There is still no confirmation by the Senate, but the U.S. President Barack Obama has referred to as the new head of NASA sixty-two former general of marine Charles Bolden. The designation, welcomed within the Agency, was officially announced by the White House on Saturday. Bolden, she served for 34 years in the Marines - two in Vietnam - will be the first African American astronaut and the second (it has become in 1980) to occupy the top of the Agency. The appointment of Bolden, the statement of White House, "NASA will help to push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the twenty-first century and to ensure long-term dynamism of the U.S. space program ".
Already in 2002 Bolden was on the verge of becoming vice-led NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, But the Bush administration preferred to keep the ranks of the Armed Forces. Now comes the head of NASA at a particular time for the Agency, however, with the singular coincidence of Return the last servicing mission to Hubble: himself, in fact, who was driving the shuttle in 1990 carried into orbit on supertelescopio. Eight more missions for the Shuttle, Then the shuttle will retire and will need to make important decisions about the future of space exploration.
The new head of NASA has been around four times in the space with the Shuttle: two as a pilot and twice as commander. His first space mission, in January 1986, was that just before the tragedy of the Challenger. Bolden was appointed head of the Security Division of the Johnson Space Center with the task, in the difficult period that saw the suspension of all the launches of the Shuttle program, to oversee the new measures taken to prevent further incidents. Bolden was back in space 1990, as mentioned, as a pilot in charge of the mission to put Hubble in orbit. Then it was two more times in the space, as commander, before leaving NASA in 1994 to return to wear the uniform of the Marine.
Source: ASI
Rises to 5 new aircraft delivered to Air France in 2009
Rome, 29 May 2009 - As of today entered into service in the fleet of new Airbus A320 Alitalia fifth, called "Giovanni Boccaccio", that will be used on the route Linate – Fiumicino. Goes according to plan the process of renewal of the fleet of Air France began in late March with the arrival of first A320. Other 9 new Airbus A320 will be delivered later this year. In 2013 Alitalia will 90 Airbus A320 for short and medium range and 14 Airbus A330 for long haul.
The new aircraft are equipped with the most modern and advanced technologies that reduce fuel consumption and noise impact and are therefore covered by the green logo “Environmentally Friendly” both engines on the fuselage that. The cabin configuration of the new A320 is designed to focus on comfort and functionality: all seats have ergonomic features to ensure maximum comfort and are equipped with LCD screens that allow an individual custom-car entertainment.
With the objective of providing a quality service increasing, is also being replaced, with seating equal to those of the new A320, the seats of other Airbus fleet already. With the arrival of the new Airbus A320 Alitalia's fleet now consists of 153 aircraft which 135 for short and medium haul flights and 18 for long-haul links.
Alitalia Press
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