January 30 News Items

ILS To Launch Yahsat Satellite On Proton (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
International Launch Services (ILS) of the United States, Thales Alenia Space of France and Al Yah Satellite Communications Co. (Yahsat) of the United Arab Emirates has announced an agreement to launch a Yahsat spacecraft on a Proton Breeze M vehicle. Yahsat entered into a supply contract to deliver a fully integrated satellite system with EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space in August 2007 worth $1.7 billion.

Failed Solar Array Motor Removed from Station (Source: SpaceFlightNow.com)
Working in orbital darkness to minimize the risk of electric shock, astronauts removed a faulty solar array positioning motor today so it can be replaced by a spare unit. The new motor is needed to boost the station's electrical generation enough to support the planned launches of European and Japanese research modules in February, March and April. The solar array produces some 160 volts of electricity when in full sunlight at up to 210 amps. Working in shadow, the array's output no longer poses a shock hazard and the cable disconnections went smoothly.

Kinked Hose May Impact Shuttle Launch Plans (Source: Florida Today)
NASA engineers will continue to study a kinked freon hose on a payload door of Atlantis, even as the Executive Flight Readiness Review is expected to clear all other issues for a Feb. 7 launch date. "It's going to be a developing story," NASA spokesman George Diller said today. "They have to develop the options." A similarly kinked hose was found on Discovery but not on Endeavour. Several missions apparently have flown with the kinked hose. The danger of it breaking during the next mission is not known. However, if it broke the system could be isolated and a redundant system used.

Space Rock Misses Mars, Barely (Source: Space.com)
An asteroid once thought to be on a collision course with Mars passed the Red Planet today without incident. Astronomers first estimated that asteroid 2007 WD5 had as high as a 3.6 percent chance of striking the planet. Newer observations kept lowering the odds for the 164-foot space rock until Jan. 9, when NASA's Near-Earth Object (NEO) program office effectively ruled out chances of an impact.

Asteroid Passes Near Earth (Source: SpaceToday.net)
A small asteroid flew relatively near the Earth early Tuesday, providing scientists with an opportunity to study the object in detail. The asteroid 2007 TU24 made its closest approach to the Earth at 3:33 am EST Tuesday at a distance of about 538,000 kilometers, or about one and a half times the distance to the Moon. The asteroid, estimated to be about 250 meters in diameter, was discovered last October. The asteroid poses no impact risk to the Earth, and will not pass this close to the Earth again until at least the end of the century. Astronomers planned to use the flyby to study to make optical and radar observations of the asteroid.

Editorial: Space Exploration Not Worth the Price (Source: Welland Tribune)
It is my opinion that NASA has evolved into a completely useless organization, which has, through its various space exploration initiatives, become void of any beneficial purpose. NASA's originally intended purpose was to aid the United States in the Cold War against the Soviets. The current updated mission of NASA is to perform technological research in aeronautical and space sciences for use by all Americans.

Simply put, NASA is supposed to anticipate future technological trends by developing aerospace technology for the profit and exploitation of American companies. Considering NASA's mission statement, "For the benefit of all," what benefits have we realized from NASA? A few new technologies include ceramics, composites, microwaves and probably Tang. Do these advancements justify NASA's annual budget of $17 billion? Could the invention of ceramics have occurred here on Earth, rather than in orbit? Could this $17-billion investment not be put to better use?