Mars Pathfinder Sojourner Lands on Mars 1997

The little probe that could, Mars Pathfinder Sojourner, landed on the Red Planet July 4, 1997.  Originally expected to operate for one week to at most one month, Sojourner surpassed all expectations and lasted three months, before contact was lost.

The rover was launched December 4, 1996, taking seven months to reach Mars.  It showed NASA's commitment to lower cost missions, for example, using air bags to land instead of thrusters.

Pruitt's EPA plan to ease methane releases gets shut down by DC Court

In another set-back to Scott Pruitt's EPA, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled 2-1 in favor of a lawsuit filed by the National Resources Defense Council and other agencies concerned with global and atmospheric pollution.  The EPA issued a "stay" of federal standards to reduce leaks of methane as well as other air pollutants from oil and gas wells and facilities.

Like the issue with the mercury releases, the stay was issued without any advance public notice, nor any opportunity for public comment, as required by law.  He also proposed to extend the stay for two years.  Methane and the other air pollutants can produce smog, cause cancer and can trigger asthma attacks.

The Clean Air Council, Earthworks, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Integrity Project and Sierra Club joined NRDC in bringing the lawsuit against the EPA.

What justification could Pruitt have for suspending these poisons? Oh, right.

https://www.nrdc.org/media/2017/170703?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tweet&utm_campaign=socialmedia

NASA confirms it is not hiding kidnapped children in slave camps on Mars

In an actual turn of events, NASA had to defend itself against claims that it kidnaps children and ships them to Mars on a 20-year ride, where they have no choice but to work as slaves.  Robert David Steele was a guest on Alex Jones Show and claimed:

“We actually believe that there is a colony on Mars that is populated by children who were kidnapped and sent into space on a 20-year ride.”

and this:

“So that once they get to Mars they have no alternative but to be slaves on the Mars colony.”

Naturally, NASA had to defend itself without cracking up in the middle of their statement.  And against this sort of inane drivel, that's not as easy as it sounds.  Alex Jones is also known for stating the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax and promoted the Pizzagate conspiracy.  Most of his elaborate conspiracy theories have been debunked, and that's easy to do.

The only thing moving right now on Mars are the Rovers, dust devils and occasionally, running water!  But even rocket scientists need a laugh every now and then.  You cannot make this shit up!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/07/01/no-alex-jones-nasa-is-not-hiding-kidnapped-children-on-mars-nasa-says/?utm_term=.e8b581d3ad70

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/210884/20170630/nasa-denies-conspiracy-theory-about-kidnapped-children-working-as-mars-colony-slaves.htm

Oklahoma Earthquakes: Blame man, not Mother Nature

NASA has turned its eyes in the sky earthward to study the rash of earthquakes that have rocked the Sooner State since 2009.  Their conclusions support the number of previous studies that link wastewater injections into porous geographical formations underground, i.e. human-induced activities, to earthquakes.

NASA's study focused on the largest earthquakes, the 5.7 magnitude near Prague in 2011 and the 5.8 magnitude near Pawnee, last September 3. Using their radar satellites allows them to see and study details of the earthquakes that were not previously matched and do not reach teh surface.

You can read the article below but the results of their study indicates "a human-induced earthquake resulting from wastewater injection, rather than a naturally caused quake".  The article opens with a statement saying "Oklahomans are no strangers to Mother Nature's whims" but as the article continues, it is clear Mother Nature has nothing to do with the Sooner State's earthquakes.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/sleuthing-for-seismic-answers-in-the-sooner-state

Georgi Ivanov, first Bulgarian in space, born 1940

Georgi Ivanov, born July 2, 1940, is the first Bulgarian cosmonaut.  Born in Lovech, Bulgaria, Ivanov flew on Soyuz 33, launched April 10, 1979 but the mission was a disaster  Engine damage would not allow them to dock with Salyut 6, so they had to return to Earth prematurely.  Their re-entry was also flawed as they had to endure 9Gs.  They completed 31 orbits in just under 2 days.

"Airplane!" released 1980

One of the funniest movies of all time and probably the best satirical film ever, Airplane! was released July 2, 1980.  Originally I thought it was a spoof of all the airplane disaster movies, but it is a scene-by-scene parody of the movie Zero Hour starring Dana Andrews.

Kalpana Chawla, first Indian woman in space, born 1961

Kalpana Chawla, born July 1, 1961 in India, was the first Indian woman astronaut.  She
flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist.  She also served as the primary robotic arm operator.

Her second voyage, also on the Columbia, ended in disaster as the shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry February 1, 2003.