Launchpad Space News, August 2001

The largest know lump of free-range rock in the solar system lost it's title this month. Ceres (shown here on the right in glorious umpteen-miles-away-fuzovision) held it since its discovery in 1801 with a diameter of 960km or thereabouts. The newcomer, with the decidedly dull name of 2001 KX76, is guestimated to measure 1,200km across which makes it about half the size of the smallest planet, Pluto. Because it lives out beyond Pluto in what astronomers call The Kuiper Belt, it'll get a nicer name. Probably something to do with creation if they stick to the standard.

American astronomers in Chile discovered it in May using a 4 metre telescope. It's size was determined later by the first use of a cluster of telescopes and has caused a small amount of controversy. Once more the question is being asked "If something that small is an asteroid, why do we call Pluto a planet?" But Pluto is still twice the size and has a moon pretty much the same size as 2001 KX76, so I guess astronomers must just enjoy debating such things.

Japan's H2 Goes

After a 4-day delay caused by a dodgy valve in a second stage liquid oxygen tank, and another delay of a few hours with fuel loading problems, Japan's H-2A blasted off into its target orbit. This puts Japan's NASDA in the position of having a vehicle capable of putting 4 tonnes in orbit. This picture from the Tanegashima Space Centre shows the rocket doing its thing, and though it all looks well there are rumours that there may be problems in securing future funds to turn it into a financially viable version what with the global recession and all.

The threat of financial cutbacks in the aerospace and space science arena looms like a thundercloud. There is talk about retiring one of the US's space shuttles, even though there isn't even a replacement program on the drawing board. The International Space Station and surrounding projects are being cut to the point where most of the remaining astronauts' time has to be spent on maintenance. It could just be depression brought on by the flu (sorry it's just one page this month), but I am starting to wonder if mankind's push into space will soon lapse into the same kind of distant memory that the moon landings have become.

This edition is also on the web, just point your web browser to http://olliver.family.gen.nz. vik@olliver.family.gen.nz