It's settled, then.

It shall launch on the anniversary of my birth.


Endeavour launch delayed; next opportunity, June 17th.

Friday Song

I love Rufus Wainwright's version of this song, and the 8mm home videos someone put to it are comically similar to Ward home movies. (The home movies made before I was born, of course. All the fun stuff happened before I was born.)
I mean, I actually did a double-take on some of these scenes.

Kid hit by meteorite.

I've blogged about Meteorite v. Human in the past.

Now, once again, a poor unsuspecting human being has been attacked by a space pebble, which launched its vicious assault indiscriminately and without warning.

Hell yes, he survived.

His parents might have misspelled his first name, but I think we all know what they meant.

Low altitude HD video of the lunar surface, courtesy of JAXA's Kaguya explorer.

Only in Japan. Only. in. Japan.

Better than "cats and dogs", I suppose.

Happy birthday, Bruce McCandless!

McCandless was the first guy to try out the MMU in space.
The G-rated version of the phrase that springs to mind when I see this photo of him would be "nerves of steel."
I guess I've heard Space Oddity one too many times, because this photo makes my stomach turn.

Above: Bruce McCandless goes renegade after one rehydrated beef stew too many:
"You know what? FORGET IT! I'll get my own damn dinner!"

Friday Song

I'd like to post a video of the lovely first movement of William Herschel's Chamber Symphony in F ; alas, there isn't one on You Tube and I'm much too lazy to make one.
But this is good, too.

Good gravy.

Yaron Koler of Israel snapped this photo of the ISS and the Moon - in broad friggin' daylight.
H/T Spaceweather.com, of course.

Project Constellation goes dumpster diving.

Reduce, reuse, recycle, y'all!

Wow! The stars at night are big and bright!

So. very. beautiful.

Galactic Center of Milky Way Rises over Texas Star Party from William Castleman on Vimeo.