Funding for final shuttle flight assured
Funding for the final shuttle flight this summer is now assured.
Funding for the final shuttle flight this summer is now assured.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Funding for final shuttle flight assured
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft.
Some details behind Blue Origin’s manned spacecraft.
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
Instead, they say burn them!
“Our conclusion was there is no benefit to the environment of oxo-degradable plastics.”
Instead, they say burn them!
Federal Borrowing on Pace to Hit Debt Limit in Less Than Week
Time is running out: Federal borrowing is on a pace to reach the debt limit in less than a week.
Time is running out: Federal borrowing is on a pace to reach the debt limit in less than a week.
Investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes in Wisconsin goes forward
The investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes to union protesters in Wisconsin goes forward.
The investigation of doctors who issued fake sick notes to union protesters in Wisconsin goes forward.
NLRB dictates Boeing operational plans
Government gone wild: The National Labor Relations Board wants to shut down a Boeing plant because it happens to be in a right-to-work state.
Government gone wild: The National Labor Relations Board wants to shut down a Boeing plant because it happens to be in a right-to-work state.
Dearborn denies permit, says Quran-burning minister could face arrest
Freedom of speech in Michigan: Dearborn denies permit, says Terry Jones could face arrest if he protests.
Freedom of speech in Michigan: Dearborn denies permit, says Terry Jones could face arrest if he protests.
“We need to protect our authority.”
O really? “We need to protect our authority.”
O really? “We need to protect our authority.”
“Space beer,” one giant leap for mankind
“For example, many metals burn more easily in reduced gravity, liquids behave differently, both of which have important implications for safety and the way machinery and equipment operate in spacecraft and space stations. The beer experiments assisted in determining the correct level of carbonation, so that it can in the future be appropriately enjoyed by humans in reduced gravity,”
“For example, many metals burn more easily in reduced gravity, liquids behave differently, both of which have important implications for safety and the way machinery and equipment operate in spacecraft and space stations. The beer experiments assisted in determining the correct level of carbonation, so that it can in the future be appropriately enjoyed by humans in reduced gravity,”
Obama will attend last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords also expected
Politicians go sightseeing: Obama will attend the last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords is also expected to attend.
Giffords makes sense, as her husband will be on the flight. Obama is merely taking another of his numerous breaks from work to get a last look at a program he helped kill.
Politicians go sightseeing: Obama will attend the last Endeavour launch; Rep. Giffords is also expected to attend.
Giffords makes sense, as her husband will be on the flight. Obama is merely taking another of his numerous breaks from work to get a last look at a program he helped kill.
Government Cash Handouts Now Top Tax Revenues
Time is truly running out: The federal government’s cash handouts to all households now exceed what those households pay in tax.
Time is truly running out: The federal government’s cash handouts to all households now exceed what those households pay in tax.
Budget chaos at NASA causes ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover
Sounds crazy, but it’s true: The budget chaos at NASA has caused the ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover.
Sounds crazy, but it’s true: The budget chaos at NASA has caused the ESA to halt work on its own Mars orbiter and rover.
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity.
Saturn and Enceladus linked by electricity.
India launches three satellites on single rocket
India has successfully launched three satellites using its low-Earth-orbit rocket.
The launch could not have come at a more apt time than now. The old reliable workhorse vehicle was last used in a July 2010 launch. ISRO’s next two launches of the indigenous higher-powered GSLV failed.
India has successfully launched three satellites using its low-Earth-orbit rocket.
The launch could not have come at a more apt time than now. The old reliable workhorse vehicle was last used in a July 2010 launch. ISRO’s next two launches of the indigenous higher-powered GSLV failed.
University of Iowa Professor Tells College Republicans to “F” Off
Leftwing civility: A University of Iowa professor tells college Republicans to “F” off.
Leftwing civility: A University of Iowa professor tells college Republicans to “F” off.
Barack Obama at the Pearly Gates
Barack Obama at the pearly gates.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack Obama meets a man with a beard. ‘Are you Mohammed?’ he asks. “No my son, I am St. Peter; Mohammed is higher up.” Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds. . . .
Barack Obama at the pearly gates.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, Barrack Obama meets a man with a beard. ‘Are you Mohammed?’ he asks. “No my son, I am St. Peter; Mohammed is higher up.” Peter then points to a ladder that rises into the clouds. . . .
Global warming advocate discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Confusion in the environmentalism movement: A global warming activist discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Confusion in the environmentalism movement: A global warming activist discovers that anti-nuclear activists lie!
Sift through Kepler data and find exoplanets
Got some spare time for original science? Volunteers wanted to sift through the Kepler data to find exoplanets.
Got some spare time for original science? Volunteers wanted to sift through the Kepler data to find exoplanets.
Pluto’s atmosphere is expanding, and scientists don’t know why
Pluto’s atmosphere is expanding, and scientists don’t know why.
Pluto travels along a highly elliptical path and last passed closest to the sun in 1989. Many planetary scientists expected the atmosphere to shrink as the icy orb began receding from the sun’s warmth. The unanticipated expansion may be related to changes in the darkness of the orb’s surface a decade or so ago, which may have caused the surface ices to absorb more solar radiation and more efficiently evaporate. Or, Greaves suggests, long-term variations in the sun’s ultraviolet output, changes linked to the roughly 11-year cycle of solar activity, may be playing a role.
Pluto’s atmosphere is expanding, and scientists don’t know why.
Pluto travels along a highly elliptical path and last passed closest to the sun in 1989. Many planetary scientists expected the atmosphere to shrink as the icy orb began receding from the sun’s warmth. The unanticipated expansion may be related to changes in the darkness of the orb’s surface a decade or so ago, which may have caused the surface ices to absorb more solar radiation and more efficiently evaporate. Or, Greaves suggests, long-term variations in the sun’s ultraviolet output, changes linked to the roughly 11-year cycle of solar activity, may be playing a role.
Met Office chief says he has received death threats from climate change skeptics
This is wrong, if true: The chief of the UK’s Met Office said yesterday that he has received death threats from climate change skeptics.
A Met Office spokesman confirmed Mr Hirst had received death threats made in a number of ”unsavoury emails”, but said they were ”isolated incidents” and the organisation had not felt it necessary to involve the police.
This is wrong, if true: The chief of the UK’s Met Office said yesterday that he has received death threats from climate change skeptics.
A Met Office spokesman confirmed Mr Hirst had received death threats made in a number of ”unsavoury emails”, but said they were ”isolated incidents” and the organisation had not felt it necessary to involve the police.
Exploring London’s abandoned Mail Rail subway system
Exploring London’s abandoned Mail Rail subway system.
Exploring London’s abandoned Mail Rail subway system.
Orion Program Shrinking To Save Money, Time
More on the incredibly shrinking Orion program.
It ain’t gonna fly, and if I’m wrong and it does, it will accomplish little in the process — except spend a lot of pork money we no longer can afford.
More on the incredibly shrinking Orion program.
It ain’t gonna fly, and if I’m wrong and it does, it will accomplish little in the process — except spend a lot of pork money we no longer can afford.
State agency spends $73,000 giving out “6,000 red superhero capes” to the unemployed
Our government at work: Red superhero capes for the unemployed!
Our government at work: Red superhero capes for the unemployed!
“You have the right not to pray.”
Medicine in space does not have the right stuff
Medicine in space does not have the right stuff.
After 28 months, the medication stored in space generally had a lower potency and degraded faster than those stored on the ground. Six medications on the space station underwent physical changes, such as discoloration and liquefaction, while such changes only occurred in two medications stored on the ground.
Medicine in space does not have the right stuff.
After 28 months, the medication stored in space generally had a lower potency and degraded faster than those stored on the ground. Six medications on the space station underwent physical changes, such as discoloration and liquefaction, while such changes only occurred in two medications stored on the ground.
Could black trees blossom in a world with two suns?
India’s problems in space
NASA Awards Next Set Of Commercial Crew Development Agreements
NASA has awarded the next set of commercial crew development agreements, giving contracts worth from $22 to $92 million to four companies, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, SpaceX, and Boeing. More here and here.
The amounts that NASA is giving these companies is minuscule, compared the monies spent on the program-formerly-called-Constellation. Yet I bet they all get their rockets/capsules launched and in operation, supplying cargos and crews to low Earth orbit, before NASA even test fires its heavy-lift rocket.
NASA has awarded the next set of commercial crew development agreements, giving contracts worth from $22 to $92 million to four companies, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, SpaceX, and Boeing. More here and here.
The amounts that NASA is giving these companies is minuscule, compared the monies spent on the program-formerly-called-Constellation. Yet I bet they all get their rockets/capsules launched and in operation, supplying cargos and crews to low Earth orbit, before NASA even test fires its heavy-lift rocket.
Christian protesters in France destroy “Piss Christ” and other anti-christian art
Christian protesters in France destroy “Piss Christ” and other anti-christian art on display in a museum.
As inappropriate and disgusting I might consider this art, it is not good for westerners to lower themselves to Islamic standards.
Christian protesters in France destroy “Piss Christ” and other anti-christian art on display in a museum.
As inappropriate and disgusting I might consider this art, it is not good for westerners to lower themselves to Islamic standards.
“Wear a headscarf or we will kill you.”
In London: “Wear a headscarf or we will kill you.”
In London: “Wear a headscarf or we will kill you.”