Putin's Pooch

Who: Vladimir Putin’s Dog, Koni

What: Satellite Navigation System, GLONASS

Where: Moscow Russia, Soon the Entire Russian Territory

When: October 17, 2008, System Will be ready in 2009

Why: Originally Created to Match U.S.’s Navigation Satellite System in the Soviet Era

How: Tested by putting a Tracking Collar on Koni

 

Putin’s Pooch

 

Vladimir Putin’s dog, Koni, became the first dog in history to be tracked by a government satellite on October 17, 2008. The Russian government did so to test out their GLONASS global navigation system. Koni was tracked in Moscow, Russia, but the system will be covering the whole Russian Territory by the end of the year with 21.

 

The GLONASS was originally set up during the soviet era to compete with the U.S.’s system. Due to technological errors, the system is just now getting into motion. It is expected to be completed in 2009 with 24 satellites and will operate worldwide.

 

The system is nothing short of incredible. Koni was given a collar with a tracking device installed. The device not only gave off his position but also showed when he was walking or sitting down in a puddle. Putin says, "My dog isn't a piglet, it doesn't lie in puddles." The system is very reactive and operational; Russia has finally caught up after so many years!

A New Side of Mercury

NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft has orbited Mercury and has taken gorgeous images of the surface of the planet closest to the sun. Over 1000 high resolution images were taken and Earth received the first photographs on October 6, 2008. A wide-angle camera on MESSENGER took the photos. The images have given NASA a better understanding of the geography of Mercury.

 

The pictures revealed many new craters never before seen by human eyes. This has been made possible by the high-resolution photos being taken so close to the planet. In the past, Earth telescopes have observed the planet and in the mid 1970s, the Mariner 10 photographed less than half of the planet after flying by it three times. In MESSENGER’s first flyby, it received images of 20% of the surface and an additional 30% during its second flyby. As you can see, MESSENGER is a very advanced spacecraft capable of taking better and more pictures over a shorter period.

 

After Earth receives all of the images and MESSENGER has completed its rounds, NASA will have a global perspective of Mercury and will completely understand its geography, therefore gaining a better understanding of our solar system. Mercury was discovered long ago, but we are just scratching the surface on how the planet is made up and there is a whole planet of information yet to be discovered.

Another Side of Mercury

Who: NASA’s MESSENGER Space Craft

What: Over 1000 High Resolution Photos of Mercury’s Surface, New Craters Discovered

Where: Mercury

When: October 6, 2008

Why: To Improve the Knowledge about Mercury

How: A Wide Angle Camera (WAC)

 

A Picture Taken on MESSENGER’s Second Fly-By

Recess on the Moon

Who: The CHS Cross Country team without the inclusion of a few runners.

What: Are traveling to run in a meet.

Where: In Belfast, Maine.

When: The weekend of October 4, leaving school Friday and returning Saturday.

Why: To compete against new teams they would not normally face.

How: By Conway bus and staying at the Comfort Inn

 

Recess on the Moon

 

            The boys and girls Cross Country teams are traveling to Belfast, Maine this weekend to run in a meet with teams that they haven’t faced before. They are leaving on Friday October 3 and returning Saturday October 4. They are staying at the Comfort Inn and taking a Conway bus from Cumberland High School. The itinerary involves going to a local school for a pasta supper and a very important race on Saturday. The team is very excited and the chaperones are Tom Kenwood, Roland Roy, and Joyce Bonner.

            Teams from all over New England are competing. The Cumberland boys team has a 9-1 record going into the meet and the girls have a 10-0 record. Both of these are unbelievable. Cumberland’s varsity boy squad that will be racing includes: John Morgan, Sean Connolly, Brian Sullivan, Jeff Ferrucci, Chip Redihan, and Steve Healey. They have all had a phenomenal season and should do well in the Belfast, Maine Festival of Champions.