Science
Could 1 in 3 Earth-like Worlds Have Life?
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| Image credit: Hubble |
Two researchers from Australia believe that life in the Universe may be more common than previously thought. Since life only took half a billion years to gain a foothold on our planet, they theorize, the odds of it happening on any Earth-like world must be good. With only one planet to sample, though, the Earth, there still isn't any way to judge whether our planet is an anomaly or well within the norm. NASA's upcoming Terrestrial Planet Finder due for launch in 2006 will help scan for Earth-like planets in the future.
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May 15, 2002, 4:28pm
Space Flight
Chinese Rocket Launches Two Satellites
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| Image credit: Xinhua |
A Chinese Long March 4B rocket successfully placed to satellites into orbit on Wednesday: a Fengyun-1D meteorological satellite and a Haiyang-1 marine surveying satellite. Both satellites were developed in China and will help the country's efforts to monitor its weather. This is the country's second launch of the year.
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May 15, 2002, 4:17pm
Space Flight
Station Oxygen Generator Breaks
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| Image credit: NASA |
Astronauts on board the International Space Station are working to repair a malfunctioning oxygen generator. The primary oxygen has been working off and on over the past few days, so the crew has switched to their backup solid-fuel canisters to keep the atmosphere breathable. NASA doesn't feel that there's any urgency to the situation, and hopes to have the problem fixed shortly. Even if they don't get it working quickly, the space shuttle Endeavour will launch on May 30 with additional oxygen supplies.
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May 15, 2002, 4:03pm
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