Israel: On Ground Updates - October 31, 2009

Israel: On Ground Updates

Rockets Launched This Year For Fifth Time Across Lebanon Border Prompts Israeli Army To Return Fire

Saturday, October 31, 2009

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* HAARETZ.com brings us the following report this Saturday afternoon and it starts off like this... Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon (Likud) confirmed on Saturday that Israel was operating intelligence-gathering networks within Lebanon... Speaking at an event in Be'er Sheva, Ya'alon said that "the moment Hezbollah renewed their attacks, we began to collect intelligence. We will stop when Hezbollah disarms itself and the [Israel-Lebanon] border is a border of peace."... "When we are in conflict with an enemy," he continued, "we gather information about them."...

Read the full report at link below...

Deputy PM confirms: Israel is gathering intel inside Lebanon

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> HAARETZ.com also had this report posted up on their website late Friday evening and it started off like this... Lebanon's ambassador to the United Nations has warned that Israel is exhibiting signs of an imminent attack on his country, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Hayyat reported on Friday...

Read the rest at link below...

Lebanon warns UN: Israel planning to attack us

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* Naharnet.com reports it this way today... Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon stressed on Saturday that "Israel has the right to collect investigatory information from inside Lebanon in all means possible," adding that "Israeli secret service agents are maintaining their activities inside the Lebanese territories."...

Yaalon: Israel Will Continue Surveillance Inside Lebanon Until Hizbullah Disarms

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* The Daily Star had the following report up on their website Friday, Oct, 30th and it goes in part like this... The rocket, launched from the village of Houla in southern Lebanon, landed in Kiryat Shmona, a border town in northern Israel. The incident was the fifth time rockets have been launched across the border from Lebanon this year and prompted the Israeli army to return fire with artillery rounds. There were no reports of damage or casualties on either side...

Read this report in full at link below...

Al-Qaeda group claims rocket fire from Lebanon

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* Al Bawaba had this report up on their website Friday...

Lebanon: President says Israel responsible for Katyusha attack

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POST UPDATE:

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Lebanese Army Arrest Terrorist Suspect Fadi Ibrahim for firing Katyusha Rocket into Israel Last Week

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* IsraelNationalNews.com has this short report...

Report: Lebanon Arrested Katyusha Terrorist

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* Haretz.com had the following report posted up on their website late Saturday evening and it goes in part like this... Lebanon arrested a man suspected of orchestrating a recent rocket launch toward northern Israel, the Lebanese daily As-Safir reported on Saturday... On Wednesday, Lebanese troops found and dismantled four rockets ready for launching near the border with Israel last Wednesday, a day after the Katyusha was launched from the southern village... The Katyusha fire was the first such incident since last month, and the ninth since the Second Lebanon War...

Read the full report at link below...

Report: Lebanon nabs top militant over rocket attack against Israel

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* TAYYAR.com had this short report posted on their website late Saturday... Lebanon's envoy to the United Nations has warned of an imminent Israeli attack on his country, condemning the regime's recent artillery attack on the southern village of Houla... Ambassador Noaf Salaam relayed a message to the United Nations secretary general and to the Security Council on Friday, warning that Israel's repeated threats against Lebanon indicated the regime's plan for an attack on the country, Lebanese daily Al-Hayyat reported...

Read the rest at link below...

Israeli attack on Lebanon 'imminent'

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* CNN.com had the following report posted up on their website late this Sunday morning and it starts off like this... A militant Islamist group associated with al Qaeda has for the first time threatened to attack Israel, far from its normal base of operations in Somalia... Al-Shabab, which is fighting to control the east African country, accused Israel of "starting to destroy" the Al Aqsa mosque, where standoffs have taken place recently between Israeli police and Palestinians. The mosque is part of the complex that Jews call the Temple Mount and Muslims call Haram al-Sharif... "The Jews started to destroy parts of the holy mosque of Al Aqsa and they routinely kill our Palestinian brothers, so we are committed to defend our Palestinian brothers," said Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur, a prominent Al-Shabab commander...

Read this report in full at link below...

Somali group with al Qaeda ties threatens Israel

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AubreyJ.........

DoD Identifies Air Force, Army Casualties

No. 855-09 October 31, 2009
DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Department of the Air Force civilian who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Frank R. Walker, 66, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died of non-combat related medical causes October 28th at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
For further information related to this release, contact Tinker Air Force Base Public Affairs, (405) 739-2030.


No. 854-09 October 31, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Brian R. Bates, Jr., 20, of Gretna, La., died October 27th in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
For more information media may contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0152, (253) 967-0147 or after hours at (253) 967-0015 (ask for the Public Affairs Officer on call).

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U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

On Ground Updates: Afghanistan/Pakistan - October 30, 2009

On Ground Updates:

Afghanistan/Pakistan

Professional Pakistani Women Failed To Be Charmed By Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton

Post Date: Friday, October 30, 2009

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Hillary Clinton-Secretary of State Official BIO Photo

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* AP brings us the following report this Friday afternoon and it starts off like this... Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was confronted repeatedly by Pakistanis Friday as she ended a tense three-day tour of the country, chastised by one woman who said a U.S. program using aerial drones to target terrorists amounted to "executions without trial."...

Read the full report at link below...

Pakistanis confront Clinton over drone attacks

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* Telegraph.co.uk has this take... Hillary Clinton faced anger during her visit to Pakistan after she attacked the failure of the government to tackle al-Qaeda... The US Secretary of State also faced angry questions about America's use of drone attacks inside Pakistan as she ended her three-day visit on Friday... Mrs. Clinton was earlier forced to soften her criticism of Islamabad for its failure to capture of kill al-Qaeda's leaders...

Read the rest at link below...

Hillary Clinton faces angry criticism of US in Pakistan

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* Guardian.co.uk reports it this way...

Hillary Clinton wraps up tough mission in Pakistan

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* CSMonitor had the following report posted up on their website late this Friday afternoon and it starts off like this... When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Pakistani women Friday afternoon, many left the meeting feeling frustrated that their concerns - particularly on security issues - had not been heard or addressed... Addressing a roomful of Pakistani women Friday afternoon at the National Art Gallery here, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made every effort to connect with her audience. But after enduring multiple security checks and waiting over four hours for the secretary to arrive, most women left unimpressed...

Read this report in full at link below...

In Pakistan, Clinton fails to charm professional women

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Clinton Tries to Calm Angry Pakistanis

About this News Video: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton came face-to-face Friday with simmering Pakistani anger over U.S. aerial drone attacks in their country.

This video posted on YouTube by AssociatedPress

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AubreyJ.........

Photo for the Day - October 30, 2009

* Photo for the Day *

From left, President Barack Obama, Assistant Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Daniel V. Wright and Brig. Gen. Michael S. Repass, commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, render honors as a team of Soldiers carry the remains of Sgt. Dale R. Griffin during a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Oct. 29, 2009. Griffin, who was assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, was killed in action Oct. 27, 2009, by a roadside bomb in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

DoD photo by Jason Minto, U.S. Air Force

Taking a Moment to Honor our Fallen Heroes

Taking a Moment to Honor our Fallen Heroes Since that tragic day on 9-11-2001… many of our bravest have given their all while fighting for this great country of ours. Please take a moment to thank them, in your own way, for all they have done and were willing to do for you -- me and this great country of ours. May God bless each and every one of these fallen Heroes, all of those who have been wounded, all of their families, friends, loved ones and their comrades in arms who were at their side.
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Never forget those that protect us
Each and every day

AubreyJ.........

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DoD Identifies Army Casualty

No. 853-09 October 30, 2009

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Joseph L. Gallegos, 39, of Questa, N.M., died October 28th in Tallil, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 720th Transportation Company, New Mexico Army National Guard, in Las Vegas, N.M. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

For more information media may contact the New Mexico Army National Guard public affairs office at 505-417-1751.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

No. 851-09 October 30, 2009

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Robert K. Charlton, 22, of Malden, Mo., died October 27th at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident Oct. 23 in Wardak, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. The circumstances surrounding the non-combat related incident are under investigation.

For more information media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at 315-772-7267, or after hours at 315-778-5759.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

No. 849-09 October 29, 2009

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

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The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died October 26th of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter they were aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan.

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Killed were five soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.:

Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery, 36, of Savannah, Ga

Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, 40, of Spokane, Wash

Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, 24, of Terrell, Texas

Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez, 23, of Reno, Nev

Sgt. Nikolas A. Mueller, 26, of Little Chute, Wisc

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Also killed were two soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.:

Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, 32, of San Diego

Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, 28, of Medford, NY

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For more information media may contact the Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at 910-432-6005; after hours 910-689-6187, or visit http://news.soc.mil

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U.S. Department of Defense

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DoD Identifies Marine, Army Casualties

No. 848-09 October 29, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died October 27th in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, NY
Sgt. Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, Texas
Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind
Sgt. Issac B. Jackson, 27, of Plattsburg, Mo
Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, 24, of Broussard, La
Spc. Jared D. Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, Ill
Pfc. Christopher I. Walz, 25, of Vancouver, Wash

For more information media may contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at 253- 967-0152, 253- 967-0147 or after hours at 253- 967-0015 (ask for the Public Affairs Officer on call).


No. 847-09 October 29, 2009
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Cody R. Stanley, 21, of Rosanky, Texas, died October 28th while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
For more information media may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.


No. 846-09 October 29, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Brandon K. Steffey, 23, of Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., died October 25th in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.
For more information media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-287-9993; after hours 254-291-2591.


No. 843-09 October 28, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Maj. David L. Audo, 35, of Saint Joseph, Ill., died October 27th in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 22nd Military Police Battalion, 6th Military Police Group, Fort Lewis, Wash. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information media may contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0152, (253) 967-0147 or after hours at (253) 967-0015 (ask for the Public Affairs Officer on call).

2- Back to the Moon and Beyond - October 26, 2009

This post moved near top from its original post date - Scroll below for latest updates on this post - Scroll down below this post for newest news postings...

- Back to the Moon and Beyond -
Ares I-X FIRST Test Flight Set For Tuesday Morning
Watch It Live On NASA TV
Original post date: Monday, October 26, 2009
8:56pm CDT
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Bathed in Lights
As nightfall comes to Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Oct. 23rd... xenon lights reveal the Ares I-X rocket awaiting the approaching liftoff of its flight test... This is the first time since the Apollo Program's Saturn rockets were retired that a vehicle other than the space shuttle has occupied the pad.
Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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NASA's first flight test for the agency's next-generation spacecraft and launch vehicle system, called Ares I-X, will bring NASA one step closer to its exploration goals. The flight test will provide NASA with an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I.
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Late Monday evening... the Ares I-X flight test vehicle was poised on Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B and was ready to fly. The launch team reports no issues with the 327-foot rocket, the world's largest at present.
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The only spoiler when tomorrow morning's launch window opens at 8 a.m. EDT might be the weather. Currently, there only is a 40 percent chance of favorable weather during the window, which extends until noon. The team will have the same four-hour window for a launch attempt on Wednesday if Tuesday's liftoff is scrubbed, and Wednesday's weather shows a slight improvement to 60 percent "go."
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The launch team of approximately 30 members will have their "call to stations" at 12:30 a.m., leading into the beginning of the seven-hour countdown at 1 a.m.
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POST UPDATE:
Tuesday Morning, October 27, 2009
* Tuesday’s Test Launch Scrubbed *
Launch Team Aims for Second Try Tomorrow
10:45am CDT
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The Ares I-X launch team is preparing for a 24-hour turnaround, targeting 8:00am on Wednesday as liftoff time for the Ares I-X flight test vehicle... Tuesday's attempt was plagued by weather issues, even though the vehicle itself was ready to fly. After multiple attempts to reset to new launch times during the 4-hour window, the final scrub came when the weather did not improve as the end of the window neared. Tomorrow's weather improves somewhat, with a 40 percent "no-go."... Wednesday's attempt will have the same 4-hour window that ends at noon, and live coverage will also begin again at 5 a.m. EDT...

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POST UPDATE:
LIFTOFF!!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
11:28am CDT
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NASA's Ares I-X Rocket Completes Successful Flight Test
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About above image: The Ares I-X flight test vehicle lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Image credit: NASA TV
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NASA's Ares I-X test rocket lifted off at 10:30am CDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a two-minute powered flight. The test flight lasted about six minutes from its launch from the newly-modified Launch Complex 39B until splash down of the rocket's booster stage nearly 150 miles down range.
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"This is a huge step forward for NASA's exploration goals," said Doug Cooke, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Ares I-X provides NASA with an enormous amount of data that will be used to improve the design and safety of the next generation of American spaceflight vehicles -- vehicles that could again take humans beyond low Earth orbit."
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The 327-foot tall Ares I-X test vehicle produced 2.6 million pounds of thrust to accelerate the rocket to nearly 3 g's and Mach 4.76, just shy of hypersonic speed. It capped its easterly flight at a sub-orbital altitude of 150,000 feet after the separation of its first stage, a four-segment solid rocket booster.
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Parachutes deployed for recovery of the booster and the solid rocket motor will be recovered at sea for later inspection. The simulated upper stage, Orion crew module, and launch abort system will not be recovered.
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Keep up-to-date with the
Latest Ares I-X Launch News
HERE
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* NASA's Launch Blog of the Ares I-X launch begins tomorrow at 4:00am CDT.

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. * Watch Launch LIVE at...
NASA TV
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* But for now -- Here’s a little info for you about this NEW Ares I Rocket *
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NASA is already at work developing hardware and systems for the Ares I rocket that will send future astronauts into orbit. Built on cutting-edge launch technologies, evolved powerful Apollo and space shuttle propulsion elements, and decades of NASA spaceflight experience, Ares I is the essential core of a safe, reliable, cost-effective space transportation system -- one that will carry crewed missions back to the moon, on to Mars and out into the solar system.
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Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket configuration topped by the Orion crew vehicle and its launch abort system. In addition to the vehicle's primary mission -- carrying crews of four to six astronauts to Earth orbit -- Ares I may also use its 25-ton payload capacity to deliver resources and supplies to the International Space Station, or to "park" payloads in orbit for retrieval by other spacecraft bound for the moon or other destinations.
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During launch, the first-stage booster powers the vehicle toward low Earth orbit. In mid-flight, the reusable booster separates and the upper stage's J-2X engine ignites, putting the vehicle into a circular orbit.
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Crew transportation to the International Space Station is planned to begin no later than 2014. The first lunar excursion is scheduled for the 2020 timeframe.
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Ares I First Stage
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The Ares I first stage is a single, five-segment reusable solid rocket booster derived from the Space Shuttle Program's reusable solid rocket motor, which burns a specially formulated and shaped solid propellant.
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A newly designed forward adapter will mate the vehicle's first stage to the upper stage, and will be equipped with booster separation motors to disconnect the stages during ascent.
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Ares I Upper Stage / Upper Stage Engine
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The J-2X is an evolved variation of two historic predecessors: the powerful J-2 engine that propelled the Apollo-era Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets, and the J-2S, a simplified version of the J-2 developed and tested in the early 1970s but never flown. .
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On July 20, 2009, NASA and ATK unveiled the completed Ares I first stage five-segment solid rocket booster in Promontory, Utah. The completed solid rocket booster was installed horizontally in a test stand that was modified from the Space Shuttle's four-segment configuration to fit the new five-segment Ares I booster. The first major ground test of the NASA Constellation program was originally set for August 27th but was postponed until September 10th... which turned out to be a HUGE success. (Watch the video below...)
Above info/photos from the NASA.gov website
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Ares Development Motor 1 Test

About this video: NASA and industry partners lit up the Utah sky on September 10, 2009, with the initial full scale, full-duration test firing of the first motor for the Ares I rocket. ATK Space Systems conducted the successful stationary firing of the five-segment solid development motor 1, or DM-1. ATK Space Systems, a division of Alliant Techsystems of Brigham City, Utah, is the prime contractor for the Ares I first stage. Engineers will use the measurements gathered from the test to evaluate thrust, roll control, acoustics and motor vibrations. This data will provide valuable information as NASA develops the Ares I and Ares V vehicles. Another ground test is planned for summer 2010.
Above video posted on YouTube by NASAtelevision
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In case you missed today’s Launch -- Click it out below...
ARES I-X Test Flight

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This video posted on YouTube by NASAtelevision

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AubreyJ.........

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

No. 839-09 October 27, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Devin J. Michel, 19, of Stockton, Ill., died October 24th in Zhari province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
For more information media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-7525; after hours (719) 526-5500.


No. 838-09 October 27, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Eduviges G. Wolf, 24, of Hawthorne, Calif., died October 25th in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade. She was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
For more information media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-7525; after hours (719) 526-5500.

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U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

No. 832-09 October 26, 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died October 23rd in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:
Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 25, of Tampa, Fla
Pfc. Kimble A. Han, 30, of Lehi, Utah

For more information media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-7525; after hours (719) 526-5500.

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U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

Iraq: On Ground Updates - October 25, 20009

Iraq: On Ground Updates
Twin Car Bombings Rock Central Baghdad Killing Over 130 People - Area Hospitals Overflow With More Than 600 Wounded
Sunday, October 25, 20009

* VOANews.com brings us the following troubling news late this Sunday morning and their report starts off like this... Iraqi police say two car bombs have claimed the lives of more than 130 people in central Baghdad. More than 200 others have been wounded in the Sunday blasts... The attackers struck just outside the Green Zone, the heavily fortified area that houses many government buildings... Police say the first bombing hit the justice ministry. Minutes later, another massive car bomb exploded outside the provincial government headquarters... Ambulances rushed to the scene. Private cars were also used to ferry the many wounded to hospitals... There was no immediate claim of responsibility...

Read the full report at link below...

Twin Bombings Rock Central Baghdad, at Least 130 Killed

.* TIMESOnline.co.uk reports the news out of Baghdad like this... Twin car bombings in central Baghdad killed at least 136 people today in what looks like the start to a blood-drenched election campaign... The attacks - the deadliest in two years - occurred along a road thronged with traffic and destroyed three government buildings, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Works and the Baghdad governor's office, where ten members of parliament were attending a meeting... The bombs exploded within two minutes of each other at around 10:30 in the morning, First came a smaller bomb outside the Baghdad governorate, driving pedestrians north along Haifa street towards a ministerial complex 500 meters away, where the second and larger bomb went off... Hospitals overflowed with more than 600 wounded and columns of brown smoke hung over the city for hours. Haifa Street, which runs north from the fortified Green Zone, was flooded several feet deep with water from burst mains. The water turned red in places with the blood of the dead and injured...

Read the rest of this report at link below...

Baghdad car bombs kill at least 136

.* Telegraph.co.uk reports it like this...

Baghdad blasts: 132 people killed in worst attack in two years

- This link removed by me in respect of Google Ad Policies…

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Second Baghdad Car Bomb Caught On Camera

- This video removed by me in respect of Google Ad Policies…

About above raw video: Two car bombings in Baghdad, one of them caught on film, have killed over 130 people and left many hundreds more wounded... The blasts, which went off less than a minute apart, targeted the justice ministry and the Baghdad provincial council.
This video posted on LiveLeak by barnesy
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Scores killed in Iraq blasts - 25 Oct 09

- This video removed by me in respect of Google Ad Policies…

About this news video: Two car bombings in Baghdad, one of them caught on film in this report, have killed over 130 people and left many hundreds more wounded... The blasts, which went off less than a minute apart, targeted the justice ministry and the Baghdad provincial council... Al Jazeera's Owen Fay reports on what is the bloodiest attack in the Iraqi capital for months.
This video posted on YouTube by AlJazeeraEnglish
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AubreyJ.........

Photo for the Day - October 25, 2009

* Photo for the Day * Instrument Check
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Leonard Pearson checks his navigation instruments before going on a mission aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Forward Operating Base Diamondback near Mosul, Oct. 21st. Pearson is assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Forward Support Medevac Team.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Carmichael Yepez - Info/photo taken from the MNF-I website

On Ground Updates: Afghanistan/Pakistan - October 24, 2009

On Ground Updates:
Afghanistan/Pakistan
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* Pakistan’s Mother Of All Battles *
-Post 3 - Day 8-
Battle Continues With Security Forces Taking Complete Control Of The Town Of Kotkai - US Drones Providing Pakistan Army Intelligence, Surveillance Videos In Waziristan
Operation Rah-e-Nijat
Post Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009
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In the last 24 hours, the Pakistan Military is reporting that at least 21 terrorists have been killed in the latest round of Operation Rah-e-Nijat. Pakistan had 3 soldiers killed, 8 injured during the same time period.
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Daily ISPR Update
Rawalpindi - October 24, 2009:
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1. South Waziristan - Operation Rah-e-Nijata
Today after intense fighting, security forces took complete control of important stronghold of TTP the town of Kotkai the native place of terrorists leader Hakim Ullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain.b. In last 24 hours, 21 terrorists have been killed during security forces operation in SWA. Security forces losses are 3 soldiers shaheed and 8 injured.
Details of operations are as follows:
(1) On Jandola – Sararogha Axis
(a) Security forces have taken complete control of Kotkai town. The place was stronghold of terrorists with majority of houses converted into strong bunkers. The town also has a training camp of Qari Hussain for suicide bombers. Security forces are in the process of clearing the built up area from IEDs, mines and booby traps.
(b) Security forces have taken complete control of Shishwam and are in the process of securing surrounding heights.
(c) During exchange of fire 12 terrorists were killed while 3 soldiers embraced shahadat and 8 have been injured.(d) Local sources have also confirmed that during initial stages (17/18) October in Spinkai / Kund Sector, 80-90 terrorists were killed including Uzbeks and other foreign terrorists and 150 terrorists were injured.
(2) On Shakai - Kaniguram Axis
(a) After securing Chalwastai security forces are in the process of securing important height of Tarkona Narai. This feature has number of terraces with fortified positions and is dominating important Y Junction on road leading to Kaniguram and Sar Wakai. Stiff resistance is being put up by terrorists. In exchange of fire 6 terrorists have been killed.
(b) During search and clearance operation at Khaisura village, security forces recovered a number of rifles and 1 x 14.5 mm gun from a compound.
(c) On main Axis route 1 ammunition laden vehicle has been destroyed along with 3 terrorists killed.
(3) Reliable sources have reported that due to the pressure of ongoing operation there has been large scale desertions amongst the rank and file of terrorists groups. It has been also reported that the terrorists are shaving and trimming their beards to escape from the area.
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2. Swat - Malakand - Operation Rah-e-Rast
a. 3 terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Nawan Killi and Zara Khela.
b. Security forces conducted search operation at Sariath Sar, near maindam, Baidara near Khawazakhela, Shalpalam, Dagai and near Kabbal and apprehended 10 terrorists.
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3. Relief Activities - DI Khan and Tanka
11080 families which had arrived up till 31 August have been registered.
b. 9792 fresh IDP families have been registered from 13 October onwards.
c. Food Baskets for 2 months and non food items have already been distributed to old IDPs (80, 000).
d. Distribution of 1 x month food basket and non food items to fresh IDPs is under process.
e. Cash for food program for IDPs is under process through which IDPs are being paid Rs. 5000/- per month.
f. District administration has been asked to run evening shifts at local schools to accommodate displaced children.
g. Skill development training for IDPs is being arranged.
h. Local help line (call centre is being setup by special support group) at D I Khan.
i. ATM cards distribution in Tank will be carried out on 24 - 26 October 2009.

Taken from Press Release #438/2009-ISPR – Daily ISPR Update
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* Guarden.co.uk brings us the following report this Saturday afternoon and it starts off like this... In a breakthrough in the week-old Waziristan campaign, troops capture the home town of militant chief Hakimullah Mehsud... Pakistan notched up the first major success of its Waziristan campaign today with the capture of Kotkai, home to the Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, one week after it launched a sweeping assault on the militants' heavily protected mountain fortress... The victory came hours after an American drone blasted a militant hideout at the other end of the tribal belt, killing 22 people and underscoring Washington's determination to press ahead with its campaign of targeted assassination even as Pakistani ground troops press in on the main Taliban stronghold. The apparent target of the strike, Commander Faqir Muhammad, reportedly escaped... The army seized control of Kotkai, a strategically located village along one of three axes of attack, after five days of bitterly fought combat that saw warplane attacks and gunfights around mountain outposts. At least 44 militants and 10 soldiers died in the fighting, according to army figures, and the village changed hands several times before the government achieved complete control this morning...
Read this report in full at link below...
Taliban leader's stronghold falls to Pakistani army
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* Telegraph.co.uk reports it this way...
Pakistani army takes home town of Taliban chief in South Waziristan offensive
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* DailyTimes.com.pk had the following report posted up on their website late Friday evening and it starts off like this... US drones are providing intelligence and surveillance videos to support the Pakistan Army’s offensive in South Waziristan, the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday... It said it was the first time Islamabad had accepted such assistance, which marked the “deepest American involvement yet in a Pakistani military campaign”...
Read the full report at link below...
US Aiding South Waziristan Offensive

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Pakistan on edge after Taliban attacks

About this News Video: Taliban attacks across Pakistan have left markets quiet, shops shut and citizens confining themselves to their homes... The army has begun a campaign against Taliban fighters in South Waziristan, but many Pakistanis are afraid the move could prompt retaliation from the armed group... Alan Fisher reports from the unusually subdued capital, Islamabad... (Originally posted: Oct. 23rd)
This video posted on YouTube by AlJazeeraEnglish
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AubreyJ.........