CENAP Infoline - no 101

Magazine Overview

This issue of MORGEN, dated December 1999, features a range of science and technology news, with a particular focus on space exploration and physics research. The cover story, "Escape from Earth," delves into NASA's controversial research into antigravity, inspired by Russian scientist E. E. Podkletnov.

Escape from Earth: NASA's Antigravity Research

The lead article details NASA's investment of over half a million dollars in antigravity research, aiming to replicate experiments by Russian scientist E. E. Podkletnov. Podkletnov claimed that a spinning, superconducting disc lost weight, with unpublished papers suggesting a loss of up to 2 percent. NASA's motivation is to reduce the cost of launching rockets into orbit by developing a device that could shield spacecraft from Earth's gravity. Superconductive Components, an Ohio-based company, is building a 12-inch superconducting disc for further experiments. Initial tests with a smaller disc did not yield significant results, with physicist Ronald Koczor noting no gravitational signal above nanogees. However, Koczor and David Noever at NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center are pursuing the research, planning to inject radio-frequency signals into the disc. Despite skepticism from physicists like Ho Paik, who argues that gravity is produced by mass and not quantum mechanics, the NASA team remains undeterred, hoping to faithfully replicate Podkletnov's findings.

Scherze mit dem Tower: Our Pilots Laugh About It

This section presents humorous anecdotes about air traffic control communications, highlighting witty exchanges between pilots and towers, often involving misunderstandings or playful banter.

Boeing Joint Strike Fighter Model Tested

NLR (National Aerospace Laboratory) in Amsterdam conducted wind tunnel tests on a five-percent model of the Boeing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Preferred Weapons System Concept (PWSC). The tests, commissioned by the US Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, aimed to predict the acceleration and maneuvering performance of the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant. Stability and control characteristics were measured across a range of Mach numbers and angles of attack. The DNW-HST wind tunnel's unique capabilities allowed for this testing envelope with a single setup, and its secured bays ensured customer privacy.

Böses Erwachen (Bad Awakening)

In Melbourne, Australia, Kelly Johnson was startled when a thumb-nail-sized meteorite fragment pierced her window at extreme speed, narrowly missing her.

MORGEN: Meteorites in the Bedroom

This brief report reiterates the incident in Melbourne where a meteorite fragment broke through a bedroom window, highlighting the speed and near-miss.

Entdeckt: Zweiter blauer Planet (Discovered: Second Blue Planet)

British and American scientists have discovered a new planet outside our solar system, dubbed the 'Millennium Planet'. Using specialized computers and a large telescope, they detected its light 55 light-years away. The planet is described as blue, similar to Earth, with double the diameter and eight times the mass of Jupiter. It is named 'Millennium' and is associated with the star Tau Bootis.

Forscher sichten neuen Planeten (Researchers Spot New Planet)

This article elaborates on the discovery of the 'Millennium Planet', published in the journal 'Nature'. Researchers from St. Andrews University and their US colleagues are the first to have localized the light of such a planet. While Tau Bootis, the associated star, is visible to the naked eye, the planet itself required advanced technology for detection. The discovery is part of a trend, with 28 new planets discovered in the past four years.

Astronauten fliegen Hubble entgegen (Astronauts Fly Towards Hubble)

The US Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Cape Canaveral to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. After multiple delays, the mission began, with Commander Curt Brown famously announcing, "Hubble, we're coming." The shuttle was scheduled to rendezvous with the 16-meter telescope, capture it with a robotic arm, and perform repairs over three days. The observatory, valued at $5.7 billion, had shut down in November due to the failure of its fourth gyroscope. The mission involved replacing gyroscopes, a main computer, and installing new shielding.

MORGEN: Discovery is the first shuttle to stay in space over Christmas.

Due to the late launch, the Discovery's mission was shortened by two days, with a planned landing on December 27th, before the millennium change.

XMM erreicht Umlaufbahn (XMM Reaches Orbit)

The European XMM (X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission) observatory successfully reached its elliptical orbit around Earth and is undergoing instrument calibration, with the first X-ray images expected in March.

Norddeutsche sehen Feuerball (Northern Germans See Fireball)

Numerous reports from Northern Germany and Scandinavia described a bright, sparkling object moving rapidly across the sky, causing excitement and calls to airports. Experts ruled out it being an aircraft and suggested it was likely a large meteor or a piece of space debris burning up in the atmosphere.

Weihnachtsstern (Christmas Star)

This section discusses the 'fireball' sighting over Northern Germany, with many people interpreting it as a miraculous sign, possibly the Star of Bethlehem. Astronomers explained it as a meteor burning up in the atmosphere, noting that thousands of tons of meteorites enter Earth's atmosphere annually, with most burning up.

Zehntausende schauten wundergläubig zum Himmel (Tens of Thousands Looked to the Sky in Wonder)

This article expands on the 'Christmas Star' phenomenon, describing how tens of thousands witnessed the bright fireball, with many believing it to be a divine sign. Astronomers provided scientific explanations, including large meteors or space debris.

Schlafloser entdeckte Supernova (Sleepless Man Discovered Supernova)

Astronomer Alessandro Dimai from Cortina, Italy, discovered a new supernova while remotely accessing an observatory's computer. This supernova releases as much energy in a few days as the sun does in 10 billion years.

Wieder Feuerkugel am Himmel (Fireball in the Sky Again)

This article revisits the fireball sighting, detailing eyewitness accounts and expert explanations. Dr. Martin Neumann suggests it was a satellite or rocket fragment burning up. Dr. Jakob Staude notes the awe such phenomena inspire. The article also mentions the possibility of planetoids from the asteroid belt causing such events.

Hubble repariert, jetzt sieht es besser denn je (Hubble Repaired, Now It Looks Better Than Ever)

Astronauts aboard the Discovery successfully repaired the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission involved replacing key components and adding shielding. The repaired observatory is expected to provide sharper images and help scientists understand planet formation.

Die NASA und der Weihnachtsmann - eine himmlische Geschichte (NASA and Santa Claus - A Heavenly Story)

A humorous anecdote about the Christmas Eve broadcast of the Hubble repair mission. Mission control playfully identified an approaching object as 'Santa Claus', engaging in a lighthearted exchange about the 'sleigh' and 'reindeer' during the live transmission.

Hubble verlässt die Werkstatt (Hubble Leaves the Workshop)

Following its successful repair, the Hubble Space Telescope was released from the Discovery shuttle's cargo bay. NASA hailed the event as a Christmas gift, with scientists anticipating new insights into planet formation. The astronauts, Steve Smith and John Grunsfeld, performed complex tasks, including installing new equipment and shielding, despite the difficulty of working in bulky gloves.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of MORGEN are space exploration, astronomical discoveries, and technological advancements in aerospace. The magazine presents a mix of scientific reporting, human interest stories, and occasional humorous anecdotes. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on significant scientific achievements and intriguing phenomena, while also acknowledging public fascination and wonder, particularly in the context of celestial events. There's a clear emphasis on international collaboration and the cutting-edge nature of space science and physics research.