Latest Space News - Echoes of Apollo

2009-09-27

Scientists Discover Surprise In Earth’s Upper Atmosphere
UCLA atmospheric scientists have discovered a previously unknown basic mode of energy transfer from the solar wind to the Earth’s magnetosphere. The research, federally …
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Quiet Sun Bombards Earth With Winds
Challenging conventional wisdom, new research finds that the number of sunspots provides an incomplete measure of changes [...]

2009-09-19

Scientists pick bullseye for lunar impact missionScientists now know the final destination for NASA’s water-seeking lunarimpact probe, an eternally-dark depression called Cabeus A near the moon’ssouth pole believed to harbor hidden ice.Go to News Story

New Transient Radiation Belt Discovered at SaturnFind out more about new transient radiation belt dicovered at SaturnGo to News Story

Solar system’s [...]

Discovery Lands at Edwards.
A beautiful landing sees Discovery and crew back on earth safely after 219 orbits and 5,755,275 miles. It brought new equipment and scientific research gear to the International Space Station. Discovery made a two-week flight and has celebrated 25 years in space.
Commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Kevin Ford, mission specialists Pat Forrester. [...]

Navigation Software Uploaded for Edwards
The weather at the Kennedy Space Centre is poor and outside of the limits for the shuttle landing. The Edwards Air Force Base has been activated for Discovery’s landing and is prepared and waiting. The last shuttle mission to land at Edwards was STS126
The Crew has suited up in their orange [...]

Ares 1 DM 1 Test Firing Spectacular
Amid controversy over the future of NASA’s plans to return to the moon by 2020, the successful test firing of the Ares 1 DM 1 Rocket Motor was a welcome relief. Delayed a week due to faulty power unit, the spectacular test firing went without a problem and appears [...]

Weather at KSC Stops Second STS128 Landing
NASA issued a “No Go” for a landing at KSC on the second window. The next opportunity is possible Friday with a deorbit burn at approximately 4:51pm EDT (US) and landing at 5:54pm EDT (US). KSC is also possible on the following orbit too, followed by two chances of [...]

Astronauts Preparing for Second Landing Window
The weather at the Kennedy Space Centre is deteriorating and too dangerous for Discovery to land. The second window will require a de-orbit burn in 2 hours from now. The astronauts have already taken extra fluids and salt tablets to prepare for a return to the effects of gravity. The [...]

Events Sequence for Shuttle Landing
Assuming that weather and other factors go to plan, here is the order of events for Discovery’s first landing window:
Revolution 202 deorbit to Kennedy Space Centre
01:59 PM……Begin deorbit timeline
02:14 PM……Radiator stow
02:24 PM……Mission specialists seat installation
02:30 PM……Computers set for deorbit prep
02:34 PM……Hydraulic system configuration
02:59 PM……Flash evaporator cooling system checkout
03:05 PM……Final payload deactivation
03:19 [...]

Debris Photographed Leaving Discovery Not Part of Thermal Protection
Discovery Astronauts  photographed a piece of debris leaving the shuttle at a fair pace. The debris was seen floating away from the shuttle during the thermal protection inspections.  The photographs were downloaded to mission control. NASA say that they cannot define the object, but confirm that it [...]

STS-128 Heat Shield Cleared for Re-entry
This report from SpaceFlightNow.com
The Discovery astronauts packed up Wednesday and geared up to test the shuttle’s re-entry systems in preparation for landing Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting, to close out a successful space station resupply mission.
2317 GMT (7:17 p.m. EDT)
Yesterday’s inspections of Discovery’s wing leading edges and [...]