This year has seen something of a wave of UFO sightings in China. The latest major sighting took place earlier this month. At least twice, the sightings have shut down a major Chinese airport.
The UFOs in question seem to be of the "lights in the sky" variety; video of the things don't suggest substantial objects. Secret Chinese aircraft might still be one possible explanation, just as secret U. S. aircraft seem to account for many American sightings down through the decades. Odd reflections of city lights in the badly polluted urban Chinese atmosphere might be another explanation.
Given the rich and ancient Chinese culture, seeing whether modern UFOs will find a place in China as they have in Western pop culture will be interesting.
Monday, October 18, 2010
NASA Buying Private Lunar Data
NASA has contracted with six teams involved in the Google Lunar X-Prize to purchase technical and scientific data gathered by the teams. The base contracts are tiny in monetary value-- $10,000-- but that could rocket to as much as $10 million, depending on the data being sold.
The awards are being seen as a signal from NASA that it's open to relying on private companies to obtain at least some of the data needed to carry out its own deep-space exploration mission. If that is the case, an exciting new business sector-- space exploration for profit-- becomes a possibility. Such an industry might have an economic model similar to the old wildcat oil exploration companies. Large aerospace firms may well have corporate units in the field. but there would also be room for small, independent companies. Most of those small companies will fail, some will merge to stay alive, and a few could hit it very, very big. They could become the first players in a truly space based economy.
The awards are being seen as a signal from NASA that it's open to relying on private companies to obtain at least some of the data needed to carry out its own deep-space exploration mission. If that is the case, an exciting new business sector-- space exploration for profit-- becomes a possibility. Such an industry might have an economic model similar to the old wildcat oil exploration companies. Large aerospace firms may well have corporate units in the field. but there would also be room for small, independent companies. Most of those small companies will fail, some will merge to stay alive, and a few could hit it very, very big. They could become the first players in a truly space based economy.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Rethinking Gliese 581g
A huge stir zipped through the scientific community and beyond recently with the announcement by astronomers of the discovery of a world with only three or four times the mass of Earth that orbited in the habitable zone of the red dwarf star Gliese 581, only 20 light years away. The mass told us the planet was a rocky world like Earth, and the location of the orbit told us that liquid water could exist on its surface.
Well, maybe not.
Other astronomers are now questioning whether the world, dubbed Gliese 581g, even exists. The discovery of this exoplanet-- as well as of most of the hundreds of other such planets so far discovered-- was done by monitoring tiny movements by the parent star that could be caused by the gravity of planets tugging on it. Obviously, more massive planets close to the star are easier to detect than less massive ones. A few astronomers who have looked at the Gliese 581g discovery data say they see no obvious pattern in it. The Gliese 581 system already has four confirmed exoplanets, and the announcement of "g" was coupled with the announcement of another, even smaller world. Any pattern, therefore, would be extremely complex and subtle, possibly difficult to distinguish from the random "noise" always present in such endeavors.
So, does a slightly larger version of Earth orbit Gliese 581, or not? Answering that question is within our capability, and will be even more within it as technology develops. So, we will know what actually exists in the system of this particular red dwarf, but it could take a while.
Well, maybe not.
Other astronomers are now questioning whether the world, dubbed Gliese 581g, even exists. The discovery of this exoplanet-- as well as of most of the hundreds of other such planets so far discovered-- was done by monitoring tiny movements by the parent star that could be caused by the gravity of planets tugging on it. Obviously, more massive planets close to the star are easier to detect than less massive ones. A few astronomers who have looked at the Gliese 581g discovery data say they see no obvious pattern in it. The Gliese 581 system already has four confirmed exoplanets, and the announcement of "g" was coupled with the announcement of another, even smaller world. Any pattern, therefore, would be extremely complex and subtle, possibly difficult to distinguish from the random "noise" always present in such endeavors.
So, does a slightly larger version of Earth orbit Gliese 581, or not? Answering that question is within our capability, and will be even more within it as technology develops. So, we will know what actually exists in the system of this particular red dwarf, but it could take a while.
More Moon Interplay
Scientists are increasingly finding that, perhaps contrary to common assumptions, bodies in space can and do interact with each other on a regular basis. For a few years now, the case has been made that some meteorites found on Earth originated on Mars. Recent studies expand on that theme. Using data from the extraordinarily successful Cassini mission to Saturn, scientists now think the geysers of Enceladus may seed the upper atmosphere of the giant moon Titan with organic molecules that originate in Enceladus' subsurface ocean, thus making life on Titan more likely.
Nor is that all Enceladus does. A new study suggests electrons from that moon, propelled by the geyser eruptions, reach five more Saturnian moons in a plasma, interacting with the surfaces of those moons.
With Saturn's system as a model, some are saying much the same interplay could take place among the moons of Jupiter. In that case, the extreme vulcanism of Io would drive the process.
All this indicates a level of complexity in planetary systems not imagined in any depth before the Space Age.
Nor is that all Enceladus does. A new study suggests electrons from that moon, propelled by the geyser eruptions, reach five more Saturnian moons in a plasma, interacting with the surfaces of those moons.
With Saturn's system as a model, some are saying much the same interplay could take place among the moons of Jupiter. In that case, the extreme vulcanism of Io would drive the process.
All this indicates a level of complexity in planetary systems not imagined in any depth before the Space Age.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Dragon To Fly
SpaceX is ready for the first test flight of its cargo-carrying capsule, Dragon, atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is planned for early November from Florida. The flight is scheduled to last perhaps four hours, during which all Dragon's systems will be tested, and the capsule is to splash down in the Pacific off southern California.
Dragon is supposed to take supplies to ISS after the space shuttle is retired, so demonstrating the company can in fact fly it in space is important to SpaceX, to NASA, and to President Obama's plan to use private spacecraft to serve low Earth orbit while NASA concentrates on deep space exploration. Dragon, indeed, is designed to eventually ferry humans to and from orbit.
The Falcon 9, so far, has only one successful launch to its credit, so a successful flight in November would allow SpaceX to build momentum and confidence. A failure, however, could increase the doubt some analysts have that private companies are ready for their expanded role in NASA's new marching orders.
Dragon is supposed to take supplies to ISS after the space shuttle is retired, so demonstrating the company can in fact fly it in space is important to SpaceX, to NASA, and to President Obama's plan to use private spacecraft to serve low Earth orbit while NASA concentrates on deep space exploration. Dragon, indeed, is designed to eventually ferry humans to and from orbit.
The Falcon 9, so far, has only one successful launch to its credit, so a successful flight in November would allow SpaceX to build momentum and confidence. A failure, however, could increase the doubt some analysts have that private companies are ready for their expanded role in NASA's new marching orders.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Orbital Expeditions
Interorbital Systems, an American NewSpace firm which is probably better known in Europe than it is in the U. S., is moving ahead with a program to offer tourists, and others, orbital spaceflights. Launched from the waters of the South Pacific kingdom of Tonga, the IOS spacecraft will carry up to six passengers plus a pilot. IOS is planning a two-man orbital flight sometime in 2011-12, with commercial flights to begin in the 2012-13 period.
Orbital Expedition flights will last about a week and cost $5 million per ticket. However, the company is offering a bargain deal-- the first ten tickets sold will go for $250,000 apiece. Two of the ten have already been snapped up, and, according to IOS CEO Randa Milliron, the company will begin a marketing effort to tell the public about the program soon. In an interesting comparison, Virgin Galactic is offering suborbital flights that will feature a few minutes of weightlessness in a fairly small cabin for $200,000 whereas a few people, for $50,ooo more, would get to experience true spaceflight-- days of weightlessness in a module with a large enough volume to allow real exploration of the possibilities of microgravity, dozens of sunrises and sunsets, and extended opportunities to observe the Earth and other celestial bodies from space-- on an early Orbital Expeditions flight.
Whether IOS, or, indeed, VG, can actually turn their plans into profitable reality is still open to question, but IOS is moving across a broad front, pursuing both manned and unmanned projects. It is even looking at the Moon-- in the context of the Google Lunar X-Prize competition, but also in flying a lunar sample return mission, and in establishing a substantial, private, manned lunar base in just a few years. If IOS succeeds across the board, it will have secured a place as one of the most important corporations in human history.
Orbital Expedition flights will last about a week and cost $5 million per ticket. However, the company is offering a bargain deal-- the first ten tickets sold will go for $250,000 apiece. Two of the ten have already been snapped up, and, according to IOS CEO Randa Milliron, the company will begin a marketing effort to tell the public about the program soon. In an interesting comparison, Virgin Galactic is offering suborbital flights that will feature a few minutes of weightlessness in a fairly small cabin for $200,000 whereas a few people, for $50,ooo more, would get to experience true spaceflight-- days of weightlessness in a module with a large enough volume to allow real exploration of the possibilities of microgravity, dozens of sunrises and sunsets, and extended opportunities to observe the Earth and other celestial bodies from space-- on an early Orbital Expeditions flight.
Whether IOS, or, indeed, VG, can actually turn their plans into profitable reality is still open to question, but IOS is moving across a broad front, pursuing both manned and unmanned projects. It is even looking at the Moon-- in the context of the Google Lunar X-Prize competition, but also in flying a lunar sample return mission, and in establishing a substantial, private, manned lunar base in just a few years. If IOS succeeds across the board, it will have secured a place as one of the most important corporations in human history.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
VG Moving Closer
Virgin Galactic took another step towards providing commercial suborbital spaceflights today when its SpaceShipTwo was released from its giant WhiteKnightTwo mothership during a test flight for the first time. The spaceship glided on its own for about 15 minutes before making a perfect landing in Mojave, California.
VG plans to offer its tourist flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico, and in a related matter, the main runway of Spaceport America will be dedicated later this month.
VG already has at least 340 people ready to pay the $200,000 the company is charging per ticket, with SpaceShipTwo capable of carrying six passengers per flight. VG plans to begin commercial flights next year.
VG plans to offer its tourist flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico, and in a related matter, the main runway of Spaceport America will be dedicated later this month.
VG already has at least 340 people ready to pay the $200,000 the company is charging per ticket, with SpaceShipTwo capable of carrying six passengers per flight. VG plans to begin commercial flights next year.
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