| December 20, 2006 |
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our time will build eternity |
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Russia Launches German Military Spy Satellite Moscow (RIA Novosti) (SPX) Dec 19, 2006 
A Russian Cosmos 3M booster launched from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia has put Germany's SAR-Lupe satellite into orbit, a spokesman for the Space Forces said Tuesday. The satellite was put into orbit at 5.28 p.m. Moscow time (2.28 p.m. GMT). "This is the first time Russia is launching a German military spacecraft," spokesman Alexei Kuznetsov said earlier. In 2003, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport and German COSMOS International Satellitenstart Gmbh (a subsidiary of OHB Systems AG) signed a contract on the launch of five SAR-Lupe satellites until 2009. |
Vietnam says parched Red River at record low
China to be world's third biggest wind power producer: media Cost-cutting NASA eyes three cheap space missions Honduras declares state of emergency amid drought Russia in secret plan to save Earth from asteroid: official Sarkozy scrambles to salvage carbon tax French carbon tax ruled illegal Brazil's Lula signs law cutting CO2 emissions 2009 a 'benign' year of natural disasters: German re-insurer Greenpeace Spain demands Denmark release its director 
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Opportunity Looks For Entry Point Into Crater
Pasadena CA (SPX) Dec 20, 2006Opportunity is healthy and driving toward "Bottomless Bay" to gather data on whether this would be a suitable future entry point into "Victoria Crater." The rover will continue traversing the crater rim and collecting images of the cliff walls. On Dec. 6, 2006, corresponding to the 1020th sol, or Martian day, of Opportunity's mission on the surface of Mars, NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter entered safe mode, a protective state during which only those systems vital to the orbiter's health continue to operate. New GPS Satellite Declared Operational For Users Worldwide 
Denver CO (SPX) Dec 20, 2006The newest modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin, has been declared fully operational by the U.S. Air Force following successful on-orbit deployment and checkout of all spacecraft systems. Europe Looks Forward To COROT Launch 
Paris, France (ESA) Dec 20, 2006On 27 December, COROT is to be launched into space on a unique astronomy mission: its twin goals are to detect exoplanets orbiting around other stars and to probe the mysteries of stellar interiors as never before. |
Discovery Crew Leaves ISS For Earth
Houston TC (AFP) Dec 19, 2006Astronauts aboard the Discovery space shuttle undocked from the International Space Station Tuesday to begin the journey back to Earth after an eight day construction visit. The shuttle pulled away at 2210 GMT nearly a half hour after the hatch to the ISS was shut. According to plans, co-pilot William Oefelein will slowly manually steer the shuttle 200 meters off the ISS and toward its middle to take photographs and film of it. Russia Set To Implement Ambitious Space Program 
Moscow, Russia (RIA Novosti) Dec 20, 2006Although the Russian government approved a new federal space program this year for the period between now and 2015, there have been no breakthroughs in the last 12 months. True, the national space program, which is supported by President Vladimir Putin and the government, has started receiving additional resources. ESA Polls Stakeholders To Inform Its Long-Term Exploration Strategy 
Paris, France (ESA) Dec 20, 2006Early next year in the historic town of Edinburgh, ESA and BNSC are to hold a workshop to kick off the first in a series of consultations with key stakeholders. The aim is to define European long-term strategy for space exploration and set the scene for the decisions to be taken at the ESA Council meeting at ministerial level scheduled for 2008. |
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Benson Signs Agreement For Phase I Development Of SpaceDev Dream Chaser Spaceships
Poway CA (SPX) Dec 20, 2006In the wake of hiring retired NASA space shuttle astronaut and decorated Naval pilot Robert "Hoot" Gibson as COO and chief test pilot, Benson Space Company (BSC) has agreed to a proposal from SpaceDev, which will undertake the Phase I development of the SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceship. The agreement marks a significant milestone that advances BSC toward the launching pad and promises to shepherd in the era of personal spaceflight. Boeing Announces Successful On-Orbit Handover Of XM-4 Satellite 
St. Louis MO (SPX) Dec 20, 2006Boeing has announced the on-orbit handover of the XM-4 satellite to XM Satellite Radio. The successful transfer of the Boeing 702 satellite to XM Satellite Radio follows 44 days of on-orbit testing to ensure the spacecraft is operational. Launched on Oct. 30, the fourth Boeing-built satellite for XM Satellite Radio joins its sister satellite, XM-3, to complete the "Rhythm" and "Blues" satellite duo. Unlocking The Frozen Secrets Of Comet Wild 2 
Washington DC (SPX) Dec 20, 2006Eleven months ago, NASA's Stardust mission touched down in the Utah desert with the first solid comet samples ever retrieved from space. Since then, nearly 200 scientists from around the globe have studied the minuscule grains, looking for clues to the physical and chemical history of our solar system. |
Spacewalk Completes Solar Array Retraction
Houston TX (SPX) Dec 19, 2006During a spacewalk lasting over six and a half hours, ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang and NASA's Robert Curbeam successfully freed the International Space Station's jammed P6 solar array allowing it to fully retract. Standing on the end of the Station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, Curbeam used tape-insulated tools to pull on the array's guide wires, whilst Fuglesang shook the panel several times. Gradually the solar array was fully retracted into its rectangular blanket box. STEREO Sends Back First Solar Images 
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Dec 20, 2006NASA's twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories (STEREO) sent back their first images of the sun this week and with them a view into the sun's mounting activity. One image shows the first coronal mass ejection (CME) observed by STEREO's Ahead spacecraft, taken Dec. 9. The other two images show the sun's super-hot atmosphere. 6th SOPS Delivers Critical Weather Data To Warfighters 
Schriever AFB CO (AFPN) Dec 20, 2006The motto, "Get data or die" holds special significance for the 6th Space Operations Squadron, an Air Force Reserve Command unit here whose Airmen must deliver data to their customers within 10 minutes of downloading it from their satellites. The squadron's data transforms weather from a force of nature warfighters must endure into a force they can use to their advantage. |
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