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CELEBRATE NASA MARS LAUNCH, Public Invited
Who: Open to the public
What: Mars Family Day – celebrating the launch of Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and its Curiosity rover.
When: Saturday, November 26, 2011– 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Virginia Air & Space Center, 600 Settlers Landing Road, downtown Hampton
How: Launch viewing and Mars Family Day activities are included in regular exhibit admission. Members always receive free admission.
More than 100 researchers and technicians at NASA Langley have worked on the MSL mission. Mars Family Day participants will be able to: learn more about MSL and Langley’s role in it; create an “egg” Mars lander; go on a MarsQuest scavenger hunt to win the chance for a free VASC Summer Science Camp; test their Martian skills with rover races; become an engineer for the day to help work on the challenges of landing on the Red Planet; see how much they weigh on Mars and other planets; and see a Mars meteorite and Viking lander, Viking orbiter and Mars rover models.
During the day, Air & Space Center visitors will also be able to participate in a free live, interactive video broadcast about the MSL launch from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. NASA is partnering with the National Institute of Aerospace, also in Hampton; the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS); and VASC to host livestream web coverage.
Cityjet Flight Makes Emergency Landing at London Southend Airport
Cityjet flight WX-281 made an emergency landing at London Southend Airport, England, on July 10th.
The plane, heading from London City Airport, England, to Florence, Italy, was diverted after the crew received an engine fire indication.
The plane landed safely. No injuries were reported.
PR: Enforcement of Laser Penalties
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has directed its investigators and staff to pursue stiffer penalties for individuals who purposefully point laser devices at aircraft.
“Shining a laser at an airplane is not a laughing matter. It’s dangerous for both pilots and passengers, and we will not tolerate it,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will pursue the toughest penalties against anyone caught putting the safety of the flying public at risk.”
The number of reported laser incidents nationwide rose from 2,836 in 2010, to 3,592 in 2011. Laser incident reports have increased steadily since the FAA created a formal reporting system in 2005 to collect information from pilots.
The FAA supports the Department of Justice in its efforts to seek stern punishment for anyone who intentionally points a laser device into the cockpit of an aircraft.
“We will continue to fine people who do this, and we applaud our colleagues at the Justice Department who have aggressively prosecuted laser incidents under a new law that makes this a specific federal crime,” said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta.
The FAA has initiated enforcement action against 28 people charged with aiming a laser device at an aircraft since June 2011, and this week the agency directed FAA investigators and attorneys to pursue the stiffest possible sanctions for deliberate violations. The FAA has opened investigations in dozens of additional cases.
The FAA announced last June it would begin to impose civil penalties against individuals who point a laser device at an aircraft. The maximum penalty for one laser strike is $11,000, and the FAA has proposed civil penalties against individuals for multiple laser incidents, with $30,800 the highest penalty proposed to date. In many of these cases, pilots have reported temporary blindness or had to take evasive measures to avoid the intense laser light.
The guidance for FAA investigators and attorneys indicates laser violations should not be addressed through warning notices or counseling. It also directs moderately high civil penalties for inadvertent violations, but maximum penalties for deliberate violations. Violators who are pilots or mechanics face revocation of their FAA certificates, as well as civil penalties.
Local, state and federal prosecutors also have sentenced laser violators to jail time, community service, probation and additional financial penalties for court costs and restitution.
Ryanair Flight Returns to East Midlands Airport After Bird Strike
Ryanair flight FR-1742 had to return and make an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport, England, on March 29th.
The Boeing 737-800 plane took off for Ireland West Airport Knock, Ireland, but had to turn back after it suffered a bird strike that caused damage to the windshield.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.