Author: Beaver County Radio

First US lunar lander in more than 50 years rockets toward moon with commercial deliveries

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first U.S. lunar lander in more than 50 years rocketed to space Monday, launching a race for private companies to deliver experiments and other items to the moon.

Astrobotic Technology’s lander caught a ride on a brand new rocket, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan. The Vulcan streaked through the Florida predawn sky, putting the spacecraft on a roundabout route to the moon that should culminate with an attempted landing on Feb. 23.

“We are on our way to the moon!” Astrobotic chief executive John Thornton said.

The Pittsburgh company aims to be the first private business to successfully land on the moon, something only four countries have accomplished. But a Houston company also has a lander ready to fly, and could beat it to the lunar surface, taking a more direct path.

NASA gave the two companies millions to build and fly their own lunar landers. The space agency wants the privately owned landers to scope out the place before astronauts arrive while delivering NASA tech and science experiments as well as odds and ends for other customers. Astrobotic’s contract for the Peregrine lander: $108 million.

The last time the U.S. launched a moon-landing mission was in December 1972. Apollo 17’s Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt became the 11th and 12th men to walk on the moon, closing out an era that has remained NASA’s pinnacle.

The space agency’s new Artemis program — named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology — looks to return astronauts to the moon’s surface within the next few years. First will be a lunar fly-around with four astronauts, possibly before the end of the year.

Highlighting Monday’s moonshot was the long-delayed initial test flight of the Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The 202-foot (61-meter) rocket is essentially an upgraded version of ULA’s hugely successful workhorse Atlas V, which is being phased out along with the company’s Delta IV. Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, provided the Vulcan’s two main engines.

ULA declared success once the lander was free of the rocket’s upper stage, nearly an hour into the flight. “Yee-haw!” shouted chief executive Tory Bruno. “I am so thrilled, I can’t tell you how much.”

The Soviet Union and the U.S. racked up a string of successful moon landings in the 1960s and 70s, before putting touchdowns on pause. China joined the elite club in 2013 and India in 2023. But last year also saw landers from Russia and a private Japanese company slam into the moon. An Israeli nonprofit crashed in 2019.

Next month, SpaceX will provide the lift for a lander from Intuitive Machines. The Nova-C lander’s more direct one-week route could see both spacecraft attempting to land within days or even hours of one another.

The hourlong descent to the lunar surface — by far the biggest challenge — will be “exciting, nail-biting, terrifying all at once,” Thornton said.

Besides flying experiments for NASA, Astrobotic drummed up its own freight business, packing the 6-foot-tall (1.9-meter-tall) Peregrine lander with everything from a chip of rock from Mount Everest and toy-size cars from Mexico that will catapult to the lunar surface and cruise around, to the ashes and DNA of deceased space enthusiasts, including “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke.

The Navajo Nation recently sought to have the launch delayed because of the human remains. saying it would be a “profound desecration” of a celestial body revered by Native Americans. Thornton said the December objections came too late but promised to try to find “a good path forward” with the Navajo for future missions.

One of the spaceflight memorial companies that bought room on the lander, Celestis, said in a statement that no single culture or religion owns the moon and should not be able to veto a mission. More remains are on the rocket’s upper stage, which was boosted into a perpetual orbit around the sun reaching as far out as Mars.

Cargo fares for Peregrine ranged from a few hundred dollars to $1.2 million per kilogram (2.2 pounds), not nearly enough for Astrobotic to break even. But for this first flight, that’s not the point, according to Thornton.

“A lot of people’s dreams and hopes are riding on this,” he said.

Matzie Announces Legislation To Conduct Review Of PIAA Policies

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The concern and controversy over the recent announcement of Aliquippa football being assigned to play Class 5A football next season has made its way to Harrisburg.

State Representative Rob Matzie of Beaver County announced on Friday that he will be introducing legislation to analyze the operations, policies, finances and structure of the PIAA, including the process in which the PIAA classifies the levels at which schools compete in each sport.

Matzie says that the current way of operations puts student athletes in danger because of a lack of manpower and financial resources compared to the larger schools they would be competing against.

“I would wage this fight for Aliquippa or any student athlete in our commonwealth,” Matzie said. “Simply put, it’s unfair, unsafe and a dangerous disadvantage to our kids. What’s most disturbing is that I believe that this rule comes off as ignorant at best and arrogant at worst. Legislative action is necessary, and necessary now. Be assured, however, this is just the beginning. It’s been nearly 25 years since the last thorough review of the PIAA. It’s well past time for the legislature to have another look.”

Altercation In Franklin Township Leads To State Police Arrest Of Juvenile

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Pennsylvania State Police have released details about an assault following an attempted burglary in Franklin Township.

According to the report, 41-year-old Mark Drum got into an altercation with the unnamed 17-year-old would-be burglar when he noticed him walking down the stairs of his home. During the altercation, the juvenile suspect bit Mr. Drum’s son on the leg after he awoke to help his father, seized a pocket knife from the son, and proceed to slash Mr. Drum’s cheek before escaping barefoot from the scene. It was after the juvenile returned to the scene that he was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police.

No further details have been released.

Forrest R. Douglass July 13, 1930 ~ January 6, 2024

Forrest R. Douglass

Forrest Ray Douglass, 93, of South Beaver Twp. passed away peacefully in his sleep under the care of Good Samaritan Hospice, Saturday, January 6, 2024.
Forrest was born in East Liverpool, OH to Leland Ray and Thecil Mildred (Pearson) Douglass on July 13, 1930.  He graduated from Beaver Falls High School, where he developed his interest in photography and entered the U.S. Air Force in the autumn of 1948. He was trained as a ground photographer and lab technician and with more training became classified as a Senior Aerial Photographer.  He served in that role until honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of Sgt.  The Air Force was a great experience for him and he had many entertaining stories about his various station assignments in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, England, Europe and Newfoundland.
Forrest, also known as Bub (Uncle), Doug (Uncle), Dad and Hon, was hired by Michael Baker, Jr., a civil engineering company creating an aerial photography team way before there was GPS.  He worked for the company 42 years, the first 20 with his good friend, pilot Dave Metheny and then the rest, as photo lab supervisor.  After building their first house, Forrest became ‘Hon’ marrying Eva Lillian Psik on May19, 1956 in the Campbell Memorial U.P. Church where they first met.  They started their family in 1958.  But before that Doug completely embraced Eva’s little brother and sister, John and Millie, respectively.
Forrest was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Darlington where for many years he served as an Elder and taught an adult Sunday school class. He was a member of Parian Lodge # 662 F & AM, reaching the 32nd degree and a Beaver Falls Elks Club Life member.  Before retirement, Doug joined the Beaver Valley Wood Carvers Club so he’d have something to do afterwards.
Following retirement Forrest worked part-time at McElwain Motors and then delved into the world of kitchen gadgets, helping Eva garden, and, cooking his favorite meal of the day, breakfast.
Doug and Eva always took the kids on camping or history-oriented vacations in the summer times and with buddies, Len, Sonny and Jim, did build a small cabin ‘in the mountains’ of Forest County, PA which was a favorite family get away.  Doug began his life-long interest in wood-working when the kids were little.  He made many cherished and functional pieces of furniture as well as small useful items that both he and Eva created jointly for family gifts through the years.  His wood carving sometimes ventured into the humorous.
He will be sadly missed by his two children, Beth Douglass (Jere Maddux), Ames, IA,  Brian (Kim) Douglass, South Beaver Twp., PA and his sister, Lorena L. Ellefson, Chippewa, PA, his granddaughter, Nicole Douglass, East Palestine, OH, grandson, Joshua (Chelsea) Douglass, Glenshaw, PA and 3 great grandchildren, Sean Hutton, Jr., Owen Hutton and Kyle Douglass.  He is remembered fondly by his in-laws/outlaws, nieces, nephews and cousins for his sense of humor or sometimes, lack thereof, his generosity and loyalty, conversations and very much with Eva in the hospitality they shared with their related families and friends.
Forrest was preceded in death by his wife, Eva L. Douglass in 2020 and his brothers Kenneth V. Douglass and Keith J. Douglass.
The family offers thanks to all the caregivers that served Forrest at Beaver Valley Rehab and Healthcare.  And, very much gratitude is extended to Good Samaritan Hospice and their staff, Jessica, Renee, Ashley, Nicole and Dawn for their care and kindness.
Memorials may include the First United Presbyterian Church in Darlington or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Friends will be received Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the HILL AND KUNSELMAN FUNERAL HOME, www.hillandkunselman.com , 3801 Fourth Ave., Beaver Falls. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at First United Presbyterian Church in Darlington with Pastor Gary Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Seceder Cemetery in South Beaver Twp.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Forrest R. Douglass, please visit our floral store.

Shirley Matthews (July 31, 1931 ~ January 4, 2024)

Shirley Matthews

Shirley A. Matthews, 92, of West Mayfield passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Shirley was born on July 31, 1931 in Big Beaver Boro to the late Wray and Edna (Hartman) Stitt. She retired in 1991 after 42 years as an Assembler for Westinghouse Electric Company. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls and the Auxiliary of the Beaver Falls American Legion Post 261.
Shirley was preceded in death by husband of 59 years, Clarence C. Matthews in 2015. Together Shirley and Matt enjoyed fishing in Canada, hunting, camping and traveling, having seen all 50 states. They toured Europe and Greece on a cruise through the Panama Canal, in addition to many other adventures. When home she enjoyed working in her yard and doing arts and crafts.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers Wray, Robert, and Norman Stitt and two sisters, Eleanor Eckman and Gladys Rogan.
Friends will be received Wednesday, January 10th from 12 Noon until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. in the HILL AND KUNSELMAN FUNERAL HOME, www.hillandkunselman.com, 3801 Fourth Avenue, Beaver Falls. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, Big Beaver Boro.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1103 – 8th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shirley Matthews, please visit our floral store.

Robert Hlista (March 4, 1948 ~ January 5, 2024)

Robert Hlista

Robert Hlista, 75, a resident of Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center, Brighton Twp., formerly of Baden, died Friday, January 5, 2024. He was born on March 4, 1948 in Ambridge, to the late Stephen Hlista, Sr. and Elizabeth (Tomko) Hlista. He is survived by his brother, Stephen Hlista, Jr. of Baden, aunt, Ann Neish of Center Twp., nieces, Valerie Neish of Center Twp., Rachael Hlista of Coraopolis and a nephew, Anthony (Lexi) Hlista of Bethel Park. There was no public visitation. Private burial will take place in SS Peter and Paul Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc. Ambridge, PA.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Hlista, please visit our floral store.

Carol A. Finch (July 5, 1944 ~ January 4, 2024)

Carol A. Finch

Carol A. Finch, 79, of Harmony Twp., passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2024. She was born on July 5, 1944, in Rochester.  She was a 1962 graduate of Ambridge High School and received her associates degree in secretarial administration from Robert Morris Junior College graduating Summa Cum Laude. Carol then began her long career as executive secretary at the American Bridge Division of United States Steel Corporation. She was a longtime faithful member of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Ambridge. Her passion in life was being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ann and George Brodarac. Surviving are her loving husband of 55 years, David J. Finch, daughter, Jacqueline Barkley of Harmony Twp. two grandchildren, Noah and Mallory Barkley along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends will be received on Wednesday from 3 PM until time of Parastas services at 7:30 PM in the John Syka Funeral Home, Inc. 833 Drive, Ambridge. Translation of the body will take place at 8 PM to St.Vladimir Ukranian Orthodox Church. Addition visitation will take place at on Thursday from 9:30 AM until time of funeral services at 10 AM at the church. Her pastor, the Very Rev. Michael Kochis will officiate. Interment will follow in Economy Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the St. Vladimir Parish Endowment Fund, 313 Ninth Street, Ambridge, PA 15003.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol A. Finch, please visit our floral store.

 

 

Lawrence G. Schad (June 16, 1942 – January 5, 2024)

Lawrence G. Schad

Lawrence G. Schad, 81, of Brighton Township, passed away on January 5, 2024.
Born on June 16, 1942, in Pittsburgh Pa, he was the son of the late George and Ruth Schad. Lawrence was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Vietnam War, on a submarine, and had been a resident of Beaver since 1971. He went on to work and retire from First Energy, formerly Duquesne Light, where he was superintendent of the BVII and later the training administrator at the simulator building after 30 years. Lawrence was also a member of First Reformed Presbyterian Church, Patterson, Twp.
Along with his parents, Lawrence is preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Schad (2015).
Lawrence will be sadly missed by his second wife, Virginia Houlette Schad; son, Ron (Lori) Schad, Center Twp.; two daughters, Kathy Schad, Vanport, and Missy (Dan) McNutt, Darlington; adopted son, Rich (Melanie) Kessler, Pittsburgh; sister, Lorraine McManus, Pittsburgh; grandchildren, Jim Barnes II, Nathan and Kyle Schad, and a great-grandsons, Jimmy Barnes III, and Bryden Barnes.
Friends will be received in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, on Tuesday January 9, 2024 from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm, where a Funeral Service will be conducted on Wednesday January 10, 2024 at 11am. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com.
Private Interment to follow at Beaver Cemetery.