Universe Today - October 22, 1999

Universe Today - October 22, 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.
October 23rd, 1999 - Issue #115
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Watch "Deep Sky" on SpaceWatch

For years, Tele Vue Optics has been a source for new designs in
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high school shop class. It's been over 20 years since Al introduced
the telescope line that bears his name. Now he's teamed with his
son, David Nagler; both join Andy and Michael this week for a peek
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Check it out: http://www.spacewatch.com

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-- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY --

* NASA Begins Climate Orbiter Inquiry
* Sun Emits Multiple Coronal Mass Ejections
* The Moon May Still Be Active
* Next Sea Launch Announced
* Analysis of Lunar Prospector Data will Continue


NASA BEGINS CLIMATE ORBITER INQUIRY
------------------------
The review board assigned to investigate the loss of the Mars
Climate Orbiter have begun their inquiry. Led by chairman Art
Stephenson, the board will review detailed reports from the
mission team and deliver technical recommendations to NASA by
early November - ideally before the Polar Lander arrives at Mars.

http://www.astronomynow.com/mars/mco/991021invest/index.html


SUN EMITS MULTIPLE CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS
------------------------
The space-based Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recently
viewed a series of coronal mass ejections - giant plasma bursts
that travel away from the sun at 2000 km/s. Over the course of 14
hours, the sun produced three of these ejections. Fortunately, none
hit the earth, where they could disrupt telecommunications.

http://www.astronomynow.com/breaking/9910/21solar/index.html


THE MOON MAY STILL BE ACTIVE
------------------------
Scientists have long believed that the moon is a completely dead
world, but a new theory proposes that there may still be some
volcanic activity. For 450 years, some astronomers have claimed
to see transient lunar phenomena (TLP) on the surface. It was
believed that TLPs were caused by meteor impacts, but this new
theory proposes volcanic outgassing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_481000/481455.stm
http://explorezone.com/archives/99_10/21_moon_mystery.htm


NEXT SEA LAUNCH ANNOUNCED
------------------------
A Ukrainian aerospace official announced that the second commercial
use of the Sea Launch platform has been scheduled for January 2000.
He would not announce the client or the exact date, but the launch
will use a Ukrainian Zenit-3SL booster.

http://cnn.com/TECH/space/9910/21/space.ukraine.reut/index.html


ANALYSIS OF LUNAR PROSPECTOR DATA WILL CONTINUE
------------------------
Thanks to a $3 million grant from NASA, the Lunar Research
Institute will continue to analyze data picked up by the Lunar
Prospector before it was crashed into the moon in search of
water. The data will allow the team to develop maps of the lunar
surface, magnetic fields and areas of enriched hydrogen which
could indicate water locations.

http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/10/21b.html

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