American, Russian astronauts land on Earth after 5 months in space
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) — NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and two Russian cosmonauts landed safely Wednesday in snowy Kazakhstan after spending five months on the International Space Station.
The Soyuz capsule carrying Kelly, Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka landed at 1:53 p.m. about 50 kilometers from the northern Kazakh city of Arkalyk.
Kelly returns to earth just as his twin brother Mark, husband of wounded congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, prepares to take part in the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour’s final mission in April.
The capsule came back to harsh conditions, including a stiff wind that blew it on its side and rolled it 22 meters (25 yards) from its touchdown point through fresh snow.
Rob Navias, a spokesman for NASA, described conditions as “like a scene from the North Pole.”
The space travelers were bundled into blankets after being pulled from the capsule, then placed in reclining stretchers as they slowly acclimated to the planet’s gravity.
The capsule landed about 3 1/2 hours after undocking. A parachute was deployed about 15 minutes before touchdown, slowing its speed from 500 mph to 180 mph.
 
 
New power line may ease radiation crisis at Japanese nuclear plant
FUKUSHIMA, Japan (AP) — A nearly completed power line could restore cooling systems in Japan’s tsunami-crippled nuclear power plant, its operator said Thursday, raising hope of easing the crisis that has threatened a meltdown and spawned dangerous radiation surges.
Conditions at the plant appeared to worsen, white smoke pouring from the complex and a surge in radiation levels forcing workers to retreat for hours Wednesday from their struggle to cool the overheating reactors.
 
 
If Obama wins second term, Hillary Clinton won’t keep sec. of state job
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she does not want to stay in her job if President Barack Obama wins a second term in 2012.
The nation’s top diplomat also firmly said she neither has plans to mount another White House bid nor interest in other posts, such as vice president or defense secretary.
Clinton, visiting Cairo, was asked whether she would stay on in a second Obama term. She was also asked if she would like the job of president, vice president or defense secretary. She offered single word responses to each: “No.”
 
 
Petraeus reveals his son served in Afghanistan, personal stake in war
WASHINGTON (AP) — Challenged to “be honest” about how long American troops might fight in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus revealed that he has a personal stake in ensuring war objectives are met — his son, Stephen, whose recent combat tour was kept “quiet.”
In an exchange with Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., Petraeus said “if I ever felt that we couldn’t achieve our objectives,” he would be “very forthright” with his superiors in the military chain of command.
 
 
Brother of oil rig victim wants to improve safety before drilling again
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The brother of one of the 11 workers killed last year on the Deepwater Horizon rig knows Gulf offshore drilling is important to his home state of Louisiana, but he wants Congress to keep pressuring the oil and gas industry to improve safety.
Chris Jones told the House Committee on Natural Resources at a hearing Wednesday that while BP and other energy companies want to move on, he believes no one should have to risk his or her life needlessly.
Officials from Gulf states countered that deepwater drilling permits are not being issued fast enough, costing jobs and revenue.
Jones’ brother, Gordon, was an engineer for M-I Swaco, a unit of the Schlumberger oil field firm, who was killed when the rig exploded. The blast led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
The first deepwater permit since the oil spill for activity that was previously suspended was issued Feb. 28. A second was issued recently.
Congress has yet to pass any new laws based on recommendations issued Feb. 17. Another key investigation by a joint U.S. Coast Guard-Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement panel is still ongoing.
 
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