Tag Archives: NASA

Final Shuttle Wakeup Songs to be Chosen, Written by Public

NASA has announced that the public has an opportunity to choose the “wake up songs” for the last two Space Shuttle missions.  STS-133, which is slated for a November 2010 launch, currently has a list of 40 previously played songs upon which the public can vote.  (God of Wonders does not appear to be on the list, nor any of the songs by Newsboys or MercyMe previously played.)

In addition, the public can submit original music for the February 2011 launch of STS-134, which is slated to be the last Space Shuttle launch ever.

The song “contest” can be accessed directly here.

Cool Fighter Pilot Jobs

While most people know about the stereotypical fighter pilot roles (shoot down the bad guys, drop bombs in support of the Army), few know of the very unique opportunities fighter pilots have.  Like seeing a space shuttle launch.  From overhead the launch pad.

F-15Es from Seymour Johnson were tasked to protect the airspace around the shuttle launch.  So, of course, they had to watch it…

USAF Fighter Pilot.  One of the coolest jobs in the world.

Christian Fighter Pilot, Astronaut Speaks at USAFA

As noted earlier, STS-131 pilot LtCol James Dutton was the top 1991 USAFA graduate, flew the F-22 as a test pilot, and is also a Christian and member of OCF.  On May 7th Dutton spoke to a dining out of the USAFA Astro department faculty and cadets.  Col Marty France, the Astro department head, had high praise for Dutton:

Col. Jim Dutton is exactly the kind of officer every cadet in this room should aspire to be… Read more

Air Force to Launch X-37B

The US military hasn’t completely abandoned experimental (and classified) missions, as evidenced by the announced April 19 launch of the X-37B, an orbital test vehicle.  The vehicle appears to be a winged reusable vehicle with traditional landing gear.  Commentators are somewhat confused as to its ultimate purpose, lending support to the theories it will support classified missions, as well as a variety of Air Force experimental operations.

The X-37B has been in development for years (and was even originally scheduled for a 2008 launch).  Various reports indicated that the unmanned vehicle might be intended to stay in orbit for up to 9 months before conducting its own re-entry and landing.

General, Astronaut Lauds Faith and Prayer

Retired Brig. Gen. Charles Duke Jr, an Apollo astronaut and the 10th man to walk on the moon, was invited to speak at the US Air Force Academy prayer luncheon on February 9th.  He spoke on “America’s Godly Heritage,” and noted that he and his wife redirected their energy “toward God.”  He is now president of the Duke Ministry for Christ.

In his remarks, General Duke also highlighted the nation’s religious heritage:

“From the beginning, we were a Godly nation. We were conceived as a religious nation with freedom of religion but not free from God,” he said.

He cited the Mayflower Compact written in the 1600s Read more

USAFA Grads, Fighter Pilots, Christians Pilot Space Shuttle

The Air Force was proud to point out that Colonel Terry Virts Jr, a 1989 graduate of the US Air Force Academy, was the pilot for the Endeavor STS-130 shuttle mission (originally scheduled for February 7th, weather delayed to the 8th).  The announcement allowed the Air Force to highlight an awesome opportunity for Airmen that may motivate them to follow in Virts’ footsteps.  Embry Riddle did the same thing, as Virts is an alumnus, allowing Embry Riddle to highlight the success of its graduates and motivate others to attend its courses.  Notably, Virts was also a fighter pilot and test pilot.

He is also a Christian:  Read more

NASA Broadcasts MercyMe, Newsboys

Ever since Madalyn Murray O’Hair of the American Atheists sued NASA in 1969, the relationship between the space agency and all things religious has been interesting.  Even forty years later, as noted here, American Atheists complained about NASA allowing Astronaut Patrick Forrester to carry a piece of Nate Saint’s airplane with him into space.

Still, NASA hasn’t shied away from all things religious.  A previous article noted that God of Wonders has been one of the more popular “wake-up songs” broadcast to the shuttle crew in space.  (Each crewman’s family can pick a song as the wake-up call for the start of each day.)  The most recent trip (STS-129) just ended, with space shuttle Atlantis returning to Earth just after Thanksgiving.  During the mission, the shuttle heard MercyMe’s I Can Only Imagine, the Newsboys’ In Wonder, and Bob Carlisle’s Butterfly Kisses, among several other songs for the crew.  Read more

Israeli Fighter Pilot Killed in Crash

Various news outlets (including CNN and Fox) reported that Israeli Defense Force Lt. Assaf Ramon died in an F-16 crash on Sunday.  (The Lieutenant was posthumously promoted to Captain.)  The Israel National News reports speculation that sounds much like a G-LOC.  The aircraft was an F-16A, an older version of the American-made fighter; the crash appears to have occurred during his F-16 training, just a few months after he received his wings from basic pilot training.

Ramon was reported as being either 20 or 21 years old, both of which are young by American standards.  Based on entering college Read more

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