A state-of-the-art Mars yard is now ready to put the ExoMars rover through its paces before the vehicle is launched to the Red Planet in 2018.

ESA, the UK Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space opened the renovated test area in Stevenage, UK, earlier this week.

ExoMars is a joint endeavour between ESA and Russias Roscosmos space agency. Comprising two missions for launch to Mars in 2016 and 2018, ExoMars will address the outstanding scientific question of whether life has ever existed on the planet, by investigating the atmosphere and drilling into the surface to collect and analyse samples.

The programme will also demonstrate key technologies for entry, descent, landing, drilling and roving.

ESAs rover is part of the 2018 mission and will be able to navigate and drive autonomously at least 70 m a day across the surface.

A Mars yard simulating the martian surface, complete with rocky obstacles, provides a realistic training ground for developing such a sophisticated navigation system.

Filled with 300 tonnes of sand, the 30 x 13 m Mars yard at the Stevenage site of Airbus Defence and Space mimics the appearance of the martian landscape. Its walls, doors and all interior surfaces are painted a reddish-brown colour to ensure the rovers navigation cameras are confronted by as realistic a scenario as possible.

To mark the completion of the renovations, members of the press and public were invited to witness the inauguration by Vince Cable, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Alvaro Gimnez, ESAs Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, Colin Paynter, Head of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, and David Parker, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.

The ExoMars rover represents the best of British high-value manufacturing, noted Vince Cable. The technologies developed as part of the programme, such as autonomous navigation systems, new welding materials and techniques, will also have real impacts on other sectors, helping them stay on the cutting edge.

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Mars yard ready for Red Planet rover

Community_Supported_Agriculture_in_Washington_County_2014.jpg

Vicki and Chris Hertel are part owners of Sun Gold Farm near Forest Grove. The fifth-generation family farm has recently switched from dairy to vegetables and share the wealth with others through Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions. (Dean Baker/Hillsboro Argus)

There has been quite a bit of attention given to edible landscaping in the past decade. The term generally refers to homeowners (and sometimes municipalities) choosing to plant shrubs, annuals and perennials based on the plant providing some type of caloric benefit.

Walking through the neighborhoods of western Washington County, signs of edible landscaping are visible nearly everywhere, and often the edible components clearly pre-date the trend. Fruit trees, blueberries and other cane berries, and well-tended garden plots are abundant.

Still, many homeowners dont have the space, time or desire to turn under the flowers for the kale and carrots. There are, however, an abundance of small farmers in the area able and willing to share the abundance of their labors with the neighbors. A relatively small fee, usually paid at the beginning of the season to the farmer, will provide a family with fresh, seasonal produce throughout the summer and into the fall.

Its called Community Supported Agriculture. And here are a few farms practicing it in this region:

Banks/Buxton

Dairy Creek Farm & Produce

23295 NW Highway 47

Buxton

See the article here:
Not ready to plow under the yard for an edible landscape? Try a CSA

JAFFREY -- From the balconies of city apartment buildings to the rolling fields of family farms, residents throughout New Hampshire have created wildlife habitats, and for their efforts they have been given a nod by the National Wildlife Federation.

Since 1973, the National Wildlife Federation has been offering a program to officially certify properties as wildlife habitats as a motivation for property owners to provide the things creatures large and small need to thrive and to raise their young, said David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the federation.

"We can restore elements of habitats in cities and towns by what we plant in our gardens," said Mizejewski, who is regularly featured on talk shows and morning news programs. "You don't need a ton of land and it doesn't matter where you live or how much money you have. You can be doing good things."

Creating a habitat is about more than simply putting out bird feeders. The goal is to establish natural environments that animals, birds, insects and amphibians need in order to thrive. Planting fruit-bearing trees can feed birds throughout the winter. Creating or protecting a vernal pool that fills in the spring and dries in the summer heat gives salamanders a place to breed. Small trees, nesting boxes, and container-planted butterfly bushes can create a home for birds and butterflies.

To become a Certified Wildlife Habitat, home owners must provide four core things: food, water, shelter, and a place for raising their offspring.

"There is an infinite number of ways you can provide those core things," said Mizejewski.

Leaving trees that have fallen can give woodpeckers a place to hang out, while thick stands of hemlock can provide deer with cover from the snow. One of the habitats that are hard to come by in New Hampshire these days is meadowland, said Mizejewski. Between the decrease in the use of land for farming, the increase in housing developments and the rapid expansion of forests in the state, meadows and pastureland are beginning to disappear, which makes things hard for creatures like deer, who feed on new growth, along with humming birds and eastern meadowlarks, he said.

In Jaffrey, Nancy Caswell blends the natural habitats available on her property with some human touches to make life a bit easier for animals and birds. A small stream and four heated bird baths provide water. Bird and bat houses, along with areas of dense wild shrubs, are home to bluebirds, chickadees, and even Baltimore orioles. Turkeys, deer, and birds of many colors visit the Caswell's home all year long, but her favorite guests are the chimney swifts who flock to her home each May.

"We get hundreds of them every year," said Caswell, who owns a brick home with four chimneys that give the returning birds a place to nest.

Chimney swifts build hanging nests in the mortar between the bricks in the chimneys and lay their diminutive eggs. The birds have spikes on their tails that allow them to hang on the bricks and roost when they're not out buzzing around eating insects.

Continued here:
Your yard could be a certified wildlife habitat

Sports Fan Insider

Keep up with your favorite teams and athletes with daily updates.

BOSTON (CBS) The NFL is king of the American sports landscape, but that doesnt mean the sport is content to stay the same.

Instead, the league is always trying to fine-tune the rules and regulations, and that will continue next week, when the competition committee will make several proposals to the leagues owners.

Among those proposals are four from the Patriots. According to The Boston Globes Ben Volin, they are:

1. Moving the line of scrimmage on extra points from the 2-yard line to the 25-yard line.

2. Extending goalposts upward an additional 5 feet.

3. Permitting a coach to challenge any officials decision except scoring plays (which are already automatically reviewed).

4. Placing additional cameras on all boundary lines to supplement TV cameras and aid the officials with instant replay.

These are not surprising to see, considering the Patriots recent history and Bill Belichicks outspokenness on some of the issues addressed.

Read more:
Patriots Proposals Among NFL Rule Changes Up For Voting Next Week

Whether your yard is a place of contemplation, a mini-farm or a never-ending improvement project, you'll need some stuff--and ideas--to spruce it up with. The Boise Flower and Garden Show is a clearinghouse for both.

Now in its 18th year, the BFGS fills the Boise Centre with landscape design, yard furniture and garden art; plant displays and sales; and presentations from experts including the Boise Bonsai Society.

On top of the displays, BFGS also features a judged flower show, two silent auctions and three days of seminars on everything from tomato-growing strategies and seed starting to garden infrastructure and pest control. Mary Ann Newcomer, the "Dirt Diva" of 94.9 The River and author of Rocky Mountain Gardeners Handbook and The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Mountain States, will present the keynote address.

If thinking about your own personal green space puts you in the mood for music and a relaxing beverage, plan to spend $10 for a commemorative wine glass plus three pours of vino and jazz by John Jones Trio on Friday, March 21-Saturday, March 22.

Continue reading here:
Boise Flower and Garden Show

Landscape Yard Drainage French drain installation Columbia
If you have a drainage problem in your yard and you need a French drain or just a regular corrugated pipe drain installed to alleviate standing water, the be...

By: Ashley Brooks

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Landscape Yard Drainage French drain installation Columbia - Video

High winds and warmer temperatures can increase the chance for wildfires. But, imagine if your lawn service or landscape architect could help you figure out how to design and maintain a yard that is more resistant to wildfires. Monday the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension held a symposium to reach out to landscape professionals who are often on the front lines when it comes to creating defensible space.

Cooperative Extension Natural Resource Specialist Ed Smith said it's important to enlist landscape professionals in the fight against wildfires. "In my mind it's a no-brainer," said Smith. "If we can get the landscape industry up to speed on wildfire threat reduction, proper vegetation management and reduce the threat, we'll have a very powerful and valuable ally that'll help northern Nevada residents reduce the fire threat."

About 60 people attended the conference, including horticulture consultant Leslie Lyles. "One of the big things I've learned is how far the defensible space has to be. I've always used the 30 foot rule, but I'm learning now that on slopes it can be 150 - 200 feet depending on the steepness of the slope," she said.

Reno firefighter Ben Rupert was one of the speakers at the symposium. He talked about why it's important to first responders that the houses they protect have defensible space. "Fuel moisture content is one of the biggest things we look at. The amount of moisture in the plant is very important." He cited juniper bushes as an example of a plant that's highly flammable. Landscape professionals can suggest other materials that can help homeowners reduce the spread of fire. "You're looking at decking, the siding, we have all different types of fire resistant material they can use to assist us," said Rupert.

Experts hope that landscape professionals can spread the message about defensible space and help stop the spread of wildfires. Leslie Lyles will use this information as when she talks to clients about their plants. "We can't control the weather, and we can't control the topography of our lands, but we can control the fuel source," Lyles said.

Written by Jennifer Burton

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Landscapers Learn about Defensible Space at Local Conference

Landscape Trends of 2014

How does one predict the landscape design trends of 2014? Well, they look at some of the most popular trends of 2013.

In the past, the landscaping was a row of perennials or shrubs around the foundation of a house, some nice shade trees and lots of lush green lawn. In 2014, gardeners are seeking more from their landscape by trying to create an outdoor living space, which has been trending for a while. A place to drink their morning coffee, watch the birds and have family gatherings.

This leads to the first prediction: fire pits or fire grill, because who doesn't want to enjoy the outdoors while grilling a steak or keeping warm on a cool night. These can be very easy for homeowners to install and come in an array prefabricated kits.

The sustainable gardener will rule in 2014 by conserving water and preventing runoff and erosion. Rain barrels will be placed under gutter spouts to collect the rains of the spring for the droughts of the summer. If it doesn't rain an inch every week, then it is advised to give additional water to the landscape to keep the plants in good health.

Many gardeners may be contemplating installing drip irrigation to save time and conserve water. According to Colorado State University, drip irrigation is 9 percent efficient in getting the water where it needs to be compared to sprinkler irrigation at 50-60 percent.

Rain gardens and permeable walkways may also experience a spike in popularity. Rain gardens are designed to capture storm water runoff from roof tops, drive ways or parking lots. Instead of going into local water ways, the water is recycled back to recharge the ground water and filter out pollutants. Plants like swamp milkweed, cardinal flower, penstemon and Culver's root should be employed in a sunny rain garden. For a shade rain garden, use native ferns, Jacob's ladder and wild ginger.

Gardeners may also use permeable walkway pavers, pervious concrete or open-celled concrete blocks instead of an old fashioned slab of concrete to help reduce runoff and erosion. They still provide the solid base but allow the water or melting snow to seep into the ground rather than wash into the storm gutters. If walkways or drive ways are near trees, this will allow the water to get to the roots.

Finally, the last predicted trend is less grass and more native plants. You don't have to be an experienced gardener to know that having a lush green lawn is a lot more work than creating gardens of native plants. Native plants do not need as much water, fertilizer or regular mowing; get considerably less pests and diseases; and, once established, can be home to wildlife like birds and butterflies.

For more information on:

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Yard and Garden: Landscape Trends of 2014

The eight-year programme of work announced on Thursday will involve construction of new buildings and facilities, as well as refurbishing current equipment ready to begin work on Successor.

It will have a major impact on the Barrow yard, which has been building submarines for more than a century.

Alan Dunn, operations director of BAEs submarines unit: said: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for BAE. There has been no work on this scale at Barrow in more than 25 years and we will change the skyline and the landscape of the town."

The new funding for Barrow will allow the construction of larger missile submarines there, said Mr Hammond.

By spending the money now, the UKs submarine requirements could be delivered more efficiently and cost-effectively, as well as ushering in a new stance on defence procurement.

Frankly, in the MoD we are done with the days of letting people cut steel first and design the boats or ships, or whatever, afterwards, said Mr Hammond. If we are going to hold our contractors properly to account to deliver on time and on budget, in fairness to them, we have got to tell them exactly what it is we want before they start building it.

In the past, Im afraid there has been a tendency to build first and design later, so it makes absolute sense to get the design completed before we sign the contracts on the Successor class.

"This investment needs to be made now to allow us to build the Successor class to the programme and timetable set out.

He hailed the engineers building the Astute-class submarines recognised to be the most advanced in the world and the history of shipbuilding at Barrow.

This site has a long and illustrious history of submarine design and construction, said Mr Hammond. No one can rival the history, expertise and track record of this site in this highly specialised field and the Astute class surpasses anything that has gone before.

Visit link:
BAE Systems to get 300m submarine yard upgrade

by Kaley O'Kelley

azfamily.com

Posted on March 12, 2014 at 11:04 AM

Updated today at 11:20 AM

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If watering your yard is killing your household budget, the idea of a desert landscape might be appealing to you.

Planting cacti might help because they don't need much water to survive. While they can be a nightmare for parents and pet owners, they don't have to be, according to master gardener Cesar Mazier.

"Opt for the Totem Pole Cactus," he said. "They're spineless and that means you can plant them around pools, really anywhere you might find kids playing!"

Mazier would know. He spent 16 years of his career at the Desert Botanical Garden.

He also says planting aloe will help to attract hummingbirds to your outdoor living space. Planting it near windows you enjoy sitting near is the key to creating a sanctuary you can enjoy inside and out.

That aloe should also attract lizards, which is a good thing if you're struggling to get rid of scorpions.

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Create a worry-free desert oasis and keep scorpions away, too