“Houston, we have a problem.”
Eagle this is Houston, what’s poppin? Over?
“Yeah, so.. I float over to where the cooler’s supposed to be, but in it’s place there’s this…I’m looking at this machine labeled “Urine Recycler”. Over.”
Don’t tell me it’s broken again! Dammit Timmy, I thought I told you to fix the Urine Recycler on the Endeavour!
“Houston, Houston: I don’t think it’s broken.”
What? So what’s the problem?
“The concept is the problem Houston. I have a problem with the whole freaking concept behind this machine.”
Eagle we spent $154 million on the Urine Recycler –
“And I spent half of my life training to do what? Drink my own — Jeebus Houston! How much does Gatorade cost nowadays?! How much for tap water?! What is this, Jackass? Am I being Punk’d or something?”
Eagle it’s not always urine; it also recycles moisture and sweat–
“I’m crashing the ISS on your ass in 3-2-1 you sadists.”
[via Scientific American]
Written by lambert v. on November 30th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Ah, science. How you intrigue me. Take for instance what NASA is up to. Their Stratospheric Observatory Infrared Astronomy or SOFIA airborne telescope is nearing its first day on the job (though that’s still three years away) and the device just got its picture taken for all to see.
Made by modifying a Boeing 747, the SOFIA features a 2.5-meter telescope and just received a High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation. This latter object will make it possible to measure the surfaces of objects and atmospheres. The last tests are now underway and scientific missions will begin in 2011.
While not a space telescope, the SOFIA will suffer greater daily wear and tear when put into commission. That’s why so much care has gone into constructing its door system and vibration handling. Since it will be up in the air, it should be able to take much clearer pictures without as much atmospheric interference.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on November 28th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Swiss watchmaker Romain Jerome has released something new and amazingly awesome in the “Moon Dust-DNA” collection. It’s a collection of 1969 timepieces that includes watches made from such things as moon dust, parts of the Apollo 11 rocket and even pieces actual spacesuits. Why 1969 timepieces? That was the year of the first moon landing.
The dials feature tiny craters with dust in them from moon rocks, the cases include bits of steel from the Apollo 11 space shuttle and the strap gets the same treatment, containing fibers from a spacesuit worn during the ISS mission. So if you want to get yourself several pieces of things that have actually been in space, this is a good way to do it. Pricing for the Moon Dust-DNA watches is also out of this world, starting at $15,000 and goes as high as $500,000.
[Born Rich]
Written by Conner Flynn on November 16th, 2008 with no comments.
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Wow. This is just plain cool. Apparently, astronomers have successfully taken the first images of planets that fall outside of our solar system. In fact, these planets that orbit stars other than our own, were photographed using new imaging techniques.
Four planets in total were photographed circling two different stars. And while we know of about 300 planets out of our solar system, this is the first time any of them have been photographically captured.
The problem with imaging before is that stars were so bright, they’d make it impossible to detect the planets nearby. But now by using a coronograph, astronomers were able to mask a star’s brightness, making a false eclipse and make it so photos could be taken of objects that normally appear invisible.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on November 14th, 2008 with no comments.
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For those interested in space and NASA, you’ll most likely be saddened to learn that the Mars Phoenix ends its mission yesterday. Yes, the little robot that found water on the barren planet stopped communicating with Earth yesterday, officially bringing the project to a close.
Interestingly enough, the Mars Phoenix was very connected on the Internet and would offer updates as to its status by means of Twitter. Standard status updates were the typical fare, like when the Phoenix went into safe mode and when it found its solar panels blocked by dust storms.
But the Phoenix also cracked wise more than a few times, answered questions and even participated in Talk Like a Pirate Day. But now that the Mars Phoenix has ended its run, all we can do is look back on what transpired and hope for more innovative projects from NASA.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on November 11th, 2008 with no comments.
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Can you believe it, folks? NASA started up for business 50 years ago today on October 1, 1958 when the first employees sat down to a day’s work. And even better yet, NASA is still doing what they do best: giving us permission to look to the sky in wonder with a tangible hope of knowing what lies beyond our world.
NASA has done many an impressive thing over the past 50 years. There were the moon landings, the space stations, satellite launches and more. And of course, they have been associated with a few tragedies as well including the Challenger, Columbia and a launchpad fire.
But one thing that remains the same today as it did back when NASA began is the spirit of discovery. There may have been a few roadblocks here and there but it is in the name of science we persevere. Happy Birthday NASA!
[via Gearlog]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on October 1st, 2008 with no comments.
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After many blunders, the SpaceX Falcon 1 has reached orbit successfully. The privately-funded rocket program, backed by Elon Musk, has finally been realized after three attempts that failed, resulting in the scattering of “Scotty,” actor James Montgomery Doohan from Star Trek fame’s ashes over the Pacific Ocean and a few explosions.
The entire thing may have been filled with flubs but the important thing is they’ve done it now. This was a great step toward fully private launches. The really cool thing is that the rocket did not use any governmentally-developed hardware. This was all unique and original equipment.
Even more impressive, just 550 people helped make this Space X launch possible. When you get right down to it, that’s incredible. Falcon 1 is set to launch again for Malaysia and the Falcon 9, a larger rocket, is set to take flight by Q2 in 2009.
[via Gizmodo]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on September 29th, 2008 with no comments.
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Looking like something that David Bowie might have worn during while wearing a skin-tight silver jumpsuit during his Space Oddity / Starman phase, the latest digital watch from Diesel definitely makes a bold statement (if you happen to be a 1970s glam rocker).
The DZ7090 not only features a futuristic dot-matrix LCD digital face, but enshrouds it in a shiny patent silver metallic band that’s sure to bring out the Major Tom in you. And if silver isn’t your thing, there’s also an even more gaudy gold version (but that might get you kicked out of the Space Academy, you rebel, you.)
And speaking of Bowie in space, please relax and enjoy this musical interlude…
Click here to view the embedded video clip.
And just like the androgynous Bowie before it, the watch fits either men or women. So what are you waiting for? Get in your spaceship, blast off for the Diesel Time Frames shop, and plunk down your $140 spacebucks (or is that Starbucks?)
Written by technabob on September 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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