Tuesday 1 July 2003

Speaking of Mars... Tonight's meeting of Sci-Fi Club - upstairs in Bowes Pub, Fleet Street - will be about Mars. 6:11:51 PM    comment []  Google It!

More delays for Mar probe The launch of Opportunity, NASA's second Mars rover, originally scheduled for June 25 has been put back until at least Sunday July 7 following further problems with the cork insulation on the launch vehicle. The launch was originally delayed when engineers discovered a problem with the insulation, which is there to protect the probe from the heat of the strap-on solid-propellant boosters. The insulation was replaced but following the cancellation of the launch on Saturday because of bad weather, they found the new insulation was peeling off. The launch is now scheduled for 03:51 or 04:34 on Sunday morning, Irish Summertime. [Spacetoday.net] 6:07:55 PM    comment []  Google It!

X Prize activity hots up The X-Prize is starting to heat up. Hot on the heels of Canadian Arrow announcing its team of astroanuats, Da Vinci, another Canadian entry has announced its launch site. The team has chosen the town of Kindersley in western Saskatchewan and has been issued with permit by the Canadian government. In related news, the X-Prize Foundation has announced that former space shuttle commander Richard Searfoss has been appointed chief judge of the competition. Searfoss will now oversee the completion of the judging panel. [SPACE.com] 5:47:13 PM    comment []  Google It!

© Copyright 2003 David Stewart. Last update: 02/08/2003; 00:54:30.