Larry Kellogg's Radio Weblog

Lost & Found: Near-Earth Asteroid Spotted after 66 Years

Mon, 20 Oct 2003 23:01:18 GMT

Good Monday afternoon here.

No rocks falling through the roof, no tidal waves from large impactors, only
bomb scares in San Francisco, and money being spent on recovery from
man-made destruction.

How do you see something that is moving against a background that is
relatively stable? Snap a picture, snap a a picture, align on key point,
substract, what is left has moved relative to key point.

Fix on another key point, snap a picture, snap a picture, subtract, what is
left has moved relative to the key point.

Put together a series of these results and see if what remained paints a
trail. Might be an asteroid if your picture is in the electromagnetic
spectrum of reflected light from such objects.

(if you did this with other electromagnetic signatures you might belong to a
SETI group. :-)

If you are a Frog sitting on a Lily Pad, it might be a fly, just another
potential meal.

If you are human looking into the sky, it might be something worth tracking,
especially if the track is aimed at you and the object is bigger than a
football field.

Maybe I need to learn how to look up - BETTER. - LRK -

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

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo/tools.html
JPL's Solar System Dynamics Group have provided the following software tools
for the sky observer:

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/
* Ephemeris Generator for all bodies in the solar system including comets
and asteroids.

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.html
* Small Body Orbital Elements provides the orbital elements for numbered
asteroids, unnumbered asteroids and comets.

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sb_elem.html
* Object Identification - Given a date, location and region of sky, find all
comets and asteroids matching the constraints within the region.

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/sb_search
* What's Observable Tonight? - Given an observation date, location and other
constraints, find all asteroids and comets that are observable on that
night.

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/what_obs
* Finding Pre-discovery Observations With SkyMorph
http://skys.gsfc.nasa.gov/skymorph/skymorph.html
---------------------------------------

Larry

http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/

KSC Release No. 76-03

Mon, 25 Aug 2003 20:29:48 GMT

KSC Release No. 76-03

Donald Savage
August 25, 2003
NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(202) 358-1547
Frank O’Donnell
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
(818) 354-7170
George Diller
Kennedy Space Center
(321) 867-2468
KSC Release No. 76-03
SPACE INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY LIFTS OFF ABOARD DELTA II ROCKET

NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) successfully launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 1:35:39 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (10:35:39 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, August 24) aboard a Delta II launch vehicle.

Flying eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, the new observatory entered an Earth-trailing orbit the first of its kind at about 43 minutes after launch. Five minutes later, the spacecraft separated from the Delta’s second and final stage. At about 2:39 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (11:39 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Aug. 24), about 64 minutes after take-off, the NASA Deep Space Network station in Canberra, Australia received the first data from the spacecraft.

'All systems are operating smoothly, and we couldn’t be more delighted,' said David Gallagher, project manager for the mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

The last of NASA’s suite of Great Observatories, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility will use infrared detectors to pierce the dusty darkness enshrouding many of the universe’s most fascinating objects, including brown dwarfs, planet-forming debris discs around stars and distant galaxies billions of light years away. Past Great Observatories include the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory and Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.

The two-and-one-half to five-year mission is an important bridge to NASA’s Origins Program, which seeks to answer the questions: "Where did we come from? Are we alone?"

In-orbit checkout and calibration is scheduled to last 60 days, followed by a 30-day science verification period, after which the observatory is expected to begin its regular science mission.

For more information about the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, visit their Web site at http://sirtf.caltech.edu/

-- end--

Digital images of SIRTF processing activities are available in KSC's online Multimedia Gallery at http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING AND NOW IS LAUNCHED. - LRK -

Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:45:41 GMT

Power outage hits Northeast. A failure in the nation's electrical grid cuts off electricity to New York and other Northeastern cities, hitting airports, cell phone networks and companies such as IBM. [CNET News.com]

Fri, 15 Aug 2003 14:14:19 GMT

When Wireless Phones Failed, Callers Turned to Land Lines. The regular public telephone network generally kept working after the power went out, but the cellular systems in affected areas were often unable to cope. By Matt Richtel and Simon Romero. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

Fri, 15 Aug 2003 14:13:30 GMT

Recovery firms respond to blackout. The massive blackout prompts some companies to turn to providers of disaster-recovery services, but IT operations at many businesses appear safe thanks to backup generators. [CNET News.com]

SpaceShipOne (SS1)

Mon, 11 Aug 2003 15:50:32 GMT

SpaceShipOne completes first glide test. SpaceShipOne (SS1), the suborbital RLV being developed by Scaled Composites, completed its first unpowered free... [spacetoday.net]

SpaceShipOne (SS1), the suborbital RLV being developed by Scaled Composites, completed its first unpowered free flight on Thursday.

Blog sites may play a role in next elections

Mon, 11 Aug 2003 15:47:19 GMT

DaveNet: The 2004 Election. [Scripting News]

Crash Update - What Goes Bump In The Morning

Mon, 11 Aug 2003 15:36:31 GMT

Still single (double) finger poking as wrist still in splint. Check that Friday (8/15/03).

Sangad and I are feeling much better and bruises are gone or a bit ugly green-yellow.

Sangad went to Thailand with daughter and family.

No car yet, which has lowered my blood pressure by walking 2 miles from and to the light rail stop and my work at NASA Ames Research Center. http://www.arc.nasa.gov

Larry

Subject: Survived Head On Crash

Tue, 08 Jul 2003 04:10:51 GMT

Subject: Survived Head On Crash

Just a left hand finger poked message.

Sangad and I were almost to the Thai temple yesterday on Mission in Niles
City (Fremont) where it narrows for an old train under pass when someone
came down around the corner and hit us head on.

Two cars at 40 mph is about like stopping fast from 80. Escalade won. Car
caught on fire but we got out with the help of many. We were transported to
Castro Valley to a trauma center and got a lot X-rays and I got a Cat-Scan.

I have a miner fracture of a small bone in right wrist and we both are
bruised from air bags and seat belts.

No glasses for Sangad or myself. Was interesting trying to find a phone
number in Sangads note book, she far sighted and most of the names written
in Thai. Managed to read Wat Buddhanosrn in Thai and we called Temple.

One of the monks and driver picked us up and took use back to the temple
where we called kids.

The fire department found my billfold in the car after they put the fire out
so I have wet money and soaked IDs.
Sangad had her purse too.

Kids from Tracy side took us home and we have made it through the night on
Vicoden pain pills. Will start the process of locating car and notifying
insurance, etc.

Okay, enough one finger typing. Need to go soak some very sore muscles.

Will update when I have more info.

Larry

3 hurt, Fremont's Mission Boulevard closed after head-on collision

Tue, 08 Jul 2003 04:09:30 GMT

	Posted on Mon, Jul. 07, 2003

	3 hurt, Fremont's Mission Boulevard closed after head-on collision By the Mercury News Three people were injured -- one seriously -- in a Sunday morning crash near the Niles neighborhood of Fremont. According to witnesses, the driver of a Suzuki Swift was speeding on southbound Mission Boulevard when it crossed into the northbound lane and collided head-on with a Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade erupted into flames, but the driver and passenger were able to escape. The driver of the Swift was trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters. ``His car was pretty much attached to the Escalade,'' said Lt. Frank Grgurina of the Fremont Police Dept. It took fire crews an hour to free the man, identified as 26-year-old Michael Stransky of Fremont. He was airlifted to Stanford University Hospital, where he remains hospitalized with multiple fractures, Grgurina said. A preliminary investigation Sunday showed that Stransky was driving with a suspended license and might have been under the influence of methamphetamine, police said. The Escalade passengers were transported to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. Two Fremont police officers were also treated for smoke inhalation. The incident snarled traffic along Mission Boulevard for at least an hour.

LAUNCH OF "OPPORTUNITY" ABOARD DELTA II POSTPONED TO JULY 7

Sun, 06 Jul 2003 03:52:04 GMT

NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468

____________________________________________________________________________

For Release: July 5, 2003

George H. Diller

Kennedy Space Center

321-867-2468

KSC Release No. 56-03

LAUNCH OF "OPPORTUNITY" ABOARD DELTA II POSTPONED TO JULY 7

The launch of the MER-B Mars Exploration Rover "Opportunity" aboard a Boeing
Delta II rocket has been postponed an additional 24 hours. The delay is due
to the failure of a battery cell associated with a component of the launch
vehicle's flight termination system. The battery must be removed and
replaced.

Launch is now targeted for no earlier than Monday, July 7. The two launch
times available are 10:35:23 and 11:18:15 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for
a 30% chance of not meeting the launch weather criteria on Monday evening.
At Pad 17-B, a tanking test of the Delta rocket was conducted this morning.

The first stage was loaded with cryogenic liquid oxygen to evaluate the
bonding of the lower band of cork thermal insulation. This afternoon, NASA
and Boeing managers met to discuss the outcome of the tanking test and other
associated testing and engineering evaluations that have been conducted over
the last several days.

After the tanking, inspections revealed some selective debonding of the cork
from the surface of the vehicle within a limited area. These locations are
being repaired using a different adhesive with a stronger bonding
characteristic as demonstrated by tests conducted at KSC late this week.
This work was completed tonight and the problem has been resolved to the
satisfaction of engineers.

-- end --

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

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Mars Exploration Mission - Where is Spirit Now

Fri, 04 Jul 2003 04:44:28 GMT

Mars Exploration Mission - Where is Spirit Now
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/mission/spiritrightnow.html

See SIMULATED views. All of the images are computer generated and are automatically updated every 10 minutes.

LRK

"OPPORTUNITY" MARS EXPLORATION ROVER TARGETED FOR LAUNCH JULY 6

Fri, 04 Jul 2003 02:14:54 GMT

For Release: July 3, 2003
Don Savage
NASA Headquarters
202/358-1727

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468

Guy Webster
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
818/354-6278

KSC Release No: 55 - 03

REVISED NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:

"OPPORTUNITY" MARS EXPLORATION ROVER TARGETED FOR LAUNCH JULY 6

The second of two Mars Exploration Rovers, Opportunity, is rescheduled for launch on Sunday, July 6 at 10:43:16 p.m. EDT. Liftoff will occur aboard the Boeing Delta II Heavy launch vehicle from Pad B at Space Launch Complex 17 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A second launch opportunity exists at 11:26:02 p.m. EDT, if necessary. Should launch be delayed by 24 hours, two launch times are also available on Monday at 10:35:23 p.m. and 11:18:15 p.m. EDT. The window of the planetary launch period extends through July 15.

Opportunity will reach Mars on Jan. 25, 2004. Together the two MER rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, seek to determine the history of climate and water at two sites on Mars where conditions may once have been favorable to life. The rovers are identical. Each rover carries five scientific instruments including a panoramic camera and microscope, plus a rock abrasion tool that will grind away the outer surfaces of rocks to expose their interiors for examination. The rovers each weigh approximately 400 pounds. They will navigate themselves around obstacles as they drive across the Martian surface, traveling up to about 130 feet each Martian day. Each rover's prime mission is planned to last three months on Mars.

ACCREDITATION

On launch day, Sunday, July 6, badges to cover the MER-B launch from the Trident Bluff press viewing area will be issued to all media starting at 9:15 p.m. at the Pass and Identification Building on State Road 401 outside Gate 1 of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Proof of identification and news media affiliation will be required. Departure for the Trident Bluff will be at 9:30 p.m. After launch, media will be escorted back to Gate 1. A U.S. Air Force or NASA escort is required at all times while on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

For further information on MER-B launch accreditation, contact Cynthia Pettiford at the NASA-KSC News Center at 321-867-2468.

L-1 DAY SET UP OF REMOTE CAMERAS

Media wishing to establish remote cameras at the launch pad should meet at the Gate 1 Pass and Identification Building of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on State Road 401 on launch day, Sunday, July 6, at 11:45 a.m. to be escorted to Space Launch Complex 17.

PRESS SITE OPERATING HOURS

The NASA-KSC News Center will not be open on launch day. All media activities will be conducted from the remote press site located at the Trident Bluff on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

NASA TELEVISION COVERAGE, "V" CIRCUITS, AND LAUNCH STATUS

Launch coverage on NASA Television will begin at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 6. Coverage will conclude after acquisition of the spacecraft by the Deep Space Network approximately one hour and forty minutes after launch, at which time the spacecraft's initial state of health will be reported.

There will not be a post-launch press conference.

NASA Television is available on satellite AMC-2, transponder 9C, located at 85 degrees West longitude.

Audio only of NASA Television coverage of the launch will be available on the "V" circuits which may be dialed directly at 321/867-1220, 867-1240, 867-1260, 867-7135.

The NASA-KSC News Center codaphone will carry recorded MER-B prelaunch status reports on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 that may be dialed at 321-867-2525.

"NASA DIRECT!" WEB COVERAGE

"NASA Direct!" webcast coverage of the launch will begin at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 6. For more information on the MER-B/Opportunity web activities, go to

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/merb/index.htm

For a detailed NASA Direct! event calendar, go to:

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/index.htm

Information about the MER missions is available online at:

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/