[meteorite-list] bright bolide over Brussel this evening
From: vincent jacques <meteorh3_6_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:53:34 2004 Message-ID: <F134qzMQdoEhamKYGve00008c25_at_hotmail.com> <html><div style='background-color:'><DIV> <P>Hello, </P> <P> A very bright green fireball was observed over Brussel this evening at 21H41 (20H41 utc). I worked on my computer, when my attention was attracted by the bolide. I 'see it through the window, just above the Atomium building. I estimate the magnitude at -10. Trajectory NE => N, very bright green color, possible fragmentation. The angle of inclination was 60 °-70° with the horizontal. </P> <P>If you have see it, please contact me. Thank you!</P> <P>Vincent JACQUES</P> <P>>From: Ron Baalke <BAALKE_at_ZAGAMI.JPL.NASA.GOV></P></DIV> <DIV></DIV>>To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com (Meteorite Mailing List) <DIV></DIV>>Subject: [meteorite-list] Rosetta Mission In Doubt <DIV></DIV>>Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 10:59:02 -0800 (PST) <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2568775.stm <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Flagship space mission in doubt <DIV></DIV>>By Helen Briggs <DIV></DIV>>BBC News <DIV></DIV>>December 12, 2002 <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>The future of a flagship European space mission hangs in the balance <DIV></DIV>>following a $600m rocket disaster. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>The first upgraded Ariane 5 rocket and its cargo of two French satellites <DIV></DIV>>exploded over the Atlantic on its maiden flight, casting doubt on the Rosetta <DIV></DIV>>mission. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>The voyage to orbit and land on a comet is one of the European Space Agency <DIV></DIV>>(Esa's) most ambitious, daring and costly ventures. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Space officials now face the dilemma of risking another failed launch or going <DIV></DIV>>back to the drawing board after 10 years of planning. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>One of the two leading British scientists on the project said the mission <DIV></DIV>>may be in jeopardy. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Comet odyssey <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Dr Chris Carr of Imperial College London said Wednesday's launch was <DIV></DIV>>critical to the Rosetta mission. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>He told BBC News Online: "We were all waiting and waiting for this launch <DIV></DIV>>to be successful. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>"To have it fail in such a spectacularly bad way is the worst <DIV></DIV>>thing we can imagine at the moment for Rosetta." <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>The probe is due to launched on the night of January 12 on a rocket <DIV></DIV>>similar to the one that exploded on take-off from the Kourou spaceport <DIV></DIV>>in French Guiana. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>It cannot be launched on another vehicle and it must take-off by the <DIV></DIV>>beginning of February. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>The spacecraft is destined to skirt the Earth twice and Mars once in its <DIV></DIV>>journey to comet Wirtanen. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>If it is unable to leave Earth within the narrow launch window, the planets <DIV></DIV>>will be in the wrong position for it to reach the comet. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Astronomers have been observing Wirtanen for many years, because they <DIV></DIV>>knew it was the target of the Esa mission. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>'Grand mission' <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Dr Carr believes there will be a delay of at least six months if the launch has <DIV></DIV>>to be scrubbed. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>"The space craft Rosetta was designed solely for the mission it is flying," he <DIV></DIV>>said. "It is extremely difficult to target another comet even if we can find <DIV></DIV>>one that is scientifically-interesting." <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>The prospect is a nightmare scenario for Esa. On Monday, Prof David <DIV></DIV>>Southwood, director of science at Esa, told BBC News Online: "It's just <DIV></DIV>>about a month until we launch and it's been a long time coming. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>"It is the grand mission so it's going to be an incredible feeling when it goes <DIV></DIV>>up, for me and indeed for colleagues and scientists across Europe." <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Nervous wait <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Esa has set up a major investigation into the Ariane 5 disaster and data <DIV></DIV>>analysts are working to identify the cause. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Officials at Arianespace said on Thursday they were confident the Rosetta <DIV></DIV>>launch would go ahead as planned. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>An independent commission will report as soon as possible if the accident has <DIV></DIV>>any repercussions for the Rosetta launch. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Meanwhile, scientists on the project face an anxious wait. Dr Christopher <DIV></DIV>>Lee, operations manager of the Rosetta plasma consortium, said they were <DIV></DIV>>continuing preparations for a January launch. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>"We are saddened by the loss of the latest Ariane flight and its payload and <DIV></DIV>>are deeply concerned about its impact on the Rosetta mission," he said. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>"However, we have to be patient and wait for news from Esa and Arianespace <DIV></DIV>>to see what the effects will be." <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>______________________________________________ <DIV></DIV>>Meteorite-list mailing list <DIV></DIV>>Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com <DIV></DIV>>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list <DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>MSN Search, le moteur de recherche qui pense comme vous ! <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMLFR/2022">Cliquez-ici</a> </html> Received on Thu 12 Dec 2002 04:06:47 PM PST |
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