Galileo Spacecraft Mission Ends plunging into Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21, 2003

Galileo Spacecraft Mission Ends plunging into Jupiter's atmosphere: Launched in 1989 aboard space shuttle Atlantis, Galileo explored Jupiter and its moons. Upon arrival at Jupiter in December 1995, the Galileo spacecraft delivered a probe that descended into the giant planet's atmosphere. The orbiter completed many flybys of Jupiter's major moons, reaping a variety of science discoveries. The mission ended on Sept. 21, 2003, when the spacecraft plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere.

Galileo was launched October 18, 1989, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, carried into Earth orbit in the cargo bay of space shuttle Atlantis. A two-stage solid-fuel motor called an inertial upper stage then propelled Galileo onto its interplanetary flight path. Although earlier plans called for Galileo to use a more powerful upper stage so that it could fly directly to Jupiter, the final flight took the spacecraft by other planets first so that it could gain energy from the gravity of each. Galileo flew past Venus on February 10, 1990, and then twice past Earth - once on December 8, 1990, and again on December 8, 1992.

Also en route to Jupiter, Galileo flew close to two asteroids, the first such visits by any spacecraft. It encountered the asteroid Gaspra on October 29, 1991, and the asteroid Ida on August 28, 1993. During the latter part of its interplanetary cruise, Galileo was used to observe the collisions of fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy with Jupiter in July 1994.

Galileo arrived at Jupiter on December 7, 1995, entering orbit and dropping its instrumented probe into the giant planet's atmosphere. The Galileo atmospheric probe was managed by NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Measurements of temperature, pressure and vertical winds revealed several discoveries as the Galileo Probe plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere. The Atmosphere Structure Instrument (ASI) measured temperature, pressure and density.

The probe also included a mass spectrometer that measured the chemical composition of Jupiter's atmosphere.

“Measuring the composition of Jupiter's atmosphere was a primary scientific objective of the probe, because we knew it could change our understanding of Jupiter's formation and evolution”, said Galileo probe project scientist Dr. Richard Young of NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California “These latest probe results have done exactly that, and the measurements are the sort that could only have been obtained by in-situ measurements from an entry probe.”

The spectrometer detected in Jupiter's atmosphere higher than expected concentrations of argon, krypton and xenon, three chemical elements called noble gases because they are very independent and do not combine with other chemicals. Tiny traces of these gases are found in Earth's atmosphere, and argon is sometimes used like neon in advertising signs.

Galileo discovered strong evidence that Jupiter's moon Europa has a melted saltwater ocean under an ice layer on its surface. The spacecraft also found indications that two other moons, Ganymede and Callisto, have layers of liquid saltwater as well. Other major science results from the mission include details of varied and extensive volcanic processes on the moon Io, measurements of conditions within Jupiter's atmosphere, and discovery of a magnetic field generated by Ganymede.

The mission finally ended on September 21, 2003, when the spacecraft plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere. This planned maneuver prevented the risk of Galileo drifting to an unwanted impact with the moon Europa, which may harbor a subsurface ocean.

NASA.gov / Wikipedia / Encyclopedia Britannica / Space.com / Lunar and Planetary Institute - Science and Exploration.edu / Galileo Spacecraft Mission Ends plunging into Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21, 2003 (YouTube)

The Superfortress takes flight on September 21, 1942

The Superfortress takes flight: On this day in 1942, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress makes its debut flight in Seattle, Washington. It was the largest bomber used in the war by any nation.

The B-29 was conceived in 1939 by Gen. Hap Arnold, who was afraid a German victory in Europe would mean the United States would be devoid of bases on the eastern side of the Atlantic from which to counterattack. A plane was needed that would travel faster, farther, and higher than any then available, so Boeing set to creating the four-engine heavy bomber. The plane was extraordinary, able to carry loads almost equal to its own weight at altitudes of 30,000 to 40,000 feet. It contained a pilot console in the rear of the plane, in the event the front pilot was knocked out of commission. It also sported the first radar bombing system of any U.S. bomber.

The Superfortress made its test run over the continental United States on September 21, but would not make its bombing-run debut until June 5, 1944, against Bangkok, in preparation for the Allied liberation of Burma from Japanese hands. A little more than a week later, the B-29 made its first run against the Japanese mainland. On June 14, 60 B-29s based in Chengtu, China, bombed an iron and steel works factory on Honshu Island. While the raid was less than successful, it proved to be a morale booster to Americans, who were now on the offensive.

Meanwhile, the Marianas Islands in the South Pacific were being recaptured by the United States, primarily to provide air bases for their new B-29s—a perfect position from which to strike the Japanese mainland on a consistent basis. Once the bases were ready, the B-29s were employed in a long series of bombing raids against Tokyo. Although capable of precision bombing at high altitudes, the Superfortresses began dropping incendiary devices from a mere 5,000 feet, firebombing the Japanese capital in an attempt to break the will of the Axis power. One raid, in March 1945, killed more than 80,000 people. But the most famous, or perhaps infamous, use of the B-29 would come in August, as it was the only plane capable of delivering a 10,000-pound bomb—the atomic bomb. The Enola Gay and the Bock’s Car took off from the Marianas, on August 6 and 9, respectively, and flew into history.

History.com / Wikipedia / Encyclopedia Britannica / Boeing / Museum of Flight.org / National Interest.org / Air & Space - Smithsonian / The Superfortress takes flight on September 21, 1942 (YouTube)

American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold commits treason on September 21, 1780

American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold commits treason: On this day in 1780, during the American Revolution, American General Benedict Arnold meets with British Major John Andre to discuss handing over West Point to the British, in return for the promise of a large sum of money and a high position in the British army. The plot was foiled and Arnold, a former American hero, became synonymous with the word “traitor”.

Arnold was born into a well-respected family in Norwich, Connecticut, on January 14, 1741. He apprenticed with an apothecary and was a member of the militia during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). He later became a successful trader and joined the Continental Army when the Revolutionary War broke out between Great Britain and its 13 American colonies in 1775. When the war ended in 1783, the colonies had won their independence from Britain and formed a new nation, the United States.

During the war, Benedict Arnold proved himself a brave and skillful leader, helping Ethan Allen’s troops capture Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 and then participating in the unsuccessful attack on British Quebec later that year, which earned him a promotion to brigadier general. Arnold distinguished himself in campaigns at Lake Champlain, Ridgefield and Saratoga, and gained the support of George Washington. However, Arnold had enemies within the military and in 1777, five men of lesser rank were promoted over him. Over the course of the next few years, Arnold married for a second time and he and his new wife lived a lavish lifestyle in Philadelphia, accumulating substantial debt. The debt and the resentment Arnold felt over not being promoted faster were motivating factors in his choice to become a turncoat.

In 1780, Arnold was given command of West Point, an American fort on the Hudson River in New York (and future home of the U.S. military academy, established in 1802). Arnold contacted Sir Henry Clinton, head of the British forces, and proposed handing over West Point and his men. On September 21 of that year, Arnold met with Major John Andre and made his traitorous pact. However, the conspiracy was uncovered and Andre was captured and executed. Arnold, the former American patriot, fled to the enemy side and went on to lead British troops in Virginia and Connecticut. He later moved to England, though he never received all of what he’d been promised by the British. He died in London on June 14, 1801.

History.com / Wikipedia / Encyclopedia Britannica / Mount Vernon.org / Battlefields.org / History.org / American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold commits treason on September 21, 1780 (YouTube)

Image: Engraving depicts American army officer Benedict Arnold (1741 - 1801), seated at a table, as he hands papers to British officer John Andre (1750 - 1780) during the American Revolutionary War, mid to late 18th century. Arnold eventually formally switiched sides and joined the British. Stock Montage—Getty Images

Understanding Military Terminology - National Intelligence

(DOD) All intelligence, regardless of the source from which derived, and including that which is gathered within or outside of the United States, that pertains to more than one agency, and involves

(1) threats to the United States, its people, property, or interests,

(2) the development, proliferation, or use of weapons of mass destruction, or

(3) any other matter bearing on U.S. national or homeland security.

Joint Publications (JP 2-01) Joint and National Intelligence Support - Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Old Salt’s Corner

“The Demon Whore of Captain Moore”

I once heard told

a story so old,

but true as yesterday.

It was about Captain Moore

and his forbidden whore

the one he drowned in the bay.

They said the year,

but I've forgotten I fear,

maybe it was around '28.

The sailors were home

with nowhere to roam

and Captain Moore

went looking for a mate.

He found her one night

at a tavern in Kite,

a town not too far from here.

She was a true beauty

devoted to her duty

and she seduced the old buccaneer.

In the depths of her pleasure,

he sang of his treasure;

the secrets of his soul he gave.

She took all he owned

and he lay there and groaned

for he had now become her slave.

He woke in a panic

at the thought of the satanic

woman and what he would reap.

She took all he owned

So he grabbed her one night

in a desperate fight

and rowed her out to the deep.

She pleaded to be saved

but he was completely depraved

and he threw her over the side.

He watched as she sank

and he sat and he drank

until he knew she had died.

Then he stood tall and proud

and he boasted out loud

of the demon whore

he had sent to her death.

But his glory was short

and he was convicted in court.

The hangman took his last breath.

~ James Andersen

“I’m Just Sayin”

“One of the deep secrets in life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”

“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”

“If you drink much from a bottle marked 'poison' it is certain to disagree with you sooner or later.”

~ Lewis Carroll

“Thought for the Day”

“Life is the sum of all your choices.”

“Man is always prey to his truths.

Once he has admitted them,

he cannot free himself from them.”

“In the depth of winter,

I finally learned that within me

there lay an invincible summer.”

~ Albert Camus

“What I Learned”

“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

“There is always one more idiot than you counted on.”

“There is a fine line between coincidence and fate.”

“There is nothing that you can't do

only things that you want to or not.”

~ Anonymous

Second Hand News (Links to Articles from Week 38 - September 16, 2019 - September 22, 2019)

Trump approves use of emergency oil reserves and says U.S. is “locked and loaded” after attack on Saudi facilities • GM auto workers go on nationwide strike • Democrats frown on targeting gang databases with 'red flag' laws

Editor's Picks: New York Times sinks its Kavanaugh claim with Editor's Note stating alleged victim 'does not recall the incident' • Trump defends Kavanaugh against 'Radical Left Democrats' and urges him to 'start suing' • Ex-NFL star charged with destroying his own restaurants after claiming hate crime

'Arrogance': James Mattis co-author “Bing” West says U.S. efforts to transform Iraq and Afghanistan were doomed • Remains of more than 2,200 unborn children discovered in Illinois home of dead abortion doctor • The opioid crisis: A 20-year conspiracy against patients Washington Examiner

Trump says the U.S. is “locked and loaded”after Saudi oil plant attack as officials claim Iran fired cruise missiles and Tehran insists it is “ready for war” • Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blames Iran for unprecedented drone attack on two processing plants in Saudi Arabia as the country cuts its oil production to the world by HALF following the attacks • Donald Trump confirms Osama bin Laden's 'crown prince of terror' son Hamza was killed in a U.S. counter-terrorism operation

General Motors workers strike: Almost 50,000 employees walk off the job at midnight after contract talks hit an impasse • Purdue Pharma files for bankruptcy as the firm blamed for triggering America's opioid crisis cuts a $12bn deal - but prosecutors vow to recover billions from owners the Sackler family

New York Times is forced to revise 'bombshell' story detailing sexual misconduct claims against Brett Kavanaugh to say the accuser has NO memory of alleged assault at a dorm party in the 1980s and REFUSED to be interviewed • Rep. Ilhan Omar defends her controversial 'some people did something' 9/11 comments during last weeks 18th anniversary memorial • Ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers player is charged with trashing two of his own restaurants and spraying the N-word and MAGA on the walls to make it look like a hate crime so he could collect insurance money Daily Mail UK

Mr. Answer Man Please Tell Us: When Did the Do Not Call List Stop Working?

There was once a time when picking up a call from an unfamiliar number didn’t guarantee you’d be talking to a robot. For several years following its introduction in 2003, the Do Not Call list successfully sheltered individuals from unwanted calls about gym memberships and cheap travel packages. Companies respected the list, and if they didn’t, they faced legal ramifications.

Then, at the turn of the decade, something changed. Telemarketing scams began trickling through the cracks, and today the Do Not Call list is about as effective as a free cruise offered over the phone is free.

So what happened? It may not be evident to current members, but the National Do Not Call Registry does work - with some numbers, at least. According to the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act, telemarketers (excluding surveyors, politicians, and charities) can be fined up to $40,000 for ignoring the list. So when it comes to calls from legitimate, law-abiding businesses within the U.S., the Do Not Call list is a useful barrier. Problems arise when callers never intend to follow the law in the first place.

Around 2010, the same time the internet made international calls a lot less expensive, phone scammers began relocating outside the U.S. Whether they’re calling from India or Jamaica, voice over internet protocol technology makes spamming numbers with prerecorded messages cheap and easy. Another trick, known as “call spoofing”, allows frauds to input fake caller IDs to make it seem like they’re calling from within the country. Some telemarketers even go so far as to call from the recipient’s home area code, leading the person on the receiving end to think it’s someone they know.

“It’s difficult to identify who’s actually placing the call because of the call spoofing”, Maureen Mahoney, a public policy fellow for Consumers Union’s End Robocalls campaign, tells Mental Floss. “So that also makes it difficult to track these people down.” Even when authorities do catch up to operations working in foreign countries, most of the money scammed from consumers has already been spent. It’s no wonder that the U.S. loses billions of dollars to scam calls each year.

Phone owners are well aware of the problem. “We actually sent out an email to our list asking what’s one of the issues you’re most concerned about, and overwhelmingly the response was robocalls”, Mahoney says. Consumers Union took action by launching their campaign to end robocalls in 2015. Instead of going after lawmakers, who often receive the brunt of the public’s blame, the initiative targets phone companies. A petition on the organization's website calls on phone company CEOs to “provide free tools to block unwanted robocalls before they reach my phone.”

“We really believe that the phone companies are in the best position to address the problem”, Mahoney says. “They’re the ones with the best engineers and the technology and the know-how.” Some industry leaders have taken steps to tackle the issue. Time Warner customers have the option to sign up for Nomorobo, a service that blocks illegal robocalls, for free. AT&T made a similar option available for select devices in December, and T-Mobile rolled out a robocall-blocking feature of its own in April. But there are still many companies that have no such resources available, or only offer them at an additional cost.

If electing to block robocalls through your service provider is impossible or impractical for you, there are other ways to protect yourself. When an unknown number lights up your screen, don’t pick up. Sometimes a “hello?” is all the information telemarketers need to confirm you’re a living human being who is worth calling again. If you do decide to answer, don’t be afraid to hang up as soon as things start feeling fishy. Staying on the phone gives scammers more opportunities to squeeze information from you, so even asking to be taken off their list is more trouble than it’s worth.

One of the most notorious scams to look out for today is the IRS phone scam. To trick their victims, callers (sometimes calling from a bogus Washington D.C. area code) will say they work for the IRS and demand to be paid immediately. Americans have been cheated out of tens of millions of dollars as a result of this scheme.

Mahoney also warns consumers to be wary of calls claiming to come from card services (“We can offer you a lower interest rate!”), tech support (“We can fix your computer!”), and even your phone company (“You need to pay your bills! Could we have your card information?”). Even if you suspect the call's legitimate, it's always best to end the conversation and call back using a number you trust. “If someone’s asking for your personal or financial information, hang up the phone right away”, Mahoney says. “Report it to the FCC.” You can contact the Federal Communications Commission with your complaints here.

We already know that the Do Not Call Registry alone isn’t enough to keep telemarketers at bay, but it doesn’t hurt to keep your name on the list - even if all it does is cut down the amount of robo-harassment you receive each week by a call or two.

DoNotCall.gov • Mental Floss • Quora • Slate • Wikipedia

NAVSPEAK aka U.S. Navy Slang

F.U.P.A. (pronounced “foop-uh”): Fat Upper Pelvic Area: The buldge that protrudes from ill-fitting pants worn by an overweight sailor, or by extension, the sailor him- or herself. (When describing a female, it may stand specifically for “Fat Upper Pussy Area”; when describing a male, “Fat Upper Penis Area.”)

FuckingNuke (always one word): A sailor who is trained to operate the boat/ship nuclear power plant.

Fuckface: Any person or thing which has a face.

Fuck the mission, clean the position: Break out the swabs.

Fuck You, strong message follows: Seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions (the unauthorized “Falcon Code”, derived from the “Charlie Echo” code), especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean.

[A] Full up round: Operational or (of a person) fit for duty, a fully operational projectile to be fired from a gun.

Fun Boss: Morale, Welfare and Recreation Officer.

F.U.R. (derogatory): Fucked Up Recruit: A boot camp recruit who constantly makes mistakes.

Fuzznuts: A young sailor, one not long out of puberty.

Wiktionary.org

Just for you MARINE

FUBAR: Fucked/Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition/Repair.

FUBIJAR: Fuck yoU Buddy, I'm Just A Reservist.

Full-Bird: Colonel, as opposed to a half-bird, light-colonel, or short-bird / short colonel, Lieutenant Colonel; so named because his or her rank insignia is a silver eagle.

Wikipedia.org

Naval Aviation Squadron Nicknames

VT-28 Training Squadron (VT-28) - nicknamed the “Rangers”

United States Navy - Naval Air Station (U.S. Navy primary flight training squadron) - Corpus Christi, Texas: May 1, 1960 - present.

Where Did That Saying Come From?

“A watched pot never boils:”

 Meaning: The proverbial expression 'a watched pot never boils' refers to the feeling time seems to go slower when you are anxiously waiting for something to happen. (If something takes time to finish, don't watch it too closely because it will seem like it's taking forever.)

History: 'A watched pot never boils' is one of the homely and improving proverbs that is ascribed to Poor Richard, which was the pseudonym that Benjamin Franklin used when publishing his widely popular annual almanac.

Franklin, a tireless and industrious polymath, was fixated on such improving aphorisms and published numerous of them in the guise of Poor Richard between 1732 and 1758. The general theme of the proverbs can be summed up as 'Industry: good; sloth: bad'. They include:

“There are no gains without pains. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

“Plough deep while sluggards sleep and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Have you something to do tomorrow? Do it today.”

Amongst many other callings, Franklin was a noted diplomat and during his time as United States envoy to France he was directed by the King to write a report on Franz Mesmer's controversial theory of 'animal magnetism'. In the report, published in 1785, Franklin included this text:

Finally another Breakfast is ordered. One Servant runs for fresh Water, another for Coals. The Bellows are plied with a will. I was very Hungry; it was so late; “a watched pot is slow to boil”, as Poor Richard says.

Actually, Franklin ought to have written “as Poor Richard might have said”, as the proverb isn't found in any of the Poor Richard almanacs. That's a moot point however, Franklin and Poor Richard being one and the same.

Of course, Franklin was also a celebrated scientist and would have been aware that watching a pot has no effect on how long it takes to boil. Like many of the most effective proverbs, this one is poetic rather than literal.

Phrases.org.uk

Science & Technology

In the deep, dark ocean fish have evolved superpowered vision • Cats rival dogs on many tests of social smarts. But is anyone brave enough to study them? • Life thrives in Antarctic hot spots created by seal and penguin poop • New generation of lithium-ion batteries could hold more charge—without catching fire • Chinese bioethicists call for ‘reboot’ of biomedical regulation after country’s gene-edited baby scandal • Two-thirds of the world’s longest rivers no longer run free

Science AAAS

Bizarre News (we couldn’t make up stuff this good - real news story)

Spider Spins Web in Man's Ear (Cue the Nightmares)

A man in eastern China recently visited a hospital with complaints of “a crawling sensation” in his right ear. Upon examination, the doctor found a spider that had really made itself at home.

The tiny arachnid had spun a web that covered the patient's entire ear canal.

Dr. Zhang Pan of the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University treated the man, inserting an endoscope into his ear and capturing footage of the eight-legged intruder, which was shared online by Newsflare. [27 Oddest Medical Cases]

The video shows a tube descending deep into the man's ear, revealing a small spider squatting very comfortably near the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. Wispy, pale filaments of its web are visible nearby - though it did not appear to have caught anything yet.

Zhang told The Sun that the spider was so small he couldn't see it until he inserted the endoscope. He first tried to snatch the spider from the ear canal with a pair of tweezers, but it escaped him; Zhang then successfully flushed the spider out with a squirt of saline, The Sun reported.

Cases of spiders and insects taking up residence inside people's ears are rare - though, perhaps not rare enough. A boy from Connecticut who complained of a buzzing in his ear was recently found to have a tick latched to his eardrum. In Florida last year, a woman awoke from a sound sleep to discover a cockroach had invaded her ear.

And in 2017, a man in China who suffered from severe ear pain found that it had a very unlikely source: a live gecko - albeit a very, very small one — that was curled up in his ear canal.

Because the patient with the spider in his ear sought treatment so quickly, there was no damage to his eardrum, Zhang told The Sun. However, the fate of the spider after its removal remains unknown, The Sun reported.

• 11 Weird Things People Have Swallowed

• 5 Weird Effects of Bug Bites

• The 10 Weirdest Medical Cases in the Animal Kingdom

Live Science (05/13/2019)

Second Hand News (Links to Articles from Week 38 - September 16, 2019 - September 22, 2019) - Part Deux

CORRUPTION CHRONICLES: Judicial Watch: Records Show DOJ Effort to Craft Response to Reports on Rosenstein Wearing Wire, Invoking 25th Amendment • Investigating the Investigators:’ U.S. Spends Millions to Train Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Gifted to Arab Nations that Abuse Them • North Carolina Jails Free Hundreds of Illegal Immigrant Criminals Wanted by Feds

Media Fails to Note 6 Murder Suspects are Illegal Immigrants, MS-13 Gangbangers • Controversial Minnesota congresswoman Democrat Ilhan Omar Declares Support for Terrorist Financier’s Company in Her Native Somalia • The Untold Story of the Awan Bros/House Democrats I.T. Scandal Judicial Watch

#TheScalaReport: Social science is denied access to the private and government social media data needed to measure voter manipulation.   

Iran grossly violates the The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and worse..    Iran is basing long-range missiles in Anbar Province.   

Johnny Can't Read Chaucer. What is to be done?   

Surprise Visitor from another Solar System.    John Batchelor (09/16/2019)