WhiteKnightTwo made its 80th flight yesterday.
The competition heats up: WhiteKnightTwo made its 80th flight yesterday.
The competition heats up: WhiteKnightTwo made its 80th flight yesterday.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
WhiteKnightTwo made its 80th flight yesterday.
Falcon 9 is now upright on launchpad
Falcon 9 is now upright on launchpad for tomorrow morning’s 4:55 am (Eastern) launch. For continual updates, go here.
Falcon 9 is now upright on launchpad for tomorrow morning’s 4:55 am (Eastern) launch. For continual updates, go here.
Japan today launched its first commercial satellite.
The competition heats up: Japan today launched its first commercial satellite.
The competition heats up: Japan today launched its first commercial satellite.
A second Catholic University is now considering eliminating their student health plans because of Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A second Catholic University is now considering eliminating their student health plan because of Obamacare and the administration’s contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A second Catholic University is now considering eliminating their student health plan because of Obamacare and the administration’s contraceptive mandate.
Only 65% of the political class and only 61% of Democrats are aware that federal spending has gone up in the past ten years.
Pitiful: Only 65% of the political class and only 61% of Democrats are aware that federal spending has gone up in the past ten years.
Interestingly, 85% of the general public knows this basic fact, which might explain why the intellectual elites of our country — from both parties — are continually being blindsided by the rise of the tea party movement and its continued success in elections.
Pitiful: Only 65% of the political class and only 61% of Democrats are aware that federal spending has gone up in the past ten years.
Interestingly, 85% of the general public knows this basic fact, which might explain why the intellectual elites of our country — from both parties — are continually being blindsided by the rise of the tea party movement and its continued success in elections.
“I have never felt more like a nerd in my life.”
New research suggests that the “good” cholesterol isn’t as good as previously believed.
The uncertainty of science: New research suggests that the “good” cholesterol isn’t as good as previously believed.
The uncertainty of science: New research suggests that the “good” cholesterol isn’t as good as previously believed.
More information on the annular solar eclipse coming to the southwest U.S. this Sunday.
More information on the annular solar eclipse coming to the southwest U.S. this Sunday.
Actually, the second link above provides better information on where and when to view the eclipse. Definitely click on the map showing the national parks where viewing will be best.
More information on the annular solar eclipse coming to the southwest U.S. this Sunday.
Actually, the second link above provides better information on where and when to view the eclipse. Definitely click on the map showing the national parks where viewing will be best.
The Soyuz spacecraft has docked successfully with ISS.
The Soyuz spacecraft with three astronauts has docked successfully with ISS.
Barring weather or another launch scrub, it looks like Saturday will be launch day for Falcon 9 and Dragon
The Soyuz spacecraft with three astronauts has docked successfully with ISS.
Barring weather or another launch scrub, it looks like Saturday will be launch day for Falcon 9 and Dragon
A judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of the part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows for indefinite military detention of American citizens.
Good news: A judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of the part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows for the indefinite military detention of American citizens.
Good news: A judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of the part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows for the indefinite military detention of American citizens.
Based on further analysis of the data from WISE, the infrared space telescope, astronomers have now made a better estimate of the population of potentially hazardous asteroids
Based on further analysis of the data from WISE, the infrared space telescope, astronomers have now made a better estimate of the population of potentially hazardous asteroids.
Potentially hazardous asteroids, or PHAs, are a subset of the larger group of near-Earth asteroids. The PHAs have the closest orbits to Earth’s, coming within five million miles (about eight million kilometers), and they are big enough to survive passing through Earth’s atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale.
The new results come from the asteroid-hunting portion of the WISE mission, called NEOWISE. The project sampled 107 PHAs to make predictions about the entire population as a whole. Findings indicate there are roughly 4,700 PHAs, plus or minus 1,500, with diameters larger than 330 feet (about 100 meters). So far, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of these objects have been found.
Based on further analysis of the data from WISE, the infrared space telescope, astronomers have now made a better estimate of the population of potentially hazardous asteroids.
Potentially hazardous asteroids, or PHAs, are a subset of the larger group of near-Earth asteroids. The PHAs have the closest orbits to Earth’s, coming within five million miles (about eight million kilometers), and they are big enough to survive passing through Earth’s atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale.
The new results come from the asteroid-hunting portion of the WISE mission, called NEOWISE. The project sampled 107 PHAs to make predictions about the entire population as a whole. Findings indicate there are roughly 4,700 PHAs, plus or minus 1,500, with diameters larger than 330 feet (about 100 meters). So far, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of these objects have been found.
North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has begun an investigation into the voter fraud exposed in the most recent Project Veritas videotapes.
Good news: North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has begun an investigation into the voter fraud exposed in the most recent Project Veritas videotapes.
Rather than attack the messenger, the state is looking into the problem. Kudos to them.
Good news: North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has begun an investigation into the voter fraud exposed in the most recent Project Veritas videotapes.
Rather than attack the messenger, the state is looking into the problem. Kudos to them.
The Senate today rejected President Obama’s proposed budget 99-0.
Fiddling away: The Senate today rejected President Obama’s proposed budget 99-0.
Too bad Harry Reid won’t offer up a budget of his own. The only reason this got voted on at all was that the Republicans forced a vote.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government fell another several billion dollars into debt even as the vote was being taken.
Fiddling away: The Senate today rejected President Obama’s proposed budget 99-0.
Too bad Harry Reid won’t offer up a budget of his own. The only reason this got voted on at all was that the Republicans forced a vote.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government fell another several billion dollars into debt even as the vote was being taken.
Don’t throw away your broken electronics! There’s money to be made from them on ebay.
Don’t throw away your broken electronics! There’s money to be made from them on ebay.
Don’t throw away your broken electronics! There’s money to be made from them on ebay.
The new top dog
“This is legalized theft.”
Guess who: “This is legalized theft.”
Guess who: “This is legalized theft.”
“The Eagle has crashed.”
What might have been: “The Eagle has crashed.”
What might have been: “The Eagle has crashed.”
An overview of what will happen on Dragon’s first flight to ISS next week.
An overview of what will happen on Dragon’s first flight to ISS next week.
An overview of what will happen on Dragon’s first flight to ISS next week.
In a poll of one congressional district in Arkansas, Obama receives support from just 45% of Democratic Party voters, and is only seven points ahead of his unknown primary challenger.
What does this tell us? In a poll of one congressional district in Arkansas, Obama receives support from just 45% of Democratic Party voters, and is only seven points ahead of his unknown primary challenger.
What does this tell us? In a poll of one congressional district in Arkansas, Obama receives support from just 45% of Democratic Party voters, and is only seven points ahead of his unknown primary challenger.
Go west, young Russian
More voter fraud documented in North Carolina, including a professor who applauds it.
More voter fraud, this time in North Carolina, including a professor who applauds it.
Watch the video. The part where the professor applauds voter fraud because it would hurt conservatives is most revealing.
More voter fraud, this time in North Carolina, including a professor who applauds it.
Watch the video. The part where the professor applauds voter fraud because it would hurt conservatives is most revealing.
Building a spaceship engine fueled by antimatter.
Building a spaceship engine fueled by antimatter.
Building a spaceship engine fueled by antimatter.
A Catholic University has dropped its health coverage for students due to Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A Catholic University has dropped its health coverage for students due to Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
We’ve only just begun: A Catholic University has dropped its health coverage for students due to Obamacare and the contraceptive mandate.
“Hate in the name of love, bullying in the name of tolerance.”
A Tennessee policeman takes $22,000 cash from a driver, because he wants to.
Theft by government: A Tennessee policeman takes $22,000 cash from a driver, because he wants to.
Theft by government: A Tennessee policeman takes $22,000 cash from a driver, because he wants to.
The Russians last night launched a new crew to ISS.
Hitching a ride: The Russians last night launched a new crew to ISS.
Next up: the launch of Falcon 9/Dragon on Saturday.
Hitching a ride: The Russians last night launched a new crew to ISS.
Next up: the launch of Falcon 9/Dragon on Saturday.
LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy
Another Obama tech wonder company dies: LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy.
From the beginning engineers were saying that LightSquared’s system would interfere with GPS. The only reason the company lasted as long as it did was because it had the political backing of the Obama administration. And the reason it had that backing is because the company’s CEO was a big supporter of Obama.
Another Obama tech wonder company dies: LightSquared has filed for bankruptcy.
From the beginning engineers were saying that LightSquared’s system would interfere with GPS. The only reason the company lasted as long as it did was because it had the political backing of the Obama administration. And the reason it had that backing is because the company’s CEO was a big supporter of Obama.
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) on Monday attacked the House version of NASA’s budget that required the agency to make a quick decision on its commercial manned launch company.
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) on Monday attacked the House version of NASA’s budget that required the agency to make a quick decision on its commercial manned launch company.
Nelson faces a difficult election campaign from the right. Thus, I suspect he has realized that he is better off promoting free enterprise than local pork. It is unfortunate that the Republicans in the House haven’t yet realized this.
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) on Monday attacked the House version of NASA’s budget that required the agency to make a quick decision on its commercial manned launch company.
Nelson faces a difficult election campaign from the right. Thus, I suspect he has realized that he is better off promoting free enterprise than local pork. It is unfortunate that the Republicans in the House haven’t yet realized this.
Faced with high prices and a near monopoly by China, the mining of rare Earth metals is once again rising worldwide.
Competition wins again: Faced with high prices and a near monopoly by China, the mining of rare Earth metals is once again rising worldwide.
Competition wins again: Faced with high prices and a near monopoly by China, the mining of rare Earth metals is once again rising worldwide.
How the predictions for the year 2000 changed throughout the 20th century.
How the predictions for the year 2000 changed throughout the 20th century.
Not surprisingly, Arthur Clarke’s predictions were generally the best.
How the predictions for the year 2000 changed throughout the 20th century.
Not surprisingly, Arthur Clarke’s predictions were generally the best.