Astronaut holiday: stiff meat, bland yams: "HOUSTON — The smoked turkey resembles sliced deli meat, but stiffer. The candied yams are bland inside. The green beans taste like they’ve been microwaved to death. And the corn bread stuffing has a broth-heavy, institutional flavor."
(Via Air Force Times - News.)
New Defensive Missiles Protect U.S. Against Rogue Attacks: "America's missile shield is designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic warheads. PM visited an Alaskan Army base where soldiers keep defensive missiles locked and loaded in case a rogue nation makes its move.
"(Via PopularMechanics.com - Technology: Military & Law Enforcement.)
Second night of terror grips Mumbai: "Special forces are trying to find gunmen thought to be holed up in two luxury hotels in Mumbai; one gunman was killed during the overnight search, more than a day after 125 people were reported killed in coordinated attacks. Gunfire and grenade blasts were heard early Friday during a standoff at a Mumbai Jewish center.
"(Via CNN.com.)
Official: Airbus crashes off France: "A plane with seven people aboard crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, a French regional government official told CNN.
"(Via CNN.com.)
A week ago, under a clear evening sky on 19th Nov, I wandered out into my front garden to watch the ISS and Endeavour'sail overhead. A friend had told me that particular pass would be spectacularly bright and, as'the sky was gin clear that night, I was determined not to miss it. Aiming my 10 x 50 binoculars at the speeding spot of light I held my breath, for there, flying ahead of the ISS and Space Shuttle'was a faint object. I followed'it right across the sky as the combination'passed 190 nautical miles overhead at more than 17,200 mph with something ‘in company.’'
To my astonishment it seems I was lucky enough to see the tool bag accidentally lost overboard by astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper as she and fellow-astronaut Steve Bowen conducted their first spacewalk on the 18th. The pair had been cleaning and lubricating the damaged solar alpha rotary joint (SARJ), at the starboard end of the station truss, when the 30 lb. bag was lost. The mishap occurred as Stefanyshyn-Piper was cleaning her gloves, camera and other gear after one of the grease guns inside the bag accidentially discharged. Click below to see the moment when the bag was lost.
'''(credit: YouTube)'Bowen had a similar toolkit, and the two were able to share their supplies to finish cleaning sections of the 10-foot-diameter SARJ. For more details see all the'blog entries by Frank Morring.
An amateur astronomer in Canada also managed to catch the bag on film. Here’s the clip.
"(Via On Space.)
Feds: Al Qaeda may target New York trains: "Federal authorities have received a 'plausible but unsubstantiated' report that al Qaeda may have discussed targeting transit systems in or around New York City, the Department of Homeland Security said.
"(Via CNN.com - U.S..)
