Universe Today - October 26, 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 26, 2000 - Issue #330 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 ************************************** A note from the publisher Although I haven't written a story about it yet, there was a recent announcement by Beal Aerospace that left me feeling pretty disappointed. Essentially, this new entry to the launch vehicle marketplace has decided to call it quits - after spending millions building and testing rocket engines. Founder and chairman Andrew Beal said that, "competition with government-funded programs such as NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI) and the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) was an 'insurmountable risk' against the commercial viability of Beal Aerospace." You can read his full letter at: http://www.bealaerospace.com/ And an article about this at: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0010/24beal/ I'm sorry Andrew; I can imagine how difficult a decision this was for you. :-( Fraser Cain Publisher Universe Today P.S. I'm nearly finished Dragonfly by Bryan Burrough (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060932694/universetoday). Wow! This book just keeps getting better and better. I should probably spend less time reading and more working on Universe Today. But, once I finish this book, I'll need another, so I open the floor out to your suggestions. What should I read next, and why? Let me know a space-related book you've really enjoyed, and I'll buy it and read it. If I like it, I'll let everyone know. If I hate it... P.P.S. There might not be an edition of UT tomorrow. My Internet provide is installing my new connection tomorrow. Experience leads me to believe they will fail, and I will spend a better part of the weekend in technical support jail. ************************************** -- UNIVERSE TODAY STORY SUMMARY -- * Welcome Back to the 'Family' of STS-92 * Russia Earmarks Additional Funds for Mir * Four New Moons Discovered Around Saturn WELCOME BACK TO THE 'FAMILY' OF STS-92 ------------------------- Jennifer Laing looks back on STS-92, a mission which Commander Brian Duffy referred to on his return yesterday as a "doozie". Postponed launches and landings and even a camera break-down didn't faze the crew, who call themselves a 'family' and successfully completed four complicated spacewalks to continue the assembly of the International Space Station. Read the special article. A Universe Today Exclusive http://www.universetoday.com/html/special/welcomests92.html RUSSIA EARMARKS ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR MIR ------------------------- Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported today that Russia has pledged $27 million to continue funding the Mir spacestation until February, but it isn't clear what these funds are going to be used for. The funding will be used for additional Progress cargo ships containing enough fuel to maintain Mir's orbit, or to bring it down safely through the Earth's atmosphere. Netherlands-based MirCorp is currently in Moscow attempting to negotiate for the spacestation's survival. Internet Coverage: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/mir001026.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/479800.asp http://www.chron.com/content/interactive/space/missions/mir/news/2000/20001026.html http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/2000b/102600mir.htm Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/mir.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/russia.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/mir.html FOUR NEW MOONS DISCOVERED AROUND SATURN ------------------------- Astronomers using several observatories around the world have discovered four new moons orbiting Saturn, bringing the total number to 22. They are classified as "irregular" moon and they're almost certain to be captured asteroids that strayed too close to the ringed planet's high gravity. Astronomers predict it will still take several more months of observations to be absolutely sure they're Saturnian moons. Original Source: http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2000/phot-29-00.html Internet Coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_992000/992494.stm http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/10/25/Saturn.moons/index.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/463318.asp http://www.flatoday.com/space/explore/stories/2000b/102600c.htm Similar Stories: http://www.universetoday.com/html/topics/astronomy.html Related Sites: http://www.universetoday.com/html/directory/astronomy.html Related Books: http://www.universetoday.com/html/books/astronomy.html ------------------------- To unsubscribe from this newsletter, just reply with only the subject line "UNSUBSCRIBE !*EMAIL*!". All contents copyright (c) 2000 Universe Today |