Space Station Astronauts Safely Return to Earth

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This story was updated at 5:03 a.m. ET.

After half a year living on the International Space Station, three astronauts safely returned to Earth Sunday (July 1) aboard a Russian-built space capsule.

The Soyuz spacecraft landed on Central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan at 4:14 a.m. EDT (0414 GMT) to return NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers back to their home planet.

"Everything is good, we feel great," Kononenko radioed Russia's Mission Control Center just before landing.

HSW: How Space Stations Work

The spaceflyers had undocked from the space station several hours earlier in theirRussian-built Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraftto begin the journey home. They landed upright under a blue sky dotted with some white clouds in Kazakhstan, where the local time was Sunday afternoon.

Pettit, Kononenko and Kuipers arrived at the orbiting outpost in December 2011. All three had flown previousmissions to the space station, making them a crew of veteran spaceflyers.

In a blog post describing his final day in space, Pettit reflected on the impact of his months-long mission, and encouraged humanity to keep pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

"On Earth, the frontiers opened slowly," Pettit wrote. "The technology of sailing was known and advanced for over a thousand years before the Earth was circumnavigated. Such bold acts require the technology, the will, and the audacity to explore. Sometimes you have one, but not the others. I only hope that my small efforts here, perhaps adding one grain of sand to the beach of knowledge, will help enable a generation of people in the future to call space 'home.'" (Landing Photos: Soyuz Capsule Returns 3 Astronauts Home)

Throughout their mission, Pettit and Kuipers shared with the public stunning photos of the Earth from space through Twitter and the photo sharing flight Flickr. Pettit also regularly updated a blog about his experiences on the space station, which included severalpoems in tribute to life in space.

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Space Station Astronauts Safely Return to Earth

Space station trio gets back down to Earth

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After half a year living on the International Space Station, three astronauts safely returned to Earth on Sunday aboard a Russian-built space capsule.

The Soyuz spacecraft landed in the Central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan at 4:14 a.m. ET, returning NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers to their home planet.

"Everything is good, we feel great," Kononenko radioed Russia's Mission Control Center just before landing.

More space news from msnbc.com

Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: There's a new contender for the title of fastest star in the universe: an apparent pulsar that's blazing away from the scene of a supernova at 6 million mph.

The spacefliers undocked from the space station several hours earlier in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft to begin the journey home. They landed upright under a blue sky dotted with some white clouds in Kazakhstan, where the local time was Sunday afternoon. Live video tracked the Soyuz's descent at the end of its parachute, right down to the ground.

Veterans return from frontier Pettit, Kononenko and Kuipers arrived at the orbiting outpost in December 2011. All three had flown previous missions to the space station, making them a crew of veteran spacefliers.

In a blog post describing his final day in space, Pettit reflected on the impact of his months-long mission, and encouraged humanity to keep pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

"On Earth, the frontiers opened slowly," Pettit wrote. "The technology of sailing was known and advanced for over a thousand years before the Earth was circumnavigated. Such bold acts require the technology, the will, and the audacity to explore. Sometimes you have one, but not the others. I only hope that my small efforts here, perhaps adding one grain of sand to the beach of knowledge, will help enable a generation of people in the future to call space 'home.'" [Landing Photos: Soyuz Capsule Returns 3 Astronauts Home]

Throughout their mission, Pettit and Kuipers shared stunning photos of Earth from space with the public through Twitter and the Flickr photo-sharing site. Pettit also regularly updated his blog with accounts of his experiences on the space station, including several poems in tribute to life in space.

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Space station trio gets back down to Earth

NASA Space Shuttle Trainer Lands at Seattle's Museum of Flight

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SEATTLE Seattle's The Museum of Flight moved a nose closer to exhibiting a full-size mockup of the space shuttle on Saturday (June 30) with the delivery of the front section of a retired astronaut trainer by a large NASA cargo plane.

Thousands of spectators gathered for a "Shuttlefest" in the museum's parking lot to see the Super Guppy aircraft deliver NASA's Full Fuselage Trainer's (FFT) crew compartment from Johnson Space Center in Houston. Before landing at Boeing Field, the bulbous cargo plane circled the Seattle area including flying by the city's landmark Space Needle then made a low pass over The Museum of Flight to the delight of the waiting crowd.

Once the aircraft was on the ground and towed into place, the Guppy's flight crew began the process of swinging open the plane's unique hinged nose to reveal and offload the nose of the mockup shuttle.

"I think I can speak for all Washingtonians, when I say I am honored that such a critical part of our nation's history will be right here in Washington state at The Museum of Flight," Governor Christine Gregoire said during an arrival ceremony staged in front of the Super Guppy. [Gallery: Shuttle Trainer Lands in Seattle]

Staged for flight

The Full Fuselage Trainer was used for more than 30 years to train every person who flew on the space shuttle. Astronauts used the mockup to learn how to exit the vehicle after emergency landings and to gain familiarity with the lighting inside the orbiter's payload bay.

The crew compartment, which is approximately the same size as the observation deck of the Space Needle, is a mostly wooden but detailed replica of the shuttle's iconic black and white nose section with its interior, dual level cockpit and living area. It was the first and most recognizable of the mockup's three large segments to arrive at the museum.

Smaller parts, at least in relation to the crew cabin, were shipped to the museum earlier, including the FFT's three mock main engines. Still to be delivered by the Super Guppy are the trainer's 60 foot (18 meter) payload bay and the shuttle's aft section that supports the vertical stabilizer, or tail, and twin maneuvering engine pods.

Once all the parts have arrived in Seattle later this summer, the museum plans to reassemble the wingless FFT in its Charles Simonyi Space Gallery, a 15,500 sq. foot exhibition hall that was originally built to display a space-flown shuttle. Unlike the real orbiters' displays however, visitors to The Museum of Flight will be able to go inside and tour the trainer.

The Space Shuttle may be the most complicated machine ever built. The first spacecraft to be reusable, it launches as a rocket, can serve as an orbiting platform and lands like a plane. Test your knowledge of the shuttle and its history with this quiz.

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NASA Space Shuttle Trainer Lands at Seattle's Museum of Flight

NASA 's Super Guppy delivers space shuttle trainer to the Museum of Flight

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ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

A crew member of the Super Guppy cargo plane leans from the cockpit window as the plane is hooked to a tug outside the Museum of Flight Saturday, delivering part of the NASA space shuttle trainer.

BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

NASA's Super Guppy aircraft, carrying crew compartment of the space shuttle trainer, makes a flyover around downtown Seattle on its way to The Museum of Flight.

ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The Super Guppy delivers plenty of cargo and decibels as it arrives at the Museum of Flight Saturday.

ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The front part of the Super Guppy cargo plane is cracked open as it swings forward 90-degrees so the space shuttle trainer can be unloaded Saturday.

ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The front part of the shrink-wrapped Space Shuttle trainer is moved on a specialty vehicle with the Super Guppy in the background, its cargo bay and cockpit area at a 90-degree angle at Boeing Field. The vehicle moving the trainer part was brought up from JBLM to assist.

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NASA 's Super Guppy delivers space shuttle trainer to the Museum of Flight

Nasa's Guppy delivery party of space shuttle trainer to Seattle

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By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 08:50 EST, 1 July 2012 | UPDATED: 09:39 EST, 1 July 2012

NASAs Super Guppy cargo plane has been cheered by hundreds of people in Seattle as it delivered part of the Space Shuttle Trainer.

More than a thousand people gathered at the Museum of Flight as the aircraft circled before landing for welcome ceremony.

Inside the turboprop plane was the crew compartment of NASAs Full Fuselage Shuttle Trainer - a full-scale mockup of the Space Shuttle Orbiter - which is now owned by the museum.

Inside the turboprop plane was the crew compartment of NASA's Full Fuselage Shuttle Trainer, which is now owned by the museum

It is just one piece of a future exhibit which museum officials call 'world class'.

It will feature the 121-foot shuttle trainer, which had never before left Houstons Johnson Space Center.

It will be completely reassembled in the Museum of Flights $12 million Charles Simonyi Space Gallery.

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Nasa's Guppy delivery party of space shuttle trainer to Seattle

BillyG’s "Funnies

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30-06-2012 11:00 Thumbs up & Favorite for BillyG! (Open Description for Info!) BillyG: "Not the longest episode ever but needed something to upload, anyways thanks to TrickshotTutz for introducing my episode 🙂 " BillyG's Channel: BillyG's Twitter: BillyG's Old Channel: Note: Please keep in Mind that this is NOT MY Video, i got the Permission to Upload and Claim this. If you're the owner of this Video, and don't want it uploaded anymore, contact me and I'll remove it as soon as Possible. Thanks. Follow us on Twitter:

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BillyG's "Funnies

Better Health Osteopathic & Integrative Medicine Centre Provides Health Education and Care

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Better Health Osteopathic & Integrative Medicine clinic welcomes patients to the multidisciplinary health care and wellness centre.Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) July 01, 2012 Newly opened Better Health Osteopathic & Integrative Medicine clinic welcomes patients to the multidisciplinary health and wellness centre. Specialising in osteopathy, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and remedial massage ...

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Better Health Osteopathic & Integrative Medicine Centre Provides Health Education and Care

Xavier leads the nation in African-American medical graduates

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Xavier University leads the country in the number of African-American graduates who finish medical school, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

In 2011, the latest year for which numbers are available, 60 black Xavier alumni received medical degrees. Howard University was second with 48, and the University of Florida placed third with 26.

This is consistent with Xavier's long-standing reputation as a major source of African-American medical students. It led the country in this category for 15 years until the heavy damage the campus sustained from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005forced Xavier to close for six months. As a result, enrollment dropped.

But Xavier is on the rebound. In 2011, association figures show, 68 African-American graduates went on to medical school, second only to Howard, which had 87.

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Xavier leads the nation in African-American medical graduates

'Liberty,' a Musical Under Construction, Comes to Warner Theatre in Torrington

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For more than a century, the Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from France to the people of the United States, has been a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Dedicated in October 1886, Lady Liberty quickly came to represent hope for millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. through New York, as they set out to make a life for themselves in the land of dreams.

Ironically, the statues uplifted torch, meant to suggest enlightenment by her creators, instead represented a message of welcome to anxious immigrants who had survived an arduous journey. And, over time, the statues official Web site notes, Liberty emerged as the Mother of Exiles, a symbol of hope to generations of immigrants. She became an icon of immigration, reinforcing the idea of America being a melting pot of many cultures.

Over the last 126 years, since the statues dedication, millions of stirring stories of immigrants have emerged, but few have come to life like that of Liberty: A Monumental New Musical, making its world premiere at the Warner Theatre in Torrington by special arrangement with Theresa Wozunk. With book and lyrics by Dana Leslie Goldstein, music by Jon Goldstein, and under the direction of acclaimed New York stage director Igor Goldin, Liberty opens June 30 and will continue through July 14 at the Warner.

This is a fantastic opportunity for local audiences to see a professional production before it heads to New York, said Warner Theatre executive director John Bonanni. Our community of actors and volunteers are excited to inaugurate the Warners new professional development program, serving as an incubator for a commercial run in New York.

Liberty, according to the Warner, is a production that conveys the story of a young immigrant who arrives from France in 1884 amid anti-immigrant fervor. With powerful political forces working against her, and only a precious few on her side, she is befriended by fellow immigrants from all corners of the world. Libertys compelling and sometimes uncertain journey leads her to becoming the symbol of all immigrants, winning over the people of the United States and taking her rightful place in New York Harbor.

Featuring an entirely original score, Liberty has only been performed in pieces at venues such as the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and the New York Immigration Coalition. It was presented as a developmental workshop as part of Mayor Bloombergs Immigrant Heritage Week, as part of the grand reopening of the crown of the Statue of Liberty on July 4, 2009, and, most recently, as part of the official celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty National Monument last year. As the show prepares for an off-Broadway premiere in New York City, it marks a first for the Warner Theatre, which has never before developed and premiered a new musical prior to its commercial New York run.

Ive been with the show two or three years now, Mr. Goldin said, noting that he has been with other shows from the beginning. Liberty existed before I came aboard and though I havent worked on new shows by design, I tend to enjoy it more than established shows. I like to develop a production. Its certainly more challenging, and you become completely immersed in it. There is so much of you invested in it.

Twenty-year-old Madeline Brewer, who is stepping into the role of Liberty, feels the same way. Ms. Brewer graduated in May from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, and said this is her first leading role. She relishes the opportunity to shape the character for audiences who will meet Liberty for the first time June 30.

Its been crazy, but its been an awesome experience, Ms. Brewer said enthusiastically after a musical rehearsal for the production. At AMDA, were taught how to make a role our own, how to develop a character, and I have certainly had the chance to do that with Liberty. Ive discovered some things come organically, such as how I relate to her. You definitely develop a character like this differently, because you cant see how others have done it, and thats great for me as an actress.

For a first gig, she said at a press event after she was introduced to the community, this isnt too shabby. Continued...

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'Liberty,' a Musical Under Construction, Comes to Warner Theatre in Torrington

Liberty roll past Storm

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With five days to practice and rest since a disappointing loss in their previous game, the Liberty were fired up against the Seattle Storm.

Essence Carson scored 22 points and Cappie Pondexter had 20 to lead the Liberty to a 77-59 victory over the Storm on Saturday at the Prudential Center.

It was a big win, a much-needed win, Pondexter said. We were really striving to win. ... I think having a week off and getting our legs refreshed and our minds refocused, we were able to come out and win.

Pondexter and Carson combined to shoot 15 for 30 from the field and 10 for 12 from the free-throw line. Pondexter also had a season-high seven rebounds and four assists.

The Liberty (5-9) hadnt played since a 10-point loss to Atlanta on Sunday, which was their fourth loss in five games.

Im sure she had in her mind she wanted to win today, Pondexter said of Carson. I did as well, especially coming off that last performance against Atlanta. We got back in the gym and worked on things, just prepared for today.

DeMya Walker added 11 points for the Liberty, who lost leading rebounder Kia Vaughn to a concussion late in the second quarter. She did not return and finished with eight points and one rebound.

The Liberty already were without second-leading scorer and rebounder Plenette Pierson (strained left knee), who missed her fourth straight game and is not expected back until after the Olympic break.

Its a big loss, Carson said of Vaughn. But as you saw today, when one goes down everyones willing to step up. When Plenette went down, we had a lot of people step up. As long as we continue to pick up the slack well be all right. And when they come back, well be even stronger.

Ann Wauters and Tina Thompson scored 10 points each for Seattle (6-8), which snapped a five-game winning streak. The Storm shot just 32 percent from the field (19 for 59), including 4 for 22 on 3-pointers. They also committed 25 turnovers their most since having 27 in the season opener against Los Angeles which led to 20 points for the Liberty.

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Liberty roll past Storm

Cruise ships visiting less-busy Caribbean islands

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Explore the exotic Caribbean

I like these itineraries for their breadth, combining the familiar with the exotic.

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas: Departs Dec. 3 for 11 nights. Ft. Lauderdale; Antigua; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; St. Lucia; Barbados; Bonaire; Aruba; Ft. Lauderdale ($1,019 oceanview).

Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas: Departs Dec. 29 for seven nights. San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola; St. Maarten; St. Kitts; Guadeloupe; Barbados; San Juan ($1,249 oceanview).

Carnival Valor: Departs Aug. 18 for seven nights. Miami; Grand Turk; La Romana, Dominican Republic; Aruba; Curaao; Miami ($979 oceanview).

Celebrity Summit: Departs Dec. 8 for six nights. San Juan; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Croix; St. Kitts; Dominica; Grenada; San Juan ($598 oceanview).

Seabourn Spirit: Departs Jan. 13 for 13 nights. St. Maarten; Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands; St. Barts; St. Kitts; Guadeloupe; Martinique; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Barbados; St. Lucia; Antigua; Saba; St. Maarten ($5,022 oceanview).

Norwegian Star: Departs Oct. 21 for 14 nights. New York; St. Thomas; Antigua; Barbados; Curaao; Aruba; Cozumel; New Orleans ($2,199 balcony oceanview sold out)

Silversea Spirit: Departs Nov. 30 for nine nights. Ft. Lauderdale; Grand Turk; St. Barts; Antigua; St. Kitts; Tortola; Ft. Lauderdale ($4,199 vista suite).

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Cruise ships visiting less-busy Caribbean islands

Vietnamese Protest Over Islands Dispute With China

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A group of Vietnamese marched through the capital's streets shouting "Down with China!" in a rare protest Sunday following growing tensions over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

About 200 people chanted in the rain, some waving flags and holding signs, as they walked through central Hanoi toward the Chinese Embassy. Police stopped traffic and did not attempt to quash the event, but the area near the embassy was cordoned off.

The protest follows China's recent announcement that it will open nine oil and gas lots for development to international bidders, even though the area overlaps with Vietnam's current exploration contracts.

AP

"We are very angry with China's recent offer to look for oil inside Vietnam's territory," said Phuong Bich, 53, who was arrested three times last year during similar demonstrations that were broken up. "We urge the government to take action."

Hanoi says the area where the China National Offshore Oil Corp., or CNOOC, has identified lies within Vietnam's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. State-owned PetroVietnam has encouraged foreign companies to ignore China's offer and says it will continue working on contracts signed with ExxonMobil, Russia's Gazprom, India's ONGC and PetroVietnam affiliate PVEP.

Rhetoric between the two communist neighbors has become increasingly hostile in recent weeks. Beijing's Defense Ministry said it has "battle-ready" patrols protecting its interests in the South China Sea and warned Vietnam to back off its reported aerial patrols of the disputed Spratly Islands.

Contested areas of the South China Sea are a long-standing source of animosity among claimants from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. Disputed territory straddles important international shipping lanes and is believed to be teeming with fish and rich in oil and gas reserves. Some fear the brewing tensions could result in violence.

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Vietnamese Protest Over Islands Dispute With China

Asylum smugglers move boats to Cocos Islands

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Asylum seekers arrive on Christmas Island yesterday. Photo: Sharon Tisdale

AUTHORITIES are rushing to upgrade quarantine facilities at the remote Cocos Islands, confirming fears that people smugglers from Sri Lanka and southern India have chosen the location as a new frontier in the asylum seeker trade.

A jet-load of stretchers, washing machines, dryers, antiseptic and other supplies was flown out of Christmas Island early yesterday morning, bound for the Cocos Islands, almost 1000 kilometres across the Indian Ocean to the west.

A boat carrying 67 Sri Lankan Tamils arrived at the Cocos cluster of islands, also known as the Keelings, on Saturday. They were housed overnight in the only available accommodation, the Cocos and Keeling Social Club, before being flown by chartered jet back to Christmas Island this morning, where they were transported to the island's packed detention centre.

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It was the fourth people smuggling boat transporting Tamils in less than a month to reach Cocos, which previously had been immune from the sea-borne traffic of asylum seekers.

However, the Cocos group is much closer to Sri Lanka and southern India, where hundreds of thousands of Tamils are in refugee camps, than Christmas Island. Christmas Island itself is more than 1500 kilometres west of the nearest point on the Australian mainland.

The latest arrival at the Cocos cluster has alarmed Border Protection authorities, because the route to the Cocos group adds many thousands of square kilometres to the already vast spread of ocean it must place under surveillance.

The tiny population of the Cocos Islands - 600, spread over two outcrops, one inhabited mainly by Caucasians, the other by ethnic Malays - is angry at losing access to its only social club every time a load of asylum seekers arrives.

The club, on the main Caucasian-inhabited island, known as West Island, is closed to its members while asylum seekers are housed there, and also for several days after they leave, because it must be quarantined and disinfected.

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Asylum smugglers move boats to Cocos Islands

Genetics 'could improve' Aboriginal health

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Researchers are hoping to solve more indigenous health problems by overcoming barriers to genetic research in Aboriginal communities.

IT comes as the first research in almost a decade investigating genetic causes of disease in Aboriginal people is set to be released, after widespread opposition to the practice stymied research projects for years.

Melbourne University anthropologist Emma Kowal said research into genetic associations between diabetes and middle-ear infections would shortly be published, while studies into heart disease, kidney disease and vulval cancer started in the past two years.

Dr Kowal, writing in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, said ethical concerns around indigenous genetic research internationally - such as its potential to inadvertently reinforce racial stereotypes - had contributed to Australian projects losing or being rejected funding.

"What we've seen in the past couple of years is that tide of opinion start to reverse," Dr Kowal told AAP.

Dr Kowal, from the university's School of Social and Political Sciences, said Australian guidelines needed to be developed for ethical genetic research in indigenous communities.

Similar guidelines had been developed in Canada, including specific guidance on how biospecimens should be collected, stored and used, Dr Kowal said.

Guidelines should also include how to effectively communicate genetic concepts to Aboriginal communities.

Australia's national research body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, the Lowitja Institute, hosted discussions between the research and indigenous communities in the past two years.

As a result, a team of indigenous and non-indigenous researchers and geneticists formed a group to develop the Australian guidelines.

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Genetics 'could improve' Aboriginal health

We The People: 'Be your own advocate' in health care

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REEDSBURG Emily Rogers has progressed so much during her three-year battle with a rare autoimmune disease that she can write her name again and hold a sandwich without squeezing it so tightly that it squishes between her fingers.

Those are major milestones for Emily, 45, a former teacher and mother of three who has been limited to a wheelchair since Devic's disease took over her body by producing antibodies that attack her spine.

Much of the credit for her progress goes to an expensive drug and the surgical insertion of a pump that sends a muscle relaxer directly into her spinal fluid. But equally important, say Emily and her husband, Phil, was learning to navigate the health care maze before, during and after those treatments.

While the debate over national health care policy rages on following last week's Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act, the efforts the Rogerses have made at being personally involved in their care has been both harder and more effective than any government policy.

"Your health care is a 'we' thing," Phil said, adding that Americans must learn about their illnesses and how to work with their providers and insurers to get the care they need.

"You have to be engaged in your health care just like you should be engaged in your education."

The couple believe health care, whether administered privately or publicly, is a life game that is won or lost by attitudes, work ethic, knowledge and persistence.

They know Emily's quality of life and recovery depends on how they play it.

"This is the lot that we have," said Phil, a principal and teacher at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church school in Reedsburg. "We pray about it. Our church continues to support us and pray for her and for us through it."

But they know they can't sit still and wait for miracles to occur.

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We The People: 'Be your own advocate' in health care