Bookworm

Teacher-Astronaut to Fly Decades After Challenger

"The loss of Challenger proved to NASA that flying on the shuttle would never be routine, leaving no room for mere passengers like teachers or tourists. But the agency liked the concept of a teacher in space and in 1998 hit upon the idea of training teachers to be real astronauts, just as it trains scientists and other professionals to be mission specialists.

Ms. Morgan got the call after she had gone back to teaching elementary school in McCall, Idaho, and returned to NASA that year to become the first educator astronaut. Since that time, three other teachers have entered the program and are awaiting their chance to fly in space." [New York Times]

Remembering Challenger - Jan 28, 2006

"CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- Twenty years ago, space shuttle Challenger blew apart in jets of fire and plumes of smoke, a terrifying sight witnessed by the families of the seven astronauts and by those who came to watch the historic launch of the first teacher in space.  The disaster shattered NASA's image and the belief that spaceflight could become as routine as airplane travel. The investigation into the accident's cause revealed a space agency more concerned with schedules and public relations than safety and sound decision-making. On Saturday, the widow of Challenger's commander laid a wreath of roses and carnations at a memorial honoring fallen astronauts, just miles from the launch pad where the doomed space shuttle blew apart 73 seconds after lifting off 20 years ago." [AP/CNN]

I tend not to read/watch much news on the weekend, so I missed the exact day of the anniversary of the Challenger disaster.  I can't believe it has been twenty years. 

Mission to Pluto Begins Today

"The Atlas V launch vehicle and its Centaur upper stage are being filled with supercold propellants in preparation for launch at 1:24 p.m. EST. Weather is favorable, with temperatures in the mid 70s and clear blue skies over the launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The team is monitoring winds. The launch vehicle and spacecraft are in good health and the countdown is proceeding smoothly.

As the first spacecraft to visit Pluto and its moon Charon, New Horizons looks to unlock one of the solar system's last, great planetary secrets. After launch aboard an Atlas V, the New Horizons spacecraft will cross the entire span of the solar system and conduct flyby studies of Pluto and Charon in 2015. The seven science instruments on the piano-sized probe will shed light on the bodies' surface properties, geology, interior makeup and atmospheres." [NASA]

Discovery Lands Safely in California

"Discovery and its crew of seven glided safely back to Earth on Tuesday, ending a riveting, at times agonizing, 14-day test of space shuttle safety that was shadowed by the ghosts of Columbia. Discovery swooped through the predawn darkness and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert at 5:11 a.m. PDT, concluding the first shuttle re-entry since Columbia's tragic return.

The landing was moved to California because of thunderstorms at the shuttle's home base of Cape Canaveral, Fla."  [AP/Yahoo]

Shuttle Program Will be Grounded

"During Tuesday's launch a chunk of insulating foam flew off Discovery's fuel tank.

NASA announced late Wednesday it won't launch any more shuttles until engineers solve the problem of foam falling from the fuel tank.

Falling foam from Columbia's external fuel tank during launch in 2003 was blamed for damaging the spacecraft, which led to the deaths of seven crew members when Columbia attempted to return to Earth. Discovery is the first shuttle launch since that tragedy.

But unlike the Columbia incident, the foam that fell off Discovery's fuel tank did not strike the orbiter, NASA said." [CNN]

Gordon Cooper, NASA Mercury Pioneer, Dies

"Gordon Cooper, who as one of the original Mercury astronauts was a pioneer in human space exploration, has died. He was 77. Cooper died Monday at his home in Ventura, NASA officials said in a statement. "As one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, Gordon Cooper was one of the faces of America's fledgling space program," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "He truly portrayed the right stuff, and he helped gain the backing and enthusiasm of the American public, so critical for the spirit of exploration." . . . Cooper piloted the final flight of the Mercury program, the United States' first manned spaceflight program that had the primary goal of putting a man in orbit around Earth. [AP/Yahoo]

I Love NASA pictures

Cool picture of Jupiter

Great picture of Mars

Go check out the great picture I took of Mars the other night. Oh, ok, maybe it wasn't taken by me and my Kodak digital, maybe it was taken by the Hubble space telescope.

Stunning Images

These NASA images are amazing. I just put the Western Hemisphere image as my wallpaper -- a small use for such a glorious picture. [found via A Complete Waste of Time]

Columbia: Most Recent Overview of What is Known

"The event that doomed the shuttle may have taken just two-tenths of a second, with the impact 81.86 seconds after liftoff. That is how long it took a chunk of foam to cover about 60 feet, between the spot on the external tank called the bipod ramp, up near the Columbia's nose, and the panel on the left wing where the chunk hit and probably punched a hole. The shuttle was at 65,860 feet, and was already traveling 2.46 times as fast as the speed of sound." [NY Times]

Not meaning to dwell on this particular topic. . . there've just been some interesting articles within the last week.