Universe Today - October 6, 2000 |
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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. October 6, 2000 - Issue #319 http://www.universetoday.com info@universetoday.com An HTML version of this newsletter including pictures is available at: http://www.universetoday.com/html/misc/today.html ************************************** -- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY -- * Discovery Launch Delayed Until Monday * Free Floating Planets Discovered * Problem Discovered with Cassini Communications DISCOVERY LAUNCH DELAYED UNTIL MONDAY ------------------------- Technicians halted the countdown of the space shuttle Discovery yesterday they discovered a sluggish propulsion valve and an exposed bolt that made them nervous. The launch has been postponed until Monday, in order to give the investigators enough time to determine the risks of these newly discovered problems. If the components need to be replaced, the delay could be significantly longer. Original Source: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/current.htm Internet Coverage: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/shuttle_discovery001006.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_958000/958343.stm http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/10/06/space.shuttle/index.html http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/20001006/sp_shuttle2.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/471424.asp http://www.floridatoday.com/news/local/stories/2000/oct/loc100600d.htm Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/shuttle.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/spaceshuttle.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/spaceshuttle.html FREE FLOATING PLANETS DISCOVERED ------------------------- Astronomers have discovered 18 planet-like objects drifting through the constellation of Orion. Since they seem to exist without a star, these "free floaters" challenge the traditional theories about how planets form - from the disc of dust and gas the forms around a young star. The team detected the objects using telescopes in Spain, the Canary Islands, and Hawaii. Internet Coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_957000/957518.stm http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/10/06/space.planets.reut/index.html http://www.discovery.com/news/briefs/20001005/sp_planets.html Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/extrasolar.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/extrasolarplanets.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/extrasolarplanets.html PROBLEM DISCOVERED WITH CASSINI COMMUNICATIONS ------------------------- Engineers have discovered a problem with the Cassini spacecraft's communications system that would limit the amount of data that could be transmitted from the Huygens probe. Once Cassini arrives at Saturn in 2004, the Huygens probe will land on the surface of Titan and send back information about moon's environment. NASA officials are optimistic that they'll be able to solve the problem before the probe is deployed. Cassini is currently flying past Jupiter. Original Source: http://spdext.estec.esa.nl/content/news/index.cfm?aid=1&cid=1&oid=24675 Internet Coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_959000/959445.stm http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0010/06huygens/ http://www.spaceviews.com/2000/10/06a.html Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/cassini.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/missions.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/saturn.html ------------------------- To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE !*EMAIL*!". All contents copyright (c) 2000 Universe Today |