太空探索工程 卫星发射 剪报评论

pfg1group

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newsce ... content_7424695.htm

新华网巴黎１月１４日电（记者张之简）欧洲航天局局长让－雅克·多尔丹１４日对媒体说，今年欧洲航天局将有１０大航天任务，这些任务将涉及国际空间站建设和地球观测等领域。

    第一个任务是预定在２月７日，欧洲“哥伦布”实验舱搭乘一架航天飞机抵达国际空间站。多尔丹认为，欧洲航天局将借此成为国际空间站的实质性建设伙伴。

    第二个任务是在２月２２日，欧洲第一艘自动货运飞船将飞往国际空间站。多尔丹说，这艘以法国著名科幻作家儒勒·凡尔纳的名字命名的飞船，是欧洲航天局迄今制造的最复杂的航天器，它可以运送最多达７．５吨重的货物。

    在地球观测方面，欧洲航天局今年５月计划把“ＧＯＣＥ”卫星（地球重力场和海洋环流探测任务卫星）送入轨道。航天局还将发射“ＳＭＯＳ”卫星（土壤湿度和海洋盐度研究卫星），以及用于探测地貌的普罗巴２号小型卫星。

    今年１２月，欧洲航天局还要把赫舍尔太空望远镜和普朗克观测卫星送入太空。赫舍尔太空望远镜和普朗克观测卫星都将用来研究有关宇宙大爆炸的基本信息。

    测试欧洲伽利略全球卫星导航系统也是今年的重点任务，欧洲航天局计划把这一卫星导航系统的测试卫星“ＧＩＯＶＥ－Ｂ”送入轨道。

    此外，欧洲航天局今年还将参与印度的探月计划，以及完成维修和协助更新美国哈勃太空望远镜的任务。
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Europe sets sights on 10 space missions this year

http://www.spacemart.com/reports ... _this_year_999.html

by Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) Jan 14, 2008
The European Space Agency (ESA) said Monday it would take part in 10 major missions this year, including long-delayed trips to the space station, new explorations of Earth and deep space, and a joint unmanned trip to the Moon with India.

The missions on ESA's 2008 roster include the dispatch next month of two key components of the International Space Station (ISS), the orbital outpost being assembled by a US-led consortium of five partners.

They are a science module, Columbus, scheduled to be taken aloft on February 7 by the US space shuttle, and a robot freighter, due to be placed in orbit by ESA's Ariane rocket in the third week of February and then automatically rendezvous with the ISS.

At least two billion euros (2.9 billion dollars) have been spent on Columbus and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

But their deployment has been delayed by several years because of problems with the US shuttle system, which has also led to a reduction in personnel aboard the ISS.

Cost overruns and frustrations at being unable to do scientific work that was the touted virtue of the ISS have caused fierce debate within the European space community about whether to join future prestige-driven multinational ventures.

ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain, in a meeting with the press, said "billions" had been spent on these and other European components for the ISS.

"It is now time to draw the scientific benefit from them," he said firmly.

Other ESA operations this year include the European Union's Galileo programme to launch a constellation of navigation satellites to rival the US Global Positioning System (GPS).

There will also be an ESA payload aboard the Indian lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, whose launch is pencilled in for April from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

In May, GOCE, a satellite billed as "the Ferrari of micro-gravity fields," is scheduled to be taken aloft from ESA's space base in Kourou, French Guiana, with the goal of monitoring ocean circulation -- a key factor in the climate-change question.

In December, ESA hopes to launch one of the most ambitious double launches ever in space science.

The orbital telescope Herschel will look for infrared signals pointing to the earliest events after the "Big Bang" that created the Universe, while a counterpart, Planck, will look for other primal energy in the microwave part of the radiation spectrum.

"They are two jewels, two splendid scientific missions," said Dordain. "With them, European industry has pushed back the frontiers of technology."

In other comments, Dordain reported a big surge of interest among eastern European countries to join ESA. The Czech Republic is expected to join in June, and the agency's membership roll could soon rise to 22 or 23 countries, he said.

ESA cooperates closely with the EU on a project-by-project basis, making for a relationship that is at times difficult. A stronger institutional role between the two entities is sketched in the EU's reform treaty.

The agency's 17 members are Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Norway and Switzerland are not part of the 27-member EU.

Canada, Hungary, Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic also participate in some ESA projects under cooperation agreements.

pfg1group

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newsce ... content_7424368.htm


这是2008年1月13日美国“信使”号探测器携带的照相机拍摄的水星表面。北京时间1月15日凌晨，“信使”号探测器飞掠水星，其轨道距离水星表面最近时只有约200公里。这是人类探测器时隔30多年后再次飞掠水星。据美国宇航局发布的资料，美国“水手10”号探测器1975年3月16日曾飞掠水星，但当时由于观测能力有限，“水手10”号仅能观测水星的一侧半球。 新华社/路透

新华网华盛顿１月１４日电 美国东部时间１４日下午（北京时间１５日凌晨），美国“信使”号探测器飞掠水星，其轨道距离水星表面最近时只有约２００公里。这是人类探测器时隔３０多年后再次飞掠水星。

    美国宇航局发布的消息说，人类探测器上一次近距离观测水星是在１９７５年３月，当时美国“水手１０”号探测器最后一次飞掠水星。但由于观测能力有限，“水手１０”号仅能观测水星的一侧半球。

    “信使”号在这次飞掠过程中将对人类探测器此前未曾观测过的大片水星区域进行拍摄，预计将发回约１２００张水星照片。“信使”号在飞掠过程中还将对水星整体环境进行研究，它发回的探测数据将帮助科学家分析水星表面组成成分、盆地、磁场和重力场等。

    水星是距离太阳最近的行星，在冥王星由行星降格为矮行星后，水星成为太阳系中个头最小的行星。科学家认为，“信使”号的探测结果将有助于人类从新的角度认识水星，同时也可能为关于水星以及整个太阳系的一些未解问题找到答案。

    “信使”号于２００４年８月升空，是人类发射的第一个绕水星运行的探测器。它预计于２０１１年３月进入绕水星轨道，在此之前会３次飞掠水星，１４日的飞掠是其中的第一次。按计划，“信使”号还将分别于２００８年１０月和２００９年９月两次飞掠水星。
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Nasa spacecraft in Mercury pass
By Jonathan Amos
Science reporter, BBC News



The first probe to visit Mercury in more than 30 years has passed within just 200km (125 miles) of the planet.

The fly-by was the first of three to be made by the Messenger spacecraft as it prepares to enter into orbit around the Solar System's smallest planet in 2011.

The US probe was programmed to collect more than 1,300 images and make other observations during the encounter.

No mission has viewed Mercury up close since the Mariner 10's third and final fly-by in March 1975.

'Lap times'

Marilyn Lindstrom, the US space agency (Nasa) mission's programme scientist, said: "[Messenger's] goal is to understand the surface, the interior, the magnetosphere and the atmosphere of this innermost planet; but in the process of doing that we hope to apply that [knowledge] to understand how all four of the terrestrial, Earth-like, planets formed."

Messenger is half-way through what will be a seven-year tour of the inner Solar System.

It is not due in orbit around Mercury until March 2011. To get there, it must perform a series of fly-bys and engine firings to put it on a correct course and, crucially, slow its final approach.

This week's pass, which took place some 53 million km (33 million miles) from the Sun, was intended to reduce the spacecraft's velocity by 8,000km/h (5,000mph). Even so, it still moved over the cratered surface at a relative speed of 25,000km/h (16,000mph).

"Messenger's orbital period around the Sun will be decreased by 11 days thus setting up a planetary car race with Mercury," explained Eric Finnegan, mission systems engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

"Using its engine and future gravity assists, the spacecraft after being lapped by Mercury many times in its race around the Sun will eventually match the 88-day orbital period of the innermost planet."

Strange world

Messenger began its fly-by observations on Sunday. The probe's instruments were expected to gather about 700GB of data in total over a period of 55 hours.

The moment of closest approach occurred at 1904 GMT on Monday. The data treasure from the pass was due to be transmitted to Earth on Tuesday.

Messenger is operating in an extremely harsh environment.

Its electronics and observational instruments are protected behind a shield that allows them to operate at "room temperature". The Sun-facing side of the shield, however, experiences temperatures in excess of 300C.

All the terrestrial planets are believed to have formed at the same time by common processes - but Mercury itself is a bit of an oddball.

It is so dense that more than two-thirds of it has to be of an iron-metal composition.

It is so close to the Sun that the temperature variation between day and night at the equator is more than 600 degrees; and yet there may be water-ice at the poles in craters that are in permanent shadow.

Europeans to follow

"Mariner 10 showed us a surface that was so heavily cratered that it looked like geological activity on Mercury ended very early in the history of the Solar System," said Sean Solomon, Messenger's principal investigator from the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

"And yet, Mercury is the only other inner planet that like Earth has a magnetic field which we believe means it must have a very dynamic molten iron core.

"So how to reconcile this ancient surface with this modern-day internal dynamic activity is one of the mysteries we hope to solve."

Messenger's first fly-by was designed to:

    * obtain the first detailed view of the hemisphere of the planet missed by Mariner 10 (it only saw 45% of the planet's surface)
    * make the first measurements of the elemental composition of Mercury's surface
    * use a laser altimeter to study the shape and topography of the planet
    * take gravity measurements to try to understand better Mercury's internal structure

On Friday this week, the European Space Agency (Esa) will sign an industrial contract with EADS Astrium to build BepiColombo.

This mission will be launched to Mercury in 2013. It consists of two spacecraft - an orbiter for planetary investigation, led by Esa, and one for magnetospheric studies, led by the Jaxa (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).

The satellite duo will reach Mercury in 2019 after a six-year journey towards the inner Solar System.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7189392.stm



The Sea Launch company has returned to flight with a mission to loft a telecoms satellite to serve the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

The firm's Zenit 3SL rocket lifted off from its converted oil rig platform stationed in the Pacific at 1149 GMT.

The Thuraya 3 satellite separated from the vehicle some 98 minutes later.

The flight was the first for Sea Launch since the catastrophic explosion in January 2007 which destroyed a Zenit and its passenger on the pad.

Sea Launch is based in Long Beach, California, but is operated by an international consortium, including the Boeing aerospace company and the Russian spacecraft manufacturer Energia.

It uses a floating platform and a command ship for launches. Both are sailed out of California to the equator at 154 degrees West.

The position, close to the Pacific island of Kiritimati, means the Zenit rocket can take full advantage of the Earth's rotational speed and launch more mass for less effort, compared with the world's major land-based spaceports.

Tuesday's successful mission was the 25th for Sea Launch.

"It feels good to be back," said company president Robert Peckham.

Sea Launch is seen as an important competitor for the European launch services company Arianespace, which, in the absence of the Pacific Ocean system, lofted 80% of the world's commercial payloads in 2007.

pfg1group

http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/si ... 7190800/7190808.stm

美国空军太空指挥中心的一名发言人多伊说，围绕地球轨道运转的一颗美国商用卫星和一颗美国太空署的卫星已被调整运行方向，以躲避中国卫星残块。

无论人类走到哪里，都会给当地的环境留下他们的痕迹，太空也不例外。

自从50年前俄国将人类发射到宇宙的第一颗卫星--旅伴号卫星送入地球轨道，太空中垃圾日益增多。

从宇航员的手套，到被他们用过的燃料电池。

试射导弹

去年，由于中国向太空试射的导弹击中一颗他们自己的卫星，使得太空垃圾数目骤然增多。

位于科罗拉多州的美国空军太空指挥中心的约翰·海顿准将说，中国卫星的残块大大加剧了太空物品相互碰撞的危险。

他说，我们每天晚上上床睡觉时，脑子里要惦记着一万件太空物品。而醒来时忽然发现又多了两千件。这些还都是我们能看见的。

他表示，在上个世纪90年代，我们开始担心太空残块。我们甚至要求所有向太空发展的国家达成一项国际协议，试图缓解这一问题。这也就是为什么去年中国测试反卫星导弹如此引人担忧。

那次试射好几个月后，人们才意识到由它产生的太空垃圾的影响。

太空垃圾

去年四月，一颗美国商用卫星的运行路线被稍微更改，原因是担心这些太空垃圾停留在他所经过的地方。两个月前，美国太空署对它的一颗卫星运行路线也做出了类似的调整。

虽然，美方希望躲避的太空垃圾只有一个小电冰箱那么大，但是海顿准将说，即便是一个很小的物品也可能会带来灾难：

“我们的航天飞机有好几次从宇宙返回时，都有一小块漆屑镶嵌在它的挡风玻璃窗内。一块小小的漆屑能够在挡风玻璃上留下一英寸厚的洞。你只要想一想如果你以一万七千英里的时速运行的话，即便是最细小的物品也可能造成巨大的损害。”

当中国去年发射一枚导弹，击毁它的一颗卫星时，华盛顿主要担忧的是这一导弹试射对美国安全和它太空的控制构成的威胁。

而它所产生的太空垃圾只是一个次要的，但同样令人担忧的问题。

pfg1group

http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/51108?tid=2

（巴黎訊）歐洲太空總署正式啟動和日本合作進行以十億美元計的航太任務，雙方和生產人造衛星的阿斯特里姆公司簽署工程合約，以把兩枚不載人探測器發射到水星。

歐洲太空總署於2000年把這項任務命名為“貝皮科倫坡”任務，這是歐洲太空總署在新千禧年的“基礎任務”之一。

探測器將於2013年發射，但要經過6年的旅途才能抵達水星。

“貝皮科倫坡”是歐洲太空總署與日本宇航探索局的聯合計劃，任務由前者領導。歐洲太空總署披露，“貝皮科倫坡”任務將耗資6億6500萬歐元（約31億8708萬令吉）。

星洲日報／國際‧2008.01.20

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080120/1/s67c.html

日本「折紙飛機協會」和東京大學研究團隊的實驗證明，紙飛機有機會穿越大氣層而不被燒毀。


研究人員用東京大學的「高音速風洞」檢驗紙飛機的耐熱性與強度，實驗用的紙飛機只有八公分長，做過耐熱處理，它在七馬赫的高速氣流內，模擬從太空中穿越大氣層返回地球的過程；實驗證明，紙飛機可以承受下降過程中所產生的壓力和熱量。


太空船返回地球的速度高達二十馬赫，也就是音速的二十倍，過程中會因為空氣摩擦產生高溫，太空船的表面必須有隔熱層的保護才能抵擋高熱。紙飛機因為比較輕，降落的速度比較慢，就算耐熱性沒有真的太空船那麼好，它也有可能穿越大氣層而不被燒毀。

pfg1group

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hGXH2TJse5NQXl4HPtrID3ojhb6w

India launches Israeli satellite in boost to space business
1 day ago

BANGALORE, India (AFP) — India successfully launched an Israeli spy satellite into orbit in a boost to the South Asian nation's efforts to win a share of the multi-billion-dollar space launch market.

The launch of the Tecsar satellite by an Indian-made rocket was carried out in clear weather at 9:15 am local time (0345 GMT) from the Sriharikota space station in southern India, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

The 300-kilogram (650-pound) satellite, sometimes referred to as the Polaris, was steered into orbit about 20 minutes later, said Antrix Corporation, the marketing arm of the Bangalore-based space agency.

"Antrix is happy to announce that its second full-fledged commercial launch has been successfully completed," said executive director K.R. Sridhara Murthi in a statement in this southern Indian city.

The satellite was designed and developed by MBT Space, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is equipped with a camera that can see through clouds and carry out day and night all-weather imaging.

The mission was carried out under a commercial contract between Israel Aerospace Industries and Antrix, Murthi said.

The launch is another step in the commercialisation of India's 45-year-old space programme, which put an Italian satellite into orbit in April last year for a fee of 11 million dollars.

"Basically, any user will look for reliability, timely delivery and the cost," said G. Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, in a telephone interview. "We are well placed on all parameters."

India's launch service costs abut 60 to 70 percent of what is charged by other international space agencies, giving it a cost advantage, Nair said.

India wants to compete alongside the United States, Russia, China, the Ukraine and the European Space Agency in offering commercial satellite launch services.

Paris-based market research firm Euroconsult estimated last year that the launch market will grow to 145 billion dollars over the next 10 years, from 116 billion dollars in 1997-2006, as space-faring nations launch more satellites and deep-space probes.

"This is a major step forward in India's efforts to penetrate the global satellite launch market," said defence and space industry analyst B.K. Pandey, a former air marshal in the Indian air force.

The successful launch showed that India had a launch capability with a "high degree of reliability," he said in Bangalore.

Monday's mission was the eleventh consecutive successful launch carried out by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which is also slated to launch India's first spacecraft to the moon, Chandrayaan-1, later this year.

The "copybook" launch had been kept secret because of its "geopolitical sensitivity," NDTV television network reported.

Tecsar's signal was received at the Israel Aerospace Industries' ground station 80 minutes after launch, the Israeli organisation said in a statement issued in Jerusalem.

"By all indications so far, the satellite is functioning properly," it said.

The satellite is the first "of its kind developed in Israel, and ranks among the world's most advanced space systems," the statement said. It will transmit the first images after 14 days, the statement added.

India started its space programme in 1963, and has since developed and put its own satellites into space. It has also designed and built launch rockets to reduce its dependence on overseas space agencies.

It carried out the first successful launch of a domestic satellite, which weighed 35 kilograms, by an Indian-built rocket, in 1980.

[img][/img]

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080123/19/se0l.html

（法新社莫斯科二十三日電） 俄羅斯各通訊社今天引述第一副總理伊凡諾夫的話說，十分藉重鄰國哈薩克境內一座基地來推動太空計畫的俄國，將為二零一八年之前的載人太空飛行建造自己的發射基地。


俄羅斯東南部阿穆爾區的這座伏斯托契尼新基地將取代貝康諾基地，而貝康諾是蘇聯時期建造的設施，如今俄國向哈薩克租用。阿穆爾區毗鄰中國。


俄羅斯新聞社和國際傳真社報導，伊凡諾夫表示，「以軍事術語來說，我們將開闢『第二戰線』」。


他說：「在二零一六年之前，這座新的太空發射基地應已就緒，可供發射任何種類的火箭；而在二零一八年之前，依據計畫，我們也將可自這座基地展開載人太空飛行。」


他說：「此事與確保我國能獨立進出太空有關，事實上，我們在阿穆爾區所建立的不僅是一座特別的設施，也是一座真正的城市。」


俄國與美國正推行全世界最活躍的太空計畫，相關的載人航空器分別由貝康諾和卡納維爾角起飛，至於中國酒泉太空中心則是第三座能處理載人任務的設施。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080124/17/sevy.html

英國富豪布蘭森23日發表新的太空船模型，預定今年夏天試飛，讓付費的旅客飛到太空的次軌道，體驗4分半鐘的無重力狀態，一趟價格大約是新台幣650萬元。


巨大的太空飛機載著太空船，緩緩的從跑道起飛，飛到地球高空時，太空船從飛機脫離，直接飛向外太空的次軌道，此時太空船內的乘客將有4分半鐘處於無重力狀態，乘客從椅子中漂浮起來，體驗前所未有的奇異快感。


太空旅行已經不再是夢想，英國富豪、維京集團創辦人布蘭森23日公布新的太空船模型「太空船二號」，並宣稱這項太空計畫將在今年夏天正式展開試飛。


布蘭森說：「這個太空船改變了我們和太空的關係，讓我們實現太空旅行的夢想，也使太空旅行成為商業活動，不再只是研究的活動。」


布蘭森的太空船每次可搭載六名旅客，每人收費大約是新台幣650萬元，目前這項計畫雖然只在測試階段，但已經吸引全球30多個國家200多人預約，顯然到太空中嘗試零重力的漂浮感的確相當吸引人。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080124/16/sewf.html

（路透紐約24日電）維京銀河公司（Virgin Galactic）創辦人布朗森（Richard Branson）昨天發表一艘太空船模型，期許它最快於明年成為第一艘搭載付費乘客前往太空的固定航班太空船。


維京銀河公司的短程太空之旅要價20萬美元；布朗森說，該公司的「太空船二號」（SpaceShip Two）今年稍晚將開始試航。


布朗森在曼哈坦美國自然歷史博物館（American Museum of Natural History）的記者會中表示：「我們希望讓狀況發展成數十萬期盼體驗太空之旅的人都有能力實現願望。」


他表示：「即使美金現在貶值，20萬美元仍是大多數人負擔不起的數字。我希望太空船升空5年後，價格可以大幅降低。」


維京銀河是布朗森創辦，包含航空、旅遊及零售業的維京集團（Virgin Group）部門之一，目前已有超過200人登記參加「終極觀光之旅」，支付的保證金已超過3000萬美元。中央社（翻譯）

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Rocket propulsion research might advance military technology

http://ocolly.com/2008/01/18/roc ... ilitary-technology/

By Ted Bado
Staff Writer
Oklahoma State researchers are developing a state-of-the-art propulsion system for the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

If successful, the propulsion system will be featured in sophisticated unmanned aircraft small enough to fit into a soldier’s pocket.

“What we want the infantrymen to be able to do is pull a pack of six or so out of their pocket and have them ready for use,” Jamey Jacob, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said. The aircraft would be used for surveillance purposes and allow soldiers to inspect hostile areas before moving through them.

Jacob and his team have been working on the project since the end of August.

“It’s a new propulsion technology to be used by micro and nano-unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAV,” Jacob said. “By micro, we mean smaller than a foot, and by nano, we mean smaller than six inches.”

Jacob’s project would provide a significant upgrade over the UAV equipment currently available to soldiers.

“What is currently in the field is the Dragon Eye UAV,” Jacob said. “It is three feet in span, and it has some drawbacks.

“It doesn’t work well inside and it doesn’t work well in urban areas. We want ours to be able to work well in urban situations.”

Jacob said development so far has been successful.

“The concept is good,” Jacob said. “We are still too early in the development process to determine to what level it will work, but we are confident we can make this work.”

Ceran Ozturk, a graduate student studying mechanical and aerospace engineering, said working without moving parts is a challenge in the projects.

“We are basically creating a thruster with no moving parts,” Ozturk said.

Ozturk said having no moving parts is necessary for smaller engines.

“Our project is perfect for small scaled usage,” Ozturk said. “It will work in an engine for a small vehicle because building an actual engine that small with all the moving parts is almost impossible.

Toni Shaklee, OSU Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Research, said OSU has had a healthy relationship with DARPA during its history.

“Oklahoma State University has a long and very successful history working with DARPA,” Shaklee said. “It has funded several research projects in both the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. We are very proud of the partnership OSU has been able to develop with the government defense agency and hope to continue it for many years to come.”

Aerospace technology students at OSU are working on two other DARPA projects.

“One of our projects is to keep an aircraft in the air for five years without landing,” Jacob said. “The other is to put an aircraft in a ballistic missile, which would serve as a launching system, the aircraft would fly out of the missile and provide us with immediate surveillance anywhere in the world within 45 minutes.”

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http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/OD_review.asp?news=13546

（華盛頓27日訊）美國一顆在外太空飛行的美國間諜衛星，已失去能量供應，可能會在今年2月底或3月墜入地球。

英國媒體引述一名美國政府官員的話說，當局已失去對這顆間諜衛星的控制，目前還不清楚，它將墜入到地球的什么地點。據稱，間諜衛星上可能含有危險物質。

美國國家安全委員會發言人約翰德諾伊則表示，相關政府機構正在監測該衛星的狀況。

他說：「幾年來，許多衛星都脫離軌道墜毀，但都沒有造成什么傷害。我們正在考慮採取措施，將衛星墜毀可能造成的損失減至最小。」

美國防務及情報事務分析師派克表示，間諜衛星在失控情況下墜入地球，可能會導致衛星所攜帶的機密信息洩漏。

派克指出，即使用導彈擊毀失控衛星，也不能保證它對地球沒有威脅。因為衛星產生的碎片仍有可能進入大氣層，要么燒起來，要么直接落在地面上。他預計，這顆衛星有如一輛小巴士大。

談到衛星上可能攜帶的危險物質時，他稱，衛星上可能含有輕金屬鈹。鈹的熔點高，廣泛應用于國防以及航天工業。吸入鈹可能導致人類患上無可治癒的慢性呼吸道疾病。

美國國家安全檔案高級會員裡歇爾森表示，這顆失控衛星可能是負責拍攝地面目標的衛星，主要收集美國的敵對政府和恐怖組織的信息。

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美“大型”间谍卫星失控或直撞地球
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/si ... 7211500/7211561.stm

美国政府消息称，一个“大型”间谍卫星在太空失去控制，预计将在2月下旬或3月撞击地球。

一名要求保密身份的官员向美联社透露，卫星已经失去动力，上面载有火箭燃料联氨（hydrazine），人类接触这种透明的有毒液体会造成伤害。

白宫表示正监察事态发展。

美国国家安全委员会发言人约翰德罗告诉美联社说，他们正研究任何可能降低卫星造成破坏的方案，但他回避了会否动用导弹摧毁卫星的提问。

美联社引述匿名官员说，美国政府一直持续知会国会议员和其他国家最新情况。

一名专家分析说，任由卫星撞回地球可能造成美国机密外泄，过往间谍卫星都在监控下重返地球，并落在海洋中，防止别人找到卫星。

美联社的报道提及，至今最大型的卫星无人控制返回事件，是1979年美国宇航局的天空实验室（Skylab）。

实验室重78公吨，在重返地球后，碎片落在印度洋和澳大利亚西部渺无人烟地域。

2002年，一枚重超过3000公斤科学卫星的碎片落入地球大气层，碎片散布在波斯湾，与原定坠落地点相差数千英里。

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/si ... 7210200/7210213.stm

俄罗斯裁军谈判高级代表说，中国和俄罗斯将在2月联合提出禁止外空间武器化国际条约草案。

据路透社报道，在日内瓦出席联合国裁军会议的俄罗斯代表洛希宁表示，中俄两国将在2月12日向裁军会议提交条约草案。

俄罗斯外长拉夫罗夫将在65国参加的裁军会议上发表讲话。

洛希宁没有提供有关这项条约的草案的具体细节，不过这项草案已经分发给高级外交官传阅。

最近几年，美国利用新的导弹防御计划，重新启动上世纪80年代的"星球大战"计划，这使俄罗斯与美国的关系变得紧张。

迄今为止，国际条约禁止在外层空间部署武器，1967年的太空条约指出，任何国家都可以探索和使用外层空间，但任何国家不得通过占领和采用其他任何途径占有外层空间。

美国一直在发展能够击毁卫星的武器。一年前，中国使用导弹击毁了一个废弃卫星。

关于中俄两国提出的条约草案，美国国务院负责国际安全和防扩散事务的副助理国务卿马利表示："我们在新的建议中看不到有任何东西可以改变美国的立场。"

中俄两国在过去6年就防止外空间军备竞赛问题提出过几项"工作文件"。但是外交官们说，两国最新提出的条约草案很可能是将过去的建议作进一步修改。

联合国秘书长潘基文周三在裁军会议发表讲话，对这个旨在防止危险武器扩散的会议长期陷入僵局感到非常失望。

他呼吁裁军会议要争取使2008年成为产生突破的一年。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080129/1/sod0.html



預訂會在幾個星期後墜回地球的美國廢棄間諜衛星，在穿越大氣層，高溫燃燒後，會分解成小碎片，美國官員說，它不至於對地面造成太大的威脅。（夏明珠報導）

這枚偵察衛星，是美國國防部花了好幾億美元，請洛克希德馬丁公司製造，是前年從加州范登堡空軍基地升空，進入地球低軌道後沒有多久就失去了動力，目前它以每天平均八公里的速度，往地球墜落，因為它還沒有上工就報銷了，衛星推進器裡面還有很多燃料，這些有毒的燃料如果在穿越大氣層的途中沒有燒燬，墜落地面的話，可能會造成危險。

白宮國家安全委員會發言人說，地球有百分之75的表面，被海洋覆蓋，就算衛星在穿越大氣層途中，沒有完全燒毀，它最後應該也會墜入海洋，落在陸地、特別是有人居住的地方，可能性是微乎其微。

不過美國政府還是會嚴密追蹤衛星墜地動線，研擬不同的因應方案，在必要的時候採取行動。

發射飛彈摧毀衛星，是一個可能的選擇，不過一個高階官員說，基於多重顧慮，美國這麼做的可能性不大。去年中共做過這種事，被摧毀的衛星衍生的碎片和灰燼，都成了太空垃圾，當時美國批得很兇，說中共不尊重太空。

美國國防部發言人說，過去五十年來，總共有一萬七千多個人造物體，從太空回落地球，從來沒有發生過重大意外。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080131/19/suf1.html

（法新社華盛頓三十一日電） 美國國家航空暨太空總署，昨天公布「信使號」太空船飛越水星未知地表時所拍到的影像和資料。水星是太陽系最小的行星，也是與太陽距離最近的行星。


華盛頓卡內基研究所「信使號」任務首席研究員索羅門在記者會中表示：「這次飛行讓我們看到太空船以前從未見過的水星部份，我們的小太空船已傳回像金礦般令人興奮的資料。」


他說：「從太空船表現與操縱準確性的觀點來看，這次的邂逅幾近完美，我們很高興所有科學資料現在都傳回了地球。」


這位專家說，水星「不是我們原先料想的樣子」，研究人員發現它是「非常具有活力的行星」，擁有活火山和磁層。


信使號太空船元月十四日以兩百公里的高度飛越水星，傳回超過一千兩百張特寫照片和其他未知地表的科學觀測資料。


信使號英文為「MESSENGER」是「水星表面MErcurySurface」、「太空環境Space ENvironment」、「地球化學GEochemistry」和「測距Ranging」四詞首個字母組成。


一九七五年三月「水手十號」太空船利用訊號較弱的觀察工具三次飛越水星半球。這次歷史性邂逅是自那之後人類太空船首度飛越水星。


水星地表約百分之五十五不為人類所知，其中一半始終正對太陽。


太空總署表示，信使號的儀器提供水星陰暗面的隕石坑地形輪廓與其他地質特徵資料，這些特徵在太陽系獨一無二。


水星表面有綿延數百公里的巨大懸崖，透露出這個行星早期歷史斷層活動的型態。


太空總署說，這艘太空船也發現另一個獨特特徵：從複雜中心地區輻射出超過一百條狹窄而平坦的低谷，這是此前在水星和月球上都不曾見過的，科學家將之稱為「蜘蛛」。


羅德島布朗大學科學團隊的共同研究員海德說：「接近蜘蛛的中心有一個隕石坑，但隕石坑究竟是原始構成還是之後才出現，此刻仍不清楚。」


信使號將在二零一一年最後一次飛掠水星，並進入水星軌道進行長達一年的研究。在那之前，它還會兩度飛越水星，分別在二零零八年十月和二零零九年九月。


這艘太空船從二零零四年八月發射以來，已經飛越地球一次，金星兩次。當它完成長達六年半的探索之旅時，總共將飛行七十八億公里。

pfg1group

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Sat ... PArticle%2FShowFull

Israel's TecSar satellite, launched last week from India, began transmitting pictures to its ground control center in Yehud on Thursday.

The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, is capable of creating high-resolution images using advanced radar technology called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).

Officials said that the satellite was successfully orbiting earth and all of its systems were fully operational.

pfg1group

http://www.chinapress.com.my/breaking_new.asp?a=0203bkf14.txt

美國宇航局 (NASA) 高級管理人員近日完成了對「亞特蘭蒂斯」(Atlantis) 號航天飛機飛行準備工作的評審。由於航天飛機散熱器膠管的問題並未得到解決，STS-122 任務將於美國東部標準時間 (EST) 2月7日下午2:45發射。
在對「亞特蘭蒂斯」號進行檢測期間，工作人員發現為航天飛機有效載荷艙散熱器傳送氟利昂的四根膠管中的一根已彎曲且不能完全收進其存儲箱中去。其餘的則如預期一樣被完全收進其存儲箱。

工作小組將繼續採集數據並對任何潛在的未來工作進行評估。管理人員將舉行會晤，對發射前所需進行的任何剩餘工作進行進一步評審和分析。

在為期11天的任務期間，指揮官 Steve Frick 和其6名機組成員將在國際空間站 (International Space Station) 上安裝歐洲空間局 (European Space Agency) 的新「哥倫布」(Columbus) 號實驗艙。該實驗艙將充實該空間站的研究設備，為全球科學家們進行各種生命、物質和材料科學實驗提供支持。此次任務將包括3次太空行走，將一名新成員送達空間站以及將另一名在空間站已經工作近4個月的宇航員送回地面。

pfg1group

http://www.zaobao.com/special/ne ... gkong080203ac.shtml

（联合早报网讯）香港大公报报道，美国空军正在要求国会拨出巨款，加强对美国军事卫星的防护力度，防止遭到敌国攻击；美国空军还提到，此举有助于美军将来发射「反卫星卫星」，即截击卫星！

　　据美国环球战略网2月1日的文章评论说，空军此举主要针对中国上次的打卫星试验。

　　空军希望国会拨出更多款项，用于增加各种地基和空基传感器，如雷达、望远镜及电子检测器，以追?空中任何可能的飞行物体。

　　文章说，未来，这些传感器还可以帮助美军发射「反卫星卫星」，即截击卫星。

　　另外，美国空军还希望进一步研发抗干扰技术，以防范敌方干扰美军地面站与卫星之间的信号传输。

　　不仅如此，美国空军还希望扩大小型「替补」卫星（当己方卫星被攻击后，一种可以快速发射幷替代损毁卫星的小型卫星），文章说，这种小型卫星可以由洲际弹道导弹发射至太空，这当然包括美国海军核潜艇上搭载的洲际弹道导弹。

　　美国空军尚未提出用于防范卫星被袭的具体资金数额，这主要是他们的上述几项要求将花费上千亿美元。但空军已经做好与国会展开激烈辩论的准备，当然，辩论的主题就是保持战时美军卫星通信的畅通，保障美军卫星的安全。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080203/17/szew.html



人類搭乘飛行旅館環遊世界的夢想，很快就能實現，法國當局正在研發一種全新的飛船，外型像是一條白鯨，坐上它，宛如是一艘空中飛行的豪華郵輪。

根據英國每日郵報的報導，法國國家航太研究室和一家知名工業設計公司，正在研發一款被稱為「載人的雲」的飛船旅館，這種外型酷似白鯨的飛船，總共分為兩層，下層設置餐廳圖書館和交誼廳，上層則有20間豪華客房。

長210公尺、寬81公尺、高51公尺，最高時速168公里，10天就可環繞地球一周，15名工作人員只服務40名乘客，可享有尊榮舒適的服務。

這款飛船室內空間比一般飛機大得多，可說是在空中飛行的豪華郵輪，旅客可以從5400公尺的高空鳥瞰全世界，如果想在哪個景點多待一會兒，飛船就會停下來讓遊客好好玩個夠，再飛到下個景點，而且這款飛船使用環保的氫氣燃料，不會對環境造成危害。

不過，想乘坐的遊客可能還得等一會兒，因為這款飛船旅館預計2020年才會建造完成啟用。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/080204/4/t04i.html

ＧＰＳ衛星導航系統越來越普遍，但ＧＰＳ導航系統竟也會「迷路」！成大電漿與太空科學研究中心助理教授林建宏利用福爾摩沙衛星三號觀測證實，地面天氣系統會影響地球上空數百公里的太空天氣，也會干擾ＧＰＳ導航系統，發生「誤導」現象，特別 是山區。

　這項研究成果去年發表在國際知名學術期刊《地球物理研究通訊》，被編輯群選為當期焦點，最近獲得國家實驗研究院二○○七年度傑出科技貢獻獎。

　成大利用衛星觀測證實

　目前的ＧＰＳ系統能指引駕駛到目的地，有些也能提供塞車資訊。林建宏指出，陸續有許多朋友向他反應，假日到近郊或山區郊遊踏青時，突遇雷陣雨而提早打道回府，但沿路塞車，打開ＧＰＳ導航系統想換條不塞車的捷徑下山，卻發現越開越遠，竟開到山的另一頭。

　他說，這種現象主要是因為ＧＰＳ衛星系統發送的電磁波受到「太空天氣效應」（太空電離層電漿密度變化）干擾，導致ＧＰＳ導航系統迷失方向。「太空天氣效應」主要是指太空中電離層的電漿濃度變化。

　赤道異常區電漿濃度大

　林建宏表示，美國航空暨太空總署（ＮＡＳＡ）為研究太空電離層電漿變化與擾動對地球無線電波通訊和衛星通訊的干擾，二○○二年以ＩＭＡＧＥ衛星觀測「推論」，被列為電離層赤道異常區包括：南美洲亞馬遜河流域、非洲剛果河流域、印尼熱帶雨林區和中太平洋（包括台灣）熱帶氣旋生成區等四大區域，地面天氣系統會影響太空電離層變化。

　容易引發太空天氣效應

　林建宏在福衛三號於二○○六年四月發射升空後，傳回的連續觀測資料證實，上述四個區域發生強烈大氣對流時，旺盛天氣系統會引發大氣潮汐波動，向太空傳遞到電離層底部（距地表高度九十到一百廿公里），使電離層底部導電性較高，再把電場傳到三百公里以上的電離層，吸引較多電子在此處堆積，引發「太空天氣效應」。

　林建宏強調，由於台灣處於電離層赤道異常區內，且電漿濃度是全球最大，而ＧＰＳ導航系統原本就容易受到太空天氣變化的干擾，台灣又是熱帶氣旋好發區，下大雷雨時，特別是山區的ＧＰＳ，受到的干擾更嚴重。