Shuttle report revealed 'blowtorch' risk of space debris

19:00 12 February 03

Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition


If an impact from space debris was a factor in the loss of the space shuttle Columbia, NASA had been given ample warning. A report published in 1997 predicted a scenario that has disturbing parallels with what may have befallen the spacecraft.

Written by an expert panel convened by the US National Research Council, Protecting the Space Shuttle from Meteoroids and Orbital Debris, warns that debris impacts that penetrate the leading edge or underside of a shuttle wing or fuselage might not be immediately critical or detectable.

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Long distance quantum teleportation draws closer

19:00 12 February 03

NewScientist.com news service


A practical problem plaguing long distance quantum teleportation has been solved by researchers in Austria. Until now, verifying that information has been transmitted has required the quantum link itself to be destroyed, preventing any further use.

Quantum teleportation involves "entangling" two particles so that any change to the state of one also occurs instantly in its twin, wherever it may be.

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