Views from the Solar System (7)

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SPACE WATCH

McCandless Orbits in Jetpack
NASA – On Feb. 12, 1984, astronaut Bruce McCandless, ventured further away from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut had ever been. This space first was made possible by a nitrogen jet propelled backpack, previously known at NASA as the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU.

After a series of test maneuvers inside and above Challenger’s payload bay, McCandless went “free-flying” to a distance of 320 feet away from the Orbiter. This stunning orbital panorama view shows McCandless out there amongst the black and blue of Earth and space.

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Romney is the Hillary Clinton of 2012

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By Niall Stanage – That may seem an ill portent, given that Clinton lost the nomination. But being Clinton in 2012 might be better than being Clinton in 2008.

Ideologically disparate though the two politicians are, Romney’s candidacy this year shares many of the vulnerabilities exhibited by then-Sen. Clinton four years ago. That is enough to give pause to anyone who sees him as the inevitable Republican nominee.

Clinton entered the campaign having upset the Democratic grassroots with her October 2002 Senate vote authorizing President Bush to use force in Iraq. more> http://tinyurl.com/6lhhbj5

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Italian borrowing costs hit new record in debt crisis

By Alex Hawkes – Italy was dragged deeper into Europe’s debt crisis on Monday as its borrowing costs soared to their highest level since the euro was created.The yield, or interest rate, on 10-year Italian bonds leapt to 6.66% on Monday, as Silvio Berlusconi‘s government prepared for a key vote on the country’s public finances on Tuesday.

“The current feeling is that Italy is too large to bail out with the current mechanisms in place, should Greek-like turmoil spread to Italy,” warned Peter O’Flanagan of Clear Currency. more> http://tinyurl.com/c3swr7j

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Manned Electric Helicopter

VIDEO 3:56
By Alexander Wolfe – The “e-volo,” an electric-powered multicopter, took its first test flight in Germany last month. So called because it has 16 rotors, the 176-pound machine is powered by lithium-ion batteries. more> http://tinyurl.com/bqjjg4y

World’s first manned flight with an electric multicopter

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Monster sunspot poses threat of significant solar storms

By Steve Tracton – A major sunspot is presently emerging on the surface of the solar disk facing Earth.

The area is called Region 1339 and is being referred to as a “benevolent monster.” 8.3 times bigger than Earth, it generated a solar flare which shot out a burst of charged particles yesterday but – this time – was not aimed at Earth. more> http://tinyurl.com/3aw8yre

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