station's fate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_440000/440916.stm


FRANCE WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FOR VEGA SMALL SATELLITE LAUNCHER
------------------------
Although it has been concerned about the program since its inception,
the French government has officially announced that it is pulling out
of the European Space Agency's Vega small satellite rocket - designed
to launch satellites weighing less than one tonne. The first Vega was
originally scheduled to launch from Kourou in 2002.

http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/07/space.france.vega.reut/index.html


SECOND METEORITE FOUND TO CONTAIN WATER
------------------------
After the recent discovery of water in a Texan meteorite, NASA
researchers have discovered water-containing salt crystals in a
Moroccan meteorite that fell in August 1998. The scientists believe
that water in this format could be very common in space.

http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/07/space.water.ap/index.html
http://www.flatoday.com/space/today/090899f.htm


JAPANESE PROVE REMOTE ROBOT ARM TECHNOLOGY
------------------------
The Japanese Engineering Test Satellite (ETS) 7 spacecraft
successfully demonstrated that it could capture another spacecraft
using its robot-controlled space arm. The spacecraft closed to
within 20 centimetres from its target, and then attached itself
automatically using its arm.

http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/09/07c.html

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