CENAP Infoline - no 094

Magazine Overview

This issue of CENAP-INFOLINE, dated July 13, 1999, is a special edition focusing on "Science & Technology." It presents a collection of news articles and reports covering various advancements and events in space exploration, astronomy, and technology.

Key Articles and Reports

Space Exploration and Astronomy

• Dust Cloud around Jupiter's Moon Ganymede: An international team of scientists, including researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, has discovered a cloud of cosmic dust around Jupiter's moon Ganymede. This observation was made using the "Galileo" space probe and marks the first direct measurement in the vicinity of a moon acting as a dust source.
• Successful "QuickScat" Satellite Launch: NASA achieved a successful launch of the "QuickScat" satellite from Vandenberg, California, using a Titan II rocket. This satellite is intended to monitor ocean winds.
• New Astra Satellite Launched: A Russian carrier rocket successfully deployed a new Astra satellite from the Baikonur spaceport.
• Near-Collision at the International Space Station (ISS): The ISS narrowly avoided a collision with Russian space debris. An evasive maneuver failed due to miscalculations by NASA and Russian experts regarding the station's mass. The debris, the second stage of an old Russian rocket, passed at a safe distance.
• Eileen Collins to Command Shuttle Mission: Eileen Collins is poised to make US spaceflight history by commanding the Space Shuttle "Columbia" on July 20, 1999. She will lead the mission to deploy a $1.5 billion X-ray telescope. Collins, who has flown to space twice as a co-pilot, will be in the commander's seat for the first time. The article notes Valentina Tereshkova as the first woman to fly in space in 1963.
• "Gemini North" Super-Telescope Inaugurated: After 12 years of development and construction, the "Gemini North" super-telescope was inaugurated on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Built by seven countries (USA, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Great Britain, and Canada), it is capable of detecting the headlights of a car 3,200 kilometers away and is expected to be a major astronomical undertaking in the new millennium. The project Alma, also mentioned, will consist of 64 antennas, each twelve meters in diameter.
• "Mir" Space Station Leak: Cosmonauts aboard the Russian space station "Mir" unsuccessfully searched for a leak that had caused a slight drop in air pressure. While there was enough oxygen, a resupply rocket was prepared, but its launch was uncertain due to a dispute between Russia and Kazakhstan over rocket launch restrictions following a previous military satellite launch failure.
• Discovery of a Meteorite in England: A dog named Mick, accompanied by his owner Dr. Eamon Groarke, discovered a meteorite near Hetton-le-Hole, England. Experts believe the object traveled from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and struck Earth at high speed.
• NASA's X-34 Experimental Vehicle Roll-out: NASA celebrated the roll-out of the first X-34 experimental vehicle, designed to test new re-entry technologies for future space transporters. The vehicle was built by Orbital Sciences.

Technology and Other Topics

• Computer Chips Shrinking to Atomic Size: Researchers have discovered that computer chips cannot be made smaller than 5 atoms due to the limits of physics. David Muller is quoted stating that the future computer will be "alive," powered by bio-molecules.
• Cult Disappearance in Colombia: 60 members of a cult, who believed in meeting extraterrestrials on a sacred mountain, have disappeared in Colombia. The sect leader, Rodolfo Perez, had led his followers to believe the world would end at the turn of the millennium. Police are investigating, and a mass suicide has not been ruled out.
• NASA's Meteorite Defense Plan: Inspired by the Hollywood film "Armageddon," NASA is investing approximately $240 million to send a probe to land on a meteorite. The mission aims to gather data on how to effectively destroy such objects, preparing for potential future threats.
• "Moon Landing - TV Tips" and "30 Years of Moon Landing": The issue includes a listing of television programs related to the moon landing anniversary and a section commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, featuring photos of Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin.
• Death of Astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad: The death of US astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad, commander of the "Apollo 12" mission, at the age of 69 due to a motorcycle accident is reported. NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin paid tribute to him as a "great personality of spaceflight history."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on space exploration, scientific discoveries, and technological advancements. There is a clear interest in reporting on NASA and Russian space programs, astronomical observations, and the future of technology. The inclusion of stories on UFOs (implied by the cult's belief in meeting extraterrestrials) and the near-miss at the ISS suggest an interest in the more speculative and potentially extraordinary aspects of space and science. The editorial stance appears to be informative and appreciative of human achievement in these fields, while also acknowledging potential risks and mysteries.