Some venture capitalists and other businesspeople are saying the emerging commercial space industry may be reaching the point Internet companies reached in the mid 1990s, when huge amounts of new investment money flowed into them, creating the dot-com boom. They cite SpaceX and Virgin Galactic as leaders of an industry on the verge of establishing itself.
Similar predictions were made a decade or so ago, and it obviously didn't work out. This time, however, SpaceX, VG, and others have real successes behind them, and a better grasp on how they might make money. Whether the industry is near a point of critical mass or not, however, remains to be seen.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Iapetus
Saturn's moon Iapetus is one huge ball of ice. Most such bodies have rocky cores, but scientists believe Iapetus is water ice through and through.
That doesn't mean Iapetus is a simple ball, however. It's equator sports a mountain range with peaks 12 miles high. It's also an active world, at least potentially. The Cassini spacecraft has snapped images of "landslides"-- actually ice slides-- that seem to have occurred recently.
That doesn't mean Iapetus is a simple ball, however. It's equator sports a mountain range with peaks 12 miles high. It's also an active world, at least potentially. The Cassini spacecraft has snapped images of "landslides"-- actually ice slides-- that seem to have occurred recently.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Flags Of Apollo
Are the American Flags Apollo astronauts planted on the Moon still standing? That question has intrigued people for decades. Most scientists who've addressed the quesstion have answered in the negative, saying the harsh lunar environment would have destroyed the flags long ago.
Well, they seem to be wrong.
NASA has used the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to photograph all six of the Apollo landing sites from various angles and in various lighting conditions, and they've captured some remarkable details-- right down to the tracks made by the lunar rovers and by the astronauts' boots. Those photos also seem to show shadows cast by the flags at every site except that of Apollo 11. Buzz Aldrin reported that flag was knocked down when the Eagle lifted off from the lunar surface, and it seems he was right.
Well, they seem to be wrong.
NASA has used the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to photograph all six of the Apollo landing sites from various angles and in various lighting conditions, and they've captured some remarkable details-- right down to the tracks made by the lunar rovers and by the astronauts' boots. Those photos also seem to show shadows cast by the flags at every site except that of Apollo 11. Buzz Aldrin reported that flag was knocked down when the Eagle lifted off from the lunar surface, and it seems he was right.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Early Spiral Gslazy Found
Astronomers have discovered the oldest spiral galaxy yet, one ten billion years old.
Early galaxies are irregular clumps, as if the universe hadn't yet learned to create elegant structures. This galaxy, however, is a magnificent spiral in the classic style.
The galaxy has a smaller companion galaxy, as do many spirals, including the Milky Way. Astronomers believe the gravitational influence of such small companuins may help spirals form.
Early galaxies are irregular clumps, as if the universe hadn't yet learned to create elegant structures. This galaxy, however, is a magnificent spiral in the classic style.
The galaxy has a smaller companion galaxy, as do many spirals, including the Milky Way. Astronomers believe the gravitational influence of such small companuins may help spirals form.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Space Launch System
NASA's next heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System, passed it's first big programmatic test recently. The review looled at the progeam's structure, the technical requiirements of developing the launcher, the necessary budget, etc. The next hurdle, approval of the concept of the rocket, will come late next year.
SLS is designed to propel astromauts beyomd low Earth orbit-- to the Moon, asteroids, and Mars, for starters. When fully developed, SLS would be more powerful than the legendary Saturn V that sent Apollo to the Moon.
The first test flight is scheduled for 2017.
SLS is designed to propel astromauts beyomd low Earth orbit-- to the Moon, asteroids, and Mars, for starters. When fully developed, SLS would be more powerful than the legendary Saturn V that sent Apollo to the Moon.
The first test flight is scheduled for 2017.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Planetary Formation
A new study using data from NASA's Kepler planet-hunting probe has found a solar system put together much like our own.
Three huge exoplanets orbit a sunlike star, all in the star's equatorial plane-- just as the eight major planets in our system orbit the Sun. Scientists take that as evidence in favor of the standard planetary formation theory, which holds that planets form in disks of gas and dust that orbit in the equatorial plane of a star. Later gravitational interactions among planets can change orbital inclinations, but this young system supports the notion that planets begin in the same plane.
Three huge exoplanets orbit a sunlike star, all in the star's equatorial plane-- just as the eight major planets in our system orbit the Sun. Scientists take that as evidence in favor of the standard planetary formation theory, which holds that planets form in disks of gas and dust that orbit in the equatorial plane of a star. Later gravitational interactions among planets can change orbital inclinations, but this young system supports the notion that planets begin in the same plane.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sally Ride Gone
Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, died yesterday after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.
Ride rode the space shuttle twice during her career at NASA. A Stanford educated physicist, Dr. Ride also served on the boards that investigated the Challenger and the Columbia tragedies, as well as on the Augustine Commision that suggested a new course for NASA's human spaceflight program.
After leaving NASA, Dr. Ride focused her energy on promoting science education, especially for girls.
Ride rode the space shuttle twice during her career at NASA. A Stanford educated physicist, Dr. Ride also served on the boards that investigated the Challenger and the Columbia tragedies, as well as on the Augustine Commision that suggested a new course for NASA's human spaceflight program.
After leaving NASA, Dr. Ride focused her energy on promoting science education, especially for girls.
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