After being released by the robotic arm of ISS, SpaceX's Dragon capsule fired its rocket to break orbit and successfuly splashed down in the Pacific under huge red and white parachutes earlier today, ending an historic test flight.
Dragon became the first privately owned spacecraft to reach ISS and set the stage for cargo flights that will earn SpaceX $1.6 billion dollars from NASA.
SpaceX is well on the way to establishing Dragon as a viable choice for many other projects, as well-- including possibly taking humans into orbit and back home by as early as 2015.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
John Glenn Honored
John Glenn was recently presented the Presidentiial Medal Of Freedom by President Obama. It is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the nation.
In the case of Glenn, 91, the question might be: "What took so long?" His main claim to fame is obviously being the first American to orbit the Earth, but he was also a decorated Marine fighter pilot, a long time U. S. Senator from Ohio, and a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984. Glenn also became the oldest person to fly in space when he flew on a shuttle mission to test the effects of microgravity on the elderly.
In short, John Glenn has led one of the most extraordinary American lives of the twentieth century-- and now well into the twenty-first.
In the case of Glenn, 91, the question might be: "What took so long?" His main claim to fame is obviously being the first American to orbit the Earth, but he was also a decorated Marine fighter pilot, a long time U. S. Senator from Ohio, and a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984. Glenn also became the oldest person to fly in space when he flew on a shuttle mission to test the effects of microgravity on the elderly.
In short, John Glenn has led one of the most extraordinary American lives of the twentieth century-- and now well into the twenty-first.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Two Near Misses
Each of the past two days, NASA has watched a small asteroid whip past Earth at a distance well within lunar orbit. Both were under 100 feet across, so they posed no real danger to Earth even if they had hit our world, but they continue a pattern of such close calls that NASA and the astronomical community have recently documented.
That rash of near misses this year would seem nicely timed, as they have come during a U. S. presidential election campaign, but none of the candidates have taken the opportunity to push for even a modest planetary defense program. Odds are, they'll get away with that approach, but the truth is that they are ignoring an obvious threat. Hopefully, we won't have to lose a city, or worse, before the policymakers of the world act.
The mainstream news media has also ignored the situation, at least in America. Perhaps proposing the theory that these asteroids are in fact pot shots from aliens preparing to destroy Earth would get the attention of a group too interested in celebrities, gossip, and easy, gee whiz headlines.
That rash of near misses this year would seem nicely timed, as they have come during a U. S. presidential election campaign, but none of the candidates have taken the opportunity to push for even a modest planetary defense program. Odds are, they'll get away with that approach, but the truth is that they are ignoring an obvious threat. Hopefully, we won't have to lose a city, or worse, before the policymakers of the world act.
The mainstream news media has also ignored the situation, at least in America. Perhaps proposing the theory that these asteroids are in fact pot shots from aliens preparing to destroy Earth would get the attention of a group too interested in celebrities, gossip, and easy, gee whiz headlines.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Nine Planets After All?
Rodney Gomes, a respected astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil, is pursuing a theory that another large planet exists at the very edge of the Solar System. He bases his theory on the orbital movements of several small Kuiper Belt objects. The Kuiper Belt is a region of space well beyond the orbit of Neptune. Gomes argues the orbits of those objects cannot be explained by the combined gravitational influences of the known bodies of the Solar System, but can be accounted for by postulating a large body orbiting so far out we have yet to detect it. Depending on the orbit assigned to it, the putative planet could be Mars-sized, or it could be as massive as Neptune, which is four times the mass of Earth.
Other astronomers say Gomes has his math right, but caution there are other possible solutions to the puzzle. One possibility is that more data detailing the orbits of the objects in question will reveal there is in fact no inconsistency at all.
Other astronomers say Gomes has his math right, but caution there are other possible solutions to the puzzle. One possibility is that more data detailing the orbits of the objects in question will reveal there is in fact no inconsistency at all.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Brainstorming Mars Exploration
Since the federal budget travails forced NASA to reduce its planetary exploration expectations, the agency has reached out for proposals that would allow NASA to pursue its exploration of Mars at reduced funding levels. So far, 400 ideas and program proposals have been sent in from all over the world.
NASA officials are taking that response as evidence of the importance scientists generally put on exploring Mars. The agency's Mars planning group, consisting of some of NASA's highest officials, will spend the rest of this year whittling down that number to a few that might actually be pursued starting in 2018 and continuing for perhaps a decade after that.
NASA officials are taking that response as evidence of the importance scientists generally put on exploring Mars. The agency's Mars planning group, consisting of some of NASA's highest officials, will spend the rest of this year whittling down that number to a few that might actually be pursued starting in 2018 and continuing for perhaps a decade after that.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Nature Of ET
Jill Tarter, who is stepping down as director of the SETI Institute, has taken issue with Hollywood's depiction of aliens as aggressive, bloodthirsty invaders. She says any aliens that reach Earth will come strictly as explorers.
Sir Stephen Hawking, on the other hand, warns thay aliens coming to Earth will be aggressive, possibly here to strip mine our planet of its resources.
Two competent, experienced scientists coming to diametrically opposed conclusions. Who's right? Maybe both. Seeing all alien races capable of interstellar travel as the same is almost certainly a mistake. Diversity is the calling card of the cosmos. Or maybe they're both wrong. Alien races may have motivations that are, well. alien to us. Determining why ET acts will have to wait until we can study ET in action.
Sir Stephen Hawking, on the other hand, warns thay aliens coming to Earth will be aggressive, possibly here to strip mine our planet of its resources.
Two competent, experienced scientists coming to diametrically opposed conclusions. Who's right? Maybe both. Seeing all alien races capable of interstellar travel as the same is almost certainly a mistake. Diversity is the calling card of the cosmos. Or maybe they're both wrong. Alien races may have motivations that are, well. alien to us. Determining why ET acts will have to wait until we can study ET in action.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Dragon Grabbed
The Dragon capsule once again maneuvered in close to ISS, and this time was grabbed by the station's robotic arm. ISS crew will unload Dragon tomorrow.
SpaceX is on the verge of successfully completing an historic spaceflight, one that could open an exciting new era of commercial activity in space, taking the pace and direction of space development out of the hands of government and putting it more in the hands of private individuals, corporations, and, eventually, groups of various kinds pursuing various visions.
The big things left for SpaceX to accomplish on this mission are the reentry and recovery of Dragon, which the company already pulled off on an earlier test flight.
SpaceX is on the verge of successfully completing an historic spaceflight, one that could open an exciting new era of commercial activity in space, taking the pace and direction of space development out of the hands of government and putting it more in the hands of private individuals, corporations, and, eventually, groups of various kinds pursuing various visions.
The big things left for SpaceX to accomplish on this mission are the reentry and recovery of Dragon, which the company already pulled off on an earlier test flight.
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