Rosetta Spacecraft Photographs Itself

As part of its mission checkout tests in May 2004, the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Rosetta spacecraft snapped a self-portrait using the CIVA camera aboard its lander, Philae. Rosetta will study Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko while orbiting the comet and will drop the Philae lander to study the comet's surface.

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ESA and EADS-CASA Sign SMOS Instrument Contract

ESA and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company)-CASA from Spain signed a contract worth 62 million euros on 11 June 2004 for the construction of the primary instruments aboard ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) spacecraft. As part of ESA’s Living Planet Program, SMOS will employ the Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) instrument to measure soil moisture and sea-surface salinity. These data will aid researchers in understanding Earth's hydrological cycles and improving climate and weather forecasts. SMOS is scheduled to launch in early 2007.

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Intelsat 10-02 Satellite Launched

At 4:27 a.m. today local time, a Proton M rocket launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan hurled the Intelsat 10-02 communications satellite into transfer geosynchronous earth orbit. From its final orbital slot at 359 degrees East longitude, Intelsat 10-02, built by EADS Astrium, will provide a number of communications services, including video, voice, and data (including Internet) for users in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This was the sixth launch this year for International Launch Services (ILS), a joint venture between Lockheed Martin of the United States and the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia.

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First SMART-1 Image Released

SMART-1, the European Space Agency's first 'Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology' spacecraft, is well on its way to the moon using a revolutionary ion propulsion drive. On 21 May 2004, SMART-1 returned its first image of Earth from an altitude of 70,000 kilomters. The photograph, showing Europe, was taken using the lightweight Advanced Moon Micro-Imager Experiment (AMIE) camera developed by Space-X of Switzerland. Once SMART-1 reaches the moon, it will use AMIE to image the moon's surface in both infrared and visible light. Launched 27 September 2003, SMART-1 will continue its spiral orbit around the Earth until it is captured by the moon's gravity and finally enters a polar elliptical lunar orbit.

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Telstar 18 Satellite Approaches Launch Time

The Sea Launch ocean-going launch platform departed from its home port in Long Beach, CA this week in preparation for its June 28 launch. A Zenit-3SL rocket will loft the Telstar 18 communications satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit for Loral Skynet. In its final orbital slot at 138 degrees East Longitude, this satellite will provide cable programming, direct-to-home broadcasting, Internet, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) and IP-based two-way services for users in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands and Hawaii.

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Did Comets Flood Earth’s Oceans?

The Ptolemy experiment, part of the Philae lander aboard the Rosetta spacecraft, seeks to uncover clues as to whether Earth's oceans were created from water (ice) carried by comets that struck the "young" Earth. Ptolemy will analyze the types of atoms comrising Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's chemical mix to see how similar they are to those found on Earth. A close match could mean that comets did indeed provide much of the water found today on Earth.

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Swales Aerospace Wins Goddard Contractor Excellence Award

For the third time since 1977, Swales Aerospace has won the Goddard Contractor Excellence Award, qualifying Swales for the prestigious George M. Low Quality Excellence Award. Swales receives the Goddard Contractor Excellence Award for the Small Business Services category during 2003-04.

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MDA Signs Contract With RapidEye For Satellite Mission

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) has signed a contract valued at $170 million CDN with RapidEye AG of Germany. As the prime contractor, MDA will provide a system comprising a five satellite constellation and its associated ground equipment. RapidEye will use this system to create various land-monitoring products and services for agriculture, cartography, and other purposes.

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