Space News Headlines for March 8, 2005

Aurora Rocket Crashes After Launch

CNN says, "A rocket launched to collect information on the aurora's appearance and movement flew for five minutes before crashing in the mountains north of Fairbanks.

"The 70-foot (21-meter) Black Brant XII rocket was launched Sunday from the Poker Flat Research Range. It should have flown for 40 minutes, said Greg Walker, the range manager."

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Dark Horse Makes Bold Claims in Space Race

A report from MSNBC says, "A rocket startup that was an also-ran in the $10 million X Prize private-spaceflight competition says it is gearing up to beat the prize-winning team to market with a low-cost suborbital space tourism operation, launching from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

"Aera Corp. says it intends to take on paying passengers by the end of next year - but it's not yet clear whether the company will be able to stick to that timetable."

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Jupiter Acts as Giant Mirror to Sun's Back-Side Activity

According to Yahoo! News "Space weather forecasters have it even tougher than regular weather forecasters. In trying to predict long-range solar activity, they have to rely on a picture of just the half of the Sun they can see. Storms brewing on the backside are hidden from view until they rotate to the front.

"Jupiter to the rescue. The giant gas planet reflects solar activity, scientists have learned. And when Jupiter is on the other side of the solar system, it can act as a mirror for flare-ups from the back side of the Sun."

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Planet Puzzle: Theorists Wrestle with How They're Built

Also from Yahoo! News, "A new twist in a long-standing debate might answer the fundamental question in the planet forming business: how to make gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn.

"'The current focus is on how the big guys form,' said Richard Durisen of Indiana University. 'Their formation determines the long-term architecture of the planetary system."

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Space Entrepreneur Walt Anderson Denied Bail in Tax Case

Finally, from Space.com, "Accused tax cheat Walt Anderson, the financier behind many long-shot commercial space ventures, was denied bail Thursday during his bond hearing and was ordered to remain in jail at least until his next court appearance two weeks from now.

"U.S. District Court Judge Alan Kay ordered during the Thursday hearing that Anderson remain in detention until his next status hearing, tentatively set for March 17 or 18, according to Channing Phillips, principal assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia."

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