NASA sold computers with sensitive data, report says
Our government in action! Inspector general notes that NASA sold excess computers without deleting the sensitive data still on them.
Category: Behind The Black
The military’s perspective on X-37B
The military’s perspective on the X-37B.
Millions of research money stolen in Mali
Fifteen people have been arrested in Mali for embezzling $4 million intended to research malaria and tuberculosis.
Falcon 9 set for Wednesday launch
It appears that the next attempt to launch Falcon 9/Dragon is now set for Wednesday.
Muslim Brotherhood Front Group Trains Airport Screeners
What could possibly go wrong? A Muslim Brotherhood front group, hired by the TSA, has trained 2200 airport screeners.
FCC push to regulate news draws fire
What part of “Congress shall make no law” do they not understand? The push by the FCC to regulate news reporting draws fire.
Waivers to Obamacare continue to pile up
If this law was so great, why is this happening? Waivers to the Obama healthcare bill continue to pile up.
Then again, maybe this quote explains it: “The new legislation would have left our part-time workers without their medical coverage,” said Tom Schroder of Universal Orlando Public Relations.
The sad fate of the first 747
Orbital status of Akatsuki at Venus uncertain
The status of the Japanese probe Akatsuki in its attempt to go into orbit around Venus remains uncertain. The engines fired as scheduled, but radio signal was not regained at the scheduled time. Engineers are analyzing the spacecraft’s position now to see if it was successfully inserted into orbit.
NASA’s arsenic biology discovery slammed
The uncertainty of science! A microbiologist is slamming last week’s NASA discovery that claimed a microbe had incorporated arsenic instead of phosphorus as part of its DNA. Key quote:
In an interview Monday, Redfield said the methods used by the researchers were so crude that any arsenic they detected was likely from contamination. There is no indication that the researchers purified the DNA to remove arsenic that might have been sticking to the outside of the DNA or the gel the DNA was embedded in, she added. Normally, purifying the DNA is a standard step, Redfield said: “It’s a kit, it costs $2, it takes 10 minutes.” She also questioned why the researchers analyzed the DNA while it was still in the gel, making the results more difficult to interpret: “No molecular biologist would ever do that.”
Falcon 9/Dragon launch likely delayed to at least Thursday
The Falcon 9/Dragon test launch is likely delayed to at least Thursday. Key quote:
During reviews of vehicle closeout photos this morning, engineers found a possible crack in the second stage engine nozzle. If the nozzle needs to be replaced, the first launch opportunity would be Friday or Saturday. Officials called “remote” a possibility that the problem could be resolved in time to fly Wednesday.
An update of the Chinese manned space program
Some educated speculations about the next manned mission in the Chinese space program.