Against a black night sky, the Space Shuttle Endeavour heads toward Earth orbit and a scheduled link-up with the International Space Station (ISS). Liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 occurred at 7:49:47 p.m. (EST), November 23, 2002. Image Credt:  NASA

Columbia broke apart on its final orbit, and all seven astronauts died because debris from an external fuel tank had punched a hole in its wing during launch days before, causing the wing to melt from hot atmospheric gases during re-entry.

To prevent another loss, the accident investigators called for 15 safety improvements they said should be completed before flights resume. NASA officials say they have met five, and have made progress toward the other 10, which must be met by December, if a shuttle is to lift off early next year.

(0) Comments posted about this in the forum

A coral reef harbors as much life as a rainforest. (Photo courtesy California Academy of Sciences)

"Currently, I think the estimate is that about a quarter of the reefs are severely damaged on the planet," she said. "Most people agree that we're probably going to see extinctions of some species and that the composition of coral communities is going to change. That in the end is going to change the way coral reefs function and provide things that are valuable to humans."

Against this gloomy backdrop stand two separate reports in the journal Nature revealing signs that the corals are beginning to evolve their way out of trouble. They show that corals in the Pacific and Indian Oceans have adapted to higher ocean temperatures by playing host to a different kind of protective algae than they are normally associated with, one that tolerates warmer water.

(0) Comments posted about this in the forum

August 2004 (Newstream) -- Everyone knows what aerobatics is. And what you have to do in a ski slalom. The Air Race is a sort of combination of these two disciplines: an aeroplane race against the clock through several obstacles in a very tight space. On 20 August, the second race in the new Red Bull Air Race Series 2004 - right in the heart of Budapest's city centre - will make its own very special contribution to the celebration of St. Stephen's Day, the Hungarian national holiday.

Kirby Chambliss at RBAR UK 04 (c) Stefan Aufschnaiter

The Red Bull Air Race celebrated its premiere at the AirPower03 air show in Zeltweg in Austria with six world-ranking aerobatic pilots taking part and race inventor Peter Besenyei emerging as the winner. After the second Air Race, which started at Tököl Airport in Hungary, the Red Bull Air Race World Series was created. This year is the first season with races taking place in England, Hungary and the USA. The Air Race in Budapest promises to be a particular high spot, as the race, which can reach speeds of up to 400 km/hr, will be taking place on St. Stephen's Day, in the town centre directly above the Danube. The eight pilots will start their race against time right in front of the Hungarian parliament building between the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge. Included in the aerobatic challenges are several flights between obstacles in the knife-edge position, half and full rolls, also in the vertical upward flight, and a touch and go on a small artificial island. After performing a large figure eight in front of the parliament building, the world-class pilots will then fly under the Chain Bridge to reach their goal.

(0) Comments posted about this in the forum