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2001: A Space Schedule
By Robert Myers
Multimedia Producer
posted: 07:00 am ET
04 January 2001
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2001_lookahead_ In a popular fictional reality, the year ahead would find a human crew aboard a monstrously huge, artificially intelligent spaceship arriving at the planet Jupiter to make first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence. Sadly, this sort of odyssey is probably still in our much more distant future. But what the year holds in store for space enthusiasts, explorers and scientists is as fascinating and grand on its own terms. And who knows what amazing new discoveries will be made -- or historic steps will be taken -- in the real 2001? January: 2001 will still bring major milestones in human spaceflight, as a whirlwind schedule of shuttle launches ferries construction material to the growing International Space Station. As STS-98 kicks off an almost monthly series of missions from Kennedy Space Center, the facility and the shuttle fleet will be put to the test like never before. Look for many unexpected surprises and dramatic moments as America's human space program shifts into high gear. 15: Stardust -- Earth flyby18: Shuttle mission STS-98 launch 28: 15th anniversary of Challenger disaster31: Mars Global Surveyor -- end of primary missionFebruary : The Russian space station Mir has its 15th birthday this month, but it also has had its head on the chopping block for years. It's starting to look like the reprieves are running out, but will the world's oldest orbital outpost finally be brought down this year? Believe it when you hear the splash.Uncertain: Mir deorbiting12: NEAR lands on Eros15: Shuttle mission STS-102 launch 19: 15th anniversary of Mir launchMarch: As the seasons change, sharp-eyed backyard astronomers in the north will be teased by an appearance of the mysterious zodiacal light. Dust in our solar system scatters sunlight into a faint cone that extends beyond the orbit of Pluto. 11: Mercury reaches greatest elongation west and begins its best morning apparition (appearance) for the year, particularly for southern observers. 12-26: Zodiacal light visible in the west after twilight in the Northern Hemisphere. 20: Vernal equinox, 8:31 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (13:31 GMT). 28: ISS Docking Compartment 1 launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome. April: Astronomy Day and Astronomy Week finish off a month containing a meteor shower, the 20th anniversary of the first shuttle launch, and another shuttle mission to the ISS for good measure. 1: Daylight Saving Time begins 12: 40th anniversary flight of Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, first man in space 12: 20th anniversary of first shuttle launch 19: STS-100 launch22: Lyrids meteor shower 23-29: Astronomy Week 28: Astronomy Day May: Almost a century after physicist Albert Einstein formalized his theory of general relativity scientists are still struggling to comprehend all the implications of this great insight. 4: Venus at greatest brilliancy in the morning sky 4-5: Eta Aquarids meteor shower (moonlight may interfere with viewing) 11: 85th Anniversary Einstein's theory of general relativity 17: STS-104 launch June: The first total solar eclipse of the new millennium graces the southern half of Africa and the island of Madagascar on the first day of summer. The moon is actually on an eclipsing spree as it occults the planet Saturn first -- a visual treat for telescope owners. Also, Mars will be the closest it has been to Earth in over a decade. 13: Mars' closest approach to Earth at 42 million miles (67 million kilometers) -- the closest the Red Planet has been since 1988. 14: STS-107 launch 19: Saturn is 0.9 degree north of the Moon (occultation visible in New Zealand and the southern Pacific Ocean. This begins a series of planetary occultations by the moon extending through the rest of the year). 21: Summer solstice 3:38 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time (07:38 GMT) marks the beginning of summer. 21: Total solar eclipse, visible in Africa. 30: 30th anniversary of Soyuz 11 disaster in which three cosmonauts died when a valve depressurized their vehicle on reentry. July: A month of eclipses as the Moon cuts a shadowy swath across the sky. In history, July also brings major anniversaries for the Mercury program and the Viking landings on Mars. 5: Partial lunar eclipse visible across Australia. 17: Saturn and Venus both near crescent moon in predawn sky. Venus is also occulted by the Moon this morning, visible from Hawaii, the U.S., southern Canada and the Caribbean. 18: Jupiter, just north of Moon (occultation visible in northern Europe, north Russia, the Arctic, Alaska and western Canada). 20: 25th anniversary of Viking 1 Mars landing. 21: 40th anniversary of Mercury 4 (Liberty Bell 7) launch. 26: 30th anniversary of Apollo 15 launch. 28: Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower peaks. August: More summery spacewatching treats as the Moon poses with Jupiter and Saturn, and the Perseid meteors scatter across the night. 12: Perseid meteor shower. 13: Saturn just north of the Moon (occultation visible from southern and eastern Africa). 15: Jupiter just south of the Moon (occultation visible from eastern China, Japan, Alaska, southwest Canada, the U.S.). September: As another seasonal change arrives, you have another chance to catch the zodiacal light. 10: Saturn just south of Moon (occultation visible from Hawaii, the U.S., southern Canada and the Caribbean). 16-30: Zodiacal light visible in eastern morning sky before twilight begins in Northern Hemisphere. 18: Mercury at greatest elongation east, continues its most favorable apparition of the year -- best from southerly latitudes. 22: Autumnal equinox is at 7:04 p.m. EDT (23:04 GMT). October: If things go according to plan, this year's close approach to the planet Mars will provide a window of opportunity for an express trip to the Red Planet by a new survey satellite. 2: Harvest Moon 7: Saturn just south of Moon (occultation visible from southwest Asia, India, central Russia, northwest China, northern Japan, Alaska and western Canada) 15-29: Zodiacal light visible in morning sky before twilight begins in Northern Hemisphere. 20: 2001 Mars Odyssey -- Mars orbit insertion 21: Orionid meteor shower. 23: Mars just north of the Moon (occultation visible from central South America and central Africa). 31: Hunter's Moon November: If you've never seen a real meteor shower, 2001 might be the best time to start. November gives you two chances -- first with the Taurids and then with the Leonids. But if you can only see one meteor shower, make it the Leonids. They are expected to be particularly rich in number this year -- a really spectacular show. Uncertain: Inaugural launch of the Delta 4. 3: Saturn just south of the Moon (occultation visible from Europe, northwest Africa, Russia and Japan). 3: Taurids meteor shower. 18: Leonid meteors (note: very high rates are predicted for this year; double peaks). 30: Saturn 0.5 degree south of the Moon (occultation visible from Central America, U.S., eastern Canada, Europe and western Russia). December: Here comes Saturn's closest approach to Earth for the year, jauntily tilting its rings for viewing in new telescopes. 3: Saturn at opposition. 13: Geminid meteor shower peaks. 14: Annular solar eclipse visible from southern Pacific Ocean and near sunset in Nicaragua and El Salvador. 21: Winter Solstice, 2:21 p.m. EST (19:21 GMT). 28: Saturn just south of the Moon (occultation visible from Hawaii, southern Canada, the U.S. and Central America). 30: Penumbral lunar eclipse. SpaceWatch columnist Jeff Kanipe contributed to this report.
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