Via a friend in the program, the VR Milky Way Panorama. Definitely worth a spin.
Category: Space
The Apollo Creed.
“‘We must deal with our short-term problems while not sacrificing our long-term investments,’ Griffin said. ‘The space program is a long-term investment in our future.'” While nodding to the funding issues created by Katrina, NASA unveils its ambitious plans to return to the moon by 2018. The plan, involving a lunar-lander like CEV that can carry 4 to 6 astronauts, basically seems to be a hybrid of the Space Shuttle and “Apollo on Steroids,” and has been designed with future missions to Mars in mind. In general, I’ve been impressed with NASA head Michael Griffin despite Dubya’s faulty emphasis on space-weapons (and I generally agree with his take on NASA funding), so if he thinks this rocket-hybrid is the way to go to get to the moon and beyond, I’m all for it.
Here’s a little ghost for the offering.
Space Adventures, the firm behind Dennis Tito’s 2001 trip to the ISS, is looking for two takers for a $100 million moonshot. Well, that’s a pretty penny and no mistake. But if they’re forced to switch to a lottery system to procure the necessary funds, I’d buy a ticket or three.
Martian H20 and Planet X?
Some intriguing new finds right here in our neighborhood: The ESA posts some very nice images of a frozen Martian lake, and astronomers have found a large object (and its moon) orbiting our sun outside Pluto.
Bounded by Foam.
“You have to admit when you’re wrong. We were wrong.” NASA grounds the shuttle fleet until the now-recurring foam debris problem, which thankfully seemed to spare the Discovery orbiter this time, is satisfactorily resolved. Ugh, that’s depressing…but probably for the best.
Millennium Falcons.
“‘There’s very little in life that is 100 percent guaranteed,’ said N. Wayne Hale Jr., the deputy manager of the shuttle program, at a news briefing Sunday evening. ‘And there’s probably less in rocket science.‘ With Discovery poised to fly tomorrow despite a nagging sensor problem, the NYT examines the durability of the aging shuttle fleet. Update: Back in the blue! Godspeed, STS-114.
Say Cheese.
Via a friend in the program, Google maps the moon to commemorate the 36th anniversary of Apollo 11.
The Rocket’s Red Glare.
In a day of fireworks the nation over, the most intriguing flash-bang occurred 83 million miles away, with the successful crashing of NASA’s Deep Impact into Tempel 1. (Space.com has gathered together the best pics from the big show.)
Ever Watchful.
“Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf — a Great Eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.”. (Via Supercres.)
(And, while I’m quoting our fallen friend, Saruman of Many Colors: “The hour is later than you think. Sauron’s forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas Morgul…they crossed the river Potomac on Midsummer’s Eve, disguised as judges in black.“)
Spaced.
“Current U.S. space policy presents a paradoxical picture of high ambition and diminishing commitment…Pursuit of the NASA Plan, as formulated, is likely to result in substantial harm to the U.S. space program.” A new report by experts at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy finds the Dubya space program is a mess. The two writers (both active during the Clinton years) do praise new NASA head Michael Griffin, who may be the only Bush appointee out there that I have positive feelings for. But, in keeping with the general unilateralism of Dubya’s tenure, the scientists bemoan the demise of international cooperation in recent years, with our move to weaponize space a particular stumbling block.