SPACE.com Update for February 28, 2007  * DESTINATIONS:* *News* *|* *SpaceFlight* *|* *Science/Astronomy* *|* *SETI* *|*   *Space Business News* *February 28, 2007*     *TOP STORY* *posted: February 28, 2007 11:07 am EDT* *New Instrument Designed to Sift for Life on Mars*Future Mars rovers could be equipped with a new instrument that sifts through Martian soil for chemical signs of life.Read More ...Continue Reading

Feb. 27, 2007 Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 RELEASE: 07-60 HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the space shuttle Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's External Tank. A new target launch date has not been determined, ...Continue Reading

SPACE.com Update for February 27, 2007  * DESTINATIONS:* *News* *|* *SpaceFlight* *|* *Science/Astronomy* *|* *SETI* *|*   *Space Business News* *February 27, 2007*     *TOP STORY* *posted: February 27, 2007 07:13 pm EDT* *Jupiter Flyby: NASA's Pluto Probe Set for Gas Giant Rendezvous*Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, is about to welcome a robotic visitor in the form of NASA?s New Ho ...Continue Reading

Starry Night® Times - March 2007 If you have trouble viewing this newsletter, click here. *Welcome again to our monthly newsletter with features on exciting celestial events, product reviews, tips & tricks, and a monthly sky calendar. We hope you enjoy it!* [*]Messier Marathon - Part I: Walk Don't Run!In this first article of a two-part series, knowledgable observer Jeff Barbour shares his Messier Marathon expe ...Continue Reading

Feb. 27, 2007 John Yembrick Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0602 Kyle Herring Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 CONTRACT RELEASE: C07-08 NASA COMPLETES CONTRACT AWARD FOR SPACE PROGRAM OPERATIONS WASHINGTON - NASA has completed a modification to convert the letter contract with United Space Alliance (USA), LLC, of Houston, to a fully defined contract covering space shuttle and International Space Station program operations for a base period from Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2010. The contract ...Continue Reading

LiveScience.com Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Despite Warnings, Ocean Circulation Not Slowing Down Despite recent concerns, scientists have seen no evidence that the ocean?s weather-influencing circulation is slowing down, an oceanographer claims. Scientists Offer Climate Plan to U.N. More research into clean energy and enforcement of sharp rollbacks in fossil-fuel emissions are necessary to combat global warming, scientists told the United Nations. Army Developing Paralysis Beam The ...Continue Reading

Feb. 27, 2007 David Mould/Allard Beutel Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1898/4769 MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-27 INDEPENDENT SPACE STATION TASK FORCE RELEASES FINAL REPORT WASHINGTON - The International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force's final report is now available online. The report was released simultaneously Tuesday to Congress, NASA and the public. The Congressionally-mandated task force was chartered last year under Section 1281 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. It was charged with reviewing ...Continue Reading

The following sections were updated since 26 February 2007. -- DUST AND SMOKE (2 updated events, 2 new images) -- DUST STORM OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA A dust storm, likely originating in the Sahara Desert, swept across the Mediterranean Sea on February 24, 2007. * http://naturalhazards.nasa.gov/shownh.php3?img_id=14142 *** MODIS(Aqua) image from Feb 24 2007 (Posted on Feb 26 2007 4:22PM) DUST STORM OVER NORTHERN TEXAS A dust storm blew across northern Texas on February 24, 2007, turning north just before reaching ...Continue Reading

Feb. 27, 2007 David Mould/Allard Beutel Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1898/4769 MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-27 INDEPENDENT SPACE STATION TASK FORCE RELEASES FINAL REPORT WASHINGTON - The International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force's final report is now available online. The report was released simultaneously Tuesday to Congress, NASA and the public. The Congressionally-mandated task force was chartered last year under Section 1281 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. It was charged with reviewing ...Continue Reading

Feb. 27, 2007 Allard Beutel Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4769 Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-28 NASA ANNOUNCES FEB. 27 SHUTTLE NEWS CONFERENCE CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA will host a news conference at no earlier than 4 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 27, to discuss the status of the space shuttle's upcoming mission, STS-117. Topics will include the latest on possible impacts to the mission from a hail storm at Kennedy Space Center Monday. The briefing will ...Continue Reading