太空探索工程 卫星发射 剪报评论

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071203/17/pa49.html

從太空傳回月球表面的照片，總是一個洞一個洞的，這麼多的窟窿，光是直徑超過1公里的大窟窿就有50萬多個，但是為什麼月球的表面會有那麼多的窟窿？科學家甚至認為月球的窟窿裡，就是水的藏身之處。


如果有人問月球上到底有幾個窟窿？答案是「無限多」，而最大的窟窿位於月球的南極，直徑有2240公里，深度有13公里，同時也是太陽系裡頭最大的窟窿。


據統計，月球平均每一個星期都會有至少4個窟窿形成，直徑超過1公里以上的大窟窿，就有超過50萬個。至於月球上的窟窿到底是如何形成的？科學家的研究顯示，這些窟窿都是隕石和彗星撞擊月球表面後產生的，但是隕石也會撞地球，為什麼偏偏月球的窟窿會這麼多？這是因為月球沒有大氣層，因此隕石都不會被大氣層燃燒掉。


除了隕石和彗星以外，也有少數科學家認為，月球的地底也有火山，火山在排放熱氣時就留下了窟窿。


事實上，月球不是唯一充滿窟窿的，太陽系中最接近太陽的星球水星，也是充滿了大大小小的窟窿，而它和月球一樣沒有大氣層，也解釋了為什麼水星會有那麼多的窟窿。


對科學家而言，月球上的窟窿有極高的研究價值，這是因為月球北極的窟窿是陽光完全照不到的。有科學家認為，黑暗之處就是水的所在地，不過月球上究竟有沒有水？還需要更高倍數的攝影機才能得知。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071203/1/p9sl.html

中國大陸第一個火星探測器「熒火一號」，將訂2009年10月，搭乘俄羅斯的火箭升空。


「熒火一號」預計2010年9月抵達火星，並向地球傳回火星照片。 據大陸媒體報導，目前火星探測器初樣正在接受一系列試驗，計劃明年五月與俄羅斯進行機、電、熱等介面的整合對接。


火星和地球的最近距離五千六百七十萬公里，最遠距離達四億公里。按照計劃，「熒火一號」的火星之旅歷時十一個月，共需走完三億五千萬公里的路程，這是探月衛星「嫦娥一號」飛行路程的好幾百倍。


中國這枚火星探測器，將在距火星八百到八萬公里的火星軌道上運行，進行為期一年的科學探測，它所搭載的七台儀器將探測火星空間磁場、表面離子逃逸率、地形地貌與沙塵暴、赤道區重力場等項目，並將傳回火星照片。

報導說，火星和地球間距離遙遠，一個指令信號從地球到衛星來回就需要四十多分鐘，這對大陸遠距離測控技術是一項新的挑戰。

pfg1group

http://realtime.zaobao.com/2007/12/071204_27.html

（综合讯）中国国防科工委副主任陈求发表示，大陆愿意支援台湾以和平应用为目的发展航太技术，并将按国家相关对台政策考虑合作事宜。

　　中国绕月探测总指挥栾恩杰也表示，绕月探测工程是国家重大科技工程，希望通过重大航太工程的实施，为中国空间科学研究和探测技术研发搭建一个高层次的合作平台。大陆邀请全国各地相关科研院所和高校相关专业的专家，组织成立工程科学应用专家委员会，其中包括8名香港、澳门的科学家。

　　栾恩杰表示，希望台湾科技界的学者和专家可参加祖国的航太活动。国家航太局也正式宣布过，欢迎台湾的科技界踊跃参与活动。但至今没有得到任何回话。

　　陈求发表示，支援台湾地区以和平应用为目的发展航太技术，改善台湾人民生活，发展经济，促进科技创新。大陆欢迎合作，未来将按国家的相关对台政策考虑相关事宜。

superDog

原帖由 pfg1group 于 4-12-2007 03:23 AM 发表
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071203/1/p9sl.html

中國大陸第一個火星探測器「熒火一號」，將訂2009年10月，搭乘俄羅斯的火箭升空。
「熒火一號」預計2010年9月抵達火星，並向地球傳回火星 ...

2009年中国与俄罗斯的火星探测 发表于 9-11-2007
http://chinese4.cari.com.my/myforum/viewthread.php?tid=1030117&page=1#pid35252015

pfg1group

http://realtime.zaobao.com/2007/12/071205_25.html

（综合讯）此前曾有媒体报道，在美国的压力下，印度被迫搁置了“TechSar”间谍卫星的发射工作，但印度空间研究组织(ISRO)最近驳斥了这种说法。

　　印度媒体月4日报道，据当时媒体的报道，合成孔径雷达成像间谍卫星TechSa已经安装到极地轨道卫星运载火箭(PSLV)上，在发射前的最后一刻，华盛顿的干预让此次发射流产。此次，印度空间研究组织官员说，上述说法并不属实，但并没有对此事做出更详细的说明，只是说，间谍卫星将在不久后发射。

　　TechSar间谍卫星由以色列研制，是以色列最新一代军用间谍卫星，是真正的全气候、全天候间谍卫星，具有在昼夜和各种气候条件下呈现重点地区图像的能力。

　　该间谍卫星将由印度空间研究组织有偿发射，获取的情报资料可与印度共享。

　　如果这颗卫星按预定时间发射，对印度和以色列来说都将是首次。一旦部署，将使地面目标暴露无遗，核设施也不例外。此前印度的遥感卫星和侦察机拍摄的图像模糊不清，无法识别地面水平移动的目标，印控克什米尔的卡吉尔地区的武装人员，可以利用高山作为掩护，“入侵”印度并构筑据点。

pfg1group

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/dec/5/today-int5.htm

科學家與環保人士長期提倡用太陽能作為家庭照明替代能源，但美國國防部現在別出心裁，構思到太空收集與儲存太陽能，然後回傳地球。在油價飆高、中東動亂威脅石油出口下，支持太空太陽能理念的人相信它對美國國家安全的重要性也與日俱增。

聯合國氣候變遷會議三日在印尼峇里島揭幕，期盼在最短時間內訂定新版對抗氣候變遷公約。值此環保盛事之際，美國國防部旗下的國家安全太空辦公室（ＮＳＳＯ），也正默默思索如何善用太空中取之不盡的太陽能。

ＮＳＳＯ在十月十日發表的一份研究報告中，建議國會在未來十年斥資一百億美元興建測試用的衛星。報告說，伊拉克的汽油昂貴，形勢險惡，護送運油車隊折損不少美軍。有了太空太陽能，美軍基地不費吹灰之力就能坐享電力補給。此外，太空太陽能也可支援偏遠地區的人道救援或維和任務，對那些因天災斷電的地區也能施予援手。

目前只是紙上談兵

太空太陽能系統若要成功，必須先打造綿延數公里的太陽能面板陣列，使其在太空中漂浮，同時傳輸太陽能給衛星。衛星再用雷射或微波將能源回傳給地球。地球上的天線會收集太陽能，並轉換成電力。不論是衛星零件或面板，都需要可重複使用的發射載具送上太空組裝，因此倘若缺乏可頻繁使用的太空交通工具，太空太陽能計畫將淪紙上談兵。

國家太空協會資深副會長霍普金斯說：「隨著美國現在決定因應未來五十年的能源挑戰，太空太陽能必然不會缺席。」該機構一直敦促美國政府加強贊助此一提案，也呼籲私人企業開始研究此一構想實現所需要的技術。然而，業者是否願意投入研究仍有待觀察，因為就算克服建置衛星與發射載具的技術問題，業者也要等數年甚至數十年後才可能獲利。

美國在一九六○年代晚期首度思索靠太空陣列製造太陽能，但後來因缺乏太空飛航技術，而且造價不菲，所以作罷。

（取材自德通社）

pfg1group

http://www.zaobao.com/zg/zg071207_506.html

● 于泽远（北京）
　　中国自行研制的北斗卫星导航系统已具备区域导航能力，明年将首先应用于北京奥运会。

　　据《新闻晨报》报道，中国卫星导航工程中心副主任冉承其说，北斗卫星导航系统已拥有5颗导航卫星，2008年前还将发射一些卫星。这个系统明年将为北京奥运会的交通调度或场馆监控服务。

　　中国北斗导航系统计划由五颗静止轨道卫星和30颗非静止轨道卫星组成。系统将为用户提供开放服务和授权服务。开放服务是在服务区免费提供定位、测速和授时服务，定位精度为10米，测速精度0.2米／秒。授权服务是向授权用户提供更安全的定位、测速、授时和通信服务以及系统完好性信息。

　　北斗导航系统将是继美国的GPS（全球定位系统）、俄罗斯的“格罗纳斯”系统（GLONASS）和欧洲的伽利略系统（Galileo）之后，世界上第四个全球卫星定位系统。

　　中国1994年正式开始研制自主的卫星导航系统，2003年建立起北斗导航试验系统。目前北斗试验系统已经能为中国及其周边地区发挥定位、授时、报文等功能，并在交通运输、渔业、勘探、森林防火等民用领域使用。中国将在2010年前完善北斗导航试验系统，进行全球系统组网和试验工作，逐步把北斗扩展为全球卫星导航系统。同时，推动卫星导航系统在空中交通管理、城市智能交通和通信等领域的应用。

　　北斗卫星导航系统明年将为北京奥运会的交通调度或场馆监控服务。届时，系统将把自身具备的监控功能和北京交通部门所提供的交通拥堵情况进行叠加，使驾驶者不仅能知道哪条路线距离最短，还能结合道路的实时情况，寻找到一条用时最短的线路。

　　北京有关分析人士认为，除经济价值外，北斗导航系统也具有重要的军事价值，它将使中国摆脱对美国GPS导航系统的依赖，极大提高中国在军事侦察和精确打击等方面的能力。

　　按照规划，北斗卫星导航系统将具有报文通信能力和抗干扰能力，并能向全球扩展。有关学者指出，北斗导航系统建成后将具备在任何时间、任何地点为用户确定其所在的地理经纬度和海拔高度的能力，在定位性能上也有创新，定位精度将超过目前美国的GPS系统。

pfg1group

http://realtime.zaobao.com/2007/12/071207_10.html





　　（综合讯）美国太空总署周四宣布，由于发现穿梭机“亚特兰蒂斯”号的燃料缸有两个感应器故障，因此取消原定周五的升空。

　　法新社报道，太空总署现会尝试让“亚特兰蒂斯”号在周六升空。

-------------------------------------------------------------
Technical glitch delays US shuttle launch
http://www.space-travel.com/repo ... tle_launch_999.html

by Staff Writers
Cape Canaveral, Florida (AFP) Dec 6, 2007
NASA on Thursday postponed the planned launch of the space shuttle Atlantis for at least a day due to a technical glitch, just hours before it was due to blast off.
"The launch is scrubbed for at least 24 hours," a NASA spokesman said.

The problem, which came to light before the craft was due to take off for an 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), concerned two of the four gauges on the shuttle's external fuel tanks.

The two gauges were showing that the fuel tank was empty when in fact it was almost full. A similar problem with the gauges occurred in July 2005, delaying a launch of the Discovery shuttle for a week.

NASA was confident it could resolve the problem.

"We keep all our options open" for a launch Friday, said Doug Lyons, a member of the mission management team.

"The team remains in good spirits and we are really confident that we can work our way through this. We still have hope and reasons to believe that we will get off in December and again we are confident we'll get there," Lyons said.

NASA last month said the Atlantis mission to the ISS could be rescheduled during an eight-day period ending on December 13.

Atlantis will ferry a seven-strong crew including Frenchman Leopold Eyharts and German Hans Schlegel to the ISS and will also deliver a European laboratory to be installed on the space station.

Eyharts will stay behind on the ISS for two and a half months to prepare the European Columbus laboratory for future scientific work, while Schlegel will carry out two of three spacewalks planned for the Atlantis mission.

He will be accompanied by US astronaut Rex Walheim, who will help Schlegel attach the Columbus laboratory to the Harmony module, which was delivered to the ISS during the shuttle Discovery's 15-day mission that ended November 7.

Schlegel said his mission will mark "a tremendous step" for Europe. "We are becoming a more important partner for the international spaceflight community."

With Columbus, Europe hopes to become an integral part of the only functioning orbital outpost, where scientific experiments with microgravity are considered essential to prepare humans for long-term living and working in space and subsequent journeys towards Mars and beyond.

Columbus will allow astronauts to conduct hundreds of experiments a year, notably in areas of biotechnology, medicine, materials and fluids.

The Japanese laboratory Kibo, the fourth planned component of the ISS which is to be the largest and most sophisticated of all, should be delivered in three shuttle flights beginning in February 2008. It will also be attached to the Harmony module.

During the third spacewalk of the Atlantis mission, Walheim and Stanley Coils will set up two research platforms outside of Columbus: SOLAR, a solar observatory and EuTEF (European Technology Exposure Facility), which will help conduct eight different research experiments aimed at studies of life in space.

Designed to be carried in the hold of the shuttle, the European laboratory is cylindrical, 6.87 meters (yards) long and 4.49 meters in diameter. Columbus weighs more than 10 tons when empty and 19 tons fully loaded.

It can accommodate up to three people and carry 10 research equipment units.

Construction of the space laboratory, which cost 1.3 billion euros, began in 1992.

Initially it was planned that Columbus would be flown to the ISS at the end of 2004, but the disastrous fatal accident of the shuttle Columbia in February 2003 resulted in the grounding of the three remaining shuttle orbiters for two years, which in turn delayed the Columbus launch.

Columbus will be controlled from a German space operations center near Munich.

Germany is by far the biggest contributor to the project, financing 41 percent of the total cost. Italy contributed 23 percent and France 18 percent.

In all, 10 European countries participate in the program.

NASA said a fourth space walk could be added to the Atlantis mission to inspect a faltering mechanism in one of three solar panels serving the ISS station, which would extend the shuttle's stay in orbit.

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071211/19/pr1o.html

（法新社華盛頓十日電） 美國官員今天表示，雖然經費還沒著落，不過，美國國家航空暨太空總署正朝著重返月球的目標邁進，預定二零二零年前人類再登月球，並且在月球上設置前哨站，作為通往火星的跳板。


太空總署一年前曾經宣布具有遠大企圖的計畫，將在月球南極上建立太陽能發電、有人駐守的前哨站。一年後的今天，太空總署官員吉布瑞契在華府告訴記者說，「我們的工作是：要在月球上建立城鎮，最終在火星上留下太空船的輪胎痕跡。」


太空總署「星座計畫」主管韓利表示，「我們已經有國際太空站了，也將建立月球前哨站，當然，總有一天，人類會登上火星。」星座計畫主要負責發展人類登陸月球的交通工具。


目前任職太空總署探險系統任務理事會的太空飛行老兵華茲表示，「三十五年前的這一週，太空人塞南、艾萬斯與施密特正站在月球上。我們目前正努力工作，希望將未來一代的太空人再度送上月球」。


吉布瑞契表示，雖然預算限制，但太空總署希望星座任務能夠在二零一六年以前全面運作。


他說，「我們希望國會能夠通過預算。」他指出，支持總署的太空計畫，花費納稅人的錢並不多，在每一美元的納稅錢中，只有零點六美分是花在太空計畫上。


「這項預算案能夠實現總統的願景─在二零二零年，人類再登月球。」


人類登陸月球任務已睽違數十年久，布希總統於二零零四年宣布重返月球新計畫。


韓利表示，「我們將分階段執行重返月球計畫。」


他說，第一階段有關於建構完成國際太空站後，太空梭將在二零一零年除役。


「接下來重點是，建造新的太空梭，也即新星座計畫的獵戶號與阿瑞士號。」


韓利指出，「我們已經有了基礎開始，很快地，就可以有大系統興建工程，包括建造阿瑞士V型火箭、月球登陸船，以及在月球地表興建工作站系統。」他再度強調，太空總署目前正面臨預算的困境。

pfg1group

atlas 火箭使用苏联RD-180发动机。
在鼻维跌落后就停止报告火箭动静，
使到人们不知道火箭去处和卫星高度。
火箭飞向北部。
一般相信轨道最近500里，最远25，000里，倾斜度63度。
取代titan 4通讯卫星。

atlas 火箭第12次飞行，今年内第4次发射。

http://www.space.com/missionlaun ... s5-launch-wrap.html



Atlas 5 Rocket Orbits Classified U.S. Satellite
By Justin Ray


posted: 11 December 2007
6:21 p.m. ET

Its thunderous departure out of Cape Canaveral on Monday afternoon was hard to miss, but the hush-hush ascent of the Atlas 5 rocket was wrapped in an unusual cloak of secrecy as the booster propelled high above Earth a classified spacecraft designed to communicate with spy satellites.

Under orders from the launch's customer -- the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office -- the rocket flight entered a news blackout shortly after its 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT) liftoff from Complex 41.

The NRO is the government agency responsible for the nation's fleet of spy satellites. It has carried out many launches in recent years, yet none were as secretive as Monday's flight.

After an apparent smooth countdown, the rocket's Russian-designed RD-180 main engine roared to ignition to boost the 19-story Atlas skyward on nearly a million pounds of thrust.

Cloud-free skies offered spectators a clear view of the flickering golden flame as the rocket maneuvered itself on a northeasterly path that would take it right up the Eastern Seaboard.

The bronze first stage fired for four minutes before shutting down and separating, leaving the hydrogen-fueled Centaur upper stage to light its RL10 engine and continue the push to orbit. Shortly after the ignition, the no-longer-needed nose cone shrouding the payload was jettisoned.

That was when updates on the rocket's trek fell silent. Live reports on the vehicle's health and progress ceased, preventing any real-time confirmation of key events such as the Centaur completing its engine burns and deployment of the payload. Typically, such information had flowed freely for NRO launches just like other NASA, military and commercial rocket flights. But not this time.

About two hours after the liftoff, rocket-maker United Launch Alliance issued a press release saying the launch had ended successfully.

"ULA is proud to have played a critical role for this important NRO mission, ensuring that our nation has the technology and spaceborne assets needed to acquire intelligence worldwide," said Jim Sponnick, United Launch Alliance vice president of Atlas programs said in the post-launch news release.

"Close teamwork with the NRO Office of Space Launch, the U.S. Air Force Launch and Range Systems Wing and the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral made today's successful mission possible."

Nearly the same time as the press release was being received, the spent Centaur upper stage was completing its first orbit. The rocket body was dumping residual propellant overboard, creating a stunningly bright fan-shaped cloud visible above eastern North America, with sighting reports from Louisiana to Canada. For those in the Cape Canaveral area gazing into the nighttime sky, it was a special treat after witnessing the spectacular liftoff just two hours earlier.

Following the tradition of NRO launches on Atlas rockets, the mission was given a name -- Scorpius. The mission logo was displayed on the rocket's nose cone featuring a scorpion, a saying translated to "Beware Our Sting" and satellites flying in different types of orbits around Earth.

The rocket flew into a highly inclined, highly elliptical orbit, dispatching a satellite that's destined for a Molniya-style orbit stretching from about 500 miles to 25,000 miles at an inclination of 63 degrees. Most space experts agree the payload was a data relay satellite that will be used to route information from polar-orbiting photo reconnaissance spacecraft to ground receivers.

Sky-watchers say the government has relay satellite networks flying the highly elliptical orbits as well as geosynchronous orbit around the planet's equator.

Early versions of these relay craft were launched starting in the mid-1970s, followed by a second-generation of satellites that were carried aloft on space shuttle missions in 1989, 1990 and 1992 and a Titan 4 rocket in 1996.

Atlas rockets deployed more-recent craft for the Satellite Data System program toward a Molniya-style orbit in January 1998 and August 2004, and toward a geosynchronous orbit in December 2000 and October 2001.

Monday's ascent took a northeast trajectory off the launch pad similar to the earlier Atlas missions bound for a Molniya orbit, and experts say the liftoff appeared timed to intercept the orbit occupied by the aging satellite lofted by the Titan a dozen years ago.

It was the 12th flight for an Atlas 5 rocket and the fourth this year.

Launch photos can be seen here.

Next up will be February's maiden launch from the rocket's West Coast pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California carrying another NRO payload. The next liftoff from the Cape is targeted for March to haul the commercial ICO mobile communications satellite into space.

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071212/1/pt76.html

在最近一波探月熱潮聲中，美國太空總署也宣布，將進行新的探月計劃，計畫目標是探測月球的內部結構和演化歷史。


新的探月計畫名稱是「重力恢復和內部實驗室」。太空總署說，整個項目估計耗資3億7千5百萬美元，這一計畫的探測器，預計在2011年發射升空。


美國的新探月計畫項目，採用雙子衛星探測器系統，兩顆衛星與探測器脫離後，將一前一後結伴在繞月軌道上飛行幾個月，他們強調，會以「前所未有的精細度」探測月球。

pfg1group

http://www.zaobao.com/special/ne ... ngkong071216c.shtml

（联合早报网讯）香港文汇报报道，中国首颗探月卫星“嫦娥一号”成功进行科学探测，“嫦娥”未来将如何谢幕是外界关注焦点。官方权威人士透露，对于“嫦娥一号”的未来，大体可分成两种思路。一是“嫦娥”完成既定探测目标后，从距月球200公里轨道转为100公里、50公里轨道进行更细致探测，最后进行主动撞月以分析月表成份。二是“嫦娥”离开月球轨道，飞向更远的太空，对银河系其他行星进行探测。

　　中国航天界普遍认为，嫦娥一号卫星在发射、变轨、测控、探测、传送数据等各个方面均表现良好，“非常完美”是专家们对嫦娥一号的评语。

　　轨道修正仅实施1次

　　据透露，嫦娥一号顺利升空，状态良好超出预期，绕地飞行原计划进行的3次轨道修正仅实施1次，节省的大量燃料能令卫星飞行时间延长两年。卫星承载的科学仪器同样表现优异，嫦娥一号很可能在预定时间之前完成科学探测目标。

　　主动撞月为另一种可能

　　中国航天科技集团公司下513所所长宋黎定日前透露，嫦娥一号完成任务后，若能源储存足够，即太阳能帆板状态始终保持良好，可能飞得更远，或将开展火星之旅，或将转移轨道在月球、地球、火星、太阳四个星球中飞行。

　　此间权威人士并未否认这一说法，但他表示，嫦娥一号飞向遥远的火星，是否有充足的燃料支持是最大问题。从目前中国科技能力看，控制卫星从月球轨道飞往其他行星并非难事。至于届时嫦娥是否将围绕月球、地球、火星、太阳轨道飞行，这需要日后观察才可决定。

　　嫦娥一号另外的谢幕方式，就是外界较熟悉的主动撞月。权威人士表示，完成探测任务后，嫦娥可能转换环月轨道。可以从200公里环月轨道转换为100公里、50公里轨道，对月球进行更细致的探测，随后再进行撞月。他认为，这也是探测月球土壤很好的方式之一。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071218/1/q4yg.html



日本三菱重工業公司，承接了未來日本火箭發射的任務，他們將在明年二月發射火箭，將一枚超高速網絡實驗衛星「紐帶」送上太空。

三菱重工在愛知縣飛島村的工廠內，公開了明年2月要發射的這枚火箭，它直徑約四公尺，第一段長約30公尺，第二段長約20公尺。火箭機體將被運往種子島發射基地，進行組裝並搭載「紐帶號」衛星。

「紐帶」號將進行實驗，以便今後能在無法使用高速網絡的山區和離島等地，利用衛星線路來實現網絡連接的效果。

pfg1group

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap-071217-brazil-launch.html

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Brazil and Argentina successfully launched a rocket into space on Sunday in the first joint space mission by the two South American nations.

The VS30 rocket, which carried experiments from both countries, blasted off from Brazil's Barreira do Inferno launch center in northern Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil's Space Agency said in a statement.

The rocket reached an altitude of 75 miles and its journey -- which lasted 9 minutes, 25 seconds -- was considered "perfect," the agency said.

Liftoff was delayed several times since Wednesday by bad weather.

The mission was the fruit of a 1998 accord between space agencies in Brazil, which has launched rockets into space before, and Argentina, which has relied on other nations to send up satellites.

pfg1group

http://www.spacedaily.com/2006/071209190516.cs959kdz.html

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, Dec 9 (AFP) Dec 09, 2007
NASA Sunday postponed its launch of the shuttle Atlantis until early 2008 after technical problems scuppered the planned delivery of a European laboratory to the International Space Station.

The launch was scrubbed for a fourth time in the early hours after NASA engineers discovered that one of the sensors on the spacecraft's external hydrogen fuel tank had failed.

"The mission management team has decided to postpone the launch until January 2 at the earliest," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said.

The Atlantis crew of seven was preparing for an 11-day mission to fly Europe's Columbus laboratory to the space station, orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth.

They had not yet entered the shuttle before the launch was called off, and will now return to NASA headquarters in Houston later Sunday, the agency said.

"We were ready to fly, but understand that these types of technical challenges are part of the space program," a crew statement said.

"We hope everyone gets some well-deserved rest, and we will be back to try again when the vehicle is ready to fly."

Atlantis's launch had already been postponed from Thursday, after two of the sensors gave false readings during fueling. Under NASA rules, all four sensors have to be working properly for the launch to proceed.

If the sensors on the external tank register low fuel, they shut down the main engines on the shuttle itself, and NASA bosses said technicians need more time to find out what was causing the faulty readings.

The crew included two European Space Agency astronauts -- Hans Schlegel of Germany and Frenchman Leopold Eyharts. Eyharts was scheduled to stay on the ISS for two and a half months to prepare Columbus for future scientific work.

Until now, only the United States and Russia have had their own laboratories at the ISS.

With Columbus, Europe hopes to become an integral part of the only functioning orbital outpost, whose experiments with gravity are considered essential to prepare humans for long-term life and work in space, and journeys to Mars and beyond.

The Japanese laboratory Kibo, the fourth planned component of the ISS which is to be the largest and most sophisticated of all, is meant to be delivered in stages over subsequent shuttle flights.

The first of the Kibo flights is scheduled for around February 14, on the Endeavour shuttle, and a second is due in April on the Discovery craft. Other shuttle flights are scheduled for August and September.

Bill Gerstenmeyer, NASA's associate director for space operations, played down the impact of the lengthy Atlantis delay on next year's shuttle launches, some of the last before the fleet's scheduled retirement in 2010.

"We are all a little bit disappointed we did not to get to see a launch today," Gerstenmeyer told a news conference.

But he added: "If you look at what this means moving into January from the big-picture standpoint, it's not that big an impact to us overall, it won't impact the next mission, the February flight."

Initially it was planned that Columbus would be flown to the ISS at the end of 2004.

But the tragic end of the shuttle Columbia in February 2003 grounded the three remaining shuttle orbiters for two years, which in turn delayed the laboratory's launch.

Columbus will be controlled from the German Aerospace Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, close to Munich. In all, 10 European countries are participating in the program with Germany by far the biggest contributor.

The laboratory will allow astronauts to conduct hundreds of experiments a year, notably in areas of biotechnology, medicine, materials and fluids.

pfg1group

http://www.chinapress.com.my/con ... mp;art=1222mc52.txt

（吉隆坡21日訊）隨著大馬首位太空人升上太空后，未來幾年，大馬將發射自製的火箭，發射火箭基地已鑑定位于沙巴東海岸地區。
國家宇航公司總執行長拿督阿末沙比林說，沙巴斗湖附近地區，將是火箭發射基地。

“該地區附近擁有很多支援宇航業發展的工業。”

“我們已鑑定確實地點，但目前不能公佈，避免有人投機炒作地皮牟利。”

他說，除了沙巴東部，政府也鑑定登嘉樓州靠海地區，為火箭發射基地。

他強調，火箭發射基地一定要靠海，避免一些不可預測的意外事故。

pfg1group

新的洛马制造导航卫星升空。
最低点100里，最高10，000里，斜角40度。

升空火箭为delta 2.
升空68分钟后箭星分离。

升空数天后斜角将会增加至55度，数星期后将可以开始服务。
这颗卫星(GPS 2A24)将会取代1993年发射的(GPS 2A20),原本设计年龄为7年。
The new civilian signal removes navigation errors caused by the Earth's ionosphere. The military advancements will provide an enhanced jam-resistant signal and enable more-precise targeting of GPS-guided weapons in hostile environments.

今年DELTA火箭总共发射9次，包括商货和军事卫星，完全没有错误。
其中三次发射工作在过去64天进行。

http://www.space.com/missionlaun ... -delta2-launch.html
A productive year for the Delta rocket program that launched spacecraft to observe Earth, dig up frozen water on Mars and explore uncharted worlds in the asteroid belt was capped with a successful ascent of a modernized GPS navigation satellite on Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral.

The year's finale began at 3:04 p.m. EST (2004 GMT) as the Delta 2 booster darted away from pad 17A carrying the newest craft for the Global Positioning System.

The three-stage launcher propelled the 4,500-pound satellite into a highly elliptical orbit reaching about 11,000 miles at the high point, 100 miles at the lowest and inclined 40 degrees to the equator. The Lockheed Martin-made satellite was released from the spent rocket 68 minutes after liftoff.

"The Delta 2 and GPS team did great work throughout this launch campaign," said Col. James Planeaux, Air Force mission director for the launch and commander of the Delta Group. "I'm thrilled to see those long hours and dedication to the mission rewarded with a pinpoint orbit insertion for GPS 2R-18."

A solid-propellant kick motor on the satellite itself will fire in a few days to circularize its orbit at 11,000 miles and increase the inclination to 55 degrees where the GPS constellation flies. The craft should be ready to enter service within a couple of weeks.

"The successful deployment of this high-performance satellite represents another important milestone in the modernization of the GPS constellation and reflects our commitment to achieving mission success for our customer," said Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Navigation Systems. "Our team is now focused on performing a rapid and efficient on-orbit checkout to quickly place the satellite's advanced navigational capabilities into operational service."

Controllers will maneuver the $75 million craft into the Plane C, Slot 1 position of the constellation to take the place of GPS 2A-24. That satellite then moves into another role replacing the ailing GPS 2A-20 satellite, which was launched in May 1993 and has long outlived its seven-year design life.

The orbiting network emits continuous navigation signals that allow users to find their position in latitude, longitude and altitude and determine time.

The GPS 2R-18 spacecraft is the fifth in a series of eight with enhanced features designed to rejuvenate the GPS constellation.

"Today's launch moves us another step closer to modernizing the vital GPS constellation, which provides combat effects our warfighters depend on," said Brig. Gen. Susan Helms, commander of the Cape's 45th Space Wing.

The modernized satellites transmit additional signals and feature improvements aimed at greater accuracy, tougher resistance to interference and better performance for users around the world.

The new civilian signal removes navigation errors caused by the Earth's ionosphere. The military advancements will provide an enhanced jam-resistant signal and enable more-precise targeting of GPS-guided weapons in hostile environments.

"We have the most robust and capable Global Positioning System in the history of space, and we are focused on delivering world-class space-based positioning, navigation and timing capabilities for our military and civil communities. Thanks to the men and women of the 45th and 50th Space Wings, our industry partners and the Delta 2 and (GPS) 2R launch teams, the success of today's launch was possible due to their dedication and hard work," said Col. David Madden, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center's Global Positioning Systems Wing.

Nine Delta rockets soared to space in 2007, all delivering their NASA, U.S. military and commercial cargos without fault.

"This launch wraps up a high-tempo year of delivering space capability to our nation, including three Delta launches from Cape Canaveral in the last 64 days. It's a great year-end exclamation point for the Launch and Range Systems Wing, the United Launch Alliance, and all of our mission teammates," said Planeaux.

pfg1group

亚利安火箭星期五发射两枚卫星。
一枚为日美卫星，另外一枚为非洲提供通讯服务的卫星。

这次的第六次发射为亚利安火箭发射最多的一年，有关当局希望明年可以达7，8次。

Ariane 5 Rocket Makes Record Sixth Launch in a Year
http://www.space.com/missionlaun ... -rocket-launch.html

KOUROU, French Guiana -- Europe's Ariane 5 rocket on Friday successfully launched telecommunications satellites for a U.S.-Japanese joint venture and a startup company that will offer telephone and Internet service throughout Africa after a decade-long struggle for financing.

The launch, from the Guiana Space Center here, was the sixth Ariane 5 liftoff this year for Europe's Arianespace commercial-launch consortium, a calendar-year record the company hopes to surpass in 2008 with seven or eight Ariane 5 liftoffs.

The Friday launch carried into orbit the Horizons-2 satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., for a joint venture of Intelsat of Washington and JSAT Corp. of Tokyo. Horizons-2, the second satellite for the joint venture, will be placed at 74 degrees west longitude. For Intelsat, Horizons-2 will replace the SBS-6 spacecraft, which is being retired after 17 years in orbit. Horizons-2 weighed 2,304 kilograms at launch and is expected to operate its 20 Ku-band transponders for 15-17 years.

Intelsat and JSAT will use the satellite for telecommunications services thoughout the continental United States, the Caribbean and parts of Canada. The satellite was already 40 percent booked before launch, according to Intelsat officials.

Also placed into geostationary transfer orbit was the Rascom-QAF1 satellite, for the RascomStar-QAF company registered in Port Louis, Mauritius. Rascom's shareholders are 45 African nations, led by Libya, which have invested in Rascom as a way of reducing their dependence on non-African satellite suppliers.

Passing through various configurations and ownership structures, Rascom has been trying for more than a decade to assemble the program. With the entry of Libya Africa Investment Portfolio, a Libyan investment fund, and the Libyan General Post and Telecommunications Co., and later by three African development banks, the $370 million package was secured.

Rascom-QAF1, built by Thales Alenia Space of France and Italy -- which is a shareholder in Rascom -- carries eight C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders. It will operate from 2.85 degrees east longitude, an orbital slot made available to RascomStar-QAF -- QAF stands for Qamar Afrikir, or African moon -- by the government of the Ivory Coast.

Rascom's other mission is to provide telecommunications links to up to 130,000 rural telephone cabins. RascomStar-QAF expects to purchase the first 15,000 of these terminals in a contract expected to be signed with a terminal manufacturer to be selected by March. Once the design has proven itself, RascomStar-QAF expects that African telecommunications companies will purchase and deploy the cabins on their own.

RascomStar-QAF officials say the goal is to be able to offer these terminals for about $1,200 apiece, including a small solar panel to provide electricity, once the research and design costs have been amortized by the first RascomStar-QAF-financed 15,000 units.



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Ariane 5 rockets puts Africa's first satellite into space
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Ariane_5_rockets_puts_Africas_first_satellite_into_space_999.html

An Ariane 5 rocket blasted off here on Friday to put into orbit the first African telecommunications satellite as well as another made by a US-Japanese joint venture, Arianespace said.

The rocket, the 36th launch of an Ariane 5 and the sixth this year, lifted off at 2142 GMT and successfully placed the satellites for the pan-African operator RascomStar-QAF and US-Japanese Horizons 2 Satellite LLC.  The pan-African satellite, weighing 3.2 tonnes, is the first from the continent to be put into space. Several African dignitaries witnessed the launch but Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, who was expected, was a no show.  The Horizons-2 satellite, weighing 2.3 tonnes, was manufactured by Satellite LLC, a joint venture between Intelsat of the US and Japanese firm JSAT.

[ 本帖最后由 pfg1group 于 22-12-2007 08:45 PM 编辑 ]

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/071224/58/qh93.html

農委會從2004年建構台灣農地資訊系統(TALIS)網站，經過3年的重整，並在去年結合台灣福衛二號後，讓各領域的人員，包括研究單位、或是農政機關，甚至是一般對農地有需求的民眾，都能更加輕易掌握土地現況，25日將舉辦首次的成果發表會，宣示台灣農地資訊系統邁向另一個里程碑。

住在台北，但對宜蘭三星鄉很嚮往，想買一塊農地，自住又可自種農作物，但卻又人生地不熟，不知從何下手，台灣農地資訊系統(TALIS)卻可幫你解決這個問題。只要上了網站，定位你想蒐尋的範圍，包括農地重劃、土壤性質，甚至是氣候交通，都可一目瞭然，解決你的困擾。農委會更在去年結合台灣福衛二號後，讓使用者可以快速瞭解不同年期農地的變更情況。企劃處農地利用科技正蔡秀婉說:『影像資訊從2005年開始蒐集，每年就整理一次，蒐集一次，目前有2005到2006年的資訊，可以查詢一些歷年的系統，衛星影像有一些變異的分析。』

農委會這2年推廣「漂鳥計畫」和「園丁計畫」，除鼓勵青壯年高知識分子「從農」，也希望中壯年能以多年的工作經驗回歸農業，農委會建置的台灣農地資訊系統，結合航照圖和衛星影像，完整提供農地資訊的平台，由於結合內政部國土資訊系統，以及農委會林務局在農地的管理資訊，讓這些想「從農」或是「回農」，甚至是一般研究人員，都可在進入網站後，尋找所需要的農地資訊。

農委會指出，查詢農地資訊後，使用者會有進一步的買賣需求，雖然目前有農地銀行輔助，但未來也將結合農地銀行的資訊，讓需求者在同一個網址就能掌握相關的買賣資訊。

pfg1group

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newsce ... content_7250048.htm

阿麗亞娜空間公司將為西班牙發射通信衛星

2007年12月14日 17:58:53 　來源：新華網


新華網巴黎１２月１３日電（記者張之簡）歐洲阿麗亞娜空間公司１３日宣布，該公司已與西班牙衛星公司簽署合同，將於２００９年夏為其發射一顆通信衛星，這是阿麗亞娜空間公司今年簽署的第１３份合同。

這顆衛星名為“亞馬孫２”號，重達５．４噸，是西班牙衛星公司於２００７年６月向歐洲阿斯特裡姆公司訂購的。它將由一枚阿麗亞娜－５型大推力火箭自法屬圭亞那庫魯航天中心發射，並在太空服役１５年，為巴西及南北美洲地區提供通信服務。

阿麗亞娜空間公司行政總裁讓─伊夫﹒勒加爾表示，這份合同的簽署鞏固了該企業作為全球第一大民用火箭發射公司的地位。目前，公司２００８年的合同已經簽滿，２００９年到２０１１年的合同也簽署了不少。

據此間媒體報道，２００８年，阿麗亞娜空間公司將發射１５枚阿麗亞娜火箭和６枚俄羅斯“聯盟”火箭。由於俄羅斯“聯盟”火箭的部分市場經營由阿麗亞娜空間公司負責，所以從２００９年起，俄羅斯“聯盟”火箭也將在阿麗亞娜空間公司的基地──法屬圭亞那庫魯航天中心發射。

（責任編輯: 劉莉 ）

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/newsce ... content_7252248.htm

俄羅斯為加拿大發射一顆雷達衛星

2007年12月14日 23:06:30 　來源：新華網


新華網莫斯科１２月１４日電（記者 董愛波）俄羅斯航天兵１４日在哈薩克斯坦境內的拜科努爾航天發射場用“聯盟－ＦＧ”運載火箭，成功發射一顆加拿大雷達衛星。

俄航天署新聞中心發布的消息說，發射於莫斯科時間１４日１６時１７分（北京時間１４日２１時１７分）進行。發射約４０分鐘後，衛星被送入距地面高度約８００公裡的太陽同步軌道。

這顆名為“Ｒａｄａｒｓａｔ－２”的衛星將替換１９９５年１１月發射的加拿大“Ｒａｄａｒｓａｔ－１”衛星。新衛星在技術上作了很多改進，如搭載了新一代合成孔徑雷達、將雷達影像分辨率提高到３米等。這顆衛星的觀測數據將在林業、農業、地質、水文以及災害監測等領域得到廣泛應用。

新衛星重約２．２噸，預計服務壽命為７年。
（責任編輯: 彭立軍 ）