Scientists have developed a technique for using GPS signals to precisely measure the wind speeds inside hurricanes.
Scientists have developed a technique for using GPS signals to precisely measure the wind speeds inside hurricanes.
Year: 2013
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered another moon orbiting Neptune.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered another moon orbiting Neptune.
Sierra Nevada has completed its first tow tests of its Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle, now officially named “Eagle.”
The competition heats up: Sierra Nevada has completed its first tow tests of its Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle, now officially named “Eagle.”
These tests were merely to check out the craft’s landing systems, with it being pulled along the runway at 10 to 20 mph. Faster tests, followed by actual drop tests, are to follow.
The article has some great information about Dream Chaser itself.
A blue exoplanet the size of Jupiter where glass rains sideways.
A blue exoplanet the size of Jupiter where glass rains sideways.
Got $125? You can do an experiment in space.
Got $125? You can do an experiment in space.
It appears that SpaceX has completed another test firing of its new Merlin engine.
The competition heats up: It appears that SpaceX has completed another test firing of its new Merlin engine.
A Russian news story reports that the spectacular Proton rocket failure several weeks ago occurred because a sensor was installed “upside down.”
A Russian news story reports that the spectacular Proton rocket failure two weeks ago occurred because a sensor was installed “upside down.”
At the rim 2
We have returned from inside the Grand Canyon. We hiked out on Tuesday, doing the climb up in what is for us record time, arriving at the rim at 12:30 pm after 7 hours of hiking. We were down at Phantom Ranch for two full days and three nights, doing some really spectacular day hikes each day. I will post some further details, with pictures, once I get home.
We are still touring about here in northern Arizona and will be until Sunday. Right now I am sitting in the patio of the motel at Grand Canyon Caverns, about two hours west of the national park. This morning we drove down to the Colorado on the Hualapai Reservation, using the only road on the south rim that reaches the river. This weekend I will be participating in a long term cave dig project here at this somewhat famous commercial cave. The dig has been going on for years in cooperation with the cave’s owners. This will be the first time that I will contribute to the project.
Engineers will attempt one more try this month to revive one of Kepler’s reaction wheels so that the telescope can resume observations.
Engineers will attempt one more try this month to revive one of Kepler’s reaction wheels so that the telescope can resume observations.
They admit that the odds are not good that the attempt will work, but they are going to give it chance anyway.
At the rim
After a 5.5 hour drive we arrived at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and checked into our hotel. You can see the view from the window on the right. Not very spectacular, but then, you don’t spend much time in a hotel room on trips like this.
Tomorrow we take the shuttle bus to the North Rim, where will spend another night in the lodge there. On Saturday, we hike down on North Bright Angel trail, and will stay in a cabin at Phantom Ranch for the next three nights, doing day hikes from the bottom of the canyon on Sunday and Monday. We will hike then up on Tuesday, coming up Bright Angel trail to the south rim, completing our first rim to rim hike. Once we check out of our hotel tomorrow, we will be out of contact with the internet until we return to the south rim. I hope the world doesn’t fall apart in the interim.
This will be Diane’s third trip to the bottom, and my fifth. I can’t express how happy I am to be back. This is truly one of the grandest spots on Earth.
Emma Lazarus – The New Colossus
An evening pause: There are many intellectual fools these days who love to denigrate the United States and its history. These words, however, tell its true story, honestly and simply. Woe to us if we forget it.
Off to the Grand Canyon
We are off to the Grand Canyon. Though I will probably have a chance to post tonight and tomorrow, expect posting to be light, especially the first half of next week when we are at Phantom Ranch.