Dirty Skies

Archive for the ‘In the News’ Category

NASA released a report Tuesday on the last minutes of Space Shuttle Columbia citing problems with the crew’s helmets, spacesuits and restraints, which resulted in “lethal trauma” to the seven astronauts aboard. The report also discloses that the astronauts knew for about 40 seconds prior to catastrophic breakup that they did not have control of the vehicle.

Although all seven were wearing their pressure suits, not all helmets, gloves and glare shields were on or in place and clearly in the ultimate course of events would not have played any role increasing chances of survival.

I’ve downloaded the four-part PDF report and mirrored it here.

NASA Columbia Report pt.1
NASA Columbia Report pt.2
NASA Columbia Report pt.3
NASA Columbia Report pt.4

I was browsing the Mars Exploration Rover Mission Website and took a look at the latest Flight Director’s Update video entitled “Jan 17: It’s the fourth anniversary of the Mars Exploration Rovers.”

It’s a nicely produced little piece that is more of an overview of the mission (for those of you that have been living under a rock) than a true update. Nonetheless I though it was interesting.

See it here.

Local news here in Florida is reporting that a micro-meteorite has damaged Endeavors window #2. The crew is in no immediate danger.

Full Story: baynews9.com – News: Endeavour damaged by space debris

Wow. I haven’t blogged in a while but this caught my eye and I don’t see anyone has picked it up yet.

NASA says it has found wires which may have been deliberately cut on computers bound for the international space station.

NASA finds apparent sabotage – CNN.com