China’s second lunar orbiter, Chang’e 2: still in operation after 180 days
China’s second lunar orbiter, Chang’e 2: still in operation after 180 days.
Unfortunately, little of its scientific results have been released.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Neighbouring volcanoes on Mars
Ohio and New Hampshire follow Wisconsin, passing laws limiting union power
It’s a trend! Ohio and New Hampshire have followed Wisconsin, their legislatures passing laws limiting union power.
Note that in New Hampshire, the law still has to be approved by the state Senate.
Soyuz launch site in French Guiana finally ready
After seven years of work, the Soyuz launch site in French Guiana is finally ready for its first launch.
Nearly $2 billion already paid to unions, state public employee systems, and big corporations under Obamacare
This idiotic thing has got to be repealed: Nearly $2 billion already paid to unions, state public employee systems, and big corporations under Obamacare.
The program began making payouts on June 1, 2010. Between that date and the end of 2010, it paid out about $535 million dollars. But according to the new report, the rate of spending has since increased dramatically, to about $1.3 billion just for the first two and a half months of this year. At that rate, it could burn through the entire $5 billion appropriation as early as 2012. [emphasis mine]
More on the storms hitting Endeavour launchpad
More on the storms hitting Endeavour launchpad today.
Woman charged for sending email death threats in Wisconsin
A 26-year-old woman has been charged for sending the email death threats in Wisconsin. More details here. It turns out she’s a teacher with a degree in early childhood education!
New Species of Freshwater Stingray Found
A new species of freshwater stingray has been discovered in the Amazon.
GOP budget would kill 70,000 children
The squealing is now getting idiotic: The administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development claimed on Wednesday that GOP budget cuts for the 2011 budget “would lead to 70,000 kids dying.”
“These Aren’t Serious People.”
“These Aren’t Serious People.” Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit today puts the whole budget mess in clear perspective. As usual, the charts are what make his point so clearly.
Shipwreck of 60-foot, single-masted sloop, c1830, found in Lake Michigan
Shipwreck of 60-foot, single-masted sloop from 1830s found in Lake Michigan.
The ripples in the rings of Saturn and Jupiter were caused by comets that hit them decades ago
The ripples in the rings of Saturn and Jupiter were caused by comet impacts decades ago.
Comparing the Earth, as seen by Russian and American satellites
Comparing the view of Earth, interpreted differently by Russian and American satellites.
a giant potato in space
Delays in NASA heavy-lift rocket plan stir skeptics
More proof it’s nothing but pork: Witnesses at House committee hearing express strong concerns about the heavy-lift rocket plan (the-program-formerly-called-Constellation) imposed on NASA by Congress.. Key quote:
“We simply do not know what is next,” said Maser, president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, which builds the space shuttle’s main engines. “We are in a crisis.”
Hail storm hits Endeavour on launchpad
Hail storm hits Endeavour on launchpad.
Adventures in Federal Budget Cutting
A cautionary tale: Adventures in federal budget cutting.
The experience has been difficult and has caused me some personal problems. I am afraid this will be the case for anyone who tries to cut spending — in the face of an entrenched bureaucracy that thrives on ever-increasing budgets.
A telescope a square kilometer in size
Homeland Security: Witness tampering, political manipulation of FOIA requests, attempted theft of Congressional committee documents
Gotta have your KGB: Homeland Security accused of witness tampering, political manipulation of FOIA requests, and the attempted theft of Congressional committee documents.