太空探索工程 卫星发射 剪报评论

pfg1group

由于地图5火箭太早熄火的关系，
两颗卫星虽然成功和火箭母体分开，
但是却进入了比原定更低的轨道。
两颗卫星必须靠自己的动力系统来进入原定轨道。
真正熄火太早的原因还在调查当中。

但是，动用卫星本身的动力系统来进入更高的轨道可能会影响卫星本身的生命周期。

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/g ... 0In%20Wrong%20Orbit

NRO Spacecraft In Wrong Orbit

Jun 15, 2007

Craig Covault/Aviation Week & Space Technology

Two top secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) ocean surveillance spacecraft were fired into the wrong orbit June 15 when the 200-foot-tall Atlas V rocket they were riding on stopped firing too early in space following launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The top secret satellites separated safely from the malfunctioning booster, however, and have enough rocket propellant to continue their mission, an official said on background.

The U.S. Air Force, which managed the Atlas V launch, and the NRO have begun an official investigation into the launch and malfunction. The $83 million Atlas V used in the launch is a model 401 with no solid rocket boosters.

"The Atlas V people have a lot of explaining to do," the official said on background. The flight was the first NRO secret mission for the new Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle.

The two spacecraft are critical to tracking ships that may conceal al Qaeda terrorists. The new spacecraft will also track Iranian and Chinese sea-based military operations.

The Atlas V is built by Lockheed Martin and uses a Lockheed Martin Centaur upper stage with a Pratt & Whitney RL10 rocket engine powered by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. United Launch Alliance (ULA) now runs the Atlas program and managed the launch in conjunction with NRO and the Air Force's 45th Space Wing that operates Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The Atlas V first stage powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene fired normally and then fell away. The Centaur was then ignited for the first of two firings. Two cameras on board the Centaur radioed back spectacular real-time images of the first stage falling away and ignition of the Centaur against a vivid blue Earth horizon. The vehicle flew north off the U.S. east coast toward a high-inclination orbit.

The Centaur completed the first firing normally to place the spacecraft in a correct initial orbit. The vehicle then coasted about halfway around the world where the Centaur RL10 engine was fired a second time about an hour after liftoff.

This time, however, the Centaur did not fire for as long as it was scheduled to. The exact parameters involved are still secret.

The spacecraft may have to use their onboard propellant to maneuver into a higher orbit, which could affect their mission life. Whether that is the case is still being determined by NRO.

It is not yet known whether the malfunction occurred in the engine itself or in electronics associated with the engine and overall stage.

The flight lifted off from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape at 11:12 a.m. EDT.

An unrelated NRO spacecraft was lost in late 2006 after it was launched successfully from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Delta II rocket. But that spacecraft, involved with the Future Imaging Architecture program, had a serious malfunction of its own.

pfg1group

http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/si ... 6762800/6762831.stm

国际空间站的宇航员完成了第四次太空行走，完成上一次未能够完成的任务。

宇航员弗瑞斯特和斯瓦森设置了一个旋转点，以便太阳能板可以依据太阳方向自由转动，为空间站提供能源。

与此同时，前不久瘫痪的电脑程式也被修复。

空间站长说，目前的工作标志空间站已经渐渐恢复到正常操作中。

周日(17日)的太空行走长达6个半小时，是上周亚特兰蒂斯号与国际空间站相接以来的第四次。

这一次的行动是为了完成原定于上周五(15日)应执行的任务。 宇航员必须修理在6月8日亚特兰蒂斯号发射时损坏的隔热层。

本周一(18日)，地面飞行控制员检验新的太阳能板能否准确地追踪太阳方向。

亚特兰蒂斯号计划在本周二(19日)与国际空间站脱离，并且周四(21日)返回佛罗里达。

亚特兰蒂斯号成员原本计划在11天内完成任务，但因为要修复隔热板，将任务延长至13天。

按照原定计划，这本应是美国宇航局今年第二次发射航天飞机，但由于二月底佛罗里达发射基地遭遇风暴，航天飞机被冰雹损坏，三月中旬的飞行任务被推迟。

尽管计划受到延迟，美国宇航局仍然相信能够在亚特兰蒂斯号在2010年 "退休"前，完成太空站的建造。

为了完成国际太空站的建设，美国宇航局计划执行15次飞行任务，运送大型和备用零件，以及其他补给品。 另外，对哈勃望远镜的维修将在2008年9月进行。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070620/19/g34l.html

（法新社華盛頓十九日電） 美國航空暨太空總署說，太空梭亞特蘭提斯號今天已與國際太空站分離，展開漫長的返航之旅。

亞特蘭提斯號的七名美籍太空人，與國際太空站兩名俄羅斯及一名美國太空人經過簡單道別儀式後，兩艘船艦於格林威治時間今天晚間十時五十一分（台灣時間二十日早上六時五十一分）完成分離。

分離過程以非常緩慢的每秒五十公分速度，從格林威治時間今天下午二時四十二分，在澳洲東北方上空展開。

亞特蘭提斯號六月八日從佛羅里達州卡納維爾角附近的甘迺迪中心升空後，十日靠泊國際太空站，預定於格林威治時間二十一日下午五時五十四分（台灣時間二十二日凌晨一時五十四分）返回甘迺迪中心，結束十三天的太空站組裝任務。

pfg1group

http://www.sinchew.com.my/conten ... ;artid=200706210744

（華盛頓訊）天氣可能影響美國“阿特蘭蒂斯”號重返地球的時間。

美國太空總署（NASA）太空梭項目主管奈特週三說，假設一如週四的氣象預測般，暴風雨或雲層太厚覆蓋了上空900公尺的視野，那太空梭在這樣的高度上，是來不及放下起落架準備著陸的。


天氣預報稱，太空梭降落期間有雷暴天氣，這可能成為降落過程中的主要障礙。

“阿特蘭蒂斯”號預定於美國東部時間週四下午1時時55分（大馬時間週五凌晨1時55分）在佛羅里達州肯尼迪航天中心降落。 （星洲日報/國際•2007.06.21）

pfg1group

http://www.sinchew.com.my/conten ... ;artid=200706220757

（華盛頓訊）美國太空總署（NASA）指出，由於天氣一直未見好轉，“阿特蘭蒂斯”號太空梭被迫推遲至今日（週五，22日）降落。

“阿特蘭蒂斯”號週四（21日）在佛羅里達州肯尼迪太空中心共有兩次降落機會，但由於航天中心所在區域午後持續發生雷暴，降雨及天空雲層過低均不適宜降落，NASA被迫放棄兩次時機。


NASA說，“阿特蘭蒂斯”號週五共有4次降落機會，前兩次均在肯尼太空中心，時間分別為大馬時間週六（23日）凌晨2時16分和3時51分。如果屆時天氣仍然不配合，之後在加州的愛德華茲空軍基地還有兩次降落機會。 （星洲日報/國際•2007.06.22）

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/si ... 6228900/6228970.stm

天气恶劣 亚特兰蒂斯号延期返航

恶劣的天气迫使亚特兰蒂斯号航天飞机周四推迟了返回地球的日期。

美国宇航局原先计划在美国东岸时间13时55分（格林尼治标准时间17时55分），让亚特兰蒂斯号重返地球，但美国佛罗里达州卡纳维拉尔角的肯尼迪航天中心上空浓厚的云层和附近的骤雨，使得计划改变。

亚特兰蒂斯号在东岸时间15时30分（格林尼治标准时间18时30分）还有一次降落的机会，但美国宇航局决定取消计划。

不过，美国宇航局说，他们将试图在周五让阿特兰蒂斯号航天飞机返回地球。

阿特兰蒂斯号有足够的燃料和补给，可以继续留在太空直到星期六。

阿特兰蒂斯号航天飞机在为期13天的任务中，大部分时间停靠在国际太空站，机上的宇航员铺设了17吨重的金属支架，包括一些太阳能装置等。

早些时候，国际空间站的宇航员完弗瑞斯特和斯瓦森完成了第四次太空行走，并修复了太阳能装置的一些技术问题，国际太空站提供能源。

美国宇航局计划在2010年让亚特兰蒂斯号 "退休"。

pfg1group

太空梭航返前， 太空人要做很多检查，
例如把电脑设置到着陆状态，把夹门关好等等。

延迟航返后，就必须把这些设置关掉，
然后继续作其他的事情，
在没有官方工作的时候，太空人可以观看地球的景色。

在35项太空所发射工作里，
其中23项受天气影响。

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070621_sts117_extraday.html

24 Extra Hours in Space: What's an Astronaut to Do?
By Ker Than
Staff Writer
posted: 21 June 2007
05:26 pm ET


An astronaut's work is never finished.

Thunderstorms and a low-lying clouds in Florida forced the space shuttle Atlantis to stay aloft for another day, but the seven astronauts on board aren't spending their time idly gazing out the windows at Earth.

So what are they doing? They've "spent the whole morning getting ready to land, so there's a whole bunch of checklist things they had to do-close the cargo bay doors, put the computers in a configuration for landing," said Allard Beutel, a spokesperson at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. "[Now] basically they have to undo all the things they did this morning."

"We're also adding a course adjustment to allow us to get another chance to land at Edwards Air Force base out in California," Beutel added.

Today, as with every day during a shuttle mission, the astronauts' schedules are carefully managed. "Basically they take their time and reset themselves to be able to then go to bed and start this whole thing over tomorrow," Beutel told SPACE.com.

However, mission ground controllers do try to cut the astronauts a break occasionally. "When they're not doing their official assignments, yes, they can take in the views of Earth," Beutel said. "It's a 14-day mission. It's been two weeks of solid work. We try not to tax them too hard before they land."

Following today's engine burn, Atlantis will have five landing opportunities tomorrow. The first will be at KSC at 2:18 p.m. EDT (1818 GMT). At around 3:50 p.m. EDT (1950 GMT) tomorrow, the shuttle could try again at KSC or try to land at Edwards.

If all these attempts fail, then the shuttle has two more chances at Edwards tomorrow: one at 5:24 p.m. (2124 GMT) and 6:59 p.m. EDT (2259 GMT).

Including today's shuttle landing delay, there have been 23 weather-related shuttle mission extensions out of the 35 shuttle missions extended to date, according to NASA records.

Led by Commander Rick Sturckow, the seven-member STS-117 crew delivered and installed new solar arrays and massive $367.3 million trusses to the International Space Station (ISS). They also helped the ISS astronauts recover vital Russian computer systems that crashed last week and repaired a torn bit of thermal blanket on the shuttle's left aft engine pod.

Returning to Earth with Sturckow are Atlantis pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, James Reilly II, Danny Olivas and Sunita Williams, who is setting a world record for the longest duration spaceflight by a female astronaut.

为什么全部都是新闻而已？
没有其他的内容吗？

[ 本帖最后由 情人节分手快乐 于 23-6-2007 07:14 AM 编辑 ]

pfg1group

http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/si ... 6232300/6232358.stm

因为恶劣天气而一再推迟返航的亚特兰蒂斯号航天飞机已经在周五（6月22日）安全返回地球。

亚特兰蒂斯号已于美国当地时间15时49分（格林尼治标准时间19时49分）降落加利福尼亚州爱德华兹空军基地，结束了两星期的太空飞行任务。

亚特兰蒂斯号飞越太平洋后，在加利福尼亚州爱德华兹空军基地降落。

亚特兰蒂斯号在飞机跑道上滑行时打开了降落伞，然后徐徐地停下来。

人们从圣地亚哥到洛杉矶都能够听到亚特兰蒂斯号隆隆的引擎声音。

上一次航天飞机在爱德华兹空军基地降落是在2005年。

女宇航员威廉姆斯在国际太空站逗留了六个月后，随同亚特兰蒂斯号的另外六名宇航员返回地球。她创下了在女宇航员在太空逗留了长达195天的记录，也是进行了最多太空行走的女宇航员。

她返回地球后说，当你在一个地方待了六个月，它已经成为了你的家，现在很难离开。

早些时候，恶劣的天气迫使亚特兰蒂斯号航天飞机推迟了返回地球的日期。

美国宇航局原先计划在周四（6月21日）美国东岸时间13时55分（格林尼治标准时间17时55分）和15时30分（格林尼治标准时间18时30分），让亚特兰蒂斯号重返地球，但美国佛罗里达州卡纳维拉尔角的肯尼迪航天中心上空浓厚的云层和附近的骤雨，使得计划改变。

pfg1group

原来这栋楼已经开了一年， 纪录一下。
回来再来做一个总结。

pfg1group

（留下来待会有用）

pfg1group

http://news.yam.com/cna/computer/200706/20070624416339.html


（中央社記者郭傳信新德里二十四日專電）印度科技部太空署高級官員日前表示，在印度新建地球同步軌道衛星運載火箭 (GSLV)發射場完工後，印度太空研究組織代客發射衛星的費用將可大幅降低，每公斤價格將僅約歐美的一半；這將免除無衛星發射能力國家，常遭衛星發射國提高價錢「勒索」的無奈。

印度半官方新聞信託社報導，印度科技部太空署署長倫加納特日前向國會諮詢委員會簡報時作了上述表示。他說，法國代客發射衛星每公斤兩萬一千美元，美國代客發射衛星是兩萬五千美元，印度只要一萬四千美元。

今年四月二十三日，印度以另一種需求不同的極軌衛星載運火箭，成功的將一枚重三百五十二公斤的義大利衛星送入太空，完成了首次商業太空任務，收費為一千一百萬美元。

極軌衛星運載火箭能將衛星發射到極軌道。地球同步軌道衛星運載火箭能將衛星發射到地球同步軌道運轉。

不過，報導中並未提及印度何時完成新建的地球同步軌道衛星運載火箭發射場。

印度目前的火箭發射場主要有兩個，一個是印度南部東海岸的斯利哈里柯塔島發射場，也是印度最重要的航太發射中心，建於一九七一年。

另一個是建於一九六三年的頓巴赤道發射場，位於印度西部克勒拉省的阿拉伯海岸邊，是印度第一個太空科學試驗場，目前也成為探空火箭的國際發射場。

報導又引述倫加納特的話說，印度也可以代客製造衛星，價格較其他任何國家都低廉，一枚小型衛星，歐洲國家索價一百八十至二百四十萬美元，但印度科學家只要一百萬美元就能製造一枚同樣的衛星。

自二十世紀六零年代起就積極發展太空計劃的印度，衛星製造技術已達世界一流標準，火箭研發也經過無數次試驗改良，証實性能良好，目前更加緊研製可重複使用的運載火箭，加以印度地理位置接近赤道，可以將衛星送入更高軌道，因此一直希望在價值逾二十億美元的國際商業衛星發射市場佔得一席之地。

pfg1group

http://www.sinchew.com.my/conten ... ;artid=200706241004

（雪邦訊）“我們將會被拋進黑海訓練求生意志，並且做好心理准備面對升上太空或返回地球時可能發生的意外。”

我國准太空人錫慕查化週六（23日）凌晨從莫斯科返馬度假時，在機場接受訪問時，透露他和另一名准太空人華育茲，即將面對的一場嚴峻訓練。


到美國訓練一週

他和華育回國度假3個星期後，在7月15日至22日開始進行上述訓練。過後，他們會到位於休斯頓的美國太空總署（NASA）接受為期一星期的外太空訓練。

“我們將和其他在俄羅斯一起受訓的太空人到美國太空總署接受訓練，在回到莫斯科的訓練中心後，我們每天得進行5公里的跑步及游泳日常訓練。”

錫慕查化和華育茲兩人之中，只有一人將會升上太空，成為大馬史上首名太空人。

目前已經能夠以俄語溝通的錫慕查化透露，他已經做好出發到外太空的準備。大馬的首位太空人預定在今年10月6日升空。

錫慕將主持激勵講座

首相拿督斯里阿都拉將在接獲俄羅斯及美國對大馬兩位准太空人的評估報告後，從錫慕查化及華育茲兩人之間作出選擇。

錫慕查化返國度假的3個星期內，將會為學生主持激勵講座。

他說，很多學生以為他們會升上月球，所以請求他從月球帶回 石頭作為紀念。

“所以我很希望在講座會上向他們澄清，我們的目的地只是外太空站。”

首相決定太空人人選

誰是大馬第一名太空人，將由首相拿督斯里阿都拉定奪。

隨著兩名大馬候任太空人錫慕查化和華育茲卡立完成在俄羅斯的訓練，最後誰獲選登空也成為焦點。

科學、工藝及革新部長拿督斯里賈馬魯丁週六在雲冰出席活動後，向記者披露，大馬首名太空人的人選最終由首相決定。

他表示，當局已接獲2名候選人在俄羅斯及美國的訓練報告，並將於近日呈交首相過目，以確定是否照原訂計劃進行。

首相將往俄國見證

“無論如何，我們仍然需要等待他們倆完成在美國的訓練後，才作出決定。”

他披露，2名太空候選人結束了在俄羅斯的訓練後，目前在大馬享受3個星期的假期，接下來將繼續在美國進行為期一週的訓練。

此外，他也建議首相於10月6日親自前往俄羅斯，見證大馬太空人升空的歷史性一刻。 （星洲日報•2007.06.24）

pfg1group

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/g ... ay%20ULA%20Missions

NRO Shortfall May Delay ULA Missions

Jun 22, 2007
By Frank Morring, Jr./Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The June 15 shortfall of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V launch vehicle with a pair of classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) ocean surveillance spacecraft onboard may delay upcoming military missions by the Boeing/Lockheed Martin joint venture.

Among them could be the first Boeing-built Wideband Gapfiller System (WGS) satellite, designed to begin replacing the aging Defense Satellite Communications Spacecraft (DSCS) constellation.

Speaking to the Washington Space Business Roundtable, ULA chief operating officer Dan Collins said June 21 that his company has launched an investigation into the anomaly. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL-10 engine in its Centaur upper stage shut down early, leaving the NRO L-30 payloads in slightly lower altitudes and inclinations than desired (DAILY, June 18).

"We did have an in-flight anomaly, which we have a review, [an] anomaly review team active right now, [to] understand just what happened and what's going on," Collins said, adding that he was personally involved in "making sure everybody on the team is focused on understanding this."

As to the shortfall's impact on future missions, "at this point in time it's really too early to tell," Collins said.

"We have the plans in place to continue, and we will look at the right times as to whether it's the right move to take the next step," he said.

The U.S. Air Force also is expected to order a review of the failure, which one former military intelligence officer with knowledge of the program called "a major blow, major disappointment."

In addition to the WGS launch on an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral AFS in August, other ULA national security missions that might be affected by a prolonged anomaly review include another NRO launch from the Cape in October and perhaps the unscheduled first Atlas V flight from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., which will also carry an NRO payload.


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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ar ... L&type=politics

US Spy Chief Scraps Satellite Program
By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, June 21, 2007


Spy chief Mike McConnell has junked a multibillion-dollar spy satellite program that engineers hoped would someday pass undetected through the space above other nations.


The move from the director of national intelligence comes after several years of congressional efforts to kill the program, known publicly as the next generation of "Misty" satellites. The new satellite was to be a stealthy intelligence spacecraft designed to take pictures of adversaries and avoid detection.


Little is known about the nation's classified network of satellites, which represent some of the most expensive government programs and receive almost no public oversight. Because of their multibillion-dollar price tags, sensitive missions and lengthy development schedules, spy agencies go to great pains to keep details from becoming public.


McConnell gave no reason for his recent decision. Despite the program's secrecy, he almost dared further inquiry into it.


Speaking Tuesday to an intelligence conference on workplace diversity, McConnell changed the subject and ended his speech by saying: "I have been advised when I was getting ready for this job, you have to do two things: kill a multibillion-dollar program. Just did that. Word is not out yet. You'll see soon.


"And fire somebody important. So I'm searching," he added in jest, getting a laugh from the crowd.


Asked during a Q&A session to elaborate on which program he cut, McConnell declined to comment. His spokesman Steve Shaw also declined to comment on Thursday, but he noted that the director had the power to make this type of budget decision.


Loren Thompson, a defense expert with the Lexington Institute, said he was told by an industry source this month that the program to build the Misty satellites was ending. He said the satellite's true name is not publicly known, but it has been assigned a designation of a letter followed by numbers.


The Associated Press separately confirmed the program was cut.


"People are thinking it is just not worth the huge amount of money it is sucking in," Thompson said.


Speaking generally, Thompson said promises of faster, smaller, cheaper satellites — hopes that became common during the Clinton administration — have been confounded by the laws of physics. The technology simply wasn't able to meet expectations.


The new generation of Misty satellites was born from the belief that stealth technology would be crucial to deceiving adversaries, since many states are aware when U.S. satellites are passing overhead and can change their behavior accordingly.


Yet the threat has changed in recent years, as the United States became more concerned about difficult-to-track terror cells and underground sites for nuclear programs run by countries such as Iran and North Korea.


"The entire imagery architecture that is in space or under development was conceived prior to 9/11. Changes in the threat have led to a re-evaluation of the threat," Thompson said.


The first satellite launched in the Misty family was disclosed by military and space expert Jeffrey Richelson in his 2001 book, "The Wizards of Langley: Inside the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology." That first Misty satellite was launched from the space shuttle Atlantis in March 1990, he wrote.


In an interview, Richelson said a second satellite was launched in 1999. But as insiders debated whether to continue to build the third, some officials didn't think it was worth the money because other satellites could fulfill the role at less cost, said Richelson, a senior fellow with the National Security Archive.


In 2004, an unidentified government agency asked the Justice Department to open a leaks investigation after The Washington Post reported that the program's projected cost had almost doubled from $5 billion to nearly $9.5 billion.


Rick Oborn, a spokesman for the tightlipped National Reconnaissance Office, declined to comment on McConnell's decision. His Northern Virginia-based agency is responsible for designing, building and operating a constellation of U.S. spy satellites.


Those spacecraft are built by American companies contracted by agencies including CIA and NRO and by the Air Force. A spokesman for Lockheed Martin, which is believed to be the lead contractor on this program, declined to comment on McConnell's decision.


The pricey program has been a source of controversy in Congress.


In the House's intelligence budget bill approved last month, lawmakers agreed to end a satellite program that they had supported before, according to New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee's panel on technical intelligence. "We had to make some decisions without a lot of good alternatives," she said in an interview.


The details are in the classified portion of the bill, and Wilson would not confirm that it was a next-generation Misty satellite. But Wilson, a former Air Force officer, said McConnell's decision was part of ongoing discussions among his advisers, the House committee and the Defense Department. "There was a great deal of communication," she said.

Wilson said the government does not have to walk away from the entire amount sunk into the program. Rather, she said, some of the technology can be harvested and used in other programs. She declined to offer any details.


Wilson praised McConnell's early moves but said the key factors in his decision to end the program predated his arrival as intelligence chief in February. "I think it is the conclusion that most of the folks involved had come to — based on cost, schedule and performance. It was a conclusion that everyone was coming to at about the same time," she said.


House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, could not be reached for comment.


The panel's top Republican, Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, said he is not looking for a decision on a single program from McConnell and his advisers. He wants to see leadership.


"I am looking for them to give us a strategy," he said. "This program was there for a reason. What are you going to replace it with? How long is it going to take to develop it? What is the cost for this new program?"


Hoekstra would not identify the program McConnell said was being cut and said he remains doubtful it is truly gone. He said its congressional allies could find a way to bring it back to life through a bill. He also noted that the White House has not sent a revised version of its budget to Congress reflecting McConnell's change.


Hoekstra also criticized how McConnell made his decision public. "I don't think the way you go about announcing major policy decision is to make a flippant comment to a group that you are speaking to about diversity," he said.

pfg1group

美国防部的“百星计划”星途难测 或遭陨落命运  
2007年06月27日 来源：国际先驱导报

美国国防部的“百星计划”很可能遭遇类似“朦胧”计划一样陨落的命运

　　近日，据美国《防务新闻》报道，美军正计划考虑联合北约成员国，在地球低轨道发射约100颗小型战术卫星，打造一个强大的“太空快速反应”军事联盟。然而，在美国媒体竞相报道这项“百星计划”之时，美国国家情报总监麦康奈尔却对外宣布，因国会迟迟不能通过预算，取消代号为“朦胧”(Misty)的隐形卫星计划。此间媒体分析，同样耗资巨大的“百星计划”星途难测，可能与“朦胧计划”一样，最后不了了之。

　　美国打的如意盘算

　　“百星计划”由美国国防部提出，主要目的是“应对美国的对手日益强大的太空反击能力”，一旦美国的卫星系统遭到攻击破坏，美国及盟国可以通过这一计划迅速恢复卫星能力。这个计划囊括了美国在北约组织中的26个盟国，每个北约盟国出资建造5颗“太空快速反应”卫星，与美国共享相关的情报信息，提升联合作战能力。

　　“百星计划”设想将单个卫星的造价控制在2000万至3000万美元，从而保证在有限经费下有100颗小型战术卫星在地球低轨道运行，配合美国的高轨道大型军事卫星共同维护美国的太空优势。外界分析，“百星计划”是美国打的如意盘算。如果能够成功，将为美国节省大量军费，并进一步加强对北约盟国的控制。

　　耗资巨大遭国会否决

　　而神秘的间谍卫星“朦胧计划”出现得较早。有人士分析，自冷战后期的里根时期，美国就开始了“朦胧计划”的最初论证。当时，由于美国的间谍卫星能力开始被别国查觉，美国担心当其卫星过境时敌方会采取隐蔽、伪装等措施欺骗，于是决定发射隐形卫星，让敌方难以发现。

　　一般认为“朦胧计划”让卫星实现隐形的诀窍是让卫星小型化，减小在敌方侦测系统上的反射面积，同时在轨道上布设诱饵碎片，使卫星看起来像一些陨石残体。

　　美国让整个“朦胧计划”处于高度机密下，外界难以了解其轨道等的参数，而在需要时卫星可以机动到侦察区域上空，更让他国难以提防。“朦胧计划”早期预算估计在50亿美元，第二颗卫星到2004年以后就逐渐失效，要让“朦胧计划”延续下去就要不停地花钱，数额可能高达95亿美元。

　　说服盟国不容易

　　由于“百星计划”与“朦胧计划”有众多相似之处，“朦胧”的夭折无疑给“百星计划”的命运增添了变数。

　　“百星计划”与“朦胧”都是烧钱能手。“朦胧”的近百亿预算让人咋舌，“百星计划”也不是一个小工程。即使有关方面真能把单个卫星的成本控制在3000万美元以内，100枚卫星加上相关的发射、测控、地面设施等等开支，也将使整个计划的预算直逼数十乃至上百亿美元。

　　此外，“朦胧计划”与“百星计划”在技术上很可能面对共同的困难。它们都力图追求小型化、机动、防监测、防打击等能力。“朦胧”在一二十年间发展缓慢、成本不断攀升，技术发展很不顺利。可以预计，“百星计划”在这些领域的进展同样不会有很大的突破。因此种种，“朦胧计划”与“百星计划”都难以说服国会和盟国。(寇立研)

pfg1group

http://www.sinchew.com.my/conten ... ;artid=200707020520


美國•阿特蘭蒂斯號太空梭被“背”回家
updated:2007-07-02 17:36:29 MYT

  
（華盛頓訊）美國“阿特蘭蒂斯”號太空梭週日（7月1日）“趴”在一架改進型波音747飛機的背上，開始從加利福尼亞州愛德華茲空軍基地返回位於佛羅里達州的肯尼迪航天中心。

美國太空總署（NASA）說，“阿特蘭蒂斯”號在橫跨美國的長途飛行中，首先經停得克薩斯州補給燃料，之後還要在內布拉斯加州一處空軍基地停留過夜，補給燃料并進行相關檢查。


NASA指出，“阿特蘭蒂斯”號預計在週一（7月2日）運抵肯尼迪航天中心，但如果天氣條件不好，也可能推遲至週二（7月3日）。 （星洲日報/國際•2007.07.02）

pfg1group

http://www.sinchew.com.my/conten ... ;artid=200707031156


updated:2007-07-03 15:41:48 MYT

  
（柏林訊）德國第2顆間諜衛星由俄羅斯運載火箭發射升空。

火箭於大馬時間今日（週二，7月3日）凌晨3時38分發射升空，意味德國SAR-Lupe間諜衛星體系已經能夠開始運作。


這顆衛星原定於當地時間週日升空，但因天氣關係，延遲1天發射。 （星洲日報/國際•2007.07.03）

pfg1group

http://www.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=7&pg=10&ac=747534

赴俄罗斯受训9个月 2候选太空人不言悔 2007/07/05 18:17:09
●南洋商报


（万宜5日讯）“天下无难事，只怕有心人”。只要你认为自己可以，你就一定能！

这是我国两名太空人候选者在俄罗斯受训约9个月后的感受。

两名太空人候选人赛慕斯扎法及法益卡立今日受国民大学的邀请，到该大学与约5千名2007/2008年度大学新生进行交流。

与会者包括国大校长拿督莎丽花教授、副校长（学生事务处）拿督莫哈末瓦西教授以及副校长（学术事务处）拿督苏奇曼教授。

赛慕斯扎法指出，从1万1千名申请者当中脱颖而出成为太空候选人令他感到荣幸，自小就对宇宙奥秘充满好奇的他知道政府公开遴选宇航员后，第一时间提出申请。

他说，在俄国受训虽历经千辛万苦，但是，家人、朋友及全体国人的祝福赋予他排除万难的信心。

他说，受训过程中，有时候觉得自己像试验品或病人，不过，一切都值得，他希望把自己在俄国学到的知识和科技与大家分享，一同为大马的宇航事业作出努力。

尝试突破极限

法益卡立说，过去曾认为大马不可能像其他先进国家般送宇航员上太空，于是原本立志成为宇航员的他，一度把志愿改为当牙医。

他指出，尝试突破各种极限是很好的体验，从而可清楚了解本身的潜能。

赛慕斯扎法及法益卡立在俄国受训后，首相拿督斯里阿都拉将亲自公布大马首位宇航员人选，宇航员将搭乘俄罗斯太空船飞到国际太空站。

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http://www.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=7&pg=10&ac=747535

两名太空人候选人与国大新生对话 2007/07/05 18:17:09
●南洋商报


问：你们完成任务后有什么计划？答：我们将继续为大马宇航事业作出努力，培养更多宇航专才，参与更深入的研究工作。

问：太空人如何在国际太空站里生活及饮食？答：由于太空没有地心引力，我们将利用安装在舱内的睡袋睡觉，上厕所时以特制仪器把尿液排出，我们所吃的食物已预先进行真空包装。

问：太空衣有什么特别之处？答：太空衣重7.5公斤，可提供氧气，我们必须在5分钟内穿上它，在升空及降陆的3小时内必须穿上太空装，到达太空站便可穿回便装。

问：没有地心吸力的感受如何？答：身体完全轻飘飘，不能有太大动作，不然就难以控制，这不像在水中漂浮；在水里，人们仍可决定方向。

问：你们如何在太空逗留两天的时间内进行祈祷？答：每隔45分钟，便会出现日夜交替，若依照这样的计算便要祈祷80次，因此，我们将依照我国拟定的世界首个回教太空指南及国际时间一天祈祷5次。

问：万一发生紧急事故，有什么应对措施？答：我们将遵照指挥中心的指示行动，太空站里备有特制灭火器、宇宙密闭小舱及氧气等。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070630/1/gl2c.html

美國太空旅遊公司推出繞月旅行
更新日期:2007/06/30 11:00
太空旅遊市場生意愈來愈興旺，美國太空探險公司繼國際太空站觀光旅程之後，又推出了繞月旅行，環繞月球比前往國際太空站的定點旅遊，花費要貴很多，據說，價碼大概在一億美元左右，這世界上不缺有錢人，據說，首次繞月旅行已經有人訂位，還有更多人在排隊。

太空探險公司執行長(安德森)說，他們還在和客戶洽談，希望能在年底前完成簽約，繞月旅行的計畫，已經獲得俄羅斯太空主管當局首肯，第一位月球觀光客可望在後年成行。計畫中的月球旅遊，預計九天往返，其中三天在地球軌道上飛行，另外五天半繞行月球。俄羅斯打算用聯合號太空船，來承接繞月觀光業務，它們準備把通訊系統升級，窗戶加大，方便觀光客拍照。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070704/19/gsys.html



（法新社巴黎四日電） 觀看土星龐大衛星希伯利恩近距離照片的天文學家說，這個狀若馬鈴薯的衛星與他們以往看過的任何天體都不同，「外表有如海綿」。

這些天文學家在英國科學週刊「自然」撰文報導，希伯利恩衛星可能有多達百分之四十的面積呈現多孔狀。

美國「卡西尼」太空探測船在二零零五年和二零零六年四次飛近希伯利恩衛星時，都曾將高解析度照片傳回地球；而卡西尼探測船最接近希伯利恩時，距其表面不及六百一十八公里。

上述天文學家報導：「希伯利恩在視覺上最凸出的是它宛如海綿般的外觀，與迄今任何其他天體的影像都不同。」

希伯利恩表面遍佈火山口，其中多數的直徑介於兩公里至十公里間，而且保存良好。

箇中顯而易見的原因在於，希伯利恩的表面多孔，在遭隕石撞擊時，撞擊地點會出現噴出物，而這些物質會四處散佈。

在已命名的四十八枚土星衛星中，希伯利恩是體積第八大的衛星，也是形狀不規則的最大衛星。

pfg1group

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070705/1/gtak.html

火星沙塵暴影響探測機器人任務
更新日期:2007/07/05 08:30
火星出現一股強烈沙塵暴，正影響火星地表探測的兩具探測機器人的任務。

由於這兩具探測機器人「機會號」及「勇氣號」的電池都是仰賴陽光充電，因此這起沙塵暴遮蔽太陽，使得情況不太樂觀。美國太空總署的專家表示，他們已將機器人運作使用的動力降到低點，因此探測機器人還不至於停擺。

這起沙塵暴已經持續了一星期，也是探測機器人從2004年登陸火星後，碰上最嚴重風暴，科學家預計風暴還會持續一星期。因此原本要讓「機會號」深入「維多利亞」坑、探測火星地質的計畫也至少會延誤到七月13號之後。