All Space articles – Page 191
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Boeing to build next X-aircraft for NASA
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC NASA has selected Boeing to build the next X-series experimental vehicle, under its Future-X programme to demonstrate technologies for low-cost access to space. The unpiloted, reusable Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) - likely to be designated the X-37 - will be released by theSpace Shuttle to demonstrate autonomous ...
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Special delivery
Tim Furniss/LONDON The Columbus Orbital Facility (COF), a pressurised science laboratory, was until recently the European Space Agency's (ESA) only major contribution to the International Space Station (ISS). Now, development of a fleet of Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs) to support ISS operations has begun with the award of a ...
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International Space Station opens for work
The doors of the International Space Station opened for the first time on 10 December after astronauts from the STS88/Endeavour Space Shuttle mission bolted the first two modules together in space. Although the completion of the work marked the start of a new era in space exploration, full operations will ...
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Orbital attrition
Tim Furniss/LONDON A Chinese Long March 2C/SD booster is poised to launch two more Iridium mobile communications satellites into orbit this month or in early 1999, bringing to 86 the number of spacecraft so far sent on 18 successful launches since May 1997. Motorola's flagship project, which is ...
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European ATV gets go-ahead
Aerospatiale has been awarded a $470 million contract from the European Space Agency to proceed with the development of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for the International Space Station (ISS). Leading subcontractors are Alenia Spazio, Matra Marconi Space and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace. The 10m-long, 4.57m- wide ATV will also include Russian ...
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US supersonic effort faces axe
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES The NASA-led US national High Speed Research (HSR) programme, aimed at developing a second-generation supersonic airliner, is threatened with closure following the team's decision to raise the noise targets beyond Stage 3, delaying development by as much as 10 years. The surprise move comes as ...
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France joins NASA Mars mission
Tim Furniss/LONDON Julian Moxon/PARIS France is to become a partner in the NASA programme to mount a mission to Mars to bring the first samples of planetary material back to earth. The surprise French involvement was announced on 30 November by education, research and technology minister Claude Allègre. ...
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Russia wants more Shuttle-Mir missions
Russia has asked NASA for at least one further Shuttle-Mir mission to take place during the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS), as it continues its quest to keep the Mir space station in orbit for another two years, says NASA Watch. Russia wants to use the Shuttle ...
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Arianespace wins Japanese launch contract
Arianespace, the European commercial launcher organisation, has won a contract to launch the Lockheed Martin-built N-SAT 110 communications spacecraft, owned by Japan's Space Communications (SCC). The order brings to 38 the number of satellites on the Arianespace manifest and it is the ninth in 1998. The latest satellite and ...
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Bold endeavour
Tim Furniss/LONDON Russia has done its bit, now its NASA's turn. The Russian Zarya control module is in its planned orbit, ready and waiting. NASA's space shuttle Endeavour/ STS 88 is poised on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida to embark on the first mission ...
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Zarya enters final orbit and waits for next components
Tim Furniss/LONDON The Russian International Space Station (ISS) control module Zarya completed its fifth and final planned orbital correction burn on 23 November, placing it in a 396 x 85km, 51°-inclination orbit. The module was launched successfully aboard a Proton booster from Baikonur on 20 November. The NASA ...
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Precise mapping
Tim Furniss/LONDONOne of the few Space Shuttle flights guaranteed a launch date next year is the 11-day mission of the STS99/Endeavour.Because the flight is not related to the International Space Station (ISS) project, it is not subject to the schedule uncertainties that have plagued the ISS.The STS99 will be dedicated ...
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OSC to build two satellites for Japan
Tim Furniss/LONDON Orbital Sciences (OSC) has been selected to negotiate a contract to build two Ka-band direct-to-home broadcast communications satellites for the Japanese Broadcasting Satellite System, an affiliate of the NHK network. The BSAT 2A and 2B satellites will be based on OSC's NovaStar lightweight geostationary orbit (GEO) ...
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Tracking system causes Deep Space 1 problems
An error in the star tracking system aboard Deep Space 1, NASA's first New Millennium programme spacecraft, forced the craft to enter a "safe mode" shutdown on 13 November. Engineers brought it back to normal cruise configuration 48h later. Devices to control the deployment of the craft's solar arrays ...
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Zarya kick-starts space station programme
The International Space Station (ISS) programme officially got off the ground on 20 November when Russia's Zarya control module (pictured) was launched successfully into orbit aboard a Proton booster from Baikonur. Zarya will await the launch of STS 88/Endeavour on 3 December, carrying the US Node 1, Unity, to become ...
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Adventure star
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin's venture to develop and operate a fully reusable launch vehicle has always been acknowledged as risky; just how risky was brought home by the news that engine manufacturing problems have delayed the first flight of the X-33 technology demonstrator by six months, to December ...
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Troubled Endeavour mission falls under the spotlight
Tim Furniss/LONDON All eyes are on the much-delayed STS88 Endeavour mission on 3 December, the purpose of which is to carry the Unity Node 1 and link it with the Russian Zarya control module, to establish the first part of the International Space Station (ISS). Endeavour's mission depends ...
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UK's Beagle 2 Mars lander gets initial approval
The European Space Agency has approved the go-ahead for the Mars Express orbiter mission. The launch, scheduled for 2003, will include a UK-built lander if funds can be raised to develop the spacecraft. The lander, called the Beagle 2, would be the most high profile UK space project since ...
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Ariane breaks launch record as rival Sea Launch falters
Tim Furniss/LONDON Three Ariane boosters were launched in a record 23 days when, on 28 October, an Ariane 44L carried the first European-manufactured satellite built for a US customer. At the same time the rival Boeing-led Sea Launch has lost two more satellites from its launch manifest. The ...
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NASA contract boosts Shavit
NASA has awarded Small Expendable Launch Vehicle Services (SELVS) contracts to Orbital Sciences (OSC) and Coleman Research for up to 16 flights from Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg and Wallops Island from 2000 to 2003 with a maximum potential value of each contract being $400 million. OSC's SELVS launches will ...