| December 29, 2006 |
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our time will build eternity |
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NASA Mars Team Teaches Old Rovers New Tricks to Kick Off Year Four Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 29, 2006 
NASA's twin Mars rovers, nearing the third anniversary of their landings, are getting smarter as they get older. The unexpected longevity of Spirit and Opportunity is giving the space agency a chance to field-test on Mars some new capabilities useful both to these missions and future rovers. In addition to their continuing scientific observations, they are now testing four new "skills" that were included in revised flight software uploaded to the rovers' onboard computers. One of the new capabilities enables spacecraft to examine images and recognize certain types of features. It is based on software developed for NASA's Space Technology 6 "thinking spacecraft." |
Vietnam says parched Red River at record low
China to be world's third biggest wind power producer: media Cost-cutting NASA eyes three cheap space missions Honduras declares state of emergency amid drought Russia in secret plan to save Earth from asteroid: official Sarkozy scrambles to salvage carbon tax French carbon tax ruled illegal Brazil's Lula signs law cutting CO2 emissions 2009 a 'benign' year of natural disasters: German re-insurer Greenpeace Spain demands Denmark release its director 
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Internet Chaos Shows Weakness Of System
Singapore (AFP) Dec 28, 2006The chaos in Asia's Internet service sparked by an undersea earthquake shows the region's cable network is too fragile and overly reliant on connections to the United States, industry observers said Thursday. Millions of people across Asia were enduring a second day without full Internet services after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan late Tuesday and disturbed several massive offshore submarine cables that link Asian countries with the US and beyond. China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and elsewhere all experienced disruptions to Internet services after the quake hit. Russia To Increase Rocket System Production As Demand Increases 
Korolev, Moscow (SPX) Dec 29, 2006The Corporation Board of Directors chaired by N.F. Moiseev took place at S.P. Korolev RSC Energia. The President, General Designer N.N. Sevastiyanov and RSC Energia's Managing Board submitted draft Program of the Corporation Long-Term Development over the period till 2015 aimed at the following activities: manned space systems, automated space systems, rocket systems. New Weather Satellite For Beijing Olympics Working Perfectly In Orbit 
Beijing (Xinhua) (SPX) Dec 29, 2006On-orbit tests show that Fengyun-2D (FY-2D), geostationary orbit meteorological satellite launched earlier this month to provide quality service for the Olympic games, has been functioning properly, the government said on Sunday. Fengyun-2D, China's second geostationary obit meteorological satellite, "has been in stable working conditions since the tests began on December 14," the China Meteorological Administration said. |
Scientists Support Russian Researcher Suspected Of Revealing Secrets
Novosibirsk (RIA Novosti) Dec 29, 2006Colleagues of a Russian scientist accused of disclosing state secrets are convinced of his innocence, the director of a Siberian-based research institute said Thursday. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has launched an investigation against Oleg Korobeinichev, the head of the combustion kinetics laboratory at the Novosibirsk Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, who is suspected of revealing sensitive information on components of a rocket propellant in one of his scientific papers prepared for a U.S. research center. How Can We Find Alien Life 
Moffett Field (SPX) Dec 29, 2006Henry Bortman: We sent one biology experiment to another world thirty years ago, and we're still debating the results. Now there are a couple others missions maybe in the works, if the funding holds. But if you're looking for life on another world, what do you look for? If you think that life is likely to be like life on Earth, then you look for that kind of life. NASA Grant To Help Further Develop New Welding Technology 
Troy MN (SPX) Dec 29, 2006After receiving encouraging results, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Michigan Research Institute (MRI) will grant Delphi Corporation an additional $950,000 to help fund the continuing development of Deformation Resistance Welding (DRW). The first two grants for DRW, totaling $2.17 million, were used to perfect existing welding techniques, to create new ones, and to find new innovative ways to use DRW on suspension sub-frames. |
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New Air Force Antenna Begins Testing
New Boston AFS NH (AFNS) Dec 29, 2006The 23rd Space Operations Squadron here began operations confidence testing of its newest Air Force Satellite Control Network antenna Dec. 14. Operational testing will verify the antenna is fully prepared to conduct satellite supports as part of the squadron's 24-hour mission, said station manager Bill Rayfield. SkyTerra Communications Names Alex Good CEO And Scott Macleod CFO 
Reston, VA (SPX) Dec 29, 2006SkyTerra Communications, Inc. has announced that Alexander H. Good was named Chief Executive Officer and President, and Scott G. Macleod was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Good will continue to serve in his current role as Vice Chairman and CEO of Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (MSV ), the principal operating subsidiary of SkyTerra. Mr. Macleod will also continue to serve in his current role as Chief Financial Officer of MSV . Anniversary Of The Nuclear Football 
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Dec 29, 2006On December 25, fifteen years ago, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev ceded his authority to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, also handing over to him, in a symbolic gesture, the "nuclear football," or control over the nuclear missile shield of a newly independent state, the successor to the Soviet Union, with all the responsibility that entailed. |
South Korea Says US Must Be More Flexible On North Korea
Seoul (AFP) Dec 28, 2006South Korea's point man on North Korea urged the United States Thursday to be more flexible in talks on scrapping North Korea's nuclear programmes. Newly appointed Unification Minister Lee Jae-Joung was speaking less than a week after the six-party talks ended in apparent deadlock. "The US government should be more flexible in finding a solution to this issue. North Korea should also take a sincere and responsible attitude in dialogue, without sticking to its own position," Lee told reporters. Japan And The Atomic Bomb 
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Dec 29, 2006On December 25, the Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun published a government document dated December 20 about Japan's intention to develop small nuclear warheads. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki immediately refuted the report's authenticity, saying, "The government does not know anything about the existence of the document." Nevertheless, the question of a Japanese nuclear bomb remains open. Iran Becomes Regional Superpower 
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Dec 29, 2006Iran may become one of the top 10 features of the outgoing year for a number of reasons, including its nuclear dossier and the Holocaust conference, as well as the anti-Israeli rhetoric of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In short, Iran has made others view it as a regional superpower and the key player in the Middle East. |
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