SSI News
Pioneer slowing anomaly caused by thermally-induced infra-red photon thrust
The mysterious slight slowing of the NASA Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes which were launched in hte early 1970s has been explained. According to the scientists at JPL (Jet Propulsion Labororatory in Pasadena) reporting in Physical Review Letters, the slight decelerration can be traced to a heating effect from the now distant space probes’ power systems. The scientists describe the effect as being anagolous to thrust being caused by photons from a light souce. In this instance it is the thermally induced emission of infra-red photons that is causing the deceleration.
Russian Rockot launches four satellites
A Russian Rockot vehicle was successfully launched at 0135 GMT on Saturday 28 July from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Russia and was carrying four satellites. Three of the satellites are store/forwarding Gonets-M type communications craft. One of those is...
Progress M-15M managed to dock successfully
Having had its previous docking attempt aborted after an activation failure of its new KURS-NA docking system, this time the system worked well and allowed Progress M-15M unmanned freighter to dock to the Pirs compartment of the International Space Station at 0100 GMT on 29 July.
Olympics has audience of billions as opening ceremony scores gold
With a total world television audience watching its coverage estimated at being well over 4 billion views, with satellites beaming pictures around the world, the London 2012 Olympic Games is expected have the largest sporting audience ever.
Re-docking of Progress M-015M delayed further
After the aborted re-docking test of the Kurs-NA system on Progress M-015M on 24 July attempts by Russian mission control to conduct tests of the Kurs-NA system on the Progress M-015M have so far been unsuccessful. It has been decided to leave the craft in free flight...
HTV-3 is successfuly grabbed by robot arm and berthed on International Space Station
The HTV-3 Japanese cargo spacecraft has been successfully captured in orbit using the Canadarm 2 robot arm aboard the International Space Station at 1223 GMT on 27 July. Berthing with the forward facing port of the Harmony module occured at 1419 GMT with the final bolt tightening of the latching operation being completed at 1435 GMT. JAXA astonaut Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide was responsible for the control of the berthing procedure.
HTV-3 is successfuly grabbed by robot arm and berthed on International Space Station
The HTV-3 Japanese cargo spacecraft has been successfully captured in orbit using the Canadarm 2 robot arm aboard the International Space Station at 1223 GMT on 27 July. Berthing with the forward facing port of the Harmony module occured at 1419 GMT with the final bolt tightening of the latching operation being completed at 1435 GMT. JAXA astonaut Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide was responsible for the control of the berthing procedure.
Dr Who actress Mary Tamm passes away
Dr Who actress Mary Tamm has passed away at the age of 62 after battling cancer. The actress played the assistant to the BBC TV time and space travelling science fiction character, the Doctor, as played by Tom Baker during the late 1970s. Mary Tamm leaves a husband, a daughter and and a granddaughter. We give her family and her friends our condolences.
On a lighter note: Olympics satellite operators, fighter pilots and British competitors are ready (for a sit down)
With hours to go to the official launch of the London 2012 Olympics, it is not just the Olympic competitors that are prepared, satellite operators have been putting out press releases noting that they are also ready for action . Eutelsat Communications notes that coverage of the London Olympic Games, the world’s leading international multi-sport events, is expected to generate over 2,000 hours of satellite transmissions. Capacity on four Eutelsat satellites has been booked by broadcasters from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America to transmit live coverage of 300 events in 36 sports as well as official ceremonies, interviews and breaking news.
Chinese data relay satellite TianLian-1C is launched successfully on a Long March 3C
At 1545 on 25 July, the Chinese data relay communications satellite Tianlian 1C has been launched on its way to geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) by a Long March 3C (CZ-3C) launch vehicle flying out of Xichang. The TianLian satellites are viewed by western space experts as being equivalent to NASA’s TDRS data relay satellites.
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