NASA / Space Shuttle "and for other purposes" Part 3

NASA / Space Shuttle... "and for other purposes" part 2

NASA / Space Shuttle... "and for other purposes" part 1

Challenger Memorial Ceremony

Challenger 25 years ago

Here is what I posted 5 years ago on the 20th.

Here is the Challenger STS 51L Accident History site by NASA.

The Space Shuttle Challenger Accident page (Davinder Mahal)here.

Apollo 1 Fire 44 years ago

Picture gallery from Space.com here.

There are three parks in the city of Fullerton named after the three Astronauts that died in the fire, Edward H. White II, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, and Roger B. Chaffee.

Apollo 1 Memorial site here.

NASA Apollo photo site here.

My post from five years ago here.

My post the same day about Gus Grissom here.

NASA Day of Remembrance

NASA Link here.

The New Atlantis » In Search of a Conservative Space Policy

The New Atlantis » In Search of a Conservative Space Policy

JAXA H2-B Launch

From JAXA Mission site here.

OC Science article on Delta IV Heavy Launch

Here is the OC Science article on the Delta IV Heavy Launch.

Launch seen from OC Register in Santa Ana, CA.

Largest-Ever Rocket, With Secret Payload, Launched On West Coast « CBS Los Angeles

Largest-Ever Rocket, With Secret Payload, Launched On West Coast « CBS Los Angeles

Great report from Ch. 9 News.

USGS records and documents wildlife die offs

From the USGS web site here:

In 2010, the USGS NWHC documented eight die-off events of 1,000 or more birds. The causes: starvation, avian cholera, Newcastle disease and parasites, according to Sleeman. Such records show that, while the causes of death may vary, events like the red-winged blackbird die-off in Beebe, Ark., and the smaller one near Baton Rouge, La., are more common than people may realize.

And Sleeman should know – he directs a staff of scientists whose primary purpose is to investigate the nation's wildlife diseases from avian influenza to plague and white-nose syndrome in bats.

"The USGS NWHC provides information, technical assistance, research, education, and leadership on national and international wildlife health issues," Sleeman added.

(HT from Beyond the Black)

Good article on all the fish and bird kills

Thousands of dead turtle doves rained down on roofs and cars in an Italian town in the latest in a growing spate of mass animal deaths across the globe.

Residents in Faenza described the birds falling to the ground like 'little Christmas balls' with strange blue stains on their beaks.

Initial tests on up to 8,000 of the doves indicated that the blue stain could have been caused by poisoning or hypoxia.

Hypoxia, a lack of oxygen, is known to cause confusion and illness in animals. It is also a common precursor to altitude sickness.

Experts said results from tests on the doves will not be available for at least a week.

They said that cold weather could have caused the birds' deaths as the flock was swept into a high-altitude wind storm before falling to the earth.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344913/Animal-death-mystery-Two-MILLION-dead-fish-wash-Maryland-bay.html#ixzz1ASRNd0SE

RIP Altaira

Now Ann Francis has passed away. Rest in peace Altaira.

Red Shrit Day!

Paul Calle RIP

NASA Artist Paul Calle passed away today. Here is the lunar landing stamp he did.

Forty years later, what has it meant to you to design the stamp that honored the first lunar landing?

Designing the First Man on the Moon stamp in 1969 was a great honor and especially significant because of my involvement in the NASA Fine Art Program. The design process was kept a secret until not long before the Apollo 11 launch I believe. I had been with the crew during their activities readying for the launch the morning of July 16, 1969, sketching their breakfast and suiting up and knowing that the engraved plates were traveling to the moon with the astronauts was exciting.

I remember when Armstrong stepped foot on the moon, my 8 year old son at the time Chris kept asking, "Where's the stamp? Where's the stamp!?"

From the moon 42 years ago....

1992 Shuttle Craft Ornament

Merry Christmas!

HT National Geographic here.

Apollo 8: First Broadcast from the Moon