Opportunity Eyes Block Island

The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has eyed an oddly shaped, dark rock, which may be a meteorite and is about 2 feet across, on the surface of the Red Planet on July 18, 2009., The team spotted the rock called 'Block Island' in the opposite direction from which it was driving. The rover then backtracked some 820 feet to study it closer. Scientists will test the rock with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to get composition measurements and to confirm if indeed it is a meteorite. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Sunset

Layers of Earth's atmosphere, brightly colored as the sun sets, are featured in this image taken by the STS-127 crew on the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Endeavour. This image was taken on July 29, 2009, one day before the shuttle landed, completing a 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey. Image Credit: NASA

Opportunity Rover Comes upon a possible Meteorite

NASA/JPL PHOTO RELEASEPosted: August 2, 2009

The Opportunity rover has eyed an odd-shaped, dark rock, about 0.6 meters (2 feet) across on the surface of Mars, which may be a meteorite.
The team spotted the rock called "Block Island," on July 18, 2009, in the opposite direction from which it was driving. The rover then backtracked some 250 meters (820 feet) to study it closer.
Scientists will be testing the rock with the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer to get composition measurements and to confirm if indeed it is a meteorite. Credit: NASA/JPL

New Minotaur rocket set for debut / Mars rover finds possible meteorite

     NEWSALERT: Monday, August 3, 2009 @ 1739 GMT
---------------------------------------------------------------------
         The latest news from Spaceflight Now


===========================================
Looking for a job out of this world?
The top jobs and the best talents in
the space industry are on Space Careers.

http://www.space-careers.com/?id=sfn

Space Careers, a one-stop reference source
for employment in the space industry.
===========================================


NEW MINOTAUR ROCKET SET FOR DEBUT LAUNCH IN OCTOBER
---------------------------------------------------
The Minotaur 4 rocket, a new military launcher derived from retired
missile parts, will debut in October with an experimental Air Force
mission that will track other satellites in space.

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0908/03minotaursbss/


SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER ISSUE EXAMINED ON DISCOVERY
------------------------------------------------
An internal valve problem with the hydraulic steering system on the
left-hand solid rocket booster of space shuttle Discovery is being
analyzed in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Rollout to pad 39A has been
delayed until 12:01 a.m. EDT on Tuesday.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts128/status.html


OPPORTUNITY ROVER COMES UPON POSSIBLE METEORITE
-----------------------------------------------
The Mars rover Opportunity has eyed an odd-shaped, dark rock that could be
a meteorite. Scientists will be testing the rock with the alpha particle
X-ray spectrometer to get composition measurements and to confirm if
indeed it is a meteorite.

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0908/02marsrock/


CRATERS, LAVA AND TECTONICS SCOOPED BY MARS EXPRESS
---------------------------------------------------
ESA's Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera has scooped impact
craters, ancient lava flows and evidence of tectonic activity all near
Ma'adim Vallis, one of the largest canyons on Mars.

http://astronomynow.com/news/n0907/27mars/


UNVEILING THE TRUE FACE OF BETELGEUSE
-------------------------------------
Using state of the art imaging techniques, astronomers have revealed a
vast plume of gas and gigantic bubbles boiling on the surface of Orion's
supergiant star Betelgeuse.

http://astronomynow.com/news/n0907/29betel/


COSMIC DANCE STRIPS STARS FROM DWARF GALAXIES
---------------------------------------------
New computer simulations may provide an explanation for the origin of very
small, faint galaxies, the so-called dwarf spheroidal galaxies.

http://astronomynow.com/news/n0907/30dwarf/

[BAA 00430] OCCULTATION OF A BRIGHT STAR BY JUPITER ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 3/4

======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletin No. 00430            http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================

Jupiter will occult the bright star 45 Cap (HIP 107302) on the night
of 2009 July 03/04 (Mon/Tues).  The star is visual magnitude 6.0 and,
for European observers, will be the brightest star to be occulted by
Jupiter for the next 100 years.

For UK observers, the occultation disappearance will occur at around
2258 UT (2358 BST), and the reappearance at around 0051 UT (0151 BST).
Both events occur against Jupiter's southern limb.  Jupiter's
elevation/azimuth at these times will be around +16º/148º, and
+22º/176º respectively (based on central UK).  The predicted times
are based on the star's reaching the 1 bar level in Jupiter's
atmosphere.  However, the star will start varying in brightness as it
passes behind the upper levels of Jupiter's atmosphere before
the above disappearance time and after the reappearance time.  To
make up for this and varying positions within the UK, observers
should be ready to observe these events for at least a few minutes
before and after the predicted times.  The 96% sunlit moon will be
34º away.

Unfortunately, owing to the large magnitude contrast between the star
and Jupiter (mag -2.8), *visual* observers are unlikely to be able to
detect the actual moments of occultation or any 'scintillation'
through Jupiter's atmosphere; the star will just be seen disappearing
into the glare.  Limb darkening on the disappearance (W) side may
help counteract this slightly.  Also, since the star is of spectral
type A7 ('bluish'), a blue filter may help.

However, any observer possessing a narrow-band 'methane band' filter
will be in luck as these were designed specifically for events like
this.  A batch of these filters (central wavelength 891nm, FWHM 17nm,
80% transmission) was recently obtained by the International
Occultation Timing Association (IOTA).  Weather permitting,
occultation observers across Europe will be using these filters and
hoping to video record and accurately time the events.  Good quality
light curves from these recordings can help to improve the knowledge
about Jupiter's atmosphere.

For more detailed information, please click through the following
link and its subsidiary links:-

http://www.iota-es.de/jupiter2009/jupiteroccultation.html

Apologies if this e-bulletin arrives at short notice, or too late.
The writer is just emerging from the severe side-effects of the
China (Eclipse) Syndrome!

Clear Skies,

Andrew Elliott

Assistant Director (Occultations)
Asteroids and Remote Planets Section

Email:  ae@f2s.com


======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletins service.      E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org
Bulletin transmitted on  Sun Aug 2 19:19:04 BST 2009
(c) 2009 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================

Endeavour home safely / New date for Discovery rollout / Augustine update

NEWSALERT: Saturday, August 1, 2009 @ 1930 GMT
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The latest news from Spaceflight Now


+++++
Train like an Astronaut, dine with Apollo 13 Astronauts Jim Lovell and
Fred Haise, obtain Astronaut autographs and mingle with over 25 hero
Astronauts all at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's Astronaut
Autograph & Memorabilia Show November 7-8, 2009. Visit
http://www.astronautscholarship.org/aams/index.html for more details!
+++++


SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR AND CREW ARE HOME SAFE AND SOUND
--------------------------------------------------
Shuttle Endeavour and crew have safely returned from their thrilling
spaceflight that mixed delicate robotics with the muscle of spacewalkers
to continue constructing and maintaining the International Space Station.
Touchdown on Kennedy Space Center's runway came at 10:48 a.m. EDT Friday.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts127/status.html

SNEAK PEEK AT HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO:
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts127/090801hdgallery/

STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO ARCHIVE:
http://spaceflightnowplus.com/index.php?k=STS-127&s=date

LANDING PHOTO COLLECTION:
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts127/090731gallery/


NEW TARGET DATE SET FOR DISCOVERY'S MOVE TO PAD
-----------------------------------------------
Rollout of space shuttle Discovery to launch pad 39A is now targeted to
begin Tuesday morning at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) for its late August
flight to the International Space Station.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts128/status.html


FUTURE OF HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT HINGES ON FUNDING
---------------------------------------------
The commission reviewing the future of U.S. human spaceflight will present
up to a half-dozen options to President Obama late next month, ranging
from a conservative, methodical space program to an aggressive blueprint
for a mission to Mars.

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0907/30augustine/

Space Shuttle Endeavour Glides Home After Successful Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts ended a 16-day journey of more than 6.5 million miles with a 10:48 a.m. EDT landing Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the flight, Endeavour delivered the final piece of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and a new crew member to the International Space Station. Endeavour's mission included five spacewalks and installation of two platforms outside the Japanese module. One platform remained on the station and serves as a type of porch for experiments that require direct exposure to space. The other was an experiment storage pallet that returned aboard the shuttle. During the mission, Kibo's robotic arm transferred three experiments from the palette to the platform. The station now is 83 percent complete and has a mass of more than 685,000 pounds. Mark Polansky commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Dave Wolf, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette and Tim Kopra. Kopra remained aboard the station, replacing Flight Engineer and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who returned to Earth on Endeavour after more than four months on the station. When Endeavour's seven astronauts joined the six resident Expedition 20 crew members aboard the space station, a record number of 13 people were aboard the orbiting laboratory. All five partner agencies were represented. A welcome ceremony for the crew's return to Houston will be held at Ellington Field's NASA Hangar 990 at 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 1. The public is invited to attend. The crew's return will be broadcast on NASA Television's video file Monday. With Endeavor and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the launch of STS-128, which is targeted for Aug. 25. Discovery's 13-day flight will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. For more about the STS-127 mission and the upcoming STS-128 flight, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov

- end -

Touchdown!

07.31.09

› View Now

Kylie Clem/STS-127 Commentator: One minute to touchdown. Endeavour's landing gear will be locked down in place at 300 feet in altitude. Thirty seconds to touchdown. Landing gear is down and locked.

(rumbling)

Kylie Clem/STS-127 Commentator: Main gear touchdown. Pilot Doug Hurley now deploying the drag chute. And Commander Mark Polansky rotating the nose gear down to the deck. Nose gear touchdown.

Endeavour rolling out on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center, wrapping up a 6.5-million mile mission.

This is the 71st landing at the Kennedy Space Center. Endeavour has completed its 23rd mission, and the 127th space shuttle mission. It was the 29th to the International Space Station.

(rumbling)

Mark Polansky/STS-127 Commander: Houston, Endeavour. Wheelstop. Alan Poindexter/STS-127 CAPCOM: Roger. Wheelstop, Endeavour. Welcome home. Congratulations on a superb mission from beginning to end. Very well done.

Mark Polansky/STS-127 Commander: Well, thanks to you and to the whole team. That's what it's all about. And we're happy to be home.

› View Now

Welcome Home, Endeavour

Endeavour kicked up dust as it touches down on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete the 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey on the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour landed on orbit 248. Main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m. Endeavour delivered the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section to the International Space Station. The mission was the 29th flight to the station, the 23rd flight of Endeavour and the 127th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 71st landing at Kennedy. Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Space Shuttle Endeavour Glides Home After Successful Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts ended a 16-day journey of more than 6.5 million miles with a 10:48 a.m. EDT landing Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the flight, Endeavour delivered the final piece of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and a new crew member to the International Space Station.

Endeavour's mission included five spacewalks and installation of two platforms outside the Japanese module. One platform remained on the station and serves as a type of porch for experiments that require direct exposure to space. The other was an experiment storage pallet that returned aboard the shuttle. During the mission, Kibo's robotic arm transferred three experiments from the palette to the platform. The station now is 83 percent complete and has a mass of more than 685,000 pounds.

Mark Polansky commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Dave Wolf, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette and Tim Kopra. Kopra remained aboard the station, replacing Flight Engineer and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who returned to Earth on Endeavour after more than four months on the station.

When Endeavour's seven astronauts joined the six resident Expedition 20 crew members aboard the space station, a record number of 13 people were aboard the orbiting laboratory. All five partner agencies were represented.

A welcome ceremony for the crew's return to Houston will be held at Ellington Field's NASA Hangar 990 at 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 1. The public is invited to attend. The crew's return will be broadcast on NASA Television's video file Monday.

With Endeavor and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the launch of STS-128, which is targeted for Aug. 25. Discovery's 13-day flight will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill.

For more about the STS-127 mission and the upcoming STS-128 flight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

 

- end -