Japanese Satellite for better GPS services..[ 1781 ]

Japan launches satellite for better GPS services

The first quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki.(Mainichi)

 

(Mainichi Japan) September 12, 2010

TANEGASHIMA (Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched a satellite Saturday to improve car navigation and other services using the global positioning system.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki at 8:17 p.m. from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, using an H2A rocket. The 4-ton Michibiki -- 3 meters long, 3 meters wide and 6 meters high -- was separated from the rocket 28 minutes after the launch.

JAXA later said Michibiki was flying smoothly, spreading out the solar battery panel for electricity generation.

The launch of the satellite is intended to boost the accuracy and coverage of GPS services in Japan by complementing a U.S. satellite network.

Japan's GPS services currently depend on U.S. satellites. But their orbits are not just above Japan and radio waves from those satellites can be hampered by skyscrapers or mountains.

The agency aims to eliminate such blind spots and reduce the margin of error to within 1 meter by putting the Michibiki on an orbit almost just above Japan.

But Michibiki will be above Japan for eight hours a day. Two additional satellites are needed to provide 24-hour coverage.

The government has yet to have any specific launch plan for the additional satellites. It is expected to work out outline plans by next spring.

Commenting on the successful launch of Michibiki, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, "This is Japan's first satellite venturing into the field of satellite-based positioning, which is expected to grow internationally, and its use is also expected t be in various areas."

"I expect the successful launch to help promote the development and use of space and contribute to economic growth," he said.

The government has so far earmarked about 40 billion yen as development costs for Michibiki and some 33.5 billion yen as ground facility and launch costs.

UK,. stealth combat demonstrator (UCAV)..[ 1780 ]

UK unveils Taranis stealth combat demonstrator

 (From A-A, Air Attack. com)
Published: Mon July 12th, 2010 via: BAE Systems

Warton, United Kingdom; A prototype unmanned combat aircraft of the future, Taranis, has been unveiled by the UK Ministry of Defence for the first time today.

Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the concept demonstrator will test the possibility of developing the first ever autonomous stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent.

Should such systems enter into service, they will at all times be under the control of highly trained military crews on the ground.

UK unveils Taranis stealth combat demonstrator - 2
Source: BAE Systems
Click to expand

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire, Minister for International Security Strategy Gerald Howarth said: “Taranis is a truly trailblazing project. The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation’s advanced design and technology skills and is a leading programme on the global stage.”

Representing the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design, Taranis is an informal partnership of the UK MoD and industry talents including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation.

Speaking on behalf of the industry team, Nigel Whitehead, Group managing director of BAE Systems' Programmes & Support business, said: "Taranis has been three and a half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours. 

It represents a significant step forward in this country's fast-jet capability. This technology is key to sustaining a strong industrial base and to maintain the UK's leading position as a centre for engineering excellence and innovation."

The Taranis prototype will provide the UK MoD with critical knowledge on the technical and manufacturing challenges and the potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems.

Flight trials are due in 2011.

UK unveils Taranis stealth combat demonstrator
Source: BAE Systems
Click to expand

Gold medal for Greek Judo athlete..[ 1779 ]

World Judo Champion Iliadis 

Saturday, September 11, 2010, 15:04

 

Gold  medal for Greek Athlet Ilias Iliadis

Third  and 'evil' for Ilias Iliadis, who became the first Greek athlete who won gold medals at world judo championships.

In the -90 kg category of the tzountoka of Philip Amyndeou managed to win in the final Japanese Ntaiki Nisigiama, fighting in front of his fellow in Tokyo.

Iliadis had taken second place in both the 2005 Cairo and 2007 in Rio de Janeiro. 

On the way to gold, won the No. On the way to gold, won the No. 1 world ranking, also Japanese, Ono Takasi.
 

The historic first made while the Greek athlete as $ 6,000 richer, while she won 500 points, which will be very helpful in trying to do to attend the London Olympics in 2012.

Al Qaeda bigs underground..[ 1778 ]

President Obama boasts air attacks driving Al Qaeda bigs underground

BY James Gordon Meek
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Saturday, September 11th 2010, 4:00 AM

Pratt/AP

Missile attacks by agency drones have driven Al Qaeda big wigs underground.

WASHINGTON - President Obama for the first time Saturday thumped his chest about a CIA campaign of air strikes that he claimed has driven two Al Qaeda kingpins in the 9/11 attacks underground.

Obama alluded to the rapid tempo of missile attacks by agency drones in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt, where Osama Bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri are believed to be in hiding.

"Capturing or killing Bin Laden and Zawahiri would be extremely important to our national security....It remains a high priority of this administration," he said.

Obama praised counterterror officials for a "very successful" offensive - which he said began in the last months of ex-President George W. Bush's administration - to "ramp up the pressure on Al Qaeda and their key leaders."

"And as a consequence, they have been holed up in ways that have made it harder for them to operate," the President told reporters. "Bin Laden has gone deep underground. Even Zawahiri, who is more often out there, has been much more cautious."

Zawahiri put out 14 propaganda tapes in 2009 but only a few this year as the drone strikes increased.

Obama defended locking up terrorists in U.S. prisons: "Our track record is they've never escaped."

But in 2005, Abu Yahya al-Libi - now poised to be Al Qaeda's No. 3 leader - escaped the U.S. maximum security prison at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/11/2010-09-11_prez_boasts_air_attacks_driving_qaeda_bigs_underground.html#ixzz0zDlhbMLV

U.S. Open final..[ 1777 ]

Clijsters to face Zvonareva in U.S. Open final

Clijsters: "I think today was probably one of the best matches that I've played throughout the tournament."

 

CNN.,September 11, 2010 -- Updated 0914 GMT (1714 HKT)

(CNN) -- Kim Clijsters willl face Vera Zvonareva in the women's final at the U.S. Open after the Belgian defending champion rallied from a set down to beat Venus Williams.

Williams, seeded third, started strongly at New York's Flushing Meadows, conceding just five points to Clijsters on her own serve in the first set.

But No. 2 seed Clijsters gradually asserted her dominance to claim her fifth straight hardcourt win over the American, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

"It obviously means a lot to be in the final and to give myself a chance to defend my title from last year. It's a great opportunity," Clijsters said.

"But obviously beating Venus here last year and this year, it's a good feeling. I think today was probably one of the best matches that I've played throughout the tournament."

Zvonareva, seeded seventh, reached her second successive grand slam final after stunning top seed Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets.

The Russian, who reached the final at Wimbledon only to lose to Serena Williams, repeated that feat at Flushing Meadows, winning 6-4, 6-3 in an impressive display.

Home hopes distant ahead of U.S. Open

Wozniacki reached the final herself last year, where she lost to Belgian Clijsters, and Zvonareva admitted she had to play at her best to get through.

I was patient and aggressive like in my previous matches.
--Vera Zvonareva

The 26-year-old told the official WTA Tour website: "It was tough as Caroline was in the final last year and she is a great player, but I was patient and aggressive like in my previous matches.

"It was a great experience at Wimbledon but it's something that is in the past for me now and I am trying to look forward."

Wozniacki came into the match on the back of a 13-match winning streak and she said: "Vera was not missing and going for her shots and most were going in.

"I had chances and I made some mistakes that I usually don't do. It was a tough day for me at the office but I just need to learn from this," added the 20-year-old Dane