Gulf | Common News Update

May22021 by adminNo Comments

Astronauts splash down in Gulf of Mexico off Florida

Science

May 2 (UPI) -- Astronauts from SpaceX's Crew-1 mission splashed down in U.S. waters at 2:57 a.m. Sunday, and crews successfully recovered the capsule and astronauts in the Gulf of Mexico off Panama City, Fla. The astronauts saw the Crew Dragon capsule Resilience undock from the International Space Station at 8:35 p.m. EDT Saturday and head for the nighttime splashdown off Florida about 6 1/2 hours later. Advertisement The astronauts were to fly back to Houston. "Welcome home Victor, Michael, Shannon, and Soichi, and congratulations to the teams at NASA and SpaceX who worked so hard to ensure their safe and successful splashdown," said former Sen. Bill Nelson, also a former astronaut confirmed by the Senate to serve as NASA administrator on Thursday. "We've accomplished another incredible ...

Dec292020 by adminNo Comments

Submarine USS Georgia, in Arabian Gulf, visits Bahrain

Business

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The submarine USS Georgia, in the Arabian Gulf as tensions in the area increase, visited Manama, Bahrain, the Navy's 5th Fleet said on Monday. The vessel, which can carry 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, noticeably transited the Strait of Hormuz last week, escorted by two guided-missile cruisers, according to Navy officials. Advertisement The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, which normally does not announce submarine movement, prominently mentioned the USS Georgia's travel. "Bahrain was a perfect opportunity for the crew to get some well-deserved rest and have the ability to speak with their loved ones back home over the Christmas Holiday," said Master Chief Arnell Brantley of the USS Georgia. The submarine had not visited Bahrain since 2009, and the visit was referred to ...

Sep182020 by adminNo Comments

Tropical Storm Beta forms in the Gulf of Mexico, shattering records

World

Sept. 17 (UPI) -- After churning out Tropical Storm Wilfred and Subtropical Storm Alpha, the hyperactive Atlantic continues to generate more named storms with the formation of Tropical Storm Beta. Forming Friday afternoon, Beta had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, and forecasters warn there is potential for the system to intensify into a hurricane while over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Advertisement The Atlantic once again became hyperactive on Friday with four tropical cyclones churning at once. Just on Monday, there were five tropical cyclones spinning simultaneously for the first time since Sept. 10-12, 1971. That number dropped to four Tuesday after Rene dissipated, leaving Paulette, Sally, Teddy and Vicky for a time. As of 4 p.m. CDT Friday, Major Hurricane Teddy, Tropic...

Aug72020 by adminNo Comments

Florida Current study confirms decline in strength of Gulf Stream

Science

Aug. 7 (UPI) -- New research suggests the strength of the Florida Current, which forms the beginning of the Gulf Stream, has weakened considerably over the last century. The findings, published Friday in the journal Nature Climate Change, corroborate the predictions of several models that suggest the Gulf Stream has slowed over the last several decades. Advertisement The Florida Current is a thermal ocean current that flows from west to east around the tip of Florida, joining the Gulf Stream off Florida's east coast. Scientists have been tracking the strength of the Florida Current since the early 1980s -- not long enough to identify multi-decadal or centennial trends. To better understand the current's historical changes, Christopher Piecuch, researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic I...

Jul22020 by adminNo Comments

U.S., UAE conclude exercises in Arabian Gulf

Business

July 1 (UPI) -- The United Arab Emirates' Joint Aviation Command concluded joint exercises in the Arabian Gulf with U.S. forces, the U.S. Marines said on Wednesday. The naval and air training operations were conducted from June 21 to June 25 and centered on the U.S. Navy's USS Lewis B. Pulller, an expeditionary mobile base vessel. Advertisement The operations included tracking and engagement of simulated fast-attack craft, and UAE pilots of CH-47F, Bell 407, AH-64D and UH-60M helicopters completed deck landing qualifications aboard the ship, the U.S. 5th Fleet said in a Twitter message. U.S. planes involved in the exercise included P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, operating from the AFCENT Warfare Center at Al Dhafra, UAE. The USS Puller is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of oper...