Bigelow lays off half its workforce
It’s confirmed: Bigelow Aerospace has laid off about half its workforce.
It’s confirmed: Bigelow Aerospace has laid off about half its workforce.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Bigelow lays off half its workforce
Scientists push for monitoring network to collect environmental and socioeconomic data from around the world
What could go wrong? Scientists push for a monitoring network to collect environmental and socioeconomic data from around the world.
Sandy Andelman, an ecologist with Conservation International in Arlington, Virginia, discussed her work setting up a pilot project that began two years ago in southern Tanzania. In addition to basic environmental data about soils, nutrients and land cover, the project tracks agricultural practices. It also incorporates data about income, health and education that is maintained by the government. Andelman says that all the data she collects can be broken down to the level of individual households, and that initial results from the project have already prompted the Tanzanian government to adjust the way it zones agricultural land in the area. [emphasis mine]
Lord help the farmers whose lives will be tracked by this network.
What could go wrong? Scientists push for a monitoring network to collect environmental and socioeconomic data from around the world.
Sandy Andelman, an ecologist with Conservation International in Arlington, Virginia, discussed her work setting up a pilot project that began two years ago in southern Tanzania. In addition to basic environmental data about soils, nutrients and land cover, the project tracks agricultural practices. It also incorporates data about income, health and education that is maintained by the government. Andelman says that all the data she collects can be broken down to the level of individual households, and that initial results from the project have already prompted the Tanzanian government to adjust the way it zones agricultural land in the area. [emphasis mine]
Lord help the farmers whose lives will be tracked by this network.
Orbital Sciences restarts engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket
Orbital Sciences has resumed engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket.
While many have doubts about SpaceX, SpaceX has at least flown two successful flights of its Falcon 9 rocket. Orbital needs the Taurus 2 to supply ISS, and this rocket remains untested and as yet incomplete, with the schedule bearing down on them.
Orbital Sciences has resumed engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket.
While many have doubts about SpaceX, SpaceX has at least flown two successful flights of its Falcon 9 rocket. Orbital needs the Taurus 2 to supply ISS, and this rocket remains untested and as yet incomplete, with the schedule bearing down on them.
Bigelow lays off half its workforce
This isn’t confirmed, but a twitter comment via Trent Waddington suggests that Bigelow Aerospace has laid off half its workforce. (A hat tip also to Clark Lindsey.)
This isn’t confirmed, but a twitter comment via Trent Waddington suggests that Bigelow Aerospace has laid off half its workforce. (A hat tip also to Clark Lindsey.)
China uses “America the Beautiful” as background music for animation of Tiangong 1 launch
Catch this quick before they take it down: China used “America the Beautiful” as its background music for an animation shown during Tiangong 1’s launch yesterday.
Catch this quick before they take it down: China used “America the Beautiful” as its background music for an animation shown during Tiangong 1’s launch yesterday.
House proposes a budget increase for NIH
The Republican-controlled House has proposed a budget for National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is one billion more than last year’s budget, an increase from $30.7 to $31.7 billion.
What evil budget-cutters these Republicans are! Their mean-spirited budget increase has the nerve to reduce Obama’s budget request by about $120 million, equivalent to a whopping one third of one percent!
This is all shameful. For context, in 2008 NIH’s budget was $29.2 billion. Considering the state of the budget it seems unconscionable for the House to agree to any increase over $30.7 billion. In truth, it is perfectly reasonable to reduce NIH’S budget back to its 2008 number.
Too bad our present Congress, both Democratic and Republican, isn’t reasonable.
The Republican-controlled House has proposed a budget for National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is one billion more than last year’s budget, an increase from $30.7 to $31.7 billion.
What evil budget-cutters these Republicans are! Their mean-spirited budget increase has the nerve to reduce Obama’s budget request by about $120 million, equivalent to a whopping one third of one percent!
This is all shameful. For context, in 2008 NIH’s budget was $29.2 billion. Considering the state of the budget it seems unconscionable for the House to agree to any increase over $30.7 billion. In truth, it is perfectly reasonable to reduce NIH’S budget back to its 2008 number.
Too bad our present Congress, both Democratic and Republican, isn’t reasonable.
NASA has identified ninety percent of the largest near-Earth asteroids
Data from the infrared telescope WISE has now identified ninety percent of the largest near-Earth asteroids.
NASA researchers also downgraded their estimate of the number of medium-sized asteroids, saying there are 44 percent fewer than previously believed. The downside is that scientists have yet to find many of these mid-sized asteroids, which could destroy a metropolitan city.
Data from the infrared telescope WISE has now identified ninety percent of the largest near-Earth asteroids.
NASA researchers also downgraded their estimate of the number of medium-sized asteroids, saying there are 44 percent fewer than previously believed. The downside is that scientists have yet to find many of these mid-sized asteroids, which could destroy a metropolitan city.
Tiangong 1 reaches orbit
Tiangong 1 has successfully reached orbit.
Tiangong 1 has successfully reached orbit.
Mercury is weirder than scientists thought.
Messenger’s data has found that Mercury is weirder than scientists thought.
Messenger’s data has found that Mercury is weirder than scientists thought.
“You’re not coming in this house without a warrant.”
“A Soviet-style power grab.”
China’s first space lab module Tiangong-1 blasts off
China’s first space lab module Tiangong-1 has been launched. No word yet on whether it has safely reached orbit.
China’s first space lab module Tiangong-1 has been launched. No word yet on whether it has safely reached orbit.
Rather than follow through on $200 billion of cuts proposed by GAO, the Senate cuts GAO
Don’t you dare tell us to cut spending! Rather than follow through on $200 billion of cuts of “wasteful, duplicative, and fraudulent spending” proposed by General Accountability Office (GAO), the Senate, controlled by the Democrats, has proposed slashing GAO’s budget instead.
Don’t you dare tell us to cut spending! Rather than follow through on $200 billion of cuts of “wasteful, duplicative, and fraudulent spending” proposed by General Accountability Office (GAO), the Senate, controlled by the Democrats, has proposed slashing GAO’s budget instead.
New York’s plans for shuttle display very unsettled
New York’s plans for shuttle display very unsettled.
New York’s plans for shuttle display very unsettled.
SpaceX suspends production of its Falcon 1 rocket
SpaceX suspends production of its Falcon 1 rocket.
As much as I am a fan of Elon Musk and SpaceX, and though I realize that they have been focusing on getting Falcon 9 and Dragon off the ground — the payoff there is greater and a failure of Falcon 1 during this time could be very politically painful — this action contradicts SpaceX’s years of claims that they had a slew of signed contracts to launch Falcon 1.
I will be attending Elon Musk’s luncheon speech today at the National Press Club, and hope to ask him about this and other things.
SpaceX suspends production of its Falcon 1 rocket.
As much as I am a fan of Elon Musk and SpaceX, and though I realize that they have been focusing on getting Falcon 9 and Dragon off the ground — the payoff there is greater and a failure of Falcon 1 during this time could be very politically painful — this action contradicts SpaceX’s years of claims that they had a slew of signed contracts to launch Falcon 1.
I will be attending Elon Musk’s luncheon speech today at the National Press Club, and hope to ask him about this and other things.
Fueling has begun for today’s launch of China’s first space station module
Fueling has begun for today’s launch of China’s first space station module.
Fueling has begun for today’s launch of China’s first space station module.
Energy Department approves $737 million solar loan guarantee
More money wasted? The Energy Department has approved another solar power company loan guarantee, this for $737 million.
I’m not sure this project will go belly-up, as Solyndra did. I just find it questionable for this to be approved at this moment.
More money wasted? The Energy Department has approved another solar power company loan guarantee, this for $737 million.
I’m not sure this project will go belly-up, as Solyndra did. I just find it questionable for this to be approved at this moment.
A new report from the EPA Office of the Inspector General has said that EPA violated its own peer review process in determining that greenhouse gases endanger “the public health and welfare.”
A new report from the EPA Office of the Inspector General has said that EPA violated its own peer review process in determining that greenhouse gases endanger “the public health and welfare.”
A new report from the EPA Office of the Inspector General has said that EPA violated its own peer review process in determining that greenhouse gases endanger “the public health and welfare.”
NASA proposes major reconstruction of its launch facility at the Kennedy Space Center
NASA proposes major reconstruction of its launch facility at the Kennedy Space Center.
They say this modernization is intended to make Kennedy more competitive in the modern commercial space market, which I am sure is true. Another way to look at it, however, is that Kennedy is getting favored treatment by the government, receiving a huge subsidy from NASA that the other private spaceports in New Mexico and elsewhere were not even allowed to compete for.
NASA proposes major reconstruction of its launch facility at the Kennedy Space Center.
They say this modernization is intended to make Kennedy more competitive in the modern commercial space market, which I am sure is true. Another way to look at it, however, is that Kennedy is getting favored treatment by the government, receiving a huge subsidy from NASA that the other private spaceports in New Mexico and elsewhere were not even allowed to compete for.
Orbital Sciences has launch success
Orbital Sciences has a launch success, putting an Air Force reconnaissance satellite into orbit from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska.
For Orbital, this success cleans off some of the stain left on the company from the recent launch failures of its Taurus 1 rocket. What would leave the company stainless, however, will be a successful first launch of its new Taurus 2 rocket, needed to carry its Cygnus capsule to ISS and scheduled for late this year.
Orbital Sciences has a launch success, putting an Air Force reconnaissance satellite into orbit from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska.
For Orbital, this success cleans off some of the stain left on the company from the recent launch failures of its Taurus 1 rocket. What would leave the company stainless, however, will be a successful first launch of its new Taurus 2 rocket, needed to carry its Cygnus capsule to ISS and scheduled for late this year.
NASA science administrator Ed Weiler is retiring after 33 years
Science administrator Ed Weiler is retiring after almost 33 years at NASA.
Among Weiler’s many achievements, he was crucial to getting the Hubble Space Telescope launched. Even more important, though others had conceived the idea of using the shuttle to maintain Hubble, he designed the maintenance schedule for the telescope. Seven years before it was launched, he insisted that a regular schedule of repair missions be placed on the shuttle manifest. He also insisted that a duplicate of the telescope’s main camera be built, so that if anything went wrong with the first a repaired unit could be launched quickly. It was his foresight here that made the first repair of Hubble in December 1993 go so smoothly. For this, astronomers will always be grateful.
Science administrator Ed Weiler is retiring after almost 33 years at NASA.
Among Weiler’s many achievements, he was crucial to getting the Hubble Space Telescope launched. Even more important, though others had conceived the idea of using the shuttle to maintain Hubble, he designed the maintenance schedule for the telescope. Seven years before it was launched, he insisted that a regular schedule of repair missions be placed on the shuttle manifest. He also insisted that a duplicate of the telescope’s main camera be built, so that if anything went wrong with the first a repaired unit could be launched quickly. It was his foresight here that made the first repair of Hubble in December 1993 go so smoothly. For this, astronomers will always be grateful.
The Accelerating Universe and Dark Energy Might Be Illusions
The uncertainty of science: A new theory posits that the accelerating universe and dark energy might be illusions caused by motion of our galaxy through space.
The uncertainty of science: A new theory posits that the accelerating universe and dark energy might be illusions caused by motion of our galaxy through space.
Christian pastor in Iran has been ordered to recant his faith in court or face execution
Islamic tolerance: A Christian pastor in Iran has been ordered to recant his faith in court or face execution.
Islamic tolerance: A Christian pastor in Iran has been ordered to recant his faith in court or face execution.
Facing possible inquiry, OnStar drops ‘Big Brother’ plans
Facing outraged criticism, General Motors’ OnStar division has dropped its plans to track and record the personal driving information of both former and current subscribers.
Sounds good, but I wouldn’t assume this story is over. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they try again later to sneak this data grab by everyone.
Facing outraged criticism, General Motors’ OnStar division has dropped its plans to track and record the personal driving information of both former and current subscribers.
Sounds good, but I wouldn’t assume this story is over. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they try again later to sneak this data grab by everyone.
Obamacare sent health premiums up 9%
Repeal it! Obamacare sent health premiums up 9% in the past year.
Repeal it! Obamacare sent health premiums up 9% in the past year.
Democratic governor suggests the next Congressional election should be suspended
North Carolina Democratic governor Beverly Perdue suggested that the next Congressional election should be suspended.
I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover.
I wonder why she really suggests this? Could it be because the Democrats are unpopular and risk losing more seats in 2012 than they lost in 2010?
North Carolina Democratic governor Beverly Perdue suggested that the next Congressional election should be suspended.
I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won’t hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover.
I wonder why she really suggests this? Could it be because the Democrats are unpopular and risk losing more seats in 2012 than they lost in 2010?
Sunspot 1302 Continues to Turn Toward Earth
Giant sunspot 1302 turns its aim towards Earth.
Giant sunspot 1302 turns its aim towards Earth.
Virtual monkeys typing Shakespeare
A computer programmer has created a legion of virtual monkeys programmed to randomly type until the works of Shakespeare are reproduced.
If the nine-letter sequence appears anywhere in one of Shakespeare’s writings, it is matched against the relevant passage in a copy of the Bard’s complete works, and is checked off the list. The monkeys, which started typing on August 21, have already completed more than five trillion of the 5.5 trillion possible nine-letter combinations, but have so far only finished one whole work.
They appear to be doing better than Congress’s attempt to balance the federal budget.
A computer programmer has created a legion of virtual monkeys programmed to randomly type until the works of Shakespeare are reproduced.
If the nine-letter sequence appears anywhere in one of Shakespeare’s writings, it is matched against the relevant passage in a copy of the Bard’s complete works, and is checked off the list. The monkeys, which started typing on August 21, have already completed more than five trillion of the 5.5 trillion possible nine-letter combinations, but have so far only finished one whole work.
They appear to be doing better than Congress’s attempt to balance the federal budget.
Russians still oppose allowing Dragon to berth with ISS on its January test flight
The Russians still oppose allowing Dragon to berth with ISS on its next test flight in January.
The Russians still oppose allowing Dragon to berth with ISS on its next test flight in January.