News briefs: April 8
Posted: Tue, Apr 9, 2002, 11:32 AM ET (1532 GMT)
- Boeing plans to resume orbit-raising maneuvers for the TDRS-I satellite next week, Aerospace Daily reported Monday. Engineers at Boeing are still studying a problem with the pressurization of one of the spacecraft's four propellant tanks that forced Boeing to stop the maneuvers last month. Boeing officials said they are developing new procedures that should hopefully allow the spacecraft to reach geosynchronous orbit.
- Japan is considering developing an enhanced version of its H-2A launch vehicle, according to a Reuters report. The H-2A, which completed its inaugural flight in late January, can currently place 4,000 kg into geosynchronous transfer orbit; the enhanced version would increase its capacity to 6,000 kg. The report gave no indication when the enhanced version would enter service.
- The team involved with NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter won an award from the U.S. Space Foundation Monday. The foundation gave the Galileo team a Space Achievement Award to recognize its work on the mission. The award was given at the National Space Symposium conference in Colorado.
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