Thursday, September 7, 2017

The Guardian today: Exposed: ‘racial bias’ in British criminal justice system

View in browser
the guardian today
Friday 08 Sep 2017
The Guardian logo
Headlines More »
Prosecutions of some black defendants should be dropped or deferred, says Labour MP's report
Most viewed in last 24 hours More »
Author draws parallels between Donald Trump and rise of 1930s fascism, in rare public appearance at Royal Festival Hall
Sport More »
Comment is free More »
Culture More »
Business More »
Technology More »
Travel More »
Life and style More »
The Guardian
Football Comment is free Environment
Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396

X-37B Secret Air Force Spaceplane Blasts Off on SpaceX Falcon 9 as Monster Hurricane Irma Threatens Florida Peninsula

New post on Universe Today

X-37B Secret Air Force Spaceplane Blasts Off on SpaceX Falcon 9 as Monster Hurricane Irma Threatens Florida Peninsula

by Ken Kremer

USAF X-37B military spaceplane blasts off with picturesque water reflections at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 UTC) Sept. 7, 2017 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – Amidst the frenzy of 'Sunshine State' preparations for Cat 5 monster Hurricane Irma and quite dismal weather favorability odds, the skies surrounding the Florida Space Coast suddenly parted just in the nick of time enabling the Air Force's secret military X-37B spaceplane to blast off this morning (Sept. 7) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 as the booster nailed another thrilling ground landing back at the Cape.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 roared to life at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 UTC) Thursday morning and soared aloft from seaside Launch Complex 39A on NASA's Kennedy Space Center into nearly clear blue skies after the classified launch time was kept guarded until just 10 minutes before liftoff.

The Falcon 9 launch was absolutely gorgeous taking place under near perfect weather conditions at launch time and putting on a long sky show as the rocket accelerated to orbit with precious cargo.

After successfully delivering the secret USAF mini-shuttle to orbit, SpaceX engineers completed the 2nd half of the double headed space spectacular when the Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully made a guided soft landing back at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Hurricane Irma continues barreling towards Florida packing winds of 185 mph as one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever. It is being closely tracked in incredibly high resolution by the new NASA/NOAA GOES-16 (GOES-R) satellite launched late last year on a ULA Atlas V.

The 11,000 pound (4990 kg) state-of -the art reusable OTV space plane is about a quarter the size of a NASA space shuttle. The vehicle measures 29 ft 3 in (8.9 m) in length with a wingspan of 14 ft 11 in (4.5 m).

The X-37B was originally developed by NASA but was transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2004.

Since then most but not all of the spaceplane's goals have been shrouded in secrecy.

Watch for Ken's continuing onsite X-37B OTV-5 and NASA mission reports direct from the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news.
Ken Kremer

Ken Kremer | September 7, 2017 at 11:57 pm | Tags: USAF Rapid Capabilities Office | URL: http://wp.me/p1CHIY-zFh
Comment    See all comments

Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: 

https://www.universetoday.com/137099/x-37b-secret-air-force-spaceplane-blasts-off-on-spacex-falcon-9-as-monster-hurricane-irma-threatens-florida-peninsula/


BREAKING: National Weather Service officially issues hurricane warning for South Florida as Irma takes aims at U.S.

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser

FB TW g+ Ins

  The National Hurricane Center said Irma was maintaining Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 165 miles per hour on Thursday night. An official storm surge warning was also issued.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, GO TO:
  USATODAY.COM  
 
Help | Advertise | Home Delivery | Privacy Policy - Your California Privacy Rights  
  © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC.
7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22108

The Guardian today - Australia edition

View in browser


the guardian today - Australia edition
Friday 08 Sep 2017
The Guardian logo
Headlines More »
Australia's overall greenhouse gas emissions last financial year were the highest since 2011, despite the closure of the Hazelwood coal-fired power plant
Sport More »
Culture More »
Comment is free More »
Life and style More »
Technology More »
Science More »
Environment More »
Video More »
Most viewed in last 24 hours More »
Author draws parallels between Donald Trump and rise of 1930s fascism, in rare public appearance at Royal Festival Hall
The Guardian
Sport Culture Comment is free

Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396