SpaceX capsule on way to space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.?? A private space capsule called Dragon soared into the predawn sky Tuesday, riding a pillar of flame like its beastly namesake on a history-making tripto the International Space Station.

The unmanned capsule, built by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), is the first non-governmental spacecraft to launch to the space station, ushering in a new era of partnership between the public and private spaceflight programs.

"I think this is an example of American entrepreneurship at its best," said Alan Lindenmoyer, manager of NASA's commercial crew and cargo program, in a briefing before the launch. About 100 VIP guests were on hand to witness the launch, NASA officials said.?

Related: Private rocket launch vindicates commercial spaceflight model

The Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX launched its Dragon capsule at 3:44 a.m. EDT Tuesday from a pad here at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It blasted off atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, a 157-foot (48-meter) booster powered by nine Merlin rocket engines. The space station was flying 249 miles above the North Atlantic Ocean as the rocket lifted off, NASA officials said. [Launch Photos: SpaceX's Dragon Blasts Off for Space Station]

Private spaceship in orbit
The gumdrop-shaped capsule is 14.4 feet tall (4.4 meters) and 12 feet wide (3.7 m), and packed with 1,014 pounds (460 kilograms) of cargo for the space station, including 674 pounds (306 kg) of foodand supplies for the crew, as well as student-designed science experimentsand a laptop computer.

The Falcon 9 rocket's second stage is also reportedly carrying ashes from 308 people, including actor James Doohan, who played Scotty on the 1960s television series "Star Trek," and Mercury program astronaut Gordon Cooper. The ashes were flown under a deal with the "memorial spaceflight" company Celestis, according to ABC News and Reuters. The ashes were in a section of the rocket that was jettisoned during the climb into space, The Associated Press reported.

The SpaceX launch vehicle is named after the Millennium Falcon of "Star Wars," while the capsule got its moniker from the Peter, Paul and Mary song, "Puff, the Magic Dragon."

Today marked only the second-ever launch of a Dragon capsule, and the third flight for the Falcon 9 rocket. It was the second attempt to launch the space station-bound test flight after a launch try Saturday was thwarted by a faulty rocket engine valve. Repairs were made over the weekend, and the SpaceX team counted down smoothly to the liftoff this morning.

"One thing that they are very good at is being able to work through launch abort and treat those problems and be prepared to go again in a very short time," Mike Horkachuck, NASA project executive for SpaceX, said Monday.

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Today's launch is the last planned test flight for SpaceX under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program intended to develop a private-sector replacement for the cargo-delivery services of the retired space shuttles. SpaceX has a $1.6 billion contract to fly at least 12 unmanned missions to the space station through 2015.

Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the goal of boosting commercial access to space and, ultimately, aiming for deep-space exploration, including missions to Mars. The success of today's launch was never certain or assured, Musk had repeatedly said.

Today, the mission's uncertainty eased up a bit, he said.

"Falcon flew perfectly!!" Musk wrote in a Twitter post from Falcon 9's mission control room in Hawthorne. "Dragon in orbit, comm locked and solar arrays active!! Feels like a giant weight just came off my back."

Orbital catch up
The spacecraft is due to spend its first day on orbit catching up with the 240-mile high (390 km) space station, where it will rendezvous Thursday and perform a fly-by to within 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) to check its navigation systems. [Quiz: How Well Do You Know SpaceX's Dragon?]

On Friday, the capsule is slated to perform a series of maneuvers to approach the station, with crew members onboard the outpost issuing commands to Dragon. If the spacecraft passes a set of "go-no go" checks at Mission Control in Houston, NASA will approve the vehicle to approach the International Space Station. From inside, astronauts Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers will use the lab's robotic arm to grab Dragon and berth it to the station's Harmony node.

The hatches between the two spacecraft are due to be opened early Saturday, so the crew can enter Dragon and unpack its payload.

Dragon is due to spend about a week attached to the outpost. On May 31, the capsule will be packed with completed science experiments and other equipment, unberthed and sent back toward Earth. The vehicle is equipped with a heat shield to withstand the fires of re-entry, and is due to splash down and be recovered by ship in the Pacific Ocean.

Private spaceflight reality
Dragon is an unmanned version of a capsule ultimately intended to carry people as well.

Another company, Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., also has a NASA contract to deliver cargo to the space station, and plans to launch its first test flight later this year.

The program is part of a larger effort by NASA to outsource low-Earth orbit transportation to the private sector, allowing the space agency to begin work on a new spacecraft and heavy-lift rocket to visit asteroids, the moon and Mars.

The plan has received criticism from some lawmakers and members of the public, who worry that commercial vehicles aren't as safe or reliable as NASA's in-house built spacecraft.

"It's really easyto criticize, and it's very difficult to solve a problem and actually do something," said SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. "So I tend to focus on the business and getting our jobs done and not focus on those that want to criticize."

NASA officials and leaders of the commercial space sector say the time is right for space to transition from an exclusively government regime to an arena open to private companies.

"I kind of see that transition as being inevitable," said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of Commercial Spaceflight Development. "I believe it is going to happen at some point. If it's not today and this mission falls short of expectations, it is going to happen eventually."

You can follow Space.com Assistant Managing Editor Clara Moskowitz on Twitter @ClaraMoskowitz.Follow Space.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcomand on Facebook.

? 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

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Mawq3y News ? The Science of Computer Forensics

Ever since his or her invention, personal computers along with networked computers have found prefer with the professionals along with the layman alike. This usage has increased several fold over the years. Like several new invention, the particular misuses too have grown. The truth is the misuses have grown genuinely out of proportion. Internet Crimes as these these are known as has really reached damaging levels. These include breaking into the bank accounts by means of internet banking or use of pilfered Debit cards, phishing, hacking associated with accounts, identity thefts and data robberies.

This new side branch is a slowly developing new field regarding study. The aim of this branch of computer technology is to determine the modus operandi of the cyber thiefs but not only bring these phones book, but to stop such criminal serves in future, through appropriate softwares and of course legislation.
Cell site analysis techniques and skilled knowledge are mainly used to explain how the product has been tampered with, such as a computer system, storage medium, electronic papers (e.g. electronic mails or JPEG image).The scope of a forensic investigation can vary from simple information retrieval for you to reconstructing a series of events. This branch may be defined as involving ?the storage, identification, extraction, records and interpretation pc data?. Computer forensic methodology will be backed by mobility and extensive website knowledge and is often the culmination of hardwork, spontaneous observations and tested inferences.
Through appropriate legislation, in The indian subcontinent, forensic evidence is subject to the usual requirements regarding digital evidence necessitating information to be legitimate, reliably obtained in addition to admissible.
Computer forensic investigations usually follow the standard electronic digital forensic process (acquisition, examination and reporting).
A number of techniques are used during computer forensics deliberate or not like cross-drive analysis, study of deleted documents etc. The examination of computers from within the operating system using tailor made forensics or active sysadmin tools to acquire evidence. A common strategy used in computer ?forensics? is the recovery regarding deleted files.
Eventhough it is most often associated with the exploration of a wide variety of computer crime, computer forensics London may also be used in municipal proceedings. The control involves similar tactics and principles for you to data recovery, but with further guidelines and practices designed to create a legitimate audit trail.

For more information about computer forensics visit our website.

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Obama's re-election campaign releases video challenging Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital (Star Tribune)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Video: Dateline turns 20!

Dateline NBC

'Dateline NBC,' the signature broadcast for NBC News in primetime, premiered in 1992. Since then, it has been pioneering a new approach to primetime news programming. The multi-night franchise, supplemented by frequent specials, allows NBC to consistently and comprehensively present the highest-quality reporting, investigative features, breaking news coverage and newsmaker profiles.

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Using-Computers | TravelBuddies.us ? Travel Tips

Using Computers

It?s Not Rocket Science

These days it?s strange to hear people say, ?I?m just not computer literate,? as computers have evolved from archaic scientific calculators to simple point-and-click type machines. We suspect that today?s ?computer illiterates? are people who haven?t taken the time to experiment with such a machine. And we strongly believe that spending just twenty minutes with one could turn the most adamant technological caveman into any one of those who have fun wreaking chatroom havoc on the Internet today.

Today, one only needs to learn how to manipulate a mouse, punch a few buttons on a keyboard, or really just turn the thing on to use a computer. It?s hard for some folks to believe, but the computers of this generation almost run themselves! For fun, let?s investigate just how little knowledge these thousand-dollar machines actually require.

Can an absolute newbie operate a computer without knowing how to use a mouse or keyboard? Assuming that a computer is set up to operate on voice command ? sure! Voice command software allows users to tell a computer what to do and the computer responds by fulfilling the user?s commands. Although it?s pretty new and still under development, voice directed technology has already infiltrated consumer service related systems.

Think back to the last time that you paid a bill over the phone. Instead of speaking to a human being, chances are that you spoke to a computer that not only responded to what you said and followed the commands that you gave it, it also asked you for more information such as your full name or credit card number. In this case, a person (such as yourself) operated a computer without even knowing it!

Can an absolute newbie sit down at a computer without knowing how to use one? Assuming that a computer is set up to operate on touch command ? the answer is again, yes! Touch command software allows users to literally touch objects on a monitor and tell the computer what to do with a finger. Known as ?kiosks,? these programs are already in use world wide at ATM machines, employment centers, and in health monitoring systems.

Neither a mouse nor a keyboard is required. A computer user only needs to touch various boxes on a screen to control a computer. Sure, the programming behind such technology is extensive and advanced, but to the end user, it makes computer use less intimidating and plain easy.

Of course when we talk about operating a computer, we envision more involvement than speaking on the phone or touching things on a screen. The above illustrations were just a couple of examples of how far computer technology has grown, and how far we?ve pushed ?user-friendliness? to its limit. Eventually, the keyboard and mouse will have to play a role when computer newbies have to work with one as a cash register, as a hotel booking program, or as a library?s catalog system.

These requirements don?t make computers any less easier to operate, but they don?t make them that much harder either. So much of today?s software is designed to accommodate the experience of a new user that anyone could get connected to the Internet, send an email message, and download an MP3 file within the first five hours of purchasing a personal PC.

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Gameflynews: PlayStation three film online game Review - Shopping

The PlayStation3 film online game could be the newest gaming console near to the market. film online game consoles are expensive, determining which online game console to purchase is acknowledged getting a tremendous decision.

PlayStation three film game, microsof company Xbox 360, as well as the Nintendo Wii can be the best three film gaming consoles on today's market. The consoles are pricey and some are hard to find. So, before to buying any belonging using the online game consoles, be optimistic to accomplish your film online game research.

COMPARING THE microsof company XBOX 360, NINTENDO WII, AND PLAYSTATION three film GAMES:

MICROSOFT XBOX 360:The Xbox 360 could be probably the most selected belonging using the best three near to the market. it could hold out the traditional and most belonging using the selected film games available. The newly released the microsof company Interface knowing has just been released. It's uncomplicated to alter the visual appeal of your console by utilizing the Faces 360. using the Xbox Live, you can hold out with anyone, anytime, and anywhere.

The Xbox 360 has high-definition pictures that redesign what film games look, sound, and really feel like. However, components should be obtained to hold complete advantage belonging using the it, with raises the cost belonging using the Xbox 360.

It arrives with 512MG GDDR3 Ram and 700 MHz DDR of storage and facilitates as drastically as 4 wireless online game controllers. The PlayStation three has input/output of three USB 2.0 ports, and two storage unit slots, and instant out-of-the box entry to Xbox reside using a cost assortment of $299 to $399.

The bad information could be the console is noisy when running, as well as a month-to-month gaming subscription is required.

NINTENDO Wii:The Nintendo Wii could be probably the most selected gaming console, but furthermore the hardest to find. for people that can't locate a human being getting console, you could need to hold benefit of the Wii bundle. The Wii is family-friendly and provides a thing for most everyone, such as the Wii match up using a harmony board, as well as a Mario card. The pictures are not significant Definition, and appear to acquire additional cartoon-like, however the plan is superb for several gamers of all ages.

It qualities a sleek glimpse and compact dimension (8.5" x 6" x 2"), as well as a disc driver that facilitates just one or dual layer optical disc, and is also backwards compatible.

The principal advantage could be the Wii controller. There is no studying curve; every one of the participant should do is place and swing the controller to acquire the wanted online game movements or action. The controller is precise and movements are natural.

The Wii arrives equipped using a CMOS processor capable of 729,000 cycles every second, an ATI Hollywood GPU that performs at about 249,000 Hz, 88MB RAM, 512MB flash memory, SD card slot, and an inside speaker. It has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi WLAN, and USB LAN-connectivity. a human being getting Wii console could possibly be found for abour $200.00. each and every Wii Bundle is different, and allows that you select out which apps and what components finest match up your needs. Bundle expenses assortment from $189.99 - $649.99.

SONY PLAYSTATION 3:The PlayStation three film video games can be the only High-Definition and Blue-Ray participant near to the market. not just does it hold out High-Definition movies, it updates regular DVD's. It's provides a stylish design, however the dark glossy complete is acknowledged getting a fingerprint magnet. The pictures are awesome, and provides no cost on-line play. You can create your individual avatar and hold out over the internet with other PlayStation three film online game users. However, the over the internet gaming, media, and commerce choices are not as designed since the Xbox Live.

The PlayStation three film online game qualities a built-in Wi-Fi and flash participant mass media reader The console operates quietly, and has backwards compatibility that is hard-wire based. It does not have an outside energy supply, but does possess a 60MG hard drive. PlayStation three does not have an infra-red port, and will not be compatible with non-Bluetooth universal remotes.

The PlayStation three film online game is hard to find, and qualities a cost assortment of $399.99. But, it also plays PlayStation1 and PlayStation2 film games, making it a worthwhile option using the much less pricey model. And, if backwards computability is acknowledged getting a best priority, this hard-to-find style could be worth the search.

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Sleeper Cells: Latent Links Between Infection and Prostate Cancer ...

Posted on 19 May 2012.

Kasey Kissick

Prostate cancer is a common diagnosis. In fact, it is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States.¹ Due to increasing life expectancies, this late-onset cancer has seen a marked increase in incidence over the last few decades. Despite its widespread and growing prevalence, little is understood about the actual causes of prostate cancer. The only known risk factors are family history, age, and race. Although African Americans have the highest rates of prostate cancer, the reason for this prevalence is unknown.¹ Even more perplexing is the fact that that men living in Asia are much less likely to develop prostate cancer than those in the US or Western Europe. However, when Asian men move to western countries, their risk increases.² These results indicate that prostate cancer risk is not simply the result of genetics and aging. Like many other cancers, environmental factors may be involved. Current prostate cancer research is investigating the role of dietary factors, chemical agents, cigarette smoke, and infectious agents like bacteria and viruses.

Most would be surprised to learn that a number of cancers have infectious origin, but the American Cancer Society reports that 20% of all cancers are triggered by infections. To name a few pairs: Hepatitis B virus and liver cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, schistosomes and bladder cancer, and the ulcer-causing bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, and stomach cancer. Some microbes induce carcinogenesis by directly targeting and damaging DNA, like HPV does with cervical cancer. Others, like H. pylori in stomach cancer, trigger a chronic inflammatory immune response, which damages DNA over time.³ In many cases, discovering the infectious agents involved in cancers can be difficult because the cancer develops years or even decades after infection. Establishing these links requires time-intensive, large-scale epidemiological studies to select and confirm suspected infection candidates. H. pylori, for instance, was linked to stomach ulcers in 1980, but it took 10 years, 12 studies, and a grand total of 1128 cases and 3406 controls to confirm that infection with the bacteria was associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.⁴

Although it can take many years to confirm a suspected relationship, uncovering a link between an infectious agent and cancer is of immense public health importance. Identification of the potential cause and effect facilitates preventive measures and early treatment. In the case of HPV and cervical cancer, the Gardasil vaccine is estimated to protect against 70% of cervical cancers.⁵ Likewise, the discovery that H. pylori increases stomach cancer risk 6-fold could be crucial to preventing stomach cancer by screening for and treating ulcers early with antibiotics.⁴ Similarly, schistosomes can be screened and treated with a round of anti-helminthic drugs to eliminate the parasite before the onset of bladder cancer. Knowing that a certain virus or bacteria may predict cancer later in life completely changes the picture; with such knowledge, cancer prevention becomes a very attainable goal. Dr. Jonathan Simons, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation explains, ?discovering the pathogens that cause cancer has been transformational in reducing death and suffering and in generating entirely new prevention strategies.? The potential to significantly cut healthcare costs, save lives, and alleviate suffering is what makes this preventive research so worthwhile.

In the case of prostate cancer, many signs suggest an infectious agent may play a role in its pathogenesis. Mirroring the relationship between H. pylori and stomach cancer, an infection causing chronic inflammation may, over time, lead to prostate cancer. Several bacteria, viruses, and parasites have been observed to infect the prostate and generate an inflammatory response, and studies show that regular users of anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin report a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.¹ Current evidence suggests that some unidentified infection occurs early in life and produces chronic, asymptomatic inflammation in the prostate, which after 20-30 years, leads to prostate cancer.¹ Two microorganisms at the top of suspect list include the protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, and the notoriously widespread and asymptomatic bacterial family of Mycoplasma.^6,7 Both produce chronic, largely unrecognized infections. Interestingly, both infections are more prevalent in African Americans, perhaps explaining the mystery of race as a risk factor.^6,7

Currently, no conclusive data exists revealing a strong association between a single microbe and prostate cancer. The time lag and symptomless nature of many prostate infections make confirming the role of an infectious agent a challenge. Additionally, research of the prostate is limited, and there is still much uncertainty about what constitutes the normal bacterial flora of the prostate. With this knowledge, it would be easier to pinpoint the agents that might be producing an inflammatory, cancerous effect.

Solidifying the link between an infectious agent and prostate cancer may not, however, be the sole answer.? There could be multiple microbes involved or a number of cofactors, such as dietary issues, that could interact to create the conditions necessary for prostate cancer. Despite the challenges, researchers remain optimistic. Simons calls this search ?one of the highest public health issues of our era.? Moving forward, he believes ?the obvious suspects are usually never responsible, and it will require innovation and discovery with new biotechnologies and insights from innovative young scientists to elucidate the microbe or microbes that are responsible.??With modern diagnostic technologies and growing interest in research on cancer and infection, a discovery may occur soon.

Jonathan Simons, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, is a recognized physician-scientist and leader in prostate cancer research. Simons attended Johns Hopkins Medical School where he completed a clinical fellowship in medical oncology and a post-doctoral fellowship in human cancer molecular genetics.

1. De Marzo AM, Platz EA, Sutcliffe S, Xu J, Gronberg H, Drake CG. et al. Inflammation in prostate carcinogenesis. Nat Rev Cancer. 2007;7(4):256-69.

2. Hsing AW, Tsao L, Devesa SS. International trends and patterns of prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Int J Cancer 2000;85(1):60-7.

3. Coussens LM, Werb Z. Inflammation and cancer. Nature 2002;420(6917):860-7.

4. Helicobacter and Cancer Collaborative Group. Gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori: a combined analysis of 12 case control studies nested within prospective cohorts. Gut. 2001;49(3):347-53.

5. HPV Vaccines. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/HPV-vaccine

6. Stark JR, Judson G, Alderete JF, Mundodi V, Kucknoor AS, Giovannucci EL, et al. Prospective study of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and prostate cancer incidence and mortality: Physicians? Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101(20):1406-11.

7. Barykova YA, Logunov DY, Shmarov MM, Vinarov AZ, Fiev DN, Vinarova NA, et al. Association of Mycoplasma hominis infection with prostate cancer. Oncotarget 2011;2(4):289-97.

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