Saturday, November 28, 2009

LHC Awakes at CERN

The Large Hadron Collider at Cern, that had been down since it was damaged in its original start-up in September 2008, has restarted: http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/11/large-hadron-collider-starts-up-produces-first-collisions.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss. Originally it was set to restart in the spring of this year.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Space Shuttle Atlantis

I heard on NPR that the Space Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to land this morning.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Monthly Meeting

This past Saturday Al, Mike, and I got together to view some of the latest sci-fi.

This coming Sunday we have our regular monthly meeting at Books-A-Million around 2:00 PM. Everyone is welcome!

New Moon Sets Stage for Brilliant Leonids Meteor Shower

I am reading this article, New Moon Sets Stage for Brilliant Leonids Meteor Shower, on NASA's website.
According to this article, Bill Cooke will hold a live chat today from 1500 to 1600 CST and will answer questions about the Leonids meteor shower.
You need to go to this address, http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/09-094.html, and log on by 1500 CST today.
The meteor shower may peak on Tuesday in the USA.

NASA to Begin Attempts to Free Sand-Trapped Mars Rover

I am reading this article, NASA to Begin Attempts to Free Sand-Trapped Mars Rover, on NASA's website.
According to this article, the Mars rover Spirit has been lodged in the same spot since 23 April 2009.
Today NASA will send commands to the rover that may help free it.

LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon

I am reading this article, LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon, on NASA's website.
According to this article, data from the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite shows that there is water on the Moon.
On 9 October 2009, the LCROSS Centaur upper stage rocket impacted into a region of Cabeus crater.
I watched the video from the LCROSS as it approached the Moon's Cabeus crater. I saw it get a bit closer and then the video stopped. It was aired on television during the national news.

RSS Rollback

I am reading this article, RSS Rollback, at NASA's website.
According to this article things are going well for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station, today at 1428 EST.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Astronaut John Grunsfeld, Ph.D.

I read at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's website,
http://www.nasm.si.edu/ that he is scheduled to give a lecture on The Significance of the Hubble Space Telescope, on 17 November 2009 at 1930, in the Lockheed Martin Imax Theater National Mall Building.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Ares I-X Flight Test

I am reading this article, Ares I-X Flight Test, on NASA's website.
According to this article, the 327-foot tall Ares I-X Launch Test Vehicle launched from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center at 1130 EDT on 28 October 2009.
The Ares I-X produced 2.6 pounds of thrust to accelerate the rocket to Mach 4.76 and almost 3 G's.
It reached a suborbital altitude of 150,000 feet after the first stage separated.
The solid rocket motor and booster returned to Earth after parachutes were deployed.
They were recovered at sea by the recovery vessel Freedom Star and will be towed back to Florida.

Atlantis' Payload is Delivered; Astronauts Return to Kennedy

I am reading this article, Atlantis' Payload is Delivered; Astronauts Return to Kennedy, at NASA's website.

According to this article, the cargo for Space Shuttle Atlantis was moved to Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center for installation into the payload bay of the shuttle.
Last Friday, 30 October 2009, The STS-129 mission crew members were doing their final bench review of flight hardware at Johnson Space Center.
A launch dress rehearsal, the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, with the STS-129 mission crew members is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
The official date and time for Space Shuttle Atlantis to launch to the International Space Station is 16 November 2009 and 1428 EST.