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YESTERDAY'S SPACE
MARSDAILY SPACEMART SPACEWAR SPACE TRAVEL TERRADAILY ASTRONAUTIX EMAIL US /ABOUT US AD RATES SPACEDAILY FORUMS 
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 Rover Adds Color To Mars View Full Panorama By Next Week
The first full-color snapshots of Mars have surpassed all expectations and shown the so-called the red planet actually boasts subtle shades of blue and ochre, NASA scientists said Tuesday. The image, actually a mosaic of 12 images taken by a high definition camera, is of such high quality that NASA was able to zoom in on details of stones and pebbles in the reddish brown sand in front of the robot. The 12-million-pixel image is "three or four times better than any previous mission," said Jim Bell, who is in charge of the "PanCam." |
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(Copyright Kees Veenenbos. All commercial use click here)
ILC Dover Airbags Cushion MER Spirit Landing on Mars 
Frederica - Jan 07, 2004On January 4, 2004, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) named Spirit, ended its 300-million-mile journey from Earth with a successful landing on the surface of Mars. ILC Dover, Inc. of Frederica, Delaware was NASA's prime contractor for the airbag subsystem that helped make the landing a success. Endurance Of Plants Under Quartz Rocks Possible Model For Life On Early Earth 
Durham - Jan 06, 2004Microscopic Mojave Desert plants growing on the underside of translucent quartz pebbles can endure both chilly and near-boiling temperatures, scavenge nitrogen from the air, and utilize the equivalent of nighttime moonlight levels for photosynthesis, a new study reports. The plants, which receive enough light through the pebbles to support photosynthesis, could offer a model for how plants first colonized land, as well as how they might have evolved on Mars, said the scientists who performed the study. |
The Calm After the Cometary Storm
Having weathered its out-of-this-world sandblasting by cometary particles hurtling toward it at about six times the speed of a rifle bullet, NASA's Stardust spacecraft begins its two-year, 1.14 billion kilometer (708 million mile) trek back to its planet of origin. Leaving Home To Catch A Comet 
Paris (ESA) Jan 07, 2004ESA's comet chaser Rosetta will soon be heading towards its new target, known as Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. With its launch now planned for 26 February 2004, Rosetta will be one of the most ambitious scientific missions by Europe. |
Arianespace Maintains Pole Position In Civil Launch Market
Paris - Jan 07, 2004Arianespace maintained its world leadership in the commercial launch services market in 2003 despite fierce competition and a depressed market. The company won eight contracts open for bidding during the year -- representing more than 50% of the market -- and it continues to set the global standards in launch services. In 2003, Starsem won the launch contract for Europe's Venus Express spacecraft. ILS Closes Out 2003 with Six Launches, Eleven Orders 
Mclean Jan. 6, 2004--International LaunchILS wrapped up 2003 having launched six times, won contracts for 11 new missions and received nine additional assignments for future U.S. government launches. |
US Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Team Study Contract For NextGen GPS System
Sunnyvale - Jan 07, 2004The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin one of two industry contracts valued at approximately $20 million each to enter the next development phase of an advanced Global Positioning System, to be known as GPS III. SkyBitz Secures $16 Million in Financing Motorola Deal 
Dulles - Jan 07, 2004As further testament to the company's viability and leadership position in the transportation industry, SkyBitz secured $16 million in a Series C round to continue marketing efforts and product enhancements for its satellite-based asset tracking and information management service. |
SMART-1 Escapes The Radiation Belts
Paris (ESA) Jan 07, 2004Smart 1 is now in its 176th orbit, with all functions nominal. The first mission target, namely to exit the most dangerous part of the radiation belts, has been achieved. Between 23 December 2003 and 2 January 2004, the thruster fired continuously for a record duration of more than 240 hours. This is likely to remain the record for some time because later this week SMART-1 will change from a continuous thrust strategy to a more orbitally efficient thrust arcing. |
GlobalNet Launches Mobile Phones In Iraq
Chicago - Jan 07, 2004GlobalNet said Tuesday that it has been awarded an exclusive contract for worldwide termination of voice and data mobile satellite telecommunications traffic originating in Iraq. As a morale booster and a tribute to U.S. military forces serving in Iraq, GlobalNet will allow American servicemen and women stationed there to make 5-minute mobile phone calls anywhere in the world free of charge until February 14. |
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