National News (45)
NASA Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Takes Teacher Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger to Space Station
Written by Maggy Graham
Space shuttle Discovery lit up Florida's Space Coast sky about 45 minutes before sunrise Monday, April 5, with a 6:21 a.m. EDT launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The launch began a 13-day flight to the International Space Station and the second of five shuttle missions planned for 2010.
NASA's WISE Telescope Returns Images and More Information from Our Universe Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
As technology progresses, we are able to know more about the world we live in, and thanks to a new NASA program, we are able to know more about the universe we live in as well. The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE telescope has been gathering infrared images of our universe to help NASA scientists glean more information about the great unknown territory beyond our atmosphere.
To Haiti with Love: Hometown Help for Haiti Featured
Written by Joshua T. Gillion
On January 12th, at approximately 5:00 in the afternoon, the impoverished island nation of Haiti was rocked by an unexpected and severe tragedy. Although earthquakes are not uncommon in the Caribbean, quakes of that magnitude are. While there have been five major earthquakes reported in Haiti's history, the last was in 1860, and January’s 7.0 earthquake was the worst they have seen in 200 years.
The world has changed over the last 20 years. Jobs that existed 20 years ago don't exist anymore, and if they do they are radically different. In 1989 the idea of the internet, mobile computing devices, cell phones and the like were not a significant part of everyday life; today they are an integral part of everything we do.
Scientists have long speculated about significant quantities of hydrogen detected in the polar regions of our moon. Where did it come from? Were the moon's poles once covered in ice, as are our own? If so, is any of that water still present? Recent NASA findings may have answered some of these questions, with instruments on three spacecraft detecting molecules of water near the lunar poles, and while the quantities are small, they are greater than predicted.Youth Organize Worldwide Human Rights Walk
Written by Antonella Antonecchia
Youth from every corner of the globe will walk in our first ever “International Walk for Human Rights,” on United Nations Human Rights Day, December 10, 2009. Covering 6 continents and 24 countries, the walk, sponsored by Youth for Human Rights International, will raise awareness and education about the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
NASA Spacecraft MESSENGER Reveals New Insights into the Planet Mercury
Written by Peter McDonald
The NASA spacecraft MESSENGER (which stands for Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging Spacecraft), has given scientists an almost complete view of the planet’s surface during its third and final flyby of Mercury.
Today, higher education is essential for anyone who wants a better quality of life and job success. That’s why it’s so important to ready yourself to help your children in this important phase of their lives.
Thanksgiving Travel Predictions and Safety Tips from AAA
Written by AAA Auto Club South
With a cautious eye on economic recovery more Americans intend to travel this year for Thanksgiving than last year. AAA projects 38.4 million Americans will travel a distance of 50 miles or more away from home throughout Thanksgiving weekend, a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled for the holiday. Overall, the numbers show an even greater number of people who plan on driving (86% of all travelers). Florida is projected to show a 3 percent increase in overall travel versus 2008.
NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis Launches at Kennedy Space Center
Written by Peter McDonald
NASA launched the space shuttle Atlantis on Monday, November 16th at 2:28 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Atlantis will deliver a six-member crew to the International Space Station. The flight, which is Atlantis’s 31st mission, will take 11 days to reach the International Space Station.
Education beyond high school is more important than ever. In an ever-changing economy, more education brings more opportunities and greater job security. Don’t let the myths about the cost of college or the availability of aid stop you from reaching your goals.
Here are the facts behind the myths.
NASA Plans to Rescue Rover "Spirit" from Sand Trap on Mars
Written by Peter McDonald
Since April 23rd, NASA Mars exploration rover Spirit as been lodged in a site on Mars scientists call “Troy”. Beginning on November 16th, NASA will begin transmitting commands to Spirit as part of an escape plan to free the venerable robot from its Martian sand trap.
European Space Agency to Transfer Ownership of Tranquility Node to NASA
Written by Devon Daniels
On Friday, November 20th, The European Space Agency (ESA) will transfer ownership of the Tranquility node over to NASA. Ares I-X Rocket Test Launch Successful for NASA Featured
Written by Heidi Lux
The Ares I-X rocket was successfully tested on Wednesday, October 28th at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Ares I-X rocket was launched on 11:30, and the test flight lasted six minutes total.
Ares I-X Rocket Test Launch Rescheduled for Wed, Oct 28th by NASA
Written by Heidi Lux
The Tuesday launch of the Ares I-X flight test has been delayed due to weather concerns at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The flight test will be rescheduled for a four hour launch window beginning at 8 am on Wednesday, October 28th.
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As witches, goblins and super-heroes roam the streets this Halloween, remember to put safety first.
Here are some tips from the Clearwater Police Department and Clearwater Fire & Rescue to keep parents and children safe during the holiday.
The term “geothermal” is derived from the Greek words for Earth (geo) and heat (therme). In essence geothermal energy is power harnessed from the Earth itself. Heat from the Earth’s core, which averages about 6,650 degrees Fahrenheit, emanates out toward the planet’s surface. Heated springs and geysers up to three miles underground can be accessed by special wells that bring the hot water (or steam from it) up to the surface where it can be used directly for heat or indirectly to generate electricity by powering rotating turbines. Since the water under the Earth’s surface is constantly replenished, and the Earth’s core will continue to generate heat indefinitely, geothermal power is ultimately clean and renewable.
Using updated information, NASA scientists have recalculated the path of a large asteroid. The refined path indicates a significantly reduced likelihood of a hazardous encounter with Earth in 2036.
Twenty-two, uniquely painted, 8-foot Space Shuttle Statues will go on the auction block October 1, 2009, at www.AstronautScholarship.org/shuttles through October 8, to raise funds for the nonprofit Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
The statues were part of a community-wide art project and feature such unique designs from pop-art to animals to celestial scenes with genuine astronaut autographs including American heroes Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell! With an impressive 6-foot wingspan, 6-foot stature and measuring 8-foot in length, these statues will make an impression wherever they land. The auction is open to anyone nationwide, as the statues will be shipped to their winner.
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Finds Ice Just Below Martian Surface
Written by NASA
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed frozen water hiding just below the surface of mid-latitude Mars. The spacecraft's observations were obtained from orbit after meteorites excavated fresh craters on the Red Planet.
Scientists controlling instruments on the orbiter found bright ice exposed at five Martian sites with new craters that range in depth from approximately 1.5 feet to 8 feet. The craters did not exist in earlier images of the same sites. Some of the craters show a thin layer of bright ice atop darker underlying material.
NASA Signs Agreement with France for Civil Space Cooperation
Written by NASA
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and French Space Agency President Yannick d'Escatha signed four agreements in support of U.S. and French space cooperation during a ceremony Thursday at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
"The French Space Agency has a long history of participating with NASA in Earth and space science missions," Bolden said. "I am pleased to see this cooperation expand as we look to further engage the international community in exploring space."
Florida Youth Represents USA at International Human Rights Summit Featured
Written by Chad Andro
At the Youth for Human Rights International Summit in Geneva, Switzerland (home of the United Nations Office of Human Rights), hundreds of people and twenty-six youths representing diverse countries from around the world were in attendance, all concerned with ONE. Under one roof, there was one group, one purpose, and one race; the human race, without discrimination.
Global Pioneers Bring Help to the Dominican Republic Featured
Written by
The Global Pioneers, a group of volunteer Scientologists, made a name for themselves last winter and spring by visiting the country of Haiti in order to help the people. They did this by supplying the means to grow their own food, providing computers, and giving books and training developed and written by L. Ron Hubbard to the people of Haiti so they could improve their living conditions.
Recently, the Global Volunteers returned to the island Haiti is on, but this time to the other side to visit the country of the Dominican Republic.
Space Shuttle Discovery Finally Launched on Friday, August 28th
Written by NASA
The Space Shuttle Discovery finally launched on Friday at 11:59 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle and its seven member crew will deliver supplies, equipment and a new crew member to the International Space Station.
The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, a pressurized "moving van" that will be temporarily installed to the station. The module is intended to deliver storage racks; materials and fluids science racks; a freezer to store research samples; a new sleeping compartment; an air purification system; and a treadmill named after comedian Stephen Colbert. The name Colbert ws chosen after it received the most entries in NASA's online poll to name the station's Node 3.
Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Moved - NASA Announces No Sooner than August 28th
Written by NASA
NASA has announced that the next launch attempt for the space shuttle Discovery will be no earlier than 12:22 am Friday, August 28th at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Wednesday's launch attempt was postponed after an indication that a valve in the shuttle's main propulsion system failed to perform as expected during fueling of the shuttle's external fuel tank. NASA managers officially postponed Wednesday's launch attempt because of uncertainty about whether a valve that was commanded to be closed actually was closed. The valve is associated with the fill and drain plumbing of the main propulsion system within the shuttle's aft compartment.