Universe Today - December 17, 1999

Universe Today - December 17, 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.
December 17th, 1999 - Issue #141
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Personal Satellite Assistant
An all-new COSMIC VISIONS

NASA is hiring robotic valets for the crew of the International
Space Station. Cosmic Visions shows you what robots can do without
gravity to weigh them down.

http://www.spacewatch.com

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-- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY --

* Weld Problem Delays Launch
* Terra Satellite Launch Delayed
* Scientists Believe Europa Could Support Life


WELD PROBLEM DELAYS LAUNCH
-------------------------
Discovery was ready to fly, but last minute concerns about the state
of welds on the Shuttle's 20 year old fuel lines delayed the launch
for a day. It turned out not to be a problem, but NASA didn't want to
take any chances. Discovery is set to launch tonight at 8:47pm EST;
although, it could be delayed again because of bad weather.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/shuttle991217.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_567000/567845.stm
http://cnn.com/1999/TECH/space/12/17/shuttle.01/index.html
http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/brief1.html?ct=385a82e3
http://www.foxnews.com/science/121699/space_shuttle_fox.sml
http://www.msnbc.com/news/330873.asp
http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/12/16b.html


TERRA SATELLITE LAUNCH DELAYED
-------------------------
Also due to launch yesterday, NASA's Terra Earth observing satellite
experienced its own set of delays, causing its launch to be scrubbed
for a day. One delay was caused by a hang glider flying into the
launch zone and another by a faulty sensor. The launch from
Vandenberg Air Force Base has been rescheduled for Saturday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_569000/569971.stm
http://cnn.com/1999/TECH/space/12/16/terra.scrub/index.html
http://www.msnbc.com/news/329383.asp
http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/12/16c.html


SCIENTISTS BELIEVE EUROPA COULD SUPPORT LIFE
-------------------------
Richard Greenberg of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the
University of Arizona-Tucson believes that Europa is an ideal
location in the solar system to support life. He and other astronomers
believe that giant cracks on the planet's surface indicate a liquid
ocean covered by a layer of ice. And where there's liquid water,
life has a chance of occurring.

http://cnn.com/1999/TECH/space/12/16/space.life.reut/index.html


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Space News from SpaceDaily.com for today

Indonesia Offers To Host Launch Pad
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/indonesia-99g.html

Safety First Delays Discovery
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/shuttle-99o.html

NASA's Terra Delayed
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/terra-eo-99c.html

S.Korea Plans Own Launch Pad
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/korea-99r.html

No Evidence For Mini-Comets
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/comet-99e.html

Global Cooling and Warming Could Co-Exist
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/earth-99j.html

Evidence Mounts for Impact Of Arctic Oscillation
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/earth-99k.html

Diamond Dust Causes Tectonic Debate Among Geophysicists
http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/earth-99l.html

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