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☆ Abortion opponents settle lawsuit against D.C. museum over 'pro-life' hat ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Patrons enter the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for the public reopening of the museum’s west end galleries on the National Mall in Washington, U.S. October 14, 2022. The federally funded museum agreed to pay the more than a dozen plaintiffs a total of $50,000 to settle the suit, according to the filing in U.S. District Court in Washington. And the Smithsonian agreed to notify security personnel at all of its museums and the National Zoo about its policy allowing hats and other articles of clothing bearing messages, "including religious and political speech." The settlement comes four months after the National Archives Museum in Washington agreed to pay $10,000 to a smaller group of plaintiffs and to abide by similar conditions to settle a similar lawsuit. The plaintiffs in that case were told by National Archives guards to either cover clothing bearing "pro-life" messages or leave that federally operated institution on Jan. 20, 2023.

Organizations: Air and Space Museum, National Air and Space Museum, Washington , D.C, Smithsonian, National Zoo, National Archives Museum, National Archives Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington ,, South Carolina, Washington

☆ Nearly 30,000 objects are hurtling through near-Earth orbit. That’s not just a problem for space
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Then there is the space junk — nearly 30,000 objects bigger than a softball hurtling a few hundred miles above Earth, ten times faster than a bullet. Other analysts recently estimated the number likely to make it to orbit is closer to 20,000. “Ten years ago, people thought that our founder was crazy for even talking about space debris,” Ron Lopez told CNN while strolling past the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. The satellite, named “On Closer Inspection,” will observe the motions of a rocket stage that was left in low-Earth orbit in 2009. Astroscale’s mission will use cameras and sensors to study the rocket debris and figure out how to get it out of orbit.

Persons: ”, Troy Thornberry, “, ” Thornberry, Neil Armstrong’s, Donald Kessler, “ Kessler, Ron Lopez, ” Lopez, Lopez, Astroscale Organizations: CNN, Sputnik, NOAA, NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory, US, Surveillance, NASA, SpaceX, Space, Smithsonian Air, Space Museum, Rocket, Rocket Lab Locations: Washington ,, Astroscale, New Zealand, Japan

The sun is about to pull another disappearing act across North America, turning day into night during a total solar eclipse. Photos You Should See View All 15 ImagesHere's what to know about April’s extravaganza and how to prepare:WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE? By a cosmic stroke of luck, the moon will make the month’s closest approach to Earth the day before the total solar eclipse. WHEN IS THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE? The next total solar eclipse, in 2026, will grace the northern fringes of Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

Persons: Kelly Korreck, Neil Armstrong's, won’t, NASA’s Organizations: Michigan —, Indianapolis Motor, Armstrong Air, Space Museum, NASA, Space, Pacific, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: North America, Texas, Oklahoma, New England, Canada, Mazatlán, Mexico, Newfoundland, U.S, — Tennessee, Michigan, Dallas, Rock , Arkansas, Indianapolis, Cleveland , Ohio, Buffalo , New York, Montreal, Seattle, Portland , Oregon, Africa, Tiffin , Ohio, Russellville , Arkansas, Wapakoneta , Ohio, Virginia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Alaska, Western Canada, Montana, North Dakota, Northern California, Cape Canaveral , Florida, Carbondale , Illinois

☆ Opinion: Why we can’t let go of the mystery of Amelia Earhart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Opinion Dorothy Cochrane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A marine robotics company recently captured an object on the ocean floor, about 15,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Earhart’s flight plan was well known. According to Earhart biographer Doris Rich, the US government had obtained permits for the countries she would stop in along the way. And it fit her need of a refueling stop in the western Pacific Ocean. In 1997, pilot Elgen Long and his wife Marie Long published the book, “Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved.” The Longs laid out facts and solid suppositions for others to follow.

Persons: Dorothy Cochrane, Read, Dorothy Cochrane Carolyn Russo, Amelia Earhart, Fred Noonan, Howland, Earhart, —, “, Tony Romeo, Romeo, Noonan, Doris Rich, Roosevelt, Earhart’s, George Putnam, Rich, Itasca, Elgen Long, Marie Long, “ Amelia Earhart, reengineered, Lockheed Electra NR16020, Electra Organizations: General Aviation, Aeronautics Department, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, CNN, Lockheed, US Coast Guard, DSV, Coast Guard personnel, Nauticos Inc Locations: Howland Island, Lae , New Guinea, United States, Howland, Itasca, Honolulu , Hawaii

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesHow did Deep Sea Vision detect the object that could be Earhart's plane? But it wasn't until the team reviewed sonar data in December that they saw the fuzzy yellow outline of what resembles a plane. “In the end, we came out with an image of a target that we believe very strongly is Amelia’s aircraft," Romeo told The Associated Press. But he said that Romeo’s team must provide “a forensic level of documentation” to prove it’s Earhart’s Lockheed. He would have expected to see straight wings and not swept wings, like the new sonar suggests, as well as engines.

Persons: Amelia Earhart, Tony Romeo, Electra, Romeo, Earhart, Fred Noonan, Noonan, “ Amelia, James Delgado, ”, Delgado, Romeo's, David Jourdan, Dorothy Cochrane, Cochrane, ’ ”, Lockheed Electra, Ole Varmer, Varmer, ” Varmer, “ It’s, —, Finley, Pollard Organizations: COLUMBIA, Lockheed, Archaeologists, Pan American Airlines, Air Force, Associated Press, Navy, National Air and Space Museum, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, The Ocean Foundation, Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University in, Smithsonian, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: South Carolina, Norwegian, Howland, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, New Guinea, U.S, New Jersey, “, Maritime, Connecticut, Howland Island, Purdue University in Indiana, Norfolk , Virginia

☆ Amelia Earhart's plane could be 'well preserved' but there's no guarantee it's been found, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewExperts have rushed to weigh in following news of tantalizing sonar imagery in the hunt for Amelia Earhart's lost plane — which, even if it has not been found, could still be well-preserved in its final resting place. They were taken at a depth of 16,400 feet, about 100 miles from Howland Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which Romeo's team considered one of the likeliest areas for Earhart's plane to have come down. AdvertisementThe plane is made primarily from aluminum, Jourdan told The Washington Post back in 2001, discussing a search at a similar depth and location. At those temperatures, even Earhart's charts and other papers may have been preserved, The Post and Courier reported.

Persons: —, Amelia Earhart's, Tony Romeo, we've, Romeo, Katherine Tangalakis, Rebecca Rommen, Romeo doesn't, it's, Earhart, David Jourdan, Jourdan, Megan Lickliter, Mundon Organizations: Service, Street, Business, Smithsonian Institution's, Air and Space Museum, CNN, Washington Post, Courier, New York Times Locations: Howland

☆ The moon is shrinking, and it could be a problem for astronauts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On the lunar surface, however, it’s a different story. “We also knew that the largest of the shallow moonquakes detected by the Apollo seismometers was located near the south pole. As part of the mission, two astronauts will spend about a week living and working on the lunar surface. They can be an opportunity to better study the moon as we do on the Earth with earthquakes,” Husker said. Studying moonquakes at the south pole will tell us more about the Moon’s interior structure as well as its present-day activity.”

Persons: India’s, Russia’s Luna, Artemis, ”, Thomas R, Watters, ” Watters, LRO, “, Renee Weber, ” Weber, Weber, Yosio Nakamura, Nakamura, Allen Husker, Husker, Jeffrey Andrews, Hanna Organizations: CNN, NASA, National Air, Space Museum’s, for, Planetary Studies, Lunar, Science, Apollo, University of Texas, California Institute of Technology, University of Arizona Locations: China, Austin

All parts of the vertical launch configuration are authentic components of the shuttle system, including the rust-colored external tank, which was flight-qualified. The external tank arrived by barge and made a similar trip across the city. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Air and Space Center was held in 2022 on the 11th anniversary of Endeavour’s final return from space. The 116-foot-long (35.3-meter-long) rocket motors were trucked to Los Angeles from the Mojave Desert in October and were installed the following month. Atlantis is at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, where it is displayed as if in orbit with its payload doors open and robotic arm extended.

Persons: — NASA's, Samuel Oschin, Steven F Organizations: ANGELES, Space Shuttle Endeavour, Samuel, Samuel Oschin Air, Space Center, California Science Center, Endeavour, Los Angeles International Airport, NASA Boeing, Air and Space, NASA, Shuttle Challenger, Columbia, Atlantis, Enterprise, Kennedy Space Center, National Air, Intrepid Museum Locations: Los Angeles, Exposition Park, Florida, Chantilly , Virginia, New York

☆ Sonar imagery may have located Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Amelia Earhart is photographed with her Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, the aircraft she used in her attempted flight around the world. “While it is possible that this could be a plane and maybe even Amelia’s plane, it is too premature to say that definitively. In Earhart’s last communications, her radio transmissions progressively got stronger as she got closer to Howland Island, indicating that she was nearing the island before she disappeared, Cochrane said. For that reason, you can never say that something is (or isn’t) from a sonar image alone,” Jourdan said in an email. Confirming that the found anomaly is Earhart’s plane would require returning to the site to further investigate the plane, and more definitively, locating the certification “NR16020” that was printed on the underside of the missing Lockheed’s wing, Jourdan said.

Persons: Amelia Earhart’s, Charleston , South Carolina —, Electra, Earhart, Amelia Earhart, ”, Tony Romeo, “, Romeo, Fred Noonan, Andrew Pietruszka, ” Pietruszka, Noonan, Dorothy Cochrane, Cochrane, Earhart’s Lockheed Electra, David Jourdan, ” Jourdan, Jourdan, Taylor Swift, ” Cochrane Organizations: CNN —, Lockheed, Underwood, Vision, US Air Force, CNN, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, US National Archives, Group for Historic Aircraft, Smithsonian, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Locations: Charleston , South Carolina, Howland, Lae, Papua New Guinea, San Diego, Marshall, Saipan, Nikumaroro, Kiribati

☆ A former US Air Force officer spent $11 million searching for Amelia Earhart's long-lost plane — and may have found it
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Amelia Earhart, 40, stands next to a Lockheed Electra 10E, before her last flight in 1937 from Oakland, California. Amelia Earhart took off from the airport in her £10,000 Flying Laboratory for Honolulu on the first leg of her round-the-world flight. A map of where Earhart's plane is believed to have gone missing along her presumed flight path. Romeo and his company, Deep Sea Vision, discovered an object of similar size and shape to Amelia Earhart's iconic plane, deep in the Pacific Ocean. Advertisement"It's very deep water, and the area that she could've possibly been in is huge," Tom Dettweiler, a sonar expert, told The Journal.

Persons: —, Amelia Earhart, Tony Romeo, Fred Noonan, Romeo, I've, Dorothy Cochrane, Andrew Pietruszka, he's, Amelia Earhart's, we've, there'll, it'll, Earhart's, Tom Dettweiler, Earhart, Cochrane, I'm Organizations: Service, US Air Force, Business, Lockheed, AP, Kongsberg, Street Journal, Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution's, Air and Space Museum, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Smithsonian, dateline Locations: Oakland , California, Norwegian, Tarawa, Kiribati, Honolulu, Howland, Honolulu , Hawaii

DALLAS (AP) — A miniature X-wing Starfighter used in a “Star Wars” film sold for over $3 million during an auction over the weekend of items both collected and created by longtime Hollywood model-maker Greg Jein. The auction house said that everyone from model-makers to collectors and science-fiction fans attended, making the event its best-attended in years. The Red Leader X-wing Starfighter that was used in the 1977 film “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope" sold for about $3.1 million after a bidding duel between two collectors, the auction house said. Also going for an eye-popping amount was a “Star Wars” Stormtrooper costume that sold for $645,000. Zutavern said his friend had a love of Hollywood history, and a passion for seeking out items for his collection.

Persons: Greg Jein, Jein, Joe Maddalena, Jein’s, ” Jein, Stanley Kubrick's, Steven Spielberg's, Lou Zutavern, Zutavern, “, ” Organizations: DALLAS, Heritage Auctions, Red, “, Air and Space Museum Locations: Hollywood, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington ,

☆ Rupert Murdoch's exit ends chapter for polarising figure in his native Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Even at a time when media consumption is splintering from traditional routes, particularly among younger people, Murdoch's influence is embedded in the country's information ecosystem because of its massive reach, media experts said. His local properties include Sky News Australia, a cable TV channel fashioned on the partisan style of U.S. network Fox News. "The Murdoch papers still have that key reach with working-class demographics that can still be influential," he said. "He has been in lots of ways a controversial figure, but an influential figure too, and this is an end of an era at News." Murdoch's exit cuts a native tie between News Corp and Fox Corp and Australia, where Murdoch was born.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Jonathan Ernst, Rupert Murdoch's, Stephen Mayne, Murdoch, Mayne, Shane Homan, Honan, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Penny Wong, Malcolm Turnbull, it's, Turnbull, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch, Byron Kaye, Jamie Freed Organizations: USS, Air, Space Museum, REUTERS, Rights, Fox Corp, News Corp, Sky News Australia, Fox, Sky, Monash, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Labor, Labor Party, News, America, ABC, Google, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Adelaide, Australia, Britain, Australian, Sydney, Canada

The collection amassed by Jein, who died last year at age 76, will be offered up by Heritage Auctions next month in Dallas. Jein, who had an Oscar and Emmy nominated career making miniature models, was also a collector of costumes, props, scripts, artwork, photographs and models from the shows he loved. But a small preliminary model, which is about 5 inches (12 centimeters) long, is among Jein's creations that will be offered at the auction. Chang said Jein loved his work and also had a passion to learn about a wide array of topics. After Jein died, his cousin found that his book collection spanned topics from cooking to the military.

Persons: Greg Jein, Jein, “, Joshua Benesh, ” Jein, Steven Spielberg's, Benesh, ”, William Shatner, Kirk, Leonard Nimoy’s “ Mr, Spock, ” Lou Zutavern, Jein’s, ” Zutavern, Jerry Chang, Chang, Chang's, you’d, ” Chang Organizations: DALLAS, “ Star, Heritage Auctions, Air and Space Museum, “, Hollywood, California State University , Los Locations: Dallas, Los Angeles, dumpsters, California State University , Los Angeles, Hollywood

☆ Fact Check-Apollo 17 ascent from Moon was captured by camera left on lunar surface
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 1972 Apollo 17 lunar module’s ascent from the Moon was captured by a camera mounted on a rover left behind on the lunar surface and controlled from Earth, although social media posts are using the video to question whether the mission ever happened. Another post sharing the module’s ascent via Facebook, comments: “Despite the technology not existing to stream or download this footage being filmed ‘from the moon’, so many people were duped…” (here). The clip contains authentic footage of the Apollo 17 lunar module’s ascent from the Moon that is viewable via the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (bit.ly/43ZIG39). According to the museum, the ascent was captured by a camera left behind on the surface, controlled from Earth through an antenna on a lunar rover vehicle that was also left behind (here). The Apollo 17 ascent from the lunar surface was captured via a camera mounted onto a lunar rover that was left behind.

Persons: … ”, Ed Fendell, Harley Weyer “, Read Organizations: NASA, WHO, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Apollo, Reuters

☆ The world’s best airlines for 2023, according to Skytrax
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now, for the fifth time in the accolades’ 23-year history, it’s been named best airline in the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023. The Qatar flag carrier bossed it in business class, with wins for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat, World’s Best Business Class Lounge (the Al Mourjan lounge at Hamad International Airport), World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining and Best Airline in the Middle East. Scoot was the World’s Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline and Volotea won out in the very competitive Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe category. Garuda Indonesia’s cabin staff were voted the world’s best, Cathay Pacific won World’s Best Inflight Entertainment and Bangkok Airways was once again the World’s Best Regional Airline. Delta Air Lines was named Best Airline in North America, with the Best Airline Staff Service for the region, while Sun Country Airlines was named Best Low-Cost Airline in North America title for the first time Alaska Airlines was North America’s Best Regional Airline.

Persons: it’s, ”, Edward Plaisted, Goh Choon Phong, –, Al, Scoot, Volotea Organizations: CNN, Singapore Airlines, Air and Space Museum, Paris Air, SIA, Qatar Airways –, Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Qatar, World’s, Hamad International Airport, ANA, World’s Best, Services, Kuwait Airways, AirAsia, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Entertainment, Bangkok Airways, . Delta Air Lines, Best Airline Staff Service, Sun Country Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Airlines, Qatar Airways, ANA All Nippon Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air, Cathay, Korean, Hainan Airlines, Int’l Air, Etihad Airways, Iberia, Fiji Airways, Qantas Airways, British Airways, Air New Zealand, Delta Air Lines, Garuda, Thai Airways, Transavia, Southwest Airlines, Vueling, Ryanair, Jetstar Airways, Friendly, Virgin Atlantic Locations: Singapore, Europe, North America, Air France, Garuda Indonesia, Transavia France

☆ Abortion foes to get National Archives tour, apology after filing suit over clothing ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Anti-abortion protestors demonstrate during the nationwide Women's March, held after Texas rolled out a near-total ban on abortion procedures and access to abortion-inducing medications, in Austin, Texas, U.S., October 2, 2021. The National Archives and the two plaintiffs agreed to the concessions as part of a proposed order filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. It also calls for the women's claims to be referred to a mediator for a possible settlement of the case. Nor does it resolve the pending suit against the archives, which house the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and many other historically significant American documents. Security guards at the museum likewise ordered them to remove or cover up messages opposing abortion on their clothing during visits.

☆ Dolly Parton receives $100 million award from Jeff Bezos: 'I will do my best to do good things with this money'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bezos began giving out the award in 2021, and the prize includes $100 million to be distributed within 10 years. Bezos chose Parton this year because "she gives with her heart," he explained in a video posted to his Twitter account. Upon receiving the award, Parton thanked Bezos, saying "I will do my best to do good things with this money." Over the years, Parton has donated money to a number of charitable causes, including education, Covid research and animal preservation. Bezos is also entering the world of charitable giving and has pledged to donate the majority of his $122 billion net worth.

☆ NASA's Artemis I moon rocket is flying through space for the first time. Meet the mannequins, Snoopy, and 'Shaun the Sheep' dolls along for the ride.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Mannequins and mementos are hitching a ride aboard NASA's Orion capsule — without people. Fitted with more than 5600 sensors, Zohar and Helga will measure the amount of radiation astronauts could be exposed to in future missions. "When it comes to biological effects, different organs have different susceptibility to space radiation. Shaun, of British TV show "Shaun the Sheep" fame, is flying aboard the Artemis I mission in plush doll form. Snoopy will ride in the Orion capsule and serve as a zero gravity indicator.

☆ Jeff Bezos is giving Dolly Parton $100 million to donate to charities of her choice
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jeff Bezos announced Dolly Parton as the latest recipient of his Courage and Civility award . Courage and Civility award Bezos will give the musician $100 million to donate to charities of her choosing. He wrote in the caption: "We've just announced a new Courage and Civility award recipient — @DollyParton, who leads with her heart, and will put this $100 million award to great use helping so many people. In 2019 the Amazon founder donated $100 million to help tackle homelessness and allowed the charities to choose how they spend the funds. It is not yet known which charities Parton plans to give donations to.

Rupert Murdoch is in the early stages of exploring whether to put his media companies News Corp. and Fox Corp. back together, according to a person familiar with the matter. Fox Corp., the leftovers from the $71.3 billion 21st Century Fox sale to Disney in 2019, owns right wing networks Fox News and Fox Business, which is a CNBC competitor. Murdoch, 91, split Fox and News Corp. in 2013. He is the chairman of Fox and the executive chairman of News Corp. His son Lachlan Murdoch is CEO of Fox and co-executive chairman of News Corp. The Murdoch family has a 42% voting stake in Fox and a 39% voting stake in News Corp., according to the Journal.

Admission prices for museums, movies, concerts, theme parks and other cultural activities were 6.2% higher last month than they were in August last year, federal data show. The Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco is offering art kits to Museum Day visitors. This is the fifth year MCD is participating in Museum Day. More ways to get free or discounted museum admissionsIf you miss Museum Day this weekend, don’t worry. Some sites, like Chicago’s Field Museum, offer state residents free entry on select days.

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