Space Shuttle Update (21)

←                                                                                                                                         →
SPACE WATCH · NASA TV · STS-135: Last Space Shuttle Mission
Boeing: Slide show · Book (pdf)

Atlantis’ Final Roll to Pad
NASA – At a slow pace of about 1 mph, space shuttle Atlantis makes its final journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. First motion was at 8:42 p.m. EDT.

It will take the crawler-transporter about six hours to carry the shuttle, attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, to the seaside launch pad. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder May 31, 2011

Atlantis’ Final Roll to Pad
Dawn approaches after space shuttle Atlantis completed its historic final journey to Launch Pad 39A from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building.

Atlantis was secured or “hard down,” at its seaside launch pad at 3:29 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1. Photo credit: NASA/Terry Zaperach

Sunrise at Launch Pad 39A
Sunrise at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida finds space shuttle Atlantis on Launch Pad 39A after completing its historic and final journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building.

The milestone move, known as “rollout,” paves the way for the launch of the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Go Atlantis!
A banner proclaims the sentiments of Kennedy’s work force at Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after space shuttle Atlantis completed its historic and final journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Atlantis was secured or “hard down,” at its seaside launch pad at 3:29 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

H.R.1249 America Invents Act Approved By House Of Representatives

Library of Congress -

In the U.S. House of Representatives:

6/23/2011 3:38pm:

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provsions of H. Res. 316, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Manzullo amendment no. 13.

6/23/2011 3:47pm:

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Manzullo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Manzullo demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6/23/2011 3:48pm:

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provsions of H. Res. 316, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rohrabacher amendment no. 14.

6/23/2011 3:58pm:

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Rohrabacher amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rohrabacher demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6/23/2011 3:59pm:

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provsions of H. Res. 316, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schock amendment no. 15.

6/23/2011 4:13pm:

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Schock amendment, the Chair put t he question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6/23/2011 4:14pm:

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

6/23/2011 4:54pm:

PROCEEDINGS VACATED – Subsequent to the completion of a roll call vote on the Conyers amendment No. 9, the final disposition was called into question and by unanimous consent, the proceedings were vacated and the Conyers amendment No. 9 was redesignated and the question of adoption was put again by the Chair for a re-vote by the Committee of the Whole.

6/23/2011 5:14pm:

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1249.

6/23/2011 5:15pm:

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

6/23/2011 5:16pm:

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

6/23/2011 5:17pm:

Mr. Miller (NC) moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary. (consideration: CR H4503-4505; text: CR H4503)

6/23/2011 5:19pm:

DEBATE – The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same to the House with an amendment to require the U.S. Patent Office to prioritize patent applications filed by entities that pledge to develop or manufacture their products, processes, and technologies in the U.S., including, specifically, those filed by small businesses and individuals.

6/23/2011 5:24pm:

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

6/23/2011 5:42pm:

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 172 – 251 (Roll no. 490).

6/23/2011 5:48pm:

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

6/23/2011 5:48pm:

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 304 – 117 (Roll no. 491).

6/23/2011 5:49pm:

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1249.

more> http://tinyurl.com/5vs4s9o

related>

• Patent Reform or Patent Ripoff? ↓
• FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 491 (H.R.1249: America Invents Act), US Congress
• Lamar Smith’s patent reform bill OK’d by U.S. House, John Egan, Examiner.com
• Patent Bill Unites Past Enemies, Janie Lorber and John Stanton, Roll Call News
• House Passes Patent Reform Bill, Andrew Ramonas, Main Justice
• AICPA Opposes Grandfathering of Pending Tax Strategy Patents, Roger Russell, AccountingToday
• The Big Government Patent Bill, John Duffy, Patently-O
• Bank Bailout Provision in Patent Bill Harms Inventors & Entrepreneurs, DataTreasury

Obama eyes investments in technology manufacturing

By Laura MacInnis – Obama will visit Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, which aims to speed development of a new generation of American-made high-technology products.

The program will leverage existing federal funds and future federal departmental budgets to invest with industry some $300 million to jump-start domestic manufacturing capabilities seen as critical to U.S. national security. Initial public-private investment areas include batteries, composites, metal fabrication, biotechnology and alternative energy. more> http://tinyurl.com/6alzvoj

related>

• Obama to announce $500M manufacturing investment initiative, Vicki Needham, Hill

European banking plan to rival London’s Libor

EurActiv – The new project, called ‘US Dollar Euribor’, is set to establish a global benchmark in the American currency in direct competition with the USD Libor benchmark. The USD Euribor is attempting to bring together 24 banks, mostly from continental Europe, but also from Japan, the US, China and Canada. One British bank is also part of the project, according to a source close to the operation.

Libor relies instead on a survey of roughly 16 banks and is decided upon by British Bankers’ Association (BBA). more> http://tinyurl.com/63nu38o

Cantor’s exit leaves debt talks up to Boehner, Obama to get deal

By Erik Wasson and Russell Berman – Negotiations over cutting Washington’s debt plunged into crisis Thursday (6/24/11), as the top Republican negotiator walked out of talks over his Democratic counterparts’ demand that taxes be raised.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor himself told The Wall Street Journal, ‘it is up to the president to come in and talk to the Speaker.’ more> http://tinyurl.com/63o56z3