Scientist-Astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt, Apollo 17. (NASA) I am convinced that if NASA were to disappear tomorrow, if we never put up another Hubble Space Telescope, never put another human being in space, people in this country would be profoundly distraught. Americans would feel that we had lost something that matters, that our best days were behind us, and…
Anyone who s found themselves beneath a spectacularly starry night sky has to wonder what s out there. That same person, though, might stare out at a dark ocean at night and ponder the very same thing. And yet the resources we ve committed to the vast, largely unexplored ocean is a mere fraction of what we ve invested in space exploration. Jacqueline Ronson…
Dreams of Other Worlds describes the unmanned space missions that have opened new windows on distant worlds. Spanning four decades of dramatic advances in astronomy and planetary science, this book tells the story of eleven iconic exploratory missions and how they have fundamentally transformed our scientific and cultural perspectives on the universe and our…
Sorry, folks. Although Tesla and SolarCity have roared in 2013, Elon Musk has no plans to take SpaceX to the public markets. There are plenty of reasons it doesn t really make sense to go public, anyway. The company has a time horizon well beyond the quarterly measuring stick carried by most financial analysts. Launch delayed? There goes the quarter! Besides…
Ever since human beings first looked at the lights in the night sky, they have wanted to know what was out there. The renaissance brought many new advances like the telescope which made more precise astronomical observations possible. But the real advances came in the twentieth century. Early experiments with rockets eventually led to the first satellites and…
Humans have an urge to explore for several reasons. Check your knowledge of the space exploration tools used by humans with these assessments. Assessment items focus on the purposes of the various tools and tools currently in use. Quiz & Worksheet Goals Here are some more topics that you ll also be tested on: The rover that has been operating for the…
Get an up-close look at the amazing new-generation Space Exploration Vehicle at Space Center Houston Dec. 18 – Jan. 4. This multi-mission concept, currently being developed by NASA, could couple the surface exploration version with a flying platform for use near the International Space Station, satellite servicing and near-Earth asteroid missions. Roving vehicles…
Goal 4: Prepare for the Human Exploration of Mars Eventually, humans will most likely journey to Mars. Getting astronauts to the Martian surface and returning them safely to Earth, however, is an extremely difficult engineering challenge. A thorough understanding of the Martian environment is critical to the safe operation of equipment and to human health, so…
The Hubble Space Telescope was designed to free astronomers of a limitation that has plagued them since the days of Galileo—Earth s atmosphere. Shifting air pockets in the atmosphere block and distort light, limiting the view from even the most powerful Earth-bound instruments. Orbital telescopes function as eyes in the sky that allow astronomers to peer farther…
In the Human Interfaces Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, we build software for people, just like you probably do. Admittedly, some aspects of our work are a little unusual. We believe in user centered design, evidence over opinion, and the importance of learning quickly through sketches and prototypes. We assume we don’t have the perfect idea right at…
We are star dust, we are wine crystalsbut are we alone My 2010 New Year s resolution is to watch at least one science DVD with the boys. And this DVD is a good example why I think it is not only a good idea, but easy/fun. Animation and pacing in documentaries has become so snappy, and prolonged talking head shots are a thing of the past. Sure there is a staged…
New Horizons at Pluto & Juno at Jupiter​ Spanos Theatre, Wednesday, April 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Free and open to the public Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information call 805-756-2859 Fran Bagenal, one of the team leaders on NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and Juno mission to Jupiter, will unpack what scientists have learned from these missions to…
Astronomy Is the study of space. If you were an astronomer, you might focus on galaxies, stars, planets, or traveling objects such as comets and asteroids. Don t get astronomy confused with astrology. Astrology is a form of mystical prediction based on the stars and the time of year. Horoscopes are based on astrology. Astronomy is grounded in science . Astronomy…
Astronaut Gene Cernan, Apollo 17 commander, salutes the deployed United States flag on the lunar surface. Cernan is the subject of the documentary, Last Man on the Moon. Credit: NASA On Dec. 14, 1972, Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan became the last person (to date) to set foot on the lunar surface. The story of Cernan s NASA career, and the way it has shaped…
Dr. Malina Hills and retired Aerospace engineer Steven Soukup at opening of the Space Exploration Gallery of the Flight Path Museum and Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 22. (Photo: Elisa Haber) The Space Exploration Gallery, the newest exhibit at the Flight Path Museum and Learning Center and cosponsored by Aerospace, has officially opened following a ribbon-cutting…
One of the bigger features that we are going to release very soon is exploration (together with “super-large worlds” and “procedural asteroids” – more details in a future blog post). We need your feedback and that’s why I am declassifying it prematurely :-) Exploration The exploration feature will add a practically infinite number of ships and stations to the…
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” With these words, President John F. Kennedy roused America’s support of space exploration in 1962. He also acknowledged the geopolitical competition with the Soviet Union that provided the impetus to make mankind’s greatest technological…
Space exploration can have a negative impact on the environment. When rockets launch into space, their engines let out gases and debris such as aluminum oxide and soot. These substances can damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. However, space travel is not nearly as commonplace as car or airplane travel, which also release harmful substances…
Dr. Caleb A. Scharf is Director of Astrobiology at Columbia University, and has an international reputation as a research astrophysicist, and asa lecturer to college and public audiences. The UK s Guardian newspaperhas listed his blog Life, Unbounded, as one of their hottest scienceblogs,while an editor at Seed Magazine called it phenomenal.Informed, fresh…
Britannica Lists & Quizzes NASA Humans have made great strides in spaceflight and space exploration in the relatively short amount of time since such feats were first accomplished. Here we explore five of the most important and memorable moments in spaceflight history. 5First Satellite in Space NASA History Office On October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 became…
“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” -Carl Sagan As Sagan pointed out in his book Cosmos , space is the great unifier of all those who live on Earth. Such is the underlying mentality of the new art project . Supported by Roscosmos, the…
CAVES: exploring inner space for outer space Today, an international team of six astronauts from China, Japan, USA, Spain and Russia will descend into the caves of Sardinia, Italy, to explore the depths and train for life in outer space. One of the last unexplored environments on our planet, caves offer parallels to exploring space. ESA’s underground training…
The 2017 Ford Explorer has an impressive cabin in the top Platinum trim, which features plenty of high-end materials. However, the lower trims don t really stand out. The interior styling is generally dull, and the materials quality falls short of some class rivals. Seating in the Explorer is not impressive either. Drivers may be disappointed by the limited visibility…
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield made history on Sunday when he filmed the first ever music video in space (fittingly, a cover of David Bowie s Space Oddity ). To commemorate his accomplishment, we ve dedicated this week s Music Monday to the most epic songs for space exploration. We curated the selection of songs you tweeted to us, and added in a few of our…
