Hawaii rocket carrying satellite fails after takeoff ADVERTISING Hawaii rocket carrying satellite fails after takeoff HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s first satellite crashed back down to Earth shortly after liftoff when a rocket failed. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports (http://bit.ly/1OoaULq ) the
Hawaii rocket carrying satellite fails after takeoff
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s first satellite crashed back down to Earth shortly after liftoff when a rocket failed.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports (http://bit.ly/1OoaULq ) the Air Force confirmed the failure of the Super Strypi rocket at Kauai’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Tuesday. The rocket is designed to be a cost-effective method of launching smaller payloads.
The University of Hawaii is investigating the cause the failure.
The three-stage flight was scheduled to carry UH’s HiakaSat satellite and 12 other more much smaller satellites. HiakaSat was designed to take images of Earth that could offer data on global warming, ocean temperatures and other environmental issues.
The flight was originally scheduled for October 2013, but was postponed several times due to technology and timing issues.
Man gets 20 years in prison for sexual assault of teen
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Maui man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl who gave birth to his child was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Bendura Barnabas, 33, of Kula was sentenced Thursday to consecutive prison sentences totaling two decades. He previously pleaded no contest to two counts of sexual assault.
Deputy Prosecutor Iwalani Gasmen argued Barnabas repeatedly forced the child to have sex with him, abusing her psychologically and emotionally. The girl was 14 when she became pregnant, and then placed in protective custody by Child Welfare Services.
Barnabas’ attorney, Wendy Hudson, said her client’s “inappropriate behavior” was related to his drinking problem and lack of a formal education. Barnabas apologized in court Thursday to the victim and asked to be sentenced to probation.
But the judge said Barnabas’ punishment needs to send the right message to the community.
Takai schedules surgery for tumor
HONOLULU (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mark Takai says he will have surgery to remove a small cancerous tumor in his pancreas next week.
Takai said in a statement Tuesday the procedure will be performed at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The 48-year-old says the tumor is small and isolated. He’s thankful his prognosis is good because the tumor was detected early.
The Democrat representing urban Honolulu said last week doctors conducted tests after hearing he had been suffering from stomach pains and discomfort for several weeks.
The surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Takai says he and his family are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support and prayers for them. He asks that people to continue to pray and support them and respect their privacy.
