Minutes ago, the House and Senate came to an agreement on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) budget, which includes the full requested funding to ensure a 2018 launch for the James Webb Space Telescope. The vote was 70 to 30. Unofficially dubbed Hubble 2.0, the Webb faced elimination when the House...
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The Senate today passed its Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) 2012 Appropriations Bill, which includes full funding for the embattled James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble successor that will be run largely out of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STscI) in Baltimore. U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a longtime science advocate, chairs the...
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U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski announced at a press conference at the Maryland Science Center this morning that next week, the Senate will secure funding for the James Webb Space Telescope, which came under fire in July when the House Appropriations Subcommittee proposed cutting the project due to poor oversight and budget overruns. “Next Tuesday...
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Almost a month ago, NASA finished polishing the mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s successor, down to an accuracy of one-millionth of an inch. The technology developed for testing the revolutionary mirrors has already spurred improvements in ocular health, from diagnosing problems and providing more accurate contact lenses to perfecting laser eye...
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At 11:29 July 8, 2011, space shuttle Atlantis left its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), bringing with it the collective history of 30 years and more than 350 men and women. The final mission (link opens PDF) will see Atlantis’ four-person crew testing...
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Update: Endeavour’s launch has been postponed for at least 48 hours due to “an issue with Auxiliary Power Unit 1 heaters.” NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour makes its final launch today at 3:47 p.m. Commander Mark Kelly and his crew bring with them the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, as well as spare parts needed at the...
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On Nov. 13, 1981, the crew of space shuttle mission STS-2 awoke to the Muppets’ “Pigs in Space” comedy routine No. 1. On Nov. 18, 1995, it was “Do Wah Diddy Diddy”—”performed as a drill team chant cadence”—for the crew of mission STS-74. And now, for mission STS-134, space shuttle Endeavour’s final flight? It’s...
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In honor of Leonard Nimoy’s 80th birthday tomorrow, a few nifty space things: First, PhotoRadar published a selection of photographs by Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency, who has taken hundreds of in-flight photos from the International Space Station. There are overhead views of volcanoes, flyovers of entire cities, sprawling shots...
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At 9 p.m. today, NASA’s MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) will become the first spacecraft to enter Mercury’s orbit. The craft, which is operated by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has been racing through the inner solar system for the last six and a half years and will transmit...
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Space shuttle Discovery returned to Earth mid-morning yesterday after completing its final trip to the International Space Station. The six-member crew spent 13 days and traveled more than 5 million miles to deliver crucial spare parts and Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot in space. Since its first mission in 1984, Discovery has spent...
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We were a little behind the ball on this, but there’s still a chance to win a pack of NASA Bandz. . . which are exactly what you’re thinking they are. The United States’ space mainstay has created some shaped rubber bands to coordinate with its Physics of the Cosmos Program, and you can...
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Don’t forget! NASA’s spacecraft Stardust NExT (New Exploration of Tempel) has a hot date with comet Tempel 1 tonight at 11:37 p.m. You can watch it live on NASA TV starting at 11:30 p.m., including commentary from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. In related, um, news, University of Chicago calls NExT a player...
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OC Alternatives Sizzlin’ Summer Calendar: Assateague Island National Seashore, North Point State Park, Rehoboth Beach, and more 5/15/2013
Real-Life Embarassing Sex Stories Feature: Submitted by City Paper readers 2/13/2013
Charm Offensive Feature: Meet the unpaid, underappreciated, and underprotected stars of underwear football By Violet Levoit 5/22/2013
Murder Ink Murder Ink: Murders this Week: 5; Murders this Year: 77 By Edward Ericson Jr. 5/15/2013
Crazy Horse Film: Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman puts his focus on Le Crazy Horse de Paris, the French cabaret By Lee Gardner 4/4/2012
City Treasure City Folk: Charlie Riemer kept City Hall running, finishes his own race By Rafael Alvarez 5/22/2013