Launching a beer can into space.
Launching a beer can into space. With video! More here.
Launching a beer can into space. With video! More here.
Tag: engineering
Launching a beer can into space.
Curiosity’s journey and upcoming landing, a summary.
Curiosity’s journey and upcoming landing, a summary.
Curiosity’s journey and upcoming landing, a summary.
Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada the winners of NASA’s commercial crew contracts.
It’s official: Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada are the winners of NASA’s commercial crew contracts.
Boeing will receive $460 million, SpaceX $440 million, and Sierra Nevada $212.5. All are planning to launch by 2015.
It’s official: Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada are the winners of NASA’s commercial crew contracts.
Boeing will receive $460 million, SpaceX $440 million, and Sierra Nevada $212.5. All are planning to launch by 2015.
Alan Boyle at NBC tonight reports that Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada are the winning companies in the competition to provide human ferrying services to ISS.
Alan Boyle at NBC tonight reports that Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada are the winning companies in the competition to provide human ferrying services to ISS, to be announced officially by NASA tomorrow.
The report does not provide dollar numbers. This Wall Street Journal story says that Boeing and SpaceX will be the prime contractors, which suggests that Sierra Nevada will be getting a smaller award.
Alan Boyle at NBC tonight reports that Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada are the winning companies in the competition to provide human ferrying services to ISS, to be announced officially by NASA tomorrow.
The report does not provide dollar numbers. This Wall Street Journal story says that Boeing and SpaceX will be the prime contractors, which suggests that Sierra Nevada will be getting a smaller award.
A new report predicts that the demand for suborbital spaceflight, both manned and unmanned, will rise by one third in the next ten years.
A new report predicts that the demand for suborbital spaceflight, both manned and unmanned, will likely rise by one third in the next ten years.
You can download the report here [pdf].
The report admits there are many unknowns, and that this prediction could be way off, in either direction.
A new report predicts that the demand for suborbital spaceflight, both manned and unmanned, will likely rise by one third in the next ten years.
You can download the report here [pdf].
The report admits there are many unknowns, and that this prediction could be way off, in either direction.
The Russians have successfully docked their Progress freighter to ISS, using a fast route that took only 6 hours.
The Russians have successfully docked their Progress freighter to ISS, using a fast route that took only 6 hours.
The Russians have successfully docked their Progress freighter to ISS, using a fast route that took only 6 hours.
NASA will announce the winners of the commercial crew contracts on Friday.
The rumors are now official: NASA will announce the winners of the commercial crew contracts on Friday.
The rumors are now official: NASA will announce the winners of the commercial crew contracts on Friday.
The house of the future, as predicted in 1957
a Progress freighter, launched today, will test a new rendezvous route that takes only 6 hours to reach the station instead of the normal 48.
Getting to ISS faster: a Progress freighter, launched today, is testing a new rendezvous route that takes only 6 hours to reach the station instead of the normal 48.
Getting to ISS faster: a Progress freighter, launched today, is testing a new rendezvous route that takes only 6 hours to reach the station instead of the normal 48.
The disappearance of the old-fashioned chemistry set.
The disappearance of the old-fashioned chemistry set.
Here’s what it used to be like, when we lived in a free society:
By the 1920s and 30s children had access to substances which would raise eyebrows in today’s more safety-conscious times. There were toxic ingredients in pesticides, as well as chemicals now used in bombs or considered likely to increase the risk of cancer. And most parents will not need to be told of the dangers of the sodium cyanide found in the interwar kits or the uranium dust present in the “nuclear” kits of the 1950s.
The disappearance of the old-fashioned chemistry set.
Here’s what it used to be like, when we lived in a free society:
By the 1920s and 30s children had access to substances which would raise eyebrows in today’s more safety-conscious times. There were toxic ingredients in pesticides, as well as chemicals now used in bombs or considered likely to increase the risk of cancer. And most parents will not need to be told of the dangers of the sodium cyanide found in the interwar kits or the uranium dust present in the “nuclear” kits of the 1950s.
The decision on NASA’s manned commercial crew contract will be made this week, according to new rumors.
The decision on NASA’s manned commercial crew contracts will be made this week, according to new rumors.
The decision on NASA’s manned commercial crew contracts will be made this week, according to new rumors.
China has announced plans to land an unmanned probe on the Moon next year, the first such planned landing since the 1970s.
Back to the Moon: China has announced plans to land an unmanned probe on the Moon next year, the first such planned landing since the 1970s.
Back to the Moon: China has announced plans to land an unmanned probe on the Moon next year, the first such planned landing since the 1970s.
The Roman Colosseum has been found to be leaning about sixteen inches to the south.
The Roman Colosseum has been found to be leaning about sixteen inches to the south.
The Roman Colosseum has been found to be leaning about sixteen inches to the south.
The Russians today successfully redocked their unmanned Progress freighter to ISS, using a new docking system.
Success: The Russians today successfully redocked their unmanned Progress freighter to ISS, using a new docking system.
Success: The Russians today successfully redocked their unmanned Progress freighter to ISS, using a new docking system.
The Marines have put in an order for 12,000 M1911 pistols, the iconic 45 caliber pistol designed by John Browning more than a 100 years ago and used by the American military for most of the first half of the 20th century.
Comeback: The Marines have put in an order for 12,000 M1911 pistols, the iconic 45 caliber pistol designed by John Browning more than a 100 years ago and used by the American military for most of the first half of the 20th century.
Comeback: The Marines have put in an order for 12,000 M1911 pistols, the iconic 45 caliber pistol designed by John Browning more than a 100 years ago and used by the American military for most of the first half of the 20th century.
Tesla Turret Opera (Cara Mia Addio)
July 28 has now been set for the next docking attempt by a Progress freighter to ISS using Russia’s new docking system.
July 28 has now been set for the next docking attempt by a Progress freighter to ISS to test Russia’s new docking system.
July 28 has now been set for the next docking attempt by a Progress freighter to ISS to test Russia’s new docking system.
The U.S. military is developing plans to recycle orbiting space junk into workable satellites.
The U.S. military is developing plans to recycle orbiting space junk into workable satellites.
The U.S. military is developing plans to recycle orbiting space junk into workable satellites.
Solar Impulse has successfully completed the first intercontinental roundtrip powered only by solar power.
A solar powered experimental airplane has successfully completed the first intercontinental roundtrip between Europe and Africa.
A solar powered experimental airplane has successfully completed the first intercontinental roundtrip between Europe and Africa.
Skydiver Felix Baumgartner has successfully completed an 18 mile dive in preparation for a record 23 mile dive next month.
Skydiver Felix Baumgartner has successfully completed an 18 mile dive in preparation for a record 23 mile dive next month.
Skydiver Felix Baumgartner has successfully completed an 18 mile dive in preparation for a record 23 mile dive next month.
One of Kepler’s reaction wheels — used to orient the space telescope — has failed.
Bad news: One of Kepler’s four reaction wheels — used to orient the space telescope — has failed.
Kepler only needs three wheels to function – one to control the probe’s motion along each axis – and the probe resumed its observations on 20 July. “Kepler is functioning very well on three reaction wheels,” says mission manager Roger Hunter of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. If the glitch can’t be fixed, though, Kepler will be left without a backup wheel. “This is reducing the odds of making the mission go as long as we can,” says Kepler chief scientist William Borucki of NASA Ames, who doubts that Kepler could point accurately enough to look for transiting planets if reduced to two reaction wheels. “It was a disappointing surprise to find this wheel stopped so early.”
Bad news: One of Kepler’s four reaction wheels — used to orient the space telescope — has failed.
Kepler only needs three wheels to function – one to control the probe’s motion along each axis – and the probe resumed its observations on 20 July. “Kepler is functioning very well on three reaction wheels,” says mission manager Roger Hunter of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. If the glitch can’t be fixed, though, Kepler will be left without a backup wheel. “This is reducing the odds of making the mission go as long as we can,” says Kepler chief scientist William Borucki of NASA Ames, who doubts that Kepler could point accurately enough to look for transiting planets if reduced to two reaction wheels. “It was a disappointing surprise to find this wheel stopped so early.”
Mars Odyssey has successfully adjusted its orbit so as to provide up-to-the-minute communications when Curiosity lands on August 5.
Good news: Mars Odyssey has successfully adjusted its orbit so as to provide up-to-the-minute communications when Curiosity lands on August 5.
Good news: Mars Odyssey has successfully adjusted its orbit so as to provide up-to-the-minute communications when Curiosity lands on August 5.
A test redocking of a new automatic docking system on a Russian Progress freighter was aborted last night when the system did not work as planned.
A test redocking of a new automatic docking system on a Russian Progress freighter was aborted last night when the system did not work as planned.
They will probably try again on the weekend, after a Japanese cargo craft is berthed with the station.
A test redocking of a new automatic docking system on a Russian Progress freighter was aborted last night when the system did not work as planned.
They will probably try again on the weekend, after a Japanese cargo craft is berthed with the station.
NASA successfully tested a new inflatable heat shield today.
NASA successfully tested a new inflatable heat shield today in a suborbital flight at Wallops Island..
NASA successfully tested a new inflatable heat shield today in a suborbital flight at Wallops Island..
Ten hotels made of weird things.
Ten hotels made of weird things.
Ten hotels made of weird things.
A new study has found strong evidence that compact fluorescent bulbs can harm the skin.
Oy. A new study has found strong evidence that compact fluorescent bulbs can harm the skin.
Oy. A new study has found strong evidence that compact fluorescent bulbs can harm the skin.
The oldest known color videotape recording: President Eisenhower in 1958
The oldest known color videotape recording: President Eisenhower in 1958.
The oldest known color videotape recording: President Eisenhower in 1958.
Archimedes – Marble Roller Coaster
The next Russian manned capsule and rocket?
What would happen if a fastball pitcher could throw a baseball at 90% speed of light?
Answering the important questions: What would happen if a fastball pitcher could throw a baseball at 90% speed of light?
Answering the important questions: What would happen if a fastball pitcher could throw a baseball at 90% speed of light?