Friday, July 22, 2011

Norway Bombing, Mass Shooting Leaves At Least 16 Dead

Norway Bombing, Youth Camp Shooting
Leaves At Least 16 Dead
Friday, July 22, 2011
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A massive bomb rocked downtown Oslo on Friday and a gunman opened fire on a youth camp run by a political party in twin attacks that killed at least 16 people... The explosion in the Norwegian capital occurred near Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's office, shattering glass and littering the streets with documents and other debris...
Read the full report by LATimes.com HERE
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- Oslo Bomb Attack - After Blast -
About Video: Amateur footage captures the eerie moments directly after blast hits central Oslo, Norway, wrecking the Office of the Prime Minister and setting fires in the Norwegian Oil Ministry opposite. Many people reported killed...
This raw video posted on YouTube by Channel4News
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UPDATE:

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Post UPDATE:
Saturday, July 23, 2011

. Image below left from Wikipedia - A Facebook photo of Anders Behring Breivik, prime suspect in Norway attacks
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* Guardain.co.uk brings us the following report and it begins like this... Anders Behring Breivik, the man accused of the murder of at least 92 Norwegians in a bomb and gun massacre, boasted online about his discussions with the far-right English Defence League and other anti-Islamic European organisations... The Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, said Norwegian officials were working with foreign intelligence agencies to see if there was any international involvement in the slaughter. "We have running contact with other countries' intelligence services," he said... Breivik was arrested on Utøya island where he shot and killed at least 85 people, mostly teenagers, at a youth summer camp for supporters of Norway's Labor Party after bombing Oslo's government district just hours before... Dressed as a police officer, he ordered the teenagers to gather round him before opening fire...
Read the full report at link below...
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AubreyJ.........
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Photo for the Day - July 22, 2011

* Photo for the Day *
Landing convoy equipment is hooked up to a space shuttle on the runway of Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility just before sunrise.
Photo credit: NASA
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AubreyJ.........
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Videos: Atlantis Makes Shuttle Program's Final Landing

In case you missed it... or just want to watch it again...
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Atlantis Makes Shuttle Program's Final Landing




About above Video: Atlantis and the STS-135 crew touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida just before dawn on July 21st, 2011, wrapping up the final mission of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program.
GOOD WORK AMERICA!
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AubreyJ.........
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Watch Landing Live of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135

Watch Landing Live
Of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135
On NASA TELEVISION
POST DATE:
Wednesday Evening, July 20, 2011
                                              
File Photo credit NASA-Sandra Joseph
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1st Landing Attempt: 4:56am CDT
Early THIS Thursday Morning
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Crew Prepares for Final Shuttle Landing
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
8:41pm CDT
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Space Shuttle Atlantis’ wakeup song for landing day was “God Bless America” by Kate Smith, played at 8:29pm CDT, for the entire crew and all the men and women who have worked for the shuttle program over the years.
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Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim will begin deorbit preparations a little before 12:00am CDT for their planned landing at 4:56am CDT at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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The STS-135 landing ground tracks for Thursday’s two Kennedy landing opportunities are here: http://1.usa.gov/qtBmwx

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* They’re HOME - Safe and Sound *
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WELCOME HOME ATLANTIS!
About above image: Space Shuttle Atlantis lands for the final time at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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Atlantis Completes Final Space Shuttle Program Landing at 4:57am CDT
Thursday, July 21, 2011
5:18am CDT
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At 4:57 a.m. CDT, space shuttle Atlantis landed for the final time at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center after 200 orbits around Earth and a journey of 5,284,862 miles on STS-135.
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It was the 25th night landing, the 78th landing at Kennedy and the133rd landing in shuttle history.
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Atlantis’ main gear touched down at 4:57:00 a.m. followed by the nose gear at 4:57:20 and wheels stop at 4:57:54 a.m. At wheels stop, the mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds.
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The STS-135 crew consisted of Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. They delivered more than 9,400 pounds of spare parts, spare equipment and other supplies in the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module - including 2,677 pounds of food - that will sustain space station operations for the next year. The 21-foot long, 15-foot diameter Raffaello brought back nearly 5,700 pounds of unneeded materials from the station.
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A post-landing news conference at Kennedy is planned for 10 a.m. on NASA TV and http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. The participants will be Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, Bob Cabana, Kennedy center director, Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager, and Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director.
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Since STS-1 launched on April 12, 1981, 355 individuals from 16 countries flew 852 times aboard the shuttle. The five shuttles traveled more than 542 million miles and hosted more than 2,000 experiments in the fields of Earth, astronomy, biological and materials sciences. The shuttles docked with two space stations, the Russian Mir and the International Space Station. Shuttles deployed 180 payloads, including satellites, returned 52 from space and retrieved, repaired and redeployed seven spacecraft.
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STS-135 was the 33rd and final flight for Atlantis, which spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles.
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A welcome home ceremony for the astronauts will be held Friday, July 22, in Houston. The public is invited to attend the 4 p.m. CDT event at NASA's Hangar 990 at Ellington Field. Gates to Ellington Field will open at 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on NASA Television. (Click it out at link below)

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Read Latest News and Updates
about Thursday’s Landing and after...
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Watch Landing LIVE
and all that follows...

On NASA TV
Click HERE to view
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GOD SPEED to the Crew of STS-135 Atlantis
on having a Safe, Historic, Final Landing Ever...
WELCOME HOME - One last Time!
AubreyJ.........
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All Images, Videos, Info taken from the NASA.gov website
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Photo for the Day - July 19, 2011

* Photo for the Day *
Image above: Space Shuttle Atlantis... As seen from the International Space Station shortly after undocking earlier today, Tuesday, July 19th.
Photo credit: NASA TV
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- Their coming home folks! -
Atlantis crew is now focusing on preparations for an early Thursday morning landing at Kennedy Space Center. The time of landing has changed slightly, to 4:56am CDT, Thursday, July 21st...
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I’ll be posting a new post this Wednesday evening on all the info about the upcoming landing... So be sure to check back!
AubreyJ.........
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Friday, July 15, 2011

Photo for the Day - Shuttle Era's Final Spacewalk

* Photo for the Day *
- The Shuttle Era's Final Spacewalk -
Spacewalker Mike Fossum rides on the International Space Station's robotic arm as he carries the Robotic Refueling Mission experiment. This was the final scheduled spacewalk EVER during a shuttle mission.
Image Credit: NASA
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- Landing Date: Thursday, July 21st
Landing Time: 4:56am CDT
- Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility
- Mission Duration: 13 days
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AubreyJ.........
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Saturday, July 09, 2011

Photo for the Day - Atlantis Launches into History

* Photo for the Day *
- We Have Liftoff! -
Space Shuttle Atlantis launches into history at 10:29am CDT from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida... Aboard are only four astronauts for this final mission of the Space Shuttle Program. They are: Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim. Their mission in part is delivering the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts to the orbiting outpost, the International Space Station.
Photo credit: NASA/Fletcher Hildreth
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In Case You Missed It!
Or just want to watch it again...
Click out the Atlantis Launch at LINK below...
Video posted on YouTube by NASAtelevision - July 8th, 2011
(Would have embedded it into this post but NASA want allow it for some reason)
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More to come, so check back!
AubreyJ..........
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Friday, July 08, 2011

Watch Launch and Mission Live Of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135

Watch Launch and Mission Live
Of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135
On NASA TELEVISION

POST DATE:
Thursday, July 07, 2011
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Friday’s Launch looks like bad weather
And a 70% NO-GO for Launch
Weather Permitting though... We still might get her up!
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Launch: July 8th (Targeted for)
Launch Time: ~10:26am CDT
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 About Photo: Space Shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39A
Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
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Launch Weather Forecast...
Remains 30 Percent "Go" for Friday
As of Wednesday, July 06, 2011
04:07pm CDT
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At 5 p.m. EDT, the countdown entered a planned hold at the T-19 hour mark and will resume at 9 p.m.
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Following a meeting of the Mission Management Team this morning, STS-135 countdown and weather updates were provided at prelaunch news conference. Panelists included Mike Moses, Mission Management Team chair and space shuttle launch integration manager, Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director, and Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer.
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"We had a really smooth Mission Management Team meeting today," said Moses. "The vehicle is in fantastic shape." In regard to the launch-day weather forecast, he added, "Before we go load the propellants into the tank we'll take a look at the weather and make sure it's really a good day to try that, and so at that point we'll be making a decision."
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"The countdown so far is going extremely well," reported Leinbach. "We're not tracking anything at all that would prevent an on-time liftoff Friday morning."
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"We have a tropical wave that's out in the Caribbean," explained Winters. "That wave is actually going to come into Florida along with a lot of tropical moisture that's down to the south, and it's all going to roll into Florida in the next couple of days." Based on these conditions, Winters predicted an 80 percent chance of weather preventing tanking operations, with a 70 percent chance of it standing in the way of launch at 11:26 a.m. EDT on Friday. The forecast for the following days improves to 60 percent no-go on Saturday and 40 percent on Sunday.


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POST UPDATE:
- Tanking Begins On Time -
Weather Remains 30 Percent Chance of Favorable Weather
Friday, July 08, 2011
01:19am CDT
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Fueling of Space Shuttle Atlantis’s external fuel tank with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen began on time at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A at 2:01 a.m. EDT. The launch team will closely monitor the weather throughout the process. Weather remains at a 30 percent chance of favorable weather for liftoff at 11:26 a.m. Teams are not working any issues that would delay the launch...
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.Fingers crossed!!!


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- Atlantis Hatch is Closed for Flight -
Friday, July 08, 2011
08:49am CDT
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With all four astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis, the Close Out Crew sealed the hatch for flight and is verifying the integrity of the seal before breaking down the White Room and departing the launch pad.
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Weather still is 30 percent "go" and while weather remains dynamic, Launch Director Mike Leinbach told the launch team earlier, "We do have a shot at this today."
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There are no major technical issues and launch remains on schedule for 10:26am CDT for the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program...
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Again... Fingers crossed!!!
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Special Note:
9:48am CDT
* Weather Currently Observed 'Go' for Launch *

Weather across Kennedy Space Center is observed "go," and hopefully conditions will remain that way for the next 40 minutes or so -- long enough for space shuttle Atlantis and a crew of four astronauts to launch on the STS-135 mission.
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"We are cautiously optimistic we will be 'go' for launch at 11:26am," [EDT] said NASA Launch Commentator George Diller. 
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YAHOOOOO!
Just might get her up there this morning........

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10:15am CDT
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NASA now says...
WE ARE GO FOR LAUNCH!
She’s going up folks!
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10:26am CDT
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LIFTOFF!!!


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10:45am CDT
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Atlantis Soars...
Into Space for last time!
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Atlantis and its four astronauts leave Earth on the final space shuttle mission, capping off an amazing 30-year program of exploration, which launched great observatories, built an International Space Station, and taught us more about how humans can live and work in space...
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Final thought this morning... WHAT a beautiful, final launch it was... It was as if god was watching over the crew and mission, keeping them safe and all on GO, for such a wonderful, final Launch.

Please keep up with the latest from Space and NASA at links below.
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Read Latest News and Updates
at
NASA.gov
And at
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
At NASA TV
Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!
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STS-132: Interactive
Mission Timeline
Click HERE
Or on above image to view
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NOTE: I’ll be updating on the mission and spacewalk over the next so many days so check back!
Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
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GOD SPEED to the Crew of STS-135 Atlantis...
AubreyJ.........
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All Images, Videos, Info taken from the NASA.gov website
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