World record 3200 model rockets launched simultaneously
An evening pause: On October 9, 2010, the Boy Scouts set a world record by launching 3200 model rockets — simultaneously.
Author: Robert Zimmerman
A wish list of spectacular future planetary missions
Steve Squyres of Cornell University and the project scientist of the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity spoke today at an astrobiology symposium in Arlington, Virginia. He described several spectacular planetary missions that might be flown in the coming decade. All are being considered. None have yet been chosen or funded.
- A mission to grab a sample from a comet and return it to Earth.
- A mission to put a rover or lander on one of the poles of Mars to study the frozen layers of water under the icecap.
- Mars sample return mission. This mission is so difficult and expensive that it probably would be broken down into three parts:
- Two rovers on the surface to gather and cache sample material.
- A lander/rover mission to grab the samples and bring them up to Mars orbit. “Putting into orbit a precious cargo the size of a coconut,” Squyres said.
- A mission to grab the sample cargo in Martian orbit and return it to Earth.
- An orbiter to study both Jupiter and its moon Europa.
- An orbiter to Enceladus, the moon of Saturn, to study the water and organic chemistry in its mysterious plumes.
- An orbiter to Titan, with balloon to probe the atmosphere as well as a “lake lander, a boat” to study Titan’s lakes.
- A variety of landers and rovers to go to Venus. One of the more astonishing mission concepts would land, then take off again to visit different places on the surface.
Squyres is the co-chair of a committee of the National Science Foundation that is right now putting together a decadal survey for outlining unmanned planetary research for the next decade. This survey is expected to be released in March, which is when we will find out which of the above missions the planetary science community prefers.
X-37b spotted again
Via Clark Lindsey, amateurs have spotted the X-37b again, in what appears to be a lower orbit.
Via Clark Lindsey, amateurs have spotted the X-37b again, in what appears to be a lower orbit.
Climate Talks in China Limp Toward Deadlock
Thank god for small blessings. The climate talks in China this past week are limping towards a deadlock, with no new agreements. It appears that the biggest problem are disagreements between China and the U.S.
Personally, I love how this quote from the article so nicely illustrates the totalitarian nature of many climate activists and their organizations:
Currently, the World Resources Institute is proposing the White House abandon legislative means and rely on the existing Clean Air Act to make emissions reductions administratively.
In other words, if the elected Congress of the United States is unwilling to pass restrictions (because a majority of the people of the United States oppose them), then the government should ignore the people’s wishes and impose those restrictions, without permission.
Ugh. The less power these environmental dictators have, the better for everyone else.
Soaring Hoover Dam bypass bridge finally complete
The soaring bypass bridge over Hoover Dam is finally finished, and will open next week.
The soaring bypass bridge over Hoover Dam is finally finished, and will open next week.
Upsets in northern California?
Whoa! A Republican is leading by 6% in a traditionally Democratic district in northern California.
Whoa! A Republican is leading by 6% in a traditionally Democratic district in northern California.
South Carolina man ordered by the government to remove religious signs from his property
A South Carolina man has been ordered by his local county government to remove religious signs on his own property or face fines. He is suing.
A South Carolina man has been ordered by his local county government to remove religious signs on his own property or face fines. He is suing.
Competing interests could spell a troubled future for NASA
According to this Nature article, competing political interests spell a troubled future for NASA, despite Obama’s signing of the authorization bill on Monday. Didn’t someone already predict this, months ago?
According to this Nature article, competing political interests spell a troubled future for NASA, despite Obama’s signing of the authorization bill on Monday. Didn’t someone already predict this, months ago?
Hubble tracks the aftermath of a possible asteroid collision
Using the Hubble Space Telescope over the last ten months, astronomers have tracked the decaying aftermath of a possible asteroid collision. Key quote:
Astronomers think a smaller rock, perhaps 10 to 15 feet wide, slammed into the larger one. The pair probably collided at high speed, about 11,000 mph, which smashed and vaporized the small asteroid and stripped material from the larger one. Jewitt estimates that the violent encounter happened in February or March 2009 and was as powerful as the detonation of a small atomic bomb.
The image sequence below, taken from the original paper describing the discovery [pdf], shows the slow changes that have occurred since January. At the moment scientists do not have an satisfactory explanation for the nucleus’s X-shaped pattern in the earliest images.
Last Chilean miner reaches the surface safely
The last Chilean miner has reached the surface safely. Key quote from one of the miners in answer to a question about their future as media stars:
“The only thing I’ll ask of you is that you don’t treat me as an artist or a journalist, but as a miner. I was born a miner and I’ll die a miner.”
The last Chilean miner has reached the surface safely. Key quote from one of the miners in answer to a question about their future as media stars:
“The only thing I’ll ask of you is that you don’t treat me as an artist or a journalist, but as a miner. I was born a miner and I’ll die a miner.”
Most Incredible Volcano Footage Ever
We won’t release our contributors because the adminstration will then harass them
Is this how a government in a free society functions? The Chamber of Commerce won’t release its contributors because they fear the administration will harass and threaten them. And they have experience to back that fear up. Key quote:
What this administration wants is a list of who the companies are who are contributors, and we saw last year . . .when we very publicly ran ads against the Patients Protections and Affordable Care Act . . . there was an attempt to try and find out who were the corporations that were contributing to that effort. When some of those corporate names were divulged, not by us, by others, what did they receive? They received protests, they received threats, they were intimidated, they were harassed, they had to hire additional security, they were recipients of a host of proxies leveled at those companies that had nothing to do with the purpose of those companies. So we know what the purpose here is. It’s to harass and intimidate. [emphasis mine]
That the White House and President Obama are right now willing to accuse their opponents of all manner of evils (taking money from foreign governments) without any evidence is further evidence that there are reasons to fear them.
MTV Denies That Obama Telecast Is Political
How stupid do they really think people are? MTV and Viacom deny that a one hour Obama telecast only three weeks before the election, A Conversation with President Obama, is not political and does not require them to give equal time to Republicans. Note that the White House came up with the idea, and that the audience is being pre-screened in advance.
How stupid do they really think people are? MTV and Viacom deny that a one hour Obama telecast only three weeks before the election, A Conversation with President Obama, is not political and does not require them to give equal time to Republicans. Note that the White House came up with the idea, and that the audience is being pre-screened in advance.
ObamaCare will result in increased out-of-pocket costs for seniors
Surprise, surprise! The healthcare bill passed in March will result in increased out-of-pocket costs for seniors, according to Medicare officials.
Surprise, surprise! The healthcare bill passed in March will result in increased out-of-pocket costs for seniors, according to Medicare officials.
More details of SpaceShipTwo’s test flight from pilot
More details about SpaceShipTwo’s test flight, this time from one of the pilots.
More details about SpaceShipTwo’s test flight, this time from one of the pilots.
Democrats face 60 to 70 seat loss, according to leftwing press
Something’s coming: According to the generally leftwing Huffington Post, the Democrats now face a 60 to 70 seat loss in the House on November 2.
Something’s coming: According to the generally leftwing Huffington Post, the Democrats now face a 60 to 70 seat loss in the House on November 2.
Media mayhem mars family’s joy at Chile mine rescue
Journalists trample the family tent at the Chilean mine rescue.
Journalists trample the family tent at the Chilean mine rescue.
EPA Funnels Taxpayer Money to Dozens of Liberal Community Activist Groups
Proof that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has more to do with propaganda and politics than regulation: “EPA funnels taxpayer money to dozens of liberal community activist groups.” I especially like this one:
A grant recipient in Appalachia — the heart of coal country — will teach households in Franklin County, Ky., how to reduce household greenhouse gas emissions. The project called “Lighten Up, Frankfort!” will use the book “The Low Carbon Diet” to guide households through a series of actions to reduce their household energy use. The actions include “empowering” people to “lose unwanted pounds.”
Proof that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has more to do with propaganda and politics than regulation: “EPA funnels taxpayer money to dozens of liberal community activist groups.” I especially like this one:
A grant recipient in Appalachia — the heart of coal country — will teach households in Franklin County, Ky., how to reduce household greenhouse gas emissions. The project called “Lighten Up, Frankfort!” will use the book “The Low Carbon Diet” to guide households through a series of actions to reduce their household energy use. The actions include “empowering” people to “lose unwanted pounds.”
APS responds to Harold Lewis’s resignation letter
The American Physical Society has responded to Harold Lewis’s resignation letter.
It appears from their response that they are feeling some pressure about their past position, which stated “The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring.” Compare that with what they say now, in their response to Lewis:
APS continues to recognize that climate models are far from adequate, and the extent of global warming and climatic disruptions produced by sustained increases in atmospheric carbon loading remain uncertain.
How nice. A science organization recognizing the uncertainty of science!
More details of the Chilean mine rescue
More details about the Chilean mine rescue. Updated and bumped. The first few miners are up on the surface, safe and sound, with the rescue operation continuing.
More details about the Chilean mine rescue. Updated and bumped. The first few miners are up on the surface, safe and sound, with the rescue operation continuing.
Hayseed Dixie: she was skinny When I met her
The first powered flight of SpaceShipTwo could come before year’s end
The first powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo could come before year’s end.
The first powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo could come before year’s end.
Habitable exoplanet might not exist
The uncertainty of science: The extrasolar planet discovered orbiting Gliese 581 in its habitable zone might not exist, according to other scientists.
The uncertainty of science: The extrasolar planet discovered orbiting Gliese 581 in its habitable zone might not exist, according to other scientists.
The World’s First Everything-Proof Underground Luxury Community
The world’s first everything-proof underground luxury community. Fun quote:
The Barstow bunker was built to withstand a 50-megaton nuclear blast 10 miles away, 450mph winds, a magnitude-10 earthquake, 10 days of 1,250°F surface fires, and three weeks beneath any flood. Vicino says that a soon-to-be-installed air-filtration system will also neutralize any biological, chemical or nuclear attacks. The Barstow branch will stock enough food and clothing to sustain 135 people for at least a year, and in a lifestyle that Vicino describes as compact but luxurious, like being on a cruise ship.
The world’s first everything-proof underground luxury community. Fun quote:
The Barstow bunker was built to withstand a 50-megaton nuclear blast 10 miles away, 450mph winds, a magnitude-10 earthquake, 10 days of 1,250°F surface fires, and three weeks beneath any flood. Vicino says that a soon-to-be-installed air-filtration system will also neutralize any biological, chemical or nuclear attacks. The Barstow branch will stock enough food and clothing to sustain 135 people for at least a year, and in a lifestyle that Vicino describes as compact but luxurious, like being on a cruise ship.
The first trapped miner about to hauled free
The first trapped Chilean miner is expected to be hauled from the mine sometime before midnight tonight.
The first trapped Chilean miner is expected to be hauled from the mine sometime before midnight tonight.
The possibilities for China’s Chang’e 2 lunar probe
The possibilities for China’s Chang’e 2 lunar probe include travel far beyond the Moon.
The possibilities for China’s Chang’e 2 lunar probe include travel far beyond the Moon.
The 500th extrasolar planet about to be discovered
Based on the pace of discovery, scientists expect to discover the 500th extrasolar planet by the end of October.
Based on the pace of discovery, scientists expect to discover the 500th extrasolar planet by the end of October.
A lost Michelangelo painting found in Buffalo, NY home
A lost Michelangelo painting found in upstate New York home.
A lost Michelangelo painting found in upstate New York home.
The state of NASA’s commercial crew program
The state of NASA’s commercial crew program. Key quote:
The Obama administration requested $3.3 billion for commercial crew services over the next three years, but a so-called compromise bill forged in the Senate slashed the proposal in half. After months of heated contention, the House of Representatives finally agreed to the Senate authorization bill in late September, calling for $1.6 billion for the commercial program.
The state of NASA’s commercial crew program. Key quote:
The Obama administration requested $3.3 billion for commercial crew services over the next three years, but a so-called compromise bill forged in the Senate slashed the proposal in half. After months of heated contention, the House of Representatives finally agreed to the Senate authorization bill in late September, calling for $1.6 billion for the commercial program.
Five Chilean miners ‘originally formed breakway group’
Five of the 33 trapped Chilean miners “originally formed breakway group“.
Five of the 33 trapped Chilean miners “originally formed breakway group“.