Orbit's device, powered by two AA batteries, doesn't have a single button, because you program it with your smartphone. The timer is outfitted with a Bluetooth 4.2 radio that you can connect to directly with your smartphone, but you can also buy a kit that includes a Wi-Fi bridge that connects to your 2.4GHz home network (the kit is what's reviewed here).
The Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer can keep your garden green without wasting a lot of water.
The Bluetooth radios in the timers and in the bridge are surprisingly strong. One of the three I've deployed is at the opposite side of my house, about 150 feet from the bridge with several walls in between, but the timers are power hungry. I've needed at least two sets of batteries each watering season (I take them off the spigots in the winter, so they don't freeze—and yes, the app will warn you of freeze conditions, too).
Not to change the topic here:
China launches powerful new rocket key to building its own orbiting space station - ABC News
China is celebrating the successful trial launch of a newly designed spacecraft, described a key part of its program to build an orbiting space station, Chinese state media says.
Key points: China has been developing its own space program after being barred from collaborating with the US program The planned Chinese space station will rival the International Space Station China also plans to conduct exploration missions on Mars
It was the debut flight of the Long March 5B, which was specially designed to propel modules of China's future space station into orbit.
Polar-Orbiting Satellites See Drop in Air Pollution - WeatherNation
[ Written from NOAA ] NOAA's new generation polar-orbiting satellites are seeing a dramatic reduction in the amount of air pollution in the U.S., as the COVID-19 pandemic creates an economic and societal slowdown.
"The unintended drop in air pollution levels have become evident," said Mitch Goldberg, chief program scientist of NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) . "Observations collected from JPSS and partner satellites are giving NOAA scientists the ability to see how urban and industrial locations contribute to a region's air pollution through the emissions of gasoline-based gases and fine particles."
Astronomers find closest black hole to Earth, hiding in plain sight | Science | AAAS
Two bright stars orbit an unseen black hole in this artist's impression of the HR 6819 triple system.
The Milky Way Galaxy is thought to contain hundreds of millions of black holes. But only a few dozen have revealed themselves—through the x-ray glow of hot gases that surround them. Now, astronomers have found a "dark" black hole only 1000 light-years away from Earth—just down the road in galactic terms. It is the closest black hole to our planet ever found, in a star system that is visible to the naked eye.
Quite a lot has been going on:
Virgin Orbit’s first launch could happen later this month – Spaceflight Now
Virgin Orbit could attempt its first orbital test launch later this month over the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles, capping a development program for an air-launched small satellite carrier that began in earnest eight years ago.
The small satellite launch company, part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, entered the final phase of pre-flight testing last week with a ground fueling test of its first flight-worthy LauncherOne rocket.
Dan Hart, Virgin Orbit’s CEO, said the company is on track for the rocket’s first demonstration launch in May.
How low-Earth orbit satellites will enable connectivity across all domains of warfare
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The Space Development Agency will provide the unifying element in the Defense Department's future Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept, pulling together tactical networks developed by the services with a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites.
With the JADC2 concept, the department envisions an overarching network capable of connecting sensors to shooters regardless of where they are located. That means U.S. Air Force sensors could feed data to U.S. Army shooters, or even National Reconnaissance Office sensors could send information to U.S. Air Force shooters .
Shadowy X-37B Spaceplane Heading Back to Orbit - Air Force Magazine
The X-37B spaceplane will embark on its sixth mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on May 16, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said.
The secretive, unmanned orbital test vehicle, which will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket , is notching new milestones as it matures. Its fifth mission was its longest to date, ending Oct. 27, 2019 after 780 days on orbit . Now, it will take a new approach to bringing experiments to space.
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