First Images from the HiRISE Mars Camera!

This view shows a full-resolution portion of the first image of Mars taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The spacecraft, launched Aug. 12, 2005, began orbiting Mars on March 10, 2006. The image is of an area in Mars' mid-latitude southern highlands. HiRISE took this first test image from orbit on March 24, 2006, from an altitude of 2,489 kilometers (1,547 miles), achieving a resolution of 2.49 meters (98 inches) per pixel, or picture element. The smallest objects of discernable shape are about three pixels across. An image acquired at this latitude during the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's main science phase, beginning in fall 2006, would be taken from an altitude of about 280 kilometers (174 miles) and have a resolution of 28 centimeters (11 inches) per pixel.

Falcon 1 flight encounters problems

We had a successful liftoff and Falcon made it well clear of the launch pad, but unfortunately the vehicle was lost later in the first stage burn.

At T+25s, a fuel leak of currently unknown origin caused a fire around the top of the main engine that cut into the first stage helium pneumatic system. On high resolution imagery, the fire is clearly visible within seconds after liftoff. Once the pneumatic pressure decayed below a critical value, the spring return safety function of the pre-valves forced them closed, shutting down the main engine at T+29s.

The Falcon, designed and run by SpaceX, is hoped to reduce the cost of launch by a factor of ten.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Home

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission manager Jim Graf raises his arms in celebration of the orbiter's successful entry into orbit around Mars. Behind him is Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Dr. Charles Elachi, giving the "thumbs up."

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Home

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission manager Jim Graf raises his arms in celebration of the orbiter's successful entry into orbit around Mars. Behind him is Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Dr. Charles Elachi, giving the "thumbs up."

Hayabusa: Team Re-Establishes Contact with its �Falcon� - Planetary News | The Planetary Society

The intrepid Hayabusa mission team has restored communication with its injured asteroid probe. Although communications are now ongoing at a low speed of 32 bits per second, the link that was lost last December has been reestablished and the team has managed to locate its ship.

The Officers' Club: The Man Who Saved the World

If you've never heard of Stanislav Petrov, you need to become acquainted. Why? Because there is a strong possibility that he saved your life.

RLV and Space Transport News � Entrepreneurial Space Transportation Industry Consensus Statement

Transporting a payload into space currently takes years of lead-time and costs a great deal. Despite those barriers, the unique nature of space has dictated that some space applications conducted in, from and through space have become essential to our nation. Growing dependency on these space-based assets has led U.S. policymakers not only to support baseline investments in traditional space launch systems, but also to pursue transformational capabilities to replace or supplement those assets in a more timely and affordable way. Some call this Operationally Responsive Space (ORS).