Which near-Earth asteroids are ripe for a visit?
Which near-Earth asteroids are ripe for a visit?
Which near-Earth asteroids are ripe for a visit?
Tag: spaceflight
Which near-Earth asteroids are ripe for a visit?
The first image from Mercury orbit
The first image from Mercury orbit.
The first image from Mercury orbit.
Decommissioning of Discovery has started
The disassembly and decommissioning of the space shuttle Discovery has started.
The disassembly and decommissioning of the space shuttle Discovery has started.
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocks from ISS
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocked from ISS today.
Japan’s unmanned freighter undocked from ISS today.
Secret X-37B Space Plane Spotted Again by Amateurs
The X-37B space plane has been spotted again by amateurs.
The X-37B space plane has been spotted again by amateurs.
More on the NASA space war
More on the space war over NASA from Jeff Foust of The Space Review. Also read this Aviation Week article.
Overall, it is still a mess, with much of the money allocated to NASA a complete waste that will not get us into space.
More on the space war over NASA from Jeff Foust of The Space Review. Also read this Aviation Week article.
Overall, it is still a mess, with much of the money allocated to NASA a complete waste that will not get us into space.
Send the space-bureaucrats to Mars
A new Russian rocket
No Vision = No Innovation
An critique of NASA: No vision equals no innovation.
That NASA (and our government) lacks vision is not necessarily a bad thing. For the first time in decades, this is leaving room for new and independent companies to move in and fill the vacuum left by NASA. In the end, I think we will be far better off.
An critique of NASA: No vision equals no innovation.
That NASA (and our government) lacks vision is not necessarily a bad thing. For the first time in decades, this is leaving room for new and independent companies to move in and fill the vacuum left by NASA. In the end, I think we will be far better off.
Russians set date for next Soyuz launch to ISS
The Russians have set the new date, April 5, for next manned Soyuz launch to ISS.
The Russians have set the new date, April 5, for next manned Soyuz launch to ISS.
Dawn Opens its Eyes, Checks its Instruments
All systems go! Dawn did a camera and instrument checkout last week, in preparation for its summertime arrival at the asteroid Vesta.
All systems go! Dawn did a camera and instrument checkout last week, in preparation for its summertime arrival at the asteroid Vesta.
The first death in space
The first death in space.
The first death in space.
The first spacewalk
An evening pause: Forty-six years ago today Alexei Leonov became the first man to walk in space. This Soviet-era film shows practically the entire event, using footage from two cameras. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Russian and it is not subtitled. I’d love it if someone out there could provide a translation.
Several things to note as you watch:
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European Space Missions to Go It Alone After NASA Yanks Support
The mess from the NASA space war spreads: Three European space science missions are now on their own after the U.S. the space agency pulls funding.
The mess from the NASA space war spreads: Three European space science missions are now on their own after the U.S. the space agency pulls funding.
Treasures of the Soviet Union’s space industry
Treasures from the Soviet Union’s space history.
Treasures from the Soviet Union’s space history.
Messenger has successfully entered orbit around Mercury
After an almost seven year journey, Messenger has successfully entered orbit around Mercury. More here.
After an almost seven year journey, Messenger has successfully entered orbit around Mercury. More here.
Messenger probe set to orbit Mercury
After years of travel, the probe Messenger finally goes into orbit around Mercury tonight.
After years of travel, the probe Messenger finally goes into orbit around Mercury tonight.
Satellite Builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat
Sour grapes: Satellite builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat orbiting satellites.
No surprise here. If Intelsat can extend the life of its satellites, than it won’t have to buy them as often from these builders, something the builders clearly don’t want.
Sour grapes: Satellite builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat orbiting satellites.
No surprise here. If Intelsat can extend the life of its satellites, than it won’t have to buy them as often from these builders, something the builders clearly don’t want.
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule.
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule.
The strange tale of the Lebanese space race
The strange tale of the Lebanese space program.
The strange tale of the Lebanese space program.
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about.
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about.
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites.
The concept of refueling geosynchronous satellites has been lurking about the aerospace industry for years. According to this deal, we should see an actual mission in about five years.
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites.
The concept of refueling geosynchronous satellites has been lurking about the aerospace industry for years. According to this deal, we should see an actual mission in about five years.
Russia Delays Launch of Soyuz Capsule to Space Station
Problems going up and going down: Not only are there issues with the Soyuz capsule that is scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, a problem in the communications system of the next Soyuz capsule has caused the Russians to delay its launch by at least one week.
Problems going up and going down: Not only are there issues with the Soyuz capsule that is scheduled to return to Earth on Wednesday, a problem in the communications system of the next Soyuz capsule has caused the Russians to delay its launch by at least one week.
Soyuz TMA-M ballistic return possible
The return of a crew from ISS on Wednesday via a new upgraded Soyuz capsule might have problems.
The return of a crew from ISS on Wednesday via a new upgraded Soyuz capsule might have problems.
Sergei Korolev: the rocket genius behind Yuri Gagarin
Sergei Korolev: the rocket genius behind Yuri Gagarin.
Sergei Korolev: the rocket genius behind Yuri Gagarin.
Japanese quake disrupts space station operations
The 8.9 earthquake has shut down the Japanese space station mission control center, forcing NASA to take over monitoring Japanese ISS modules.
The 8.9 earthquake has shut down the Japanese space station mission control center, forcing NASA to take over monitoring Japanese ISS modules.
Virgin Galactic surpasses $10 million in ticket sales
Virgin Galactic surpassed $10 million in space tourism sales in 2010.
Virgin Galactic surpassed $10 million in space tourism sales in 2010.
Putting ISS to use
Putting ISS to use. Key quote:
Under consideration is using the entire station and its six-person crew as an analog for a deep-space human exploration vehicle en route to Mars. An internal team is studying the feasibility and value of such an exercise in the summer of 2012. “We might start with a small window, like a 30-day window, with actual time delays with what we’d expect with a Martian communications system,” Gerstenmaier says. “We may freeze our consumables on station, in the sense of saying that we’ve started our voyage to Mars, and see how well we do in our predictions.”
Putting ISS to use. Key quote:
Under consideration is using the entire station and its six-person crew as an analog for a deep-space human exploration vehicle en route to Mars. An internal team is studying the feasibility and value of such an exercise in the summer of 2012. “We might start with a small window, like a 30-day window, with actual time delays with what we’d expect with a Martian communications system,” Gerstenmaier says. “We may freeze our consumables on station, in the sense of saying that we’ve started our voyage to Mars, and see how well we do in our predictions.”
Russian Satellite Nearly Collided with Korean Weather Satellite
A Russian military satellite nearly collided with a Korean weather satellite earlier this week.
A Russian military satellite nearly collided with a Korean weather satellite earlier this week.
Maiden flight of the space shuttle Discovery
An evening pause:I had played this video as an evening pause back in November, when I thought the last mission of the space shuttle Discovery would be launched. Now that it has finally landed, completing its final mission, I think worthwhile to once again go back in time and watch a film of the shuttle’s maiden flight, launched August 30, 1984, narrated by the astronauts themselves. Note that the female astronaut on this flight is Judith Resnik, who died a little over a year and a half later in the Challenger accident.