Kanok’s Balcony

It has been report that Space Station ‘notebook’ computer has caught virus.  Luckily it is not the mission critical computer.  The virus identified as W32.Gammima.AG, a stealing gaming password worm.

They’re working really hard to find out how this virus got through the screening protocol and pop-up on the Space Station.

In the mean time, don’t play game or this virus will steal you password

http://www.space.com/news/080827-iss-computervirus.html

I’m still having difficulty picturing the scenario based on the explanation provided, but its definitely a serendipitously-timed photograph worth sharing with everyone.

read more | digg story

There are some vacancies available at NASA.  Chances are the candidate might go the moon.  Here is the qualifications posted:

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov
Kylie Clem
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kylie.s.clem@nasa.gov

June 25, 2008

RELEASE : 08-158

Deadline Approaching to Apply for New NASA Astronaut Class

HOUSTON — NASA’s deadline for accepting applications for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class is July 1. Those selected could fly to space for long-duration stays on the International Space Station and missions to the moon.
To be considered, a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience are required. Typically, successful applicants have significant qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience flying high-performance jet aircraft.
Teaching experience, including work at the kindergarten through 12th grade level, is considered qualifying. Educators with the appropriate educational background are encouraged to apply.
After a six-month period of evaluation and interviews, NASA will announce final selections in early 2009. Astronaut candidates will report to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston during the summer of 2009 to begin the basic training program to prepare them for future spaceflight assignments.
To apply to be an astronaut, visit:

http://www.usajobs.gov

Additional information about the Astronaut Candidate Program is available by calling the Astronaut Selection Office at 281-483-5907, or by visiting:

http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/recruit.html

- end -

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/jun/HQ_08158_astronaut_deadline.html

Do you want to put your name into space?  Here is your chance.  Next year NASA will lunch Kepler spacecraft (actually a space telescope) to orbit around the Sun.  The mission is to find the earth-sized planet in a certain area of our Milkyway Galaxy called Cygnus Region.  With the spacecraft there is a DVD contains names of earth people who submit their names on to this web site.  After submitting you can print a certificate with serial number to confirm that your name will be sent “out there”.

Apart from put your name into space, if you want to know ‘Why around the sun?” “Why it has to be Cygnus?”  etc.  The mission of Kepler can be found from here.  Quite interesting actually.

Look at this astronaut install the ESA’s Columbus Laboratory to International Space Station (ISS).  Would like to know what he thought when floating hundreds Km above the earth.

The International Space Station (ISS) has been equipped with a powerful new scientific laboratory. The Space Shuttle Atlantis delivered the Columbus Laboratory to the ISS and installed the seven meter long module over the past week. Columbus has ten racks for experiments that can be controlled from the station or the Columbus Control Center in Germany. The first set of experiments includes the Fluid Science Laboratory that will explore fluid properties in the microgravity of low Earth orbit, and Biolab which supports experiments on microorganisms. Future Columbus experiments include an atomic clock that will test minuscule timing effects including those expected by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Pictured above, mission specialist Hans Schlegel works on the outside of Columbus. Scientists from all over the world may propose and carry out experiments to be done on the laboratory during its ten year mission.

For those who into photography, click the picture above to see the quality of this picture.  Wow

More photos like this can be found that at Astronomy Picture of the Day at NASA http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html