Ian's Home Page

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 Masten Space Systems goes to Washington DC for NASA award in Lunar Lander Challenge, Nov 5, 2009 I posted my photos of the trip with the Masten Space Systems crew to Washington DC for the NASA and X-Prize Foundation award ceremony at the Capitol for the Lunar Lander Challenge on Nov 5, 2009. And I did some sightseeing on Nov 6-8 while I was there. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 Masten Space Systems qualifies for Level 2 of Lunar Lander Challenge, Oct 30, 2009 I posted my photos of Masten Space Systems' rocket flights qualifying for Level 2 of the Lunar Lander Challenge in Mojave, California on Oct 30, 2009. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 Masten Space Systems qualifies for Level 1 of Lunar Lander Challenge, Oct 7, 2009 I posted my photos of Masten Space Systems' rocket flights qualifying for Level 1 of the Lunar Lander Challenge in Mojave, California on Oct 7, 2009. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 List of planned instrument approaches now updated weekly I posted an entry on my flight instruction blog, "List of planned instrument approaches now updated weekly". This is a display of the FAA's schedule of new instrument approaches. And now my display of the data has been expanded from a statewide list to nationwide. 5 year ago: SpaceShipOne won the X-Prize I was there among the tens of thousands of spectators on Oct 4, 2004 to see SpaceShipOne win the X-Prize in Mojave for a second manned space flight in a matter of days. See my pictures and others' at Stratofox. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 Stratofox remote support for Mars Society TEMPO3 balloon flight, Sept 26, 2009 I was one of the Stratofox crew who provided remote assistance from California for the Mars Society's TEMPO3 balloon flight in Colorado on September 26, 2009. Las Vegas photos I posted photos from my trip to Las Vegas to visit family on Sept 23-25, 2009. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 WebFetch 0.13 I posted WebFetch 0.13, an update of the feed reading and distributing Perl module. A new feature is the ability to write data to TWiki systems. XML::CAP 0.02 Perl module I posted XML::CAP 0.02 an update of the Perl module which handles the XML Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). Sat, 12 Sep 2009 Photos of Space Shuttle Discovery landing at Edwards I posted my photos of the Space Shuttle Discovery landing at Edwards AFB on Friday, Sept 11, 2009. Masten Space Systems rocket lander flight test I posted (with permission) photos of Masten Space Systems test flight of the XA-0.1B rocket lander in preparation for the Level 1 Lunar Lander Challenge competition flights. Tour of XCOR Aerospace in Mojave I posted (with permission) photos of a tour XCOR Aerospace on Friday, Sept 11, 2009 including quick looks at the EZ-Rocket, X-Racer and progress on construction of the Lynx spacecraft. Flight to Mojave to see the space shuttle landing I posted pictures from the flight to the Mojave Air & Space Port to see the space shuttle landing on Sept 11, 2009. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10 years ago today: Lightning struck my backyard 10 years ago today, lightning struck a tree in my backyard. It was easy to remember the date: 9/9/99. I posted pictures of the burn marks on a broken branch when it was later removed, and notes about what I learned about the event. At least I knew my Ham Radio antennas were properly grounded - since an antenna taller than the tree was only 15 feet away and was not struck! The strong line of thunderstorms had gotten the attention of everyone across the Bay Area. I wasn't the only one with a story like this. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 New instrument approaches planned for California I posted a blog entry and a web page with the full list of FAA's planned new instrument approaches for California. Many airports are getting new WAAS LPV approaches with lower minimums, which means they should be useful in more types of weather. Wed, 26 Aug 2009 WebFetch 0.12 I updated the Perl module WebFetch to version 0.12. Mon, 24 Aug 2009 New Perl module XML::CAP I uploaded a new Perl module XML::CAP which handles the XML Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). Tue, 28 Jul 2009 Something else Twitter could stand for As tweeted, something else Twitter could stand for: "Today's Worldwide Internet Trend for Tech Entertainment and Revolution". Tue, 21 Jul 2009 Something else Twitter could stand for I tweeted something else Twitter could stand for: "Talk With Impunity, 'Til The Employer Reads". Practice Instrument Approaches at Stockton, July 20, 2009 I got some pictures while I helped as "safety pilot" when a friend flew some practice instrument approaches at Stockton Metro Airport.

 

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Twitter updates as of Tue 9-Feb-2010 00:55:03 PST

Boeing 747-8 completed first flight, @AeroNews: http://is.gd/7YB92 @AirlineReporter: http://is.gd/7YBmG #aviation
Mon 8-Feb-2010 17:25:13 PST

"EFF Fights for Cell Phone Users' Privacy in Thursday Hearing" http://is.gd/7YhNU #privacy #eff
Mon 8-Feb-2010 15:36:56 PST

ARRL: "Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Ham Radio 2.0" http://is.gd/7YfTi #hamradio
Mon 8-Feb-2010 15:26:41 PST

NASA TV also 10sec behind, GEO sat hops? ♺ @b0yle @jeff_foust: SfN's coverage of #STS130 launch more than 10 sec ahead of CNN
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:57:48 PST

OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) engine firing succeeded - Endeavour #STS130 now in circular orbit to intercept ISS
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:53:52 PST

♺ @unrocket: What an amazing sight, brighter than day and you could feel the low vibration in your chest. #sts130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:28:19 PST

external tank separated normally, it will continue on elliptical orbit and re-enter over Pacific #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:26:02 PST

at main engine cutoff Endeavour in elliptical orbit, at high point "apogee" will fire engines to circularize orbit #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:24:10 PST

main engine cutoff - Endeavour is in orbit #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:22:42 PST

shuttle controllers & commander call out various emergency plan points - glider and airplane pilots do this too #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:21:57 PST

upon reaching orbit, rocket shuts off its engines and stays up there, going fast enough to "fall" in circle around world
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:20:16 PST

it takes 8 minutes of 3G acceleration for the shuttle to reach orbit at 17,000 mph #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:17:25 PST

SRB separation - looks good #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:16:30 PST

looks like people there getting beautiful view (right @unrocket?) wish I was there #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:15:18 PST

Liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:14:18 PST

1 minute #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:13:12 PST

everything looks routine for 4:14A ET/1:14A PT launch - 2 minutes #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:12:25 PST

pace just keeps picking up as the countdown approaches zero, engine gimbal test done #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:11:37 PST

At T-5 minutes, Aux Power Units start and hydraulic systems get tested #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:08:37 PST

From T-9 minute point, countdown controlled by ground computers; at T-31 seconds shuttle computers take control #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:06:54 PST

T minus 9 minutes and counting - final preparations in progress #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:05:11 PST

good point: @milesobrien says this is only the last night launch of shuttle if no others get rescheduled to night #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:04:07 PST

#NASA launch and flight controllers polled: all GO for launch of #STS130 Endeavour to bring Node3 to ISS
Mon 8-Feb-2010 01:01:59 PST

#NASA launch controllers say they changed from "cautiously optimistic" of launch to "very optimistic" #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:59:24 PST

transatlantic landing site Zaragoza Spain weather has changed to go - in the nick of time, #STS130 may fly today...
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:57:03 PST

Amanda at X-Prize writes why NASA change in direction is a good thing: "21st Century Space Program" http://is.gd/7VpYQ
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:56:04 PST

that's a first for Fortune 200 CEOs, NYT: "Sun’s Chief Executive Tweets His Resignation" http://is.gd/7VpGj
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:54:40 PST

#STS130 launch weather: KSC "go"; transatlantic landing site Zaragoza, Spain selected as best but still no-go
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:42:29 PST

astronaut Chris Ferguson in STA says runway approach lights visible all over area, KSC weather improving #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:17:44 PST

SpaceFlightNow webcaster @milesobrien says all the transatlantic abort sites have no-go weather #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:14:43 PST

FlightAware live tracking of Shuttle Training Aircraft "NASA 944" zipping around KSC http://is.gd/7Vjeq #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:12:54 PST

Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) is modified Gulfstream jet, simulates steep approach of orbiter, WP: http://is.gd/7VicX
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:08:19 PST

astronaut Chris Ferguson in shuttle training aircraft reported cloud layer thinning, moving to NNW of pad #STS130
Mon 8-Feb-2010 00:01:06 PST

Aviation weather shows 3300' overcast at KTTS (KSC shuttle landing facility) currently no-go again for #STS130 launch
Sun 7-Feb-2010 23:43:03 PST

Steven Gonzalez of #NASA JSC posts vision: space exploration to begin from space, not from surface http://is.gd/7UNl8
Sun 7-Feb-2010 20:34:46 PST

#ICANN CEO, #TWiki co-founder: ♺ @RodBeckstrom: I'll be on CNN News at 10:40 AM ET 7:40 AM PT Monday re Cybersecurity
Sun 7-Feb-2010 19:53:18 PST

Rats! I didn't get it; next time... #AOPA Awards "Let's Go Flying" sweepstakes plane http://is.gd/7Uccv #aviation
Sun 7-Feb-2010 16:16:20 PST

correction to Denver Post article: Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider has room for 2 (not large) passengers
Sun 7-Feb-2010 15:07:11 PST

Denver Post: Sat Cirrrus/towplane midair in Boulder http://is.gd/7U0tt glider released and landed safely #aviation
Sun 7-Feb-2010 15:03:08 PST

oops indeed! ♺ @AirlineReporter: oops! RT @flyingwithfish: An Airline Ad Gone Wrong - http://bit.ly/aXNWEZ #aviation
Sun 7-Feb-2010 14:43:52 PST