Shuttle Discovery Back in Hangar

Space Shuttle Discovery is getting a new new external fuel tank (No, that's not a typo.) The new fuel tank had some foam application modifications, but the new new external fuel tank is equiped with a heater to prevent ice and temperature and vibration sensors to measure tank performance.
It remains to be seen whether Discovery will fly again as planned, but NASA is doing its very best, for the astronauts first and then for the program. As it should be.

Ion Thrusters Are the Future

Ion Thrusters, yes those things from Star Trek, are real and making a big splash in Spacecraft propulsion. Excite the ions in an inert gas like xenon, and wham! you're moving. Granted, you are traveling very, very slowly at first. The force exerted out the rear nozzle is about as strong as $6 in quarters resting in the palm of your hand, but in the vacuum of Space inertia allows that force to build to the limits of physics.
The nuclear powered version will provide speeds up to 200,000 mph when it's throttled up, give the pilot full throttle control and provide enough electricity for a practically limitless amount of experimentation.
Prometheus is only the beginning...

W. Mark Felt, Downing Street Memo Pale in Comparison

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More Data From Cassini: Water on Phoebe?

Phoebe, the outermost large moon of Saturn has been the latest subject of scrutiny by Cassini as it continues its mission around the Saturnian system, taking pictures and conducting experiments.
Scientists have detected what they believe to be sheets of water-ice on the surface, iron-bearing minerals, organics, nitrites, silicates, trapped carbon dioxide and cyanide compounds, in abundance. Some are saying the only more compositionally diverse body in the Solar System is Earth.
What's most incredible is the mission is just getting started and already look at what scientists have discovered. Water! On Phoebe, no less.
I remember when some in the scientific community theorized we'd only find water on earth-like planets....
Time makes all the difference, don't you think?
And if you think that's cool, wait until you see what they found on Iapetus!

Odyssey: Double the Science for 1/8 the Price

NASA scientists have chosen to renew the mission of the Mars Odyssey orbiter, by all accounts a resounding success, for at least one more year (through Sept. 2006.)
Each day twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity transmit data to Odyssey which relays that information to Earth. It will also provide critical mission data for NASA's Phoenix mission to Mars, scheduled to land in 2008 and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, scheduled to reach orbit in 2006. (Current MRO mission status.)
Although its original approximately three year-mission cost was a whopping $297 million, NASA is getting a bargain with its mission renewal: just $35 million for almost two more years.
In addition to discovering vast quantities of water ice, determining higher than expected radiation levels were present and providing the most detailed surface maps to date, Odyssey has shown some surface features continue to defy explanation. Like these olivine-rich layers of rock.

Keep in mind, everyone is racing to find water on Mars. Water means a future permanent human colony. How soon that would happen (if there's even enough water-ice present to support one) is unknown, especially given what they have recently discovered about higher than expected radiation levels (about three times Earth normal) but it's a start.
And no matter what else happens from this point forward, NASA scientists have shown the dangers of Mars exploration can be overcome through old-fashioned hard work and human perseverance.

iRobot Corp.: No Doubting Their Success Now

Around 1990 I recall reading a story in USA Today about three MIT grads starting their own robot company...now look at them!
With more than 1 million Roomba vacuums sold, at least one successful military robot so far--PackBot--and $50 million worth of defense department design contracts to go.
Their latest 'bot, Scooba, was revealed last week and should go on sale by Christmas. Like Roomba only not for carpet, it mops your floors while you do other things.
It's really been an incredible success story for iRobot Corp. And a boon for robot junkies worldwide as they customize the little 'bots for style and substance, and fun. Like the Zoomba.

I can't wait to see what they come up with next--I mean, after the autonomous killing machines they are designing for the D.O.D....

U.S. Space Program Losing Partners Fast Due to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

The same legal regime that has been preventing the licensing of SpaceShipOne technology to Virgin Galactic has now chased off the European Space Agency.
ITAR--International Traffic in Arms Regulations--was intended to protect militarily sensitive U.S. projects from any foreign government, foe or ally. Now, through some strange circumstance, it is suddenly being used to prevent cooperation on Space projects.
Despite prior agreements, NASA may be faced with abandoning the International Space Station partly because of its inability to share information with its international partners, Russian, Europe and Japan, and also because it wants those countries it shares with to promise not to share at all with certain other countries.
A true political quagmire disguised as an effort to protect our security when all it's doing is making us more isolated and causing more distrust among what few allies we have left.

China and India Now BFF

As India continues to seek international allies other than the U.S.A. some analysts are concerned this could marginalize our role as a Space technology leader--or Superpower.
I say, it's about time.
It's interesting that some would view the improved relations between China and the world's largest democracy as a bad thing. After all, it's no secret the U.S. has been channeling funds, eliminating debt for and selling weapons to India's neighbor and long-time feuding partner, Pakistan, what did we think India would do?
I don't view a India-China alliance as a threat to world peace, I see it as a step in the right direction. Improved relations between these countries will help increase stability in the region, fight terrorism and improve the international economy.
I think it will also lead to a merging of Space programs, or at least joint missions. Combining India's successful satellite launch capabilities with China's emerging manned Space program could create a one-two punch that will shift the balance of Space power with West to East.
If that concerns anyone, then maybe they should consider getting more involved in world affairs so they have a better understanding of what is truly at stake: Not U.S. dominance of the Earth, but humanities' ascension to the stars.
We shouldn't have to wait decades for NASA to get something going. If someone can do it better, and sooner, I say, have at it.

Falcon I Engine Test Success! Now See the Movie...

SpaceX conducted a successful 5-second test firing of its Falcon I engine on Friday. If all continues to go well for Elon Musk and his crew, they expect a full launch with a Department of Defense payload in late July or early August, and a slate of subsequent launches to follow. Keep in mind, Musk is the only person right now concentrating on (and showing some of success with) reducing launch costs.
While we're waiting for Musk to revolutionize the Space industry, why not watch this cool video of Friday's successful test firing.
And three cheers for Musk-- Congratulations!

Time Travel, Hyperspace, Wormholes -- It's All Possible!

I am far from a scientific genius. In fact I have trouble grasping even the must fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. So when a physicist says something about the constant speed of a neutrino, I tend to believe her and go about my business as usual.
Here's an exception: A story about the instability of wormholes and the inability of engineers to control them. There are some who disagree, but even they claim some fundamental hurdles will never be overcome because of human limitations.
I find this notion utterly and completely ridiculous.
A century ago we were unable to fly 300 people at a time, watch television or have reliable telecommunications. Computers? The idea was unknown to all but a few. At that time most people on the planet were still going to the bathroom in the woods and wiping with leaves and grass. And they liked it that way.
So, the idea that 21st Century physics is the end-all of what we can know and understand about the Universe and how we can exert our influence over it, is wrong.
Anything is possible. Some things are more improbable than others, but nothing is impossible.

Space Tourist Gregory Olsen Back to Training

U.S. Millionaire Gregory Olsen, 58, was originally slated to fly to the International Space Station this past April, but according to this 2004 NASA internal memo, a mystery health ailment derailed his training and sent Space Adventures (the company responsible for Olsen's, Dennis Tito's, and Mark Shuttleworth's Space trips) looking for a new candidate.
Fast-forward one year and Olsen's trip is back on schedule. And not a moment too soon.
Unlike most past and potential Space tourists, Olsen is a true scientist, intending to conduct actual scientific research that he hopes will yield meaningful results in the near future.
Olsen will surely get a thrill out of flying up and back to the station. Considering he's paying upwards of $20 million for the trip, he better get a thrill!
But I'm glad to see someone doing it for reasons other than the view. I can't believe more scientists aren't clamoring for the opportunity to work in Space. Crystal growth, imaging experiments, physiological examination---there is research a-plenty in orbit.
Now, if we can just get the cost down to something more reasonable...

By the way, in case you are considering taking the trip yourself, consider these Space tourist guidelines prepared by Russian and US Space administrators.

Titan Revealed: Hear it for Yourself

Scientists are learning more and more about Titan, now that Cassini has completed the first of more than 40 flybys and Huygens has touched down.
The theories about "oceans of hydrocarbons" and "methan rain" didn't pan out, but some other really intriguing discoveries have been made, leading to a scientific impasse about the age of the surface they are getting glimpses of. Is it millions or billions of years old? And what about that bright spot. What is that?
All of these questions lead me to call for an orbiting probe. It's time we start thinking about long-term mapping missions, rather than slip-shod flybys. We need steady streams of data to make conclusions. And if we're not making conclusions why are we even bothering to go in the first place?

Extraterrestrial on National Geographic Channel

Discovery Channel had a great special a few weeks ago, "Alien Planet" that used computer generated animation to show us what a future inter-planetary robotic exploration mission might be like and what it might encounter.
I watched it. It was interesting but there's only so much to get excited about. If it were actual footage, that would be exciting, as it was I felt like I was watching some English-dubbed Japanese Anime.
Not to be outdone, National Geographic Channel is offering its own version of alien life in Extraterrestrial, a two-hour CGI special airing Monday--May 30, 9 p.m. et/pt.
I feel a little insulted. Do the NGC people think their aliens will be even more astounding, or are they postulating a completely different encounter scenario, or what?
I guess I'll be forced to watch just so I can find out for myself. Ok, fine, I was going to watch it anyway--but it better be cool.
Speaking of cool, there is some pretty cool info to be found at the NGC site. Like this poll. I guess I'm not a complete nut-job for believing in life on other planets. Or, we're ALL a bunch of nut-jobs...either way I'm off the hook.

Deep Impact Mission Info Cache

Space.com has a nifty area devoted to NASA's Deep Impact mission to smash a probe into the comet Tempel-1 and determine its composition. The two parts of the probe, Flyby and Impactor will function as their names imply: Impactor, an 820-pound camera and sensor equipped probe will be left to collide with the comet while the other half, Flyby, will maintain a safe distance and capture the whole thing on video. It should be interesting. Even if nothing happens, that will be interesting.
More likely though, there will be fireworks of some sort. Personally, I think comets could be veritable petri dishes of microbial life, perhaps suspended in ice until crashing into something else, and finding a safe place to grow again. There's definitely ice and rocks at the core; something to come in contact with Impactor other than gas.
Different comets could be made of different stuff. But in little more than a month we will get our answer as to exactly what's at the center of this particular comet. And scientists will get enough data to keep them happy for a while. At least until they get to safely smash a Spaceship into something else.
For more information on Deep Impact, check out the official NASA/JPL homepage.

LOLA Maps the Moon

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter that's hitching a ride aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, will give us the best view of the Moon any of us have ever seen. Its information data bank will be used to create highly detailed surface maps for future lunar exploration missions. Soon, someone will begin building a permanent facility on the Moon. Who do you think will be first?
Incidentally, have you ever wondered what will become of all those people who have been buying pieces of "actual lunar real estate"? Can they build on that land? Is it suddenly valuable?
Read this article for a serious look at extraterrestrial real estate in all its fabled glory.

Free Ticket to Space!

Buzz Aldrin has done more for the advancement of Space technology than simply landing on the Moon. Over the past 30 years he has courageously thrown his support behind numerous efforts to commercialize Space exploration, but none has been as exciting as his most recent partnership: A deal with Diet 7Up to send one lucky winner to Space aboard an FAA approved commercial Spaceship.
The contest runs until the end of August, 2005 and the winner will be announced in October. To play is easy: enter codes found on specially marked packages into the "First Free Ticket to Space" section of the Diet 7up Web site at www.7UP.com

Are you still here? You should be out there drinking 7Up and trying to win a free ticket to Space. What's wrong with you? Don't you have a sense of adventure? Now get out there and win that ticket!
And when you get back, drop me an e-mail and tell me all about it...

NASA Really Needs A Tricorder

If you ask me, a NASA effort to create a handheld mass spectrometer is just another step toward an actual "Tricorder"; a small computerized scanning device that links to a central data base for analysis and information. (Trekkies everywhere know exactly what I'm talking about- Sorry for the rest of you.)
All the essential parts have almost been gathered: metal detection, Geiger counter, wireless connectivity, infra-red and ultraviolet detection--add a mass spectrometer, which is used to analyze the air we breathe, and you have your compact, multi-use, computerized scanning device that links to a central data base.
But if it walks like a Tricorder, acts like a Tricorder, and works like a Tricorder, can't they just call it a Tri-corder? After all, that's a lot cooler name than miniaturized mass spectrometer.
Of course knowing those crazy NASA scientists, they'll end up calling it something wild like---Miniaturized Mass Spectrometer....

White Knight Moonlighting for DARPA

White Knight, the airplane built by Burt Rutan to carry SpaceShipOne to launch altitude, now has a part-time job with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) working with the X-37. According to this story at Space.com it's been conducting a slew of tests, including high-speed taxiing, all toward an eventual lift and launch of the new Spaceplane.

Oddly enough, not long ago the X-37 was all but dead, a victim of cost-cutting measures at NASA. Then it was transferred to DARPA who announced the eventual involvement of Scaled Composites but made no promises.
Now, it's being tested for flight: A cutting edge prototype Spaceship utilizing the latest propulsion, avionics and material technology.
Nifty, but let's see what becomes of it and how long it takes them.

Russian Kliper Gets Needed Funds

I am very excited about this new Russian Kliper. It's based on a discarded NASA design that I had also been very excited about at the time, but was quickly cancelled. It's a vertical take-off and landing Spaceship. Like Buck Rogers, only this one really flies.
Anyway, the Russians got a hold of some the plans, although they deny their design is based on the "Delta Clipper" it surely is, and built their own version. The Kliper. It's been enough to cause a resurgence in interest in the Russian Space program, and has perhaps led to this recent call for more funding.
Who cares where they got the idea, at least they're building something. Supposedly, this craft will replace the VERY successful Soyuz Spacecraft, being used today.
Russian engineers must be very confident in their design; The Soyuz has been a workhorse, the closest thing we've ever had to regular space access.
Ever.

A few facts about Space junk

So low Earth orbit is crowded with Space Junk. Is this really news to anyone? We need to develop our satellites from far tougher stuff anyway. Soon, it won't matter if there's anything in orbit smaller than a Volkswagon; we'll plow a path with ships made from carbon nanofiber, and blast our way through the debris field.
Now that's a cool image.