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CUTE-1.7 + APD-II Satellite Camera Activated
Earth photos taken by the CUTE-1.7 + APD-II camera were successfully received at the ground station.
See: http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/080601_Picture_180degRotated.jpg
JA1GDE created a diagram showing the area captured in the photograph:
http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/080601_Picture_JA1GDE.jpg Additional photos from the
satellite camera can be seen at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/cut17apd.htm#bottom
[ANS thanks Mineo, JE9PEL for the above information] [AMSAT]
Is Beijing preparing to launch an Amateur Radio satellite ?
There is speculation that Beijing may launch an Amateur Radio satellite prior to the 2008 Olympics. A report
on the www.73club.com website indicates plans for an Amateur Radio satellite carrying a 145 to 435 MHz FM transponder to be launched in time for the Olympic games. [RAC]
Send your name into solar orbit ...
Kepler is NASA's first mission capable of detecting Earth-size and smaller planets in the habitable zone of
solar-like stars.Planned to be launched from Kennedy Space Center in February 2009, the spacecraft will be
launched into orbit around the Sun. When you submit your name, you may also chose to provide a message
of 500 words or less of why you think the mission is important. Your name will be stored on a DVD and
rocketed into space on board the Kepler spacecraft. The link to sign up is at: http://namesinspace.seti.org/
The deadline to submit your name for the Keppler Mission is November 1, 2008.
United plugs iPods into in-flight entertainment
Passengers on some United flights will be able to plug their iPods into the plane's entertainment system, the
airline said today. iPod-equipped passengers can watch their own videos on the screen in the seat back
ahead of them. And they can charge their iPods while they fly. Don't get too excited, though -- the perk will
mainly be available only on international flights. The first is United #936, which departs Washington D.C.
at 5:40 p.m., headed for Zurich. Got a Sansa, Zune, or other music player? You're out of luck. The system
supports only the iPod's annoying proprietary 30-pin connector.
No more $8 gas for car renters at BWI
BALTIMORE: Starting July 4, travelers at Baltimore/Washington International who are returning rental cars
with a partially filled gas tank will get a price break. Following an investigation by the attorney general's
office in Maryland, rental car companies operating in the state agreed to cut their refueling costs — which
can be as much as $8 a gallon — by up to 40%. Maryland's investigation began six months ago, and found
that "some of the rental car companies had increased their refueling charges drastically in recent months, far
in excess of gas prices found in the Baltimore/Washington/Philadelphia area," the attorney general's office
said, in a statement. The rental car companies agreed to lower their charges within Maryland to about 135%
to 142% of current retail prices, or about $5.85 per gallon as of last week.
"Maryland will have among the lowest, if not the lowest, rental vehicle refueling charges in the nation," the
statement said. Enterprise and its affiliated companies — Alamo and National — were not part of the
negotiation because they had lower refueling fees prior to the investigation. Enterprise spokeswoman Christy
Conrad says its companies never charge more than 33% beyond the local market rates. Shortly before the
settlement was announced, Hertz said it will start a new refueling pricing policy nationwide. Customers
returning cars with a partially filled tank will be charged local retail prices, plus a one-time refueling fee of
$6.99. They can also choose to buy a tank of gas at the outset and receive a 15-cents-per-gallon discount.
| July, 2008 | |
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