By Todd Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAYSpace shuttle Discovery's engine controllers all worked as expected during overnight testing, but managers still must give a go to pick up a stalled countdown and the weather forecast for a launch attempt Thursday has worsened.Discovery and six astronauts are tentatively scheduled to blast off to the International Space Station at 3:29 p.m. ET Thursday. But engineers still must build a rationale for flying after a back-up engine controller failed to operate as expected during routine prelaunch checkouts on Tuesday. The controller on Engine No. 3 first failed to immediately power up, and then a small but unusual voltage drop was subsequently detected. Engineers believe a trace contaminant likely is the culprit and that repeated power cycling cleared the problem.Each of the shuttle's liquid-fueled main engines is equipped with primary and back-up controllers and all worked as expected during five power-up tests overnight. The suspect controllers has remained powered up since and no voltage irregularities have been detected. The Mission Management Team will be briefed at 2 p.m. ET today, and a decision will be made on whether to proceed with countdown to a launch attempt Thursday. The weather forecast, however, now calls for an 80% chance that rain and thunderstorms would keep the shuttle grounded on Thursday. There is a 40% chance bad weather would prohibit external tank propellant-loading operations, which would pick up about 6 a.m. ET.The bad weather is expected to clear late Thursday, and the forecast for Friday calls for a 60% chance the weather would be acceptable for flight. Winds are expected to pick up and Saturday's forecast calls for a 60% chance conditions would prohibit launch.Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
UK: Google was in 'significant breach' of data law - BusinessWeek
LONDON
British authorities say Google breached data protection laws when its Street View mapping service scooped up data from private wireless networks.
The Information Commissioner's Office says that the Internet search provider's data protection practices will be audited and that the company must promise to ensure that the breaches don't occur again.
Google Inc. will not be fined for the breach, although the office said Wednesday that the company, based in Mountainview, California, faces penalties if it refuses to comply with its instructions.
Transit Police investigate death of BU grad, 22, struck by trolley - Boston Globe
var archivedState=0;
A 22-year-old Boston University graduate was struck and killed by an MBTA Green Line train headed eastbound shortly after midnight yesterday between the Longwood and Fenway stops.
The man, identified as Joshua Stimson of Brighton, was found on the eastbound tracks and pronounced dead at the scene, according to an MBTA spokesman, Joe Pesaturo.
It remains unclear why Stimson was inside the fence-enclosed Green Line right-of-way, where his body was found west of the Fenway stop, but Pesaturo said early investigation suggests alcohol may have been a factor. Problems with the train or signal on the Riverside line have been ruled out and the trolley driver received no citations or disciplinary actions.
Laurel Bennis, a friend, said Stimson had had dinner in her apartment near Kenmore Square Saturday and was making plans for the night when he left around 8 p.m.
“We’re still trying to piece it together, seeing who he was with,’’ Bennis said. “It’s kind of a big shock. It’s a mystery to all of us.’’
Friends described Stimson as fun-loving, smart, and an all-around good friend with a great sense of humor. He had been one of the top five racers on the Boston University ski team and did mixed martial arts to stay in shape.
“He was one of the greatest friends I’ve ever had,’’ said Bennis, who shared an apartment with Stimson last summer. “He always knew how to cheer you up, always knew how to get you out of a funk you were in.’’
Stimson graduated this spring from Boston University’s School of Management, where he studied finance, Bennis said. He had started a job last Monday at a global management company specializing in consulting, technology, and outsourcing, she said. He was very excited about it and really liked his co-workers, Bennis said.
Ben Elliott, who said he had known Stimson for “longer than I can remember,’’ grew up with him in North Haverhill, N.H., where they went to Woodsville High School. Elliott said he would always tell Stimson he was “too smart for his own good.’’
Elliott said he had just spoken to Stimson on Saturday and heard about Stimson’s death early yesterday from friends. Elliott said he was a Marine and had never shed a tear during his active duty, but, “This morning, hearing about Josh, I cried.’’
A Boston University spokesman, Colin Riley, said the university had been notified of the death. “It’s an extremely sad situation,’’ he said.
MBTA Transit Police were notified at 12:19 a.m. and Brookline police and fire departments, along with emergency medical services, responded. The death remains under investigation by the MBTA Transit Police.
Taylor M. Miles can be reached at tmiles@globe.com. 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)