Ewan's Corner

"Many people have no idea how many satellites orbit around the Earth. Now you can see the real-time positions of over 13,000 satellites updated every 30 seconds with Google Earth. The satellite positions come from a US government-sponsored database which Analytic Graphics, Inc., has interfaced with to make the data visible in 3D. Zoom around in space and pause to see the names of the satellites. Click on the satellite placemark icons to see more information on each one. Here is a YouTube video showing what the satellite visualization looks like. You can view the actual collection with AGI's KML file  in Google Earth. You can also watch it in your browser using the Earth plugin on this page by Google Earth Blog."

"This KML network link visualizes all earth orbiting objects tracked by the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) using the satellite database processed by Analytical Graphics, Inc. using the Dynamic Geometry Library. All satellites are tracked in real-time and updated every 30 seconds. 

USSTRATCOM has been tracking space objects since 1957 when the Soviets opened the space age with the launch of Sputnik I. Since then, they have recorded more than 26,000 space objects orbiting Earth. There are currently more than 12,000 man-made orbiting objects, the rest have re-entered Earth's turbulent atmosphere and disintegrated, or survived re-entry and impacted the Earth. The space objects now orbiting Earth range from satellites weighing several tons to pieces of spent rocket bodies weighing under 10 pounds. About 3,000 space objects are operational satellites, the rest are space debris, retired satellites and rocket bodies left over from launches. 

Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) develops commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) analysis software for land, sea, air and space that is relied upon by the national security and space communities. With more than 32,000 worldwide installations, the main applications of AGI technologies focus on battlespace management, geospatial intelligence, space systems and national defense programs. In addition to the STK product suite, AGI produces the desktop software applications Navigation Tool Kit and Orbit Determination Tool Kit; interactive visualization AGI Viewer software; and the embedded technology development tool 4DX. For more information about AGI or its commercially available software technologies, e-mail info@agi.com or explore www.agi.com."

"As we said before, we should never become despondent because the weather is bad nor should we turn triumphalist because the sun shines. "... gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity," ~Thabo Mbeki  

"Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason." ~Author Unknown

"Life's too short to worry about things like tigers. Just relax, and have fun." ~Baloo the bear

"pnorton is not stressed about politics. Que sera, sera." (~twitter)

"let go of the past, and keep moving forward" ~Lewis, Meet the Robinsons

"Just keep swimming" ~Dory, Finding Nemo

1. Our high interest rate - look what a too low rate did to the US world markets
2. Our constitution. We're not the most tolerant people at times, but we seem to be more open-minded and tolerant than most
   
3. We are willing to stand up for what is right technically
4. Durban weather (an average of 320 days of sunshine a year *), our beaches and the Drakensberg
5. Summer in Capetown (February in particular)
   
6. We never lose our sense of humour :-)
7. There are always positive people out there, willing to share their viewpoints to try and dispel some of the unnecessary doom and gloom
8. Braai time - 24th September (next Wednesday) is braaiday, Like we need an excuse.
9. We have an industrious web2.0 group, and we have a habit of rapidly adopting new technology appropriately, despite our 3rd world limitations often getting in the way.
10. If there ever is a global nuclear war, we're in an excellent global position to survive - or at least be the last to go