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Readers Write: Can we teach robots to think ethically?

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Danzig

Letters to the Editor for the October 8, 2012 weekly print issue:When we create artificial intelligence, will we create artificial 'ethicators,' too? The potential for 'cognitive decision-making skills' in computers is both challenging and exciting.

Regarding the Sept. 17 cover story, "Man & Machine," on the development of artificial intelligence (AI): I don't wish to be an alarmist, but I'm glad we're still far from inventing self-reasoning machines. Humankind has a history of creating new technologies simply because they're possible, only thinking about their impact later. Ray Bradbury suggested that science fiction is the nursery of new possibilities for humanity. If so, it should also be considered a warning.

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From Isaac Asimov's novel "I, Robot" to HAL in Stanley Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey," thinkers have long been asking: How can we be sure an artificial intelligence will be good? A machine has no moral sense or inner Jiminy Cricket to guide it. Will we create artificial "ethicators," too? If we can't even train dogs reliably, are we really capable of training machines with human-level reasoning?

AliCarmen Carico

Weed, Calif.

Extremely sophisticated, "smart" software could play a key role in reviving the US economy, just as highly capable computer-based systems may replace some human job functions. But this article doesn't really push to the most challenging frontier of AI.

Computer systems may develop to the point where they seem to possess cognitive decision-making skills and reach conclusions not foreseen by their creators. These themes are touched on by "cyber prophets" like the computer pioneer Bill Joy when he wrote the groundbreaking article "Why the future doesn't need us" (Wired Magazine, 2000).

One of the most vital aspects of this new world is the rapid proliferation of a vast variety of "networks" where "smart" machines and "smart" systems share information in an endless "ebb and flow." The flowing data are altered and improved in what some refer to as a kind of "collective intelligence." Our current Internet is a mild precursor of the potential involved in such a system.

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Readers Write: Can we teach robots to think ethically?

Shimco to Exhibit at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition 2012

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Danzig

The Company is a Featured Partner in the Canada Pavilion - October 9 through 14, 2012

MARKHAM, Ontario - Shimco announced today their participation in the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition (JA2012) taking place in Nagoya, Japan from October 9 through 14, 2012.

JA2012 is held in Nagoya, Japan, Asia's largest aerospace industrial manufacturing region, and brings together international and domestic companies to promote trade and further the development of aerospace-related industries. JA2012 is also presented to raise the general public's understanding of the improvements that aerospace engineering brings to daily life.

Shimco, a leader in manufacturing precision parts, laminated and edge-bond shims, tapers and spacers has served the aerospace, defense and space industries world-wide for over 25 years. Shimco is already a supplier to several Japanese aerospace companies and is excited to be featured in the Canada Pavilion as a key player in Ontario's vibrant aerospace industry.

"We are honoured to be invited to display in the Canada Pavilion as one of the companies selected to represent the province of Ontario at this international event," states Peter Voss, President of Shimco. "This is an exceptional opportunity for us to show how Canada is leading the way in the aerospace industry and for Shimco to promote its innovative products to the international market."

The Canada Pavilion features displays and companies from the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. JA2012, now in its 13th year, has over 500 exhibitors from 22 countries, and is expected to attract over 50,000 attendees during this five-day event.

Japan International Aerospace Exhibition October 9 - 14, 2012

About Shimco For over 25 years, Shimco has served the aerospace, defense, space, industrial and other sectors worldwide. Shimco is a leader in manufacturing precision parts, laminated and edge-bond shims, tapers and spacers in materials ranging from aluminum and titanium through to synthetics and composites.

Shimco offers a tradition of innovation, precision and execution, providing solutions that conform to exacting international and customer-specific standards. Shimco is an ISO9001:2008 & AS9100C registered company and their commitment to quality, on-time delivery, lean manufacturing and financial strength is unparalleled. Canadian Headquarters are located in Markham, Ontario.

Vist: http://www.shimco.com

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Shimco to Exhibit at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition 2012

Gyroscopes and IMUs for Defense, Aerospace & Industrial

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Danzig

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

http://www.reportlinker.com/p01008831/Gyroscopes-and-IMUs-for-Defense-Aerospace--Industrial.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Machine_Tool_and_Equipment

Multiple technology changes are fueling booming market growth

Inertial Measurements Units (IMUs) is a large industry traditionally dominated by defense and aerospace applications. 2011 was a stable year for IMUs with a market size of $1.75B.

We expect more dynamic growth in this market near term because of two factors:

-In the defense and aerospace sectors: though the markets in the U.S. and Europe are best described as conservative and mature, many new programs are being launched in Asia, Brazil, and the Middle East.

-Many new applications are fueling the growth of the IMU market, benefiting from significant technology evolutions, such as the continuous improvement of MEMS IMUs.

The IMU market is very concentrated; only a few big companies are dominant. Honeywell, Northrop Grumman and Sagem are the clear leaders, but many newcomers are coming in to play, looking to enter the market with low-cost MEMS-based products and a different approach to how things are done.

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE GYROSCOPE MARKET

High-performance inertial sensors and systems is a dynamic market segment, as an ever-increasing number of platforms require stabilization, guidance or navigation functions. The 2011 market for high-performance gyroscopes was estimated at $1.29B, growing at a 4.3% annual rate, and is expected to reach $1.66B in 2017.

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Gyroscopes and IMUs for Defense, Aerospace & Industrial

UTC Aerospace Systems delivers 100th CACTCS pack shipset for Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Danzig

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --UTC Aerospace Systems delivered its 100th Cabin Air Conditioning and Temperature Control System (CACTCS) pack shipset for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, marking a key milestone as a major systems supplier to the program. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX).

"UTC Aerospace Systems is delighted to celebrate this next step in our commitment to the Dreamliner program," said Bob Leduc, president, 787 Programs, UTC Aerospace Systems. "We are supporting the current production rate and are well-positioned to support Boeing's systematic rate ramp-up."

UTC Aerospace Systems' CACTCS pack is part of the Environmental Control System (ECS), which provides cabin temperature management and control, fresh airflow, pressurization control, heating and cooling, galley chilling, and cargo and crew rest compartment temperature control.

"The ECS provides complete airplane thermal management, producing enough cooling to cool more than 25 typical New England homes," said Tom Pelland, vice president and general manager, Air Management Systems. "I am extremely proud of our team. Our people have worked tirelessly in making this milestone possible."

The ECS also includes liquid cooling for the Power Electronics Cooling System (PECS), pack bay overheat protection, wheel well fire protection and windshield washer/wipers. The first electrically driven air cycle air-conditioning packs offer twice the efficiency of previously delivered systems.

In addition to the ECS, UTC Aerospace Systems provides multiple critical systems for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including: nitrogen generation; electrical power generating and starting; remote power distribution; primary power distribution; ram air turbine; electric motor pumps; fire detection and suppression; electro-mechanical brakes; thrust reversers; proximity sensing; cargo handling; exterior and flight deck lighting; fuel quantity indicators; and fuel management software.

UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company that provides high-technology products and services to the aerospace and building industries.

http://www.utcaerospacesystems.com

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UTC Aerospace Systems delivers 100th CACTCS pack shipset for Boeing 787 Dreamliner

California initiative to test appetite for ‘genetically engineered’ food

Posted on October 8, 2012 by ev1

The Associated Press Published Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012 10:03AM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- Calories. Nutrients. Serving size. How about "produced with genetic engineering?"

California voters will soon decide whether to require certain raw and processed foods to carry such a label.

In a closely watched test of consumers' appetite for genetically modified foods, the special label is being pushed by organic farmers and advocates who are concerned about what people eat even though the federal government and many scientists contend such foods are safe.

More than just food packaging is at stake. The outcome could reverberate through American agriculture, which has long tinkered with the genes of plants to reduce disease, ward off insects and boost the food supply.

International food and chemical conglomerates, including Monsanto Co. and DuPont Co., have contributed about $35 million to defeat Proposition 37 on the November ballot. It also would ban labeling or advertising genetically altered food as "natural." Its supporters have raised just about one-tenth of that amount.

If voters approve the initiative, California would become the first state to require disclosure of a broad range of foods containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Food makers would have to add a label or reformulate their products to avoid it. Supermarkets would be charged with making sure their shelves are stocked with correctly labeled items.

Genetically altered plants grown from seeds engineered in the laboratory have been a mainstay for more than a decade. Much of the corn, soybean, sugar beets and cotton cultivated in the United States today have been tweaked to resist pesticides or insects. Most of the biotech crops are used for animal feed or as ingredients in processed foods including cookies, cereal, potato chips and salad dressing.

Proponents say explicit labeling gives consumers information about how a product is made and allows them to decide whether to choose foods with genetically modified ingredients.

"They're fed up. They want to know what's in their food," said Stacy Malkan, spokeswoman for the California Right to Know campaign.

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California initiative to test appetite for 'genetically engineered' food

Grand Velas Spas in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit Named One of World’s Best Spas by Travel + Leisure and “30 Hot …

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

"Beyond All Inclusive Beyond All Compare" Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit Win Prestigious Spa Industry Accolades in 2012

Riviera Maya, Mexico (PRWEB) October 07, 2012

The $15 million architecturally striking spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the regions largest spa sanctuary. Inspired by the jungle and natural water pools of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexican architects Elias and Elias preserved the stone, plants and streams specific to the Riviera Maya landscape and incorporated them into its curved, organic design. The two-level, 89,000+ square foot spa also has a 40,000 square-foot Water Lounge. Specializing in signature treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world, the spa was named Best Spa" in the world by Virtuoso and earned a SpaFinder Readers Choice Award.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, a member of Leading Spas of the World is home to a 16,500 square feet spa sanctuary, featuring 20 treatment rooms, over 60 spa treatments, gym and exercise room, spa boutique and beauty salon. A place where health and well-being brings visitors to a sense of equilibrium, the spa offers luxurious European treatments and soothing Oriental therapies that invigorate the body and restore the spirit. Enjoy the special hydrotherapy area, spa reservation center, spa concierge and personalized service at the breathtaking oceanfront resort.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

Featured in Forbes roundup of the 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-suites and spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience. This Leading Hotels of the World designated resort is the preeminent one of its class boasting 491 suites, each more than 1,000 square-feet, in three separate ambiances-- premium ocean-front Grand Class Suites wit h terrace plunge pools for families with children 12 and up, family-friendly ocean-view Ambassador Suites and Zen Grand Suites embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsulas jungle. The resort presents a gastronomic tour of the Yucatan, Europe and Asia offering seven restaurants with world-class chefs from France, Spain and Mexico; dedicated butler service for each guest, and the regions largest spa sanctuary at over 89,000 square-feet specializing in signature treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world. The spa was named Best Spa" in the world by Virtuoso and also earned a SpaFinder Readers Choice Award. The resort was designed by lauded Mexican architecture firm Elias and Elias and features the sleek and modish interiors that fuse the serenity of the Caribbean with the vibrancy of Yucatan cultures. Making its debut on Travel + Leisures Worlds Best Survey in 2012, Grand Velas Riviera Maya was ranked both 2nd amongst the Top 25 Best Hotels in Mexico and 38th amongst the Top 100 Best Hotels Overall.

About Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit:

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, an all-suites and spa resort located just 15 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay, is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and a recipient of the AAA Five-Diamond Award. The resort features 267 spacious ocean-view suites. The crown jewel of the resort and a member of Leading Spas of the World, the Spa at Grand Velas features 20 treatment rooms, over 60 spa treatments, gym and exercise room, spa boutique and beauty salon. The family-friendly resort also offers tiered three-temperature infinity pools, tennis court, 25,321 total sq feet of meeting space and a Kids Club. Nearby are championship golf courses, numerous options for soft adventure, and the charming town of Puerto Vallarta with its many shops, art galleries and nightlife. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has received numerous accolades within the industry, including one of Forbes 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts.

Megan Sterritt KWE Partners (305)476-5424 Email Information

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Grand Velas Spas in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit Named One of World’s Best Spas by Travel + Leisure and “30 Hot ...

City of New Orleans Receives World Tourism Award from World Travel Market in London

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

City of New Orleans, Jorie Butler Kent, and Oman Sail were named the 2012 World Tourism honorees at Corinthia Hotels New York press breakfast. Award will be presented at the World Travel Market in London on November 5, 2012.

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) October 07, 2012

This is a tremendous honor for the city and testament to the more than 74,000 New Orleanians who work in the cultural economy. Despite all that our city has endured, the word is out that we are still one of the best and most unique destinations on the planet for a vibrant, unforgettable experience, said Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

The awards, said to celebrate extraordinary vision and leadership, will be presented on November 5, 2012 at the Excel Centre on the opening day of World Travel Market in London. Each honoree will be presented with an exquisite Baccarat Crystal shooting star, created by David Tisdale.

President/CEO Mark Romig of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation represented the city at the October 1 breakfast and said, New Orleans is honored to be singled out for its successful efforts in overcoming both Hurricane Katrina and the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. Our city has come back stronger than ever and our visitors are returning in larger numbers each year to enjoy our authentic food, music, and culture.

The other winners are Jorie Butler Kent, Vice Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent and Founder & President, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy; and Oman Sail. All three distinguished 2012 honorees are being recognized for their commitment to sustainable tourism, contributions to tourism development, and for transforming tourism to overcome challenging times.

Mr. Simon Naudi, CEO of Corinthia Hotels said New Orleans was chosen in recognition for its extraordinary success in the transformation and rebirth of the tourism industry post-Katrina and in the wake of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, spurring new economic growth and jobs, to make tourism New Orleans largest industry once again.

In addition to Corinthia Hotels, other sponsors include American Express, International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions.

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About The World Tourism Award

Value Added: D.C.’s travel queen talks about building her $1 billion business

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

Gloria Bohan is where I would like to be when I reach age 70.

She is the founder and president of a 524-employee travel agency based in Fairfax City, Omega World Travel, which she built with her late husband, Dan.

(Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post) - Bohan built Omega from scratch, starting with a small office in Fredericksburg. It now bills more than $1 billion in travel and has offices from London to its headquarters in Fairfax.

Dan Keating, Scott Higham, Kimberly Kindy and David S. Fallis

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Brad Plumer

Here's our primer on what that means--and why it might not work.

Im writing about her because I just passed my 57th birthday, and as I think about a path forward, I was energized by Bohan, her engagement with her surroundings, pride in the company she created and her continued appetite for work.

Bohan sat next to me last week at the Washington Nationals game (my seats), poking her iPhone as she answered e-mails between reminiscences about her childhood in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where she developed a romantic fascination with the cruise ships steaming through New York Harbor.

Omega World Travel which she built through scrappy persistence is nicely profitable, allowing her a comfortable life in leafy McLean and a place in New Yorks Hamptons.

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Value Added: D.C.’s travel queen talks about building her $1 billion business

Oakland University Stem Cell Conference Talks Cures

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

ROCHESTER At least 300 people attended the weekends Second Midwest Conference On Stem Cell Biology and Therapy Friday through Sunday at Oakland University.

The event was held at Oaklands brand-new health sciences building, which has been certified LEED Platinum for its energy saving, Earth-friendly technology.

The event featured presentations on both regenerative uses of stem cells, and ways in which stem cells may be used to prevent the growth and spread of cancer.

Kicking off the event was Mick Perez-Cruet, M.D., of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, who offered his research on successful stem-cell based treatment of spinal degenerative disorders so far, on laboratory rabbits.

Officials with the event say stem cell based cures for diseases ranging from incontinence to macular degeneration are in the laboratory stages, and that the science is moving quickly toward treatments.

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Oakland University Stem Cell Conference Talks Cures

SpaceX Dragon set to blast off to space station

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) A privately owned rocket was poised to blast off Sunday night on the first of a dozen space station supply missions under a mega-contract with NASA.

It will be the second time that the California-based SpaceX company tries to launch a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.

Last May, a test flight went well. Now the real work is about to begin under a $1.6 billion contract between NASA and SpaceX. This will be the first of 12 resupply missions under that contract.

"Are you ready to hear the (hash)Dragon roar!" SpaceX said in a Twitter update.

SpaceX raised the Falcon rocket, vertically, at its launch pad Sunday afternoon in advance of the 8:25 p.m. liftoff. Forecasters said there's a 40 percent chance that storm clouds or rain could interfere. The good news was that a piece of space junk was no longer threatening the orbiting lab, and NASA could focus entirely on the delivery mission.

NASA is counting on private business to restock the space station, now that the shuttles have retired to museums.

This newest Dragon will carry up about 1,000 pounds of food, clothes, experiments and equipment. The three space station residents will get a frozen treat when the capsule arrives later in the week: chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream.

Even more cargo will come back when the Dragon parachutes into the Pacific at the end of October.

None of the Russian, European or Japanese cargo ships can bring anything back; they're destroyed during re-entry.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX owned by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk is working to convert its unmanned Dragon capsules into vessels that could carry astronauts to the space station in three years. Other U.S. companies also are vying to carry crews. Americans must ride Russian rockets to orbit in the meantime, for a steep price.

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SpaceX Dragon set to blast off to space station

SpaceX to launch cargo ship for space station delivery

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida A privately owned rocket was poised to blast off Sunday night on the first of a dozen space station supply missions under a mega-contract with NASA.

It will be the second time that the California-based SpaceX company tries to launch a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.

Last May, a test flight went well. Now the real work is about to begin under a $1.6 billion contract between NASA and SpaceX. This will be the first of 12 resupply missions under that contract.

"Are you ready to hear the (hash)Dragon roar!" SpaceX said in a Twitter update.

NASA is counting on private business to restock the space station, now that the shuttles have retired to museums.

Even more cargo will come back when the Dragon parachutes into the Pacific at the end of October.

None of the Russian, European or Japanese cargo ships can bring anything back; they're destroyed during re-entry.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX -- owned by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk -- is working to convert its unmanned Dragon capsules into vessels that could carry astronauts to the space station in three years. Other U.S. companies also are vying to carry crews. Americans must ride Russian rockets to orbit in the meantime, for a steep price.

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SpaceX to launch cargo ship for space station delivery

Private SpaceX Cargo Ship Launching 'New Era' for Space Station Today

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

This story was updated at 5 p.m. ET.

An unmanned private spacecraft all set to launch the first commercial delivery to the International Space Station tonight (Oct. 7), marking a major shift in how NASA sends supplies and gear to the orbiting lab.

The gumdrop-shaped Dragon space capsule built by the private spaceflight company SpaceX is poised to blast off from a pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to begin a three-day voyage to the space station. SpaceX raised the Falcon 9 rocket that will boost the Dragon capsule spaceward into launch position this afternoon. Liftoff is set for 8:35 p.m. EDT (0035 Monday GMT) and the weather forecast looks favorable for launch, NASA officials said.

"Tomorrow's SpaceX launch begins a new era for spaceflight and the International Space Station," Sam Scimemi, NASA's space station director, said in a briefing Saturday (Oct. 6). "These flights are critical to the space station's sustainment and to help begin its full utilization."

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will launch nearly 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) of cargo for astronauts living on the space station. The crew plans to welcome the spacecraft on Wednesday (Oct. 10) by grappling it with a robotic arm and attaching it to the station.

The mission is the first of at least 12 cargo runs for NASA that SpaceX will perform under a $1.6 billion deal to deliver 20 metric tons of supplies to the station for the U.S. space agency. [SpaceX's Dragon Poised to Sunday Launch (Photos)]

SpaceX is also working to upgrade the Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rockets to launch seven-astronaut crews into orbit. The spacecraft was designed from the start to enable future crewed flights, according to SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who founded the company in 2002.

With NASA's space shuttle fleet retired, the space agency is depending on commercial spacecraft like SpaceX's Dragon capsules to ferry cargo and eventually astronauts into and from low-Earth orbit. The agency is outsourcing those services to commercial companies while developing its own new rocket and spacecraft for deep-space exploration.

What goes up can come down

SpaceX is one of two companies with contracts to provide cargo shipments to the space station for NASA. The other firm, the Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp., has a $1.9 billion deal for station resupply flights using its new Antares rocket and unmanned Cygnus spacecraft. Of the two companies, only SpaceX's Dragon is capable of returning cargo to Earth for retrieval.

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Private SpaceX Cargo Ship Launching 'New Era' for Space Station Today

SpaceX set to launch with cargo for International Space Station

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

The first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station is set to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center Sunday evening.From the space station crew's standpoint, some of the most precious cargo could well be ice cream.

The first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station is set to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Sunday evening kicking off a series of at least 12 resupply missions NASA has ordered up under a $1.6-billion contract with Space Exploration Technologies, based in Hawthorne, Calif.

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The mission, utilizing SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket topped with the company's cargo-carrying Dragon capsule, follows on the heels of a successful test flight to the space station in May.

During that mission, Dragon delivered just over 1,000 pounds of cargo that NASA officials said wouldn't represent a significant set-back for the space-station program if something went wrong during the mission. This time, Dragon is carrying 882 pounds (nearly a ton when packaging is included) of more-precious cargo: experiments and hardware for the US, European, and Japanese laboratories; additional components needed to maintain the station; and crew supplies.

IN PICTURES: Launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket

From the space station crew's standpoint, some of the most precious of all the cargo could well be ice cream Dragon is bringing up not the freeze-dried kind, but real ice cream, kept in a new lab freezer Dragon will deliver. It's part of a shipment of "bonus food" the space agency periodically sends. The freezer is designed to preserve samples from biology and life-science experiments running on the station for return to Earth.

Indeed, Dragon's ability to return cargo to Earth is unique among the unmanned cargo craft the station's international partners provide. NASA's space shuttles were the only other vehicles able to do this. But NASA flew its final shuttle mission in July 2011, and the orbiters now are museum pieces.

All of the other cargo craft operating, as well as the capsule a second US company is building to supply commercial cargo service for NASA, become trash incinerators once they leave the station. They and the refuse they carry burn up on reentry.

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SpaceX set to launch with cargo for International Space Station

First commercial flight to ISS set to take off

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

NASA

Controllers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center spent Sunday preparing for the first commercial cargo flight to the International Space Station, readying a SpaceX rocket for an evening launch.

The Falcon 9 rocket with its unmanned Dragon capsule is scheduled for liftoff at 8:35 p.m. if the weather holds. It will be the first of a dozen NASA-contracted flights to resupply the International Space Station, at a total cost of $1.6 billion.

The scheduled launch comes nearly five months after a demonstration mission in which a Dragon capsule successfully berthed at the station and returned to Earth. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the mission slated to start Sunday evening isn't "substantially different" from that flight, "with the exception that we got there once."

"We demonstrated we could do it, so there might be a teeny, teeny bit of relaxation," Shotwell told reporters Saturday night. "Not a lot, though."

The unmanned capsule will be packed with about 1,000 pounds of cargo -- everything from low-sodium food kits to clothing and computer hard drives. It's slated to return in late October with about 2,000 pounds, including scientific experiments and failed equipment that can be repaired and sent back, ISS Program Manager Mike Suffredini said.

"These flights are critical to the space station's sustainment and to begin full utilization of the space station for research and technology development," he said.

If the launch goes off on time Sunday, the Dragon spacecraft will catch up with the Space Station early Wednesday morning. Station Commander Sunita Williams and Aki Hoshide from the Japanese Space Agency will use the robotic arm to grab Dragon and berth it to the station.

Much of Dragon's cargo is material to support extensive experimentation aboard the space station. One deals with plant growth. Plants on Earth use about 50% of their energy for support to overcome gravity. Researchers want to understand how the genes that control that process would operate in microgravity -- when objects are in free-fall in space. Down the road, that could benefit food supplies here on the planet.

The spacecraft is also carrying nearly two dozen microgravity experiments designed and being flown through the Student Experiment Spaceflight Program. More than 100 students and teachers and family members will be at Cape Canaveral for the launch.

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First commercial flight to ISS set to take off

SpaceX cargo ship primed for first operational station flight

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

After two successful test flights, SpaceX is set to launch an unmanned Dragon cargo ship loaded with a half-ton of the supplies -- including ice cream -- to the International Space Station.

An unmanned cargo capsule built by SpaceX under a $1.6 billion commercial contract with NASA was prepared for launch Sunday on its first operational flight to the International Space Station, a milestone mission intended to restore the agency's ability to deliver critical components and supplies to the lab complex and to bring hardware and experiment samples back to Earth.

The Dragon capsule, perched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, was scheduled for liftoff from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8:35 p.m. EDT, roughly the moment Earth's rotation carries the pad into the plane of the space station's orbit. Forecasters predicted a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather, improving to 80 percent "go" Monday and Tuesday.

During a test flight in May, a SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully rendezvoused with the International Space Station. The first operational cargo flight of a SpaceX capsule is scheduled for launch Sunday.

Launched into an initially elliptical orbit with a high point of 202 miles and a low point of around 124 miles, the solar-powered spacecraft will carry out a complex computer-orchestrated series of rendezvous rocket firings to catch up with the space station early Wednesday.

If all goes well, station commander Sunita Williams and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide will use the lab's robot arm to grapple the Dragon capsule around 7:22 a.m. Wednesday, maneuvering it to a berthing at the Earth-facing port of the forward Harmony module.

Over the next three weeks or so, the station crew will unload a half ton of equipment and supplies, including experiment hardware, a freezer, spare parts, clothing and food. Taking advantage of the freezer, ice cream was included, a rare treat for space crews.

As the capsule is unloaded, the astronauts plan to stow nearly a ton of no-longer needed gear, failed components, and experiment samples that, until now, have had no way to get back to Earth. Again using the robot arm, Williams and Hoshide plan to unberth the capsule on October 28 for re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the southern coast of California.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule is the only space station cargo craft designed to safely return to Earth, a critical capability that was lost when NASA's space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011. The Russian Soyuz spacecraft that ferry crews to and from the space station can only carry a few hundred pounds of small items back to Earth. All other station vehicles -- unmanned Russian Progress supply ships and European and Japanese cargo craft -- burn up during re-entry.

"The SpaceX Dragon is a really important vehicle for us because it supports the laboratory use of ISS, both in bringing cargo up to the space station and in bringing research samples home," said Julie Robinson, the space station program scientist at NASA Headquarters.

SpaceX cargo ship primed for first operational station flight

SpaceX rocket launch visible from US East Coast tonight

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

Skywatchers in the eastern United States have an opportunity to spot the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on an International Space Station resupply flight on Sunday night, weather permitting.

Space news from NBCNews.com

The first-ever year-long mission to the International Space Station will launch in 2015 and feature an American-Russian crew, NASA revealed Friday.

The night launch will mark the fourth flight of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, a privately built booster that has made three successful flights since 2010. The rocket will be carrying the gumdrop-shaped Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. In May the Dragon capsule became the first U.S. spacecraft to reach the space station since NASA's last space shuttle flight departed in July 2011.

To reach the space station, the Falcon 9 rocket must be launched when Earth's rotation carries the launch pad into the plane of the station's orbit. That will happen on Sunday at 8:35 p.m. EDT at Launch Complex 40, SpaceX's launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

As has been the case with space shuttle launches to the space station, Sunday's liftoff will bring the Falcon 9 rocket's path nearly parallel to the U.S. East Coast. It is expected that the glow created by the rocket's Merlin 1C liquid propellant rocket engines should be visible in varying degrees along much of the Eastern seaboard.

[ SpaceX's Dragon Poised to Sunday Launch (Photos) ]

The Falcon 9 rocket launches into orbit using two stages. The first stage utilizes nine Merlin 1C engines which will burn for three minutes, then shuts down. Five seconds later the first and second stages will separate.

Seven seconds later the second stage, which utilizes just one engine will be fired and will burn for six minutes and two seconds. The Dragon space capsule will then separate from the second stage and head into orbit.

So while the first stage should create a fairly conspicuous bright light in the sky, the second stage will likely be considerably dimmer.

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SpaceX rocket launch visible from US East Coast tonight

Astronaut Ice Cream Launching to Space Station

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

Ice cream is blasting off for the crew of the International Space Station (ISS).

The frozen confectionery not the freeze-dried souvenir version sold in museum gift shops is packed on board the first NASA-contracted commercial mission to resupply the orbiting laboratory.

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The Commercial Resupply Services-1 (CRS-1) mission is scheduled to lift off on a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday (Oct. 7) at 8:35 p.m. EDT (0035 GMT Oct. 8) from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The ice cream, which is now a not-so-secret surprise for the station's current three member crew, was confirmed as on board SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule by NASA after a pre-launch press conference Saturday (Oct. 6) raised the possibility that it was included.

"We talked about flying ice cream," said NASA's manager for the space station program, Michael Suffredini. "We try to bring up what we call 'bonus food' for the crew, and this is one of those flights that will have that." (Space Food Photos: What Astronauts Eat in Orbit)

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GLACIER goodies

The vanilla with swirled chocolate sauce ice cream cups won't melt on their three-day journey to the space station thanks to a freezer on board the Dragon capsule.

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Astronaut Ice Cream Launching to Space Station

NASA | X-ray Nova Reveals a New Black Hole in Our Galaxy – Video

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

05-10-2012 13:04 On Sept. 16, NASA's Swift satellite detected a rising tide of high-energy X-rays from a source toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The outburst, produced by a rare X-ray nova, announced the presence of a previously unknown stellar-mass black hole. An X-ray nova is a short-lived X-ray source that appears suddenly, reaches its emission peak in a few days and then fades out over a period of months. The outburst arises when a torrent of stored gas suddenly rushes toward one of the most compact objects known, either a neutron star or a black hole. Named Swift J1745-26 after the coordinates of its sky position, the nova is located a few degrees from the center of our galaxy toward the constellation Sagittarius. While astronomers do not know its precise distance, they think the object resides about 20000 to 30000 light-years away in the galaxy's inner region. The pattern of X-rays from the nova signals that the central object is a black hole. Ground-based observatories detected infrared and radio emissions, but thick clouds of obscuring dust have prevented astronomers from catching Swift J1745-26 in visible light. The black hole must be a member of a low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) system, which includes a normal, sun-like star. A stream of gas flows from the normal star and enters into a storage disk around the black hole. In most LMXBs, the gas in the disk spirals inward, heats up as it heads toward the black hole, and produces a steady stream of X-rays. But under certain ...

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NASA | X-ray Nova Reveals a New Black Hole in Our Galaxy - Video

Astronomers Spot Sudden Black Hole Flare Up – Video

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

05-10-2012 18:39 Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite recently detected a rise in high-energy X-rays from a source toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The outburst, produced by a rare X-ray nova, came from a previously unknown stellar-mass black hole. An X-ray nova is a short-lived X-ray source that appears suddenly, reaches its emission peak in a few days and then fades out over a period of months. The outburst arises when a torrent of stored gas suddenly rushes toward one of the most compact objects known, either a neutron star or a black hole. The rapidly brightening source triggered Swift's Burst Alert Telescope twice on the morning of Sept. 16, and once again the next day. Named Swift J1745-26 after the coordinates of its sky position, the nova is located a few degrees from the center of our galaxy toward the constellation Sagittarius. While astronomers do not know its precise distance, they think the object resides about 20000 to 30000 light-years away in the galaxy's inner region. Ground-based observatories detected infrared and radio emissions, but thick clouds of obscuring dust have prevented astronomers from catching Swift J1745-26 in visible light.

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Astronomers Spot Sudden Black Hole Flare Up - Video

NASA Offers Opportunities For Biological Research On ISS

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Danzig

Sun, Oct 07, 2012

NASA invites scientists from around the country to submit proposals to perform biological research aboard the International Space Station. The NASA Research Announcement (NRA), "Research Opportunities in Space Biology," opened Sept. 30.

This NRA challenges scientists to propose experiments that could provide answers to questions about how life adapts and responds to microgravity. Selected investigators will have the opportunity to take advantage of new cell, plant and animal research facilities being developed for the space station. Proposals should demonstrate benefits to astronauts living and working in the harsh environment of space during long-duration missions. They also should improve medicine and health care for humans on Earth.

The NRA also focuses on ground-based research designed to lead to new space biology investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory. The investigations should use microgravity and other characteristics of the space environment effectively to enhance our understanding of basic biological processes and develop the scientific and technological foundations for a safe, productive human presence in space for extended periods in preparation for exploration beyond low Earth orbit. The investigations should apply this knowledge and technology to improve the nation's competitiveness, education and quality of life.

NASA's selection of research projects is guided by recommendations from the National Research Council's 2011 Decadal Survey Report, "Recapturing a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical Sciences Research for a New Era." The NASA-developed "Fundamental Space Biology Science Plan" provides an implementation strategy and roadmap based on available flight and fiscal resources.

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NASA Offers Opportunities For Biological Research On ISS

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