China’s second lunar orbiter, Chang’e 2: still in operation after 180 days.
Unfortunately, little of its scientific results have been released.
After seven years of work, the Soyuz launch site in French Guiana is finally ready for its first launch.
More on the storms hitting Endeavour launchpad today.
More proof it’s nothing but pork: Witnesses at House committee hearing express strong concerns about the heavy-lift rocket plan (the-program-formerly-called-Constellation) imposed on NASA by Congress.. Key quote:
“We simply do not know what is next,” said Maser, president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, which builds the space shuttle’s main engines. “We are in a crisis.”
Hail storm hits Endeavour on launchpad.
Above, an annotated version of the first orbital image, showing areas of the south pole never before seen.
From the press conference about the first Messenger images from Mercury orbit:
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Which near-Earth asteroids are ripe for a visit?
The first image from Mercury orbit.
The disassembly and decommissioning of the space shuttle Discovery has started.
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocked from ISS today.
The X-37B space plane has been spotted again by amateurs.
More on the space war over NASA from Jeff Foust of The Space Review. Also read this Aviation Week article.
Overall, it is still a mess, with much of the money allocated to NASA a complete waste that will not get us into space.
An critique of NASA: No vision equals no innovation.
That NASA (and our government) lacks vision is not necessarily a bad thing. For the first time in decades, this is leaving room for new and independent companies to move in and fill the vacuum left by NASA. In the end, I think we will be far better off.
The Russians have set the new date, April 5, for next manned Soyuz launch to ISS.
All systems go! Dawn did a camera and instrument checkout last week, in preparation for its summertime arrival at the asteroid Vesta.
The first death in space.
An evening pause: Forty-six years ago today Alexei Leonov became the first man to walk in space. This Soviet-era film shows practically the entire event, using footage from two cameras. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Russian and it is not subtitled. I’d love it if someone out there could provide a translation.
Several things to note as you watch:
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The mess from the NASA space war spreads: Three European space science missions are now on their own after the U.S. the space agency pulls funding.
Treasures from the Soviet Union’s space history.
After an almost seven year journey, Messenger has successfully entered orbit around Mercury. More here.
After years of travel, the probe Messenger finally goes into orbit around Mercury tonight.
Sour grapes: Satellite builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat orbiting satellites.
No surprise here. If Intelsat can extend the life of its satellites, than it won’t have to buy them as often from these builders, something the builders clearly don’t want.
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule.
The strange tale of the Lebanese space program.
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about.
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites.
The concept of refueling geosynchronous satellites has been lurking about the aerospace industry for years. According to this deal, we should see an actual mission in about five years.
Problems going up and going down: Not only are there issues with the Soyuz capsule that is scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, a problem in the communications system of the next Soyuz capsule has caused the Russians to delay its launch by at least one week.
The return of a crew from ISS on Wednesday via a new upgraded Soyuz capsule might have problems.
