Breaking NASA News :)

I was just listening to ABC (US) radio news, and they read this story. I checked
their website, and here it is. Having vultures circling a launch complex can't be
a good thing


NASA: Removing Roadkill Aids Astronauts
NASA Says Removing Roadkill Will Make Astronauts Safer by Reducing Number of
Vultures in the Area
The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Picking up roadkill may save astronauts' lives. Kennedy
Space Center managers said Thursday they have launched an effort encouraging
workers to notify road-and-grounds crews when they see roadkill. The theory is that
removing dead animals could cut down on the number of vultures looking for meals at
the 140,000-acre center, part of which is a national wildlife refuge.

A vulture struck the fuel tank of space shuttle Discovery during last year's
launch, but it didn't cause any major damage.

"We're trying to avoid that again and by doing that we're trying to reduce the food
source," said John Shaffer, a scientist who works at Kennedy's environmental
program office. "As far as shuttle program is concerned, it's unacceptable if
there's another chance of an accident."

Roadkill is a common sight at the center, which is home to more than 500 species of
wildlife, including bald eagles, sea turtles, alligators and manatees. NASA launch
managers use cameras and radar to make sure there are no birds around the launch
pad during shuttle launches.

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 03:09:30 -0700, Dale wrote:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Picking up roadkill may save astronauts' lives. Kennedy
Space Center managers said Thursday they have launched an effort encouraging
workers to notify road-and-grounds crews when they see roadkill. The theory is that
removing dead animals could cut down on the number of vultures looking for meals at
the 140,000-acre center, part of which is a national wildlife refuge.

"...The roadkill will be donated to the Clampett Foundation, a
non-profit group dedicated to providing food and assistance to
backwards hillbillies living in the mountains, totally berift of
technology and intelligence."

OM
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OM wrote:
On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 03:09:30 -0700, Dale wrote:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Picking up roadkill may save astronauts' lives. Kennedy
Space Center managers said Thursday they have launched an effort encouraging
workers to notify road-and-grounds crews when they see roadkill. The theory is that
removing dead animals could cut down on the number of vultures looking for meals at
the 140,000-acre center, part of which is a national wildlife refuge.

"...The roadkill will be donated to the Clampett Foundation, a
non-profit group dedicated to providing food and assistance to
backwards hillbillies living in the mountains, totally berift of
technology and intelligence."

Wouldn't it be better to donate the roadkill to Berkely, then?

On 28 Apr 2006 11:17:14 -0700, wrote:

Wouldn't it be better to donate the roadkill to Berkely, then?

....Nah, from what I understand, they learn how to make their own
roadkill as part of orientation.

OM
--
]=====================================[
] OMBlog - http://www.io.com/~o_m/omworld [
] Let's face it: Sometimes you *need* [
] an obnoxious opinion in your day! [
]=====================================[

"Dale" wrote in message
...

A vulture struck the fuel tank of space shuttle Discovery during last
year's
launch, but it didn't cause any major damage.

The day after the launch I looked all over for that thing on the off chance
that A) there was anything of it left and B) on the off chance that it might
have been banded - imagine calling the band into Fish and Wildlife:
Killed by collision with space shuttle.
Of course there was nothing left.