#DataDump: #Flame, Blame, Hall of Fame and more

Massive Spy Malware 'Flame' Infiltrating Iranian Computers*

Flame Virus: Who's Behind the World's Most Complicated Espionage Software?*
Viruses More Prevalent On Religious Websites*
Activists Aim To Build A 'Bat-Signal For The Internet'*
Judge Defends Sentence Imposed on Dharun Ravi*
SKorea teens flock online to snitch on pro-North posts*
Computer Lockout Leads To Murder/Suicide*
'Geek In The City' Podcast on First-Person Shooter Video Games*
33 Inducted Into The Internet Hall of Fame*
SpaceX's mission ends with a splashdown in the Pacific*
SpaceX Dragon capsule splashes down*
Audio Satire: NASA Shuttle Bus Delayed*

SpaceX Launch Successful Second Time Around

Universe Today reports successful Space X launch on May 22 from Cape Canaveral after a previous T-Minus Zero abort. The Space X Dragon replaces the Space Shuttle. The article reports: "the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped by the Dragon cargo capsule thundered to space from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 3:44 am (May 22) and is now safely in orbit with solar arrays deployed and is chasing the ISS flying some 249 miles overhead." It is a new era of privatized space for better or worse!

Systems All Go For Space X Launch On May 19

Space X will launch first commercial rocket on May 19 from Cape Canaveral.  Universe Today article describes event: "In less than 48 hours, SpaceX is primed to make history and launch...spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) early Saturday morning on May 19...The SpaceX developed Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft (picture, right) is bolted on top of the two stage Falcon 9 rocket and stands 157 feet tall for the mission dubbed “COTS 2”. The Falcon 9 booster (picture, left) generates 1 million pounds of thrust ...The purpose of Dragon is to carry supplies up to orbit and dock at the ISS and partially replace the capabilities of NASA’s now retired space shuttle. Dragon is a commercial spacecraft designed and developed by SpaceX. "

It seems a wonderful achievement replacing wasteful government with efficiencies of a corporation? Is it truly for the best? What can a corporation conceal where government would have to disclose? Is it really much different than privatizing the military? The present writer believes a healthy skepticism should be taken when it comes to managing the affairs of space!  It will be as easy as attaining your GPS coordinates from your enabled cell phone to put you in the crosshairs!

international space station: 1998 to present

Assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) ranks as an engineering feat from first launch in 1998 to first occupants in November, 2000 to tenth year of continued occupation and beyond. An excellent informative flash movie of the ISS taking shape over years and a Scientific American slideshow presentation, are must viewing! A You Tube video of International Space Station immerses viewer in virtual experience--great stuff!

NASA website summarizes effort to assemble space station: "As of the Nov. 2 [2010] anniversary date there have been 103 launches to the space station: 67 Russian vehicles, 34 space shuttles, one European and one Japanese vehicle. A total of 150 spacewalks have been conducted in support of space station assembly totaling more than 944 hours." You may wonder when the ISS will be visited next with the Shuttle's retirement? A flight schedule also on NASA website shows list of entirely Russian missions for next two years. The present writer expects a Space X Dragon module to pull up, at some point, before schedule's completion!

space x launch a commercial first!

Space X, a commercial space transport company owned by Paypal co-founder Elon Musk, boosted their Dragon capsule into earth orbit atop their own Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday, Dec 8, 2010.  Dragon orbited twice and splashed down successfully 500 miles off the coast of Southern California.  Space X is the first commercial company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft.   The Dragon capsule is capable of delivering  astronauts to the International Space Station.  A pdf file of a press kit for Space X Commercial Orbit Transportation Service (COTS) Flight 1 is available here. There will be more demo flights to be followed by a test launch all in 2011.  Wow, it's pretty heady stuff!