http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/satellites/ Satellites. Read science articles on every type of satellite, from the new infrared satellite to micro-satellites. Free satellite pictures too. en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:05:01 EDT Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/satellites/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080709153152.htm Think you have trouble getting rid of the clutter in your living room? After more than 50 years of launching rockets and satellites into space, the human race now has to deal with the clutter left behind -- or is it "above"? Dead satellites, spent rocket stages, paint flakes, and coolant from nuclear-powered satellites continue to orbit the Earth at ultrahigh velocities. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080709153152.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080626125818.htm Canada is building the world's first space telescope designed to detect and track asteroids as well as satellites. Called NEOSSat, this spacecraft will provide a significant improvement in surveillance of asteroids that pose a collision hazard with Earth and innovative technologies for tracking satellites in orbit high above our planet. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080626125818.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527110949.htm Clouds have typically posed a problem to scientists using satellites to observe the lowest part of the atmosphere, where humans live and breathe, because they block the satellite's ability to capture a clear, unobstructed view of Earth's surface. It turns out, however, that these "obstructions" are worth a closer look, as clouds and their characteristics actually serve a valuable role in Earth's climate. That closer look is now available by satellites comprising the Afternoon Constellation, or A-Train. Wed, 28 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527110949.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513104004.htm Satellites currently use radio waves to exchange data. Now the data rate has been increased a hundredfold by using lasers instead of radio signals. Two test satellites each carried a diode laser pump module. The data whizzed back and forth at the speed of light between German satellite TerraSAR-X and US satellite NFIRE, covering more than 5000 kilometers in space without any errors. Wed, 14 May 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513104004.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507105616.htm Following a successful launch on April 27, GIOVE-B began transmitting navigation signals May 7. This is a truly historic step for satellite navigation since GIOVE-B is now, for the first time, transmitting the GPS-Galileo common signal using a specific optimised waveform, MBOC (multiplexed binary offset carrier), in accordance with the agreement drawn up in July 2007 by the EU and the US for their respective systems, Galileo and the future GPS III. Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507105616.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422160001.htm The exchange of information between distant sources is the basis of all communications, but quantum mechanics may open up this distant exchange as never before. Quantum key distribution, for instance, would allow for absolutely secure encryption of information exchange by encoding information keys on single photons. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422160001.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328101532.htm For the first time, physicists have been able to identify individual returning photons after firing and reflecting them off of a space satellite in orbit almost 1,500 kilometers above the earth. The experiment has proven the possibility of constructing a quantum channel between Space and Earth. Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080328101532.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080313185726.htm The Vanguard I satellite celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Its launch on March 17, 1958 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., culminated the efforts of America's first official space satellite program begun in September 1955. The first solar-powered satellite, Vanguard I has the distinction of being the oldest artificial satellite orbiting the earth. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080313185726.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080314130433.htm ESA's Artemis data relay satellite, controlled from Fucino (Italy) and with its mission control center and Earth terminal located at Redu (Belgium), is providing communications between the Jules Verne ATV and the ATV Control Center in Toulouse (France). Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080314130433.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080216114853.htm Space scientists report on new discoveries about gamma ray bursts obtained from the Swift satellite and coordinated observations from a global network of ground based telescopes. Gamma-ray bursts are short-lived events, lasting between a few milliseconds to a few minutes. The brightest of them emit more energy in a few seconds than our Sun will emit in its whole 10 billion year lifetime. Gamma ray bursts are occurring several times daily somewhere in the universe, fortunately at huge distances from our solar system. These fleeting explosions are precursors to the births of black holes. Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080216114853.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220223653.htm The targeting by missile of a failed U.S. intelligence-gathering spacecraft now orbiting Earth spotlights a number of associated policy issues, from dealing with the growing problem of orbital debris and the need to establish space traffic control measures, to defusing concerns over the weaponization of space. Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220223653.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071213101348.htm Weather broadcasts have long been a staple for people planning their day. Now with the help of NASA satellites, researchers are working to broaden daily forecasts to include predictions of air quality, a feat that is becoming reality in some parts of the world. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071213101348.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071022120157.htm A successful re-ignition of the Ariane 5 upper stage engine performed during the most recent mission has consolidated Ariane 5's readiness for the launch of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle. Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071022120157.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016131504.htm TC-1, one of the two satellites of the CNSA/ESA Double Star mission, was decommissioned on Oct. 14 as its designed orbit lifetime came to an end. The satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere and turned to dust during its descent. Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016131504.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003081901.htm Fifty years after Sputnik 1 -- the first artificial satellite -- was launched into orbit, scientists looks back at the story of that particular mission and examines some of key issues of modern satellite technology, from navigation with GPS and Earth observation to the dangers of "space junk" and the potential weaponization of space. Fri, 05 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003081901.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070921100324.htm Cleanup and rebuilding teams responding to the devastation across Greece caused by this summer's deadly fires are getting help from space. A series of crisis map products based on satellite acquisitions of affected areas are being provided to aid damage assessment efforts following the activation of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070921100324.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070914123848.htm Japan has successfully launched a new unmanned spacecraft to explore the Moon -- the largest lunar mission since the Apollo program. KAGUYA will investigate the entire moon in order to obtain information on its elemental and mineralogical composition, its geography, its surface and sub-surface structure, the remnant of its magnetic field, and its gravity field. Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070914123848.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905172000.htm Researchers have used a new technique to save $60 million for broadcasters by extending the service life of two communications satellites. The technique works by applying an advanced simulation and a method that equalizes the amount of propellant in a series of fuel tanks so that the satellite consumes all of the fuel before being retired from service. Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905172000.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070829143607.htm Greece has experienced more wildfire activity this August than other European countries have over the last decade, according to data from ESA satellites. The country is currently battling an outbreak of blazes, which began last Thursday, that have spread across the country killing more than 60 people. Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070829143607.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070817104512.htm A UK-led initiative to build a satellite which can significantly improve the accuracy of climate change data is gaining momentum following calls from the United Nations, the US Academy of Sciences and the World Meteorological Organisation. Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070817104512.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070809130000.htm The detection of emergency beacons will be greatly improved by the introduction of Europe's satellite positioning system, Galileo. The Galileo satellites will carry transponders to relay distress signals to search and rescue organizations. Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070809130000.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070622090716.htm Satellite tracking software freely available on the Internet and some textbook physics could be used by any organization that can get hold of an intermediate range rocket to mount an unsophisticated attack on military or civilian satellites. Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070622090716.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070527182019.htm Astronomers have made the first ever observation of one of the satellites of the planet Uranus passing in front of another. The observation was made on the night of 4th May using the robotic Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. Mon, 28 May 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070527182019.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070514154316.htm A partnership between NASA and the US Naval Academy is offering students real-world experience. During 2007 and 2008, students at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., will build a satellite called "MidSTAR-2" through a US Department of Defense program that will carry four experiments into space in 2011 to look at different parts of Earth's atmosphere, gamma rays and solar winds. Tue, 15 May 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070514154316.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510123716.htm Travellers have relied on accurate timekeeping for navigation since the development of the marine chronometer in the eighteenth century. Galileo, Europe's twenty-first century navigation system, also relies on clocks -- but they are millions of times more accurate than those earlier timepieces. Mon, 14 May 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510123716.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070504114217.htm GIOVE-A successfully transmitted its first navigation message, containing the information needed by user receivers to calculate their position. Prior to reaching this milestone, the satellite had been broadcasting only the data needed for measuring the receiver-to-satellite distance. Sat, 05 May 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070504114217.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070222155503.htm Georgia Tech researchers have a created a new satellite technology that allows satellites to blast off with less fuel, opening the door for deep space missions, lower launch costs and more hardware on board. Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070222155503.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061120175549.htm Sixteen years after its launch on Oct. 6, 1990, the Ulysses spacecraft has begun its third "solar polar orbit" -- a journey around the poles of the sun. The mission, a joint NASA-European Space Agency venture, studies how the sun's gaseous outer atmosphere spews into space, creating huge space storms. This violent "space weather," in turn, can affect Earth's electricity, satellite and cell phone communications. Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061120175549.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061031185246.htm The Hinode (formerly Solar-B) satellite, a joint Japan/NASA/PPARC mission launched on 22nd September 2006, has reported its first observations of the Sun with its suite of scientific instruments. The satellite was renamed "Hinode" which is Japanese for Sunrise, which is most appropriate since Hinode will watch at close hand massively explosive solar flares erupting from the Sun's surface and rising into interstellar space. Wed, 01 Nov 2006 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061031185246.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061003191221.htm Fourteen laser ranging stations participated in a campaign to track ESA's GIOVE-A satellite during the spring and summer of 2006, providing invaluable data for the characterization of the satellite's on-board clock. The campaign was coordinated by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) and the GIOVE Processing Centre at ESA-ESTEC. Mon, 09 Oct 2006 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061003191221.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060901190042.htm A new Hubble Space Telescope image shows a never-before-seen astronomical alignment of a moon traversing the face of Uranus, and its accompanying shadow. The white dot near the center of Uranus' blue-green disk is the icy moon Ariel. Sat, 02 Sep 2006 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060901190042.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060727180130.htm Built by science and engineering students at Montana State University, the state's first satellite was lost when the Russian rocket it was riding on crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, July 26. Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060727180130.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060705091251.htm NASA's three orbiting micro-satellites known as Space Technology 5 have completed their planned 90-day mission. The mission primarily focused on flight testing miniaturized satellites in the harsh environment of space and evaluating their ability to make research-quality scientific measurements. Wed, 05 Jul 2006 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060705091251.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060412204950.htm A globe-spanning constellation of six satellites expected to improve weather forecasts, monitor climate change, and enhance space weather research will head into orbit on Fri. April 14, 2006. Barring delays, a Minotaur rocket is scheduled to launch the array at 5:10 p.m. Pacific time from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central California coast. Thu, 13 Apr 2006 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060412204950.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/03/060313230953.htm Researchers have developed a radiator so small its components are only visible under a microscope. The temperature control device goes into space March 14 on the "skin" of one of NASA's Space Technology 5 satellites. Tue, 14 Mar 2006 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/03/060313230953.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051229111533.htm NASA 's Space Technology 5 (ST5) micro-satellites have arrived at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., launch site and are in the beginning stages of final launch preparation. ST5 is scheduled to launch in February 2006. ST-5 will pave the way for future science missions by demonstrating the benefits of a constellation of small low-cost spacecraft obtaining simultaneous measurements in different locations. Sun, 01 Jan 2006 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051229111533.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051229122808.htm The first Galileo demonstrator is in orbit, marking the very first step to full operability of Europe’s new global navigation satellite system, under a partnership between ESA and the European Commission (EC). Giove A, the first Galileo in-orbit validation element, was launched today from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, atop a Soyuz-Fregat vehicle operated by Starsem. Thu, 29 Dec 2005 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051229122808.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051028143417.htm SSETI Express, a low Earth orbit spacecraft designed and built by European university students under the supervision of ESA's Education Department, was successfully launched this morning at 08:52 CEST from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on a Russian Kosmos 3M launcher. At 10:29 CEST this morning, the ground control centre at the University in Aalborg (DK) received the first signals from the satellite. Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051028143417.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050814170842.htm Research published in the journal Space Weather warns that massive gaps in our understanding and monitoring of space weather will effectively block US plans for a manned mars space mission. The study, led by University of Warwick researcher Dr Claire Foullon, draws on work that Dr Foullon and colleagues carried out for the European Space Agency on radiation hazards and space weather. Tue, 16 Aug 2005 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050814170842.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050513101316.htm Solar physicists have observed the smallest ever coronal mass ejection (CME) -- a type of explosion where plasma from the Sun is thrown out into space, sometimes striking the Earth and damaging orbiting satellites. The observation has come as a great surprise to scientists and has turned previous ideas up-side-down. Fri, 13 May 2005 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050513101316.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050325161759.htm Assessing the risk that space debris pose to operational spacecraft and satellites is a challenge and depends on whether you are worried about being hit by a known, tracked debris object or by an unknown object. At least the known objects are, well, known. These include old spacecraft, other satellites, rocket bodies and large fragments from past break-ups. Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050325161759.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041022101838.htm An international team of NASA and university researchers has found direct evidence confirming earlier findings that the Earth is dragging space and time around itself as it rotates. Fri, 22 Oct 2004 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041022101838.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/09/040920064810.htm When the Ariane 5 ECA qualification flight lifts off in October, one of the ‘passengers’ will be 33.5 litres of water. Onboard will be the experimental Sloshsat-FLEVO satellite, designed to help European scientists find out more about the movement of water in microgravity and its effects on satellites. Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/09/040920064810.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040604032315.htm Swarm, an Earth Explorer Opportunity Mission, is a constellation of satellites which will study the Earth’s magnetic field. Mon, 07 Jun 2004 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040604032315.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040422002701.htm Like thermometers in space satellites are taking the temperature of the Earth's surface or skin. According to scientists, the satellite data confirms the Earth has had an increasing "fever" for decades. Thu, 22 Apr 2004 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040422002701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/12/031230015555.htm The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) successfully launched TC-1, the first of two scientific satellites known as Double Star. Double Star follows the footsteps of ESA’s Cluster mission and will study closely the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic field. Tue, 30 Dec 2003 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/12/031230015555.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/10/031009065522.htm A breakthrough for space technology achieved by the University of Idaho’s Center for Advanced Microelectronics and Biomolecular Research hit the front page of the Oct. 6 EE Times magazine, a leading industry publication for engineers and technical management. Thu, 09 Oct 2003 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/10/031009065522.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/09/030926070625.htm Astronomers have discovered two of the smallest moons yet found around Uranus. The new moons, uncovered by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, are about 8 to 10 miles across (12 to 16 km) — about the size of San Francisco. Fri, 26 Sep 2003 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/09/030926070625.htm