UFO widely seen in Middle East skies, linked to Russian missile test has an update from James Oberg, explaining that the spiral does not indicate a failed launch, but is a deliberate feature needed for the trajectory the Russians wanted.
From the Bad Astronomer
For those saying we should launch Newt to the Moon, please be serious. We don’t have that kind of launch capacity for his ego.
The Solar System
Notes from a presentation by Christian Ready at
Windycon 38 on Friday, November 11, 2011. I have added web links.
“Shuttle’s Last Flight Leaves Russia With Space Monopoly”–headline, The Wall Street Journal, July 7
“USSR Wins Space Race as U.S. Shuts Down Shuttle Program”–headline, Onion, July 27
In the end, the U.S. is left to ponder an irony: It won the technological race to develop a space shuttle but lost the war. “You can argue that the Russians were on the right trajectory all along, by flying big, dumb boosters,” said Duke University space historian Alex Roland.
the Orbiter Discovery approaching the International Space Station, as seen from the ground:
Illustration by Stephanie Fox. Research by Nivair Gabriel.
At io9, with an explanation of why Star Trek was not included.
Via Universe Today.
At Convergence this past July they showed Mission to Mars with a live running commentary by a Physics professor and a JPL Systems Engineer. It was hilarious.
From Space.com
