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| Image credit: Hubble |
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| Sombrero Wallpaper |
Oct 9, 2003 - Ready... switch. Update that computer desktop with this newly released Hubble picture of the Sombrero galaxy. I've resized and cropped the picture so it's scaled nicely for the computer screen - it looks awesome. To make this your computer wallpaper, click the following link, right-click anywhere on the image and choose "Set as Wallpaper".
Hubble Sombrero Galaxy wallpaper - 1024x768 (86K)
If you have any problems with this, just drop me an email - I'd be happy to help you set it up.
I've also added a copy of the photo to my photo gallery, so if you want to order a nice photo, or even a larger poster you can do that to. Click here to access the photo gallery, then click on Hubble. It's the first picture in the gallery. A high quality 4x6 print is only $.99!
Enjoy!
Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today
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| Image credit: Scaled Composites |
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| Four New Space-Related Bills Passed |
| Oct 9, 2003 - The US government passed four new bills by voice vote that promote space and astronomy. The Commercial Space Act of 2003 hopes to better regulate commercial space launches, such as sub-orbital tourist flights. The Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act will encourage amateur astronomers to help spot potential Earth-crossing asteroids. The Remote Sensing Applications Act of 2003 will provide funding for satellite images to support various projects. And the Human Space Flight Independent Investigation Commission Act of 2003 will establish and independent commission to investigate future disasters, like the loss of Columbia. |
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| Image credit: NASA |
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| NASA Working on a Solution to Repair Shuttles |
| Oct 9, 2003 - NASA gave a progress update this week on how their safety improvements to the space shuttle are going. It turns out, a $.99 foam brush does the best job of applying a special patch material that the astronauts can use to repair the shuttle's heat tiles. They're also working on ways to get better photos of the shuttle as it launches - even at night; currently the shuttle's exhaust is too bright at night to really see the vehicle well enough to spot problems. The space shuttle Atlantis will likely be the next to launch, some time in September 2004. |
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| Image credit: NASA |
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| NASA Moves Forward with Supersonic Airplane |
| Oct 9, 2003 - NASA has picked Allied Aerospace to continue the development of its X-34C experimental aircraft. The $150 million contract will have Allied create three flight-ready demonstrator vehicles that will fly more than 8,000 kilometres per hour; or seven times the speed of sound. The vehicle is intended to demonstrate a working scramjet engine, which pulls part of its fuel from the air - making it smaller and more efficient. The demonstration aircraft will be launched atop a Pegasus rocked and raised to Mach 5; then they'll disengage and speed up to Mach 7 under their own power. |
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