Universe Today - December 21, 1999 |
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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 21st, 1999 - Issue #143 http://www.universetoday.com info@universetoday.com To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER". An HTML version of this Newsletter is available at: http://www.universetoday.com/html/misc/today.html ************************************** ASTRONAUT MICHAEL J. MCCULLEY ON "MISSION CONTROL, OVER" LIVE TODAY ON SpaceWatch AT 2:00PM ET NASA astronaut Michael McCulley has piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis and helped launch the Galileo spacecraft for Jupiter. As the Deputy Director of the Kennedy Space Center Launch Site, he was responsible for supervising Shuttle prep from wheels-stop on the runway through T-0 on the launch pad. Today, he is the C.O.O. of United Space Alliance. Don't miss this brand new MISSION CONTROL, OVER. http://www.spacewatch.com ************************************** -- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY -- * Shuttle Will Rendezvous with Hubble Tonight * Galileo Spots Massive Eruptions on Io * Bigger Payloads Make for Tougher Competition * ESA Space Telescope Reaches Operating Orbit SHUTTLE WILL RENDEZVOUS WITH HUBBLE TONIGHT ------------------------- Now that they're finally in space, the crew of Discovery can get to work and fix the broken gyros on the Hubble telescope. Once they reach the telescope, they will use the shuttle's arm to haul it into the cargo bay for three days of repairs. The telescope will also get some new equipment in addition to the repairs, including a data recorder, radio transmitter, and fine guidance sensor. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/shuttle991221.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_573000/573602.stm http://cnn.com/1999/TECH/space/12/21/shuttle.01/index.html http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/1999b/122199a.htm http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/12/21b.html GALILEO SPOTS MASSIVE ERUPTIONS ON IO ------------------------- In a recent flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, the Galileo spacecraft captured images of a giant volcanic eruption on the moon's surface. The hot lava fountains were so large and high, they were even visible from the Earth-based Infrared telescope on Mauna Kea. Io's largest volcano - Loki - is over 190-km across. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_572000/572884.stm http://www.foxnews.com/science/122099/jupiter_fox.sml BIGGER PAYLOADS MAKE FOR TOUGHER COMPETITION ------------------------- The newly built Ariane 5 rocket has the ability to carry 6.2 tonnes into orbit, and there are plans in the works to double this by 2005. In response, US firms are using government grants to develop new boosters, which will cut launch costs by 40%. With all this competition, Ariane's profit margins were a mere 1.3% in 1998. The business of putting objects into orbit has become fiercely competitive. http://cnn.com/1999/TECH/space/12/20/playloads.lat/index.html ESA SPACE TELESCOPE REACHES OPERATING ORBIT ------------------------- Launched on the maiden voyage of the Ariane 5 rocket, the European Space Agency's XMM (X-Ray Multimirror Mission) space telescope has now reached its operating orbit. The telescope will be used to help map the edges of black holes in space and measure extreme sources of heat and energy. All indications say that the telescope is functioning perfectly. http://www.foxnews.com/science/122099/esatelescope.sml http://www.spaceviews.com/1999/12/20c.html To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER". All contents copyright (c) 1999 Universe Today |