General Dynamics Acquires Spectrum Astro, Inc.

Today General Dynamics completed the acquisition of Spectrum Astro, Inc. of Gilbert, Arizona. Spectrum Astro employs about 525 people and is involved in both building and integrating systems for use in space, including satellites and ground-support equipment. Now Spectrum Astro is part of General Dynamics C4 Systems.

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ESA and EADS Space Transportation To Sign 1 Billion Euro ISS Contract

The European Space Agency (ESA) and EADS Space Transportation will sign a 1 billion Euro contract on 13 July to allow Europe to more fully use the capabilities of the International Space Station (ISS). Much of this funding will go towards the production of six Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs) and the preparation of the Columbus Laboratory aboard the ISS. The new ATV spacecraft will provide critical capabilities to the ISS, such as replenishing supplies, carrying away trash, and periodically boosting the ISS to higher altitudes.

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Mars Express Returns Photos Of Hellas Basin Rim

At approximately 2300 kilometers in diameter, Mars' Hellas Basin is one of the largest impact craters in the Solar System. ESA's Mars Express orbiter recently returned images of the Basin's northern rim taken with the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). Scientists have created several different images from the raw data, including a color photograph, a 3-D anaglyph and a perspective view showing how the rim would appear to someone on or near the surface of Mars. Evidence in these images seems to indicate wind and possibly water erosion.

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Upcoming Launches

Two launches are scheduled to occur in the next few days:

11 July: NASA's Aura satellite will launch from Vandenburg Air Force Base early Sunday morning (6:01:57 a.m. EDT). A Boeing Delta II launcher will carry this atmospheric observatory into Earth orbit. More...

12 July: The Anik F2 communications satellite, bult by Boeing Satellite Systems for Telesat Canada, will launch from Kourou, French Guiana at 8:43 p.m. EDT Monday evening. It will be carried to its orbital slot on an Ariane 5 launcher. More...

  

Finland Joins European Southern Observatory

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) formal accession procedure was completed yesterday making Finland the eleventh member state of the ESO.

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Acoustic Testing Continues For ESA's Vega Rocket

Engineers in Colleferro, Italy continue to perform acoustic tests for the new Vega rocket currently in development. Sound pressure and associated vibration must be minimized to avoid damage to a launch vehicle's payload or to the launcher itself. These latest tests use a 1:20 scale model of the Vega, including its P80 first-stage motor, and the launch pad.

Vega will be ready for its first launch in 2006. At only 30 meters tall, Vega will be ESA's smallest rocket, using it's four stages (three solid, one liquid) to launch small satellites weighing up to about 2000 kg.

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Canadian Space Agency Awards $20k Grant To Mars Society Canada

Beginning on 2 August 2004 and spanning four weeks, Mars Society Canada and Mars Society Australia will host Expedition Two of the Mars Expedition Analog Program in Australia's Flinders Ranges. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) recently awarded a $20,000 grant towards this effort to Mars Society Canada, bringing the combined project funding to about $50,000. This project aims to provide vital research that can be used in planning a manned trip to Mars in the future.

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ESA's Planned Gaia Spacecraft To Create Revolutionary Skymap

Beginning soon after its launch in 2010, the Gaia spacecraft will begin capturing details for about 1 billion stars in our galaxy from it's solar orbit (at the L2 position). Over a 5-year period, Gaia will observe each of it's target stars about 100 times. Results will be used to create a three-dimensional star catalog including such details as position and motion, color, changes in brightness, and composition. As a side benefit, this craft will observe asteroids that may cross Earth's orbit, potentially alerting us to possible impact threats.

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Cassini Answers Some Questions, Poses More

According to recent press releases from NASA, the Cassini spacecraft has already begun returning a wealth of scientific data from Saturn and it's moons. In summary, here are some of the most recent findings:

(a) The Cassini Division in Saturn's rings may contain more "dirt" (which appears similar to Phoebe) than water ice, suggesting that the rings may be the remains of a moon,
(b) Oxygen observed in the edge of Saturn's rings may be the result of a recent collision with the rings,
(c) Sensors aboard the spacecraft detected microscopic particle collisions during Cassini's ring plane crossing last week - about 100,000 collisions within a 5 minute period,
(d) Wind speeds near Saturn's equator decrease significantly at higher altitudes and a more complete three dimensional model of Saturn's atmosphere is being developed,
(e) Saturn's moon Titan was imaged at various wavelengths showing some surface details and chemical composition, including regions of water ice, hydrocarbons, a methane cloud, and possibly a crater,
(f) There is a giant cloud surrounding Titan, which is probably caused by collisions from high energy particles trapped in the radiation belts around Saturn.

(For more details, see NASA press releases from 2 July and 3 July)