astronomy

APOD

Close-Up of the Lagoon Nebula, 16 August 2004, Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), Beautiful views of outer space available right on your desktop – Every day!

Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is a great site to enjoy a beautiful image of space or to delve deeper into the mysteries of that picture and the science that surrounds it. My friend Jeff (also a ryze member) has this marked as his ‘home page’ to catch the image on a daily basis. I tend to go and back-track through the images I missed since my last visit. However you decide to enjoy the site, APOD is a great way to really find out what’s out there. It will convince you that the universe is a bold and beautiful place. I featured this site first because I think you should see something beautiful to get you interested in any topic – to see the inspirational side before you get to the alley ways of the adventure awaiting off-world.

From APOD: “Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.”

spaceflight

China sends someone to the Moon!

Oct. 15 CZ-2F • Shenzhou 5
Launch window: TBA
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China

A Chinese Long March rocket is scheduled to launch the country’s historic first manned spaceflight. The Shenzhou spacecraft capsule will be making its fifth flight after a series of unmanned test missions. [Aug. 26]

True update 10/10 see SpaceFlight Now

History in the making people!

spaceflight

H2A (Japanese) Launches a classified payload

Sept. 22 H-2A • Classified
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Tanegashima, Japan

The sixth flight of the H-2A rocket will launch the second pair Japanese reconnaissance satellites — one using radar observing technology and one optical. The spacecraft are classified. Delayed from Sept. 10 due to solid rocket booster issue. [Sept. 3]

Sept. 10 H-2A • Classified
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Tanegashima, Japan

The sixth flight of the H-2A rocket will launch the second pair Japanese reconnaissance satellites — one using radar observing technology and one optical. The spacecraft are classified. [Aug. 3]

astronomy

SEPTEMBER, The Ninth Month

from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 2003
“Mars rocks. Its historic superclose approach during the last days of August ensures a dazzling all-night dominance of the heavens throughout September. On the 1st, Mars shines at an amazing magnitude of -2.9, three times brighter than Jupiter and ten times brighter than anything in the midnight sky. But don’t blink: Earth speeds so quickly past Mars that the red planet dramatically loses half its light during September. Meanwhile, Jupiter emerges in the predawn east and conspicuously hovers above Mercury after the 21st: the two are strikingly joined by the Moon on the 24th. Fall begins with the autumnal equinox on the 23rd, at 3:47A.M.”

NOTE: Western Edition quoted, adjust times accordingly

spaceflight

Soyuz Launch of Progress 12P

Aug. 29 Soyuz • Progress 12P
Launch time: 0147 GMT (2147 EDT on the 28th)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the twelfth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from July 30. Moved up from Sept. 18 and Aug. 30. [Aug. 4]

spaceflight

Delta 4 Launches DSCS 3-B6

Aug. 28 Delta 4 • DSCS 3-B6
Launch window: 2313-0030 GMT (1913-2030 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 4 Medium rocket will launch the Defense Satellite Communications System 3-B6 spacecraft under the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Delayed from July 1, 11, 23. Delayed from Aug. 3 to complete tests on rocket’s thermal protection system. Delayed from Aug. 4 to replace safety-destruct antenna. [Aug. 15]

spaceflight

Delta 2 Launches SIRTF

Aug. 25 Delta 2 • SIRTF
Launch time: 0535:39 GMT (0135:39 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 2 will launch NASA’s Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF. The spacecraft is the fourth and final member of NASA’s Great Observatories series. The rocket will fly in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from July 15 and Dec. 5 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from Jan. 9 as ripple effect from delay of GPS 2R-8 on same pad. Delayed from Jan. 29 due to spacecraft valve issue. Delayed from April 15. Delayed from April 18, 27 and 28 due to solid rocket booster nozzle issue. Moved up from Aug. 27 to Aug. 23. Delayed from Aug. 23 because tracking ship not in position. [Aug. 19]

Aug. 23 Delta 2 • SIRTF
Launch time: 0537:29 GMT (0137:29 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 2 will launch NASA’s Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF. The spacecraft is the fourth and final member of NASA’s Great Observatories series. The rocket will fly in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from July 15 and Dec. 5 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from Jan. 9 as ripple effect from delay of GPS 2R-8 on same pad. Delayed from Jan. 29 due to spacecraft valve issue. Delayed from April 15. Delayed from April 18, 27 and 28 due to solid rocket booster nozzle issue. Moved up from Aug. 27 to Aug. 23. [Aug. 11]

Aug. 23 Delta 2 • SIRTF
Launch time: 0537:43 GMT (0137:43 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 2 will launch NASA’s Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF. The spacecraft is the fourth and final member of NASA’s Great Observatories series. The rocket will fly in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from July 15 and Dec. 5 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from Jan. 9 as ripple effect from delay of GPS 2R-8 on same pad. Delayed from Jan. 29 due to spacecraft valve issue. Delayed from April 15. Delayed from April 18, 27 and 28 due to solid rocket booster nozzle issue. Moved up from Aug. 27 to Aug. 23. [July 9]

See this and more at Spaceflight Now

Talking Heads