Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Ray Bradbury died on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91 after a long illness


One way we can go to Mars is through imagery of a great writer.
Ray Bradbury will be missed but his stories will live on.
- LRK -

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Ray Bradbury, recipient of the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, died on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91 after a long illness. He lived in Los Angeles.

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Read on.
- LRK

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Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012)[1][4] was an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), Bradbury was one of the most celebrated among 20th century American writers of speculative fiction. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into television shows or films.

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And what some had to say.  You may have some thoughts as well.
- LRK -

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Writers, filmmakers react to Ray Bradbury's death

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


Reaction to the death of author Ray Bradbury:
"He was my muse for the better part of my sci-fi career. He lives on through his legion of fans. In the world of science fiction and fantasy and imagination he is immortal." - Steven Spielberg
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"He was always my favorite science fiction writer because what he did was rooted in reality. He never got really out there." - Tom Wolfe
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"He was kind, and gentle, and always filled with enthusiasm, and that the landscape of the world we live in would have been diminished if we had not had him in our world." - Neil Gaiman
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Here is to looking up, and adventures of the mind when reality fails to live up to our expectations.
Then again, imagination is a great way to think of what might be possible with commitment, perseverance, and money. :-)
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Monday, June 4, 2012

The ISS Transit of Venus


As it often happens, you folks wake me up.  
Should have given a heads up sooner.
This from Kendall.

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Hello all,

Here are some key links concerning the 2012 Transit of Venus:

Science @ NASA educational page:  http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31may_isstransitofvenus/ --

Astronaut Don Pettit's Flickr photostream. He's the astronaut taking the photos:http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa_jsc_photo/7164346718/in/photostream -- Interesting to know that ISS has Internet readily available, but should almost go without saying in 2012.

Good NASA video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lx4fC42KI  -- 

Official NASA page for the 2012 Transit of Venus: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/transit12.html
...of interest.

-Kendall
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And from NASA News.
-LRK -

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From: NASA Science News <noreply@nasascience.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 2:18 AM
Subject: The ISS Transit of Venus
To: NASA Science News <snglist@nasascience2.org>


NASA Science News for May 31, 2012High above Earth, astronaut Don Pettit is about to become the first human to witness and photograph a transit of Venus from space. His images and commentary will be streamed to Earth during the crossing.
FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31may_isstransitofvenus/
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lx4fC42KI
This is a free service.
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Even if you aren't prepared to view yourself we should have pictures to view.
When you think about how seldom we get to see this transit, it may make you wonder how the Kepler mission ever gets a chance to see a far off planet transit its sun with only a few photons being blocked by the planet.

Kepler hosts live brodcast of Venus transit.
- LRK -
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Michele Johnson
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-4789
michele.johnson@nasa.gov
May 31, 2012
 
RELEASE : 12-43AR
 
 
NASA Ames Hosts Live Broadcast of Transit of Venus
 
 
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- News media and the public are invited to observe the transit of Venus broadcast live from atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii, beginning at 3:04 p.m. PDT Tuesday, June 5, 2012 in the Exploration Center at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. The June 5th transit will be the final opportunity to witness the rare astronomical reunion until 2117. 

The transit occurs when Venus passes directly between Earth and the sun. Viewers will see Venus as a small dot drifting across the golden disk of the sun. There have been 53 transits since 2000 B.C. The rare event occurs in pairs, with the last transit occurring June 8, 2004.
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Reporters must send requests for media credentials to Michele Johnson at michele.johnson@nasa.gov by 5 p.m. PDT Monday, June 4, 2012. Batalha and other NASA officials will be available for interviews beginning at 1 p.m. PDT in the Exploration Center. 

WHEN: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 (all times PDT)
- 1:50 p.m.: Welcome from NASA Ames 
- 2 - ­2:30 p.m.: The Kepler Mission and the Transit of Venus, Natalie Batalha, Kepler mission scientist, NASA Ames
- 2:30 p.m. ­ 8 p.m.: Solar observing and Hands-on activities
- 2:45 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Live NASA EDGE broadcast from Mauna Kea, HI
- 3:04 p.m.: Venus begins its six-hour transit

WHERE: 
NASA's Exploration Center is the large white dome located at the main gate of NASA's Ames Research Center. To reach NASA Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field, NASA Parkway exit and drive east on Moffett Boulevard towards the main gate and bear right into the parking lot. 

For more information about the worldwide events, safety precautions for viewing, educational content and social media activities, visit: 

http://venustransit.nasa.gov 

The public can follow the event on Twitter on #VenusTransit and download a free mobile app at: 

http://venustransit.nasa.gov/2012/multimedia/apps.php 
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Here is to looking up, and thanks for looking up with me.
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Thursday, May 31, 2012

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Returns To Earth With Pacific Splashdown


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SpaceX Dragon Capsule Returns To Earth With Pacific Splashdown

UPDATE: The capsule's successful splashdown was confirmed at 11:42 EDT.
by Clara Moskowitz, SPACE.com Assistant Managing Editor
Date: 31 May 2012 Time: 10:05 AM ET

This story was updated at 11:04 a.m. EDT.
The world's first commercial space cargo ship, the unmanned Dragon capsule, has begun its return trip from the International Space Station back to Earth today (May 31).
Built by commercial company Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), the Dragon capsule was detached from the space station by astronauts using the outpost's robotic arm, which officially released the spacecraft at 5:49 a.m. EDT (0949 GMT). At 10:51 a.m. EDT (1451 GMT), Dragon fired its Draco thrusters to exit orbit and begin its descent.
The vehicle is due to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at 11:44 a.m. EDT (1544 GMT).
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By Alan Boyle
SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule parachuted to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean today, ending the first-ever commercial mission to the International Space Station.
The 19-foot-long (6-meter-long), gumdrop-shaped Dragon made history last week as the first U.S. craft to reach the orbital station since last year's retirement of the space shuttle fleet, and it made history today as the first commercial craft to return a shipment from orbit.
The demonstration flight began on May 22 with the Dragon's launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission reached its climax last Friday when astronauts used the space station's robotic arm to pull the Dragon in to its docking port on the the station's Harmony module. On the following day, when station crew members entered the Dragon for the first time, NASA astronaut Don Pettit gushed over its new-car smell.
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[Was playing video of splashdown. - LRK]

NASA TV’s PUBLIC, MEDIA CHANNELS NOW IN HD
NASA Television’s Public (101) and Media (103) channels are now transmitting in high definition. 

NASA Television’s Public Channel (channel 101), the "NASA TV" most often carried by cable and satellite service providers, provides coverage of NASA missions and events, plus documentaries, archival and other special programming.

NASA TV’s Media Channel (channel 103) provides mission coverage, news conferences and relevant video and audio materials to local, national and international news-gathering organizations.
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[SpaceX following their Dragon Capsule Splashdown. - LRK -]

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Will be interesting to see what Orbital Science does.
- LRK -

Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Dragon Capsule opened - Next, return to Earth.


The capsule has been opened at the ISS and the word is - "There was no sign of any kind of (debris) floating around," Pettit radioed to Mission Control, adding that Dragon "smells like a brand new car."

I wonder is it will smell that way when it returns to Earth and is retrieved and opened?  
LRK
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UPDATE 1-Astronauts float inside SpaceX Dragon capsule

Sat May 26, 2012 12:22pm EDT

* Capsule to return to Earth Thursday

* SpaceX to deliver station cargo for NASA

* 2nd freighter to debut this year

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. May 26 (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station opened the hatch and floated inside a Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon capsule on Saturday, the first privately owned spaceship to reach the orbital outpost, NASA said.

Running ahead of schedule, station commander Oleg Kononenko and flight engineer Don Pettit opened the hatch to Dragon just before 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT), NASA mission commentator Josh Byerly reported from Mission Control in Houston.

The bell-shaped capsule, which was making its second test flight, arrived at the space station on Friday.

The crew wore protective masks and goggles, but the interior of Dragon, which is 350 cubic feet (10 cubic metres), about the size of a large walk-in closet, proved clean.

"There was no sign of any kind of (debris) floating around," Pettit radioed to Mission Control, adding that Dragon "smells like a brand new car."

"It looks like it carries about as much cargo as I could put in my pickup truck," Pettit later told reporters during an in-flight press conference.
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Dragon (spacecraft)

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The Dragon is a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, a private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California. During itsuncrewed maiden flight in December 2010, Dragon became the first commercially-built and operated spacecraft to be recovered successfully from orbit.[6] On 25 May 2012, an uncrewed variant of Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with theInternational Space Station (ISS).[7][8][9]
Dragon is contracted to deliver cargo to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, and is scheduled to begin regular cargo flights in August 2012.[10] Additionally, NASA awarded SpaceX a Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) contract in April 2011. The Dragon is planned to carry up to seven astronauts, or a mixture of personnel and cargo, to and from low Earth orbit. The Dragon's heat shield is furthermore designed to withstand Earth re-entry velocities from potential Lunar and Martian spaceflights.[11]
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Continue to follow updates at SpaceX.
LRK

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Dragon Becomes First Commercial Spacecraft to Attach to the Space Station
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Friday, May 25, 2012


International Space Station (ISS) Grapples SpaceX Dragon Capsule (5/25/2012, May 25th)

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NPR BREAKING NEWS:

Space Station's Robotic Arm Successfully Captures SpaceX Capsule

The crew aboard the International Space Station successfully used the robotic arm to capture the unmanned Dragon capsule in an attempt to reel it in for docking. The Dragon is on track to become the first commercial vessel to visit the space station orbiting Earth. It rocketed into space Tuesday on a mission to deliver a half-ton of supplies.

More at NPR.org:
http://n.npr.org/NPRI/jN314486164_1321818_1321817_Z.htm 
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NASA TV’s PUBLIC, MEDIA CHANNELS NOW IN HD
NASA Television’s Public (101) and Media (103) channels are now transmitting in high definition. 

Minimalist comments as have been recovering from a case of shingles on my right arm and hand and have been in computer withdrawal for the last several months.

Many thanks to you who have sent me links and I only replied with a few thumb poked cellphone email replies.

Geoff in New Zealand sent me this link about Neil Armstrong yesterday.
As the first person to walk on the moon, he is a man whose name will be remembered for generations to come. But one of the other well-known things about Neil Armstrong is that he hardly ever gives interviews.

Hope to bring you more as the arm and hand get over the prickly pain of shingles.
I would not wish this on my worst enemy.  I have a much better appreciation for being left handed. :-)

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

NASA eyes plan for deep-space outpost near the moon

Bob, in Texas, sent me a link to a Fox News article about NASA thinking of heading out towards the Moon.
Having read the article I see I am not supposed to copy it.
- LRK -

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http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/13/nasa-eyes-plan-for-deep-space-outpost-near-moon/
NASA eyes plan for deep-space outpost near the moon
Written By Leonard David
Published February 13, 2012
FoxNews.com
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Copyright 2012 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/13/nasa-eyes-plan-for-deep-space-outpost-near-moon

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And MSNBC has acopy as well.  tsch, tsch.
[And if you do a Google search on --- NASA eyes plan for deep-space outpost near the moon --- you will find a number of others as well.]
- LRK -

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46354336/t/nasa-considers-outpost-beyond-moons-far-side/#.TzqIRLEge2U
NASA considers outpost beyond moon's far side
Crewed mini-station in deep space would control robots on lunar surface

By Leonard David
Space Insider columnist

updated 2/12/2012 2:38:54 PM ET

NASA is pressing forward on assessing the value of a "human-tended waypoint" near the far side of the moon — one that would embrace international partnerships as well as commercial and academic participation, Space.com has learned.

According to a Feb. 3 memo from William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations, a team is being formed to develop a cohesive plan for exploring a spot in space known as the Earth-moon libration point 2 (EML-2).
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Moreover, Gerstenmaier added, EML-2 "is a complex region of cis-lunar space that has certain advantages as an  initial staging point for exploration, but may also have some disadvantages that must be well understood."
Study due by April

A NASA study team is assigned the task of developing near-term missions to EML-2 "as we continue to refine our understanding and implications of using this waypoint as part of the broader exploration capability development," the memo explains. The study is targeted for completion by March 30.

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Well maybe you should read the article at the space.com source where you can look at the graphics and read the comments.
- LRK -

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http://www.space.com/14518-nasa-moon-deep-space-station-astronauts.html
NASA Eyes Plan for Deep-Space Outpost Near the Moon
by Leonard David, SPACE.com’s Space Insider ColumnistDate: 10 February
2012 Time: 07:07 AM ET

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Interesting comments after the article and you may find other interesting articles at the space.com home page.
http://www.space.com/
- LRK -

My thoughts, from someone who has seen enough Power Point Presentations.

Why leak this now?
Anything to do with Newt Gingrich saying when I am President we will build a Lunar base?

Aaaaaah, we canceled one big rocket, now we need to fund another big rocket.
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A capabilities-driven NASA architecture is one that should use the agency's planned heavy-lift rocket, known as the Space Launch System, and the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle "as the foundational elements."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/13/nasa-eyes-plan-for-deep-space-outpost-near-moon/
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I just finished reading, "CENTAURI DREAMS" by Paul Glister.

It is about imagining and planning interstellar exploration.
If you are wondering how we might go to the stars you will not be able to put it down.
http://www.amazon.com/Centauri-Dreams-Imagining-Interstellar-Exploration/dp/038700436X

You would also enjoy the website where Paul Glister posts.
- LRK -

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http://www.centauri-dreams.org/
Charter
In Centauri Dreams, Paul Gilster looks at peer-reviewed research on deep space exploration, with an eye toward interstellar possibilities. For the last five years, this site has coordinated its efforts with the Tau Zero Foundation, and now serves as the Foundation's news forum.
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Why the Moon, why Mars, why to the Stars?
Why out of Africa, why to the Pacific Islands, why to the Mountain
tops, why to ocean depths, why, why, why?
Take a deep breath and look up with a twinkle in your eye and a smile, and contemplate, what if.....?
- LRK -

Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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