Posts Made By: K. Michael Malolepszy

A message from A. C. Clarke on his 90th birthday (Dec. 2007) at:

http://scienceblogs.com/thescian/2008/03/arthur_c_clarke.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qLdeEjdbWE

Official A. C. Clarke web site:

http://www.arthurcclarke.net/

Wikipedia entry for him at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke

NY Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/books/19clarke.html?bl&ex=1206072000&en=42616000ef89c523&ei=5087%0A

(OR http://tinyurl.com/2wdt8r )

2001 2-disk set has some interesting documentaries on it:

http://www.amazon.com/2001-Space-Odyssey-Two-Disc-Special/dp/B000UJ48SG

(OR http://tinyurl.com/3ygbjt )

I'll have to watch it again to mark his passing.

A message from A. C. Clarke on his 90th birthday (Dec. 2007) at:

http://scienceblogs.com/thescian/2008/03/arthur_c_clarke.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qLdeEjdbWE

Official A. C. Clarke web site:

http://www.arthurcclarke.net/

Wikipedia entry for him at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke

NY Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/books/19clarke.html?bl&ex=1206072000&en=42616000ef89c523&ei=5087%0A

(OR http://tinyurl.com/2wdt8r )

Charlton Heston, Epic Film Star and Voice of N.R.A., Dies at 84

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/movies/06heston.html?bl&ex=1207713600&en=55b5ab5e7044b201&ei=5087%0A

(or http://tinyurl.com/3hgvxt )

Charlton Heston wikipedia article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Heston

Charlton Heston's Final Interview

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4599029

Sons of Soyuz... and Skylab (interesting TMA12 &13 crew notes)

TMA-12 Soyuz commander Volkov is,".. the first second generation
cosmonaut, the son of cosmonaut Alexander Volkov":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Volkov_%28cosmonaut%29

His father, Alexander, was orbiting earth with
Krikalev when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991.

Even more interesting is that when Serey Volkov
returns to Earth, space tourist Richard Garriott, son
of US Skylab astronaut Owen Garriott will be aboard
the same spacecraft;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Garriott

Apparently Owen's son is a programming genius/rich
dude now.

From the wiki article:

On September 28, 2007, Space Adventures announced that
Garriott would fly to the International Space Station
in October 2008 as the sixth space tourist. He will
launch onboard Soyuz TMA-13, and will land with Soyuz
TMA-12. [1] He will become the second offspring of a
past space explorer to go into space himself, after
cosmonaut Sergey Volkov. Soyuz TMA-12 will carry both
of them on its return trip.

Yi So-yeon had the misfortune of experiencing a "ballistic" re-entry - where the crew experiences much higher g-loads than a normal aerodynamic re-entry. This is the 3rd time this has happened in the Soyuz TMA flight history. I wonder if you get a partial refund if that happens to a spaceflight participant (paying passenger0? 10 Gs... OUCH!

Soyuz TMA ballistic re-entries:

2003 - Soyuz TMA-1 / Expedition 6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-1

2007 - TMA-10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-10

2007 - TMA-11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_TMA-11

----------

Yi describes frightening return to Earth

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJitDZhZSzTx3L37XQOplAlh8fGQD9068T9G0

By DAVID NOWAK – 2 hours ago

STAR CITY, Russia (AP) — South Korea's first astronaut said Monday she was "really scared" when the Russian space capsule she was in made an unexpectedly steep descent to Earth over the weekend.

"During descent I saw some kind of fire outside as we were going through the atmosphere," said Yi So-yeon, a 29-year-old bioengineer. "At first I was really scared because it looked really, really hot and I thought we could burn."

But then she said she noticed it was not even warm inside the Soyuz capsule. "I looked at the others and I pretended to be OK," Yi said.

The steeper-than-usual descent from the international space station subjected Yi, American astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko to severe gravitational forces during the re-entry Saturday.

The technical glitch also sent the TMA-11 craft off-course and it landed about 260 miles from its target on Kazakhstan's barren steppe.

All three members of the crew walked slowly and were unsteady on their feet Monday when arriving for the news conference at Russia's Star City cosmonaut training center outside Moscow.

Malenchenko said it was not yet clear what caused the unusual descent.

"There was no action of the crew that led to this," he said. "Time will tell what went wrong."

It was the second time in a row — and the third since 2003 — that the Soyuz landing had gone awry.

Officials said the craft followed a so-called "ballistic re-entry" — a very steep trajectory that subjects the crew to extreme physical force. Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said the crew had experienced gravitational forces up to 10 times those on Earth during the 3 1/2-hour descent.

Yi traveled to the international space station on April 10, along with cosmonauts Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, who have replaced Whitson and Malenchenko. South Korea paid Russia $20 million for Yi's flight.

Whitson and Malenchenko spent roughly six months performing experiments and maintaining the orbiting station and were replaced by Volkov and Kononenko. They joined American astronaut Garrett Reisman, who arrived last month on the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour.

According to NASA, Whitson, 48, set a new American record for cumulative time in space — 377 days.

-------

at

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1401060.php/Rough_landing_shakes_up_ISS_crew_and_surprises_locals

It says that:

" ...The crew shocked local farmers as they climbed out of the cramped aircraft after 192 days in space for Whitson and Malenchenko and nine days for Yi.

'They didn't believe we were from outer space, even after we showed them our space suit,' Malenchenko laughed.

The equipage's dramatic appearance apparently left locals puzzling over whether the capsule was a boat or a plane.

Though they helped the strange crew make their location known, local residents refused to believe they had come from outer space until authorities arrived 40 minutes later, Malashenko recounted. "

NASA is broadcasting a High Def video compilation of earth views, with narration/discussion by a scientist that'n been involved with astronaut photography:

http://www.space.com/news/080418-nasa-hd.html

NASA aired the HD broadcast on NASA TV early Friday as a silent film of serene Earth views. A replay is scheduled for the same time on Monday, and will air all day long from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT (1000-1200 GMT) on April 22. The replays include a discussion of the Earth views by Justin Wilkinson, a scientist with the Crew Earth Observations Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The footage will also run on standard NASA TV during regularly scheduled Video File broadcasts.

The astronaut-shot Earth views mark the latest in a series of efforts to view space in high-definition video, whether looking at Earth, the moon or spacecraft interiors.

For only $4,650.00 you too, can be a Road Warrior:

http://tinyurl.com/6c7qvz

987 Ford E-Series Van E-350 4X4 SWAT Van

Complete, with Bulletproof Driver Seat / Kevlar behind
Driver Seat, Gun Racks for 14 AR/16’s or equivalent
(For 8 large guns and 6 medium rifles), Special Black
out military paint / practically invisible at night -
was a State of Connecticut SWAT Van built new to State
Specs.

Great for intimidating the neighbors!


------------

Ford E-350 Quigley 4X4 Van with Dual Rear Wheels (4X6)

S.W.A.T. Van ~ AKA “THE HAMMER”

FORD FACTORY APPROVED QUIGLEY MOTOR CO QUADRAVERSION
4X6 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MFG 1987
VIN#1FDKE37L3HHA45115

12 passenger and Built to military specs / too much to
list!

Excellent Solid Mechanically and Cosmetically,
reliable all purpose rig perfect to outfit for
Camping, landscaping, Hauling Motorcycles, Beach
Cruiser, Contractors, Utility, Hunting, Tow rig or
Recreation multipurpose, on or off road Rig.

High Performance 460CI FORD Big Block V8 Sounds
Throaty and is STRONG!
Custom dual exhaust, Sounds GREAT, runs smooth with a
Holley 4 Barrel Carb
LOW ORIGINAL MILES ONLY 44,600
10,300LB GVWR. 138” Wheelbase
Runs Excellent;
New Purolator Air Filter
New Oil Filter
New Fuel Filters
New Dual Heavy Duty Napa Batteries
New Dual Blade Carbon Fiber Look All Weather
Windshield Wipers (still in the box!)

Custom Aluminum Utility Body by Reading Mfg. with 6’4”
internal stand up height and 12 external/internal
storage boxes/too many extras to list
Body Model FV74-128A serial number 168483
Bench seating for 10 passengers or three motorcycles
and tons of storage
Bulletproof Driver Seat / Kevlar behind Driver Seat
Gun Racks for 14 AR/16’s or equivelant (For 8 large
guns and 6 medium rifles)
Comes With Tactical Planning Board and case


Over $80,000 new, Replacement cost over $100,000
Buy it for a fraction of the replacement cost
Unique Vehicle for work or play

Stored Indoors / No Rust
This was the State of Connecticut SWAT Van built new
to State Specs
Has a 11’ removeable battering Ram which lowers or
raises via the winch for breaking down houses or doors
or whatever you want!

Custom Hand Built Military Spec $10,000 front bumper
with room for four passengers
Warn Model 8274 Winch

Custom Rear Bumper and Side steps for carrying 6
passengers externally

Interior is mint, dash is mint, seats are mint, no
rips, tears or cracks.

No dents or body rust ever.

Triple Roof Racks
A/C hookups to interior
Cages over all body windows to protect passengers
Dual Exhaust Custom, exit behind rear wheels (new)
Dual Front spot lights adjustable from in cab
Dual Rear spot lights adjustable from in cab
Dual Sirens
Dual Horns
Dual Fire-Extinguisher mounts
Dual rear barn doors
Dual rear roof ladders
Dual rear wheels
Dual Cab Mount Steps to climb onto roof from driver or
passenger side
Dual Air vents in roof 12 volt powered
Dual Front bumper military tow hooks
Triple Interior Red Cabin Lights
Dual interior Cabin roof mount lights
Reading Light
Overhead grab rail for standing passengers

Multiple Antennas
Wired for C/B and mobile radios/and Sirens
Federal PA200 welp/PA/ManualRadio/Wail/Hi Lo (not
hooked up)
Whelen Pioner safety signal module and whelen ws227
relay switch
Midland Handset
Auxiliary power outlet
Auxiliary fuse box
Triple Interior Midland Speakers
Motorola P/A speaker
Midland Model #70-055C Control unit
Factory OEM Am/FM Stereo

12,000 Pound Warn Winch and remote control and 70 foot
cable

Quigley 4WD Conversion
4SPD HEAVY DUTY Automatic Transmission
The 4WD Conversion alone cost over $10,000!
Solid Dana 60 Axles

Class III Hitch with integrated removable step


6 Goodyear Military Style 16” tires Like new 95% tread
left 215/85R16 M&S rear/ G159 Fronts
Tinted Windows
Special Black out military paint / practically
invisible at night
Runs good, Needs Brake job but otherwise in excellent
condition
Has a manual battery disconnect and has Dual battery
setup with disconnect
Two brand New batteries.
Shocks and suspension are excellent condition

Don’t Miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity,
you wont find another one this nice!

Replacement cost for a new equivalent spec 4x6 van
would be over $100,000.00

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0808/02obama/

Obama vows NASA support during visit to Florida

BY WILLIAM HARWOOD

STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: August 2, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic candidate for president, held a town hall meeting near the Kennedy Space Center today and vowed strong support for NASA, saying he favors at least one shuttle flight beyond the 10 missions left on the agency's manifest. Obama also said he would work to close the gap between the end of shuttle operations in 2010 and the debut of the Orion spacecraft that will replace it and said earlier reports that he would divert money from NASA's next manned spacecraft to education were unfounded.

Rest of story at

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0808/02obama/

From the The Planetary Society Weblog By Emily Lakdawalla at

http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001584/

Apparently there's something more exciting yet to be announced by Phoenix
Aug. 3, 2008 | 15:10 PDT | 22:10 UTC

The Internet is buzzing with rumors of some discovery made -- but not yet announced -- by the MECA team on Phoenix. MECA is the instrument that includes the Wet Chemistry Laboratory, the Optical Microscope, and the Atomic Force Microscope. It and TEGA form the two main chemical analysis tools on Phoenix, the instruments that allow it to study what the north polar soils tell us about present and past Mars climate and chemistry.

I don't have any more information on these rumors than is available elsewhere on the Internet. To summarize briefly: there is apparently some result from the Wet Chemistry Laboratory that is very interesting, having to do with the "past habitability" of Mars. This instrument can't discover life on Mars, so it's not that; it would have to do with the potential for life to exist, something revealing that there is some Earthlike chemistry happening now or in the past that has not before been seen on Mars. According to Craig Couvalt of Aviation week, it was interesting enough to brief the President's Science Advisor; however, the Phoenix mission's Twitter feed denies this.

I don't have my own source for news on this; all I have to go on is Craig Couvalt's article, in which he seems he's in touch with some very leaky source indeed -- and the Phoenix Twitter feed.

-----

White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1297

Craig Covault Friday, August 1, 2008

Copyright 2008 Aviation Week & Space Technology

The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say.

The data are much more complex than results related NASA's July 31 announcement that Phoenix has confirmed the presence of water ice at the site.

International news media trumpeted the water ice confirmation, which was not a surprise to any of the Phoenix researchers. "They have discovered water on Mars for the third or fourth time," one senior Mars scientists joked about the hubbub around the water ice announcement.

The other data not discussed openly yet are far more "provocative," Phoenix officials say.

More at http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1297

-------

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/08/rumors-abound-a.html

Rumors Abound About 'Potential for Life' on Mars
By Alexis Madrigal EmailAugust 03, 2008 | 12:12:11

Soil_scoop Rumors are flying this weekend that Mars Phoenix has made a major discovery relating to the potential for life on Mars.

Wired.com reached Sam Kounaves, the mission's wet chemistry lab lead, by cell phone this morning. He quickly directed us to speak with NASA's PR representatives, but not before he said, simply, "Rumors are rumors."

They stem from an article in Aviation Week and subsequent pickup on Slashdot and elsewhere indicating that the White House had been briefed on the potential for life on the planet.

"The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars," wrote Craig Covault, citing anonymous sources on the Phoenix Lander's wet chemistry lab team.

Covault's article showed some restraint, though, and made sure to note that "sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars."

The subtleties, however, were quickly lost in the blogosphere, where excitement began to build that simple extraterrestrial life, or something suggesting its presence, had been found on Mars.

Late last night, @MarsPhoenix (aka Veronica McGregor, a NASA employee) responded to the story, via the mission's Twitter account.

"Heard about the recent news reports implying I may have found Martian life. Those reports are incorrect," she Tweeted. "Reports claiming there was a White House briefing are also untrue and incorrect."

More at http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/08/rumors-abound-a.html

------------

Bigfoot found?

Interesting picture of the beast....not holding my breath though. The site with the press release announcement is getting so many hits that it's inaccessible at this point, so I've attached a screen grab of it.

Time to watch "Harry and the Hendersons" again!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article4531119.ece

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=tk-2008-08-13