Cry Havoc -- June 2, 2020

www.kalw.org

May came to a wild climax.  We saw a video of a Minneapolis policeman kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, an African-American who was supposed to resemble the description of a man who passed a counterfeit twenty dollar bill.  Floyd died lying face-down in the street, after trying to tell the policeman that he couldn't breathe. Other people tried to get the policeman to lift his knee. Protests were peaceful, but after dark, anarchists, right-wing agents provocateur and thieves rioted and looted in several cities. San Francisco declared a curfew from 8pm to 5am. The policeman who knelt on Floyd's neck was arrested after a few days.  The three policemen who were with him have not yet been arrested.

New York Times, 24-May-2020

People continued to die in large numbers from the TrumpVirus.  The numbers were rising rapidly in states that opened up businesses too soon.

The Market Street Railway's San Francisco Railway Museum has been closed because of the TrumpVirus. Early on the morning of 31-May-2020, during the after-dark looting, people broke into Market Street Railway's San Francisco Railway Museum. They stole tee shirts but left historic items untouched.

SpaceX

In better news, on 30-May-2020, SpaceX made the first launch of  humans into space from the United States since the last Space Shuttle launch in 2011.  The first stage landed on the recovery vessel and the Crew Dragon docked with the  International Space Station on 31-May-2020.  The astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, enjoyed the trip. I wish them a safe trip  home.

Yuri Gagarin 50 Years -- March 27, 2018

www.listal.com

50 years ago today, on 27-March-1968, Yuri Gagarin, the first man to fly in space, died in a plane crash.  We didn't learn much about him or the rest of the Soviet space program when I was in school.
On 12-April-1961 he rode Vostock I into space and orbited the earth before returning safely.

Orion Tested -- December 14, 2014

NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle made its first flight test on December 5. It made two orbits and landed successfully in the Pacific.  It was exciting to see NASA taking a step back towards manned flight.  There may be a manned flight in 2021.  NASA photograph. 

Landing on a Comet -- November 16, 2014

European Space Agency

I remember when the European Space Agency launched Rosetta in 2004.  Last week, Rosetta met with Comet 67P and lauched the Philae lander. Philae reached the surface of the comet safely, but in the shadow of a cliff, so its solar panels are not helping to recharge the battery. This is still a wonderful accomplishment for the human race. I wish America could get people excited about space again.