Space in 2004

2004 was a good year for space exploration and astronomy.

Rosetta
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/Rosetta/index.html
Launched from Guiana Space Centre. It will release the first ever space craft to attempt a soft landing on a comet. After making a number of flyby maneuvers, it will close in on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.

Mars Express
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html
Though the Beagle 2 lander failed, the Mars Express orbiter was and still is more successful, returning detailed imagery and scientific data. Further evidence of H20 and CO2 ice, and also the presence of higher amounts of methane than expected. It is experiencing possible problems with the deployable radar boom.

Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
Two other highly successful probes, still functioning long after the initial expected lifetime. Though experiencing some mechanical problems they have proven to be robust. They have also given scientists evidence of past water on the surface of Mars.

Cassini-Huygens
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm
After a long journey, Cassini-Huygens finally entered into orbit around Saturn, to begin extensive scientific study of the planet and its moons. Extraordinary images were recieved from Phoebe and Titan. The Huygens probe was released and is expected to reach Titan later this month.

Spitzer telescope
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/spitzer/index.shtml
The last of NASA's Great Observatories programme, this one operates mostly in the infrared. With it, astronomers discovered dust discs arounds sunlike stars known to have planets, which could teach us more about planetary formation. There were also several sunlike stars with Kuiper belt-like discs. This telescope also studied galaxies including colliding galaxies, and also detected several supermassive black holes.

Integral
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Integral/
In 2004 it was revealed that this gamma telescope solved a 30 year mystery regarding the gamma glow from the centre of the Milky Way. What was previously seen as a general gamma glow could now be seen as several individual sources. It also determined that a gamma burst detected in 2003 was the closest observed yet. Integral is a collaboration between ESA, NASA and Russia.

SMART-1
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/SMART-1/index.html
The first ESA space probe to reach the moon entered lunar orbit, and is now carrying out maneuvers to adjust its orbit. It is using an ion thruster.

Genesis
http://www.genesismission.org/
This mission was to make the first sample return mission since the Apollo era, this time to gather particles from the solar wind. Unfortunately, due to faulty construction, the probe did not deploy its parachute upon reentry, and it crashed in the desert in Utah. Scientists are hopeful to rescue some scientific data still.

Stardust
http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/
One of several comet missions currently active or soon to be active. In early 2004, this probe went within 236 kilometres of the comet Wild 2, to capture particles to return to Earth for study. This is the first comet sample return mission. It also sent back extraordinary images of the comet's nucleus, showing craters and other formations.

Nozomi
http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/sat/exploration/nozomi/index_e.html
Japan's first probe to Mars was supposed to arrive in December 2003 and continue operations well into 2004, however various mishaps prevented this, and it missed its target.

International Space Station
While the assembly is on hold until NASA is successful with returning the space shuttle to flight, there is still activity surrounding this international project.
There was much work done on the first ATV (Automatic Transfer Vehicle)
( http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/ATV/index.html) which will be used to resupply the ISS in the future.
The ERA (European Robotic Arm) was undergoing underwater tests in Russia ( http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/SEMG8LXJD1E_index_0.html), and the Cupola observation unit was finished ( http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/SEMHAL0XDYD_index_0.html).

New Vision for Space Exploration
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsy...lore_main.html
President Bush declared in early 2004 a new direction for NASA: To return to the moon and to continue to Mars and beyond, with human and robotic missions. NASA quickly began preparing for the new programme by planning for the new Crew Exploration Vehicle and other projects necessary. Congress approved of the entire proposed increase in budget for NASA.

Aurora Programme
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/Aurora/index.html
Proposed in 2002, Aurora is a new programme for exploration of the solar system by the means of human missions as well as robots. It recieved increased support from the member states of ESA and Canada as well. Work is underway to begin the first missions due to launch within a few years.


Commercial space projects
X-Prize
http://www.xprize.org/
The X-Prize was won by team Scaled Composites lead by Burt Rutan. The goal was to launch three people or equivalent mass to the altitude of 100 km, twice within two weeks, which Scaled pulled off in two flights on 29 September and 4 October.

American Space Prize
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/spaceprize_techwed_041006.html
Robert Bigelow, planning on launching his own spacestation/hotel, needs a spacecraft. Bigelow initiated the American Space Prize to encourage private development of spacecrafts with the ability to go into orbit and dock with the spacestation.

Virgin Galactic
http://www.virgingalactic.com
Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Airlines, founded Virgin Galactic, a new company to offer suborbital spaceflights with spacecrafts based on Scaled Composite's SpaceShipOne technology. This spacecraft will be much larger and reach a higher altitude.