Simple animals could live in Martian brines: Wikinews interviews planetary scientist Vlada Stamenković

Planetary scientist Vlada Stamenković of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and colleagues have developed a new chemical model of how oxygen dissolves in Martian conditions, which raises the possibility of oxygen-rich brines; enough, the work suggests, to support simple animals such as sponges. The model was published in Nature on October 22. Wikinews caught up with him in an email interview to find out more about his team's research and their plans for the future.

The atmosphere of Mars  is far too thin for humans to breathe or for lungs like ours to extract any oxygen at all. It has on average only around 0.6% of the pressure of Earth's atmosphere, and this is mainly carbon dioxide; only 0.145% of the thin Martian atmosphere is oxygen. The new model indicated these minute traces of oxygen should be able to enter salty seeps of water on or near the planet's surface at levels high enough to support life forms comparable to Earth's microbes, possibly even simple sponges.  Some life forms can survive without oxygen, but oxygen permits more energy-intensive metabolism. Almost all complex multicellular life on Earth depends on oxygen.

"We were absolutely flabbergasted [...] I went back to recalculate everything like five different times to make sure it's a real thing," Stamenković told National Geographic.

"Our work is calling for a complete revision for how we think about the potential for life on Mars, and the work oxygen can do," he told Scientific American, "implying that if life ever existed on Mars it might have been breathing oxygen".

Stamenković et al cite research from 2014 showing some simple sponges can survive with only 0.002 moles of oxygen per cubic meter (0.064 mg per liter). Some microbes that need oxygen can survive with as little as a millionth of a mole per cubic meter (0.000032 mg per liter). In their model, they found there can be enough oxygen for microbes throughout Mars, and enough for simple sponges in oases near the poles.

In 2014, also suggesting multicellular life could exist on Mars, de Vera et al, using the facilities at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), studied some lichens, including Pleopsidium chlorophanum, which can grow high up in Antarctic mountain ranges. They showed those lichens can also survive and even grow in Mars simulation chambers. The lichens can do this because their algal component is able to produce the oxygen needed by the fungal component. Stamenković et al's research provides a way for oxygen to get into the Martian brines without algae or photosynthesis.

Stamenković et al found oxygen levels throughout Mars would be high enough for the least demanding aerobic (oxygen-using) microbes, for all the brines they considered, and all the methods of calculation. They published a detailed map[3] of the distributions of solubility for calcium perchlorates for their more optimistic calculations, which they reckoned were closer to the true case, with and without supercooling. The lowest concentrations were shown in the tropical southern uplands. Brine in regions poleward of about 67.5° to the north and about 72.5° to the south could have oxygen concentrations high enough for simple sponges. Closer to the poles, concentrations could go higher, approaching levels typical of sea water on Earth, 0.2 moles per cubic meter (6.4 mg per liter), for calcium perchlorates. On Earth, worms and clams that live in the muddy sea beds require 1 mg per liter, bottom feeders such as crabs and oysters 3 mg per liter, and spawning migratory fish 6 mg per liter, all within 0.2 moles per cubic meter, 6.4 mg per liter.

Stamenković et al studied magnesium and calcium perchlorates, common on Mars. They found the highest oxygen concentrations occur when the water is colder, which happens most in polar regions.

Stamenković et al's paper is theoretical and is based on a simplified general circulation model of the Mars atmosphere — it ignores distinctions of seasons and the day / night cycle. Stamenković's team combined it with a chemical model of how oxygen would dissolve in the brines and used this to predict oxygen levels in such brines at various locations on Mars.

When asked about plans for a future model that might include seasonal timescales, Stamenković told Wikinews, "Yes, we are now exploring the kinetics part and want to see what happens on shorter timescales."

Stamenković et al's model also takes account of the tilt of the Mars axis, which varies much more than Earth's does.

Wikinews asked Stamenković if he had any ideas about whether and how sponges could survive through times when the tilt was higher and less oxygen would be available:

Wikinews also asked Stamenković how their research is linked to the recent discovery of possible large subglacial lake below the Martian South Pole found through radar mapping.


Marte podría tener oxígeno suficiente para albergar vida

22 de octubre de 2018California, Estados Unidos —

Hace 2.700 millones de años la atmósfera de la Tierra comenzó a acumular oxígeno producido por cianobacterias que vivían en los océanos y eran capaces de realizar fotosíntesis. El oxígeno fue fundamental para la aparición de vida más compleja, incluidos los primeros animales, y hoy sustenta el tipo de metabolismo más habitual del planeta.

Ahora, un nuevo estudio publicado en Nature Geoscience apunta a que en zonas de Marte también puede haber suficiente oxígeno como para mantener a algunos seres vivos terrestres. Vlada Stamenkovic, investigador de la NASA, y colegas del Instituto Tecnológico de California han desarrollado un modelo que calcula la cantidad de oxígeno que podría encontrarse en disolución en las aguas saladas que pueden existir en algunas zonas del planeta.
La alta concentración de varias sales permite la existencia de agua en ciertas condiciones. Las últimas investigaciones sugieren que Marte es un planeta que podría albergar enormes reservas de agua helada en el subsuelo, a salvo de la radiación solar. Las observaciones han mostrado indicios de la presencia de un lago subsuperficial de agua salobre y de unos 20 kilómetros de diámetro.

El nuevo estudio especula que la concentración de oxígeno en su interior podría ser “alta” si hay un contacto temporal con la superficie o si hay radiación suficiente para que se separen el oxígeno y el hidrógeno. Los responsables del trabajo consideran que estos resultados teóricos pueden explicar el estado de oxidación de algunas rocas marcianas e implican “que hay oportunidades para la vida basada en el oxígeno en el Marte actual u otros cuerpos planetarios gracias a fuentes de oxígeno alternativas a la fotosíntesis”. En concreto, los expertos calcularon que en torno al 6,5% de todo Marte, ya sea justo por debajo de la superficie o sobre ella, puede contener niveles de oxígeno parecidos a los que permiten la vida en la Tierra.

«Por primera vez nos hemos dado cuenta de que el oxígeno disuelto, una molécula que fue crítica para la evolución de la vida en la Tierra, podría estar disponible en Marte en concentraciones que podrían ser suficientes para sostener vida aerobia», ha explicado Vlada Stamenkovic al diario ABC. «Esto cambia por completo nuestra comprensión sobre la potencial habitabilidad del Marte moderno y antiguo. Así que se puede decir que son buenas noticias, por mucho que quede mucho trabajo por delante».


Skull study supports theory of human origin in Africa

Scientists from the United Kingdom have concluded, in a genetic study performed on 6,000 skulls from ancient male humans from around the world, that the origin of mankind as we know it began in southeastern Africa, which scientists refer to as "The Cradle of Man".

Skulls vary in size and shape as humans began to spread out from the African continent, and the scientists compared those characteristics to those of later humans along with their DNA. The oldest skull believed to have been tested was at least 40,000 years old.

"We have combined our genetic data with new measurements of a large sample of skulls to show definitively that modern humans originated from a single area in Sub-Saharan Africa," said Andrea Manica, one of the researchers at the Department of Zoology of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.

However, some scientists disagree with the study, calling it "mistaken".

"You can't find the origin of people by measuring the variability of their skulls. The main problem with the paper is that it takes some assumptions from genetics papers of 10 to 15 years ago that we now know are wrong. Africa is ecologically diverse, and cranial variation is a function of environments. The most important feature that is related to climate is skull size. So by correcting for climate, they are subtracting a major component of variability," said John Hawks, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.


Estudios confirman que los humanos se originaron en África

Científicos del Reino Unido revelaron, en un estudio genérico llevado a cabo sobre 6.000 cráneos de seres humanos prehistóricos de todo el mundo, que el origen del ser humano como se lo conoce comenzó en el sudeste de África, al cual los científicos se refieren como "La Cuna de la Vida".

"Hemos combinado nuestros datos genéticos con nuevas medidas de un gran número de cráneos para mostrar definitivamente que el humano moderno se originó en un área particular de África Sub-Sahariana", dijo Andrea Manica, una de las investigadores del Departamento de Zoología de la Universidad de Cambridge en Cambridge, Inglaterra.

Los cráneos varían en tamaño y forma ya que los humanos comenzaron a irse del continente africano; los científicos compararon estas características a aquellas de humanos más modernos con su ADN.

Manica dice que esto no confirma sospechas de que los humanos eventualmente evolucionaron de los Neanderthal, pero que "cualquiera fuera el producto del apareamiento, no resultó en la población anterior", sino una distinta.

Algunos científicos argumentan con el estudio, y lo califican de "equivocado".

"No puedes encontrar el origen de las personas midiendo la variabilidad de sus cráneos. El problema principal es que se toman ciertas suposiciones de trabajos sobre genética de hace 10 a 15 años que ahora sabemos que son incorrectos. África es ecológicamente diversa, y la variación craneal es un resultado de sus ecosistemas. La característica más importante relacionada al clima es el tamaño del cráneo. Así que al corregir por el clima, están restando un componente principal de variabilidad", dijo John Hawks, un investigador de la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison.

El cráneo más antiguo que fue evaluado era de hace al menos 40.000 años.


Smart-1 probe ends mission with planned crash into the Moon

Observatories around the world watched the skies early on Sunday morning as a European space probe, the SMART-1 crash landed on the Moon; the first time a European made object has landed there and, as the first, it made quite a bang. For the culmination of its three-year mission the probe left its orbit around our nearest neighbor and smashed into the Lake of Excellence at around 4,500 mph. The impact created a brand new crater and scattered debris up to 30 miles, in contrast to the gentle touchdown of the Eagle lander (when Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon) 37 years ago.

SMART-1, an unmanned probe, was launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on September 27, 2003 from the European Space Agency's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. The first probe from the Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART) group took 14 months to reach its destination. Since then it has orbited more than 3000 times, covering a staggering 62 million miles. In that time its mission has been to gather new information about the Moon's geographical and chemical make up. An ESA scientist, Bernard Foing said: "The legacy left by the huge wealth of SMART-1 data, to be analysed in the months and years to come, is a precious contribution to Lunar science at a time when the exploration of the Moon is once again getting the worlds interest." Using X-ray and infrared cameras the probe took pictures of the Moon's surface; some of its findings include a mountaintop (christened the Peak of Eternal light) where the Sun never sets.

Considering the distance it had traveled, the fuel consumption of SMART-1 was quite economical: the entire mission required just 62 litres (13 gallons) of liquid Xenon to fuel it. Weighing in at 376 kilograms and costing £75 million, SMART-1 was one of the smallest and cheapest space missions. Towards the end of its mission the probe was orbiting up to 4 times a day (as opposed to twice a day at the start of its mission) as controllers brought it closer and closer to the Moon in preparation for the final act.

The mission was also a test of new technologies. The miniature X-ray camera is the first in the world to be able to identify Calcium deposits in rock formations. Combined with other features the probe was, for the first time, able to map the chemical structure of large sections of the Lunar landscape. Manuel Grande, the University of Wales scientist in charge of the camera, said: "What was particularly pleasing was the calcium signal [...] This is the first time we've been able to take an inventory of all the rock-forming elements of the moon."

A similar camera is expected to be included on a similar Indian mission, the Chandrayaan-1, due to be launched in 2007-2008.

Another new technology used by the probe was its engine, called a Hall effect thruster, a new form of {{w|Ion thruster]] (first considered by scientists in the 1950's). Previously this type of engine was only flown on Russian satellites, and this was the first time one has ever powered a craft beyond earth orbit. The thruster works by applying a large voltage across a magnetic coil, creating a strong magnetic field. This ionises the Xenon fuel supply which accelerates the ions to high speeds, pushing the craft forward. The propulsion of such an engine is around 3 times that of a normal chemical rocket. The thruster was powered by 2 solar panels on either side of the probe.

The engine's small size and cost-efficiency helped keep down the mission budget. However there are drawbacks; for example, manoeuvres have to be carried out in long progressive burns rather than with short sharp bursts. A hall effect engine will also be used on the Bepi-Colombo mission to Mercury in 2013.

Astronomers and scientists in ground observatories tracked the crash landing as it unfolded, controlled by the ESA staff from the Darmstadt centre, Germany. The Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii caught the impact on infrared cameras, seen as a bright flash as rock and soil became superheated. Elsewhere, results were less conclusive; in Florida thick clouds meant astronomers missed the event. One observer said: "It would have been nice if it was clear, but that's the way astronomy works."

ESA sources say the mission was entirely successful in its aim to test new technology and obtain more data about the Moon. "It was really a great mission for the agency," said mission manager Gerhard Schwehm, "It was a technology demonstrator that grew up and provide lots of beautiful science data."


La sonda espacial SMART-1 fa impacte sobre la superfície lunar

La sonda SMART-1 es va estavellar contra la Lluna com estava planejat. L'impacte controlat de la sonda SMART-1 va ocórrer el 3 de setembre a les 5:42:22 UTC sobre l'hemisferi sud de la Lluna en la regió anomenada Llac de l'Excel·lència. En el moment de l'impacte l'SMART-1 es desplaçava a una velocitat de 2.000 m/s. L'impacte va crear un cràter que és visible des de la terra per mitjà de telescopis. La informació recollida sobre l'impacte complementarà informació utilitzada en simuladors d'impacte de meteorits, el núvol de pols generada va deixar al descobert materials del sòl, com gel d'aigua, segons l'anàlisi espectroscòpic.

S'estima que l'SMART-1 va caure a 34°24′S 46°12′W. Al moment de l'impacte la lluna era visible en les Amèriques, l'Oceà Pacífic, però no des d'Europa, Àfrica o Àsia.

La sonda era una peça d'alta tecnologia, la seva sigla es traduïa com Petites Missions d'Investigació i Tecnologia Avançades, de l'anglès Small Missions for Advanced Research.

Centenars de professionals i aficionats a l'astronomia de tot el món van observar per hores la lluna amb el propòsit i l'esperança de poder observar una explosió sobre la superfície del satèl·lit natural o algun fenomen que els donés una indicació dels moments finals de la sonda espacial.

L'SMART-1 va ser llançat al setembre de 2003 com a part d'una missió per a demostrar i provar noves tecnologies. Es va convertir en la primera missió europea a usar un motor d'ions en lloc de combustió química per a arribar a la seva destinació.

El sistema de propulsió col·lecta energia a través dels seus panells solars i l'ús per a impulsar la nau mitjançant l'expulsió de partícules de xenó. Era bastant eficient, cobria una distància de 100 milions de quilòmetres amb només 60 litres de combustible.

D'ara endavant la majoria de les missions europees estaran dotades amb motors d'ions, com per exemple la missió Bepi Columbo al planeta Mercuri.

Durant la seva durada, la missió SMART-1 va fer ús d'un espectròmetre de raigs X conegut com D-CIXS amb el qual va realitzar diversos mapes mineralògics de la Lluna identificant la distribució de calci, magnesi, alumini, sílice i ferro. El refinament d'aquest coneixement ajudarà als científics a estudiar l'origen de la Lluna. El D-CIXS va tenir tant èxit que s'usarà en pròximes missions a la Lluna. En aquest moment es construeix una versió millorada que serà utilitzada en la missió lunar hindú Chandrayaan.

La càmera de l'SMART-1, batejada AMIE, va produir els millors mapes digitals de la Lluna fins al moment, superant la qualitat de la missió nord-americana Clementine que tenia una resolució de 200 metres. Els mapes de l'SMART-1 revelen detalls de 40 mt. No obstant això, aquesta resolució no és suficient per a veure les parts individuals de l'equip de l'Apollo que van ser deixades sobre la lluna. Però la informació es pot usar com una eina de comparació per a estudiar les fotografies enviades pels primers astronautes.

Per exemple, el professor Bernard Foing de l'Agència Espacial Europea (ESA) creu que els astronautes han estat allí perquè “hem correlacionat les nostres dades amb la informació obtinguda per l'Apollo 15. Les nostres imatges són consistents amb les imatges panoràmiques recollides pels astronautes”.


Europäische Mondsonde „SMART-1“ planmäßig auf dem Mond zerschellt

Paris (Frankreich), 03.09.2006 – Die europäische Mondsonde SMART-1 ist heute planmäßig auf dem einzigen natürlichen Erdtrabanten zerschellt. Um genau 07:42 Uhr und 22 Sekunden MESZ wurde von der europäischen Raumfahrtagentur ESA der Aufprall registriert. Die Aufschlagstelle lag gemäß dem Mondkoordinatenssystem genau bei 46,2 Grad West, 34,4 Grad Süd. Sie nennt sich „Lake of Excellence“ und befindet sich in der mittleren Südregion des Erdtrabanten.

Die Wissenschaftler vermuteten, dass die Sonde bei einer Aufprallgeschwindigkeit von zwei Kilometern pro Sekunden einen etwa drei bis zehn Meter breiten Krater schlagen würde. Dabei wurde der Aufprall von mehreren irdischen Teleskopen beobachtet. Es soll dann das abgesprengte Material mittels einer Spektralanalyse untersucht werden. Weiterhin erhoffen sich die Wissenschaftler durch eine Aufprallanalyse neue Erkenntnisse über die dabei entstehende Dynamik und dessen Einfluss auf das technische Gerät.

Mit einer umfunktionierten Kamera wurden weiterhin zahlreiche Aufnahmen von der Mondoberfläche geschossen. Die wichtigste Aufgabe der Sonde war jedoch der Praxistest eines so genannten Ionen-Triebwerks. Das Prinzip beruht darauf, dass mit Hilfe von elektrischer Energie, die mit Solarzellen erzeugt wird, Xenon-Ionen erzeugt werden, die einen Rückstoß erzeugen. Dieser ist zwar nur sehr gering, steht jedoch fast kontinuierlich zur Verfügung. Ein weiterer Vorteil: Es muss nur eine geringe Masse an Treibstoff mit an Bord genommen werden.


La sonda espacial SMART-1 hace impacto sobre la superficie lunar

La sonda SMART-1 se estrelló contra la Luna como estaba planeado. El impacto controlado de la sonda SMART-1 ocurrió el 3 de septiembre a las 5:42:22 UTC sobre el hemisferio sur de la Luna en la región llamada Lago de la Excelencia. Al momento del impacto el SMART-1 se desplazaba a una velocidad de 2.000 m/s. El impacto creó un cráter que es visible desde la tierra por medio de telescopios. La información recogida sobre el impacto complementará información utilizada en simuladores de impacto de meteoros, la nube de polvo generada dejó al descubierto materiales del suelo, como hielo de agua, según el análisis espectroscópico.

Se estima que el SMART-1 cayó a 34°24′S 46°12′W. Al momento del impacto la luna era visible en las Americas, el Océano Pacífico, pero no desde Europa, Africa o Asia.

La sonda era una pieza de alta tecnología, su sigla se traducía como Pequeñas Misiones de Investigación y Tecnología avanzadas, del inglés Small Missions for Advanced Research.

Cientos de profesionales y aficionados a la astronomía de todo el mundo observaron por horas la luna con el propósito y la esperanza de poder observar una explosión sobre la superficie del satélite natural o algún fenómeno que les diera una indicación de los momentos finales de la sonda espacial.

El SMART-1 fue lanzado en septiembre de 2003 como parte de una misión para demostrar y probar nuevas tecnologías. Se convirtió en la primera misión europea en usar un motor de iones en lugar de combustión química para llegar a su destino.

El sistema de propulsión colecta energía a través de sus paneles solares y la usa para impulsar la nave mediante la expulsión de partículas de xenón. Era bastante eficiente, cubría una distancia de 100 millones de kilómetros en con solo 60 litros de combustible.

De ahora en adelante la mayoría de las misiones europeas estarán dotadas con motores de iones, como por ejemplo la misión Bepi Columbo al planeta Mercurio.

Durante su duración, la misión SMART-1 hizo uso de un espectrómetro de rayos X conocido como D-CIXS con el cual realizo varios mapas mineralógicos de la Luna identificando la distribución de calcio, magnesio, aluminio, sílice y hierro. El refinamiento de este conocimiento ayudará a los científicos a estudiar el origen de la Luna. El D-CIXS tuvo tal éxito que se usará en próximas misiones a la Luna. En el momento se construye una versión mejorada que será utilizada en la misión lunar hindú Chandrayaan.

La cámara del SMART-1, bautizada AMIE, produjo los mejores mapas digitales de la Luna hasta el momento, superando la calidad de la misión estadounidense Clementine que tenía una resolución de 200 metros. Los mapas del SMART-1 revelan detalles de 40 m. Sin embargo, esta resolución no es suficiente para ver las partes individuales del equipo del Apollo que fueron dejadas sobre la luna. Pero la información se puede usar como una herramienta de comparación para estudiar las fotografías enviadas por los primeros astronautas.

Por ejemplo, el profesor Bernard Foing de la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) cree que los astronautas han estado allí porque “hemos correlacionado nuestros datos con la información obtenida por el Apollo 15. Nuestras imágenes son consistentes con las imágenes panorámicas recogidas por los astronautas”.


SMART-1 uderzył w Księżyc

O godzinie 5:42 GMT europejska sonda SMART-1, zgodnie z planem, zderzyła się z powierzchnią Księżyca. Miejsce zderzenia leży w księżycowym Jeziorze Doskonałości. Znajduje się ono na południu widzialnej strony Księżyca.

Widowiskowy koniec trzyletniej sondy, ważącej 285 kg, kontrolerzy misji SMART z Europejskiej Agencji Kosmicznej (ESA) powitali oklaskami. Zaraz potem pokazano zdjęcia zderzenia zarejestrowane przez teleskopy na Hawajach. Widoczne na nich jaskrawe światło było rezultatem zderzenia. Zderzenie rejestrowały także teleskopy w Arizonie i Chile. Sonda prawdopodobnie pozostawiła po sobie krater o średnicy od 3 do 10 m.

Zgodnie z przewidywaniami, w momencie zderzenie sonda miała prędkość 7200 km/h.

SMART-1 rozpoczął lot do Księżyca 27 września 2003, został wyniesiony na orbitę okołoziemską przez rakietę Ariane-5. Do dziś wykonał 332 obiegi dookoła Srebrnego Globu. W lutym 2005 ESA postanowiła przedłużyć czas trwania misji do sierpnia 2006. Przez cały ten czas SMART-1 badał powierzchnię naszego naturalnego satelity, wykonując zdjęcia o wysokiej rozdzielczości. Przesyłał je na Ziemie w ilości ok. 1000 na tydzień.

SMART-1 miał pomóc zrozumieć, jak powstał Księżyc, a przede wszystkim sprawdzić hipotezę, według której powstał na skutek kolizji ciała kosmicznego z Ziemią. Miał również przetestować silnik elektryczny, który ma być użyty w misji BepiColombo do Merkurego.


Solar-powered plane completes 26-hour flight

The Solar Impulse, an experimental solar-powered airplane, landed in Switzerland on Thursday after completing a successful 26-hour test flight. The flight was a proof-of-concept displaying that a solar-powered aircraft can accumulate enough power from the sun during the day to power it through the night. The team that designed and built the aircraft believes that, in theory, the plane could fly indefinitely, given that there is enough sunlight to power it.

The flight is the longest and highest flight by a piloted solar-powered aircraft, with an average altitude of about 28,000 feet, and an average speed of around 25 miles per hour. Pilot Andre Borschberg, a former fighter pilot in the Swiss air force, said "I've been a pilot for forty years now, but this flight has been the most incredible of my flying career. Just sitting there and watching the battery charge level rise and rise thanks to the sun. I have just flown more than 26 hours without using a drop of fuel and without causing any pollution."

The plane can carry only one passenger, and contains 12,000 solar cells. However, the plane does have its setbacks; a blog on the project's website reported after seventeen hours of flight that "Andre's feeling great up there. His only complaints involve little things like a slightly sore back as well as a ten-hour period during which it was minus twenty degrees Celsius in the cockpit. That made his drinking water system freeze up and worst of all his iPod batteries die."

The project's intention is to show that emissions-free air travel is a feasible concept; however, the team does not believe that current propulsion methods will be replaced by alternatives in the near future.


Швейцария осъществи 24 ч. фотоволтаичен полет

Самолет летя за първи път в продължение на 24 ч. само със слънчева енергия, без гориво.  Този подвиг е сравним с първите моторни полети в края на ХІХ и началото на ХХ век.

Швейцарският пилот Андре Боршберг излита рано сутринта на 8 юли от Пейерн при идеални атмосферни условия и лети на 8700 м. височина през деня, което му позволява да натрупа достатъчно слънчева енергия за да продължи полета и през нощта. През нощта самолета слиза до височина от 1 500 м. и лети със скорост от 50 км. в час между летището в Пайерн и езерото Мора.

За 7 години 50-на инженера и техници  и 100-на учени в Швейцария успяха да осъществят проектът Бертран Пикар, известен на широката общественост още като Солар Импулс.

През юли 2009 прототипа HB-SIA е изпробван на военното летище на Цюрих. Разпереността  на самолета е 63,4 м. (почти колкото на голям самолет), но тежи само 1,6 тона. Няколко слоя въглеродни фибри са вплетени като пчелен кошер, като всяка от тях има тежест  93 гр. на м².  Крилата с 200 м² повърхност  са с покритие от  12.100 бр. слънчеви клетки от монокристален силиции с дебелина от 130 микрона.

Научният напредък в областта на слънчевите батерии позволи от 2003 до 2010 г. мощността им да бъде увеличена от 16 до 22%  при намаляване на повърхността с два пъти. Съхраняването на слънчева енергия се осъществява с литиеви батерии с капацитет от 240 вата в час на кг. 70 акумулатора тежат 400 кг. Термичната изолация на летателния апарат позволява батериите да функционират при -40 °C на 8 500 m. Всеки свръхлек мотор има мощност от 10 конски сили. Те задействат въздушни винтове с диаметър 3,5 м и въртеливо движение от 200 до  400 оборота  в минута.

Следващата цел на проекта е осъществяване на полет от 36 часа, за да се докаже, че е възможно самолетът да лети единствено с помощта на слънчевите лъчи. Крайната му цел  е обиколка около света от 20 до 25 дена в 5 етапа (или 5 пъти по 5 дена и 5 нощи) през 2013 г.


Letadlo na sluneční pohon létalo celý den a noc

Čtyřiadvacetihodinový test letadla Solar Impulse, které je poháněno elektrickou energií z fotovoltaických článků umístěných na jeho křídlech, skončil úspěchem. Letadlo kroužilo nad Švýcarskem déle než 25 hodin. V kokpitu jednomístného letadla byl pilot Andre Borschberg.

Podle spoluzakladatele projektu Bertranda Piccarda jde o přelomový okamžik: „Když jsme startovali, byla to jiná éra. Přistáli jsme v nové éře, kdy lidé chápou, že s obnovitelnou energií mohou dělat nemožné.“

Borschberg odstartoval za svítání a celý den nabíjel za slunečného dne akumulátory. V noci z nich pak čerpal energii na další let. Když letadlo za dalšího svítání přistálo, mělo ještě energii na další tři hodiny letu. „Nic by nám nezabránilo v letu další den a další noc – a k dosažení mýtu nekonečného letu,“ rozplýval se Piccard nadšením.

Test byl sice kvůli problému s komunikačním zařízením před necelým týdnem neplánovaně odložen, ale pak proběhl bez potíží. Závadu na zařízení označil Piccard za první velký problém, se kterým se v projektu museli vyrovnat. Vadným přístrojem byl telemetrický vysílač, který přenáší informace z letadla do kontrolního střediska. Bez něj mohla být země ve spojení s pilotem pouze prostřednictvím rádia.

Cílem projektu Solar Impulse je zkonstruovat letoun na sluneční pohon, který by byl schopný obletět Zemi.


Suisse : premier vol de nuit réussi pour Solar Impulse

« Pour la première fois, un avion solaire a volé un jour et une nuit d'affilée sans carburant ». C'est par ces mots que Bertrand Picard a annoncé, jeudi matin tôt, la réussite de l'exploit réalisé par l'avion Solar Impulse qui, après avoir décollé mercredi de Payerne à 6 heures 51 du matin, est resté pendant plus de 24 heures en l'air, utilisant l'énergie solaire stockée pendant la journée pour voler de nuit.

Une semaine plus tôt, la première tentative avait été annulée à la suite d'un problème technique. Mardi soir, ce sont les conditions météorologiques, et en particulier le fort vent, qui menaçait de retarder de nouveau l'expérience. Parti tôt le matin de l'aéroport militaire de Payerne, Solar Impulse a en effet fortement dérivé à la fin de la journée sous l'effet de courants de plus de 120 km/h, forçant ainsi le pilote et fondateur du projet André Borschberg à perdre pratiquement une heure d'exposition au soleil en revenant au dessus de la Broye vaudoise.

De retour dans la zone de tests, il est cependant monté à 9 000 mètres d'altitude comme le prévoyait le plan de vol et a reçu le feu vert du contrôle au sol pour débuter son vol de nuit. Pendant les premières heures de la nuit, alors que le centre de contrôle au sol restait constamment en état d'alerte, l'appareil est descendu progressivement jusqu'à 1 500 mètres avant de se stabiliser à cette hauteur en effectuant des cercles entre l'aérodrome et le lac de Morat à une vitesse d'environ 50 km/h pour économiser ses réserves d'énergie.

À 6 heures jeudi matin, lors d'une conférence de presse, les responsables du projet ont pu annoncer la totale réussite de l'opération : selon la déclaration officielle, il restait en effet encore trois heures d'autonomie dans les batteries au moment du lever du soleil. Dès ce moment, le pilote pourrait enclencher le mécanisme rechargeant les batteries solaires, ouvrant ainsi la voie théorique à un vol perpétuel sans aucun carburant.

Le second membre fondateur du projet, qui compte quelques 70 personnes, Bertrand Picard, a salué cette première mondiale et relevé que cette réussite devrait considérablement augmenter la crédibilité du projet dont le but final est de réaliser, en 2013 ou 2014, un tour du monde en cinq étapes.


சூரிய ஆற்றலில் 26 மணி நேரம் பறந்து சாதனை படைத்தது விமானம்

"சூரியத் தூண்டல்" என அழைக்கப்படும் சூரிய ஆற்றலில் இயங்கும் விமானம் ஒன்று 26 மணி நேர வெற்றிகரமான சோதனைப் பறப்பின் பின்னர் நேற்று வியாழக்கிழமை திட்டமிட்டபடி சுவிட்சர்லந்தில் தரையிறங்கியது. பகலில் சேமிக்கப்பட்ட சூரிய ஆற்றலை இவ்விமானத்தின் இரவு நேரப் பறப்புக்கும் பயன்படுத்த மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட சோதனை முயற்சி இதன் மூலம் வெற்றி கண்டுள்ளது.

"தேவையான அளவு சூரிய ஆற்றல் இவ்விமானத்தில் இருக்குமிடத்து இது எவ்வளவு தூரமும் பறக்கக்கூடியதாக இருக்கும் என கொள்கையளவில் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம்," என இதனை வடிவமைத்தவர்கள் தெரிவிக்கிறார்கள்.

இவ்விமானம் காலை 0900 (0700 GMT) மணிக்கு சுவிஸ் தலைநகர் பேர்னில் இருந்து 50 கிமீ தூரத்தில் உள்ள பேயேர்ன் விமானநிலையத்தில் தரையிறங்கியது. சராசரியாக 25 மைல்/மணி வேகத்தில் 8,700 மீட்டர் உயரம் இவ்விமானம் இச்சோதனைப் பறப்பில் பறந்துள்ளது. விமானி மூலம் இயக்கப்பட்ட சூரிய ஆற்றலுடன் கூடிய விமானம் ஒன்று இவ்வளவு உயரம் பறந்ததும் இதுவே முதற் தடவையாகும்.

சுவிஸ் விமானப் படையின் முன்னாள் போர் விமானியான அந்திரே போர்சுபேர்க் என்பவரே இவ்விமானத்தை ஓட்டிச் சென்றார். "40 ஆண்டுகளாக நான் விமானியாகப் பணியாற்றுகிறேன். இந்த சோதனைப் பறப்பில் கலந்து கொண்டது எனது பணிக்காலத்தில் நான் பெற்ற அதிஉயர் சாதனையாக நான் கருதுகிறேன். மின்கலங்களில் ஆற்றல் அதிகரிப்பதை நான் அவதானித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன். சுர்ரியனுக்கு நான் நன்றி சொல்கிறேன். எரிபொருள் எதுவுமின்றி, சூழலுக்கு மாசு ஏற்படுத்தாமல் 26 மணி நேரம் நான் வானில் பறந்திருக்கிறேன்," என்றார் அந்திரே போர்சுபேர்க்.

இவ்விமானம் ஒரு பயணியை மட்டும் ஏற்றிச் செல்ல வல்லது. இதன் இறக்கைகளின் மேல் பக்கம் முழுக்க 12,000 சூரியக் கலங்கள் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. கரிம இழைகளால் ஆன இந்த விமானத்தின் எடை ஒரு மோட்டார் வண்டியின் எடையே ஆயினும், இதனுடைய இறக்கைகள் அறுபது மீட்டர்கள் நீளமுடையவை. இந்த விமானம் செல்லக்கூடிய அதிகபட்ச வேகம் மணிக்கு 70 கிமீ.

எனினும், இப்பயணத்தின் போது சில பின்னடைவுகளையும் சந்திக்க நேர்ந்துள்ளது. "17 மணி நேரப் பயணத்தின் பின்னர் சில பிரச்சினைகளை அந்திரே எதிர்கொண்டதாகத் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது. தனக்கு முதுகுவலி ஏற்பட்டதாகவும், விமானி அறையில் மிகவும் குளிராக (-20 பாகை செல்சியசு) இருந்ததாகவும் குறைப்பட்டுக் கொண்டார். குடிநீர் இதனால் உறைந்து விட்டதாகவும், அவரது ஐ-பொட் இயங்க மறுத்துவிட்டதாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது."

"தூய்மையான தொழில்நுட்பம் மற்றும் மீளப்பயன்படுத்தப்படக்கூடிய எரிசக்தி ஆகியவற்றுக்கான சாத்தியத்தை இவ்விமானத்தின் வெற்றிகரமான பறப்பு விளக்குகிறது," என சூரியத் தூண்டல் (solar impulse) என்ற இத்திட்டத்தின் தலைவரான பேர்ட்ரான்ட் பிக்கார்ட் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இவர் 1999 ஆம் ஆண்டு வளிமக்கூடு மூலம் முதல் தடவையாக உலகத்தைச் சுற்றி வந்து சாதனை படைத்தவர் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

வெள்ளி, சூலை 9, 2010


Sony recalls 440,000 laptops due to wiring faults

Technology company Sony has recalled 440,000 Vaio laptops due to a fault in the wiring which could result in overheating.

The recall involves some laptops in the VAIO VGN-TZ100 series, VGN-TZ200 series, VGN-TZ300 series and VGN-TZ2000. The affected laptops were sold through the SonyStyle store for between CAN$1,700 and CAN$4,000.

The recall affects 48 countries, with 373,000 of the recalled laptops being sold in countries other than Japan. 67,000 of the laptops were sold in Japan.  Sony has received 209 reports of overheating worldwide, and one customer has reported receiving minor burns.

One of the countries not affected by the recall is the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for Sony UK said that there have "been no reported incidents of this potential issue in products sold in the UK to date, and a product recall is not required."


Sony faz recall de 440.000 laptops devido as falhas de fiação

A empresa de tecnologia Sony fez um pedido de recorde de 440.000 recall (retirada, em inglês) aos laptops do Vaio, devido a uma falha na fiação que poderiam resultar em sobreaquecimento.

O recall envolve alguns laptops da série VAIO VGN-TZ100, série VGN-TZ200, série VGN-TZ300 e VGN-TZ2000. Os laptops afetados foram vendidos através das lojas SonyStyle entre CAN$ 1.700 e CAN$ 4.000 doláres canadenses.

O recall afeta 48 países (entre eles o Brasil e Portugal), com o recorde de 373.000 laptops serem vendidos em países além do Japão. 67.000 dos laptops foram vendidos no Japão. Sony recebeu 209 relatórios de superaquecimento em todo o mundo e um cliente tem relatado que recebeu pequenas queimaduras.

Um dos países não afetados pelo recall é o Reino Unido. Um porta-voz da Sony pelo Reino Unido disse que ainda "não foram reportados incidentes deste potencial problema nos produtos vendidos no Reino Unido até à data e o produto do recall não é necessário".


Sony refreshes VAIO brand for business and entertainment

From the middle of July, Sony Corporation refreshed their senior laptop brand VAIO from "Video Audio Integrated Operation" to "Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer". According to Sony Taiwan Limited, this refreshment is an attempt to relocate the laptop consuming market for business and entertainment factors.

In the "VAIO Experience 2008" press conference in Europe, Sony promoted their new product series for different populations including BZ for business, FW for home entertainment, Z for ultra-slim, and SR for complex applications.

Different with past series, Sony added "Clear Bright" screening technology for high-definition display, and "full-carbon production" features. BD-burning and Intel Centrino 2 processing technologies will be featured in all the new models. For security issue, Sony also embedded fingerprint system to prevent personal data to be stolen. Continued from TZ series, innovative designs including "Green Power Button", "Situational Switch" are also added in newly-launched series.

"Due to consuming market differences, Sony only promoted BZ series in Europe and America but not included Asia. Although the TICA Show in Taipei will be different, functionality will be the greatest issue when a consumers choose a notebook [computer] before buying." addressed by executives from Sony Taiwan Limited, during the "VAIO Experience 2008" press conference in Taiwan.


新力VAIO品牌線重新定位 歐美亞三地大不同

別於以往的VAIO品牌，新力公司在七月中開始，於歐、美、亞等重點地區，進行記者會，宣告VAIO的品牌將重新定位，從影音整合平台（Video Audio Integrated Operation），轉型為影音智慧整合家（Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer），重新打造專屬娛樂、商務的消費市場。

新力公司表示，新款的VAIO筆記型電腦，除了確定搭載英特爾的迅馳2處理器，為了符合高畫質的影音需求，高階機種更加入了藍光影音播放與燒錄的功能，部份商務機種，也會依照型態的差異，內建不同的情境模式功能鍵，以符合各種需求。

在本次新發布的產品線中，包含輕薄型的Z系列，商務娛樂的SR系列，商業應用的BZ系列，以及高畫質娛樂的FW系列。雖然應用展將於明（31）日開幕，SR與FW系列將確定在展覽中亮相，但BZ系列目前只有在歐美地區販售，而Z系列則要在八月下旬才會正式問世。

針對本次新發布的產品線，新力也宣布了Clear Bright的高彩顯示技術，另外，新力高層亦指出，影音編輯軟體VAIO Movie Story與商務簡報應用軟體VAIO Presentation Support，也會分別在內建於娛樂與商務相關機種，以符合各種不同人士的需求。


South Korean president responds to North Korea's nuclear constitution change

North Korea's ruling party yesterday unveiled a plan to sign its right to build a nuclear bomb into its constitution. South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye responded by saying that provocations from North Korea would trigger decisive military action as the war-like rhetoric on the peninsula intensifies.

North Korea's declaration that it is pursuing to enshrine its right to make nuclear weapons in its constitution was coupled with a message that strengthening its economy was a priority. This is perceived by some experts as an effort by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to temper the tensions.

"I believe that we should make a strong and immediate retaliation without any other political considerations if (the North) stages any provocation against our people", the South Korean president said at a meeting with military officials and Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin earlier today, while reaffirming she was taking North Korea's threats very seriously. The Defence Minister did not rule out pre-emptive strikes against the North's nuclear and missile installations if need be.

The United States responded by sending stealth fighters to South Korea to take part in military drills.

North Korea, whose parliament is scheduled to hold its annual parliamentary session later today, had issued a series of threats over the past months, including a declaration over the weekend that it was entering a "state of war" with the South. The tension escalated following Pyongyang's suspected ballistic missile test in December and a nuclear test in February. The United Nations imposed fresh sanctions following these moves, much to the North's irritation.

"There was a danger that this was getting to the point ... of a permanent war footing," John Delury, an analyst at Seoul's Yonsei University specialising in North Korea, told the Associated Press. "In the midst of this tension and militant rhetoric and posturing, Kim Jong Un is saying, Look, we're still focused on the economy, but we're doing it with our nuclear deterrent intact."

South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is expected to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry this week in Washington to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported.


Presidenta de Corea del Sur responde a cambio constitucional sobre armas nucleares de Corea del Norte

El partido oficial de Corea del Norte develó ayer un plan para firmar en su constitución el derecho a construir una bomba nuclear. La presidenta de Corea del Sur, Park Geun-hye, respondió diciendo que las provocaciones de Corea del Norte detonarían una acción militar decisiva, mientras la retórica proguerra en la península se intensifica.

La declaración de Corea del Norte de que persigue consagrar su derecho a fabricar armas nucleares en su constitución fue seguida con un mensaje de que fortalecer su economía era una prioridad. Esto es percibido por varios expertos como un esfuerzo del líder norcoreano, Kim Jong-un, de disminuir las tensiones.

“Creo que deberíamos de hacer una represalia fuerte e inmediata sin ninguna otra consideración política si (Corea del Norte) ejecuta provocación alguna contra nuestra gente”, dijo la presidenta surcoreana en una junta con oficiales militares y el Ministro de Defensa, Kim Kwan-jin, hoy en horas de la mañana, mientras reafirmaba que ella tomaba las amenazas de Corea del Norte muy en serio.

El Ministro de Defensa no descartó ataques preventivos contra las instalaciones nucleares y de misiles del Norte de ser necesario. Los Estados Unidos respondieron enviando aviones cazas a Corea del Sur para tomar parte en prácticas militares.

Corea del Norte, cuyo parlamento tiene planeado realizar su sesión parlamentaria anual hoy en la noche, había enviado una serie de amenazas los últimos meses, incluyendo una declaración este fin de semana de que entraba en un “estado de guerra” con el Sur. La tensión escaló después de una supuesta prueba de misiles balísticos por parte de Pyonyang en diciembre, y una prueba nuclear en febrero. Las Naciones Unidas impusieron nuevas sanciones tras estas medidas, lo que irritó bastante al Norte.

“Había un peligro de que esto se acercara al punto... de un permanente estado de preparación para la guerra”, dijo John Delury, un analista de la Universidad Yonsei de Seúl con especialidad en Corea del Norte, a la agencia Associated Press. “En medio de esta tensión, y la retórica y postura militantes, Kim Jong Un está diciendo ‘miren, estamos enfocados aún en la economía, pero lo hacemos con nuestro deterrente nuclear intacto’”.

El Ministro del Exterior de Corea del Sur, Yun Byung-se, espera encontrarse con el Secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos, John Kerry, esta semana en Washington D. C. para discutir la situación en la península de Corea, reportó la agencia de noticias Yonhap.


South Korean regulators fine Microsoft $32 million

South Korean antitrust regulators fined the Microsoft company 33 billion Won (US$32m). It also ordered Microsoft to make substantial changes to the Windows operating system. Regulators demanded that Microsoft produce two different versions of Microsoft Windows within 180 days.

These regulations will be in effect for the next ten years, but after five years Microsoft can request a review of the market.

A Microsoft spokesman said the company would appeal the decision in court.

"We are very disappointed with the commission's decision," said Tom Burt, a Microsoft vice president and deputy general counsel. "Ultimately, we will file a lawsuit in Korean court challenging the decision."

Similarily in March of last year, Microsoft was ordered by the European Union to pay €497 million for antitrust violations. Microsoft was also asked to share Windows operating system code with other companies and offer Windows without the media player.

Microsoft is also appealing this ruling.


Microsoft condamné pour abus de position dominante en Corée du Sud

Microsoft a été condamné aujourd'hui à 32 millions de dollars d'amende pour abus de position dominante par l'autorité de régulation de Corée du Sud, la Fair Trade Commission.

L'objet du litige est l'intégration au système d'exploitation grand public  Windows XP du logiciel de messagerie MSN Messenger et du lecteur multimédia Windows Media Player, ainsi que l'intégration aux systèmes d'exploitation version serveur (Windows 2000 et Windows 2003 Server) de Windows Media Service, le serveur de streaming de Microsoft.

Microsoft devra en outre fournir des versions de ses systèmes d'exploitation dénuées des logiciels incriminés, comme cela avait également été demandé par l'Union Européenne. Et cela pour une durée de 10 ans (Microsoft pourra faire une demande de révision au bout de 5 ans).

Tom Burt, vice-président de Microsoft, indique qu'il est "très deçu" par la décision de la commission et indique que sa compagnie fera appel comme elle l'avait fait avec décision de la commission européenne qui l'avait comdamné à payer 497 millions d'euros.


South Korean scientists clone dog for first time

Seoul National University’s Hwang Woo-Suk has reported his findings in the Journal Nature after being involved in producing the first cloned dog.

The dog, named Snuppy, was born on April 24. He is an Afghan hound. The issue presents a whole host of ethical questions for researchers in the stem cell field.

Companies like Amgen are interested in the technology, as is accounted in Fortune Magazine for making human-safe pharmaceuticals. The business sector relies on technology improvements to make life saving realities.

The Los Angeles Times has reported that Snuppy came from the DNA of the tissue of the ear of the original canine.

According to ABC News Associated Press reporter JI-SOO KIM, Korea has declared that we are still a long way from creating clones of monkeys, which have a great deal more human-like traits.

Slashdot actually reported an RSS feed yesterday at 4:15 p.m. regarding the BBC and Reuters News articles which told of the two successful terms of gestation for Snuppy. "the South Korean team only obtained three pregnancies from more than 1,000 embryo transfers into 123 recipients." (BBC).

Kennel experts, according to the BBC, agree that there will be many moral issues to contend with, especially among pet lovers.


Científicos surcoreanos clonan por primera vez un perro

El científico Hwang Woo-Suk (황우석), de la Universidad Nacional de Seúl (SNU), dirigió el equipo que logró la primera clonación de un perro, según informó la revista Nature.

El animal, llamado Snuppy -combinación de SNU y puppy, "cachorro"-, nació el pasado 24 de abril con un peso de 350 gramos. El asunto presenta una gran cantidad de preguntas éticas para los investigadores en el campo de las células madre.

Hwang dijo que "el perro tiene características similares a las de los seres humanos". Por su parte, el estadounidense Gerald Schatten, de la Universidad de Pittsburg, también miembro del equipo, declaró que "la transferencia nuclear es un instrumento extraordinario de investigación científica y médica. No se trata de medicina reproductiva ni de clonar a familiares nuestros, ni siquiera animales de compañía".

El equipo del profesor Hwang es conocido por haber clonado embriones humanos por primera vez el año pasado, y afirma que siempre utiliza óvulos "frescos" en lugar de los sobrantes de tratamientos de fecundación asistida.

Snuppy nació a partir de células adultas (extraídas de la piel de la oreja de un perro de caza de raza afgana) con el método de  transferencia nuclear de células somáticas, una técnica similar a la empleada para engendrar a la oveja Dolly, el primer mamífero clon, obtenido en 1997. La técnica consiste, básicamente, en transferir la carga genética de las células del donante hasta un óvulo al cual se le ha extraído su material genético. El embrión resultante se implanta en la hembra, la cual dará a luz un individuo con el mismo ADN del donante. Dicho método había fracasado anteriormente en perros, pues su estructura biológica es bastante diferente a la de otros animales en que se ha probado. La madre adoptiva fue una perra labrador retriever, la gestación duró 60 días y Snuppy nació por cesárea.

El grupo de investigadores logró únicamente 3 embarazos luego de la implantación de 1.095 embriones en 123 hembras. Uno de los embarazos terminó en aborto y el otro, que nació después que Snuppy, murió de neumonía a los 22 días de nacido.

Compañías como Amgen se encuentran interesadas en la tecnología utilizada para clonar a Snuppy, según informa la revista Fortune, para realizar farmacéuticos para humanos.

Snuppy es el cuarto animal producido artificialmente, después de la oveja Dolly, el gato CC y la rata Ralph.


Des scientifiques sud-coréens ont effectué le premier clonage de chien

Seoul National University’s Woo Suk Hwang a publié le résultat de ses recherches dans Nature Magazine après avoir réussi à produire le premier chien cloné de l'histoire après la brebis Dolly, les oies, etc.

Le chien, appelé Snoupi, est né le 24 avril. Le problème réside dès lors pour les chercheurs dans les questions éthiques sur le domaine de la recherches sur les embryons de cellules vivantes.

Des companies comme Amgen s'intéressent à ce type de technologie, comme il est stipulé dans Fortune Magazine pour faire des recherches pharmaceutiques et pouvoir fabriquer des médicaments pour l'homme car le chien et l'homme souffre des même maladies comme par exemple le diabète.


Cientistas coreanos clonam um cachorro pela primeira vez

O cientista Hwang Woo-Suk, da Universidade Nacional de Seul (SNU), dirigiu a equipe que conseguiu a primeira clonagem de um cachorro, segundo informou a revista Nature.

O cão, chama-se Snuppy, cujo nome é a combinação de SNU com puppy ("cachorro" em inglês). Ele  nasceu em 24 de abril,  com um peso de 350 gramas.

O clone de Snuppy veio de células adultas, extraídas da pele da orelha de um cachorro de caça da raça Afghan Hound. Foi usado o método de transferência nuclear de células somáticas, uma técnica similar à empregada para gerar a ovelha Dolly, o primeiro mamífero clonado,  em 1997.

A técnica consiste basicamente em transferir o patrimônio genético das células do doador até um óvulo,  do qual se extraiu o material genético. O embrião resultante é implantado na fêmea, a qual dará a luz um indivíduo com o mesmo DNA do doador. Este método tinha fracassado anteriormente em cachorros, pois sua estrutura biológica é bastante diferente à de outros animais testados.

O animal que deu à luz foi uma cachorra da raça Retriever do Labrador. A gestação durou 60 dias e Snuppy nasceu através de cesariana.


Soyuz TMA-08M launches to International Space Station, arrives in record time

Soyuz TMA-08M, a Russian spacecraft with a crew of three aboard, launched from Kazakhstan to the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday at 20:43 UTC (2:43 AM Friday, local time) and docked with the orbital outpost at 2:28 UTC on Friday after following a flight plan enabling a docking in record time.

Soyuz TMA-08M is the first manned Soyuz spaceflight to follow a new flight plan which allowed the spacecraft to dock with the ISS in a record-breaking time of approximately six hours, or four orbits, rather than the usual two days. This new flight plan, described as "a fast track to the International Space Station" by NASA spokesman Josh Byerly, had been tested successfully prior to Thursday's launch by three unmanned Progress cargo ships delivering supplies to the station.

The three-member crew of the mission consists of two Russian cosmonauts, Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Aleksandr Misurkin, and one U.S. astronaut, Flight Engineer Christopher Cassidy. Soyuz TMA-08M is the third spaceflight for Vinogradov and the second for Cassidy. Aleksandr Misurkin is making his maiden trip into space aboard the mission.

The Soyuz spacecraft docked with the ISS at 2:28 UTC on Friday, about four minutes ahead of schedule and just short of six hours after liftoff. After docking with the station, the hatches separating the Soyuz and the ISS were opened at 4:35 UTC, after which the new crewmembers were welcomed aboard by the three-man crew currently aboard the outpost, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, and U.S. astronaut Thomas Marshburn.

The combined six-person Expedition 35 space station crew is slated to perform scientific research and prepare for upcoming departures and arrivals of other spacecraft. The next of these is scheduled for April 15 when Progress M-17M is to undock from the station. The trio already aboard the ISS—consisting of Romanenko, Hadfield, and Marshburn—are to depart and return to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-07M on May 14, leaving the Soyuz TMA-08M crew behind. Soyuz TMA-09M, also using the new flight plan, is scheduled to arrive at the ISS with three new crewmembers two weeks later on May 28.

Soyuz TMA-08M—with Vinogradov, Misurkin, and Cassidy aboard—is scheduled to return to Earth on September 11, after approximately six months in space.


Flug der Besatzung zur ISS: Ankunft mit Sojus-Kapsel in Rekordzeit

Baikonur (Kasachstan), 29.03.2013 – Drei neue Besatzungsmitglieder haben die Internationale Raumstation ISS in Rekordzeit erreicht. Für den Flug in einer Sojus-Kapsel benötigten die zwei russischen Kosmonauten Pawel Winogradow und Alexander Missurkin und der US-amerikanische Astronaut Christopher Cassidy nur fünf Stunden und 46 Minuten. Die Raumfahrer dockten heute um 3.29 Uhr MEZ an der Raumstation an. Im russischen Fernsehen wurden Live-Bilder des Fluges vom Weltraumbahnhof Baikonur zur ISS gezeigt. Die bisherigen Flüge mit einer Sojus-Kapsel dauerten mindestens zwei Tage.

Während die russische Raumfahrtbehörde Roskosmos das neue Flugschema jetzt für alle Flüge zur ISS übernehmen möchte, bemängelt die NASA, dass die Besatzung während des gesamten Fluges angeschnallt bleiben muss. Außerdem gebe es technische Probleme bei einem verkürzten Flugplan. Möglich wurde die kurze Anreise, da der Bordcomputer nun unabhängig vom Flugleitzentrum in Koroljow bei Moskau arbeitet. Ein ständiger Funkkontakt mit der Bodenstation ist so nicht mehr nötig. Im August 2012 erfolgten zunächst Tests zu dem Schnellflug mit drei verschiedenen unbemannten Raumfrachtern. Seit die Vereinigten Staaten im Jahr 2011 ihr Shuttle-Programm eingestellt haben, ist der Flug mit einer Sojus-Kapsel die einzige Möglichkeit, die Raumstation zu erreichen. Etwa 53 Milliarden Euro will Russland bis 2020 in sein Raumfahrtprogramm investieren und damit seine Position auf dem „Weltraummarkt“ festigen.

Die drei Raumfahrer ergänzen die bisherige Besatzung, die aus dem Russen Roman Romanenko, dem US-Amerikaner Thomas Marshburn und dem Kanadier Chris Hadfield besteht, die seit Dezember 2012 für etwa sechs Monate auf der ISS ist.


Nave Soyuz llega a la Estación Espacial Internacional en seis horas, batiendo récord

La nave espacial rusa Soyuz llegó a la Estación Espacial Internacional tras seis horas de viaje, bajando el tiempo desde 48 horas hasta esta nueva marca. El viaje tripulado por dos cosmonautas rusos y un estadounidense despegó a las 20:43 horas (GMT) desde Kazajistán y llegó a la estación espacial a las 3:29 horas.

Este viaje fue probado con anterioridad por los científicos espaciales, quienes usaron tres lanzamientos de cargueros a la estación, con el fin de disminuir el tiempo que tardan los tripulantes en llegar al espacio y comenzar sus tareas científicas. El objetivo de este tipo de viajes expresos es que se disminuya la cantidad de tiempo y tensión que soportan los tripulantes para alcanzar la Estación Espacial Internacional, y disminuir los costos operativos de la misión.


«Союз» впервые пристыковался к МКС за 6 часов

29 марта 2013 года в 0:43 мск пилотируемый корабль «Союз ТМА-08М» стартовал с космодрома Байконур к Международной космической станции (МКС) и впервые в истории уже через 6 часов в 06:28:22 пристыковался к малому исследовательскому модулю «Поиск» российского сегмента МКС.

Новому экипажу, в составе которого двое россиян — Павел Виноградов и Александр Мисуркин и одни американец — Кристофер Кэссиди, предстоит проработать на околоземной орбите больше 4 месяцев. Командир экипажа Павел Виноградов 31 августа 2013 года встретит в космосе своё 60-летие, и для него это уже третий космический полёт.

На борту МКС прибывших космонавтов встретили члены экспедиции «Союз ТМА-07М»: командир экипажа канадец Кристофер Хэдфилд, россиянинРоман Романенко и американец Томас Маршбёрн.

В ходе работы экспедиции запланирована 50 экспериментов: 48 экспериментов начаты в предыдущих экспедициях, 2 эксперимента являются новыми.

Специалисты отмечают тот факт, что в истории МКС это — первый полёт пилотируемого корабля к станции по укороченной, 6-часовой схеме. Ранее процесс подготовки к стыковке занимал порядка двух суток.

«Одно из главных преимуществ полета по шестичасовой, укороченной схеме заключается в том, что экипаж не успевает почувствовать невесомость сразу, поскольку влияние невесомости на организм начинает сказываться примерно после пяти часов полета», — эти слова командира корабля «Союз ТМА-08М» Павла Виноградова, сказанные им накануне полета, цитирует в пятницу ИТАР-ТАСС.

Кроме того, как отмечает агентство, другим плюсом укороченной схемы стыковки, является быстрая доставка на станцию скоропортящихся биоэлементов.

29 марта 2013 года


சோயுஸ் விண்கலம் 6 மணி நேரத்தில் பன்னாட்டு விண்வெளி நிலையத்தை அடைந்து சாதனை

உருசியாவின் சோயுஸ் விண்கலம் ஆறு மணித்தியாலங்களுக்கும் குறைவான பயண நேரத்தில் பன்னாட்டு விண்வெளி நிலையத்தை அடைந்து சாதனை படைத்துள்ளது.

இரண்டு உருசியர்கள், ஒரு அமெரிக்கர் ஆக மூன்று பேருடன் சென்ற விண்கலம் நான்கு சுற்றிலேயே கடுகதிப் பயணமாக விண்வெளி நிலையத்தை அடைந்தது. பொதுவாக உருசிய விண்கலம் ஒன்றுக்கு இப்பயணம் 2 நாட்கள் எடுக்கக்கூடியது.

கசக்ஸ்தானின் பைக்கனூர் ஏவுதளத்தில் இருந்து புறப்பட்ட சோயுஸ் விண்கலத்தில் சென்ற பவெல் வினொகிராதொவ், அலெக்சாண்டர் மிசூர்க்கின், கிறிஸ் காசிடி ஆகியோர் விண்வெளி நிலையத்தில் செப்டம்பர் மாதம் வரை தங்கியிருப்பர். இவர்களுடன் சேர்த்து விண்வெளி நிலையத்தில் தற்போது ஆறு வீரர்கள் தங்கியுள்ளனர். ஏனைய மூவரும் இவ்வாண்டு மே மாதத்தில் புவிக்குத் திரும்புவர்.

இக்குறுகிய காலப் பயணம் ஏற்கனவே மூன்று முறை உருசியாவின் புரோகிரஸ் திட்டத்தின் மூலம் ஆளில்லாமல் வெற்றிகரமாகச் சோதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

அடுத்த ஆறு மாத காலத்தில் விண்வெளி வீரர்கள் 137 பரிசோதனைகளை விண்வெளி நிலையத்தின் அமெரிக்கப் பகுதியில் மேற்கொள்வர் என்றும், 44 பரிசோதனைகளை உருசியப் பகுதியில் மேற்கொள்ளுவர் என்றும் அமெரிக்க விண்வெளி ஆய்வு நிறுவனம் நாசா அறிவித்துள்ளது.

வெள்ளி, மார்ச் 29, 2013


Soyuz TMA-15 launches crew to International Space Station

At 10:34 UTC (4:34 p.m. local time) Wednesday, a Russian Soyuz-FG carrier rocket launched from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft, on a manned spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).

Aboard were three Expedition 20 crew members, Roman Romanenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency (RSA), Belgian Frank De Winne of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Robert Thirsk of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The launch was almost cancelled due to strong winds and the threat of swine flu carried by a journalist however, the flight was just delayed by eight hours.  "The Russians do a magnificent record of taking people to space and back. They don't have a launch window, they don't have launch date, they have a launch second," said Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut.

It will be a two day journey to the ISS with the crew expecting to arrive on Friday.  Then there will be six crew members aboard the ISS who will represent all five global space agencies; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, RSA, ESA and CSA.

Thirsk will spend six months aboard the ISS, "It's only in those situations where you are able to realize what your own weakness and strengths are and the weaknesses and strengths of your astronaut colleagues as well, and then work as a team to meet everyone's needs."

Romanenko follows his father's footsteps, cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko, into space.

DeWinne will become the ISS commander in October following Gennady Padalka.  "It is quite an achievement," said Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium, "He represents Europe, he represents Belgium, he represents international collaboration for peaceful application of science."


TMA-15 : Lancement réussi

La mission TMA-15 a décollé du cosmodrome de Baïkonour à 10 h 34 en Russie dans une fusée Soyouz.

À bord, le belge Frank De Winne (ESA), le canadien  Robert Thirsk (ASC) et le russe Roman Romanenko doivent s'amarrer prochainement à l'ISS.


Space shuttle Atlantis cleared for landing

NASA has given the 'ok' for the Space Shuttle Atlantis to land on Thursday September 21. NASA also says that there was "no damage" to the shuttle when astronauts spotted a piece of debris floating next to the shuttle.

"We are cleared for entry. Nothing was found to be missing or damaged from the thermal protection system, the heat shield of the space shuttle Atlantis, or, in fact, any other part of the shuttle Atlantis," said N. Wayne Hale Jr., the shuttle's program director.

The debris is believed to be a piece of plastic from under the shuttle's heat tiles. A similar piece was seen by cameras falling from inbetween the heat shield tiles, but when the camera took another look, there was nothing to be found. Hale says that the source of the debris is unknown and that "we [NASA] may never know" where it came from.

"This is most likely the culprit. It was there before, it's not there now. It was most likely shaken loose during the flight control system checkout. We probably will never know for sure," added Hale.

Astronauts used Atlantis's robotic arm to check the shuttle and its heat shield for any signs of damage.


Raumfähre Atlantis sicher gelandet

Cape Canaveral (Vereinigte Staaten), 22.09.2006 – Die Raumfähre Atlantis ist am gestrigen Donnerstag, den 21. September um 06:21 Uhr Ortszeit (12:21 Uhr MESZ) ohne Zwischenfälle am Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral gelandet, einen Tag später als ursprünglich geplant. Neben schlechten Wetterbedingungen am Mittwoch führte auch die Sichtung eines kleinen Objektes neben dem Spaceshuttle zu der Besorgnis, dass der Hitzeschild beschädigt worden sein könnte. Nach genauer Überprüfung konnte die NASA jedoch Entwarnung geben, und die Landung wurde eingeleitet. Ingenieure der Weltraumbehörde vermuten, dass es sich bei dem Objekt um einen Abstandshalter aus Plastik handelte. Dieser sei möglicherweise zwischen den Kacheln des Hitzeschilds vergessen worden.

Es handelte sich um die 114. Landung eines Spaceshuttles, und sie erfolgte vor Sonnenaufgang, wie nur 20 andere Landungen, die ebenfalls bei Dunkelheit erfolgten. Der Pilot der Atlantis war der US-Amerikaner Chris Ferguson, an den Kontrollen saß Brent Jett, insgesamt waren sechs Astronauten an Bord. Die Raumfähre verbrachte elf Tage, 19 Stunden und 35 Sekunden im All. Sie startete am 9. September und flog insgesamt 186-mal um die Erde.

Vom 11. bis zum 17. September war sie dabei an die ISS angedockt. In dieser Zeit wurden Arbeiten zum weiteren Ausbau der ISS vorgenommen. Es war das erste Mal seit der Columbia-Katastrophe von 2003, dass an der ISS weiter gebaut wurde. In der soeben beendeten Mission STS-115 wurden Bauteile zu ISS gebracht und in mehreren Außeneinsätzen unter anderem weitere Solarmodule zur Erhöhung der Elektrizitätsversorgung installiert.

Der nächste Start eines Spaceshuttles soll Anfang Dezember erfolgen, wenn die Discovery zur Mission STS-116 aufbricht. Dort wird der Ausbau der ISS dann fortgesetzt, außerdem wird der deutsche Astronaut Thomas Reiter, der sich zur Zeit auf der ISS befindet, zur Erde zurückgebracht.


La navette Atlantis atterrit avec succès

La navette s'est posée sans encombre sur la piste 33 de Cap Canaveral.

La NASA avait donné son feu vert à la navette Atlantis pour atterrir le 21 septembre. La NASA a indiqué que la navette n'avait subit aucun dommage même si les astronautes avaient détecté des morceaux flottants près du vaisseau.

"Nous sommes prèts pour la rentrée. Rien ne manque ou n'a été endomagé sur le système de protection thermique, le bouclier thermique ou dans aucune autres parties de la navette" a indiqué le directeur du programme, N. Wayne Hale Jr.

Le débris découvert serait un morceau de plastique qui proviendrait du dessous des tuiles de la navette. Une pièce similaire a été vue tomber par une caméra, mais rien n'a été découvert lors d'une seconde inspection. Hale a indiqué que l'origine du débris est inconnue et "que nous ne saurons sans doute jamais" d'où il vient.

Les astronautes ont utilisé le bras robotisé d'Atlantis pour vérifier le vaisseau et son bouclier thermique.


Prom Atlantis bezpiecznie wylądował na Florydzie

Amerykański prom kosmiczny Atlantis z sześcioosobową załogą wrócił bezpiecznie na ziemię. Wahadłowiec wylądował w bazie lotów kosmicznych im. Kennedy'ego na Przylądku Canaveral we Florydzie. Zgodnie z planem o godzinie 12:21 czasu polskiego (6:21 czasu miejscowego). Sukcesem zakończyła się druga od roku, a trzecia od katastrofy promu Columbii w 2003 roku, kosmiczna misja wahadłowca Atlantis STS-115.

Celem misji było dostarczenie na Międzynarodową Stację Kosmiczną (ISS) zestawu baterii słonecznych ważących blisko 16 ton. Głównym zadaniem misji było zainstalowanie ich na ISS. Start wahadłowca z Przylądka Canaveral na Florydzie, który miał wyruszyć na orbitę 27 sierpnia, czterokrotnie odkładano, najpierw z powodu złej pogody, a później z przyczyn technicznych.

W czasie pobytu na stacji kosmicznej astronauci trzykrotnie wychodzili w otwartą przestrzeń kosmiczną.

Sukces obecnej misji STS-115 promu Atlantis daje szanse na przedłużenie użytkowania wahadłowców do roku 2010 i kontynuowanie Programu lotów wahadłowców kosmicznych. Orbitalne loty promów kosmicznych zainaugurował w 1981 roku prom Columbia. Po utracie Challengera w 1986 roku i Columbii 17 lat później NASA dysponuje jeszcze trzema wahadłowcami: Atlantis, Discovery i Endeavour. Wahadłowce pozwalają na wyniesienie na orbitę kosmiczną kilkuosobowej załogi oraz 20 ton ładunku.


Миссия завершена

Сегодня утром шаттл «Атлантис» совершил посадку в Космическом центре им. Кеннеди на мысе Канаверал, успешно завершив свою миссию STS-115. После катастрофы шаттла «Колумбия» в 2003 году, это был полёт, в котором после большого перерыва было продолжено строительство Международной космической станции. Двигатели торможения шаттла были включены в 13:14:23 (московское летнее время, 5:14:23 a. m. EDT), двигатели отработали 2 минуты. Приземление произошло в 14:21:30 (6:21 a. m. EDT). Это была 21-я ночная посадка шаттла и 15-я ночная посадка шаттла во Флориде. Это был 116 космический полёт по программе «Спейс шаттл», 19-й полёт шаттла связанный с МКС, 27-й полёт шаттла «Атлантис» и 6-1 полёт «Атлантиса» связанный с МКС.

После выхода из шаттла, астронавты прошли короткое медицинское обследование, а затем осмотрели свой корабль, чтобы оценить как «Атлантис» перенёс 11-дневный космический полёт.
После осмотра «Атлантиса», командир экипажа Брент Джетт сказал: «Это было трудно, но шаттл это выполнил. Было приятно в полёте и хорошо снова быть дома».

«Атлантис» стартовал 9 сентября и состыковался с МКС 11 сентября. На станцию были доставлены и смонтированы сегменты ферменной конструкции Р3/Р4 и комплект солнечных батарей. Новые солнечные батареи в два раза увеличат выработку электроэнергии на станции. Включение установленных солнечных батарей в работу будет осуществлено во время следующего полёта шаттла в декабре 2006 года.

Директор NASA Майкл Гриффин сказал: «Команда выполнила прекрасную работу. Мы видим огромное напряжение действительно большой команды людей NASA. Мы восстанавливаем тот дух работы, который был раньше и мы должны продолжать это дальше».

21 сентября 2006 года


Space Shuttle Atlantis landing concludes program

Space Shuttle Atlantis has completed its last journey with a landing at Kennedy Space Center, located in Florida, United States. Two thousand employees, including employees, families and friends, witnessed the landing of Atlantis at 0557 EDT (0957 UTC) yesterday. This landing has brought mission STS-135 to a close, as well as the Space Shuttle program from NASA. The program, which experienced a total of one hundred and thirty-five missions, had been in operation for thirty years, since 1981.

During the landing, Christopher Ferguson, the flight's commander, commented that "[t]he space shuttle changed the way we view the world and it changed the way we view the universe". Citing "a lot of emotion" in relation to this landing, Ferguson clarified that "one thing's indisputable: America's not going to stop exploring".

Amongst the aftermath of the landing, NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. produced a speech while standing in front of the spacecraft and its crew and spoke of "the rare opportunity to witness history". Atlantis launched for the final time on July 8 this year. Bolden commented: "This final shuttle flight marks the end of an era, but today we recommit ourselves to continuing human spaceflight and taking the necessary and difficult steps to ensure America's leadership in human spaceflight for years to come."

The United States government gave the order to abandon the program, partially attributing their cancellation to the expense of vehicle maintenance. Due to the program's conclusion, in excess of three thousand space shuttle operation contributions are now anticipated to lose their occupations. Bolden spoke of how grateful NASA were to the "thousands, literally tens of thousands, of folks all around the country who made all this possible". There is now no way for individuals to travel into space from the United States. To do this, NASA will utilise the services of the Russian spacecraft Soyuz.


El Atlantis realiza aterrizaje exitoso y pone fin al programa de los transbordadores espaciales


فرود شاتل فضایی آتلانتیس

شاتل فضایی آتلانتیس در ساعت ۵:۵۷ به وقت محلی ِتاریخ ۲۱ژوئیه ۲۰۱۱، در مرکز فضایی کندی ایالات متحده آمریکا فرودآمد. این آخرین شاتل فضایی بود که به زمین برگشت.

پس از فرود یک کنفرانس مطبوعاتی برگزار شد. فردا نیز قرار است برای فضانوردان در هوستون مراسم استقبال برگزار کنند.

این آخرین شاتل فرستاده شده به فضا در ایالات متحده بود. در حال حاضر هیچ راهی برای سفر به فضا در آمریکا وجود ندارد.


Корабль многоразового использования «Атлантис» приземлился, завершив программу «Спейс шаттл»

Шаттл «Атлантис» завершил свой 33-й полёт в космос.

21 июля 2011 года, в 13:57 мск он приземлился на космодроме на мысе Канаверал во Флориде. Это последний полёт шаттлов в космическое пространство. Он завершил 30-летнюю эру многоразовых космических кораблей данного класса, в ряду которых был и советский корабль «Буран» (кстати, его последний летный экземпляр 23 июня был перевезен на реставрацию в Жуковский).

Полёт, который первоначально должен был составить 12 дней, был продлен до 13 суток.

После своей последней успешной посадки шаттл «Атлантис» останется в музее в Космическом центре имени Кеннеди во Флориде. Два других шаттла, летавших в космос, разместятся в других музеях: «Индевор» будет передан Калифорнийскому научному центру в Лос-Анджелесе, а «Дискавери» будет выставлен в Национальном музее авиации и космонавтики Смитсоновского института в Вашингтоне (при этом находящийся там сейчас шаттл «Энтерпрайз» будет перемещен в Морской и аэрокосмический музей в Нью-Йорке).

Всего было построено 6 шаттлов, 5 из которых в сумме совершили всего 135 полетов (хотя изначально рассчитывалось, что каждый шаттл совершит не менее 100 полетов, а количество запусков дойдет до 50 в год). Официальная причина прекращения полетов шаттлов — выработка ресурса кораблей и огромные финансовые затраты на их подготовку и обслуживание. Один из кораблей — «Энтерпрайз» — не летал в космос, два шаттла — «Челленджер» и «Колумбия» — потерпели катастрофы соответственно в 1986 и 2003 годах.

21 июля 2011 года


Слетањем Атлантиса окончано доба спејс шатлова

Хјустон, Тексас, САД (NASA) - Слетањем спејс шатла Атлантис завршена је 30 година дуга ера спејс шатлова. Атлантис је слетео у Свемирски центар Кенеди на Флориди данас, 21. јула 2011. у 5:57 по локалном времену, односно у 11:57 по средњоевропском времену.

Последња мисија Атлантиса, са ознаком STS-135, трајала је 12 дана, 18 сати, 28 минута и 50 секунди, током којих је прешао 8.455.779 километара у 200 орбита око Земље. Ово је било 25. ноћно слетање од 133 слетања у историји спејс шатлова. Посаду су чинили командант Крис Фергусон, пилот Даг Харли и специјалисти Сандра Магнус и Рекс Валхајм. У вишенаменском логистичком модулу Рафаело, Атлантис је однео на Међународну свемирску станицу преко 5 тона резервне опреме и 1300 килограма хране, довољно за наредних годину дана. Са станице је Рафаелом враћено преко две и по тоне непотребног материјала.

Од првог лансирања 12. априла 1981, спејс шатлови су прелетели преко 800 милиона километара, на њима су летело 355 особа из 16 земаља, и обавили су преко 2000 експеримената у области астрономије, биологије, наука о материјалима и Земљи.

Мисија STS-135 је била 33. лет Атлантиса, који је укупно провео 307 дана у свемиру, направио 4848 орбита око Земље и прешао укупно 201.497.230 километара.


Atlantis Uzay Mekiği son kez dünyaya indi

Atlantis Uzay Mekiği bugün yerel saatle 5:57'de ABD'nin Kennedy Uzay Merkezi'ne indi. Böylece uzay mekiği programı sona erdi ve uzayın keşfinde bir çağ kapanmış oldu.

Uzayda 12 günün ardından inen uzay mekiği Uluslararası Uzay İstasyonu'na tekviye yapmıştı. Malezya üzerindeyken iniş için motorlarını çalıştıran uzay mekiği yerel saatle tam 5:57:00'de yere değdi ve 5:57:54'te motorlar son kez durdu.

İnişin ardından bir basın toplantısı düzenlendi. Astronotlar için yarın Houston'da bir hoş geldin töreni düzenlenecek. Uzay merkezinde mekiğin tekerleklerinin durduğu noktaya bunu belirten bir işaret konulacağı da belirtildi.


Space shuttle Atlantis lands

Space Shuttle Atlantis has made a night landing at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday finishing off STS-115 which lasted 13 days. The orbiter landed safely at 6:21:30 a.m. EDT, on runway 33 at KSC. The return of Atlantis to Earth avoided a traffic jam at the space station, as Soyuz TMA-9 Expedition 14 docked with the ISS on September 20, 2006 at 12:21AM CDT (09:21AM Moscow Time) which included space tourist Anousheh Ansari.


Amerykański prom kosmiczny Atlantis z sześcioosobową załogą wrócił bezpiecznie na ziemię. Wahadłowiec wylądował w bazie lotów kosmicznych im. Kennedy'ego na Przylądku Canaveral we Florydzie. Zgodnie z planem o godzinie 12:21 czasu polskiego (6:21 czasu miejscowego). Sukcesem zakończyła się druga od roku, a trzecia od katastrofy promu Columbii w 2003 roku, kosmiczna misja wahadłowca Atlantis STS-115.

Celem misji było dostarczenie na Międzynarodową Stację Kosmiczną (ISS) zestawu baterii słonecznych ważących blisko 16 ton. Głównym zadaniem misji było zainstalowanie ich na ISS. Start wahadłowca z Przylądka Canaveral na Florydzie, który miał wyruszyć na orbitę 27 sierpnia, czterokrotnie odkładano, najpierw z powodu złej pogody, a później z przyczyn technicznych.

W czasie pobytu na stacji kosmicznej astronauci trzykrotnie wychodzili w otwartą przestrzeń kosmiczną.

Sukces obecnej misji STS-115 promu Atlantis daje szanse na przedłużenie użytkowania wahadłowców do roku 2010 i kontynuowanie Programu lotów wahadłowców kosmicznych. Orbitalne loty promów kosmicznych zainaugurował w 1981 roku prom Columbia. Po utracie Challengera w 1986 roku i Columbii 17 lat później NASA dysponuje jeszcze trzema wahadłowcami: Atlantis, Discovery i Endeavour. Wahadłowce pozwalają na wyniesienie na orbitę kosmiczną kilkuosobowej załogi oraz 20 ton ładunku.


Space Shuttle Atlantis lands in California

The Space Shuttle Atlantis has performed a successful landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, completing STS-117, a troubled but successful mission to upgrade the International Space Station (ISS). The mission had a total duration of 13 days, 20 hours and 11 minutes, much longer than originally intended due to a mission extension and a missed landing opportunity.

The landing in California is the result of the latest in a string of difficulties for the mission, as poor weather forced Atlantis first to postpone its landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, then to cancel it altogether, opting instead to land in California. NASA had previously expressed their desire to avoid a landing in California if possible due to logistical difficulties that would be caused by the diversion.

Atlantis will now be flown back to Florida on the back of a modified Boeing 747 at a cost of around US$1 million. The flight is expected to begin next Thursday and will take at least a day or two from then. According to officials at the Kennedy Space Center, the delay is already accounted for as a previously identified possibility as part of plans for the next Atlantis mission, scheduled for departure on October 20, again for ISS construction work.

During this mission, the Atlantis crew added the 17.5 ton S3/S4 Truss, the second of the trusses on the starboard side, as well as adding its associated energy systems, including the unfurling a set of solar arrays with a 240 foot tip-to-tip length. The arrays will generate power for European and Japanese science laboratories set to be added to the ISS at a later date. During the same mission, another solar array was folded up to allow the truss it is mounted to to be relocated later this year. The shuttle also left crewmember Clay Anderson at the ISS and returned with ISS crewmember Sunita Williams, who earlier set the record for female space endurance during her latest ISS mission.

Although successful, there were numerous problems during the mission. A computer failure in the Russian segments of the ISS almost forced the shuttle's mission to be extended and left the ISS struggling to maintain thrusters, oxygen generation, carbon dioxide scrubber, and other environmental control systems, and relying on Atlantis to help. Officials even looked at the possibility of an unprecedented emergency evacuation of the ISS, although astronauts were ultimately able to repair the systems.

Other concerns included hail damage, which delayed the mission's launch; damage to the thermal blanket, which required a spacewalk to repair; and discovery of unidentified debris shortly after Atlantis docked with the ISS. The mission had to be extended by two days in order to give astronauts time to repair the damaged heat-protection equipment. NASA officials held an emergency meeting Wednesday while engineers confirmed that they thought the repair would withstand the rigors of re-entry with the Earth's atmosphere.


Space Shuttle Atlantis sicher gelandet

Edwards Air Force Base / Cape Canaveral (Vereinigte Staaten), 25.06.2007 – Nach fast 14 Tagen im All ist das Space Shuttle „Atlantis“ am Freitag, dem 22. Juni 2007, um 12:49 Uhr Ortszeit (21:49 MESZ) auf der Edwards Air Force Base in Kalifornien sicher gelandet. Damit fand eine durch mehrere kritische Ereignisse gekennzeichnete Mission ein glückliches Ende. Erstmalig in ihrer Existenz war im Laufe der Mission eine Evakuierung der Internationalen Raumstation ISS angedacht worden.

Ziel der Mission mit der Nummer STS-117 war der weitere Ausbau der Station durch die Installation des Solarmoduls S4 (4. Modul an Steuerbord). Außerdem musste der Steuerbord-Flügel des zur Zeit in Stationsmitte montierten Solarmoduls P6 eingefahren werden. Dieses wird später an Backbord neben dem bereits montierten P4-Modul seinen Dienst tun. Während der letzten Space-Shuttle-Mission STS-116 hatte das Einfahren des backbordseitigen Flügels des P6-Moduls erhebliche Probleme verursacht. Mit den beiden aktiven Modulen S4 und P4 hat die Station jetzt die Hälfte der geplanten Solarfläche.

Bereits der für den 15. März 2007 geplante Start der STS-117 musste wegen eines Unwetters Ende Februar verschoben werden. Hagel hatte den Isolierschaum des Außentank so stark beschädigt, dass die Raumfähre zurück in die Wartungshalle gefahren werden musste. Erst am 8. Juni 2007 konnte die Atlantis dann vom Kennedy Space Center in Florida abheben. Durch die erfolgreiche Reparatur der Tankhülle konnte jedoch der Austausch des Tanks mit dem für den Start der nächsten Mission (STS-118) vorgesehenen Tank verhindert werden. Das hätte diese Mission erheblich verzögert.

Nachdem der Orbiter seine Umlaufbahn um die Erde erreicht hatte, wurde bei der jetzt routinemäßigen Untersuchung des Hitzeschildes und der Außenhülle ein „Eselsohr“ an einer Matte am hinteren Ende der Fähre festgestellt und die Reparatur vorbereitet. Eine Landung mit dieser Beschädigung wäre zwar gefahrlos möglich gewesen, hätte jedoch den Schaden erheblich vergrößert und höhere Reparaturkosten verursacht, lautete die Entscheidung.

Die Montage des neuen S4-Moduls verlief problemlos. Erst beim Einfahren des Steuerbord-Flügels des P6-Moduls kam es zu Schwierigkeiten mit der filigranen Technik, die jedoch aufgrund der Erfahrungen mit dem Backbord-Flügel behoben werden konnten.

Während dieser Arbeiten fielen im russischen Teil der Station drei Computersysteme aus, darunter auch die Lageregelung der ISS. Ohne Lageregelung dreht sich die Station, wodurch die Solarpanele und Steuerdüsen ihre Wirkung verlieren und die Station ihre Bahn nicht mehr halten kann. Für wenige Tage kann das Space Shuttle die ISS stabilisieren, doch dann hätte die Station evakuiert werden müssen. Den russischen Technikern gelang es jedoch, die Systeme wieder hochzufahren. Es stellte sich heraus, dass eine statische Entladung bei der Montage des Solarmoduls die Ursache war, größerer Schaden steht aber nicht zu befürchten.

Die Atlantis blieb dennoch einen Tag länger als vorgesehen an der Raumstation angedockt. Während eines zusätzlichen Außeneinsatzes wurde das „Eselsohr“ an der Außenhülle gesichert. Als der Raumgleiters sich bereits auf dem Rückweg zur Erde befand, musste die Landung um einen weiteren Tag verschoben werden, da das Wetter über dem Landeplatz am Kennedy Space Center in Florida eine Landung nicht zuließ.

Die Alternative, die Edwards Air Force Base in Kalifornien, hat zwar aufgrund ihrer Lage in der Wüste meist besseres Wetter, eine Landung dort verursacht aber hohe Kosten, weil das Shuttle von Kalifornien nach Florida Huckepack per Flugzeug transportiert werden muss. Da jedoch auch nach einem Tag des Abwartens das Wetter über Florida nicht besser wurde, wurde die Landung in Kalifornien eingeleitet.

Da bei der Landung in der Wüste auch das gesicherte „Eselsohr“ der Belastung standhielt, kam diese turbulente Mission so zu einem glücklichen Abschluss.


El transbordador espacial Atlantis aterriza con éxito en California

23 de junio de 2007California, Estados Unidos — El Transbordador Espacial Atlantis, ha tomado tierra satisfactoriamente a las 19.49 GMT en la base Edwards de la fuerza aérea dando fin a la complicada pero exitosa misión STS-117, y cuya duración fue ampliamente superior con respecto a lo planeado, con un total de 13 días, 20 horas y 11 minutos, debido a una ampliación de la misión y tras perder una oportunidad para tomar tierra.

El aterrizaje en California es el último de una serie de dificultades en el transcurso de la misión, como el mal tiempo que obligó al Atlantis a posponer su aterrizaje en el Centro espacial Kennedy de Florida, para mas tarde ser cancelado y optarse por realizar la toma de tierra en California. La NASA había expresado previamente su deseo de evitar un aterrizaje en California dados los problemas logísticos que provocaría.

El Atlantis será ahora trasladado de nuevo a Florida en un Boeing 747 modificado y con un coste aproximado de un millón de dólares. Se espera que el vuelo comience el Jueves y llevará al menos una o dos jornadas.

Aunque exitosa, la misión no ha estado carente de complicaciones . Un fallo en los ordenadores del segmento ruso de la ISS forzó a alargar la duración de la misión. Incluso se llegó a pensar en la posibilidad de una evacuación de emergencia sin precedentes, de la Estación Espacial Internacional, aunque finalmente los astronautas fueron capaces de reparar los sistemas.

Otros problemas incluyeron daños que obligaron a retrasar el lanzamiento y posteriormente, en las losetas térmicas, lo que obligó a los astronautas a realizar un paseo espacial para su reparación y el descubrimiento de escombros de origen desconocido tras el acoplamiento del "Atlantis" a la ISS. Estas circunstancias obligaron a postergar la reentrada y a extender la duración de la misión


Prom Atlantis bezpiecznie wylądował w bazie Edwards

Amerykański prom kosmiczny Atlantis z siedmioosobową załogą wrócił bezpiecznie na ziemię. Wahadłowiec wylądował w Wojskowej Bazie Lotniczej Edwards na pustyni Mojave w Kalifornii. Zgodnie z planem o godzinie 21:51 czasu polskiego (15:51 czasu miejscowego). Sukcesem zakończyła się kosmiczna misja wahadłowca Atlantis STS-117.

Celem misji było dostarczenie na Międzynarodową Stację Kosmiczną (ISS) zestawu baterii słonecznych ważących blisko 16 ton. Głównym zadaniem misji było zainstalowanie ich na ISS.
W czasie pobytu na stacji kosmicznej astronauci wychodzili w otwartą przestrzeń kosmiczną.

W składzie siedmioosobowej załogi wahadłowca, która powróciła na Ziemię, była amerykańska astronautka Sunita Williams, która pracowała na pokładzie ISS od grudnia ubiegłego roku. Jej miejsce na zajął przybyły wahadłowcem Clayton Anderson.

Sukces obecnej misji STS-117 promu Atlantis daje szanse na przedłużenie użytkowania wahadłowców do roku 2010 i kontynuowanie Programu lotów wahadłowców kosmicznych. Orbitalne loty promów kosmicznych zainaugurował w 1981 roku prom Columbia. Po utracie Challengera w 1986 roku i Columbii 17 lat później NASA dysponuje jeszcze trzema wahadłowcami: Atlantis, Discovery i Endeavour. Wahadłowce pozwalają na wyniesienie na orbitę kosmiczną kilkuosobowej załogi oraz 20 ton ładunku.

W przyszłym roku planowana jest ostatnia misja STS-125 promu Atlantis mająca na celu naprawę kosmicznego wteleskopu Hubble'a. Misja ma się rozpocząć 10 września 2008 roku i trwać 11 dni.


Space Shuttle Atlantis lands safely at Edwards Air Force Base

Space Shuttle Atlantis has landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Atlantis landed at approximately 11:39 a.m. (EDT).

Atlantis had spent just under thirteen days in space. Its mission, STS-125, was to make the final repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope before the shuttle fleet is retired. Over the course of the mission’s five spacewalks, the crew added two new science instruments, repaired two others and replaced hardware that will extend the telescope's life at least through 2014.

Atlantis arrived at Hubble on May 13.  The crew performed five spacewalks on five consecutive days to repair and upgrade the telescope.  Taking a total of almost thirty-seven hours of spacewalks, the repairs were one of the most extensive set of spacewalks on a single mission.

The landing was scrubbed twice after bad weather forced NASA to land Atlantis at Edwards AFB. Atlantis was originally scheduled to land on Thursday. The shuttle is scheduled to be transported back to Florida's Kennedy Space Center on the back of a modified Boeing 747 next week. It will cost NASA US$2 million to transport the shuttle.

The mission almost did not occur. First, after the Columbia disaster, there was extensive worry about whether a mission to Hubble made sense given that it would force the shuttle into an orbit in which the crew could not be easily rescued or rendevous with the International Space Station. There was also debate over whether the cost of the repairs would be worth the expense of the mission.


Transbordador Atlantis concluye misión espacial en California

24 de mayo de 2009Los Ángeles, Estados Unidos — El transbordador Atlantis finalizó exitosamente la misión espacial STS-125 destinada a la reparación del telescopio Hubble, que se encuentra en el espacio desde hace 19 años. Tras 13 días en órbita, el control de la misión en Houston ordenó el aterrizaje del transbordador en la Base de Edwards ubicada en California, y no en el Centro espacial Kennedy en La Florida como estaba originalmente previsto, debido al mal clima.

El aterrizaje ocurrió el domingo a las 11:40 horas locales (15:40 UTC) con un retraso de dos días, puesto que la NASA ordenó esperar a que cesaran las lluvias que azotan el estado de La Florida aplazando el aterrizaje en varias oportunidades.

Siete astronautas tripularon el Atlantis durante su última misión espacial comandada por el veterano capitán Scott Altman. Las actividades realizadas por los tripulantes del transbordador permitirán la utilización del telescopio espacial aproximadamente hasta 2015 o 2020.

En aproximadamente una semana el transbordador Atlantis será transportado de regreso al centro espacial de La Florida, instalado sobre un avión Boeing 747 modificado para tal efecto.


Atlantis veilig geland na opknapbeurt Hubble

EDWARDS AFB – Om 17.40 CET is de Amerikaanse spaceshuttle Atlantis na een geslaagde ruimtevlucht van dertien dagen veilig geland op de luchtmachtbasis Edwards in Californië. In de vierde en voorlopig laatste opknapbeurt hebben de astronauten tijdens vijf ruimtewandelingen de Hubble ruimtetelescoop van nieuwe apparatuur voorzien. Zo kreeg de telescoop onder andere een nieuwe camera.

Wegens slechte weersomstandigheden op het Kennedy Space Center in Florida moest de Atlantis noodgedwongen uitwijken naar Californië. Gevolg hiervan is wel dat de ruimteveer nu op de rug van een Boeing 747 teruggevlogen moet worden naar Florida; een operatie die NASA circa 1,8 miljoen dollar gaat kosten.


Space Shuttle Atlantis launch delayed until 2008

NASA have today announced that the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, mission STS-122, which is a module delivery mission to the International Space Station (ISS), will be delayed until January 2nd, 2008 at the earliest, after scrubbing today's launch attempt, and an earlier attempt on December 6th.

The decision to scrub the launch attempt was made at 7:24 a.m. EST by shuttle program managers. The reason behind the scrubbing is to allow shuttle engineers to spend time diagnosing and fixing the erroneous readings presented to the crew and Mission Control by the intermittent malfunctioning of a critical engine cutoff sensor (ECO). While only one of the four sensors was malfunctioning, the current launch criteria for the mission state that all four ECOs must be functioning correctly in order to launch.

At a meeting held at 9 a.m., NASA's Mission Management Team for STS-122 decided on a postponement until January 2nd at the very earliest. Atlantis is due to deliver the European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus laboratory module to the ISS. Alan Thirkettle, ESA's Space Station Program Manager, said, regarding the delay in launch: "In the big picture, it's not a setback. [But] it is disappointing because we have 750 people over here."


Columbus-Raumlabor bleibt bis Januar 2008 am Boden

Cape Canaveral (Vereinigte Staaten), 09.12.2007 – Die Raumfähre Atlantis – und somit auch der deutsche Astronaut Hans Schlegel – wird 2007 nicht mehr ins All fliegen. Nach verschiedenen technischen Problemen, unter anderem an einem Sensor des großen Wasserstofftanks, wurden die aktuellen Startversuche abgebrochen. Die Techniker der US-Weltraumbehörde haben die Probleme bisher nicht lösen können; die Fehler treten bisher unregelmäßig auf.

Nun soll der Flug frühestens am 2. Januar 2008 stattfinden.


NASA suspende lanzamiento del transbordador Atlantis

La Agencia Espacial de Estados Unidos (NASA) ha decidido cancelar hasta el mes de enero de 2008 el lanzamiento del transbordador espacial Atlantis, debido a problemas detectados en los sensores en los tanques de combustible, lo que ha postergado el lanzamiento del vehículo espacial en dos ocasiones en la semana.

La misión se postergó, al menos, hasta el 2 de enero, según lo informado por el portavoz de la NASA, Allard Beutel.

La falla que se ha detectado proviene de los sensores externos de los tanques de hidrógeno, donde el día jueves, día previsto orginalmente para el lanzamiento, fallaron dos de los cuatro sensores, y el día domingo volvieron a fallar los mismos sensores, mientras se llenaban los tanques para el despiege.

En esta misión se llevaran equipos europeos de investigación, lo que permitirá realizar experimentos de la agencia europea del espacio, terminando con 25 años de usar instalaciones de otros países para los experimentos de su agencia.


Atlantis–avaruussukkulan laukaisu siirtyy

Nasan 9:nneksi joulukuuta 2007 suunnittelema avaruussukkula Atlantiksen laukaisu on siirretty tapahtuvaksi aikaisintaan 2. tammikuuta 2008. Nasan tiedotteen mukaan lykkäyksen syynä on yksi neljästä polttoaineen syöttöä ohjaavista ECO-sensoreista, joka varhain viime sunnuntaina palautti vääriä lukemia, kun yhtä aluksen polttoainetankeista oltiin täyttämässä. Sensoreiden tarkoituksena on sulkea ulkoisen polttoainetankin polttoaineensyöttö, ennen kuin säiliö tyhjenee.

Myös 6:nneksi joulukuuta 2007 suunniteltua laukaisua jouduttiin siirtämään, kun kaksi aluksen nestemäistä vetyä tarkkailevista ECO-sensoreista palautti virheellisiä lukemia. Lähdön peruutuksen jälkeen säiliötä tyhjennettäessä myös kolmas sensori palautti virheellisiä arvoja. Aikaisemman lähtöyrityksen ongelmien vuoksi nyt ECO-sensoreita seurattiin tavallista tarkemmin ja laukaisun loppuun viemiseksi olisi vaadittu kaikkien neljän sensorin toimimista ongelmitta aikaisempien laukaisujen kolme neljästä sensorista -vaatimuksen sijaan. ECO-sensorit ovat tuottaneet ongelmia siitä lähtien, kun sukkula otettiin vuonna 2005 uudelleen käyttöön.

Atlantis-avaruussukkulan on määrä kuljettaa avaruuteen eurooppalainen Columbus-tiedelaboratorio, joka on eurooppalaisten suurin yksittäinen panostus kansainvälisen avaruusaseman rakentamiseen.


Missione NASA STS-122: ancora rinvii per lo Shuttle Atlantis

Non partirà nemmeno oggi lo Shuttle Atlantis per la missione STS-122. La decisione ufficiale è stata presa alle 7:24 EST - 13:24 ora italiana - dopo che il serbatoio esterno della navicella è stato riempito. La procedura di riempimento del serbatoio è iniziata alle 5:54 EST - 11:54 ora italiana - ed è terminata 90 minuti dopo.

I sensori ECO, i quali hanno avuto un malfunzionamento che ha causato lo slittamento della partenza della missione da giovedì ad oggi, non hanno funzionato di nuovo. Dei quattro sensori il terzo ha dato una falsa lettura. I criteri per il lancio richiedevano che tutti e quattro (in precedenza ne bastavano tre) i sensori posizionati all'interno del serbatoio esterno funzionassero correttamente.

La partenza della missione, quindi, è rimandata al 2 gennaio prossimo.

Lo Shuttle sarebbe dovuto partire oggi alle 15:21 EST - 21:21 ora italiana - dalla rampa di lancio 39A del Kennedy Space Center, Florida. A bordo i membri dell'equipaggio della missione STS-122, ventiquattresima in ordine di tempo per la costruzione della ISS, Stazione Spaziale Internazionale.

I direttori l'avevano già rinviata ad oggi, dopo tre giorni di controlli a causa di un problema dei sensori ECO (Engine CutOff) per il carburante. L'Atlantis avrebbe dovuto partire giovedì, ma a causa del mancato funzionamento di due dei quattro sensori ECO la missione era stata rimandata.

Durante questa missione, che durerà 11 giorni, l'equipaggio dello Shuttle collaborerà con gli astronauti della Expedition 16, già presenti sulla stazione, per il montaggio del laboratorio Columbus.


Space Shuttle Atlantis launches for the final time

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched today for its final planned mission in space, STS-132.

Atlantis lifted off in fair weather at 2:20 p.m. EDT (1820 UTC) from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch was viewed by over 40,000 spectators at Kennedy, including a small group chosen by NASA for a space "tweetup". Carrying six veteran astronauts and an assortment of parts for the International Space Station (ISS), the shuttle took off without any delays. This mission, scheduled to take twelve days, is the aging shuttle's 32nd voyage into space of its 25-year career.

While no damage to the shuttle was seen, a piece of space junk near the ISS caused minor concern (but no delays). The shuttle is expected to dock at the ISS early Sunday morning, and the crew will perform maintenance work on the ISS next week. If everything proceeds without incident, Atlantis will leave the ISS on May 23 and land on May 26.

This flight also marks the third-to-last mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, which is being retired this year. However, Atlantis will still be maintained as an emergency rescue shuttle for the final Space Shuttle mission, and while NASA could also use Atlantis to resupply the ISS, it has not yet made a final decision regarding the plan.


Raketoplán Atlantis odstartoval k poslednímu plánovanému letu

Raketoplán Atlantis odstartoval v pátek z Kennedyho vesmírného střediska na floridském mysu Canaveral ve Spojených státech amerických ke své poslední plánované misi STS-132.

Ke startu došlo za dobrého počasí v 20.20 středoevropského letního času, tedy v 2.20 odpoledne místního času. Start sledovalo přes čtyřicet tisíc diváků. Na palubě má raketoplán šest zkušených kosmonautů a díly pro Mezinárodní vesmírnou stanici. Start jeho poslední plánované mise, která je pro pětadvacetiletý raketoplán dvaatřicátou a má trvat dvanáct dní, proběhl bez zdržení.

Raketoplán by se podle plánu měl připojit ke Mezinárodní vesmíné stanici v neděli ráno a jeho posádka by v průběhu týdne měla na stanici provádět údržbové práce. Pokud půjde vše podle plánu, Atlantis se odpoutá od stanice 23. května a 26.května přistane.

Po STS-132 by v rámci amerického programu raketoplánových letů měly následovat ještě dvě poslední mise, STS-133 raketoplánu Discovery a STS-134 raketoplánu Endeavour. Poté bude program ukončen. Minimálně do ukončení letů bude raketoplán Atlantis dále udržován provozuschopný, aby mohl případně posloužit jako nouzový záchranný prostředek.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Space Shuttle Atlantis launches for the final time na anglických Wikizprávách.