Hubble Gyro Fails
Known to be on its last legs for almost 3 months, an ailing Hubble gyro has finally failed completely. This leaves Hubble with three functioning gyros – the minimum it requires to point accurately. Astronauts on the Space Shuttle will replace all the gyroscopes in a planned service mission in October.
Astronomy Now
SpaceViews
First Converted ICBM Satellite Launch
Surrey Satellite Technology’s latest microsatellite, the UoSAT-12, was launched today on a de-militarized Russian ICBM SS18 (inter-continental ballistic missile). This is the first launch of this repurposed cold war weapon, which easily lifted the 350kg payload into a 650km orbit.
Surrey Satellite Homepage
Astronomy Now
BBC News
CNN Space
SpaceViews
Delta III Launch Rescheduled
Boeing has announced that it will make another attempt to launch the Lockheed Martin-built Orion 3 telecommunications satellite on board a Delta III rocket on Wednesday. This will be the second Delta III launch – the first exploded just over a minute into its flight.
CNN Space
SpaceViews
Mars Surveyor 2001 to Carry Sundial
Inscribed with the motto “Two Worlds, One Sun”, a sundial carried by the Mars Surveyor 2001 will be landed on the surface of Mars in early 2002. Images of the sundial, which was designed with ideas submitted by children to NASA, will be transmitted back to Earth, and available on the Internet.
BBC News
CNN Space
Fox News
MSNBC