Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Al and I watch Stargate: The Ark of Truth for the second time Saturday -- it was shown on TV for the first time Friday night. A panel discussion with Christopher Judge, Amanda Tapping and Ben Browder was one of the bonus features -- we watched this for the first time -- it was good.

Russian craft docks on International Space Station

I am reading this story, Russian craft docks on International Space Station, on Reuters.com
I saw a video of the launch of Russia's Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft a few days ago on digital television station WCVE 23.3.
I believe it was a story on Russia Today news program.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Watchmen - the movie

Mike, Al, and I went to see the Watchmen movie Saturday. It was very good. Watching it together was a bonus.

Space Shuttle Mission: STS-119

I am reading this article, LIFTOFF!, on NASA's website.
According to this article, STS-119 astronauts are scheduled to install the last of a major set of solar arrays to the ISS.
Koichi Wakata will remain aboard the ISS and Sandra Magnus will return with the shuttle to Earth according to this article. 

 
I am reading this article, NASA Applauds Discovery Launch, on NASA's website.
According to this article, Space Shuttle Discovery launched for the International Space Station on 15 March 2009 at 1943 EDT.
 
I am reading this article, STS-119 Crew Begins First Full Day in Space, on NASA's website.
According to this article, Discovery should arrive at and dock with the ISS at 1713 EDT on Tuesday.
 
I am reading this article, Subject: Ground Teams Monitoring Space Debris, on NASA's website.
According to this article, ground teams are monitoring a piece of space debris in case it comes to close to the ISS.

International Space Station

I am reading this article, Help NASA Name Node 3 on NASA's website http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html
According to this article you can pick one of these names Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity, Venture or another name by 20 March 2009.

Forensic Science

I like books, movies and television shows that have forensic science as a major part of the work.

However as I am reading this article, U.S. forensic crime labs need major reform: experts on Reuters' website http://www.reuters.com/, I am wondering what is going on with forensic science in the real world.
According to this article, U.S. forensic crime labs are putting out unreliable evidence.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Linus Pauling: A Man and his Science

I recently read Anthony Serafini's book Linus Pauling: A Man and his Science. I wouldn't say that it was particularly well written, but it had a lot of interesting facts in it, and Dr. Sarafini made several interesting points. Anyone interested in Linus Pauling should find this book enjoyable. (A bonus is the foreward written by Isaac Asimov.)

New Scientist magazine published a list of the 20 greatest scientists of all time. There were only two in the 20th century: Albert Einstein and Linus Pauling.

Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams was born on 11 March 1952.
He wrote: The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy; So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish; Mostly Harmless; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; The Salmon of Doubt; Life, the Universe, and Everything; The Meaning of Liff; Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency; Last Chance to See; The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul; and maybe a few other books.

I like his use of humor and science fiction together in his books. 
I have read most of his books.
I enjoyed the Hitchhiker's Guide book series the best.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

STS-119 to Launch No Earlier Than Sunday

I am reading this story, STS-119 to Launch No Earlier Than Sunday, on NASA's website.
 
According to this story a leak involving the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the external fuel tank, delayed the launch planning for today.
The next planned launch is schedule for 15 March 2009 at 1943 EDT.

Galaxy Zoo

I am reading this story, Galaxy Zoo, on Stardate's website.
I heard the story this morning on NPR.
 
I went to Galaxy Zoo's website, https://www.galaxyzoo.org/, and on to Sloan Digital Sky Survey's website, http://www.sdss.org/
 
This sounds like an interesting astronomical survey to help with.