EPA AND NASA, BOTH ARMS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE IN REGARDS TO POLLUTION AND SO-CALLED GLOBAL WARMING
Space station astronauts give huge trash can the boot
A pair of NASA astronauts released a capsule loaded with 1.5 tons of trash Friday as the space station soared over Bolivia. The capsule should re-enter the atmosphere and burn up harmlessly over the Pacific on Saturday.
NASA supplier Orbital ATK launched the capsule to the space station in December, full of food, clothes and other goods. The astronauts removed the precious contents, then filled it with garbage and old equipment for incineration.
Commander Scott Kelly and Timothy Kopra, the Americans on board, sent computer commands to set the Cygnus free. The stunning 250-mile-high view showed the capsule slowly backing away, its two circular solar wings looking like open umbrellas.
Kelly, who's less than two weeks from wrapping up an unprecedented yearlong mission for NASA, thanked everyone who worked on the Cygnus — "this great vehicle."
"It's been a pleasure," he noted
"A beautiful release," replied Mission Control.
Virginia-based Orbital ATK plans to launch another Cygnus with more supplies from Cape Canaveral, Florida, late next month. The flight was delayed a few weeks after black mold contaminated some of the cargo bags. Technicians had to disinfect everything.
SpaceX, meanwhile, another commercial cargo carrier for NASA, is aiming to make a delivery in the next few months. The company is working to get back on track following a launch accident last summer.
NASA has handed off space station shipments to private business so it can focus on getting astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit, namely to Mars. It hopes to do the same with space station crews next year. For now, U.S. astronauts are hitching rides with the Russians.
___
Online:
NASA:
International Space Station | NASA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environmental Effects
Backyard burning produces various compounds toxic to the environment including nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, and particle pollution.
Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, is a group of nitrogen compounds that are partially responsible for
acid rain and contribute to
global warming,
ozone depletion, and the formation of
smog.
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are carbon-based compounds that undergo photochemical reactions (i.e., they react with sunlight) when released into the atmosphere. The VOCs and the compounds they form in the atmosphere, such as ozone, contribute to the formation of
smog.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, chemically reacts with sunlight to create harmful ozone. CO production can significantly impact ambient air quality and a region's ability to meet Clean Air Act regulatory air quality standards. Burning garbage in a barrel or pile produces more CO than decomposition in a landfill. CO is also a significant greenhouse gas.
Particle pollution, also known as
particulate matter, or PM, refers to the fine particles that produce visible smoke that reduce visibility and creates haze, which is a major air pollution problem for many rural communities. In addition to being unhealthful, particles soil our homes and cars and transport dangerous chemicals, such as dioxins.
----------------------------------------------------------