Vanguard I celebrates 50 years in space

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The Vanguard I satellite celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Its launch on March 17, 1958 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, 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. Its predecessors, Sputniks I and II and Explorer I, have since fallen out of orbit.


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All News summaries for March 13, 2008

New Analysis Shows Important Slowdown in Lake Tahoe Clarity Loss

1 hour ago | User rating: not rated yet
For the first time since researchers began continuously measuring Lake Tahoe's famed water clarity 40 years ago, UC Davis scientists reported today that the historical rate of decline in the lake's clarity has slowed considerably ...

NASA Phoenix Mission Ready For Mars Landing

2 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is preparing to end its long journey and begin a three-month mission to taste and sniff fistfuls of Martian soil and buried ice. The lander is scheduled to touch down on the Red ...

Satellite communications by laser

4 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
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 developed with ...

Study says Chinese air quality standards not yet met

4 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
With the Olympic Games in sight, the Chinese Government is committed to improving the air quality in Beijing, and has had measures in place since 1998 which have already made a difference. However, there is still some way ...

NASA's GLAST gets shades, blankets for the beach

4 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
GREENBELT, Md. - NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, is receiving finishing touches at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, near the beaches of eastern central Florida for its launch. The ...
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