This whole article is quite scary. $1.1 Billion to put a satellite/telescope into space dedicated to asteroid hunting. Seems like a small price to pay for potentially saving millions of lives or the world. And why is the U.S. the only ones putting money into this. Shouldn’t this be an international effort? NASA should just open up and accept donations for specific projects. I wouldn’t mind putting a couple hundred or more dollars into this to secure my well being and everyone around me. As I said earlier… a small price to pay.

NASA can’t pay for killer asteroid hunt - MSNBC

This part of the article is really scary.

These are asteroids that are bigger than 460 feet in diameter — slightly smaller than the Superdome in New Orleans. They are a threat even if they don’t hit Earth because if they explode while close enough — an event caused by heating in both the rock and the atmosphere — the devastation from the shockwaves is still immense. The explosion alone could have with the power of 100 million tons of dynamite, enough to devastate an entire state, such as Maryland, they said.

The agency is already tracking bigger objects, at least 3,300 feet in diameter, that could wipe out most life on Earth, much like what is theorized to have happened to dinosaurs 65 million years ago. But even that search, which has spotted 769 asteroids and comets — none of which is on course to hit Earth — is behind schedule. It’s supposed to be complete by the end of next year.

damn… can’t believe i missed (forgot) about the launch today. trying to bring the recordings up on the NASA Launch Blog was unsuccessful so far because everybody and their mothers are connected up to NASA’s site servers.

Rocket�s Red Glare!

With a rocket’s red glare, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in a spectacular display of sound and light befitting of Independence Day.

Commanded by Steven Lindsey, Discovery and its crew of seven astronauts roared from Launch Pad 39B to begin a 15,000-mph chase to rendezvous with the International Space Station.

As Discovery raced into the bright blue sky, cheers and applause erupted across Kennedy and along the nearby beaches of Florida’s Space Coast. Today’s successful launch came on the third try after the first two attempts to launch were dashed by poor weather.

Now under way, Discovery and its crew set their sights on a mission to deliver equipment, supplies and an additional crewmember to the station. While docked, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as make repairs to the station.

good luck to the Discovery crew and hat’s off to you.