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Posted on August 17, 2021 December 14, 2022
The Politically Great and the Morally Good
It wouldn't be beyond the pale to assert that we're currently having a collective crisis of faith regarding many of our world leaders and the political institutions they represent. Not only do they appear to be ineffectual in the face of emerging challenges – climate change, economic collapse, pandemics, and rising fascism, to pick a few – but several also seem to be fundamentally untrustworthy and, if one wants to be provocative, downright immoral.
For example, in the U.K., in the past year alone, several high ranking cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister himself, have been accused of lying, bullying, adultery, cronyism, corruption, and the questionable appropriation of public funds for personal use. Abuses of power like these, which extend far beyond the U.K.'s shores, have even been identified by the Centre for the Future of Democracy's recent report as one of the critical causes for the broader decreased faith in democracy in many of its former bastions.
Now concerns regarding politicians acting less than virtuously are nothing new. In the 44 B.C. treatise De Officiis, the Roman statesman Cicero wrote that there is "no vice more offensive than avarice, especially in men who stand foremost and hold the helm of state. For to exploit the state for selfish profit is not only immoral; it is criminal, infamous." Indeed, concern regarding politicians' dubious dealings have been common throughout history.
Cicero's demand that politicians not exploit the state is pretty ethically uncontroversial. However, there is a more nuanced question here than should politicians do their job morally. The question of the personal moral character of politicians and what this means for their suitability as statesmen is far more complex. Does it matter to us if a world leader acts immorally in private when they are good at their job of being a politician? That is, if they lead the country, protect their citizens, and communicate clearly with those they're responsible for/to, then why should we care about their extracurricular ethical deficiencies?
To illustrate, let's use a thought experiment. Imagine an election has been called to decide your country's next leader. Candidate A is known to be morally admirable – they recycle, don't cheat on their partner, give generously to charity, don't lie, etc. On the other hand, Candidate B does the opposite – they lie, cheat, throw all their rubbish in the same bin, hoard their wealth, etc. After a brutal campaign, both candidates demonstrate their suitability for the job in equal measure. With nearly all the votes counted, there's a tie. Yours is the only vote left to be cast. As such, you get to decide who the newest world leader is. Whom do you pick, and why?
On the one hand, you might think it's obvious – you pick Candidate A as they are objectively better than Candidate B. In addition to doing the job, Candidate A is also a good person, and that's valuable. After all, immorality is, by definition, bad (we might want to value it as -1). This undesirability is evident compared to the amoral (which we could value at 0) and even more so when compared to the morally good (which we can value as +1). Thus, if you end up with an effective leader regardless, why would you pick Candidate B, who comes with a negative value (-1), when you could instead have Candidate A, who comes with a positive value (+1). In other words, why settle for less when you can have more?
Complementing this self-centered approach, those favoring the morally virtuous leader may also ground their reasoning in justice. We typically think that the immoral shouldn't succeed at the expense of the moral; there is something right in rewarding those who act morally and punishing, or at least not rewarding, those who don't. To actively choose Candidate B over Candidate A would fly in the face of this sense of justice. It would indicate that individual integrity is divisible from the mainstay of professional ethics. That personal moral failing can be disregarded in decisions about who should(n't) be rewarded in professional capacities. In short, when all other things are equal, justice demands that bad people shouldn't succeed and good people should. Thus, Candidate A is the just choice.
On the other hand, it's plausible to argue in favor of, or at least of not discounting, Candidate B simply because they possess some personal moral failings. After all, who among us is entirely virtuous?
As we've already established, the two candidates are equally qualified. Thus, we have to ask why it matters that one acts in a morally dubious manner and the other doesn't. Could it be that we're acting upon some ill-formed or reactionary intuition? After all, we don't think in these terms when we consider a person's suitability for other jobs or tasks. For example, if you need surgery, the idea that you would pick from a list of equally qualified surgeons based on whether one was faithful to their partner would seem bizarre. In this situation, what matters is that person's capacity to fulfill the role's requirements. Anything outside that scope is inconsequential. So, just as we would think it insignificant that a capable surgeon acts immorally when not on-call, we might feel the same about a world leader – provided that they can undertake the task of effectively leading the nation, all other considerations should fall to the wayside.
As with many thought experiments, you might consider this one's parameters to be too restrictive or even implausible. The pessimistic (or some may say realistic) of you may argue that the very qualities that make one a practical head of state are the same qualities that would tarnish one's personal ethical record. As noted in Machiavelli's The Prince:
"And again, he need not make himself uneasy at incurring a reproach for those vices without which the state can only be saved with difficulty, for if everything is considered carefully, it will be found that something which looks like virtue, if followed, would be his ruin; whilst something else, which looks like vice, yet followed brings him security and prosperity."
For Machiavelli, those qualities which make someone a good person are not the same as those that make them a great leader. Indeed, often those qualities may impede one's ability to do their job as a politician. That, at the end of the day, the requirements of statehood demand that one lie, deceive, subjugate, battle, and even kill others – things that we would otherwise decry as vices and sins if not for the fact that the role of world leader required them.
Where does this leave us then? Do politicians need to be moral, and are we right in expecting them to be? While it may seem obvious to say yes – to decry the idea of an immoral leader – we have to be aware that we may be moralizing in a way that we wouldn't do for people in other roles. Furthermore, we might even be doing our country a disservice by trying to install a leader who, under any other circumstance, might be considered a good person.
The Uses and Abuses of Political Hypocrisy
Accusations of hypocrisy are so common in American politics that one usage of the term "politician" is as a near-synonym for "hypocrite" ("what's your supervisor like?" "he's a real politician.") And for the most part, the hypocrisy of politicians is not considered laudable. Immanuel Kant famously condemned what he called the "political moralist" who "fashions his morality to suit his own advantage as a statesman," paying homage to morality while devising "a hundred excuses and subterfuges to get out of observing them in practice." Like Kant, most of us seem to prize integrity in our politicians.
Yet throughout history, other philosophers have argued that hypocrisy is a necessary part of politics. Niccolò Machiavelli defended hypocrisy as an indispensable tool in a world in which "a man who wants to make a profession of good in all regards must come to ruin among so many who are not good." Much more recently, Judith Shklar argued that hypocrisy is nearly inevitable in political systems premised upon competitive elections, since candidates will employ persuasive rhetoric that requires a certain degree of dissimulation. Ruth Grant went further, arguing that without a plausible alternative for achieving comparable goods, hypocrisy in politics may very well be a moral necessity.
Thus, there appears to be disagreement about the inevitability and justifiability of hypocrisy in politics. In this column, I will focus on the kinds of hypocrisy politicians exhibit, and the question of whether and when political hypocrisy is morally preferable to non-hypocrisy.
It is important to note that hypocrisy is not a mere inconsistency between one's words and deeds. For example, I would condemn many things I did as a teenager, but that does not automatically make me a hypocrite. One hallmark of hypocrisy is that the hypocrite pays homage to morality not out of genuine concern, but for self-serving reasons — to gain some undeserved advantage, to excuse himself, or to hide from blame. It is for this reason that we cannot trust that the hypocrite's utterances reflect what he truly cares about, rather than what he believes to be advantageous in the moment.
It follows from this that many instances of political behavior that some might be tempted to call "hypocrisy" are, on reflection, not hypocrisy at all. Suppose that a politician publicly supports policy A, but then reads more about the issue and ends up voting for policy B. His former supporters might accuse him of hypocrisy, but this does not seem to be apt: the inconsistency between his public support of A and his eventual vote for B is due to a change of mind about the issue, rather than some self-serving reason.
Nevertheless, there are certainly many instances of true hypocrisy in politics. And while we tend to value integrity in our politicians, it can be plausibly argued that hypocrisy in the service of morally good ends is preferable to integrity in the service of morally bad ends. Politician A, while secretly racist, campaigns for office on an anti-racist platform in order to attract the support of minority constituents. Politician B, who is also racist, believes that one should stick to one's principles even when doing so might hurt one's electoral prospects, so he supports a racist platform. I would rather have A as a player in my political system, since A's hypocrisy will help his minority constituents, unlike B's integrity.
On the other hand, compare politician A to politician C, who genuinely holds anti-racist views and supports the same anti-racist platform. C seems morally preferable to A, but on what grounds? One answer is that, since C supports the anti-racist platform because it is right to do so, his support is morally creditworthy in a way that A's is not. This might be Kant's view, as he famously distinguished between actions in accord with and actions from duty; according to him, only the latter have moral worth. Another answer is that C's proper anti-racist motives will more reliably lead him to promote anti-racist ends, whereas A would abandon those ends whenever it suits him politically. Some consequentialists might adopt this line. A third answer is that C's behavior arises from virtuous motives while A's does not; this is one position that a virtue theorist might take.
The trouble with the Kantian or virtue theoretical positions is that, while they can distinguish between A and C, they give no reason for us to prefer A over B. As we have seen, A's support of the anti-racist platform is not morally creditworthy. Furthermore, because it involves deception — A knowingly causes others to falsely believe he supports an anti-racist position — its underlying maxim could not be universalized, which is Kant's test for whether an action is morally permissible. So, on Kant's view the deception practiced by A may make A worse than B; A's behavior amounts to a "double iniquity." If B's integrity is a virtue, then the virtue theorist may also have to say that B is preferable to A; and if it is not, then at best A and B are morally equal, as in neither case does their behavior flow from virtuous motives.
Now consider politician D, who is secretly anti-racist but panders to his racist constituents by supporting B's platform. This character seems obviously morally worse than A or C, but what about B? I think a common reaction is that B is less loathsome than D, but it is difficult to explain this judgment in consequentialist terms. After all, D's anti-racist values will lead him to support a racist platform less reliably than B, just as C's anti-racist values will lead him to support an anti-racist platform more reliably than A; so consequentialist reasoning seemingly should lead us to prefer D to B.
On the other hand, it may be that D's stance undermines something that we care about very much in politicians: namely, transparency. Because we can only vote for or otherwise support a politician on the basis of what they say and do, we want their words and deeds to reflect their actual commitments. This is precisely what is not the case when it comes to hypocrites. Of course, we do not value transparency above everything else: as between a hypocrite who insincerely supports the good and an outright villain, we prefer the former. But as between B, an outright villain, and D, a hypocrite who insincerely supports the bad, we seem to prefer the villain's integrity, because at least we know where we stand with him. Thus, consequentialism can explain our ranking of politicians A, B, C, and D in terms of the interplay between our desire for transparency and other values we want to promote, such as justice.
Perhaps a useful way to think about this disagreement between consequentialists, Kantians, and virtue theorists concerning political hypocrisy is in terms of two political virtues Max Weber famously distinguished: the ethic of conviction and the ethic of responsibility. The ethic of conviction involves a "constancy of [a person's] inner relation to certain ultimate 'values,'" or in other words, integrity. The ethic of responsibility, on the other hand, involves a proper understanding of the consequences of one's actions and a practical ability to promote one's ends. Those who favor the latter will likely believe that hypocrisy is no great sin (although still problematic, because transparency-negating), so long as it can be directed toward good ends, as in the case of politician A. By contrast, political hypocrisy is likely to deeply offend someone who places more emphasis on the ethic of conviction. Put another way, those who think an excellent politician is one who effectively promotes policy goals will not care about her reasons for pursuing those goals, except insofar as those reasons make her a less reliable advocate of them. On the other hand, those who think an excellent politician is one whose actions reflect her values will care deeply about eradicating hypocrisy from politics.
Yet, a too-fervent attachment to the ethic of conviction can lead to a dangerous kind of anti-hypocrisy hypocrisy. Consider politician E, who sincerely believes, and often publicly declares, that (1) a country should never start a land war in Asia and (2) a politician should always stick to his core principles. When his party starts a land war in Asia and he, without a hint of self-consciousness, votes in favor of a war resolution, he explains that the resolution authorizes a police action, not a war. This kind of self-deceived hypocrisy is particularly dangerous in politics, since it is very difficult for the politician herself to limit or check. It is also frequently a symptom of a kind of self-righteousness that may, in the politician's own mind, license her to operate outside the normal bounds of morality. Thus, in a quest for purity of intention, politicians can fall prey to a hypocrisy more insidious than that which they seek to avoid.
We arrive, then, at a few conclusions. First, there are occasions where hypocrisy is morally preferable to non-hypocrisy. In particular, there is reason to prefer the hypocrisy of insincere politicians who support morally laudable ends to the integrity of our sincere villains. At the same time, the most morally problematic hypocrites are the anti-hypocrisy hypocrite and the hypocrite who espouses bad values without believing them. These judgments assume, or are rather supported by, a consequentialist style of moral reasoning that places emphasis on the ethics of responsibility over the ethics of conviction. Kantians and others, who elevate the significance of intention and motive in their moral judgments, may come to different conclusions.
Game of Thrones: Dragons, Despots, and Just War
** SPOILER WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Game of Thrones up to and including the show's Season 8 ending.
Game of Thrones, the popular television show based on the book series by George RR Martin, aired its final episode last week. Set in a medieval fantasy world the strength of its appeal is in its exploration of real-world themes of politics, power and war.
For a story infamous for subverting narrative expectations with radical plot twists, in the last two episodes the actions and ultimate fate of Daenerys Targaryen shocked even the most intrepid fans. Hitherto one of the story's heroines and presumptive savior of Westeros, fans watched in horror as Daenerys chose to burn hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians alive in her quest to 'build a better world'. What happened? Was this a calculated tactic, and if so, what possible reason or justification can there have been for her to choose the route of extreme violence?
Daenerys Targaryen was one of many contenders for the Iron Throne, the seat of power on the continent of Westeros, and the only one with dragons. In Martin's fictional world, dragons (which can grow to immense size, and breathe columns of fire so hot it can melt stone and steel) had traditionally been used by the ruling Targaryen family as weapons of war and conquest, but had been extinct for a century prior to events of the story.
As different characters and factions vie for the Iron Throne and the rulership of Westeros, Daenerys Targaryen, living in exile after her father the "Mad King" was deposed by the current ruler(s) during a rebellion, magically hatches three petrified dragon eggs. Already possessed of the belief that the throne belonged to her by right of succession, as her dragons grew to maturity she was also in possession of a formidable military weapon with immense firepower. In a medieval world where weapons of war are swords and arrows, the dragons represent the destructive might of nuclear weapons against the mere capacities of conventional ones.
Despite occasionally displaying the fiery Targaryen temper, Daenerys was to begin with relatively restrained in the use of this significant advantage in pursuing her military goals and achieved her ascendency to ruler of Slaver's Bay (a region on the continent in which she was in exile) with only sparing use of dragon fire. For most of the story Daenerys seems to be (so to speak) on the right side of history as, in Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen she liberated the large population of slaves and presided over the abolition of the institution and practice of slavery. To this end she was a revolutionary, and styled herself as a liberator and a ruler for the downtrodden on a mission to create a better world.
When she finally turns her gaze to Westeros to retake the Iron Throne even as her advisors, including Tyrion Lannister, implore her to hold back her firepower and not to use her dragons to attack the city of King's Landing (the seat of her rival, tyrannical and ruthless queen Cersei Lannister and also home to a large civilian population) but to pursue other military options less likely to result in large numbers of civilian casualties, many of her allies (Yara Greyjoy, Ellaria Sand and Olenna Tyrell) encourage her to hit King's Landing with all of her might.
This is a real ethical dilemma in military tactics. Where one party has a weapon of immense superiority, such as a nuclear weapon, there is a case to be weighed up between using it to obtain swift victory, avoiding a potentially protracted conflict which may eventually lead to a great deal more death and suffering, as against holding back to avoid the possibility of an egregious, even gratuitous, victory born from a one-sided conflict. As such, the debate continues on whether the use of nuclear weapons by the United States on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end WWII was morally justified. One informal, voluntary poll shows that over 50% of respondents believe that it was indeed justified.
Viewers who had followed Daenerys' ascent from frightened girl to Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, and Breaker of Chains generally trusted in her, as a flawed but fundamentally good character, to do what was right. But as in the real world, in the world of Game of Thrones, it is not always clear what the right thing is. Even so, one of the things that the Game of Thrones seems to point up is the need for benevolent rulers. When Daenerys responds that: "I am here to free the world from tyrants… not to be queen of the ashes" we seem to instinctively understand that benevolence and indiscriminate violence cannot easily coexist.
Yet following the failure of other tactics, she finally unleashes the immense firepower of a dragon against the Lannister army, literally incinerating it, and afterwards, presenting the captured soldiers and nobles with a 'choice' – to "bend the knee" (accept her as their ruler) "or die." She executes with dragon-fire those who do not acquiesce. If Daenerys is going to win, if she is going to take the throne and build her better world, she needs some victories – but is this use of firepower, and subsequent refusal of mercy the right thing to do? At this point her advisors, and possibly her supporters, are uneasy.
In our world, the rules of just war have been formulated, and latterly enshrined in international law, in order to regulate, and limit when and how war is waged. Just war theory includes the principles of jus ad bellum and jus in bello.
Jus ad bellum is a set of criteria to be consulted prior to resorting to warfare to determine whether war is permissible, that is, whether it is a just war. This principle has a long history in the western philosophical tradition. In his Summa Theologica, circa 1270 Thomas Aquinas writes: "[we deem as] peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement, or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace, of punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good." One principle of just war, particularly relevant here is the principle of proportionality which stipulates that the violence used in the war must be proportional to the military objectives.
Daenerys does, in accordance with Aquinas' stipulation, have as her objective the 'securing of peace' and 'uplifting of the good'. Her attack on the Lannister armies, following the exhausting of other tactics, probably passes the test of proportionality – though executing prisoners of war would contravene the Geneva Convention.
However, in the penultimate episode of the series, the worst fears of those who had counselled her against unleashing the full force of her destructive capacities upon a whole city – civilian and military alike, come to pass. Worse still, this action is not taken as a last resort. Using her armies and dragons she has already overcome the enemy's military. The city has surrendered and the bells of surrender are ringing out as she begins methodically to raze the city to the ground. In this moment she cedes the moral high ground and loses all the moral authority she had earned as a warrior for justice and liberator of the people. But why does she do this?
Daenerys believes that the end will justify the means. She believes that the good of the new world she wants to build will outweigh the suffering caused by the destruction of the old one. She relies on a consequentialist justification here, but if an action can be justified morally by its consequences, then one must know what the consequences will be, and one must know that the resultant good will be certain to morally outweigh the suffering.
Theoretically, if the death of, say, hundreds of thousands prevented the deaths of millions then it could be justified in consequentialist terms. Many philosophers find in such reasoning grounds to reject consequentialist ethics. The reason no one accepts this rationale from Daenerys is that the magnitude of devastation renders it nearly impossible to see it as anything other than utterly, horrifically disproportionate, and the fact that the city had surrendered renders such a justification moot since the immense suffering can not be shown to have been necessary for the better world she claims to be trying to build. As such, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that it was gratuitous.
If Daenerys actions cannot be justified as a sacrifice in pursuit of "mercy towards future generations who will never again be held hostage to a tyrant" the other explanation is more sinister – and also more realpolitik. In his book on ruling and the exercise of power, Niccolò Machiavelli wrote: "it is much more safe to be feared than to be loved when you have to choose between the two.
Coming to the bitter realization that she was not going to win the Iron Throne nor hold power in Westeros by virtue of the love of those whom she needed on her side, Daenerys knows that if she is to rule, fear is her only pathway to power. She says as much to Jon Snow before the attack on King's Landing: "alright then, then let it be fear." As such, she had made her choice before hand and knew that were the city to surrender she would not pull back, as Tyrion urged her to do, but unleash the full force of her fiery might.
Perhaps Daenerys thought that this was the right thing to do, perhaps, cornered, she thought it was the only thing left for her to do. As Cersei Lannister so prophetically said to Ned Stark in Season One "When you play the game of thrones you win or you die, there is no middle ground." Is this Machiavellian move compatible with the goal of building a better world? Daenerys had wanted to free the world of tyrants, but what is a tyrant but someone who must rule by fear? Sadly the Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, and Breaker of Chains in the end became what she despised.


Chinese armed forces have announced a four-day celebration in the port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, for the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, including a grand naval parade on April 23.
The Russian Defense Ministry wants to change the status of the united strategic Northern fleet command. It will develop into an independent military-administrative entity in December and will equal a military district. The fleet will be in charge of four regions: Komi, Nenets district, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions. A draft presidential decree on the new status has been prepared, the Izvestia daily said.
Il-38 aircraft of an anti-submarine squadron have trained to search for and track the conditional adversary's submarines in the Arctic zone of the Pacific Fleet responsibility during a flight tactical exercise of the fleet's naval aviation. The drills took place in Kamchatka, the information support department of the Primorye region said.
China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), has launched the first of a new class of four Royal Malaysian Navy littoral mission ships (LMS).
France's Marine Nationale, the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy completed the U.S. 5th Fleet mine countermeasures exercise Artemis Trident in the Arabian Gulf.
Diving students of the Sevastopol subsidiary of the unified training centre of the Russian Navy have got down to practical dives in various types of diving gear upon completion of a theoretical course, the Southern Military District (YuVO) said.
Chinese designers and engineers teamed up to study, develop and test a new turbofan engine for the Chinese carrier-based stealth fighter jets, the Shenyang FC-31 fighters.
A mine-laying group of the Russian Northern Fleet has sailed into the Barents Sea to drill mine-laying operations at the fleet's see ranges. The group comprises the Alexander Otrakovsky and the Georgy Pobedonosets large landing ships of the Kola Flotilla of all-arms forces of the Northern Fleet. A load of dummy mines was loaded in Severomorsk, the Northern Fleet's main base, the Northern Fleet said.
The frigate Bangpakong and the frigate Naresuan of the Royal Thai Navy have ended their unofficial visit to Vladivostok, the first in 15 years, the information support group of the Primorye region said.
The frigate "Alsace" was launched on April 18 off the Naval Group's shipyard of Lorient. It is the ninth of a series of 10 vessels of the FREMM program – Multi-Mission European Frigates – commissioned to Naval Group as part of the international Italian-French program, coordinated by OCCAR (the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation).
Since 2007, SOCARENAM and MAURIC are involved in the design and construction of vessels ordered by the French Customs: 2 units of 44 m Offshore Patrol Vessel (Jacques Oudart Fourmentin and Kermorvan – MAURIC OPV 440), 1 unit of 53,5 m Offshore Patrol Vessel (Jean-François Deniau – MAURIC OPV 535) 2 units of 32 m VSG (Vedettes de Surveillance Générale – MAURIC Patrol Boat 320), and 4 units of 28 m VGC (Vedettes Garde-Côte - MAURIC Patrol Boat 280). Initially, the contract was for two units + 2 units in option, but with the successful delivery of the two first units, the French Customs chose to trust us again.
On April 11, the US DoD finalised the order of 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and awarded Northrop Grumman a $US 3.4 billion contract for the procurement of these aircraft. All aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between 2021 and 2026. Through this contract, Northrop Grumman is also expected to upgrade the 40 vehicles already delivered by that time.
Two heavy nuclear cruisers of project 1144 - the Admiral Ushakov and the Admiral Lazarev, and four nuclear submarines - the Daniil Moskovsky K-448, the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky K-221, the Svyatoy Georgy Pobedonosets K-433, and the Podolsk K-232 will be scrapped by the end of 2021, the Izvestia daily writes.
U.S. State Department officials approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Japan of up to 56 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB missiles for an estimated cost of US$ 1.15 billion, Mariana Iriarte reports on Military Embedded Systems. Also included in the FMS are missile canisters, U.S. Government and contractor representatives' technical assistance, engineering and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.
On April 15, maritime forces from France's Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group and the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group participated in a naval passing exercise (PASSEX) in the Red Sea. As part of these drills were the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle and the U.S. aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis to be seen.
Indonesia's Ministry of Defence recently awarded an IDR 360 billion (US$ 25 million) contract to supply the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, or TNI) with two more landing ship tanks (LSTs). Those two vessels are to be built by Indonesian shipbuilder PT Bandar Abadi.
The Admiral Gorshkov frigate, which is leading a squadron of Northern Fleet warships and vessels in a long-distance voyage, has crossed the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait and has entered the South China Sea, the Northern Fleet said.
The frigate "Antonio Marceglia" was delivered on April 16 to the Italian Navy at Fincantieri's shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia). It is the eighth of a series of 10 vessels of the FREMM program – Multi-Mission European Frigates – commissioned to Fincantieri as part of the international Italian-French program, coordinated by OCCAR (the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation).


It's been referred to as Istria's old-world oasis. With its cobbled streets and traditional ways, laid-back Rovinji offers the chance to time travel into an older simpler time. Go out of season to avoid crowds and appreciate the full value of this wholly traditional fishing village. Each morning fishermen haul their fish into the harbour before mending their nets before lunch, while at the local church, villagers pray for a good catch just as they did a century ago.
For a quick fix of cool, Europe's epicentre of hip is the spot for exploring independent bars, clubs and edgy art galleries.
For those with an appreciation for art history, visit Giotto's Scorvegni Chapel in Padua. Here only 10 guests at a time are allowed to enter and before they do, they must walk through a vacuum to remove impurities from their clothing. Inside Giotto's masterpiece adorns the wall. Admire his interpretation of Mary's parents in love and kissing on the wall before wandering through the Orto Botanico di Padova, the world's largest botanic garden.
This posh Swiss haven is ideal for those looking for a hike up gorgeous Monte Brè before settling down to read in the lake-side park, book in one hand, pistachio gelato in the other.
If places were people, Aix-en-Provence would be that handsome floppy-haired intellect reading Sartre at the back of the class. Should European holiday destinations boasting high culture be your choice, don your spectacles and head to Aix for a swish summer opera festival, and walks through the elegant grand squares while discussing the trouble with Schadenfreude (gleefully thinking of your colleagues in offices back home).
Ever since Colin Farrell played a hitman in this magical medieval city, Bruges has been getting the attention it deserves. A trip to the quaint Belgium town offers all of the fairytale, unfortunately none of the Colin.
Film buffs and festival-goers will appreciate this hub of cultural happenings. Explore Scandinavian architecture and sample the pickled herring from a gourmet street cart on your way to the much-acclaimed International Film Festival or Way Out West music festival.
Admire the Buda hills from a bridge over the Danube before indulging in the cities gourmet food, wine and rich history. Hot springs dot the city, making way for a fortune of opportunities to unwind.
Lie back on Myrtos Beach and explore the Melissani Cave before settling down to cocktails and Kefalonian pie. This blue-watered paradise is best between seasons, tourists are no fun at the height of summer and winter is the rainy season.
For the ultimate in European holiday destinations, rejuvenating Calpe comes out top. With abundant sunshine, soul-restoring beaches, icy Valencian cocktails, charming village life and Spanish heart, it's happiness incarnate. Eat at the newly-opened Audrey's, a fine-dining spot favouring seasonal produce and fish fresh from the sea. For post-beach, pre-dinner pampering indulge in a hot candle wax oil massage or chocolate bodywrap at the internationally renowned Diamante Beach spa, an essential part of one of the finest hotels in Costa Blanca.
Care for a Calpe getaway? Get in touch with AR Hotels, leaders in luxury European holiday destinations and hotels in Costa Blanca.


Monday, October 5, 2016 @ 2 p.m. ET: Mariann and I will be interviewed on the radio show, Easy Vegan, with JL Fields. You can listen live, or after the fact (check the link!). We will be squawking about reasons people don't go vegan, and how to help them navigate their way to the plant-side!
Wednesday, October 7, 2016: Mariann and I are honored to once again be presenting at Victoria Moran's incredible Main Street Vegan Academy! Though it's already sold out for this time around, make sure you register for a future spot in this life-changing program. Mariann and I will be presenting on Animal Rights 101 and Animal Law 101. We can't get enough of Victoria, of MSVA, and of the changemaking graduates.
Friday, October 9, 2016 @ 4 p.m.: Mariann and I are speaking on a panel at NYU all about Effective Altruism. Our co-panelists are Peter Singer (no relation, though I like to pretend there is) and Jon Bockman. I really, really think you should come to this.
There's other stuff going on in the next couple of weeks, too. We are recording the first ever "Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan" podcast episode; gearing up for Our Hen House's 300th podcast episode (egad!) — set to air on 10/10; recording the next Animal Law Podcast episode (are you sensing a theme here?); I'm knee-deep in a new feature I'm writing for VegNews Magazine; and we are interviewing something like eight people for our various shows. Oh yeah, and I have an eye doctor appointment.
So there's lots happening for us hens, and — as always — we are so grateful that you're out there, inspiring us to no end, and supporting our work to change the world for animals!
P.S. My book comes out in four months!!!!!!!!!!!!


Special Needs Ministry seeks to bring wholeness to all in a world that is broken. A sense of "wholeness" is not dependent on the removal of one's disability. It is a rediscovery of the completeness a person has in God. This ministry has a unique opportunity of not only proclaiming, but also emphasizing the value and dignity of each person. The Christian church is not only known by what it says, but also by what it does. Therefore, this ministry exists to coordinate and promote acceptance, support, and inclusion of people who have special needs and those who care for them. This global ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church encompasses ministry for and with the deaf, blind, orphans, and those with mental health and mobility challenges. It also includes providing support for caregivers of those with special needs. At the heart of this ministry is the conviction that all have something to contribute and by contributing they have entered the journey toward wholeness.


American manned spaceplane. merican manned spaceplane.
AKA: OV-103. Status: Operational 1984. First Launch: 1984-08-30. Last Launch: 2011-02-24. Number: 39 . Payload: 24,990 kg (55,090 lb). Thrust: 53.37 kN (11,997 lbf). Gross mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Unfuelled mass: 104,472 kg (230,321 lb). Specific impulse: 316 s. Height: 37.24 m (122.17 ft). Span: 23.79 m (78.05 ft).
Discovery, the third orbiter to become operational at Kennedy Space Center, was named after one of two ships used by the British explorer James Cook in the 1770s during voyages in the South Pacific that led to the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. Empty Weight was 68,670 kg at rollout and 77,550 kg with main engines installed.
Discovery benefited from lessons learned in the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger. At rollout, its weight was some 3115 kg less than Columbia. Two orbiters, Challenger and Discovery, were modified at KSC to enable them to carry the Centaur upper stage in the payload bay. These modifications included extra plumbing to load and vent Centaur's cryogenic Lox/LH2 propellants (other IUS/PAM upper stages used solid propellants), and controls on the aft flight deck for loading and monitoring the Centaur stage. No Centaur flight was ever flown. After the loss of Challenger it was decided that the risk was too great to launch a shuttle with a fueled Centaur upper stage in the payload bay.
Discovery underwent its first major OMDP-1 overhaul in February 1992. A complete structural inspection was conducted, and 78 modifications were made, including installation of a drag chute. IMDP-2 was conducted from September 1995 to June 1996, and included installation of the ISS airlock/docking system, improved payload bay lighting, 96 major and 87 deferred change and maintenance items.
Crew Size: 8. Orbital Storage: 30 days. Habitable Volume: 71.50 m3. Structure: 30,374 kg (66,963 lb). Heat shield: 12,110 kg (26,690 lb). Reaction Control System: 2,793 kg (6,157 lb). Recovery Equipment: 4,186 kg (9,228 lb). Navigation Equipment: 1,960 kg (4,320 lb). Electrical Equipment: 6,961 kg (15,346 lb). Communications Systems: 674 kg (1,485 lb). Crew Seats and Provisions: 745 kg (1,642 lb). Miscellaneous Contingency: 2,425 kg (5,346 lb). Environmental Control System: 2,487 kg (5,482 lb). RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 38 x 387 N. RCS Fine No x Thrust: 6 x 107 N. RCS specific impulse: 289 sec. RCS total impulse: 9,355 kgf-sec. Spacecraft delta v: 700 m/s (2,290 ft/sec). Electric System: 3,100.00 kWh. Electric System: 14.00 average kW.
Family: Spaceplane, US Rocketplanes. Country: USA. Spacecraft: ISS, Mir. Flights: STS-41-D, STS-51-A, STS-51-C, STS-51-D, STS-51-G, STS-51-I, STS-26, STS-29, STS-33, STS-31, STS-41, STS-39, STS-48, STS-42, STS-53, STS-56, STS-51, STS-60, STS-64, STS-63, STS-70, STS-82, STS-85, STS-91, STS-95, STS-96, STS-103, STS-92, STS-102, STS-105, STS-114, STS-121, STS-116, STS-120, STS-124, STS-119, STS-128, STS-131, STS-133. Launch Vehicles: Space Shuttle. Propellants: N2O4/MMH. Projects: STS. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC39A, Cape Canaveral LC39B. Agency: NASA, North American. Bibliography: 15, 2, 276, 296, 3134, 33, 44, 552, 554, 6, 66, 7, 8.
Astronaut Dale Gardner tethered to Discovery's starboard side.
1979 August 1 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Start long-lead fabrication crew module, Discovery - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery.
1979 August 27 - .
1984 June 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Shuttle Discovery Pad Abort - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Flight: STS-41-D. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. The countdown for the second launch attempt for Discovery's maiden flight ended at T- 4 seconds when the orbiter's computers detected a sluggish valve in main engine #3. The main engine was replaced and Discovery was finally launched on August 30, 1984..
STS-51-A - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave. Payload: Discovery F02 / PLT. Mass: 20,550 kg (45,300 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 7.99 days. Decay Date: 1984-11-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 15382 . COSPAR: 1984-113A. Apogee: 297 km (184 mi). Perigee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 90.40 min.
Manned five crew. First retrieval of two satellites (PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR Vl) for return to earth. Deployed Anik D2, Leasat 2; recovered Westar 6, Palapa B2. Payloads: Telesat (Canada communications satellite)-H with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D deploy-ment, Syncom IV-1 communications satellite deployment with its unique stage, retrieval of PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR VI communications satellites with PAM-D which failed to ignite on the STS-41-B mission. Manned maneuvering unit (MMU) used for retrieval. Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS) experiment.
1984 November 12 - . 13:25 GMT - .
EVA STS-51-A-1 - . Crew: Allen, Gardner. EVA Duration: 0.26 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Gardner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Retrieved Palapa satellite..
1984 November 14 - .
EVA STS-51-A-2 - . Crew: Allen, Gardner. EVA Duration: 0.25 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Gardner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Retrieved Westar satellite..
1985 January 24 - . 19:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-51-C - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Buchli, Mattingly, Onizuka, Payton, Shriver. Payload: Discovery F03 / Magnum 1 [IUS]. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Buchli, Mattingly, Onizuka, Payton, Shriver. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-C. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 3.06 days. Decay Date: 1985-01-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 15496 . COSPAR: 1985-010A. Apogee: 341 km (211 mi). Perigee: 332 km (206 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 91.30 min.
Manned five crew. Deployed USA 8 (Aquacade ELINT spacecraft). Orbits of Earth: 48. Landed at: Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Landing Speed: 342 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 839.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,240.00 m. Payloads: Department of Defence classified payloads.
STS-51-AA (cancelled) - . Crew: Creighton, Fabian, Jarvis, Lucid, Nagel, Walker. Backup Crew: Konrad. Nation: USA. Program: STS. Flight: STS-51-AA. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Planned shuttle mission. Cancelled due to payload delays..
STS-51-I - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Payload: Discovery F06 / Syncom-4 4 [Orbus-7S] / Aussat A1. Mass: 19,952 kg (43,986 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-I. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 7.10 days. Decay Date: 1985-09-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 15992 . COSPAR: 1985-076A. Apogee: 364 km (226 mi). Perigee: 351 km (218 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.70 min.
Manned five crew. Launched Aussat 1, ASC 1, Leasat 4; repaired Leasat 3. Payloads: Deploy ASC (American Satellite Company)-1 with Payload Assist Modue (PAM)-D. Deploy AUSSAT (Australian communications satellite)-1 with PAM-D. Deploy Syncom IV-4 communications satellite with its unique stage. Retrieve Leasat-3 communications satellite, repair and deploy by extravehicular activity (EVA) astronauts. Physical Vapor Transport Organic Solids (PVTOS) experiment.
1985 August 31 - .
EVA STS-51-I-1 - . Crew: Fisher, William, van Hoften. EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fisher, William, van Hoften. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-I. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Captured Syncom F3 and began repairs..
1985 September 1 - .
EVA STS-51-I-2 - . Crew: Fisher, William, van Hoften. EVA Duration: 0.19 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Fisher, William, van Hoften. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-I. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Completed Syncom F3 repairs and redeployed satellite..
STS-61-N (cancelled) - . Crew: Adamson, Brown, Mark, Casserino, Leestma, McCulley, Shaw. Backup Crew: Joseph. Payload: DoD Mission. Nation: USA. Program: STS. Flight: STS-61-N. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Planned Department of Defense shuttle mission. Cancelled after Challenger disaster. .
STS-62-B (cancelled) - . Crew: Roberts. Payload: DoD Mission. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Roberts. Program: STS. Flight: STS-62-B. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Planned Department of Defense shuttle mission. Cancelled after Challenger disaster. .
1988 September 29 - . 15:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-26 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Covey, Hauck, Hilmers, Lounge, Nelson. Payload: Discovery F07 / PDP. Mass: 21,082 kg (46,477 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Hauck, Hilmers, Lounge, Nelson. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-26. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 4.04 days. Decay Date: 1988-10-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 19547 . COSPAR: 1988-091A. Apogee: 306 km (190 mi). Perigee: 301 km (187 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min.
Manned five crew. First shuttle reflight after Challenger disaster. Deployed TDRS 3. Payloads: Deploy IUS (lnertial Upper Stage) with Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-C. 3M's Physical Vapor Transport Organics Solids 2 experiment (PVTOS), Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (ADSF), Infrared Communi-cations Flight Experiment (lRCFE), Protein Crystal Growth Il (PCG), Isoelectric Focusing (ISF)-2, Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE), Aggrega-tion of Red Blood Cells (ARC)-2, Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE)-1, Earth Limb Radiance (ELRAD), Orbiter Experiments (OEX), Autonomous Supporting Instrumentation System (OASlS)-I, two Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) experiments.
1992 February 1 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Discovery OMDP-1 - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery.
Shuttle Discovery undergoes its OMDP-1 Orbiter Maintenance Down Period at the Kennedy Space Center. These are undertaken every 10 to 12 shuttle missions. 70 modifications are made, including addition of a brake chute, structural inspection, and thermal protection system refit.
1992 December 2 - . 13:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-53 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Bluford, Cabana, Clifford, Voss, Walker, Dave. Payload: Discovery F15 / USA-89. Mass: 11,868 kg (26,164 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bluford, Cabana, Clifford, Voss, Walker, Dave. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-53. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 7.31 days. Decay Date: 1992-12-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 22259 . COSPAR: 1992-086A. Apogee: 376 km (233 mi). Perigee: 365 km (226 mi). Inclination: 57.00 deg. Period: 92.00 min.
Manned five crew. Deployed classified military satellite USA 89. The ODERACS payload was unable to be deployed because of payload equipment malfunction. Payloads: Department of Defense (DOD)1; Glow Experiment/Cryogenic Heat Pipe Experiment Payload (GCP); Orbital Debris Radar Calibration System (ODERACS); Battlefield Laser Acquisition Sensor Test (BLAST); Cloud Logic To Optimize Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS) 1A; Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM); Fluid Acquisition and Resupply Equipment (FARE); Hand-held, Earth-oriented, Real-time, Cooperative, User-friendly, Location-targeting and Environmental System (HER-CULES); Microencapsulation in Space (MIS)-1; Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME) III; Spare Tissue Loss (STL); Visual Function Tester (VFT)2.
1993 April 8 - . 05:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-56 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Cameron, Cockrell, Foale, Ochoa, Oswald. Payload: Discovery F16 / Spartan 201-F1 / Atlas-2. Mass: 7,441 kg (16,404 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cameron, Cockrell, Foale, Ochoa, Oswald. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-56. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 9.26 days. Decay Date: 1993-04-17 . USAF Sat Cat: 22621 . COSPAR: 1993-023A. Apogee: 299 km (185 mi). Perigee: 291 km (180 mi). Inclination: 57.00 deg. Period: 90.40 min.
Manned five crew. Carried Atlas-2; deployed and retrieved Spartan 201. Payloads: Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) 2, Shuttle Solar Backscat-ter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) A, Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN) 201 (Solar Wind Generation Experi-ment), Solar Ultraviolet Experiment (SUVE), Commercial Material Dispersion Apparatus (CMIX), Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE), Hand-held, Earth-oriented, Real-time, Cooperative, User-friendly, Location-targeting, and Environmental System (HER-CULES), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II, Space Tissue Loss (STL), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS), Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM), Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME) III.
1993 August 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Shuttle Discovery Pad Abort - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Flight: STS-51. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery.
The countdown for Discovery's third launch attempt ended at the T-3 second mark when on-board computers detected the failure of one of four sensors in main engine #2 which monitor the flow of hydrogen fuel to the engine. All of Discovery's main engines were ordered replaced on the launch pad, delaying the Shuttle's fourth launch attempt until September 12, 1993.
1993 September 12 - . 11:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-51 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Bursch, Culbertson, Newman, Readdy, Walz. Payload: Discovery F17 / ACTS [TOS-21H] / Orfeus-SPAS 01. Mass: 19,360 kg (42,680 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Culbertson, Newman, Readdy, Walz. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 9.84 days. Decay Date: 1993-09-22 . USAF Sat Cat: 22795 . COSPAR: 1993-058A. Apogee: 308 km (191 mi). Perigee: 300 km (180 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min.
Deployed and retrieved Orfeus-SPAS. During the EVA conducted tests in support of the Hubble Space Telescope first servicing mission and future EVAs, including Space Station assembly and maintenance. First night landing at KSC. Payloads: Advanced Communication Technology Sat-ellite (ACTS)/Transfer Orbit Stage (TOS), Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer�Shuttle Pallet Satellite (ORFEUS-SPAS) with Remote IMAX Camera System (RICS), Limited Duration Space Environ-ment Candidate Materials Exposure (LDCE) (Beam Configuration C), Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG Block II), Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space (CHROMEX), High Resolution Shuttle Glow Spectroscopy-A (HRSGS-A), Auroral Photography Experiment-B (APE-B), Investigation into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP), Radiation Monitoring Equip-ment (RME-III), Air Force Maui Optical Site Cal-ibration Test (AMOS), IMAX In-Cabin Camera.
1993 September 16 - . 08:40 GMT - .
EVA STS-51-1 - . Crew: Newman, Walz. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Newman, Walz. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Tested tools and techniques for extravehicular activity..
1994 September 9 - . 22:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-64 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Hammond, Helms, Lee, Linenger, Meade, Richards. Payload: Discovery F19 / Spartan / LITE. Mass: 9,260 kg (20,410 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Hammond, Helms, Lee, Linenger, Meade, Richards. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-64. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 10.95 days. Decay Date: 1994-09-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 23251 . COSPAR: 1994-059A. Apogee: 247 km (153 mi). Perigee: 233 km (144 mi). Inclination: 57.00 deg. Period: 89.30 min.
Payloads: Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE), Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN) 201-II, Robot-Operated Materials Processing System (ROMPS), Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX), getaway special (GAS) bridge assembly with ten GAS experiments, Trajectory Control Sensor (TCS), Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE), Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) III, Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME) III, Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II, Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test.
1994 September 16 - . 14:42 GMT - .
EVA STS-64-1 - . Crew: Lee, Meade. EVA Duration: 0.29 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Lee, Meade. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-64. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Tested SAFER emergency manoeuvring backpack..
1995 February 3 - . 05:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-63 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Collins, Eileen, Foale, Harris, Titov, Vladimir, Voss, Janice, Wetherbee. Backup Crew: Krikalyov. Payload: Discovery F20 / Spacehab SH03 / CGP / ODERACS. Mass: 8,641 kg (19,050 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TM-18 Mir LD-4, Soyuz TM-20, STS-63. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 8.27 days. Decay Date: 1995-02-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 23469 . COSPAR: 1995-004A. Apogee: 342 km (212 mi). Perigee: 275 km (170 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.30 min.
1995 February 9 - . 11:56 GMT - .
EVA STS-63-1 - . Crew: Foale, Harris. EVA Duration: 0.19 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Foale, Harris. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-63. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Tested tools and techniques for extravehicular activity..
1995 July 13 - . 13:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-70 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Currie, Henricks, Kregel, Thomas, Weber, Mary. Payload: Discovery F21 / TDRS 7 [IUS]. Mass: 20,159 kg (44,442 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Currie, Henricks, Kregel, Thomas, Weber, Mary. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-70. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 8.93 days. Decay Date: 1995-07-22 . USAF Sat Cat: 23612 . COSPAR: 1995-035A. Apogee: 257 km (159 mi). Perigee: 257 km (159 mi). Inclination: 28.45 deg. Period: 90.50 min.
Deployed TDRS 7. Payloads: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) G/ Inertial Upper Stage (IUS); Bioreactor Demon-stration System (BDS) B; Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC); Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG); Hand-Held, Earth-Oriented, Real-Time, Cooperative, User-Friendly, Location-Targeting and Environmental System (HER-CULES); Microcapsules in Space (MIS) B; Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rodents (R); Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME) III; Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II; Space Tissue Loss (STL)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cells (C); Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST); Visual Function Tester (VFT) 4; Window Experiment (WINDEX).
1995 September 27 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Discovery OMDP-2 - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery.
During this overhaul 96 Master Change Requests are made, including installation of the Orbiter Docking System for space station operations, installation of the EDO cargo pallet, and repair and update of the thermal protection system. Discovery is returned to service in July 1996.
1997 February 14 - . 04:34 GMT - .
EVA STS-82-1 - . Crew: Lee, Smith, Steven. EVA Duration: 0.28 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Lee, Smith, Steven. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-82. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 2 - NICMOS installation..
1997 February 15 - . 03:25 GMT - .
EVA STS-82-2 - . Crew: Harbaugh, Tanner. EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Harbaugh, Tanner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-82. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 2 - Guidance sensor replacement..
1997 February 16 - . 02:53 GMT - .
EVA STS-82-3 - . Crew: Lee, Smith, Steven. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Lee, Smith, Steven. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-82. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 2 - Data interface unit replacement..
1997 February 17 - . 03:45 GMT - .
EVA STS-82-4 - . Crew: Harbaugh, Tanner. EVA Duration: 0.27 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Harbaugh, Tanner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-82. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 2 - Solar array drive replacement..
1997 February 18 - . 03:15 GMT - .
EVA STS-82-5 - . Crew: Lee, Smith, Steven. EVA Duration: 0.22 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Lee, Smith, Steven. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-82. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 2 - Insulation blanket repair..
1997 August 7 - . 14:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-85 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Brown, Curbeam, Davis, Robinson, Rominger, Tryggvason. Payload: Discovery F23 / CRISTA-SPAS-2. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, Curbeam, Davis, Robinson, Rominger, Tryggvason. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: North American. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-85. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 11.85 days. Decay Date: 1997-08-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 24889 . COSPAR: 1997-039A. Apogee: 261 km (162 mi). Perigee: 249 km (154 mi). Inclination: 57.00 deg. Period: 89.60 min.
Deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS-2 (the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2) designed to study Earth's middle atmosphere. The CRISTA-SPAS-2 was making its second flight on the Space Shuttle and represented the fourth mission in a cooperative venture between the German Space Agency (DARA) and NASA.
CRISTA-SPAS was deployed by the RMS arm at 22:27 GMT on August 7 and was recaptured by Discovery's RMS arm at 15:14 GMT on August 16. Because of unfavorable weather conditions at the primary shuttle landing site at the Kennedy Space Center, Discovery was waved off for its scheduled August 18 landing. STS-85 landed the next day, at Kennedy Space Center at 11:08 GMT.
1998 October 29 - . 19:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-95 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Brown, Duque, Glenn, Lindsey, Mukai, Parazynski, Robinson. Payload: Discovery F25. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Brown, Duque, Glenn, Lindsey, Mukai, Parazynski, Robinson. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Douglas. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-95. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 8.91 days. Decay Date: 1998-11-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 25519 . COSPAR: 1998-064A. Apogee: 557 km (346 mi). Perigee: 536 km (333 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 95.60 min.
The flight of STS-95 provoked more publicity for NASA than any other flight in years, due to the presence of ex-astronaut Senator John Glenn on the crew, which also included the first Spanish astronaut, Pedro Duque. The US Navy PANSAT student satellite was deployed on Oct 30 into a 550 km x 561 x 28.5 degree orbit. The Spartan 201 satellite was deployed from Discovery on November 1 and retrieved on November 3. Spartan 201 was on its fifth mission to observe the solar corona. The data on this mission would be used to recalibrate the SOHO satellite which recently resumed observation of the Sun following loss of control. Discovery landed at 17:03:31 GMT November 7 on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center.
1999 May 27 - . 10:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-96 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Barry, Husband, Jernigan, Ochoa, Payette, Rominger, Tokarev. Payload: Discovery F26 / Spacehab-DM. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Barry, Husband, Jernigan, Ochoa, Payette, Rominger, Tokarev. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: North American. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-96. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 9.80 days. Decay Date: 1999-06-06 . USAF Sat Cat: 25760 . COSPAR: 1999-030A. Apogee: 397 km (246 mi). Perigee: 384 km (238 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.40 min.
Discovery docked at the PMA-2 end of the International Space Station PMA-2/Unity/PMA-1/Zarya stack. The crew transferred equipment from the Spacehab Logistics Double Module in the payload bay to the interior of the station. Tammy Jernigan and Dan Barry made a space walk to transfer equipment from the payload bay to the exterior of the station. The ODS/EAL docking/airlock truss carried two TSA (Tool Stowage Assembly) packets with space walk tools. The Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC), built by Energia and DASA-Bremen, carried parts of the Strela crane and the US OTD crane as well as the SHOSS box which contains three bags of tools and equipment to be stored on ISS's exterior.
The STS-96 stack, on mobile launcher 2, was rolled back out to pad 39B after hail damage to the external tank had been repaired. On the launch day, solid rocket booster separation was at 10:51 GMT, main engine cut-off of external tank ET-100 at 10:57 GMT. Discovery was in an initial 74 km x 320 km x 51.6 degree transfer orbit. After the OMS-2 burn at 11:32 GMT, the orbit was 324 km x 341 km x 51.6 degree. Discovery docked with the International Space Station's PMA-2 docking port at 04:24 GMT on May 29. ISS was in a 379 km x 385 km x 51.6 degree orbit. In its configuration at that time it consisted of the PMA-2 docking port, NASA's Unity node, the NASA-owned, Russian-built Zarya module, and the PMA-1 docking unit connecting Unity and Zarya.
On May 30 at 02:56 GMT Tammy Jernigan and Dan Barry entered the payload bay of Discovery from the tunnel adapter hatch, and made a 7 hr 55 min space walk, transferring equipment to the exterior of the station.
On May 31 at 01:15 GMT the hatch to Unity was opened and the crew began several days of cargo transfers to the station. Battery units and communications equipment were replaced and sound insulation was added to Zarya. Discovery undocked from ISS at 22:39 GMT on June 3 into a 385 x 399 km x 51.6 degree orbit, leaving the station without a crew aboard. On June 5 the Starshine satellite was ejected from the payload bay. The payload bay doors were closed at around 02:15 GMT on June 6 and the deorbit burn was at 04:54 GMT. Discovery landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center at 06:02 GMT.
1999 December 23 - . 18:54 GMT - .
EVA STS-103-1 - . Crew: Grunsfeld, Smith, Steven. EVA Duration: 0.34 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grunsfeld, Smith, Steven. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-103. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Replaced all six of the gyroscopes on Hubble..
1999 December 24 - . 19:06 GMT - .
EVA STS-103-2 - . Crew: Foale, Nicollier. EVA Duration: 0.34 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Foale, Nicollier. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-103. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Installed in the Hubble space telescope a new 486/25 mhz computer and replaced Fine Guidance Sensor FGS-2..
1999 December 25 - . 19:17 GMT - .
EVA STS-103-3 - . Crew: Grunsfeld, Smith, Steven. EVA Duration: 0.33 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grunsfeld, Smith, Steven. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-103. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Completed part of the installation of new insulation to the Hubble space telescope. The rest was deferred to the next servicing mission..
2000 October 11 - . 23:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-92 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Chiao, Duffy, Lopez-Alegria, McArthur, Melroy, Wakata, Wisoff. Payload: Discovery F28. Mass: 115,127 kg (253,811 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chiao, Duffy, Lopez-Alegria, McArthur, Melroy, Wakata, Wisoff. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-92. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.90 days. Decay Date: 2000-10-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 26563 . COSPAR: 2000-062A. Apogee: 394 km (245 mi). Perigee: 386 km (240 mi). Inclination: 51.57 deg. Period: 92.28 min.
ISS Logistics flight. 100th shuttle flight. Launch delayed from October 6. STS-92 brought the Z-1 Truss (mounted on a Spacelab pallet), Control Moment Gyros, Pressurised Mating Adapter-3 (PMA-3) and two DDCU (Heat pipes) to the International Space Station.
The RSRM-76 solid rocket boosters separated at 23:19 GMT and main engine cut-off (MECO) came at 23:25 GMT. External tank ET-104 separated into a 74 x 323 km x 51.6 deg orbit. At apogee at 00:01 GMT on Oct 12, Discovery's OMS engines fired to raise perigee to a 158 x 322 km x 51.6 deg orbit; ET-104 re-entered over the Pacific around 00:30 GMT. At Oct 12 on 03:01 GMT the NC1 burn raised the orbit to 180 x 349 km; NC3 on Oct 12 to 311 x 375 km; and the TI burn at 14:09 GMT on Oct 13 to 375 x 381 km x 51.6 deg. Discovery's rendezvous with the International Space Station came at 15:39 GMT on Oct 13, with docking at 17:45 GMT. The spaceship docked with PMA-2, the docking port on the +Y port of the Space Station's Unity module. Hatch was open to PMA-2 at 20:30 GMT the same day.
The Z1 first segment of the space station truss was built by Boeing/Canoga Park and was 3.5 x 4.5 meters in size. It was attached to the +Z port on Unity. Z1 carried the control moment gyros, the S-band antenna, and the Ku-band antenna.
PMA-3, built by Boeing/Huntington Beach, was docked to the -Z port opposite Z1. PMA-3 was installed on a Spacelab pallet for launch.
On October 14 at 16:15 GMT the Z1 segment was unberthed from the payload bay and at around 18:20 GMT it was docked to the zenith port on the Unity module.
On October 15 at 14:20 GMT the ODS airlock was depressurised, beginning a spacewalk by Bill McArthur and Leroy Chiao. Official NASA EVA duration (battery power to repress) was 6 hours 28 minutes.
The second spacewalk was on October 16, with Jeff Wisoff and Mike Lopez-Alegria. The suits went to battery power at 14:15 GMT and Wisoff left the airlock at 14:21 GMT. Repressurisation began at 21:22 GMT for a duration of 7 hours 07minutes.
Leroy Chiao and Bill McArthur began the third STS-92 EVA at 15:30 GMT on October 17, completing their work at 22:18 GMT for a total time of 6 hours 48 minutes.
After the spacewalk, Discovery completed the second of the three station reboosts scheduled for STS-92. They fired reaction control system jets in a series of pulses of 1.4 seconds each, over a 30-minute period, gently raising the station's orbit by about 3.1 km.
The last of four successful spacewalks began on 18 October at 16:00 GMT and ended at 22:56 GMT, lasting 6 hours and 56 minutes. Jeff Wisoff and Mike Lopez-Alegria each jetted slowly through space above Discovery's cargo bay.
After the space walk, Discovery completed the third and final reboost of the space station.
On 19 October the astronauts worked within the ISS. They completed connections for the newly installed Z1 external framework structure and transferred equipment and supplies for the Expedition One first resident crew of the Station. The crew also tested the four 290-kg gyroscopes in the truss, called Control Moment Gyros, which will be used to orient the ISS as it orbits the Earth. They will ultimately assume attitude control of the ISS following the arrival of the U.S. Laboratory Destiny. The tests and the transfer of supplies into the Russian Zarya Module took longer than expected. As a result, the crew's final departure from the Station's Unity module was delayed. Melroy and Wisoff took samples from surfaces in Zarya to study the module's environment. They then unclogged the solid waste disposal system in the Shuttle's toilet, which was restored to full operation after a brief interruption in service.
Discovery undocked from the ISS at 16:08 GMT on 20 October. The final separation burn was executed about 45 minutes after undocking. The crew had added 9 tonnes to the station's mass, bringing it to about 72 tonnes. The return to earth, planned for 22 October, was delayed repeatedly due to high winds at the Kennedy landing site. The landing was finally made at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 24, at 22:00 GMT.
2001 March 8 - . 11:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-102 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew, Usachyov, Voss, Wetherbee. Payload: Discovery F29. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Thomas, Andrew, Usachyov, Voss, Wetherbee. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.83 days. Decay Date: 2001-03-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 26718 . COSPAR: 2001-010A. Apogee: 381 km (236 mi). Perigee: 370 km (220 mi). Inclination: 51.50 deg. Period: 92.06 min.
STS 102 was an American shuttle spacecraft that carried a crew of seven astronauts (six American and one Russian). The primary mission was to deliver a multi-rack Italian container (Leonardo MultiPurpose Logistics Module, LMPLM) to the Destiny Module of the International Space Station, ISS. It docked with the ISS at 05:34 UT on 9 March. The 6.4 m x 4.6 m cylindrical LMPLM delivered new equipment to Destiny, and retrieved used/unwanted equipment, and trash back to the shuttle. The crew did a few spacewalks to install a platform on the ISS to support a Canadian robot arm when it arrives next month. The STS 102 left behind three of the astronauts (two American and one Russian) and brought back the three astronauts (one American and two Russian) who had been inhabiting the ISS for about four and a half months. It landed at Cape Canaveral at 07:31 UT on 21 March.
Discovery was launched on mission STS-102 (Space Station flight 5A.1) into an initial 60 x 222 km x 51.6 deg orbit. The mission was delivery of supplies and equipment, and changeout of the Expedition One and Expedition Two station crews. STS-102 carried the Leonardo Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), built by Alenia Spazio (Torino), to the International Space Station. The 6.4 m x 4.6 m cylindrical MPLM was a descendant of the Spacelab long modules. Also carried was a Spacehab/Energia unpressurized Integrated Cargo Carrier with LCA/MTSAS-A, RU, and PFCS. A sidewall adapter beam with two GAS canisters (G-783 and WSVFM) was also on board. WSVFM measured vibration during launch. Another adapter beam, probably at the rear of the payload bay, carried SEM-9. SEM-9 and G-783 contained high school microgravity experiments.
Leonardo carried 16 'racks' of equipment, including the Human Research Facility Rack (Rack 13) which allowed the astronauts to do extensive medical experiments, the CHeCS Rack (28), the DDCU-1 and DDCU-2 racks (7 and 9), the Avionics-3 (Rack 6), and the MSS Avionics/Lab (Rack 11) and Avionics/Cupola (Rack 12) racks for a total of 7 equipment racks to be installed on Destiny. Three Resupply Stowage Racks (50, 51, 52) and four Resupply Stowage Platforms (180, 181, 182 and 188) remained installed on Leonardo, with their equipment bags being individually transferred to the Station. System Racks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 were already on Destiny together with stowage racks 110 through 117. Each rack had a mass of 150-300 kg.
The orbiter fired its OMS engines at 1221 GMT to raise the orbit to 185 x 219 km. Discovery docked with the PMA-2 port on the Station at 0639 GMT on March 10. The LCA (Lab Cradle Assembly) was attached to Destiny's +Z side during an EVA. It was to be used on the next mission to temporarily place a Spacelab pallet on Destiny during installation of the Station's robot arm. Later, it would be the site for the main Station truss, beginning with segment S0.
The PMA-3, on Unity at the -Z nadir position, had to be moved to the port position to make room for Leonardo. An external stowage platform was attached to Destiny and the External Stowage Platform and the PFCS Pump Flow Control System were added to the port aft trunnion on Destiny. A rigid umbilical (RU) was connected to the PDGF grapple fixture on Destiny to support the Station's future robot arm. Leonardo was docked to Unity at -Z for a while so that its cargo could be transferred to the station easily; it was then be returned to the payload bay and brought back to earth.
At 0232 GMT on March 19 command of ISS was transferred to Expedition 2 and the hatches were closed. Discovery undocked at 0432 GMT and flew once around the station before departing at 0548 GMT. ISS mass after undocking was 115527 kg. The OMS engines fired for the deorbit burn at 0625 GMT on March 21, and Discovery touched down on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center at 0731 GMT.
2002 March 4 - . 06:37 GMT - .
EVA STS-109-1 - . Crew: Grunsfeld, Linnehan. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grunsfeld, Linnehan. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-109. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. The airlock was depressurized at 0630 and repressurized at 1338 UTC. The astronauts replaced the -V2 solar array with the new rigid array stored in the RAC carrier, and replaced a solar array diode box..
2002 March 5 - . 06:40 GMT - .
EVA STS-109-2 - . Crew: Massimino, Newman. EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Massimino, Newman. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-109. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Depress was at 0634 on and repress was at 1356 UTC. The astronauts replaced the +V2 solar array and diode box, and replaced the RWA-1 reaction wheel assembly..
2002 March 7 - . 09:00 GMT - .
EVA STS-109-4 - . Crew: Massimino, Newman. EVA Duration: 0.27 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Massimino, Newman. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-109. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST. Depress was at 0856 UTC and repress was at 1630 UTC. The Faint Object Camera was removed and the Advanced Camera for Surveys was installed. The CASH (Cross Aft Shroud Harness) wire harness for the cooling system was installed..
2002 March 8 - . 08:46 GMT - .
EVA STS-109-5 - . Crew: Grunsfeld, Linnehan. EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grunsfeld, Linnehan. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-109. Spacecraft: Discovery, HST.
The EVA ran from 0841 to 1606 UTC. The astronauts installed the NICMOS cooling system (NCS). During preparations for EVA-3, a problem with a valve on Grunsfeld's suit caused it to leak water, and Grunsfeld switched to Newman's suit. For each of EVA-3,4,5 the appropriate size legs and arms were replaced on the same basic HUT (Hard Upper Torso)/PLSS (Primary Life Support System) combination.
STS-121 (cancelled) - . Crew: Chiao, Phillips, Sharipov. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chiao, Phillips, Sharipov. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-121A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Flight delayed after the Columbia disaster. No crew had been named at the time of the loss of Columbia. STS-121 was to have flown ISS Assembly mission ISS-9A.1, delivering the SPP with 4 Solar Arrays to the station, and have carried out a crew rotation..
STS-127 (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-127 ISS EO-20. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Flight delayed after the Columbia disaster. No crew had been named at the time of the loss of Columbia. STS-127 was to have flown ISS assembly mission ISS-1E. It would have delivered the European Lab - Columbus (APM) to the station..
2005 July 26 - . 14:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-114 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Payload: Discovery F31 / Raffaello. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Camarda, Collins, Eileen, Kelly, James, Lawrence, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Andrew. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-6, STS-114. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 13.90 days. Decay Date: 2005-08-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 28775 . COSPAR: 2005-026A. Apogee: 350 km (210 mi). Perigee: 313 km (194 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.20 min.
Return to flight after loss of Columbia. Delayed extensively as NASA attempted to fix the external tank foam-shedding problem that resulted in the loss of Columbia (first planned for September 12, 2004, the launch slipped to March; May 14, 15 and 22; July 13, 2005). Discovery safely reached orbit at a total mass of 121,485 kg, but extensive video coverage detected external tank foam shedding during ascent. Discovery docked at the Pirs module of the ISS on 28 July 28 at 11:18 GMT. Following replenishment of the station (using the Raffaello MPLM-6 module with 8240 kg of supplies), a series of spacewalks verified the integrity of the shuttle's heat shield and tested repair techniques, Discovery undocked from the ISS at 07:24 GMT on 6 August and landed safely on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base at 12:11 GMT on 9 August. However the shuttle fleet was immediately grounded again while NASA attempted to find a permanent fix to the external tank foam woes.
Late Spring 2006 - .
STS-132 (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-132A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery.
Flight delayed after the Columbia disaster. No crew had been named at the time of the loss of Columbia. STS-132 was to have flown ISS resupply mission ISS-UF6. Supplies and equipment would have been delivered via an MPLM and EXPRESS Pallet in the cargo bay.
STS-138 (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-138A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Flight delayed after the Columbia disaster. No crew had been named at the time of the loss of Columbia. STS-138 was to have flown ISS resupply mission ISS-UF7. The Centrifuge Accomodations Module (CAM) would have been delivered to the station..
2006 December 10 - . 01:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-116 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Williams. Return Crew: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter. Payload: Discovery F32 / P5. Mass: 120,420 kg (265,480 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Williams. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-121 Astrolab. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.86 days. Decay Date: 2006-12-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 29647 . COSPAR: 2006-055A. Apogee: 358 km (222 mi). Perigee: 326 km (202 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min.
The mission used solid rocket booster pair RSRM-95 and external tank ET-123. At SSME burnout Discovery was in a 58 km x 220 km x 51.6 deg preliminary burn. The OMS-2 burn at 02:25 GMT placed the shuttle in a stable 225 x 250 km orbit from which rendezvous maneuvers began. Discovery docked with the ISS at 22:12 GMT on December 11. In the most demanding ISS assembly mission ever, the crew would require an additional spacewalk to complete installation of the P5 truss, retraction of the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activation of the truss electrical and cooling system. Sunita Williams rode the shuttle to the station, and remained behind with the EO-14 crew; ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Due to weather problems a landing at White Sands was considered; but in the end Discovery landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, after which it was to enter a year-long overhaul cycle.
STS-136 (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-136A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Flight delayed after the Columbia disaster. No crew had been named at the time of the loss of Columbia. STS-136 was to have flown ISS assembly mission ISS-18A. The first US Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) would have been delivered to the station..
2010 April 5 - . 10:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-131 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Anderson, Clayton, Dutton, Mastracchio, Metcalf-Lindenburger, Poindexter, Wilson, Yamazaki. Payload: Discovery F37 /. Mass: 121,047 kg (266,862 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-17, Soyuz TMA-18, STS-131. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 15.12 days. Decay Date: 2010-04-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 36507 . COSPAR: 2010-012A. Apogee: 346 km (214 mi). Perigee: 322 km (200 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.20 min. Crew: Poindexter;Dutton;Metcalf-Lendenburger;Wilson;Mastracchiio;Yamazaki;Anderson,Clayton. Contingency flight to assure ISS completion; nominal payload EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 3 (ELC3) and EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4)..
2011 February 24 - . 21:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
STS-133 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Barratt, Boe, Bowen, Drew, Lindsey, Stott. Payload: Discovery F38 /. Mass: 121,840 kg (268,610 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: Soyuz TMA-01M, Soyuz TMA-20, STS-133. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 12.80 days. Decay Date: 2011-03-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 37371 . COSPAR: 2011-008A. Apogee: 355 km (220 mi). Perigee: 318 km (197 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.30 min.
Final flight of the space shuttle Discovery. The spaceplane docked with the International Space Station at 19:14 GMT on 26 February. The ELC-4 Express Logistics Carrier 4 was transferred from the Shuttle to the S3 station truss on 27 February. The station's SSRMS robot arm moved the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module from the shuttle to the nadir port of the Unity module between 13:46 and 15:05 UTC on 1 March. Following cargo unloading and three spacewalks devoted to station repair and assembly, Discovery undocked from the station for the last time at 12:00 GMT on 7 March, landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 16:57 GMT on 9 March.


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Croatia: The Croatian entry, " Crazy" to be released on March 6th
"Crazy", this year's Croatian entry by Franka Batelic, will be published on March 6th. Together with the song, the official video clip will be released which is already being prepared.
Franka appeared at Nove TV on "In Magazine" show, where she stated how happy and satisfied she feels with the selection of the song. The popular artist wrote the lyrics of her participation, while Branimir Mihaljević took over the music composition.
She said among others:
"We ended up in this song in an unexpected way. We had written three songs as proposals for this year's Eurovision. But when Branimir started playing the piano and I was singing the lyrics, Crazy was actually born all of a sudden . The track is very strong, sentimental and contemporary and I think it will appeal to the public. Our goal is to climb the stage, make a dynamic performance and leave a piece of ourselves."
Branimir Mihaljevic was also invited and he declared :
"Franka has all the features of a real star. We tried to compose a song that would appeal to the whole world, following modern trends but at the same time bringing a new sound and an original atmosphere. The trends in music change, Eurovision is made stronger and stronger year after year and it's hard to know what's best for the institution. However, we will do our best to have a good result for Croatia."
On February 26th, a small snippet of "Crazy" was released on the official page of the Croatian Broadcasting Corporation. The video gathered more than 300,000 views. Until revealing their official participation, remember the song below:
Branimir MihaljevićCrazycroatia 2018Franka Batelic
Fotis Kourouvanis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This watercolor painting I did last year almost dropped of my radar: It shows Machu Picchu, the famous peruvian Inca site, from a more unusual vantage point. I like it and will have prints of it on offer at the San Francisco Zine Fest next Sunday. Stop by and say hello if you are in the area!


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Q: Java Swing JAWS accessible JComboBox throwing NPE when items change I have an accessible JComboBox whose items frequently change (I perform a jComboBox.removeAllItems();, and then add the new items via jComboBox.addItem(item)).
When the items change, and the user goes to select a new item I receive the following NPE:
NOTE This only occurs when running JAWS
java.lang.NullPointerException
    at javax.swing.JList$AccessibleJList$AccessibleJListChild.getAccessibleSelection(JList.java:3392)
    at java.awt.Component.getAccessibleStateSet(Component.java:9624)
    at java.awt.Component$AccessibleAWTComponent.getAccessibleStateSet(Component.java:9156)
    at javax.swing.JComponent$AccessibleJComponent.getAccessibleStateSet(JComponent.java:3919)
    at javax.swing.JList$AccessibleJList$AccessibleJListChild.getAccessibleStateSet(JList.java:3301)
    at com.sun.java.accessibility.AccessBridge.getAccessibleStatesStringFromContext(AccessBridge.java:1331)
    at com.sun.java.accessibility.AccessBridge.run(Native Method)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:724)

I'm assuming this is due to the number of items in the combobox changing, but I'm not sure what's necessary to propagate the changes to the accessible context.
I have the following ActionListener on the JComboBox
jComboBox.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
            @Override
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                String selectedItem = (String) jComboBox.getSelectedItem();
                selectedItem = selectedItem == null ? " " : selectedItem;
                jComboBox.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleDescription(selectedItem);
            }
        });

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
23:56 +04, January 19, 2018
IOC reduces pool of Russian athletes eligible to compete at Olympics
The International Olympic Committee said on Friday it had reduced the pool of Russian athletes eligible to compete at next month's Pyeongchang winter Olympics to 389 from 500, Reuters reported.
The IOC last month banned Russia from the Pyeongchang Games as a result of its "unprecedented systematic manipulation" of the anti-doping system, though individual athletes will be able to compete effectively as neutrals if they can prove their anti-doping credentials.
"As of today, the original pre-registration pool of 500 athletes has already been reduced by 111 by the Panel," the IOC said in a statement.
"For others in the remaining pool of athletes, pre-conditions such as further pre-Games tests and reanalysis from stored samples have been required," the IOC said. "Only if these requirements are met can the athletes be considered for invitation."
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The number of people staying in homes listed on Airbnb in the UAE is set to more than double during New Year's Eve, the company said.
The popular global platform is currently seeing a 108 per cent spike in bookings during the New Year period, as travellers head to the Emirates to enjoy the celebrations. This figure is only expected to rise as the holiday season approaches.
The surge in bookings to stay in Airbnb properties throughout the UAE is led by visitors from the US and the UK, while domestic travel from residents within the UAE is also proving hugely popular.
Globally, guests using Airbnb over the New Year period has grown hugely over the past decade. On December 31, 2009, Airbnb calculated that 1,400 people used the platform to book a home away from home. Founder Brian Chesky tweeted last NYE that over 3 million people stayed in Airbnb listed properties during the turn of the year.
The alternative options for travellers that Airbnb provides aid the UAE's agenda to grow and diversify the tourism base. In October, the UAE cabinet announced rules that allow visitors to extend their visit and tourist visas twice, for just Dh600 per extension, without the need to leave the country.


For trusted and local photo scanning, video conversion services and more, visit EverPresent's Ashburnham, Massachusetts location. Click here for directions to our Ashburnham location. Conveniently located less than 13 miles from the large towns of Leominster and Fitchburg, we also offer in-home consultations in Groton, Pepperell, Townsend, Harvard, and surrounding neighborhoods near the New Hampshire border. For our full list of services, click here.
Our Ashburnham drop-off location is located inside the Creative Connections Gallery.
Find our top-tier video transfer and photo scanning services through Creative Connections Gallery in Ashburnham. This art hub boasts a ton of creative treats – and now it's an EverPresent drop-off location! Located on Main Street in Ashburnham, the gallery's been dealing with original gifts and art for close to 30 years. If you're in or around this part of Massachusetts, our expert team can secure your family memories for professional slide scanning and film transfers.
Call 978-788-9618 to book a time to stop by Creative Connections Gallery with your home movies and photos.
You can expect to spend about 10 minutes with the team at our Ashburnham location. Say hi to Mark, the owner!
Our dedidated technicians digitizing photos and videos.
Our local service is even more convenient with in-home consultations near the Massachusetts & New Hampshire border in Ashby, Gardner, Lunenburg and New Ipswich, NH. Our in-home appointments are perfect for aging photo collections that are too clunky to leave the house. Your personal consultant is a certified organizer with experience in our all aspects of the work we do, from photo digitizing and scrapbook scanning, to premium video transfers and film-to-digital conversion. Our team can help sort through your stuff and set a budget for your digitizing project plus make recommendations for extra copies and best ways to share with your family. They seal all of our clients' materials in plastic bins to protect them en route to EverPresent's production headquarters.
Call 978-788-9618 and speak to one of our consultants to book your appointment. Or Email us!
You'll spend about 10 min at the store dropping off. Our drivers deliver all of our orders to our local HQ and we'll call you to do a full consultation.
We return your project on archival & standard DVDs, USBs & hard drives to our Ashburnham, MA location. Private cloud storage always included.
"There's a side of you that the outside world doesn't see – all the birthdays, holidays and milestones that you share with family. EverPresent preserves that story by scanning your medium format negatives to DVD and transferring miniDV tapes to digital. One of our clients, the family of a well-known civil servant, had us scan the loose pictures and photo albums that showed a glimpse into this public figure's private life. EverPresent's elite digitizing service made the family's archive gorgeous and easy to share.
We want to hear from our Ashburnham clients!
Destination on the right. Across from Yaka Sawa.