EPA fines SpaceX
How dare you succeed! The EPA has fined SpaceX $45,600 for hazardous waste violations.
Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
Astronaut sues over use of his image in NASA photo
An astronaut has sued a musician for using a NASA photo with his image in it on an album cover.
New standards on car mpg
What does this have to do with engineering? Under a plan released by the Obama adminstration today, automakers will be required to magically achieve substantially higher fuel efficiency — between 47 and 62 miles per gallon — by 2025.
Layoffs in Houston
The layoffs in the American government space program continue. The United Space Alliance, the space shuttle’s primary contractor, today laid off 333 workers in Houston.
Images of asteroid by Rosetta
The European Space Agency has released some new data, including images and animations, of the asteroid Lutetia, which the spacecraft Rosetta flew past on July 10, 2010.
More layoffs in Florida
With the end of the shuttle program looming, about 1100 shuttle workers will be laid off in Florida today.
China launches 2nd Moon mission
China has launched its second unmanned lunar probe, designed to photograph the Moon from an orbit altitude of 9 miles.
New York forced to replace 250,000 street signs by the federal government
We’re here to help you! New York City is being forced by the federal government to replace 250,000 perfectly good street signs, at a cost of $27.5 million.
ATK to lay off 426 employees today
ATK lays off 426 employees today.
Michoud declares end of external tank production
The maker of the shuttle external tank declared today the end of production.
NASA authorization passes House
The space war is over, at least in Congress. The House tonight passed the NASA authorization bill as written by the Senate.
Saudia Arabia celebrates anniversary of their first astronaut’s flight
This weekend, Saudia Arabia celebrates the 25th anniversary of the shuttle flight of their first astronaut, Prince Sultan bin Salman.
The Snowbird Human-Powered Ornithopter
An evening pause: August 2, 2010: The first flight of a human powered ornithopter, an aircraft propelled by flapping wings.
Iranian blogger sentenced to 20 years
So, how does this prove that Islam is the religion of peace? In Iran today a blogger was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Key quote:
Hossein Derakhshan was “convicted of cooperating with enemy states, making propaganda against the Islamic system of government, promoting small anti-revolutionary groups, managing obscene web sites and insulting Islamic sanctities,”
It appears that Derakhshan’s worst crime might have been to visit Israel, though speaking freely in an Islamic state might also have been considered blasphemous.
More info on next Falcon 9 launch
Here’s a further update on SpaceX’s plans for the second test launch of its Falcon 9 rocket, now set for November 8.
European plans to develop advance return vehicle
Faced with the loss of the space shuttle yet committed to the ISS at least through 2020, the European Space Agency is moving forward in its plans to upgrade its Automated Transfer Vehicle, which is only able to bring cargo to ISS, to what they call an Advanced Re-entry Vehicle, which will be able to also bring cargo back.
Results from Hayabusa delayed till next year
We won’t know if the Japanese probe Hayabusa actually brought asteroid materials back to Earth until spring 2011. Key quote from the project scientist:
Kawaguchi said his science team found “tens of particles” in Chamber A of the canister. The tiny particles are being removed one-by-one in an extraction process that is stretching longer than anticipated.
Note that they still have not opened Chamber B, which is thought to have had a better chance of capturing asteroid material because it was the chamber in contact with the asteroid Itokawa.
11 Predictions About 2010 That the Simpsons Got Right
Crystal ball alert: Eleven correct predictions about 2010 that the Simpsons television show made in 1995.
Russia to launch commercial space station by 2016
A Russian company says it plans to launch its own commercial space station by 2016.
One third of so-called extinct species have turned up alive
Back from the dead! A new study has found that scientists are significantly over-estimating the number of animal extinctions, with approximately one third of the so-called “extinct” species turning up alive. This quote makes one wonder if politics have been a factor:
The mistakes cannot be blamed on primitive technology or old fashioned scientific methods. “Mammals missing in the 20th century were nearly three times as likely to be rediscovered as those that disappeared in the 19th century.”
New speed record for lawnmower
New world speed record — 96.5 miles per hour — for lawnmowers.
UN denies plan to name ‘ambassador’ to aliens
The United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) today denied any plan to name an “ambassador” to act as a point of contact with extra-terrestrials.
James Hansen arrested protesting against mining
NASA climate scientist James Hansen was arrested yesterday in a Washington, D.C. protest against mountaintop mining.
Charges dismissed against Maryland man who taped traffic stop
Victory for freedom of speech: Charges have been dismissed against a Maryland man for videotaping a policeman who pulled him over for speeding.
Lying Congressman
Vile dishonest congressman alert! A comparison of Congressman Alan Grayson’s (D-Florida) campaign commercial with the actual facts demonstrates clearly that Grayson should be digging ditches rather than representing American citizens in Congress.
Launch of China’s next lunar probe as soon as Friday
The launch of China’s next lunar probe, Chang’e 2, could occur as soon as this Friday.
Lost footage of Armstrong’s first step found
Lost video footage of Neil Armstrong’s first step on the Moon found in Australia.
Volcanic activity in Saudia Arabia
Volcanic activity in northwest Saudia Arabia.
Handing out the Bible is legal in Deerborn
Freedom of speech update: The four men arrested for handing out the gospel of St. John in Deeborn, Michigan, have been found innocent.
House will vote on Senate NASA plan
The space war appears to be over. Based on several news reports, the House will vote this week on the Senate plan for NASA, not on the House plan.
Despite this agreement in Congress, the future of NASA remains murky, at best. As written, this plan forces NASA to continue construction of some form of heavy lift rocket similar to the Ares I and Ares V it was building under Constellation, but gives the agency less money and time to do it. It also hands out a lot of money to commercial companies for so-called launch services, but outlines few details about how that money should be spent.