Sunday, February 07, 2010

For now, has NASA taken space flight as far as it SHOULD go without private investment?



I believe President Obama could not be more correct, again. Commercial aviation companies have won awards for taking space flight into private enterprise. Why should the USA government have a monopoly on the future?

More jobs. More opportunity. More talent bringing space programs innovation at a quicker pace. It is time to turn space over to private enterprise. Space ventures will expand the monies being spent by NASA to include the funds private investors can bring to the programs.

The time will come when NASA will again seek ventures to the Moon, Mars and beyond. But, it is time to allow the private sector to take their options as far as can be realized. I wish everyone the very best of luck and look forward to an Earth focus for NASA in the meantime.

NASA to explore private space flight (click here)

Last Updated: Monday, February 1, 2010 | 12:57 PM ET

NASA will get nearly $6 billion to encourage private companies to launch their own spacecraft under the budget proposed by the Obama administration Monday.U.S. President Barack Obama's budget would cut NASA's planned mission to the moon, called the Constellation program, which Obama called "over budget, behind schedule and lacking in innovation."

NASA has already spent $9 billion on the Constellation program, which began after the 2003 shuttle accident, including the test launch of the Ares 1-X rocket in October.

The budget would provide $5.9 billion to the agency over the next five years to fund private space-flight companies.

The budget's commitment to NASA is $100 billion over the next five years.

Under the plan, NASA would pay the companies to carry U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station and other destinations in orbit.

NASA would then be a guaranteed customer for the private space companies through 2020. Proponents of private space flight point out the parallel with the early days of air travel, when private airlines had a guaranteed customer in the U.S. government to deliver airmail....

A real sports success story. Wilma Rudolph over came polio to become an Olymic hero.



...Wilma was born prematurely and weighed only 4.5 pounds. Again, because of racial segregation, she and her mother were not permitted to be cared for at the local hospital. It was for whites only. There was only one black doctor in Clarksville, and the Rudolph's budget was tight, so Wilma's mother spent the next several years nursing Wilma through one illness after another: measles, mumps, scarlet fever, chicken pox and double pneumonia. But, she had to be taken to the doctor when it was discovered that her left leg and foot were becoming weak and deformed. She was told she had polio, a crippling disease that had no cure. The doctor told Mrs. Rudolph that Wilma would never walk. But Mrs. Rudolph would not give up on Wilma. She found out that she could be treated at Meharry Hospital, the black medical college of Fisk University in Nashville. Even though it was 50 miles away, Wilma's mother took her there twice a week for two years, until she was able to walk with the aid of a metal leg brace. Then the doctors taught Mrs. Rudolph how to do the physical therapy exercises at home. All of her brothers and sisters helped too, and they did everything to encourage her to be strong and work hard at getting well. Finally, by age 12, she could walk normally, without the crutches, brace, or corrective shoes. It was then that she decided to become an athlete....

  • United Press Athlete of the Year 1960
  • Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year 1960
  • James E. Sullivan Award for Good Sportsmanship 1961 *
  • The Babe Zaharias Award 1962
  • European Sportswriters' Sportsman of the Year *
  • Christopher Columbus Award for Most Outstanding International Sports Personality 1960*
  • The Penn Relays 1961 *
  • New York Athletic Club Track Meet *
  • The Millrose Games *
  • Black Sports Hall of Fame 1980
  • U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame 1983
  • Vitalis Cup for Sports Excellence 1983
  • Women's Sports Foundation Award 1984
* indicates first woman to receive the award/invitation

The Weather at Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Crystal Wind Chime) is warmer than the lower 48 states.



January 31, 2010
Sveti Jakob, Slovenia
Photographer states :: In a deep winter.


President Obama has put the USA in the lead once again to reverse the trends of Human Induced Global Warming. Given the global economic tragedy of 2008 and the potential of this continuing natural tragedy I believe we have more than competent leadership to reverse this dangerous trend of Earth's climate.




The financial cost to world economy of a warming, melting, thawing Arctic due to human induced greenhouse emissions over the next 40 years, according to a study by the Pew Environment Group, will add up to at least $2.4 trillion.
(Getty Images)


8 deaths during storm investigated (click here)

The News Journal
February 7, 2010
Officials are investigating eight reported deaths in New Castle County over the last two days.Authorities are trying to determine if they are related to activities during the snowstorm, such as shoveling or walking in extreme weather conditions from the weekend’s snow....




February 7, 2010
21:13 gmt
Temperature map of the USA.

Study Says Arctic Ice Melt to Cost Global Economy $2.4 Trillion (click title to entry - thank you)

Experts Say Estimating Dollar Cost of Global Warming Devilishly Complex

On one hand, it is a very, very round number -- obviously just a rough and imperfect estimate of the economic impacts of an enormously complex and often unpredictable jumble of warming Earth climate systems.

The financial cost to the world economy of a warming and melting Arctic, due to human induced greenhouse emissions over the next 40 years, will add up to at least $2.4 trillion, according to a study by the Pew Environment Group.

That's a 24 followed by 11 zeroes....

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Local Time: 11:49 AM AKST (GMT -09)

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Updated: 11:36 AM AKST on February 07, 2010

Elevation: 33 ft

Temperature :: 45 F

Conditions :: Overcast

Windchill :: 39 F

Humidity :: 66%

Dew Point :: 34 F

Wind :: 12 mph from the SSE

Wind Gust :: 16 mph

Pressure :: 29.70 in (Falling)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds :: Overcast 9000 ft.
(Above ground level)