Private US Cargo Ship Launching to Space Station Today: Watch It Live

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. — After a series of delays, a robotic spacecraft built by the private company Orbital Sciences is counting down to launch today (July 13) on a mission to deliver experiments and supplies to the astronauts living aboard International Space Station.

You can watch the launch live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV. The webcast will begin at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT), and liftoff from the Eastern Shore of Virginia is set for 12:52 p.m. EDT (16:52 GMT). Weather permitting, the huge rocket may be visible over parts of the U.S. East Coast as it streaks out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

As tall as a 13-story building, Orbital's Antares rocket will be carrying the company's Cygnus capsule, which is packed with about 3,293 lbs. (1,493.8 kilograms) of cargo, including astronaut food, equipment, science experiments and small satellites. [Gallery: Orbital Sciences' Orb-2 Cargo Mission in Photos]

The launch will be Orbital's second official resupply mission to the space station after a first flight in January and a demonstration flight that brought Cygnus to the orbiting lab in September 2013. Orbital, which is based in Dulles, Virginia, has a $1.9-billion contract with NASA to carry out eight cargo missions through 2016. Elon Musk's SpaceX, the only other commercial company with a NASA resupply contract, has been commissioned to fly 12 missions to the station under a $1.6 billion deal.

"We're real proud to be part of the team that is keeping the station flying and providing the crew with cargo and the research that they need," Frank Culbertson, a former NASA astronaut and Orbital Sciences executive vice president, told reporters in a pre-launch briefing Saturday afternoon (July 12).  

The rocket will blast off from a seaside pad operated by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, or MARS, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia.

If all goes according to plan, the Cygnus spacecraftwill reach its initial orbit about 10 minutes after launch. Then, the capsule will perform a series of maneuvers to reach the International Space Station by Wednesday morning (July 16). Astronauts living on board the orbiting lab will capture the vessel using a huge robotic arm.

"It's been a little bit of a challenge to get to this point," Culbertson said.

The mission, dubbed Orb-2, was originally scheduled for May. It had been postponed due to conflicts with other launches and technical issues, including the failure of an AJ26 engine — the kind that powers Antares' first stage — during a test at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, which prompted an investigation.

Then this week, the mission was repeatedly delayed because stormy weather prevented Orbital's launch team from conducting normal operations to get the rocket ready on the pad. But by Saturday morning (July 12), the gray clouds and fog that had been hanging over the region dissipated. Launch managers are expecting a 90-percent chance of favorable weather for launch on Sunday, with partly cloudy skies and a slight breeze, said Wallops Flight Facility test director Sarah Daugherty.

Launching a rocket from the Eastern Shore on a Sunday during peak summer tourism season poses an interesting set of challenges: crowds of vacationers and boaters. But Daugherty said Wallops officials have made an extra effort to talk to recreational boaters about staying out of the danger zone around the pad.

"We're confident that we can have a clear range for the first second of that five-minute window," Daugherty said.

Unlike SpaceX's Dragon capsule, which is reusable, Cygnus is disposable. Orbital's vessel will be berthed to the space station for about 30 days before it is filled with trash and cast off toward Earth, where it will eventually meet its fiery demise in the atmosphere over the South Pacific.

Visit Space.com today at 12 p.m. EDT for live coverage of Orbital Sciences' Antares rocket launch. 

Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @SPACEdotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.

• Gallery: Orbital Sciences' Cygnus Spaceship & Antares Rocket
• Orbital Sciences' Private Antares Rocket: 5 Surprising Facts
• Orbital Science's Antares Rocket and Cygnus Spaceship Explained (Infographic)

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London firm creates mind-controlled commands for Google Glass

A London software firm has developed MindRDR, an app that allows Google Glass to connect to a biosensor capable of detecting brain waves. (This Place)

SALVADOR RODRIGUEZ

Forget voice commands and touch gestures: A London firm has developed a way for Google Glass users to control their devices just by thinking.

This Place, an agency that specializes in creating user interfaces and experiences for programs used in the medical industry, developed a software called MindRDR that allows Google Glass to connect with the Neurosky MindWave Mobile EEG biosensor, a head-mounted device that can detect a person's brain waves.

EEG stands for electroencephalography, which is the measurement and recording of electrical activity in the brain. EEG biosensors have been around for decades, but until recently they were very expensive. Neurosky is a Silicon Valley company that sells EEG biosensors, some for as little as $79.99 from Amazon.com.

The system works by pairing the EEG biosensor with Google's $1,500 Glass device using Bluetooth. Once the connection has been made, the user fires up MindRDR, which takes what the EEG biosensor detects and converts it into commands that Glass can process. 

After turning on the app, users will see a camera interface on the screen of their Google Glass. They can then pick a subject, aim their head in its direction, and concentrate on it while Glass displays a meter showing the level of their brain waves. The more intently a user focuses, the higher the meter climbs until it reaches the top, triggering Glass' camera. By repeating the process, users can direct MindRDR to upload the photo to one of their social networks. 

For now MindRDR can only be used to snap pictures, but This Place Chief Executive Dusan Hamlin said he hoped the agency would continue developing the software so that it could eventually help users overcome mobility limitations. Specifically, Hamlin said he would like MindRDR to help people who suffer from locked-in syndrome, in which a patient has lost motor control but remains aware and alert, as well as quadriplegia.

But the possibilities for MindRDR extend beyond the medical field. Hamlin said he sees MindRDR as the launching point for a world where people can interact with their digital devices by simply thinking about what they want. To that end, This Place has uploaded the code for its software onto GitHub, a popular website used by developers to share code they create with others for free.

"The ability to be able to use their mind to make outputs to a device could be a huge thing for them,” Hamlin told the Los Angeles Times in a Skype interview.

started,” Hamlin said.

Related story: Google Glass with designer frames go on sale on fashion websites

Paresh Dave

Google Glass Reviews / What is Google Glass ?

In previous days people listen a word Google Glass. The smart glass is making a rumors in people. But it is a technology time nothing is impossible. Google cleared  it is neither a rumors nor impossible. Google is making  a dream Eye Glass those is based on wearable technology.  The first version of Google Glass are in hand of developer. It is coming in market end month of this year or starting month of next year . You do any thing with the Google Glass. With Google Glass will  you are feeling freedom of “ Hand free”? I am saying yes it is true.
Everyone has a question in mind what is Google Glass  ? I am introducing Google Glass for you.

What are the Silent Features of Google Glass ?

• Type –: Augmented reality (AR),Optical head-mounted display(OHMD), Wearable technology, Wearable computer .
• CPU –: OMAP 4430 SoC, dual-core.
• Camera –: 5MP for tacking picture and recording.
• Memory –: 1GB RAM, 16GB internal memory.
• Display –: Prism projector, 640×360 pixels (equivalent of a 25 in. screen from 8 ft. away).
• Operating System –: Lithium Polymer battery.
• Input –: Voice command through microphone,accelerometer,gyroscope,magnetometer,ambient light sensor, proximity sensor.
• Connectivity –: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g,Bluetooth,micro USB.
• It is strong and light in weight has evolution design with five colors –: Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton, Sky.

What is Google Glass ?

Google Glass is access with your desktop computer portable device like phones and tab and place all access data in front of your eyes. Totally Google Glass has a camera , touchpad, display, battery , microphone those are built in a Spectacle frame. So you can watch and record video and take image , display in your field of vision , search and translate on the go. The display of access data is 25 inch HD screen from 8 feet away from you.

What can Google Glass do for you ?

It is work as a projector  Google Glass attempts all data from your device and display all data in front of your eyes. Take  pictures and video when you say “Google Glass Take a Picture or Video “ it is start to perform command and save data in memory. You will be can access Google MAP to get directions . GPS system is access when you connect your phone with Google Glass message can received and viewed on the display.It is well fine interrupt your voice.  You can

1. Send message by voice command “ Send Message to boss , I will be Late today”.
2. Share What You see live
3. Record What You see live
4. Ask anything those are in your mind
5. Translate your voice in any language.

When Google Glass will release and What’s it is price ?

Google Glass price and releasing date is in speculative . The Google Explorer costs $1,500 – around £985 or AU$1,449. Final date is not announced but according to source it will come in 2014.

What is the Google Glass harmful for you ?

Yes it is harmful for you , Google released some instruction before it use. The important note is if you already wearing specs it is not beneficial for you . At the driving time please not use it. It is harmful your body if you will be spending more time with Google Glass.

To Watch Google Glass Demo Please Click On Video

Facebook's World Cup traffic breaks 2014 record

Adam Ganucheau, USATODAY

(Photo: Matt Rourke/AP)

Germany's seven goals in its World Cup victory over Brazil Tuesday wasn't the only record-breaking aspect of the day, according to statistics released by Facebook. Around 66 million people created more than 200 million Facebook interactions during Tuesday's World Cup match between Brazil and Germany — totals that crushed the social media giant's previous 2014 records, the World Cup opening match featuring Brazil and Croatia and the 2014 Super Bowl.

#STUNNED: Brazil's World Cup loss fuels Twitter torrent

Facebook users in Brazil, the tournament's host country, were responsible for about one quarter of the total traffic Tuesday, with 16 million people creating more than 52 million interactions, which include posts, comments and likes. The United States drew the second-highest total of Facebook interactions Tuesday, with 6.3 million users creating more than 14 million interactions. Facebook users in Mexico provided the third-most interactions, followed by users in Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

Brazil's team has played in Facebook's three most popular matches of the World Cup tournament thus far, with Brazil-Croatia coming in second in total traffic and Brazil-Chile placing third.

Men between the ages of 18-24 posted to Facebook the most of any demographic during the match Tuesday, followed by men aged 25-34, women aged 18-34, women aged 25-34 and men aged 13-17.

Facebook also broke down the most popular moments of yesterday's match, led by the 29th minute goal by Germany's Sami Khedira, which was the team's fourth goal in just seven minutes. The most talked about players were Germany forward Thomas Muller and Brazil defender David Luiz.

Convicted Madoff aide seeks 8-year prison term

Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY

(Photo: Seth Wenig - AP)

NEW YORK — The longtime secretary to Bernard Madoff should spend as little as eight years in prison for her conviction on charges of aiding the Ponzi scheme mastermind's massive fraud, her attorney argued Wednesday.

Annette Bongiorno, 65, faces a life term under federal sentencing guidelines, and 20 years behind bars under a Probation Department recommendation, attorney Roland Riopelle wrote in a 34-page sentencing memorandum.

But he argued that a "just" sentence would compel her to spend eight to 10 years in prison.

"A just sentence is one that strips Mrs. Bongiorno of every asset she owns, and that imposes a term of years that may well amount to the 'life' sentence recommended by the guidelines, given Mrs. Bongiorno's age, health and life expectancy," wrote Riopelle.

"However, we also argue that a just sentence should permit Mrs. Bongiorno a chance of release, given who she is, and the real nature of the role she played in the deplorable schemes at Madoff Securities," added the defense lawyer.

Bongiorno and four former co-workers argued in their long Manhattan federal court trial that they were duped by Madoff and didn't know he was running a scam that stole an estimated $20 billion from thousands of average investors, charities, celebrities, financial funds and other victims.

But a jury of eight women and three men convicted the five of fraud, conspiracy and other charges, convinced by prosecution evidence that showed the former co-workers knew about, participated in and profited from riches funded by the scheme.

Madoff is serving a 150-year prison term for the guilty plea he entered without standing trial after the scam collapsed in December 2008. As a result, the employees' trial was the first that resulted from the massive fraud.

Manhattan U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain is scheduled to sentence the five late this month, after federal prosecutors submit their sentencing memorandum.

Lawyers for Daniel Bonventre, Madoff's former operations manager, were scheduled to file their sentencing recommendation later Wednesday.

Riopelle argued in his defense sentencing memo that Bongiorno was a "naive" high school graduate who "had very limited discretion in carrying out her duties at Madoff Securities."

"In fact, it is laughable to think that Mr. Madoff would let Mrs. Bongiorno control any significant aspect of his fraud, given her lack of sophistication, her tendency to make clerical errors and her occasional forgetfulness, which could lead to the fraud's detection," wrote Riopelle.

He also filed letters from friends and relatives who attested to Bongiorno's loyalty and generosity.

However, former co-worker Frank DiPascali, who pleaded guilty and became the prosecution's star witness at trial, testified that Bongiorno illegally helped backdate Madoff trading records to produce large profits for herself and others.

Prosecutors are pursuing forfeiture actions for most of Bongiorno's assets, including the $862,000 lakeside vacation home she and her husband, Rudy, bought in Boca Raton, Fla., and the nearly $1.4 million home the couple bought in a gated community near Long Island's north shore.

Federal marshals have already seized a gray Bentley auto the Bongiornos bought for approximately $180,000, plus two other luxury vehicles.

U.S., China begin high-level talks on tough issues

Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY

(Photo: Feng Li, Getty Images)

BEIJING — China's Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry vowed better economic and security cooperation Wednesday as the two countries held the latest in a series of talks designed to improve their often difficult relationship.

Amid the positive rhetoric lay several reminders of the distrust and friction that characterize ties between the world's top two economies.

"Let me emphasize to you today: the U.S. does not seek to contain China," said Kerry, addressing a widely held belief in China that the USA is determined to restrict China's rise.

Xi warned that the USA must respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and insisted that China is committed to "peaceful development."

Washington, and several of China's neighbors, have criticized Beijing for taking an increasingly aggressive stance on maritime claims far from China's coastline that are challenged by multiple nations.

Those disputes are among many tough issues to be discussed at the two-day China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue that began Wednesday at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in western Beijing.

Kerry and U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew are President Obama's special representatives at talks also attended by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen and three other Obama Cabinet members. The dialogue, which alternates between the two countries, is now in its sixth round but boasts few major accomplishments to date.

U.S. officials have previously argued it remains a vital channel for communication on issues ranging from climate change to the value of the Chinese yuan, which Washington says is under-valued to help Chinese firms. Another difficult topic will be cybersecurity after the United States charged five Chinese military officers in May with hacking U.S. companies.

In a reminder of China's restrictions on human rights, which Kerry is expected to raise, Beijing-based Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser said she and her husband had been placed under house arrest after receiving an invite to dinner at the U.S. Embassy, possibly with Kerry, the Associated Press reported.

Senior U.S. officials visiting China throughout the past three decades have experienced similar problems meeting people who express dissenting opinions. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, say Xi has cracked down hard on dissidents, civil society and the Internet since he came to power in 2012.

"China-U.S. relations are just like a couple, and their quarreling and ups and downs are a normal phenomenon," wrote Wang Gudao, a doctor in eastern Anhui province, on the Sina Weibo microblog Tuesday. "All in all, whatever they do is to uphold their country's own interests."