The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • A9

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016 NEWS THE BALTIMORE SUN 9 Space station getting an inflatable room with a view By Marcia Dunn Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla Forget blowup air mattresses. Space station astronauts are getting their first inflatable room. It's a technology demo meant to pave the way for moon bases and Mars expeditions, as well as orbiting outposts catering to scientists and tourists in just a few more years. Bigelow Aerospace is behind the experiment, which will get a ride to the Inter national Space Station with another private space company. An unmanned SpaceX Falcon rocket is set to launch Friday, carrying a capsule full of supplies with the pioneering pod in its trunk.

Once attached to the station, the Bigelow compartment will be inflated to the size of a small bedroom. It will stay there for two years, with astronauts occasionally ducking in. It will be the first time an astronaut steps inside an expandable habi tat structure in space. The company won't divulge the material used for the compartment's outer layers or even how many layers just that the layers are spread out to absorb and break up any penetrating bits of space junk. Back when NASA was working on the technology in the 1990s, a combination of Nextel, Kevlar, foam and other fabric formed the multilayer shield.

NASA called its project TransHab, for Transit Habitat Designers envisioned an inflatable, four-level compartment, complete with dining, sleeping and exercising areas for station crews. Congress canceled TransHab in 2000, and Bigelow Aerospace bought the patent from NASA. "It's an important piece to the human space exploration puzzle," said Michael Gold, director of operations and business growth for Bigelow Aerospace. "Regardless of where you go, you need a place to live and work." JOHN RAOUXAP Robert Bigelow's Bigelow Aerospace is behind the inflatable compartment that's scheduled to launch Friday. jjj 96jv City Council votes to curb the mayor's power Councilwoman Rochelle "Rikld" Spec-tor, who sponsored the legislation, said she's served in both single-member and multi-member council districts and prefers the latter.

"If we are single-member, we might not be as global as we need to be," she said. Councilmen Eric T. Costello and Mosby voted against the bill. Mosby argued that multi-member districts give incumbents more power because they typically form slates. "It artificially creates the mechanism for incumbency power," Mosby said.

"We all understand the power of incumbency and the power of slates." Libit said Rawlings-Blake has not taken a position on the measure to change to makeup of the council. The structure of Baltimore's government was changed substantially in 2002 when activists successfully placed on the ballot an initiative to shrink die City Council from 19 members to 15 in single-member districts. That effort was opposed by then-Mayor Martin O'Malley and the City Council, but it was approved by the voters. In other business, Scott introduced a bill to create a municipal identification card to replace the four cards students carry now for schools, buses, libraries and other which does not include $4.2 million for community and after-school programs now funded by the city. The money would pay for 2,500 children to participate in after-school programs, plus six community schools many to help youths near the site of the rioting in West Baltimore last April.

On Thursday, council members unanimously called on the mayor to restore the funding. "The reason we need the power articulated in this charter amendment is because of the resolution we adopted tonight," Henry said. "If it's clearly die will of the entire City Council, we should have the power to actually make those changes." The city's finance and law departments have argued against the bills to weaken mayoral power, as has the pro-business Greater Baltimore Committee. "The current balance of power regarding the city's budget process has served the city well over time and absent a compelling reason for changing the balance of power the current system should remain intact," Donald C. Fry, president of the organization, wrote in a letter to council members.

A third charter amendment, which passed 13-2, would transform the council into seven two-member districts in 2024 rather than 14 single-member districts. COUNCIL, Frompagel November to become law. The first, which advanced on a 12-1 vote, would shrink the five-member Board of Estimates to just the mayor, comptroller and City Council president. It would remove from the panel the city solicitor and public works director, both of whom are hired by the mayor and have traditionally voted with the mayor. "My power on the Board of Estimates is very limited," Young said.

"I think because the three elected officials are held accountable, we should be the ones voting on the Board of Estimates. It's about time we let the citizens of Baltimore decide." City Councilman Nick J. Mosby, who is running for mayor, cast the lone "no" vote. Council members Brandon Scott and Mary Pat Clarke abstained. A second bill, which advanced unanimously, would allow council members to increase spending in the city budget.

Currently, the council can only cut spending proposed by the mayor. City budgets must be balanced by law. City Councilman Bill Henry, the bill's sponsor, said a fight with Rawlings-Blake over funding for after-school programs underscores the need for the legislation. Dozens of advocates are protesting the mayor's proposed budget for next year, programs. "We need to get away from issuing four different cards for our young people and just go to one ID," he said.

Councilman James B. Kraft, who is running for circuit judge, announced a hearing into water-billing problems that persist in city government. "We have people getting bills for thousands of dollars and don't understand why," he said. Kraft said water bills have increased recently since city government installed a new wireless meter system. For years, city residents have been dogged by inaccurate bills, and officials have promoted the new wireless system as more reliable.

Kraft called on officials from the finance and public works departments to appear before his committee. "The Council recognizes that a fair fee must be paid in order to maintain, repair, and improve the water and wastewater system throughout the City," states Kraft's resolution calling for the hearing. "However, the sudden, drastic, and incomprehensible increase in bills must be reasonably detailed for the residents to understand past and present consumption." lbroadwaterbaltsun.com twitter.comlukebroadwater Protect your home family from anywhere with Vivint Smart Home Security LEEPY Touchscreen Panel 247 Monitoring TheQS3 Mattress Professionals' -GETUPTO 1500 in FREE EQUIPMENT Wireless Connectivity Remote Access Two-Way Communication Smartphone Apps Automatic door locks FREE QUOTE 800.219.0392 WMVUUMi-i. IJsU. JW.L, J.

J. J. trial Olympic Maryland For more information and to register to volunteer, visit www.somd.org NMLS 208773 410-486-5626 LIC 17979 all1stcomcast.net Rate: 3.375 3.452 Pots: 0.000 Fees: $795 30yr Fixed APR Down: I Tvi Inc. All First Mortgage Services Athnlit Ilium liipiiiv 3.397 NMLS 212452 41 0-452-7080 uc 126333 www.atlantichomeequity.netrates Atlantic Home Equity 30yr Fixed apr Rate: 3.375 Points: 0.000 Fees: $450 Down: 20 Rate: 3.500 Points: 0.000 Fees: $450 Down: 20 NMLS 371018 3.522 15yrfixed 2.625 0.000 $795 5 2.751 30 yr FHA 3.250 0.000 $795 3.5 3.288 30 yr jumbo refi 4.000 0.000 $795 5 4.220 ask about our freeno cost refinances. VA loan specialists too 20 yr fixed 3.250 0.000 $450 20 3.281 15yrfixed 2.625 0.000 $450 20 2.664 10 yr fixed 2.375 0.000 $450 20 2.432 NO CLOSING on 15 year fixed at 2.875 apr 20 yr fixed 3.375 0.000 $450 20 3.406 15yrfixed 2.750 0.000 $450 20 2.789 30 yr jumbo 3.750 0.000 $495 25 3.759 30 OR 20 YEAR FIXED NO CLOSING COSTS AT 3.75 APR! Please call 410-415-6000 for great rates All loans are provided by PNC Bank, National Association and are subject to credit approval and property appraisal.

Equal Housing Lender. All rights reserved. 20 yr fixed 3.500 0.000 $895 20 3.561 15yrfixed 3.000 0.000 $795 20 3.069 10 yr fixed 2.875 0.000 $495 20 3.876 51 ARM 3.125 0.000 $495 20 3.238 FREELAND ZLl FINANCIAL Freeland Financial 30yr Fixed APR 443-824-1161 www.freelandfinancial.com 410-415-6000 Harvey.Grutmanpncmortgage.com NMLS 587326 PNC MORTGAGE PNC Mortgage Rate: 3.625 Sebonic 3.684 Financial Fees: $995 Sebonic Financial 30yr Fixed apr D0Wn: 20 NMLS 66247 LIC 6475 866-346-0260 http:bankrate.sebonic.com I Legend: The rate and annual percentage rate (APR) are effective as of 461 6. 20 1 6 Bankrate, Inc. http:www.interest.coni.

The APR may increase after consummation and may vary. Payments do not include amounts for taxes and insurance. The fees set forth for each advertisement above may be charged to open the plan (A) Mortgage Banker, (B) Mortgage Broker, (C) Bank, (D) (E) Credit Union, (BA) indicates Licensed Mortgage Banker, NYS Banking (BR) indicates Registered Mortgage Broker, NYS Banking (loans arranged through third parties). "Call for Rates" means actual rates were not available at press time. All rates are quoted on a minimum FICO score of 740.

Conventional loans are based on loan amounts of 165,000. Jumbo loans are based Dan amounts of $435,000. Points quoted include discount andor origination. Lock Days: 30-60. Annual percentage rates (APRs) are based on fully indexed rates for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs).

The APR on your specific loan may differ from the sample used. Fees reflect charges relative to the APR. If your down payment is less than 20 of the home's value, you will be subjecl private mortgage insurance, or PM1. FHA Mortgages include both UFM1P and M1P fees based on a loan amount of $165,000 with 5 down payment. VA Mortgages include funding fees based on a loan amount of $1 65,000 with 5 down payment.

Bankrate, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of the information appearing above or the availability of rates and fees in this table. All fees and other information are subject to change without notice. Bankrate, Inc. does not own any financial institutions.

Some or all of the companies appearing in this table pay a fee to appear in this table. If you are seeking a mortgage in excess of $417,000, recent legislation may enable lenders in certain locations to provide rates that are different from those shown in the table Sample Repayment Terms ex. 360 monthly payments of $5.29 per $1,000 borrowed ex. 180 monthly payments of $7.56 per $1 ,000 borrowed. We recommend that you contact your lender directly to determine what rates may be available to you.

To appear in this table, call S00-509-4636. To report any inaccuracies, call SSS-509 -4636. http:fbaltimoresun.interest. CALL TODAY! 1 -800-295-1 532.