Universe Today - November 27, 2001
A note from Fraser... There's a Virus Out There
This is totally unrelated to space, but over the last 24 hours I've received about 50 attempts from various computers to send me a virus by email (which means that 50 of my readers have become infected somehow). I usually get a couple of these a day, but this is way more than I've ever seen, and it leads me to believe that there's a pretty serious epidemic going on.
It's called the Badtrans, and you can infect yourself if you even look at an email containing an infected attachment, or use the Preview Pane in Microsoft Outlook. It answers your unopened email with an attached virus, but it doesn't look like it causes any damage to your computer. Here are a few articles that explain the virus: CNN - MSNBC - News.com. To prevent the virus infecting you, make sure you've got Microsoft Explorer patched up with the latest security updates. If you think you've already got the virus, check out Mcafee's site for detailed information on the virus and software to remove it (they'll want some of your money, of course).
We now return to our space-related programming.
Fraser Cain, Publisher - Universe Today
 Arianespace |
Ariane Rocket Lofts DirecTV Satellite
An Ariane 44LP rocket successfully lifted off Monday night at 0035 GMT(7:35pm EDT) from the European Space Agency launch center in Kourou, French Guiana. It was carrying a Boeing-built DirecTV-4S television satellite, which will provide the DirecTV network with 300 channels for the United States. This is the last Arianespace launch of the year; the next is scheduled for January 16, 2002.
Original Source:
Arianespace News Release
Other Coverage: Aviation Now - CNN Space - MSNBC - Spaceflight Now Similar Stories: Arianespace Related Sites: Satellites Related Books: Satellites |
 RSI |
Progress Launches with Cargo for Station
A Russian M1-7 Progress supply ship launched Monday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1824 GMT (1:24 pm EST). The remotely piloted ship is loaded with fuel, air, food, and medicine for the crew of the International Space Station, and is expected to dock on Wednesday afternoon. This is the sixth Progress supply ship sent to the ISS.
Original Source:
NASA Status Report
Other Coverage: SPACE.com - Spaceflight Now Similar Stories: Russia Related Sites: Russia Related Books: Russia |
 Hubble |
Hubble Detects Atmosphere Around Distant Planet
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have detected an atmosphere around a planet orbiting a star 150 light-years from Earth. The planet (70% the mass of Jupiter) wasn't directly seen by Hubble, instead, the presence of sodium was detected in the star while the planet passed in front - indicating the planet has sodium in its atmosphere. Using this technique, astronomers hope to perfect methods of searching for evidence of life on other worlds - only planets with life will have oxygen in their atmosphere.
Original Source:
Hubble News Release
Other Coverage: BBC News - SPACE.com Similar Stories: Hubble Space Telescope Related Sites: Extrasolar Planets Related Books: Extrasolar Planets |