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| When Did this Issue Arrive? |
Sep 18, 2003 - I'm trying to understand the performance of my mailing system so I was wondering if a few of you could let me know when your issue of Universe Today arrived in your email system. The newsletter was emailed out on Thursday, September 18 between 1:00pm-3:00pm PDT. In theory, you should have received it during that time frame. But if you're getting it an unusually later amount, could you let me know?
Two additional things you might be interested in.
Thanks!
Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today |
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| Image credit: NASA |
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| Shuttle's Return to Flight Pushed Back to Summer |
| Sep 18, 2003 - The return to flight of the space shuttle will probably be pushed back to midsummer according to NASA officials; not March as they had originally anticipated. The delay is being caused by the complexity of implementing the safety recommendations of the Columbia accident investigation, which called for additional cameras, day launches, and redesigns to several shuttle components. When Atlantis finally does launch with only four astronauts, its only purpose will be to test out the new safety improvements. It will dock with the International Space Station and allow the astronauts to test methods for finding and repairing damage to the shuttle's exterior. |
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| Image credit: ESA |
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| China Will Help Develop the Galileo Network |
| Sep 18, 2003 - The European Union announced on Thursday that China will play a role in the development of the Galileo constellation of satellites, which are designed to provide a similar solution as the US-based Global Positioning System. The exact commitments from China haven't been detailed yet, but the two groups have set up a training, cooperation, and information centre for satellite navigation in China at Beijing University. Galileo will be built with 30 navigation satellites to provide complete global coverage - it's expected to be fully operational by 2008. |
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| Image credit: Scaled |
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| SpaceDev Will Build SpaceshipOne Motor. |
| Sep 18, 2003 - Scaled Composites announced today that it has selected San Diego-based SpaceDev to build the rocket engine for SpaceShipOne. The hybrid engine uses nitrous oxide and rubber, and was chosen for both safety and performance. SpaceShipOne is Scaled Composite's entrant into the X-Prize; a $10 million prize to the first private company able to launch a 2-person crew to an altitude of 100 km. No future plans or launch dates have been announced but the spacecraft must complete a successful flight before the end of 2004 to claim the prize. |
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| Image credit: ESA |
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| ESA's View of Hurricane Isabel |
| Sep 18, 2003 - The European Space Agency is helping to track the movement of Hurricane Isabel using its ERS-2 spacecraft, and released this photo of the storm Thursday morning as it menaced the East Coast of the US. ERS-2 has also been gathering other information about the storm, including sea surface temperatures, wind and rainfall levels. Isabel is a Category 2 hurricane, and expected to make landfall in the early afternoon on Thursday in North Carolina. |
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