Endeavor launch picture perfect ...

A Great Launch, A Challenging Mission Ahead
Mon, 16 May 2011 10:35:13 AM CDT

Space shuttle Endeavour is officially on its way to the International Space Station on its STS-134 mission and final flight. Endeavour lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on time at 8:56 a.m. EDT, soaring through a few clouds, after a relatively smooth countdown.

"I can't thank the teams that got this vehicle ready to fly and for all the work they've done," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier referring to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) heater issues and said, "The teams worked really hard to get through that, get it behind and to understand what the problem was -- and it was no problem to us at all during the count."

"The teams stayed focused, and made this launch a success," Gerstenmaier added. "The mission in front of us is no easy mission, the EVAs (extra vehicular activities) are very demanding -- but it'll be exciting to see the AMS (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) get installed on the station and get some real research data for the ISS."

"We showed our determination to succeed on a very complex mission," said Michel Tognini, head of the European Astronaut Center and former ESA astronaut, "and this is the model of human exploration for the future."

Mike Moses apologized (in jest) about the view not being the best and the longest because of the cloud cover." But the data that we were looking at in the launch center was absolutely perfect," said Moses. "We had the clouds where we needed them, so we went."

There were a few minor problems, but they were managed and worked immediately, including the minor tile repair, reported Moses.

After every launch an award is given to one of the teams, according to Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, and today's honor was given to the combined APU repair/test team. "It was an outstanding countdown, lots of pats on the back in the lobby of the LCC (launch control center) afterwards when we were eating our beans and corn bread (a traditional post-launch snack)," said Leinbach. "Endeavour's on orbit safely and it's going to perform a great mission and we'll see her back here on June 1."

"It's a great day here at Kennedy Space Center and for the Shuttle Program," added Leinbach.

Autopsy on boy who died on soccer field pending ...

LEAGUE CITY, Texas - The results of an autopsy performed on a four year old boy who collapsed at soccer practice and later died are still pending, but sources close to the investigation say there may have been swelling around the child's heart.

The boy died Wednesday night after collapsing at the League City YMCA's soccer field. A relative who contacted FOX 26 News has identified the boy as Cade Carpenter.
"Practice started at 6:30 and about 10 minutes later, the little boy complained to his father that his stomach hurt," said Trazanna Moreno, spokesperson for the YMCA. "Almost immediately after that he collapsed."

The YMCA runs a soccer program for kids as young as 3-years-old. Parents submit basic information, but are not required to give medical information. A physical is also not required.

Clear Lake Greek Festival this weekend!

The 18th annual Clear Lake Greek Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Clear Lake Park in the Landolt Pavilion, 5001 NASA Parkway, in Seabrook.

There will be food, live music, rides, moonwalks and traditional dancing.

All guests will receive a commemorative program book.

General admission is $4, and presale tickets for $12 include admission fee and a meal of your choosing.

Visit www.clearlakegreekfestival.com or call 409-939-9852.

Texan heads Bin Laden raiders

The commander of the U.S. military unit responsible for killing elusive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden — Vice Adm. William H. McRaven — is a San Antonio native and graduate of the University of Texas in Austin.

McRaven, 55, earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1977, although a campus dean said a computer listing didn't indicate whether the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps member had an interest in the print side of news coverage, broadcast or public relations.
A fellow ROTC member recalled McRaven as eager for military service.

"He was extremely focused on preparing for special forces details," said Curtis Raetz, of McKinney, who majored in engineering at UT, served in the Marine Corps and now works in private business.
'He had drive.'

Raetz, who graduated a year before McRaven, said the ROTC program included required courses such as naval science.

James Gruetzner, who served in the same Navy ROTC batallion as McRaven, told Cox Newspapers, "He had drive. He went on extraordinarily long runs to stay in shape. He was very dedicated."
McRaven's Navy biography states he attended the Naval Postgraduate School and was its first graduate in Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict. In 1995, he wrote a book called Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare Theory and Practice.

McRaven became commander of the U.S. military's Joint Special Operations Command in 2008.
In that role, he reportedly led the planning and execution of bin Laden's death Sunday at the hand of Navy SEALs, an acronym that stands for Sea, Air and Land.