U.S. ships on move as N. Korea launch nears

U.S. ships on move as N. Korea launch nears: "As North Korea prepares for an expected rocket launch next month, the U.S. Navys says it is moving to the Sea of Japan ships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

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(Via CNN.com.)

WhiteKnightTwo Resumes Flight Tests

WhiteKnightTwo Resumes Flight Tests: "Third and longest test flight reached 140 knots, altitude of over 18,000 ft. and included in-flight engine restarts"

(Via AviationWeek.com Space Channel.)

More to the story: Relatives Remember F-22 Pilot

COLLINSVILLE -- David Cooley was born to fly, his father said a day after Cooley's jet crashed in Southern California.
Cooley, 49, was a 21-year Air Force veteran who retired as a lieutenant colonel and went to work for Lockheed Martin testing jets. Cooley was flying an F-22 on Wednesday when he crashed in the Mojave Desert and was killed.

David Cooley attended Belleville East High School and played soccer. From there, he went to the U.S. Air Force Academy and became a pilot. Cooley lived with his family in Lancaster, Calif., near Edwards Air Force Base.

The Cooley family moved to the metro-east in 1971, first to Fairview Heights and eventually Collinsville. Bill Cooley, who still lives in Collinsville, said his son loved to fly from his youth.
"He just loved it, he couldn't wait to get in the air," Bill Cooley said.

"I think he's flown about every fighter in the Air Force," Bill Cooley said. "David enjoyed his flying, he really did."
On the ground, David was well-liked, Bill Cooley said. Among David's hobbies was cycling -- he was almost a career cyclist, going on 100-mile rides through the west, his father said.

"He was a warm individual, very caring, and he would help anyone who needed help," Bill Cooley said. "He was a devoted family man -- he has a wife and three children. ... He was devoted to his job and to his family."
David's mother has passed away, but he had many friends throughout the area, Bill Cooley said.
"I loved him very dearly," his father said. "He had a good life."

Read the full story HERE.

Secrecy surrounds F-22 crash.

Edwards F-22 Pilot Did Not Eject: "Some senior U.S. Air Force officials were notified yesterday that there was no pilot ejection from the F-22 that crashed near Edwards AFB Base.

The Lockheed Martin pilot was declared dead at the hospital which seemed to indicate he was killed after ejection, but officials at Edwards said that statement was simply a pro forma statement for the investigation. USAF officials said the report of no ejection came soon after the crash, but almost immediately a complete security blanket was dropped over the investigation and no more data has been revealed.

(Via AviationWeek.com Defense Channel.)

Clinton: N. Korea rocket is 'provocative'

Clinton: N. Korea rocket is 'provocative': "North Korea has positioned what is believed to be a long-range ballistic missile on its launch pad, a U.S. counter-proliferation official said on Wednesday.

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(Via CNN.com.)