Echo II is shown here undergoing a tensile stress test in a dirigible hanger at Weekesville, North Carolina. A dirigible is a type of aerostat or “lighter-than-air” aircraft. The 135-foot rigidized balloon satellite was sent into orbit as a passive communications experiment by NASA on January 25, 1964.

When folded, the satellite was packed into the 41-inch diameter canister shown in the foreground.

Because our dream of muscle-throbbing, old-man action-stars just won’t die…here’s a number brand-new set photos from the production of The Expendables 2; featuring shots of Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Bruce Wills, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The perfect complement to Stallone’s steroids.

Regardless off all the machismo, explosions and mindless action, I thought the first Expendables failed to live up to expectations. A squandered opportunity, in my opinion. Unless the sequel has any small hope of being better then the first mess, I really have no interest in it. Even with Chuck Norris. On a side note, Terry Crews officially has my vote for Power Man (Luke Cage), should Marvel ever get around to making it.

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Explanation: What’s happening above those clouds? In the past few years, videos have appeared on the web detailing an unusual but little known phenomenon: rapid light changes over clouds. Upon inspection and contemplation, a leading hypothesis for its cause has now emerged. In sum, this hypothesis holds that a lightning discharge in a thundercloud can temporarily change the electric field above the cloud where charged ice crystals were reflecting sunlight. The new electric field quickly re-orients the geometric crystals to a new orientation that reflects sunlight differently. In other words, a lightning discharge can cause a sundog to jump. Soon, the old electric field may be restored, causing the ice crystals to return to their original orientation. To help this curious phenomenon become better studied, sky enthusiasts with similar jumping or dancing sundog videos are encouraged to share them.

A setting moon makes a fitting backdrop for a lunarlike landscape near Donohue Pass in California’s Ansel Adams Wilderness area.

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Chanting “God is great,” millions of Muslims on Sunday stoned pillars representing the devil in a symbolic rejection of temptation on the second day of their annual hajj pilgrimage, a day that also marks the start of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Vast crowds cast pebbles as they flowed past the three pillars, which now resemble curved walls, in a four-level sprawling concrete structure built to expedite the flow of pilgrims. The ritual will be repeated for two more days, with participants eventually throwing stones at all three pillars.
The ritual in the desert valley of Mina commemorates Abraham’s stoning of the devil, who is said to have appeared three times to the prophet to tempt him.(33 images)

German Wehrmacht General Anton Dostler is tied to a stake before his execution by a firing squad in a stockade in Aversa, Italy, on December 1, 1945. The General, Commander of the 75th Army Corps, was sentenced to death by an United States Military Commission in Rome for having ordered the shooting of 15 unarmed American prisoners of war, in La Spezia, Italy, on March 26, 1944. (AP Photo)

Beautiful work by Adam for Taitale Studios’ upcoming MMORTS game Novus Aeterno.

In 2007, high levels of bromate—a carcinogen formed when bromide and chlorine react with sunlight—were found in Los Angeles’s Ivanhoe Reservoir. Today three million black plastic balls help deflect UV rays.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s 30-year shuttle program inched closer to the end Wednesday, wrapping up its second-to-last mission and moving Atlantis to the launch pad for next month’s final flight. Endeavour and its six astronauts returned to Earth after more than two weeks in space, gliding down the runway one last time during a middle-of-the-night landing. A few miles away, Atlantis reached the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center for the grand finale in five weeks. (16 images)

The 2011 Besame fashion show ‘Sexy Night’ held at Antioquia department in Medellin, Colombia in pictures.

Despite news reports of violence, protests and death, you’ll find that the citizens of Gaza have continued to live their life as normal. As you can see, the shops are in good business selling fresh fruit, electronics and ornaments. There’s even time to sit on the beach or take the kids to a theme park. We hope that these pictures will make it clear that not all is bad in Gaza.

At least 116 people have died in Joplin, Missouri, and the toll is expected to climb. One of the deadliest tornadoes in state history roared through the small Midwestern city on Sunday, leaving a half mile-wide scar and unbelievable destruction.

In a brilliant–if deeply disturbing–stroke of entrepreneurial genius, Russian luxury yachts have begun to advertise adventure cruises where passengers pony up almost $6,000 USD per day to cruise from Djibouti to Mombasa in search of pirates.

NASA officials view space shuttle Endeavour (STS-134) as it launches skyward through the windows of Firing Room 4, Monday, May 16, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. During the 16-day mission, Endeavour, with Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson, Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Robert Vittori will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

The press site at the NASA Kennedy Space Center is seen as the sun rises a few hours prior to the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour with the STS-134 crew, Monday, May 16, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. During the mission, Endeavour and the STS-134 crew will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)