30-03-2012 03:16 André took this video of Aurora Australis from the European Cupola module in the Space Station. The beautiful phenomenon is caused by bursts of particles from the Sun pouring down Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere.
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Category Archives: Space Station
Space Station Re-Boost: Watch Engines Fire | Video – Video
04-04-2012 10:05 Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV-3) serves as both cargo ship and booster for the ISS. The altitude of Space Station has to be re-adjusted from time to time to compensate for atmospheric drag and to maneuver away from space debris.
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Station Crew Discusses Life in Space with the News Media – Video
11-04-2012 12:00 Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA, Flight Engineer Don Pettit of NASA and European Space Agency Flight Engineer Andre Kuipers discussed the progress of their mission on the International Space Station, their research, the upcoming landing of half of the residents on the outpost and next month's scheduled arrival of the first commercially launched cargo ship to the complex in a crew news conference conducted on April 11.
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Station Crew Discusses Life in Space with the News Media - Video
Shatner Messages The International Space Station Crew – Video
22-04-2012 11:11 William Shatner, known to millions around the world as Capt. James T. Kirk from the original Star Trek series, sent this message to ESA's André Kuipers and the members of the Expedition 30 crew. In October 2011, shortly before the launch of André, Oleg Kononenko and Don Pettit on Soyuz TMA-03M, Mr Shatner recorded an album of space-related songs called 'Seeking Major Tom'. By pure coincidence, this album features covers of many of the crew's favourites. When Mr Shatner found out that his songs were being played on the International Space Station, he recorded this greeting and sent his best wishes.
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Shatner Messages The International Space Station Crew - Video
Russian Cargo Ship Docks to Space Station – Video
22-04-2012 11:59 On April 22 at 10:39 am EDT, the ISS Progress 47 cargo craft docked to the Pirs docking compartment of the International Space Station. Progress 47 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 20, loaded with 2.5 tons of food, fuel and supplies for the six crew members aboard the orbiting laboratory.
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Expedition 30 Hands Over the Space Station to Expedition 3 – Video
25-04-2012 16:22 The reins of the International Space Station were passed from Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA to cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko during a ceremony on April 25. Kononenko and Flight Engineers Don Pettit of NASA and Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency arrived at the station on Dec. 23, 2011, and will remain in orbit until July. They will be joined on May 17 by oncoming Expedition 31 crew members Joe Acaba of NASA and Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin of the Russian Federal Space Agency. Burbank and Russian Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin returned to Earth in their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft on April 30, making a parachute-assisted landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan.
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Expedition 30 Hands Over the Space Station to Expedition 3 - Video
Expedition 30 prepares to leave Space Station – Video
27-04-2012 01:48 Moments after bidding farewell to the Expedition 31 crew onboard the International Space Station, Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank of NASA, Russian Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin closed the hatch on their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft in preparation for their return trip to Earth. The trio completed almost six months in space following a launch in November.
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Minecraft SPACE STATION Map ! Escape Pod Exit ! – Video
30-04-2012 15:04 GameChap and Bertie inspect the splendid International Space Station map; a 1:1 scale recreation of the ISS by vilimus! Jolly good show! TO DOWNLOAD:
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Change of Command aboard Space Station On This Week @NASA – Video
27-04-2012 18:55 NASA astronaut and Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank officially transferred the helm of the orbiting outpost to Russian cosmonaut, Oleg Kononenko who, along with NASA astronaut Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency, has now begun Expedition 31. Two days later, Burbank and his Expedition 30 crewmates, Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin, said their farewells, climbed into their Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft and departed the station for the trip back to Earth. After a five-and-a-half month stay onboard the ISS, Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin landed safely in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the other three members of Expedition 31, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba, and his Russian crewmates, Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Sergei Revin, participated in pre-launch activities at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. The trio is scheduled to launch to the ISS on a Soyuz spacecraft on May 15 to join Pettit, Kuipers and Kononenko. Also, Space Shuttle Enterprise is flown to The Big Apple, the next-generation J-2X Engine is ready for more tests, Snowballs make waves in Saturn's outer ring and more!
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Change of Command aboard Space Station On This Week @NASA - Video
Private company delays 1st space station visit
A private U.S. company has delayed launching a cargo ship to the International Space Station.
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Skywatching opportunity: See space station twice in two nights
Get outside Wednesday and Thursday nights for chances to view the International Space Station fly over the region.
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Skywatching opportunity: See space station twice in two nights
SpaceX delays first private launch to space station
SpaceX has postponed by a week its bid to become the first private company to attempt to launch an unmanned cargo vessel to the International Space Station.
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The Space Station Sends Back Dazzling Home Movies — of Us
A time-lapse video from the International Space Station provides further proof that we live on what might be the coolest planet of all
Its easy to forget about the International Space Station. Quick: How long has it been flying? How many people are aboard right now? How big is it? If your answer to any of these questions is, Theres an International Space Station? youre not alone.
But yes, there is. The first module was launched in 1998; there are currently six people aboard; and as for how big it is, try these metrics: it is well and trulyas big as a football field, fitting those dimensions almost perfectly. It has the same habitable volume as a 747 or a five-bedroom house, take your pick. It weighs 925,627 lb. (419,857 kg) or about the same as 320 automobiles. It takes 52 computers to keep the place running. Its electrical system is connected by eight miles (13 km) of wires, and you could cover the floor of the U.S. Senate three times over with its solar panels (and no, you wouldnt be the first person to suggest that that would be a very good idea).
(PHOTOS: Our Beautiful Planet: Images from Space by an Astronaut Photographer)
But never mind the numbers and consider instead the gorgeousness. The station orbits at an altitude topping out at 255 miles (410 km) and completes one circuit of the earth every 90 minutes. On those trips, it sees a lot of nights and a lot of days, a lot of lightning and a lot of auroras, a lot of lands spangled by the midnight lights of great cities or sunk in the darkness of poverty or emptiness.
From August to October in 2011, astronauts aboard the station shot time-lapse footage of what they see and now what the rest of us can see. Its a moving portrait of a bizarre and colorful world, populated by countless life forms and its exactly the kind of place we dream of when we go looking for exotic new planets. Its also what we call home.
MORE: Could Hackers Hijack the Space Station?
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SpaceX launch to space station on hold pending final tests
Space Exploration Technologies says it will delay its first commercial cargo flight to the International Space Station by about a week to give engineers more time to complete testing and analysis.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The launch of a commercial cargo ship making its first flight to the International Space Station is expected to slip a week or so to give engineers more time to complete pre-flight testing and analysis, Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, announced late today.
Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a commercial Dragon cargo craft bound for the International Space Station is expected to be delayed from April 30 to around May 7 to allow more time for pre-flight testing and analysis.
The company had been aiming to launch its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule on April 30. A second launch opportunity was available May 3.
Last week, NASA managers tentatively cleared the SpaceX rocket and capsule for launch pending completion of testing and a final review of open items and overnight Sunday, company founder and chief designer Elon Musk said in a Twitter posting: "Just completed the rocket rollout review at SpaceX HQ in California. Almost time to launch. Pucker factor increasing..."
But this afternoon, after a review of the Dragon systems, Musk tweeted: "Am pushing launch back approximately a week to do more testing on Dragon docking code. New date pending coordination with NASA."
Company spokeswoman Kirstin Brost Grantham said in a later e-mail: "After reviewing our recent progress, it was clear that we needed more time to finish hardware-in-the-loop testing and properly review and follow up on all data. While it is still possible that we could launch on May 3, it would be wise to add a few more days of margin in case things take longer than expected. As a result, our launch is likely to be pushed back by one week, pending coordination with NASA."
With the SpaceX slip, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket carrying a military communications satellite valued at more than $1 billion, originally scheduled for takeoff May 5, has been moved up to May 3. Following standard practice, the Air Force Eastern Range, which provides tracking and telemetry support for all rockets launched from Florida, will give ULA at least two days to get the rocket off the ground and possibly three.
Because of time needed to reconfigure range systems to support a different launch vehicle, May 7 appears to be the earliest available launch date for the SpaceX Falcon 9. Because of space station rendezvous requirements, SpaceX cannot launch on May 8 or 9. A second opportunity apparently would be available May 10.
But it is not yet clear whether NASA would press ahead for a launch on May 10 and a berthing three days later given Russian plans to launch a Soyuz spacecraft with three fresh station crew members on May 14 U.S. time.
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SpaceX delays its trip to space station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space Exploration Technologies, a privately held firm founded and run by entrepreneur Elon Musk, is delaying its trial cargo run to the International Space Station, Musk announced Monday. "Am pushing launch back approximately a week to do more testing on Dragon docking code. New date pending coordination with NASA," Musk said in a Twitter post. The company ...
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Coming Soon: Planet Earth, Live-Streamed from Space [VIDEO]
Wouldn't it be amazing to sit aboard the International Space Station, watching Earth's continents and oceans pass by as you orbit the planet?
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Know about Foam and Foam Board Insulation Know about Foam and Foam Board Insulation
A variety of materials like glass, foam, cellulose, aluminum foil etc are used for insulation purposes. But one of the more favored insulation materials is foam. Despite the fact that foam insulation products are costlier than other types of insulating materials, it is widely used.
Higher price may however be deemed justifiable as R-values of the foam insulations range from R-4 to R-8 per inch of thickness. This is roughly three times more than most other insulating materials of similar thickness. It is also seen that if properly installed, foam insulation is a lot more effective than the rest.
When it comes to foam insulation there can be three options - molded expanded Polystyrene (MEPS)/ extruded expanded Polystyrene (XEPS) or Polyurethane or Polyisocyanurate. Any of these should provide you with very effective insulation. Foam insulation can be done as a liquid or using factory made foam boards.
Liquid foam insulation is done either by applying from small spray containers as a liquid or by means of a pressure sprayed product for heavy duty applications. Both types expand and solidify as the chemical mixture cures. Both spray foam and foam boards are equally versatile and can be used to insulate roofs, walls, foundations, entry and overhead garage doors, pipes and tanks, under basement slabs, or over a slab-on-grade floor.
Be it any type of foam insulation, you must take care to protect it from direct sunlight as the sun's ultraviolet rays have the potential to damage them. For roofs, it’s preferable to apply a coating of tar/ acrylic/ silicone/ rubberized paint. Or else, you can also cover the foam with a rubber or plastic membrane or a layer of asphalt and roofing felt.
Foam board insulation is very effective in preventing the oppressive summer heat from penetrating into your home. It also would help you conserve energy and save on your utility bills. Foam board insulation is a rigid foam sheet, usually four by eight feet (1.2 by 2.4 m) in size, used in nearly all aspects of building construction to provide thermal resistance in floors, ceilings and walls.
Polyurethane and Polyisocyanurate foam board are very similar in content. Foam board insulation is usually placed between the exterior finish and the studs of exterior walls. To prevent air infiltration, it is necessary to place rigid insulation boards tightly together and seal the seams with tape or caulk. Polystyrene foam board insulation is done in much the same way as Polyurethane and Polyisocyanurate foam boards, except for the differences in expansion.
Please bear in mind that foam board insulation is susceptible to deterioration through exposure to sun. Though foam insulation offers no food value to insects, still insects can bore holes into it. Therefore it will be necessary for you to take appropriate precautionary measures to protect your insulation from sun and insect damage.
Foam insulation is not easily combustible but if ignited, it burns and emits dense, black, smoke containing pernicious toxic gases. Because of these inherent perils, foams used for construction will require a covering as a fire barrier.
A lot of precaution is necessary to install foam insulation. You may have to use a mask helmet and gloves. It is even advisable to cover your whole body as foam is hyper allergen and it could lead to dermatological problems. It is wiser that you hire an experienced professional to do the job as the health risk is quite high.
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15% off at Tuscan Hills Villa, Free spa/pool heating
A Traveler’s delight would be to vacation or voyage to one of the world’s most popular tourist spot, maybe Florida, Hawaii, California etc. What would even delight them more is to get a luxurious accommodation at discounted rates and now they all get this great opportunity to book this amazing villa called Pretty Mediterranean Style Villa at Tuscan Hills.
This is a 3 bedroom 2 restroom villa which can accommodate 6 persons. One of the major advantages this villa gives you is to save travel time as the major attractions in Florida like Disney word, SeaWorld and Universal Studios are just 15-35 mins away.
The villa also gives you a lot of luxuries like swimming pool, spa, games room etc. There will be free spa/pool heating for renters visiting between 1st October and 31st March. You can get 15% discount if booked with 8 weeks of arrival date.
Enjoy vacations booking this villa at discounted rates. Find worldwide vacation rentals for any vacation to any place in the world.
Mexico Vacation Rental: Stay for 7 nights Pay for 6
Location: Puerto Vallarta, VILLA PARAISO
No of bedrooms: 6
No of restrooms: 6.5
Sqfeet: 13000
No of persons: 14
Unarguably this is one of the paradise villas, as you will have 12 staffs pampering you to the core. You can enjoy the ocean view watching the delightful dolphins or venture deeper with your scuba gear. It boasts of a lot of facilities be it the surround system, the alarm system, swimming pool or its disable friendly features.
All these luxuries and more come to you for a rate of $1638 from April-Dec 15 during the low season and soars up to 2587 afterwards. You can make availability of the discount by booking for 6 nights and getting 10% off or book for 7 nights and get one day free.
The villa may seem a touché expensive but it’s worth its weight in gold. It’s truly one of the paradises on earth.
Book Mexico vacation rentals or any other vacation rental around the globe with exciting offers/discounts and enjoy your vacations.
Solar power vents attics benefits
Solar powered attic vents can be used to control heat and moisture. Today there are alternatives to roof louvers that are smart and effective. The solar varieties work of the principle of solar energy. These collect the energy from the rays of the sun during your day when your attic is at its warmest. Using this energy, it generates electricity. This electricity is used to operate an extremely high energy efficient motor that is placed inside the power vent. So what does this mean to you? You are generating free electricity and getting free power! You are not only reducing the total usage of electricity in your house but you are also using a source of energy that is renewable and works without leaving waste.
There are many types. The roof mounted is one of them. This has a durable high quality two piece construction. This utilizes a solar panel that will collect the rays from the sun and convert it into electricity. This unit will be used to operate a 24 volt DC motor that is housed in the inside of the power vent. These units are rust resistant and a have a steel dome that is galvanized. These are pretty low profile too. The solar panels are usually located in a separated location from the dome or the roof. There is no separate electrical outlet or installation that is required. Also this will work from sunrise to sunset without costing you any money.
The next type is the gable mounted type. This type is used in conjunction with the solar gable attic fans. The best part about these solar vents & spray foam insulation is that the installation of them is really simple. There is no electrical hookup required. This will save you all the trouble from finding a low priced electrician because there are no complicated wirings that you would have to deal with. All that you need to do is secure the solar panel and the fan. After they are secure, all that is required is the connection of a simple plug from one to another. These systems can be conveniently mounted on your home’s gable and hidden behind a decorative shutter. Also the solar panel will come with brackets. You can use these brackets to mount it on the roof easily. The solar panels will absorb the incoming rays of the sun and convert it into electricity.
The main advantage of using solar vents is that you can save tons on the electricity that you would otherwise use on cooling or heating your home. You are not only conserving energy but also you are making use of a renewable source of energy that does not leave any waste behind. Also these will help to prevent moisture damage to your attic. Normally moisture would enter your attic through daily activities like laundry cooking or bathing. This moisture would get into your attic and cause damage. Using such a setup would prevent such damage by preventing them moisture to accumulate in the first place.
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spray foam insulation visit http://www.aaffordableinsulators.com/spray-foam.php
