North Korea, having postponed the launch for technical reasons, has apparently begun removing the rocket from the launchpad.
North Korea, having postponed the launch for technical reasons, has apparently begun removing the rocket from the launchpad.
Year: 2012
A design problem in Curiosity’s drill makes it a threat for shorting out the electronics of the entire rover at some point in the future.
Oy. A design problem in Curiosity’s drill makes it a threat to short out the electronics of the entire rover at some point in the future.
Vi Hart – What was up with Pythagoras?
An evening pause: “And he was afraid of beans.”
On the air
I will be doing what almost always turns out to be a two hour interview today with Dr. Space, David Livingston, on The Space Show. Feel free to tune in.
Glide tests of Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser shuttle are now scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013.
Glide tests of Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser shuttle are now scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013.
The vehicle they will be flying is only a prototype built expressly for these unmanned tests. A separate flight model is under construction and will be used for later manned suborbital tests, followed by a third vehicle built for orbital flights.
Kazakhstan is considering cancelling the lease that allows Russia to use the launch facilities in Baikonur.
More bad news for Russia: Kazakhstan is considering cancelling the lease that allows Russia to use the launch facilities in Baikonur.
Yann Frisch
An evening pause: Some close-up magic by Yann Frisch.
A look at some modern animals, drawn with the same limited fossil record we have for the dinosaurs.
The uncertainty of science: A look at some modern animals, drawn with the same limited fossil record we have for the dinosaurs.
In other words, almost everything we assume about the dinosaurs is probably wrong.
R.I.P. Patrick Moore (1932-2012).
R.I.P. Patrick Moore (1932-2012).
North Korea has halted preparations for its planned rocket launch.
North Korea has halted preparations for its planned rocket launch.
During a launch yesterday the upper stage of Russia’s Proton rocket failed to put the satellite into its proper orbit.
A fuel leak has now been pinpointed as the cause of the Delta 4 rocket launch problem in October.
A fuel leak has now been pinpointed as the cause of the Delta 4 rocket launch problem in October.
Gullies on Vesta?
Katherine Jenkins – Requiem for a Soldier
An evening pause: On this anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I give thanks to the past generation that gave me freedom.
I wish you’d lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and libertyWe are all one great band of brothers
And one day you’ll see – we can live together
When all the world is free.
It now appears that the next launch of the X-37B is set for Tuesday, December 11.
It now appears that the next launch of the X-37B is set for Tuesday, December 11.
This would mean that the engine problems that occurred on a Delta 4 rocket launch in October have been resolved.
A tour of the impact craters that Curiosity created when it landed on Mars.
A tour of the impact craters that Curiosity created when it landed on Mars.
Celtic Harp Orchestra – Miranda and the Tempest
An evening pause: This is a really stunning piece of music.
If you and a friend happen to have $1.4 billion, the new private company Golden Spike wants to take you to the Moon.
The competition heats up: If you and a friend happen to have $1.4 billion, the new private company Golden Spike wants to take you to the Moon.
Golden Spike’s news release said the venture would make use of existing rockets as well as commercial spacecraft that are currently under development to send expeditions to the lunar surface, with the estimated cost of a two-person lunar surface mission starting at $1.4 billion.
There will be a lot of press stories about this. And it is good, as it illustrates again the increasing shift from government-run space missions to a robust private industry. The idea of a private company doing this is no longer considered absurd but perfectly reasonable.
Whether Golden Spike itself will do it, however, is another thing entirely. Please forgive me if I reserve the right to be a little skeptical at this point.
Lacking focus
A new National Research Council report released yesterday says that NASA lacks focus nor can it complete the missions it has with the resources available.
» Read more
Looking at the Earth from space at night.
The planet that never sleeps: Looking at the Earth from space at night.