The distances are expressed in A. Feb 27, 2011 · Most asteroids sit in the main asteroid belt. Mar 11, 2016 · Mining asteroids to tap resources for humanity. Asteroid 2019 OK, which is thought to be between 187 and 427 feet in diameter, came. NASA keeps close watch on these asteroids. Some 130 have been 20 discovered with the list growing by five or six a year. One weak point of gravitational tractor is that the deflection capability is limited by the mass and propellant of the spacecraft. from the sun. Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter the Earth's neighborhood. As they orbit the Sun, Near-Earth Objects occasionally approach close to Earth. For reference, the radius of Earth is approximately 0. 5 million km, 4. There are about 10,000 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), and some cross Earth’s path, while others are contained within Earth's orbit. Learn the asteroids magnitude, diameter, velocity, astronomical and lunar distances which near misses Earth. The "maria" cover 16% of the Moon's surface. The list of NEAs maintained at the Minor Planet Center (MPC) is checked daily to identify new objects or changes in the orbital parameters of. Dedicated NEO surveys like Spacewatch and LINEAR were only beginning to come on line or were years away. The phrase "Near Earth Asteroids" is most popular in the general public, but has been superceded in the scientific community by the phrase "Near Earth Objects" and given the acronym NEO, in order to distinguish between:. Labelled 2019 AT6, it came within 3. Apr 22, 2009 · By attaching the ballast, French explains, "you change the object’s center of mass, effectively changing the object’s orbit and allowing it to pass by the Earth, rather than impacting it. The rapid approach of three rogue asteroids has prompted NASA to issue a warning about 'near-Earth objects'. Those observed range in diameter from 948 km (1 Ceres) to a few meters. Some would have cooled from the outside in, crystallizing a surface. Dec 06, 2008 · A group of the world's leading scientists has urged the United Nations to establish an international network to search the skies for asteroids on a collision course with Earth. , Landis, R. Dr Morrison says that there are clues of the asteroids in a large number of impact craters found throughout the solar system by robot spacecraft explain mg planets. 72 million miles from Earth in this October 10, 2017 image by Mike Olason in Denver, Colorado, on it's way to a close approach with Earth on October 12. Any asteroid that gets loose is certain to crash into Earth within a matter of hours. NASA also. The ones that come close to Earth are called Near-Earth asteroids. Asteroids, Comets & Meteors Quandrantids Astronomical chart showing Bootes the Ploughman holding a spear, a sickle, and two dogs, Asterion and Chara, on leash, also showing a quadrant, and the hair of Berenice forming the constellations. It is believed that as much as 10% of the Near-Earth Objects are actually extinct comet nuclei. NASA's list of potential big space rock crashes shows no pending major threats on its impact danger scale. Target Asteroids! is a communication and public engagement project of the OSIRIS-REx mission. Oct 28, 2015 · The asteroids did for the dinosaurs, so will they do for us? Photograph: Kauko Helavuo/Getty Images Every day, Earth is hit by something from space. Currently, we have discovered probably about 60 percent of the near-Earth asteroid and short-period comet population having body sizes of 1. “Because this asteroid is a Trojan asteroid, it interacts with the Earth in a very special way allowing us a unique opportunity to study near-Earth asteroids. The comet Swift Tuttle (26 km) has one chance in a million of an impact in 4479. The Asteroid Club is one of the Astronomical League's observing award programs. Close Continue Watching Where You Left Off! How the Earth Was Made on pinterest. To ensure realistic estimates, data from meteorites on Earth and known reference asteroids heavily influence our calculations. If you see this message, your browser is not compatible. It is divided into five layers. (1 AU = the distance between Earth and the Sun, or ~93 million miles) For a sample return mission like OSIRIS-REx, the most accessible asteroids for a spacecraft to reach are located between 1. "In addition, DART will be the first planned visit to a binary asteroid system, which is an important subset of near-Earth asteroids and one we have yet to fully understand. 1AU (about 15 million kilometres or 4 times the distance from Earth to the Moon) within the next 60 days. The near-Earth asteroids are likely targets for resources to support space industrialization, as they appear to be the least expensive source of certain needed raw materials. These are asteroids or comets whose orbits bring them close to Earth’s, and. These are of obvious interest to scientists. Feb 26, 2018 · The simple answer is: probably not. For example, a table of orbital elements for all near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) can be generated using this tool. At the time of its discovery, the asteroid's orbital period around the Sun was 368 days. The Chicxulub asteroid is probably the most famous space rock in the world. After all, the Moon and Mars are both far larger than all of the asteroids put together, and both are closer to Earth than most of the asteroids and comets (the NEAs being an obvious exception). Oct 28, 2015 · The asteroids did for the dinosaurs, so will they do for us? Photograph: Kauko Helavuo/Getty Images Every day, Earth is hit by something from space. Lemmon Survey by J. JPL keeps an online list of all asteroids with any probability of hitting Earth. Nov 28, 2019 · The Last Surviving Species on Earth May Well Be the Tardigrade. Please, feel free to forward it to potentially interested people. The 3 main subcategories of Near Earth Asteroids are: Amor asteroids -- whose orbits approach but do not cross Earth orbit, and whose orbits are further from the Sun than Earth's orbit. View full video. PERMANENT focuses on the Moon, especially the lunar poles which have water ice and other volatiles, as well as Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs) / Near Earth Objects (NEOs). They come and they go, occasionally making news around the date of closest approach. More recently the current. There is increasing interest in identifying asteroids whose orbits cross Earth's, and that could, given enough time, collide with Earth (see Earth-crosser asteroids). OSIRIS-REx hopes to answer questions about the early formation of our solar system and to improve our ability to predict the paths of asteroids that travel near to Earth. To get the number of potentially minable asteroids, you start with the total number in the solar system, which is a very big number. Followed Pallas, Vesta, Hygiea, Sylvia and many others. The European Space Agency (ESA) has put it in second place on its 'Risk List' for Near-Earth Asteroids. The spaceguard. Asteroids still only smack Earth on average every million or few million years, even with the increased crash rate. The vast majority can be ruled out instantly, as they are found in the main asteroid belt, orbiting between Mars and Jupiter – too far away to be considered as potential mining targets. If you see this message, your browser is not compatible. NASA unveils plan to prevent asteroids from striking Earth. They represent another facet into the myth of who we are! CHIRON - is an asteroid that travels between Saturn (representing our Earthly limitations) and Uranus (our Higher mind) that are communicating to each other. The average surface temperature of an asteroid is -73C (-100F). [email protected] "Asteroids of this size do not often approach this close to our planet — maybe only once or twice a year," said Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at NASA's Jet. May 14, 2018 · We have lost more than 900 near-Earth asteroids. There are actually 1000's of asteroids within our solar system, some of which are classified as moons. How big of an asteroid does it take to damage cities, states, countries, and the planet? On the fourth-annual World Asteroid Day (Saturday, June 30), we take a look at estimates from NASA, Purdue. Sep 09, 2015 · Asteroids that actually cross Earth’s orbital path are known as Earth-crossers and, an asteroid is called a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) if it will come less than. Similar to NASA's Close Approach Data , the ESA also regularly updates a catalogue of asteroids that zip. According to CNEOS, 481394 (2006 SF6) is an Aten asteroid. 999999999999% believe that the extinction of Man is. The actual definition of an NEO is a comet or asteroid whose orbit brings it close to Earth's orbit. Asteroid on course for near-collision with Earth and has been added to a list of 108 asteroids considered to be "potentially hazardous objects. As they orbit the Sun, Near-Earth Objects occasionally approach close to Earth. Nolan, Arecibo Observatory / Cornell University. This asteroid came very close. In 2028, the asteroid 1997XF11 will come extremely close to Earth but will miss the planet. The 15,000th near-Earth asteroid (2016 TB57) was discovered this month. For example, some asteroids are found in the orbital path of planets. Asteroid 93 miles across broke apart between Mars and Jupiter, flinging dust to Earth and blocking light from the sun Science Asteroid larger than the Shard set to skim past Earth next month, Nasa. Precise knowledge of the orbit is particularly important for so-called near-Earth asteroids, those potentially flying close to our planet. Even though many objects come remarkably close to our planet, this is only the third time an asteroid has been observed on. On the other hand, NEAs are most easily accessible for spacecraft from Earth; in fact, some can be reached with much less delta-v than it takes. Some NEAs' orbits intersect Earth's so they pose a collision danger. Undefined for comets. The solar system also contains the planets' moons, scattered gas and dust, asteroids, and comets. Its purpose is to encourage amateurs to learn to observe and identify asteroids. Jul 19, 2019 · The current year has seen at least three asteroids moving dangerously close to the earth, namely, 2019 NN3, 2019 MB4 and 2019 MT2. Cumulative number of Near-Earth Asteroid Radar Detections as a function of time. Most of them have no. 2007 FT3 asteroid magnitude is 20 H and asteroid diameter is between 266 and 594 meters. Sep 10, 2015 · Near-Earth Asteroids: These objects have orbits that pass close by that of Earth. Asteroid passing close to Earth today - no need to worry This article is more than 1 year old The space rock 2018 CB is up to 40m long and will come within 64,000km of the planet's surface. Oct 31, 2016 · Two sky surveys are attempting to provide early warning of asteroids incoming to Earth: The NASA Scout warning system, designed to find small objects, and the Sentry survey, looking for larger, more damaging, asteroids. The phrase "Near Earth Asteroids" is most popular in the general public, but has been superceded in the scientific community by the phrase "Near Earth Objects" and given the acronym NEO, in order to distinguish between:. Aside from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) is also monitoring 2005 ED224 through its Risk List, which catalogs asteroids that are in danger of colliding with Earth. Most of our exposures are made near the ecliptic (the plane cut by Earth's orbit about the Sun; most known solar system objects lie in or near the ecliptic), so a photograph may show several or even a few dozen asteroids. AllAboutSpace. Apr 23, 2017 · A newly discovered asteroid, named 2017 HV2, passed very nearby Earth at about 6:04 p. As they orbit the Sun, Near-Earth Objects occasionally approach close to Earth. The 15,000th near-Earth asteroid (2016 TB57) was discovered this month. Otherwise, simply follow the steps in each section: "Search. gov/~lance/future. There are, however, recognized impacts and we list some of them below ranging from events within the past few years, to large explosions that occurred in the past century, to huge explosions while humans were present on Earth, to global catastrophes eons ago. It does not pretend to completeness. near-earth asteroids Eros, Asteroid #433, is an elongated Near-Earth Asteroid which is 21 by 8 by 8 miles (33 by 13 by 13 kilometers). Average distance between Earth and the moon is about 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometers). Asteroids are small Solar System. 6 million miles of Earth. Most asteroids don't come anywhere near the Earth. 3 AU of the Sun. Dec 11, 2012 · An even closer encounter occurred earlier in 2011 when another small asteroid missed Earth by just 3,400 miles. The three asteroids vary in size and speed, but do have one thing in common - except Tomorrow is shaping up to be a busy day for close asteroid encounters. Current number of known asteroids with good orbital information: Name/Designation: NEAs only: All Asteroids. There are actually 1000's of asteroids within our solar system, some of which are classified as moons. This is a list of the "big five" largest asteroids in our solar system. Jul 18, 2015 · However, unlike the number above this does not include the small dust particles. To be an asteroid moon, an asteroid has to be smaller than the object it goes around. Once the system confirms that the asteroids pose no threat, they’re. Three new near-Earth asteroids designated 2019 UL3, 2019 UN8 and 2918 UO8, flew past Earth within 1 lunar distance on October 19, 23 and 25, respectively. There is no chance that the asteroid might be on a collision course with Earth. Nov 28, 2019 · The Last Surviving Species on Earth May Well Be the Tardigrade. 2 miles) in diameter is believed to have smashed into Earth some 65 million years ago, triggering global climate changes that led to the extinction of dinosaurs and other animals. 7 million miles, of Earth) around the sun and that is 140 meters (460 feet) and up in size is a potential hazard to Earth and identified as PHA's or Potential. Jul 04, 2018 · These often come near the earth and moon in the form of meteorites. Jul 30, 2002 · That was 2002 NT7--an object that might come close to Earth in 2019. NEAs are likely targets for resources to support space industrialization, as they may be the least expensive source of certain needed raw materials. With this information, we estimate the costs and rewards of mining asteroids. Jul 29, 2002 · Other recently discovered near-Earth asteroids will be added to the Risk page until their orbits are refined and they are then dropped off the list of closely watched objects. Jan 14, 2018 · The asteroids most likely to hit Earth All of this is to say that the asteroids on this list move in and out of our planet’s orbit — on a long enough timescale, we’re either going to. The asteroid was discovered in 1999 by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory. As the name suggests, NEOs are objects that orbit within 1. " An asteroid 6 to 10 miles across collided. This list contains many notable Near-Earth asteroids organised by their average distance from the Sun, and includes the planets and distances for comparability. The near-Earth asteroids are likely targets for resources to support space industrialization, as they appear to be the least expensive source of certain needed raw materials. 12, 2017, the asteroid 2012 TC4 is slated to whizz by Earth dangerously close. For now, the top priority is to detect and keep track of near-Earth objects, or NEOs, with NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observation Program playing the lead role. Jul 27, 2001 · Meteorites racing through Earth's atmosphere likewise shed heat via ablation. According to the monitoring system, this impact event could take. Asteroids are rich in minerals, the estimated wealth of the asteroid belt is 100 billion dollars for every person on Earth today. Millions of asteroids orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter, and Earth experiences quite a few close encounters throughout the year. To get the number of potentially minable asteroids, you start with the total number in the solar system, which is a very big number. Jan 19, 2015 · Link near-earth asteroids to global warming and hey presto you have the answer to the ‘major dangers’ of our planet (according to NASA). The Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam) is a proposed space-based infrared telescope designed to survey the Solar System for potentially hazardous asteroids. With revamping, ICBMs will destroy all those meteorites between 20 to 50 meters in size that will ‘dangerously’ come close to the Earth in the future. None of these of any danger to Earth for now or for thousands of years. 3-km) wide asteroid with a 99. Of the 9,500 or so Near Earth Asteroids curently known, about 850 are bigger than 1 km, and about 1,700 are easier to get to than landing on the Moon. Click on the object designation to go to a page with full details on that. Compared with the other asteroids in CNEOS’ list, 481394 (2006 SF6) is the biggest space rock that will fly past Earth next month. Al Grauer with Travelers in the Night, data from the Goldstone Solar System Radar telescope and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico suggests that of near-earth travelers larger than 650 feet in. Asteroids are left over from the formation of our solar system. What we intend to do: Artist's rendition of a Solar Scout™ CubeSat Explorer deploying Chipsat Sensors at a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) a few million kilometers from the. Jun 07, 2019 · THE RISK of apocalyptic asteroids hitting Earth may be slim but it's definitely not impossible. Another asteroid, '2019 NJ2', is likely to join this list on. For example, on February 15 of 2013, Asteroid 2012 DA14 will cross very close to Earth (about 4000 miles) - so. These are asteroids or comets whose orbits bring them close to Earth's, and. The following table summarizes by object the potential future Earth impact events that the JPL Sentry System has detected based on currently available observations. Apr 21, 2015 · There are more than 10,000 near-Earth asteroids shooting by at any given moment, and many of them contain valuable resources like water,… The Next Great Gold Rush Won't Be Taking Place on Earth. The world could quite possibly end anyway on Feb 1, 2019. While given less than a one in 250,000 chance of actually hitting the Earth, scientists at NASA's Near Earth Object (NEO) program have no intention of turning their backs on any of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroids discovered so far. Jan 17, 2019 · Asteroids still only smack Earth on average every few million years. Mike Wehner @MikeWehner. #AsteroidDay is an official @UN day, observed on June 30. These balls of ice and dust, typically 30-60 miles (50-100km) wide, have unstable, elliptical orbits that start far beyond Neptune, the most distant planet from the Sun. Sep 18, 2019 · Now let’s look at another important tool for understanding Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs): the Torino Scale. [email protected] NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office can accurately predict the path of the small near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14. - Near Earth Asteroids. Feb 27, 2011 · Most asteroids sit in the main asteroid belt. Sep 27, 2019 · NASA has doubled what it is spending to help detect and possibly deflect asteroids on a collision course with Earth. 9, at around 2:30 p. New information becomes available every day as scientists keep a close watch on the skies. Nov 24, 2019 · Discussion: This is discussed on this page. Sep 10, 2015 · Near-Earth Asteroids: These objects have orbits that pass close by that of Earth. Three rogue asteroids are set to speed uncomfortably close to the Earth tomorrow. Review the Target Asteroids! list on the website for objects for which we need data. Image credit: NASA/JHUAPL. Similar to NASA's Close Approach Data , the ESA also regularly updates a catalogue of asteroids that zip. Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site Asteroids Dynamic Site Up-to-date osculating orbital elements and proper orbital elements University of Pisa, Italy. Visit NASA Space Place for more kid-friendly facts. LD means (Lunar Distance) 1 LD = 384,401 km or 238,855 miles, that is the distance between the Earth and Moon. At present around 9,000 known asteroids travelling in an orbit close to Earth’s have been identified, with around 1,000 new ones being discovered each year, all of which as easy to reach as the moon. But a major asteroid strike could and has happened. Due to their distance from Earth and small physical size, asteroids will be identi ed as point sources in SDSS data, so this list of 6 million sources must be culled to retain only those objects with a velocity in the target range. They detected actual remnants of ancient projectiles and have shown, without any ambiguity, that the material hitting the Moon (and, thus, the Earth) was chondritic in nature, from asteroids, and dominated by material not currently being delivered to the Earth as meteorites. The orbit of this minor planet is unreliable but it’s predicted to have a chance of hitting Earth midway through this century. If a comet or asteroid's approach brings it to within 1. Furthermore, exploitation of asteroids for precious metals and semiconducting elements is a possible environmentally friendly remedy. 5 million km, 4. 2017 Not all telescopes worked as planned due to technical issues, which can happen. Millions of these can be found between the planets in. Asteroid passing close to Earth today - no need to worry This article is more than 1 year old The space rock 2018 CB is up to 40m long and will come within 64,000km of the planet's surface. They are also the most common type of asteroid: carbonaceous chondrites. It's traveling at a speed of about 30,000 miles an hour, and it's heading toward Earth. Asteroids actually pass close to Earth fairly often, but it's their size that matters. Its purpose is to encourage amateurs to learn to observe and identify asteroids. The 15,000th near-Earth asteroid (2016 TB57) was discovered this month. au , fax +61 8 8278 7279) Mark Sonter. Mar 01, 2011 · Tens of thousands of near-earth objects—asteroids and comets—pass by our planet in regular orbits. There are far more NEAs than NECs (discovered as of 2018: more than 18,000 NEAs and about 100 NECs). Dec 08, 2011 · NASA catalogs thousands of asteroids near Earth. Now designated 2017 AG13, the 10-storey (25-35m) tall space rock was first spotted on Saturday by the Catalina Sky Survey and was travelling at 16 kilometres per second, reports news. All of the energy of the dispositors of planets here land back in the 2nd house. Jul 04, 2018 · These often come near the earth and moon in the form of meteorites. Johnson, will be closest to the Earth in 2026. The naming contest for the near Earth asteroid currently named (101955) 1999 RQ36 is a partnership of the Planetary Society; MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, the discoverers of (101955) 1999 RQ36; and the University of Arizona, who under principal investigator Dante Lauretta was chosen by NASA to lead the OSIRIS-REx (Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer. 0000426 AU (6,370 km; 3,960 mi) or 0. Asteroids that do are best known by the major craters they leave behind. The JPL Small-Body Database Browser provides data for all known asteroids and many comets. Asteroid on course for near-collision with Earth and has been added to a list of 108 asteroids considered to be "potentially hazardous objects. 3-6, 2002. 33 Lunar Distance of Earth, which. AsteroidTracker is a Near-Earth Object tracking app for iOS & Android, featuring SpaceTracks, a news feed with all manner of news about space, science and more. We often hear from astronomers and other scientists about 'near-earth asteroids' - lumps of rock and metal that orbit through our Solar System, and pass close enough to our planet to pose an. This series of posts discusses asteroids. They are known as Earth-crossing asteroids and comets. NASA keeps close watch on these asteroids. The known majority of them orbit the Sun in the so-called main. Target Asteroids! is a communication and public engagement project of the OSIRIS-REx mission. They also estimate between 36 and 166 meteorites larger than 10 grams fall to Earth per million square kilometers per year. Dec 08, 2011 · NASA catalogs thousands of asteroids near Earth. May 20, 2009 · The bombardment of Earth nearly 4 billion years ago by asteroids as large as Kansas would not have had the firepower to extinguish potential early life on the planet and may even have given it a boost, says a new University of Colorado at Boulder study. 72 million miles from Earth in this October 10, 2017 image by Mike Olason in Denver, Colorado, on it's way to a close approach with Earth on October 12. Asteroids coming this close cross through the zone of geosynchronous satellites. recruits a misfit team of deep core drillers to save the planet. Most of them have no. The ESA's Risk List catalogues near-Earth objects that might hit the planet in the future. This asteroid is also the largest closest passing object currently in the active dataset. The largest asteroid known to man, Ceres, is about 590 miles (950 km) in diameter. NASA has selected United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket to dispatch the Lucy spacecraft on a mission from Cape Canaveral in October 2021 to fly by seven unexplored asteroids, including six. However, Don Yeomans, manager. May 23, 2018 · Find out why Close. The comet Swift Tuttle (26 km) has one chance in a million of an impact in 4479. Near-Earth objects (NEO) are asteroids, comets and large meteoroids whose orbit intersects Earth's orbit and which may therefore pose a collision danger. The largest of them could measure more than 300 feet across – matching up to Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty – and. Apr 23, 2017 · A newly discovered asteroid, named 2017 HV2, passed very nearby Earth at about 6:04 p. Current number of known asteroids with good orbital information: Name/Designation: NEAs only: All Asteroids. The latest Tweets from AsteroidTracker (@AsteroidTracker). Asteroids are another symbolic aspect of the chart that reflects subtle energies we find useful in the interpretation. Visit NASA Space Place for more kid-friendly facts. It has an easy-to-use structure that allows readers to start at a basic level on each topic, and then to progress to much more advanced information as desired, simply by clicking on links. A search facility puts the information in easy reach. Courtesy of Karel A. “But it is still possible the next Tunguska would take us by surprise, and although we. [email protected] near-earth asteroids Eros, Asteroid #433, is an elongated Near-Earth Asteroid which is 21 by 8 by 8 miles (33 by 13 by 13 kilometers). The NEO Chronology is regularly updated (no claim on completeness). The average surface temperature of an asteroid is -73C (-100F). The asteroid was discovered in 1999 by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory. Ceres is the largest diameter of about 1000 km. Apr 23, 2017 · A newly discovered asteroid, named 2017 HV2, passed very nearby Earth at about 6:04 p. Andrew Masterson reports. and that there’s a big difference between an asteroid traveling “near Earth” and. This is further evidence of collisions among the asteroids. * Yet 10% of Close-Up Asteroids Are Peanuts: To multiply this peanut evidence against secular expectations, according to old-earth astronomer Dr. Apr 26, 2015 · Death from above. Asteroids contain an abundance of valuable resources including platinum, gold, iron, nickel, rare earth metals and water. NEOCam would survey from the Sun–Earth L1 Lagrange point, allowing it to look close to the Sun and see objects inside Earth’s orbit. 3 (Pluto) Occultation. Those observed range in diameter from 948 km (1 Ceres) to a few meters. And none of them present an immediate danger to us. It's traveling at a speed of about 30,000 miles an hour, and it's heading toward Earth. Data access. recruits a misfit team of deep core drillers to save the planet. 1st asteroid landing - NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft and asteroid Eros Asteroid Eros - 1st on the list of successful landings by a spacecraft. A thick red line snakes across Earth’s surface – a ‘risk corridor’ for the possible impact of an asteroid, based on its observed trajectory through space. Here's a typical example. Like the waves that come and go around an island, our planet Earth is surrounded by an ocean of asteroids moving around us. 2019 LF6 is one of only 20 known "Atira" asteroids, whose orbits fall entirely within Earth's. The Widget displays the date of closest approach, approximate object diameter, relative size and distance from Earth for each encounter. In this role, she will be supporting the Office of Planetary Protection in its efforts to promote the responsible exploration of the solar system by implementing and developing efforts that protect the science, explored environments and Earth. Its value depends on the way light is scattered by particles on the asteroid’s surface. Asterank is a scientific and economic database of over 600,000 asteroids. Jan 11, 2016 · NASA is taking a new step to help detect and track asteroids hurtling near Earth. Image credit: NASA/JHUAPL. But a few have been nudged from their originally circular orbits by a close encounter with Jupiter or a collision with other asteroids. It does not pretend to completeness. They each have their own unique structure and properties. Many other near-Earth asteroids have high rotation rates--close to the limit where fission will occur--and at least 29 other such objects are double-lobed, like contact binaries. Humans have good reason to fear comets, asteroids and other massive space objects. Asteroids & Comets. Those that come close to Earth are known as Near Earth Objects. Selected under NASA's Discovery Program, the would bemissions include the exploration of Venus and asteroids, as well as large scale analysis of near-Earth objects. Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are asteroids that travel to within 1. The program will update the list as needed but at least annually. Dec 14, 2012 · Asteroid designations may contain one to three labels based on the number of oppositions observed: Provisional designations include the year of discovery, a letter signifying the half-month period, and a letter in order of discovery during that period (example: 2008 WN2). Get this from a library! Asteroids and comets. Their new orbits - which are also predictable - bring them to the inner Solar System where they can threaten Earth. Some NEAs' orbits intersect Earth's so they pose a collision danger. While NASA astronomers said the chances of the 1. The Late Heavy Bombardment: many massive impacts from debris left over after planet building, batter the Earth and Moon, and the inner planets, Mercury, Venus and Mars. 0 - 01 November 2019. Please, feel free to forward it to potentially interested people. Impact Probability. An AU is an astronomical unit and it is equal to the mean distance from the Sun to the Earth (approximately 150 million kilometers or 93 million miles). In order of distance from the sun they are; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Asteroids contain an abundance of valuable resources including platinum, gold, iron, nickel, rare earth metals and water. Apr 29, 2010 · An icy asteroid orbiting the sun between Mars and Saturn is adding credence to theories that Earth's water was delivered from space, according to a report published in the new issue of the science. Aside from the Moon. 0 - 01 November 2019. For reference, the radius of Earth is approximately 0. Sep 01, 2017 · ASTEROID Florence - the largest near Earth object ever detected by NASA - is fast approaching Earth and this is the path the HUGE space rock will take in the next 24 hours. A 427-foot asteroid shaped like a pyramid is set to whiz past Earth on Sunday. It does not pretend to completeness. Benner (Jet Propulsion Laboratory / California. The simple answer is: probably not. Potentially Dangerous Asteroids (Images) The asteroid will fly extremely close to Earth in 2029, and then again in 2036, but poses no threat of hitting the planet either time. List of the asteroids that closest to Earth. July 14, 2017 — The world's most indestructible species, the tardigrade, an eight-legged micro-animal, also known as the water bear, will survive until the sun dies, according to a new. 9 lunar distances on Dec. Its Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Near Earth Object Program tracks comets and asteroids and offers a list of potential threats via the Sentry impact monitoring system. What is the risk of asteroid impact?. While NASA has found many near-Earth objects large enough to cause global destruction, that percentage is not 100 percent. van der Hucht. Of these ‘doomsayers’, over 99. Even though many objects come remarkably close to our planet, this is only the third time an asteroid has been observed on. This article is about the belt between Mars and Jupiter. A search facility puts the information in easy reach. With that being said however, the current placement of Didymos (as well as its size, being the largest of the asteroids that can be reached from Earth) makes it a perfect subject for testing. As of March 2019, we knew of more than 600 000 asteroids in our Solar System. The fact of the matter is, there aren't any more near-Earth asteroids than there used to be. Large asteroid in near miss with Earth on. Here's what you need to know about this near-earth asteroid. At the time of its discovery, the asteroid's orbital period around the Sun was 368 days. Near-Earth Asteroids are prime targets for exploration, a fact realized in the 1970s. The three most important groups of near-Earth asteroid s are the Apollos , Amors , and Atens. Who Owns The Asteroids? : Discovery News Earth and sold to commercial, educational and research entities for a variety of purposes including remote studies of near-Earth asteroids. A meteor hit the earth and exploded with 2. NASA's Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR-Shoemaker) mission studied asteroids Mathilde and Eros; and the Rosetta mission encountered Steins in 2008 and Lutetia in 2010.


The sky delivery drone is one of the most anticipated technologies to be rolled out in the next few years.
It will be a great addition to any drone owner’s arsenal, especially when the new generation of drones becomes more affordable and popular.
Currently, the sky delivery is available only to customers who are certified as having an airworthiness certificate, but this certification will be required for any drone that is to be flown by the public in the future.
The FAA will require drone operators to pass the FAA-certified drone operator exam.
With sky delivery, it’s possible to send a drone to your doorstep from a drone with a sky delivery company and receive it within a matter of hours.
This technology will help ensure the safety of our skies and make drone flying safer for everyone.
While there are currently a few drone makers competing in the sky-delivery market, most of the competition is coming from companies that are not certified by the FAA.
Sky delivery is also an option that is available for those that have a certification in the FAA’s Aviation Safety Administration (ASA).
The Sky Delivery Certification Program is intended to help ensure safety and minimize the risk of crashes and injuries.
Drones will have to pass a stringent set of requirements before they can be used as part of an aerial drone operation.
The FAA is requiring a minimum of a two-year pilot license, as well as a personal log book and GPS tracking device.
The FAA also requires that the drone be capable of using a single pilot, and the pilot must be able to fly the drone at least 150 feet in altitude, in a straight line, and without deviation from the flight path of the aircraft.
The new FAA certification will require the drone to be equipped with a flight system capable of detecting and tracking the drone’s position and direction of flight.
The certification is not required for drones that are flown by private individuals.
According to the FAA, a drone can only fly over a restricted area within the designated airspace.
There are some exceptions to the rules though, and a drone that flies over an area where a private party is permitted to operate would be eligible for certification.
In order to receive certification, a pilot must have completed an FAA-approved flight training course.
The instructor must also complete a special training program.
The course must include at least one 20-hour training session, as opposed to a single 20-minute session.
The training is for a minimum period of time, which can range from two to three months, depending on the aircraft manufacturer.
The drone is then flown to the location of the FAA certification.
The drone is returned to its owner, who is then allowed to fly it within their airspace.
The certification process is administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Once a drone is certified, the FAA will then require the FAA to approve the drone for use by the general public.
This process can take anywhere from two months to three years.
The final approval for the FAA approval is based on an FAA analysis of the drone.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAAA) is the Federal agency that oversees drone use in the United States.
A number of other companies, including Drones Unlimited, FlySafe, and DroneFly, are vying for the sky deliver drone market.
As of October 1, there were over 10,000 drone flights conducted by drone operators in the U.S.
According to Drones USA, the total number of sky delivery flights in the country had increased by nearly 20 percent in the past year.


WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 19, 2008 ? A Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-767 aerial refueling aircraft built for the Italian Air Force transfers fuel to another Italian KC-767 during a Dec. 17 flight test over northern Kansas, marking the first time a KC-767 tanker has been refueled by another aircraft. During the flight test, Boeing aircrews made seven contacts and transferred more than 10,000 pounds of fuel using the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) system located on top of the aircraft, behind the cockpit. Boeing has two KC-767s in flight test for the Italian Air Force while building two additional tankers for the customer. The Italian tankers feature an advanced aerial refueling boom with a remote aerial refueling operator (RARO) station, as well as wing pod and centerline hose-and-drogue systems.


On Monday evening SpaceX will attempt the Falcon Heavy’s “most difficult launch ever,” its first nighttime launch for the vessel which will be ferrying multiple satellites into orbit.
Also on board will be the Lightsail 2, a crowd-funded solar-sail test mission that’s currently been promoted by Bill Nye. The spacecraft will be the first to be propelled solely by sunlight. The Japanese spacecraft Ikaros previously used a solar sail, but Lightsail will be the first to run exclusively on solar technology. I’ll let Bill explain it:
Additionally, the Falcon Heavy will also be bringing a Deep Space Atomic Clock into the orbit which can potentially be used to help future spacecraft navigate to destinations far away.
If you want to watch all the action, you’ll need to stay up late. The Falcon Heavy’s launch is expected to take place at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT. A livestream of the event will be on NASA’s website as well as it’s You Tube channel (embedded below).
If you miss it, you’ll also be able to catch a recording of the event on NASA’s YouTube channel later in the week.
Toys and CollectiblesAction figures, statues, exclusives, and other merchandise. Beware: if you look here, you’re probably going to spend some money afterwards.
July marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission which successfully landed two astronauts on the moon, and Lego is one of countless companies hoping to cash in on the accomplishment with a new 1,087-piece set that recreates the Lunar Lander with an impressive amount of detailing. But I’m a little disappointed the included Lego minifigures look like astronauts transplanted from a futuristic sci-fi movie.
Officially available starting June 1 for $100, the set includes the Apollo 11 Eagle lunar module with detachable ascent and descent stages so you can recreate the historic mission again and again. But for those times when you’re not procrastinating at work, the set also serves as a desk-friendly collectible allowing you to perch and display the lunar lander on an included replica of the moon’s surface—complete with craters, footprints, and a US flag.
There’s a respectable level of detail here for what is technically a children’s building toy, and Lego has even gone to the trouble of creating special gold versions of several parts so that the Lunar Lander set looks as accurate as possible. You won’t be fooling anyone if you try to use the model to snap fake moon landing photos, but for $100 it also doesn’t require you to break out the hobby knives, glue, or paint.
What’s disappointing, however, are the tiny spacesuits worn by the set’s astronaut minifigures. They’re the same spacesuit helmets used in other Lego sets, including a series of futuristic Mars-based playsets also released today. The included Apollo 11 minifigures are slightly different, but the set would have felt even more authentic had Lego gone the extra mile and created custom minifigure astronauts with spacesuits that more closely resembled what the real Apollo-era astronauts wore. The company churns out hundreds of new minifigures every year across its various sets and collectible series, so a retro spacesuit doesn’t seem like too egregious a request.
The twisting terrain of Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars has been home to NASA’s Curiosity for over a year, but it’s time for the rover to move on. As a final gesture before trekking toward a nearby region rich in clay, the probe captured a stunning 360-degree panorama of its final worksite at the ridge.
Curiosity is in Gale Crater where it’s been exploring iron-rich minerals in Vera Rubin Ridge for well over a year. Data gathered by the probe suggests rocks within this ridge formed from sediment that collected at the bottom of a now-dried up Martian lake. As to why these rocks aren’t eroding at the same rate of the bedrock around it, however, remains a mystery.
Having explored the area in detail, project scientists at NASA have now directed the probe to head towards a new region—a “clay-bearing unit” dubbed Glen Torridon, according to a NASA release. The rover will spend around a year exploring this region in its ongoing search for signs of prior habitability.
On December 19, 2018, Curiosity used its Mast Camera to capture a 360-degree panoramic image of its final work area at Vera Rubin Ridge, specifically a drill site known as Rock Hall. The composite image consists of 112 photographs, showing the future work area, the floor of Gale Crater, and the majestic Mount Sharp in the background. The colors in the image were adjusted to show what the rocks and sand would look like under daylight conditions on Earth.
Curiosity’s new work area, described as a trough between Vera Rubin Ridge and the mountainous area surrounding the crater, looks promising in terms of its scientific potential. Prior surveys made by NASA’s Mars orbiter suggest the rocks in this region are filled with phyllosilicates—clay minerals that form in water. Data collected at Glen Torridon could tell us more about the ancient lakes that once peppered Gale Crater during the early history of the Red Planet.
“In addition to indicating a previously wet environment, clay minerals are known to trap and preserve organic molecules,” Curiosity project scientist Ashwin Vasavada said in a statement. “That makes this area especially promising, and the team is already surveying the area for its next drill site.”
Indeed, Curiosity has already uncovered traces of clay minerals and organic molecules on Mars. On their own, organics aren’t suggestive of life, but they are the raw ingredients required for life. The prior presence of liquid water and organic molecules on the surface suggests the planet was once capable of fostering life, but more data is required to prove it. By exploring the clay-rich deposits at Glen Torridon, Curiosity may uncover evidence of the prior environments in which this hypothesized Martian life could have emerged.
If scientists can ever prove that Mars was once habitable (as opposed to actually fostering life—those are two different things), it means our Solar System once hosted at least two planets capable of hosting life. That’s a huge deal if true, with serious ramifications to our understanding of the Universe’s potential to bear life in general. To that end: Trek on Curiosity, trek on.


We may have all experienced turbulence on flights, but when a rough patch is so bad that the ceiling ends up covered in coffee then you know it’s serious.
Passengers on a recent Singapore Airlines flight were left surrounded by a chaotic mess after their flight fell 20 metres when it hit severe turbulence.
A total of 11 passengers and one crew member were injured on flight SQ308 from Singapore to London last Sunday.
Scroll down for video
HOW TURBULENCE CAN STRIKE AIRCRAFT AT ANY TIME
Turbulence during air travel is caused when bodies of air moving at different speeds meet and cause movements in the atmosphere.
The phenomenon is most common in jet streams and near mountain ranges, as these tend to cause more disruption in the air.
Turbulence can also be caused by thunderstorms, although these are more easily avoided as they can be tracked by technology.
It is experienced on nearly every commercial flight, but is usually not dangerous as pilots can escape it within minutes.
However, a tiny handful of incidents have caused serious injuries or even death.
BOAC Flight 911 crashed near Mt Fuji in Japan in 1966 after flying through severe storms, killing all 124 people on board.
More recently, a passenger on United Airlines Flight 826 died from her injuries in 1997 after the aircraft dropped 30 metres in the middle of the flight.
Flight attendants were told to immediately take their seats just before the aircraft hit the turbulence
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news


Drone Camp I and II
July 15-17, 2019 and July 17 -19, 2019 | 9am – 4pm (M/T), 9am – 12pm (W) and 1pm – 4pm (W), 9am – 4pm (Th/F)
Out of stock
Drone Camp – Exploring Geospatial Technology
This program involves hands on training on the flying, responsible use and many practical applications of the technology to agriculture. Students will learn how to plan missions, collect aerial images and create custom maps using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) technologies. Particular attention is paid to how drones provide the ability to create highly accurate aerial photos and maps with GPS and GIS software. Students will learn how these aerial photos and maps can be used for environmental monitoring, time sensitive event mapping and vegetation analysis.”
Drone Camp II – Advanced Exploration of Geospatial Technology
Drone Camp II will extend the skills developed in Drone Camp I through use of more advanced GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing tools. The focus of this camp will be on completing an applied project where multiple tools, and techniques are used to solve a specific problem. This group project focuses on the use of near-infrared drone imagery for analyzing agricultural crop health.
Age: This camp is for students entering 9th – 12th grade.
Program: GSTC 055 03 SC and GSTC 055 04 SC
Cost: $200 (both sessions)
Dates: July 15-17, 2019 (Drone Camp I) and July 17 -19, 2019 (Drone Camp II)
Drone Camp I: 9:00am – 4:00pm (Monday and Tuesday), 9:00am – 12:00pm (Wednesday)
Drone Camp II: 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Wednesday), 9:00am – 4:00pm (Thursday and Friday)
Location: Carlisle Area High School – 623 W Penn St, Carlisle, PA 17013
Instructor: Albert Sarvis


250 More Flights Cancelled, Several Passengers Left Stranded
Several passengers have been left stranded after a move to cancel 250 more flights.
Another 250 flights have been cancelled by American Airlines. The cancellation was done on Monday, continuing a days-long chain reaction of cancellations that started last week.
On Sunday the American airline was reported to have cancelled 1,058 flights of its originally scheduled flights. This number is in addition to the 548 flights the airline cancelled on Saturday and 343 flights on Friday.
The cancelled flights have left several tens of thousands of passengers stranded worldwide.
In a memo, American COO David Seymour said the airline is cancelling e Mn the earlier scheduled flights after high winds and bad weather hit major hubs including Dallas-Fort Worth on Thursday last week, leaving flight crews out of position.
Southwest Airlines cancelled more than 2,000 flights three weeks ago over several days citing weather and air traffic control issues.


The Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) was set up in 2003 and now has more than 300 members. The MAA board includes senior managers from Meggitt, Moog Aircraft Group, Rolls-Royce and UTC Aerospace Systems as well as elected supply chain representatives, key regional partner bodies and appointed experts. The chairman since 2008 has been Clive Snowdon, currently Aerospace Industrial Advisor at Cooper Parry Corporate Finance.
The Aluminium Federation is the trade association that represents the interests of the UK aluminium industry. Working closely with European Aluminium and the International Aluminium Institute, the Aluminium Federation acts as the point of contact between the aluminium industry and its many stakeholders.


How many aircraft does the Italian Air Force have?
|Italian Air Force|
|Size||43,000 personnel 716 aircraft|
Does Italy have f16?
On May 23rd, 2012 Gruppo 18°, the last remaining F-16 squadron of the Italian Air Force officially transitioned over to the EF2000. This event signified the retirement of the F-16 from the Italian Air Force after 8 years of service.
How many f35s does Italy have?
The FACO could also operate as a regional F-35 maintenance and support center. As of 2015, there are 800 Italians and 30-40 LM personnel at Cameri. On 24 November 2010, Guido Crosetto said that Italy was reconsidering its purchase of the STOVL F-35B, in light of the UK’s withdrawal from that variant.
What fighter jet does Italy use?
|F-35 Lightning II||United States||11 / 1|
|AMX International||Brazil / Italy||32|
What Air Force bases are in Italy?
It hosts the U.S. Air Force’s 31st Fighter Wing and is believed to host nuclear weapons. The 31st Fighter Wing is the only U.S. fighter wing south of the Alps….
|Aviano Air Base|
|Operator||Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) and US Air Force|
What type of fighter jets does Italy have?
|F-35 Lightning II||United States||multirole|
|AMX International||Brazil / Italy||ground attack|
Does Italy have a strong navy?
As of August 2014, the Italian Navy had a strength of 30,923 active personnel, with approximately 184 vessels in service, including minor auxiliary vessels. It is considered a multiregional and a blue-water navy….
|Motto(s)||Italian: Patria e Onore “Fatherland and Honour”|
Does Italy have a strong military?
For 2021, Italy is ranked 11 of 140 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 0.1801 (a score of 0.0000 is considered ‘perfect’). This entry last updated on 01/12/2022.
How many planes does the Italian Air Force have?
As of 2014, the Italian Air Force operates a total active fleet of 557 aerial vehicles, including 209 manned and 12 unmanned combat aircraft, with eight more Eurofighter Typhoon on order and 75 more F-35s planned. ^ Italy opens F-35 assembly line, as political opposition grows Archived 21 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
What planes did the US Air Force buy from Italy?
During the 1970s, the Air Force acquired the Italian Aeritalia G222 and the modern American C-130 Hercules tactical transport planes, capable of carrying cargo or paratroopers. It also received the new Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter Starfighter fighters for ground attack and air-defence purposes.
What happened to the Italian Air Force plane in Kabul?
An Italian Air Force plane, being utilized as part of the evacuation effort, has come under fire as it took off from Kabul airport, according to a Sky TG24 journalist onboard the aircraft. No injuries have been reported.
How many F-35s will Italy order from the US?
Italy’s planned order for 30 of the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft is to be split by the services, with each receiving 15, in addition to the 60 F35-As ordered for the Air Force.


A final test for AMS at ESTEC
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) left CERN on Friday 12th February on the first leg of its journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The special convoy carrying the experiment arrived at the European Space Agency’s research and technology centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 16th February. AMS will then fly to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida before lifting off aboard the space shuttle.
Arrival of the AMS detector at ESTEC in the Netherlands (Credit ESA/Jari Makinen)
The transportation of an 8.5-tonne load filled with superfluid helium across Europe is no ordinary shipment. The AMS detector was first inserted into a supporting structure, specially built by the collaboration’s mechanical engineers, then surrounded by protective plastic foil, placed in a box and finally carefully loaded onto the special lorry also carrying a diesel generator running a pump to keep the helium at the right temperature (about
2 K). Its initial destination is ESA’s Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC
), about 600 kilometres from CERN. Some 20 members of the AMS collaboration followed the detector on its journey, five of them in a car right behind the truck at a speed of 45 km/h. AMS’ journey took four days and was carried out by a German company that had already transported the AMS magnet and parts of the CMS detector.
While waving goodbye to the truck, the collaboration members who were busy preparing the special shipment for the last three days hoped never to see the detector at CERN again. Indeed, this will mean that AMS has received the “go-ahead” for the next leg to KSC.
Arrival in the clean room at ESTEC
(Credit ESA/Anneke de Floc'h)
At ESTEC AMS will be placed in ESA’s thermo-vacuum room that simulates space vacuum to test the detector’s capacity to exchange heat and thus maintain its thermal balance, which is essential to the functioning of the detector’s electronics and especially its unique superconducting magnet, the first of its kind to be launched into space. If all goes well, towards the end of May the detector will embark on a journey to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a C5 aircraft owned by the US Air Force. There, it will prepare to board space shuttle Discovery, on its last-but-one flight (mission STS-134
) before the programme is terminated by NASA. Lift-off is scheduled for July.
Once docked to the ISS, AMS will examine fundamental issues about matter and the origin and structure of the Universe directly from space. Its main scientific target is the search for dark matter and antimatter, in a programme that is complementary to that of the Large Hadron Collider. AMS data from space will be transmitted from the ISS to Houston, USA, and on to CERN, where the detector control centre will be located, and to a number of regional physics analysis centres set up by the collaborating institutes.
(Credit ESA/Anneke de Floc'h)
The AMS detector components were constructed by an international team with significant contributions from CERN Member States France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, as well as China and the USA. Assembly and testing with beam was carried out at CERN with help from the Laboratory’s engineering services. In particular, protons from the SPS were used to check the detector’s momentum resolution, thus confirming the spectrometer’s ability to measure particle curvature and momentum. AMS’s ability to distinguish electrons from protons was also tested at CERN. This is very important for the measurement of cosmic rays, 90% of which are protons and constitute a natural background for other signals that AMS scientists are interested in.
For further information about AMS arrival at ESTEC, please click here
Watch the video:
by Paola Catapano


Nigeria Airline, Air Peace has made history by the becoming the first Africa Airline to acquire the new E195-E2 aircraft
The wings and empennage on the airline first E195-E2 have just been joined to the fuselage. This is the first of the 13 E195-E2 aircraft which they ordered.
Delivery is planned in Q3 as Air Peace will be the first African carrier to fly the E195-E2 and the first to configure the premium cabin with the staggered seat option.
The 124-seat aircraft will complement the 8 ERJ145s in the fleet of the airline subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper.
Air Peace is a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013 with its head office in Lagos State, Nigeria. Air Peace, which provides passenger and charter services, serves the major cities of Nigeria and flies to several West African destinations and the Middle East


A combination sale spreading across much of aviation history. Secrets to cropdusting and flying in the airlines, and essays from Navy flying, flight instructing, and more.
From Cropduster to Airline Captain, The Biography of Captain LeRoy H. Brown
By LeRoy H. Brown and Dr. Leo F. Murphy
In 1936 a wide-eyed boy by the name of LeRoy Brown clambered aboard a 1929 Waco 10 converted to crop dusting duty, sat down in the grimy hopper, and then launched into a clear-blue Florida sky on a wondrous flight that ignited a life-long passion with flying and airplanes. More than 35,000 flight hours later, Captain LeRoy Brown stepped out of the cockpit of a Pan American World Airways DC-10 to end a commercial aviation career that spanned nearly five decades. In between he filled dozens of logbooks, with exciting tales of flying biplane crop dusters, B-17 freight haulers, old airliners, surplus military trainers, state-of-the-art propeller and jet airliners, and more than 150 personally owned airplanes.
Packed with photographs and generous sidebars of supplemental information, From Crop Duster to Airline Captain chronicles the life and flying stories of Captain LeRoy Brown, 2009 inductee into the Florida Aviation Historical Association Hall of Fame and 2012 recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
Captain Brown truly has lived the "perfect aviation life." He started watching classic biplanes dust fields in southern Florida and worked his way into the good graces of many duster pilots along the way. In perfecting his friendship with many of the early agpilots, he soon found himself helping them take care of the airplanes, later riding along and operating the hopper, and finally, becoming a duster pilot himself.
From Cubs to Jets, Essays From a Life in the Air
By Joe Clark
Do you like to fly? Are you into aviation? Might you want to teach as a flight instructor? How about reading articles about aviation? Have an interest in aviation history? If so, you may find this book interesting. It is, after all, about the art and joy of flying.
I started my blog in August 2010 after watching the movie Julie & Julia. The movie actually made me feel guilty for not having done what I was supposed to do a long time ago—namely—write about airplanes, flying, teaching aviation techniques, and basically having fun in the sky. There is only one reason for this book. It is to allow those who prefer books to computers and Kindles an option for reading flying stories from the blog.
Many around the world responded very positively about the aviation writings of the blog. From one of the readers of the blog:
I enjoy reading your articles on the antique planes and general aviation. I own an Aeronca 7AC and enjoy writing about my travels and exploits. I post them on my website http://www.lownslowpilot.com. I’ve thought about writing a book regarding these travels and the 30 years of flying taildraggers, but I get lost in the ramifications of doing such. I appreciate your insight you share and enjoy the posts.
- Dale “Cap’n PineTree” Andersen


“Cirrus Industries of Duluth, a manufacturer of general aviation planes, announced Monday that it has been sold to China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. (CAIGA).
Terms of the transaction, expected to close in mid-year, were not disclosed.
CAIGA is a global provider of general aircraft products and related services headquartered in Zhuhai in the Guangdong Province of China.
Cirrus is a privately held company whose majority owner is Atlanta-based Arcapita Inc. In a statement, Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters, said: “This transaction will have a positive impact on our business and our customers because we share a common vision with CAIGA to grow our general aviation enterprise worldwide. CAIGA brings new resources that will allow us to expedite our aircraft development programs and accelerate our global expansion.”
Wouters also said the deal should have a positive impact on jobs and job growth for Cirrus, which has facilities is Duluth and Grand Forks, N.D.”
Ahh…Chinese “Communism” at work!


British Airways fly from London Gatwick to
Antigua. Telephone 0845 773377 for schedules and
Virgin Atlantic fly from London Gatwick to
Telephone 01293 747747 for schedules and
B.W.I.A. fly from London Heathrow to
Telephone 020 8577 1100 for schedules and
Air 2000 fly from London Gatwick to
Telephone Sunsail Flights on 02392 222226.
fly from Frankfurt to Antigua.
From Antigua, transfer to
Nevis with Liat Airlines (25 minute flight). Telephone 001 268 480
5600 for more information and reservations. Please note that this is
a 19 seat aeroplane. If the last flight to Nevis on any given day is
full, it is often possible to fly to St Kitts instead with Liat
Airlines and transfer to Nevis with Winair, telephone 869 465
Air France from Paris to St Maarten.
Amsterdam to St Maarten.
From St Maarten transfer to Nevis
with Winair (tel. as above)
American Airlines, T.W.A., U.S.
Air and Continental Airlines fly from the United States of America
to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
American Eagle fly from San Juan to St
From St Kitts transfer to Nevis with Winair: telephone
869 465 8010, Water Taxi: telephone 869 469 9060 or Government


Pilot Pete England used to think there was nothing more exciting in the world than flying off into the wild blue yonder. But lately the blue yonder hasn’t been wild at all … it’s been downright dull. Pete’s like a jaded Clark Gable who’s hungry for adventure—and he’s about to get his fill.
Pete has fallen into a rut, flying the same route—New York to D.C.—with the same passengers, day after day after day. He might as well be driving a bus … until “her highness” climbs aboard. Apparently a princess, she’s the Carole Lombard to Pete’s Clark Gable, and for one flight, she’s bought up every ticket on the plane.
Once Pete gets her into the air, the action heats up fast. He learns that the lady is at the center of some international intrigue that could turn the tide of war … and now a mysterious plane is on their tail, bent on shooting them out of the sky. But that’s the least of Pete’s concerns. There’s more to this princess than meets the eye, and falling in love with her could turn out to be the greatest flight risk of all.
As a barnstorming pilot in the early days of aviation, Hubbard was dubbed “Flash” Hubbard by the aviation magazines of the day. Expanding his knowledge even more, he visited Boeing in Seattle where the president and chief engineer gave him an inside look at their test pilot program. His unique and pioneering insight of flight streaks across the page in novels like The Battling Pilot.
Format: Unabridged, Multicast, 2 CDs
Length: Approx. 2 hours
Cast list: Audio drama performed by Taron Lexton, Corey Burton, R.F. Daley, Shane Johnson, Jim Meskimen and Phil Proctor.
The Battling Pilot audiobook sample: Audiobook sample
The Battling Pilot Glossary
The Stories from the Golden Age series reflect the words and expressions used in the 1930s and 1940s, adding unique flavor and authenticity to the tales. While a character’s speech may often reflect regional origins, it also can convey attitudes common in the day. So that readers can better grasp such cultural and historical terms, uncommon words or expressions of the era, the following glossary has been provided.
aileron: a hinged flap on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used to control banking movements.
Alleghenies: Allegheny Mountains; a mountain range comprising the western part of the Appalachian Mountains. The range extends about 500 miles (805 km) from northern Pennsylvania to southwest Virginia.
Anacostia: a neighborhood located in the southeast area of Washington, DC. It is located east of the Anacostia River, which flows from Maryland into Washington, DC and joins the Potomac River. This area also contained a narrow plain along the river where the Navy’s Anacostia Naval Air Station and the Army’s Bolling Field resided originally established in 1917 and 1918.
beam: an early form of radio navigation using beacons to define navigational airways. A pilot flew for 100 miles guided by the beacon behind him and then tuned in the beacon ahead for the next 100 miles. The beacons transmitted two Morse code signals, the letter “A” and the letter “N.” When the aircraft was centered on the airway, these two signals merged into a steady, monotonous tone. If the aircraft drifted off course to one side, the Morse code for the letter “A” could be faintly heard. Straying to the opposite side produced the “N” Morse code signal.
Bolling: Bolling Field; established in 1918, and named in honor of the first high-ranking air service officer killed in World War I. The Army’s Bolling Field resided on east bank of the Anacostia River sharing an open plain with the Navy’s Anacostia Naval Air Station. Bolling served as a research and testing ground for new aviation equipment and its first mission provided aerial defense of the capital.
club: airplane propeller.
cowl: the removable metal housing of an aircraft engine, often designed as part of the airplane’s body, containing the cockpit, passenger seating and cargo but excluding the wings.
cowl gun: a gun installed inside the cowl (metal covering over the engine) of an airplane.
D of C or Department of Commerce: the department of the US federal government that promotes and administers domestic and foreign commerce. In 1926, Congress passed an Air Commerce Act that gave the US Department of commerce some regulation over air facilities, the authority to establish air traffic rules and the authority to issue licenses and certificates.
dihedral: the upward or downward inclination of an aircraft wing from true horizontal, which is a self-stabilizing feature in the wing design. As the plane rolls to one side, the lower part of the wing starts to get more lift and then brings itself back up.
fins: fixed vertical surfaces at the tail of an aircraft that give stability, and to which the rudders are attached.
.45 Colt: a .45-caliber automatic pistol manufactured by the Colt Firearms Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Colt was founded by Samuel Colt (1814–1862), who revolutionized the firearms industry.
gow up: to make sticky or mess something up. From gow, meaning opium or sap; the sticky brown resin harvested from poppies. Used figuratively.
ground loop: a sharp horizontal turn made by an aircraft on the ground when taxiing, landing or taking off.
key: a hand-operated device used to transmit Morse code messages.
kite: an airplane.
lady-in-waiting: a lady who is in attendance upon a queen or princess.
Luger: a German semiautomatic pistol introduced before World War I and named after German firearms expert George Luger (1849–1923).
minstrel show end man: a man at each end of the line of performers in a minstrel show who engages in comic banter with the master of ceremonies. A minstrel show is a comic variety show presenting jokes, songs, dances and skits, usually by white actors in blackface.
office: cockpit of an aircraft.
rudder: a device used to steer ships or aircraft. A rudder is a flat plane or sheet of material attached with hinges to the craft’s stern or tail. In typical aircraft, pedals operate rudders via mechanical linkages.
rumrunners: people or ships engaged in bringing prohibited liquor ashore or across a border.
sideslip: (of an aircraft when excessively banked) to slide sideways, toward the center of the curve while in turning.
slipstream: the airstream pushed back by a revolving aircraft propeller.
Split-S: one of the oldest air combat maneuvers used to disengage from combat. To execute a Split-S, the pilot rolls his aircraft inverted and then executes a half-loop, resulting in the aircraft flying level in the opposite direction.
stevedoring: loading or unloading of a vessel.
three points: three-point landing; an airplane landing in which the two main wheels and the nose wheel all touch the ground simultaneously.
tracer: a bullet or shell whose course is made visible by a trail of flames or smoke, used to assist in aiming.
Western Front: term used during World War I and II to describe the “contested armed frontier” (otherwise known as “the front”) between lands controlled by the Germans to the East and the Allies to the West in Europe. In World War I, both sides dug in along a meandering line of fortified trenches stretching from the coast of the North Sea, southward to the Swiss border that was the Western Front. This line remained essentially unchanged for most of the war. In 1918 the relentless advance of the Allied armies persuaded the German commanders that defeat was inevitable and the government was forced to request armistice.
wingover: also known as the Immelmann turn; an aerial maneuver named after World War I flying ace Max Immelmann. The pilot pulls the aircraft into a vertical climb, applying full rudder as the speed drops, then rolls the aircraft while pulling back slightly on the stick, causing the aircraft to dive back down in the opposite direction. It has become one of the most popular aerial maneuvers in the world.


BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) — Western Michigan University is just weeks away from opening a new multimillion-dollar expansion at its College of Aviation campus in Battle Creek.
The majority of the $20 million cost is being covered through state funding, with the university contributing as well.
Tom Thinnes, the recruitment manager for the college, says the building will provide additional space needed for future growth.
“The original education aviation center was just over 16,000 square feet. With the new improvements to the building and the additions to the building, we’re going to have an education aviation center that’s over 60,000 square feet,” Thinnes said. “We’re going to go from four classrooms to 11 classrooms. We’re going to see an improved simulator bay.”
The space will also have a plane paint lab, something few aviation programs in the country offer.
Suzie Targosz a flight instructor at the college and recent graduate, said new spaces like briefing rooms will be helpful for pre- and post-flight meetings with her students.
“It’s really exciting. It’s really cool to see the old building where I took a lot of my classes and I spent a lot of time and see this new beautiful building,” Targosz said.
One of the university’s partners, United Airlines, says it plans to hire 10,000 pilots this decade, as well as more workers to fill crucial positions on the ground like technicians and roles in operations. The Federal Aviation Administration requires pilots to retire at age 65, which is adding to the number of openings.
“The demand in aviation is significant. The jobs out there are tremendous. Once we get through the COVID craziness, the airline industry will recover. It is already recovering,” Thinnes said.
Aviation student Hunter Hayes will graduate in December and sees opportunities in industry.
“It’s been a slow year in the aviation industry but it’s definitely going to expand and continue to expand after that. All the trajectories are saying coming in the next couple months and years to follow there’s going to be a huge increase in demand in pilots and all aviation related careers,” Hayes said.
The college hopes the facility improvements can set the program apart and allow for growth.
“I’m biased. I think we’re the best flight school, but I think this will definitely open up a lot of doors and I think it will attract a lot of future students and I think that we can accommodate those students now,” Targosz said.
The college expects to open the expansion in early May.


Genre : Simulator Platforms: Android, iOS Developer: Laminar Research Price : Free to play (with in-app purchases)
If you’ve ever dreamed of piloting planes, helicopters, jets, or even space shuttles, you’re in for a treat. Let me introduce you to X-Plane Flight Simulator, a mobile game that’s all about experiencing the thrill and challenge of flying various aircraft in incredibly realistic scenarios. Buckle up and let’s dive into what makes this game so exceptional.
A Playground of Aircraft and Scenarios Awaits You
Imagine being able to choose from a collection of over 50 meticulously crafted aircraft models. Each one comes complete with its own detailed 3D cockpit and flight physics that’ll make you feel like you’re truly at the controls. But that’s not all! X-Plane offers you a world of exploration with a staggering 11,500 airports and customized scenery. From taking off in dazzling daylight to navigating the night skies, you can even simulate emergencies and failures. It’s not just a game—it’s a powerful tool to enhance your flying skills.
Learning and Adventure at Your Fingertips
The best part? You don’t need a pilot’s license to get started. X-Plane Flight Simulator is designed to accommodate both the seasoned pilot and the aviation-curious novice. And guess what? The game doesn’t stop at a single style of play. You’re in control. With options to fly freely, follow a flight plan, tackle challenges, or even craft your own scenarios, it’s a playground where your creativity takes flight.
Let’s talk about visuals. Picture this: high-resolution textures, dynamic lighting, mesmerizing shadows, reflections, and water effects—all on your mobile device. The scenery is so detailed and immersive that you’ll find yourself lost in a world of realistic terrain, structures, and landmarks. And the sounds? Oh boy! From lifelike engine roars to the whispering winds, you’ll be fully immersed in the cockpit of your chosen aircraft.
A Realistic Challenge, Worth Every Second
Here’s the deal: X-Plane Flight Simulator is more than just a game—it’s a complex, true-to-life simulation. It requires patience, practice, and dedication to truly master. It’s tailored for those who are truly passionate about aviation, those who crave authenticity in their flight experience. And guess what? If you’re one of them, this game is going to challenge you, teach you, and reward you with breathtaking views and sensations.
Get Ready to Soar: Your Next Steps
If you’re ready to embark on this high-flying journey, I’ve got good news. X-Plane Flight Simulator is available for both iOS and Android devices. You can download and play it for free. But if you’re looking to expand your horizons, there are in-app purchases available for additional content, features, and customization options. Think more aircraft, regions, missions, tutorials, and even multiplayer access.
My Personal Take: A Sky-High Recommendation
From one aviation enthusiast to another, I can’t recommend X-Plane Flight Simulator enough. It’s not just a game—it’s a thrilling, educational adventure that satisfies your passion for flight. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find something to love in this game. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to spread your wings and take off into the virtual skies!
|Realistic and immersive||Complex and challenging|
|High-quality graphics and sound||In-app purchases|
|Wide variety of aircraft, regions, and modes||Bugs and glitches|
|Powerful simulation tool|


Whether you work with military helicopters or are in a more commercial line of work, helicopter repairs are something to be taken seriously. There is obviously a great risk of danger when it comes to faulty parts or a helicopter that is not functioning properly. It’s not like when a car dies and you can just pull off to the side of the road.
This is why it’s important to buy quality helicopter parts that won’t fail you and will last for a long time. There are plenty of helicopter parts suppliers out there, but you want to buy from a company with a strong reputation and a history of great performance. Below are some tips on how to find a supplier that will provide you with the best parts possible.
Get a Tour
One great way to get to know a part supplier is to get a tour of their manufacturing facility. Being able to see how the parts are made and how their facility is maintained can give you a great idea Continue reading “Tips for Buying Quality Helicopter Parts”


July, 1969. Apollo 11 lifts of from Cape Canaveral, Florida. I still remember the images from TV and being so facinated that something as large as the Saturn V spacecraft could actually leave the planet. This made me very interested in rockets and spaceflight and I started to read everything I could find in our city library related to these topics.
A couple of years later I was in the library at Hilliard (Ohio) Middle School reading a magazine about model airplanes. In this mag was an advertisement about model rockets and a company called Estes Industries. Wow - a company that makes actual flying rocket kits and the motors that power them ! I talked to my Mom and Dad at dinner that night and the following weekend my Dad took me to Tom Thumb Hobbies in Columbus to check out this hobby. Naturally, not knowing anything about model rocketry at the time, I wanted the coolest rocket they had on the shelf - an Estes "Orbital Transport". Fortunately for me, the stores rocketry expert was able to talk me into choosing a kit made for a beginner and we instead settled on an Estes Alpha kit. This was a much easier kit to build and my first flight, at the playground of Brown Elementary School, was a total success.
Over the next several years as I built and flew several more kits, my building and flying skills got better and better. I also joined the newly formed Rocket Club at Hilliard Junior High. Our instructor, the schools Physics teacher, taught us about propulsion, aerodynamics and for me, the most interesting thing of all - stability. For a self guided rocket to be stable and fly straight, its Center of Mass MUST be forward of its Center of Aerodynamic Pressure. Once I understood this critical principle, I was no longer confined to just building pre made kits. Now I was free to start designing and flying my own rockets ! I kept a note book with all my designs, hand drawn, that I built and flew. I have no idea where that book is now but it sure would be fun to look at it almost 40 years later.
I pretty much stayed involved with the hobby with a few lapses during college and aviation maintenance schooling. But by the mid 90's I was starting to loose interest. The biggest motor I could find was still the Estes "D" motor. When you're 12 years old the D motor is very cool. When you're 35 and been flying rockets for a good chunk of those years, the D motor becomes a bit routine. And then, in the Fall of 1997, it happened ! I was living and working in Springfield, IL and still flying hobby rockets. I struck up a rocketry conversation at work one day with a guy that was also into rockets. He invited me to a local launch the coming Saturday and, of course, I accepted. So on Saturday morning I loaded up my fleet of little rockets and launch equipment and drove out to a large field outside town. When I got there I saw guys with rockets that were huge !! The first one I saw was 7 feet tall and 4 inches in diameter. I sort of figured that this rocket needed something bigger than a D motor so I started asking the guy that built it a ton of questions. And that was my introduction to High Power rocketry, composite propellant high thrust motors and FAA airspace waivers. I was just totally blown away by these big rockets. I did not fly any rockets that day - I did not even get any equipment out of my car. I was like a human sponge just absorbing all the information that I was given that day. Soon after that launch, I bought a mid power rocket kit called The Initiator, from Aerotech and a reloadable motor system. After the first flight on a G-64 APCP (ammonium perchlorate composite propellant) motor to about 2000 feet, I was hooked !! I can't tell you how many time the Initiator flew but it was alot. I had to make several repairs along the way and finally last year I had to retire it. It was simply worn out. I did re-use the nose cone when I built the Cherokee G.
In the Fall of 1999 I obtained my Level 1 High Power Rocketry certification using a high power kit from Binder Design called the Sentinel flying on an Aerotech H123. And 2 years later obtained my Level 2 certification with the rocket in this picture flying on an Aerotech J350. By the time I was ready to do the Level 2, I figured I had enough experience to skip the kit. The rocket is designed by me -no kit- is 9 and 1/2 feet tall and weighs about 15 pounds at liftoff.
I am a member of the National Association of Rocketry and belong to 2 local rocketry clubs. Both clubs support low, mid and high power rocketry as well as being family friendly. My son, Alex, also likes to fly rockets and is starting to ask me alot of questions about the big ones we see at the launches we attend. Supprting kids is one of the best things about the NAR and the local clubs. The kids flying now are the future of the hobby and who knows, maybe NASA.......


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Yes, I know, you think that heading on today’s blog is reallllly funny. Heh, heh, heh….Uranus…heh heh heh. BUT….apparently the folks at NASA, if they were to read today’s blog, wouldn’t even chuckle.
WHY! Because those nerds are seriously thinking about implementing a taxi service to other planets that’s why. Yep, taxi service into outer space. In fact, NASA is so serious about this plan they have put out a call for commercial space taxis, or, taxis that can go waaaaay out there.
And, considering, if you’ve ever been in a taxi, that a lot of cab rivers are waaaaay out there, NASA shouldn’t have any problem recruiting drivers and their taxis to travel into space. Most of them are already out there if ya catch my drift.
The reason for all this is that NASA has been without its own taxi system since 2011 when they retired their three-ship shuttle fleet due to high operating costs and safety questions. Unlike taxis who don’t have to worry about high operating costs because we all know most taxis are running on a wing and a prayer as it is and who the hell worries about safety problems.
“Hey pal, ya worried about safety. Noooo problem. If dis here cab has a safety problem before we gets to our destination, nooo problem. Look at it dis way. If somethin’ happens how far do ya have to fall? What….a foot or less before ya hit the ground.”
Which would also apply to space travel. Something happens, noooo problem. Ya just float around in space for an eternity. BUT…..you’re then not responsible for the taxi fare.
What NASA really wants is private enterprise to develop and maintain their own taxis so that NASA doesn’t have to foot the bill. Kinda like Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic Airlines who is planning to launch his own space taxi shuttle service. I assume the stewardess will all be virgins. Sorry…..couldn’t help myself there.
Branson’s entry into the space program presently is for tourists to go up into space just beyond the atmosphere and then coast back to Earth. Barf bags provided at no cost.
NASA wants more than that. They want space taxis to go to the space station and perhaps beyond at some point. Like Uranus. Which will be the butt, (pardon the pun) of many space jokes.
There is presently one company that is providing space taxi service for NASA. The New York City taxi cab fleet. Because those guys are reallllly out there and have been for quite some time.
Sorry, only kidding. The company now providing service is “Space-X,” (not a medication that removes age spots or warts) and they have made one test flight and two cargo runs to the space station already.
In case you’re interested, the meter on that space taxi only ran up to $3.5 million dollars. And only because halfway to the space station someone had to get out and go to the bathroom so the meter kept ticking.
There was no mention in this story as to if space taxis have to be the same putrid yellow color that most taxis are presently here on earth. Or if you will be allowed to have advertisements on the roof of your space taxi. I guess that’s something you have to work out with NASA.
And those of us who have first hand knowledge of riding in a taxi know that when we’re riding in one our attention is always focused on that dreaded taxi meter that racks up those dollars like there’s no tomorrow. You get into a taxi and when the driver throws the meter on, Shazam! you already owe him between two and four dollars on what they refer to as “the drop.” What the hell is “the drop” gonna be on a space taxi? Most likely $50,000.
“Hey driver, what’s with the $50,000? We haven’t even blasted off from the pad yet?”
“Look buddy, the longer the countdown takes, the less time I have to make it to the moon and back and get more passengers. I got a family to feed ya know.”
Russia is also getting into the act. In fact, they already have their own space taxis in operation. “Putin Taxi Service.” And if ya think it’s cheap, listen to this. Well, um….no, not listen, but read this….it costs $60 million dollars per person just to transport space station crew members to the space station. $60 MILLION FREAKIN’ DOLLARS!!! Or rubles. Not sure.
Damn! For $60 million dollars they better have a good selection of condiments. Ya think?
So, if you’re presently a cab driver look for some new adventure and perhaps some well-paying passengers, here’s your opportunity to make it to the big time and get in on the ground floor of this new business venture. Considering this IS space we’re talkin’ about I guess there really isn’t a “ground floor,” but what the hell, go for it.
If this NASA space taxi program takes off, (literally) I see a new TV program on the horizon. A new 21st century version of “TAXI.” I hear Danny DeVito, (Louie) Judd Hirsch, (Alex) Marilu Henner, (Elaine) Tony Danza, (Tony) could reprise their roles, AND….rumor has it that Andy Kaufman, (Latka) may still be alive.
I can see it all now:
(Louie) “Hey Latka…..how come it took yo so long to go from Times Square to the moon and back?”
(Latka) “Vell, ds vittb ooba di, heh heh, glaccka da midkka ver boomer, ha ha ha ha.”
(Louie) “Ha, ha ha, no kidding, and then what did she do after her implants floated out of her bra way up there in space?”
(Latka) “Badda boobs uma go, zippiddy and uppiddity and gronikka go, OMG! OMG! OMG! and gradinka fer snokenferdik.”
(Louie) “Ha ha ha ha ha, no kiddin’ Lataka….that’s funny as hell. Especially the “gradinka fer snokenferdik” part. Ha ha ha ha, wait till I tell Elaine about that one. She’s planning a trip to Venus and ya know what’s gonna happen if SHE starts bustin’ out…ha ha ha ha ha.”
I can hardly wait.
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An air cadet from Grangemouth’s 1333 (Spitfire) Squadron enjoyed the flight of his life with the Red Arrows.
Cadet warrant officer Jack Gray (19), who joined the ATC in 2010, was selected as one of nine air cadets to fly with the world famous aerobatics display team before the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford in Gloucestershire last Thursday. He won the right after being named Best Male Air Cadet in the region.
Jack, who earned his private pilot’s licence when he was just 18, said: “We did a fly-by in a diamond nine formation over RAF Scampton before the airshow, travelling at around 500 knots, or 575mph – which is a lot faster than I’m used to flying.”
The former St Mungo pupil is currently studying for his Air Transport Pilot Licence and BSc in Professional Pilot Practice with the Aviation Skills Partnership at Tayside Aviation in Dundee and the University of Middlesex.
The Red Arrows have not let cadets on board their jets for 20 years, but the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came along as the team marked the 75th anniversary of the Air Cadets. It certainly inspired Jack to continue his hard work towards a flight career.
Jack said: “It was just a great reward for all of the cadets. I’m going to keep up with my flying and doing what I’m doing just now, but I hope to join the RAF in the future.”


The New Space Race
New and old players are on a mission to explore Mars
IMAGES COURTESY OF NASA
Artist impression of NASA’s Mars 2020 rover
Artist impression of China’s Tianwen-1 Mission
Talk about timing. When Earth and Mars aligned at their closest points in two years, in July, aerospace leaders around the world jumped at the chance to explore the red planet. Following successful launches, spacecraft from China, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are on their way to searching for signs of past life and potential habitability on Earth’s closest neighbor. Another mission, ExoMars by the European Space Agency and Russia’s Roscosmos, aimed to join the fray but faced delays and must now wait for the next opportune planetary alignment in 2022.
Because of both its proximity and similarity to Earth, Mars has become the new frontier of space exploration.
“Mars has always held a special place for those of us that inhabit Earth,” says Matt Wallace, deputy project manager of Mars 2020 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Stevenson Ranch, California, USA. Mars 2020 is the US$2.7 billion program that includes the Perseverance mission, which left Earth on 30 July for a seven-month journey to Mars’ Jezero Crater. “The fundamental question that the science community is trying to answer is: Could life have evolved somewhere other than our planet?”
Though the target may be the same, each project team has faced unique challenges. The US$200 million Emirates Mars Mission is the United Arab Emirates’ first interplanetary initiative. To get the team up to speed, project leaders consulted with scientists around the world to define an achievable scope: landing a probe that will spend nearly two Earth years studying weather and atmosphere.
China’s Mars mission is also landmark. If Tianwen-1 touches down in February, the nation will become the second to land and operate a rover on the planet after the United States. But the team must first overcome the entry, descent and landing phase. Bao Weimin, chief of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told Space News that those “seven minutes of terror” represent the team’s biggest challenge.
To succeed, the team is drawing on lessons learned from two previous moon landings and using a parachute, capsule and retro-rocket to slow Tianwen-1 to a halt at Mars’ surface. For 90 Martian days, its rover will explore Utopia Planitia, a plain where scientists hope to find ground-level evidence of subsurface water pools that were previously detected from orbit. An orbiter will study Mars’ atmosphere and magnetic field for one Martian year (nearly two Earth years).
“Tianwen-1 is going to orbit, land and release a rover all on the very first try, and coordinate observations with an orbiter,” the team wrote in a Nature Astronomy paper, calling the first-ever attempt at this maneuver—if it succeeds—“a major technical breakthrough.”
For Russia and the European Space Agency, the decision to delay the ExoMars mission on 12 March came after scientists realized they were short on time to test the rover’s parachutes before the launch window. The team also identified bugs in the equipment that supports the rover’s descent module and ultimately decided to delay the mission until Mars and Earth are closely aligned again.
To wait may have been fortuitous, as the global pandemic cast uncertainty on many projects. For NASA, it became a dash. “There was a point where I was very uncertain as to whether we could get it finished,” Wallace says. “We didn’t have the margin to shut down for a month and make the launch date.”
To stay on schedule, he assembled a team called Safe at Work whose role was to keep team members shielded from COVID-19 as they continued to drive toward the launch date. The risk mitigation paid off, with a successful—and on-time—launch.
Though the rovers launched in July are still en route to Mars, project teams are already thinking about subsequent trips. The United States and China are planning return missions within the next decade.
“Mars is potentially a place that humans could establish a settlement in,” Wallace says. “That’s something that always drives us forward.”
—Matt Wallace, NASA, Stevenson Ranch, California, USA


Ask the pilot: Why can’t you reverse an airplane?
Why can’t you reverse an airplane?
About Jostein Sørli
Career: Alongside his pilot training, Sørli worked as ground staff in Tromsø. He then flew Boeing 737s for another airline before joining SAS three years ago.
Home base: OSL
Flies: Boeing 737
Flight hours: 3,500
Assuming you mean reversing the aircraft on the ground and out of the gate, in theory we can actually do that, and there are a few aircraft types that even do. However, it’s a complicated and quite noisy procedure, so as a result, many airports prohibit reversing, also known as power back.
On aircraft with engines mounted under the wing, such as the 737 and A320, there are other reasons as well why we are prohibited from reversing under our own power. Since the engines are situated quite close to the ground, reversing the airflow would kick up quite a bit of gravel and other debris, that could be sucked back into the engine. Consequently, it would greatly increase the wear and tear of our engines. So to answer your question, theoretically we can reverse on the ground, but for practical reasons, on the aircraft we use here at SAS, we are not allowed to do so.
Published: June 10, 2019


- cape, E Florida 32920; pop. 8,014; site of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, a space research and missiles installation.
Webster's Gazetteer. 2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
Canaveral, Cape — Cape, eastern Florida, U.S. It is the location of NASA s John F. Kennedy Space Center and the launch site of U.S. spaceflights, which included the first U.S. manned spaceflight (1961), the first lunar landing flight (1969), and flights of the… … Universalium
Canaveral, Cape — or 1963 73 officially Cape Kennedy geographical name cape on E shore of Canaveral Peninsula; site of Air Force satellite launch station & John F. Kennedy Space Center … New Collegiate Dictionary
Canaveral,Cape — Ca·nav·er·al (kə năvʹər əl, năvʹrəl), Cape Formerly (1963 1973) Cape Ken·ne·dy (kĕnʹĭ dē). A sandy promontory extending into the Atlantic Ocean from a barrier island on the east central coast of Florida. It is the site of NASA s Kennedy Manned… … Universalium
Canaveral, Cape — … Useful english dictionary
Cape Canaveral (Stadt) — Cape Canaveral DEC … Deutsch Wikipedia
Cape Canaveral (Florida) — Cape Canaveral … Deutsch Wikipedia
Cape Canaveral — Cape′ Canav′eral n. geg Canaveral, Cape … From formal English to slang
Cape Canaveral — noun a sandy promontory (formerly Cape Kennedy) extending into the Atlantic Ocean from a barrier island off the eastern coast of Florida; the site of a NASA center for spaceflight • Syn: ↑Cape Kennedy • Instance Hypernyms: ↑promontory, ↑headland … Useful english dictionary
Cape Canaveral — n. (Cape Canaveral) cape in Florida (USA), site of John F. Kennedy Space Center (from 1963 to 1973 was called Cape Kennedy) … English contemporary dictionary
cape — cape1 caped, adj. /kayp/, n., v., caped, caping. n. 1. a sleeveless garment of various lengths, fastened around the neck and falling loosely from the shoulders, worn separately or attached to a coat or other outer garment. 2. the capa of a… … Universalium


Message in a Bottle
Touring exhibition, 2014 - present
In the Message in a Bottle project, an astronaut on board the international space station, in orbit around the earth, performed a special mission to capture a piece of space and return it to the earth in a small glass bottle. In doing so the astronaut not only created a memento of his or her time in space, but also a message for present and future human kind.
Once brought back to earth and placed in people's hands, message in a bottle becomes a conduit between humans and space, between this world and the one beyond us. Our hope is to inspire wonder about our extra-terrestrial activities in this new Age of Exploration, and make us realise that earth itself is merely one small part of this entire universe.
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