Library of Congress Posts Civil War Portrait Collection to Flickr
The Library of Congress has posted a collection of over 700 Civil War portraits to Flickr.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Earthquake swarm in Arkansas puzzles scientists
Why Arkansas? Since September 20, the small town of Guy, Arkansa, has experienced a swarm of 487 measurable earthquakes.
“He said there was something suspicious hanging from between my legs,”
The TSA makes us all feel safer! “He said there was something suspicious hanging from between my legs.”
Boeing Submits Proposal for 2nd Round of NASA Commercial Crew Development Program
In competition with the Orbital/Virgin Galactic proposal I mentioned yesterday, Boeing has submitted its own proposal to provide crew and cargo ferrying service to ISS.
Considering the federal budget debt and the political winds for reducing that debt, I have great doubts the subsidies for these proposals will ever arrive. Nonetheless, with the end of the shuttle program and nothing to replace it, the United States has a serious need for a system to get crew and cargo into space. And in a free society, fulfilling that need means profits, which is why these proposals are beginning to appear, and will get built, regardless of whether Congress funds them up front or later buys the services.
Global Eruption Rocks the Sun
Voyager 1 sees evidence it is about to enter interstellar space
After a 33 year journey, Voyager 1 has detected evidence that it is about to enter interstellar space.
Lockheed wins NASA contract to pack cargo for ISS
Lockheed has won a $171 million NASA contract to pack cargo for ISS through 2017.
My question however is this: How do they plan on getting the cargo into space?
Orbital Sciences and Virgin Galactic team up to propose orbital craft
Orbital Sciences and Virgin Galactic have teamed up to propose a four person reusable orbital spacecraft to ferry crews to ISS. Key quote:
The spacecraft, designed to launch atop an Atlas 5 rocket and dock with the international space station, could be ready for test flights as early as 2014. The remotely piloted spacecraft would be able to carry four passengers initially, including three astronauts and one paying ticketholder, though based on market demand the number of private rides aboard the vehicle could grow to two, with four astronaut seats available, sources said. In the works at Orbital for the past year, the reusable spacecraft would be built using existing materials and technologies, employ standard hypergolic propellants and rely on a pusher escape system in the event of a launch mishap, sources said. [emphasis mine]
Note their insistence that they be allowed to fly tourists. This is a major change from how NASA has operated in the past, as a Soviet-style government agency hostile to commercial profits.
Correction: Clark Lindsey notes that the Orbital press release makes no mention of Virgin Galactic, as reported above.
The leaning tower leans less
Engineers to the rescue! The Leaning Tower of Pisa no longer leans as much as it used to, but the lean it has is now expected to last for at least another 200 years.
Archaeologists find 2,400 year-old bowl of soup in China
Archaeologists have found a 2,400 year-old bowl of soup in China. Key quote:
The liquid and bones in the vessel had turned green due to the oxidation of the bronze, it said. Scientists were expected to conduct further tests to confirm the liquid was indeed soup and to identify the ingredients.
NASA Picks New Chief Scientist
Today’s announcement by the Obama administration of their choice for NASA’s new chief scientist, Waleed Abdalati, reveals once again how much climate research guides their thinking, not space exploration. Key quote:
His research has focused on the study of polar ice cover using satellite and airborne instruments. He has led or participated in nine field and airborne campaigns in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
This is not a criticism of Dr. Abdalati. His research interests, however, make very clear where the Obama administration really wants NASA to look: down at the Earth instead of up beyond Earth orbit.
EPA regulations to go into effect says court
Two stories on the recent attempts of the EPA under the Obama administrions to create new climate regulations. First, a federal appeals court decided Friday not to block the new EPA climate regulations. Second, the war between Texas and the EPA over the EPA’s effort to regulate Texas industry continues unabated.