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Friday, 28 September 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight Update
I posted a while back about a story from the Korean media reporting that famed game developer Richard Garriott was going to be the first "second-generation astronaut" in an upcoming commercial spaceflight to the International Space Station via Soyuz.Space travel agent company Space Adventures has now officially announced the flight, scheduled for October 2008, and Garriott has established a homepage for the flight.
I don't really have anything new to add myself since my last post about it, but I still think this is just incredibly cool.
Used tags: altspace, garriott, international_space_station, roskosmos, skylab, soyuz, space
Space Race '08
Another installment in my series of posts about space-related comments by presidential candidates:Democrats
Various
Dodd said that “we’re doing okay” and left it at that. Biden professed his support for robotic programs, and when asked about human spaceflight, said, “With clear leadership we can do anything, good luck.” Kucinich said he would double spending “across the board on civilian projects and privatize where we can”, and gave a shout-out for NASA Glenn Research Center, in his district. Richardson said spaceflight was “important” and added that “we should also encourage private companies”, as he has been doing in New Mexico. -- Space Politics, 28 September 2007
It joins the previous entries:
Republicans
Rudy Giuliani
"He said he supported continuing to aggressively pursue space exploration." -- The Tallahassee Democrat, 5 April 2007
Newt Gingrich
"...he said he would ... offer a $20 billion reward for the first private company that successfully completes a Mars mission. 'Somebody would be there and back about 40 percent of the way into the NASA process.'" -- Boston.com, 9 June 2007
Mitt Romney
"Regarding NASA's plans to return to the moon and Mars, he said he hadn't decided if that was the exact plan he'd pursue, 'but I have no reason to change that at this point.'" -- Florida Today, 7 August 2007
Democrats
Bill Richardson
"He did say that he sees space as 'a bona fide area of economic growth and opportunity'..." -- Space Politics, 4 June 2007
John Edwards
"I am a strong supporter of our space program. It reflects the best of the American spirit of optimism, discovery and progress.
We need a balanced space and aeronautics program. We need to support solar system exploration as an important goal for our human and robotic programs, but only as one goal among several. And we need to invite other countries to share in a meaningful way in both the adventure and the cost of space exploration." -- A Blog Around The Clock, 9 July 2007
STS-120 Update
Discovery is scheduled to begin its six-hour roll-out to Pad 39A tomorrow at 7 a.m. CDT for the STS-120 mission. According to the current schedule, launch is 25 days away.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Next Year
Despite the fact that this is apparently eight years old, I'd never seen it.
Used tags: apollo, music, nasa, space, youtube
Underground Press
When I went to the Yahoo News main page and saw the headline "Alabama city reopening fallout shelters" as one of the top U.S. News stories, I was intrigued, and wondered which Alabama city it was.As it turns out, it's this one.
Used tags: history, huntsville
Trek XI Update
Will Mike Vogel be Kirk?
Used tags: movies, rumors, star_trek, star_trek_xi
Another Knight
According to Variety, NBC is bringing back Knight Rider. Kinda.Peacock is readying a two-hour backdoor pilot for the project, with tentative plans to air it as a telepic later this season. ... If the telepic clicks, a new-model "Knight Rider" could be on the air as early as next fall.Shapeshifting cars? I just don't know. I just don't know.
...
Success of "Transformers" had a role in inspiring NBC Entertainment chief Ben Silverman's decision to revive "Knight." The thinking is that smallscreen f/x have advanced to the point where it'd be feasible to have a weekly series in which cars shift shapes.
...
It's also likely the new show will explore the idea of "evil" cars to offset the heroic talking K.I.T.T. car of the original skein, which starred David Hasselhoff. That said, skein is expected to essentially remain focused on the story of a single man fighting for justice with the help of his superadvanced car.
Me, I'd be all about a Knight Rider movie with David Hasselhoff. My potential interest in other reincarnations decreases from there. I'd probably watch a Ronald Moore re-imagining, since he's done OK with Glen Larson projects in the past.
I'd also be all about "Knight Ridder Rider," about a reporter and his talking car. They could go around having adventures and covering news. The fact that the car could talk would let it help with interviews sometimes.
Knight Ridder Rider, a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a media that barely continues to exist. Michael Knight, a young reporter on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, and also, of course, the corporate shareholders, in a world of criminals who make the laws."
Used tags: media, newspapers, television
Rising Dawn
NASA's Dawn spacecraft launched this morning on a Delta II rocket, beginning a four-year journey to the asteroid belt, where it will encounter the dwarf planet Ceres and the asteroid Vesta. Through an unprecedented study of these two bodies, scientists hope that Dawn will help them learn more about the early solar system.
Failure IS An Option
There's really no point in me writing an entry about the controversy over the Rocky Mountain Collegian's "Taser This" editorial, since this Editor & Publisher column pretty well sums up what I would want to say.But, nonetheless: I don't know that I agree with the editorial's sentiment. But I do agree with the paper's right to express it.
That said, it certainly could have been expressed better. Not simply "better" in terms of being less crude, but better in terms of being more effective. Shock value does make an impact, but it's generally a fleeting, superficial thing -- the medium becomes the message. The editorial undercuts its own purpose. People don't care about the relative merits of the point it was trying to make; those arguments get lost in the meta-argument about the way the point was presented.
This was, rather, quite simply, a college student trying to be clever.
Which is something I recognize quite well. Because I've been there. Not in this way; I was never crude, though I certainly knew people who experimented in that area. But, yes, I experimented with trying things at The Daily Mississippian, Preview and Spare Time that I would not have done in my professional career.
A big reason I would not have done them in my professional career, however, is that I had already done them. I tried them, realized they were mistakes, and moved on.
And, that, really, is what a student newspaper should be -- a learning experience.
That doesn't mean student journalists shouldn't try to be professional. There are some things that you know are childish, and those are to be avoided. But college is a point in your career where you think you have brilliant ideas. You think you're innovative in a way that staid professionals have lost the ability to be.
It's not about thinking, "Oh, this is just a student paper, so I don't have to be professional." It's about thinking, "If I were running The New York Times, I would do this..." And so you try it. Sometimes it works, and you have a fresh idea you can carry into your professional career. More often, you try it, and you realize that, hey, maybe there is a reason The New York Times doesn't do that.
So, yes, let students be students. Let them make mistakes. Let them do stupid things.
Because students who have the opportunity to fail become professionals tempered by the wisdom that comes only from experience. The become professionals who can innovate, because they are familiar with what happens when you do.
And in today's newspaper industry, having more people capable of informed innovation would not be a bad thing at all.
Used tags: media, newspapers, politics, writing
Write Place, Wrong Time
Not only is this week's new Hatbag strip now online, but we have our first "later that day" bonus strip in quite a while. Go check it out.For those ATW readers who don't follow the weekly Hatbag link, a brief explanation -- Hatbag is a weekly webcomic Lain and I create; following two old college buddies as they adjust to sort-of grown-up life. If you read ATW, take a few extra seconds to go read Hatbag. Please? Please?
Used tags: comics, funny, hatbag, writing
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Crosscutting O.J.
So I was pleased to see that a complaint has been filed by a South Carolina inmate alleging that O.J. Simpson has been Steve Jobs' "hitman" for two decades.
This is crosscutting because, of course, not only is Simpson apparently involved in a big Apple conspiracy, he's also part of a big space conspiracy as well -- O.J. was framed by the government for his part in trying to reveal that the Apollo moon landings were faked. I'm not sure what that says about Steve's position on the moon hoax, but I guess it makes sense to use someone who's being framed for fake crimes to do your dirty work, since nobody will know which things he really did and which were made up.
Used tags: apollo, funny, moon, steve_jobs
Friday, 21 September 2007
Dave-Friend Book-Pimping Update
OK, a few updates:
I have finished reading Bohemian New Orleans: The Story of the Outsider and Loujon Press
by Jeff Weddle, whom I knew when he worked as the library director in Indianola, Miss., and my review is coming just as soon as I have time to write it. The short version: It was really good.Having finished that, I have now picked up my copy of Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.
, by Jesse Holland, my former editor at The Daily Mississippian. I couldn't even make it through the preface before having to e-mail him, as he mentions on his book blog. As slowly as I'm reading this days, it will unfortunately be a while before I have a review, but, in the meantime, you can check out articles from Politico and The (Holly Springs, Miss.) South Reporter.Even more slowly, I'm working through In the Shadow of the Moon: A Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965-1969
Francis French and Colin Burgess' second book in the Outward Odyssey series, and the sequel to Into That Silent Sea: Trailblazers of the Space Era, 1961-1965
. In the meantime, though, here's a review of that book, as well.Buy! Buy! Buy! Buy!
Used tags: apollo, history, journalism, media, mississippi, moon, nasa, ole_miss, space, writing
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Who Wants To Be An Astronaut?
Per NASA:NASA is accepting applications for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class. Those selected could fly to space for long-duration stays on the International Space Station and missions to the moon.
"We look forward to gathering applications and then being able to select from the largest pool possible," said Ellen Ochoa, NASA's chief of Flight Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center. "Continuing our impressive record in successfully carrying out challenging human spaceflight missions depends on maintaining a talented and diverse astronaut corps."
To be considered, a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience are required. Typically, successful applicants have significant qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience flying high-performance jet aircraft.
Teaching experience, including work at the kindergarten through 12th grade level, is considered qualifying. Educators with the appropriate educational background are encouraged to apply.
After a six-month period of evaluation and interviews, NASA will announce final selections in early 2009. Astronaut candidates will report to Johnson in the summer of 2009 to begin the basic training program to prepare them for future spaceflight assignments.
NASA will accept applications through July 1, 2008. To apply visit:
http://www.usajobs.gov
Used tags: astronaut, nasa, space
Monday, 17 September 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight
The Korean press is reporting that Richard Garriott will visit the International Space Station next year.Garriott is perhaps best known as "Lord British," creator of the Ultima series of computer games. He's also the son of Owen Garriott, Skylab and shuttle astronaut and co-author of the forthcoming Homesteading Space.
I've wondered for a while if this is not just a matter of time. Richard is very passionate about spaceflight, and has been a major player in the commercial spaceflight movement. To the best of my knowledge, if this happens, he'll become the first spaceflight scion to make a spaceflight himself, which is a fascinating milestone.
Used tags: altspace, garriott, international_space_station, roskosmos, skylab, soyuz, space
Bang! Zoom!
The international return to the moon continued Friday with the launch of Japan's SELENE spacecraft.
The Selenological and Engineering Explorer - or SELENE - is the first of four lunar explorers set for launch before the end of next year. Orbiters from China, India and the United States will soon join (SELENE) at the moon.SELENE is scheduled to arrive in its lunar orbit in about 40 days, and will then undergo two months of tests before its science mission of lunar composition analysis gets fully underway.
STS-120 Update
Per Spaceflight Now:Engineers are assessing an apparent hydraulic leak in the shuttle Discovery's right-side main landing gear strut. If internal seals have to be replaced, launch on a space station assembly mission could slip a few days, officials said today, but they cautioned that it's not yet clear how long such repairs might actually take.
The leak was discovered during routine testing in preparation for the shuttle's rollover from its processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building for attachment to an external fuel tank and solid-fuel boosters. As of Friday, rollout to launch pad 39A was targeted for Sept. 27, setting the stage for launch Oct. 23.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Friday, 14 September 2007
Dropping Robots On History
One more thought about the Google Lunar X Prize, so if you're not up on it, read the next post first.There's been talk for quite a while about whether the Apollo landings sites on the moon should receive some sort of international historic preservation status. Perhaps the biggest factor in that not having happened yet is that there just hasn't been any reason to take it seriously. Even if you agree that you would hate to see Alan Shepard's golf ball on eBay, the truth is, there just hasn't been much danger that anyone's going to go get it any time soon.
With the new X Prize, however, it may well be time to give the issue more serious consideration. According to The New York Times:
An additional $5 million would be awarded for other tasks that include roving more than 5,500 yards or sending back images of artifacts like lunar landers from the Apollo program.In other words, the prize is set up to encourage competitors to take pictures of these sites, and, obviously, you increase your chances of being able to do that the closer you land to them.
I doubt that any competitor would intentionally endanger Apollo artifacts, but when you're dealing with cutting-edge technologies (at least for this sector), there is a risk of problems. And the idea of large objects falling out of the sky, out of control, near, say, Armstrong and Aldrin's footprints just makes me a little nervous.
Used tags: altspace, apollo, google, history, moon, nasa, rovers, space
Ex Luna, Quo
I was a big fan of the original X Prize. I donated money and followed the developments.So, in theory, the idea of a new space-related X Prize excites me. Now that the particulars have been announced (and ended up being much as a friend and I anticipated), I'm a little disappointed.
Actually, with a bit of time to think about it, I'm a little more OK about one of the areas of disappointment. My first concern was that the new space X Prize won't have the same public excitement effect of the original; that a small rover on the moon doesn't have the impact of a private citizen reaching space on a private vehicle. The truth is, though, that there's no reason it couldn't have a major public impact; that reality is that the impact an event has an the mainstream consciousness is determined, as much as by what the event is, by how it is covered. And with Google involved, it's possible that, if this competition is won, it could be presented in a way that would stir interest.
My bigger concern, though, is where this leads. The original X Prize was instrumental in creating an industry. It was vital in the formation of Virgin Galactic. It stirred public interest in space tourism. Even "losing" competitors in the Ansari X Prize came out of it with something; many of them are leveraging the technology to continue to pursue suborbital commercial spaceflight or other projects. But with the Google Lunar X Prize, what happens after it's over? What application is there for the capabilities?
I'll be curious to see how this pans out.
Used tags: altspace, google, moon, rovers, space, virgin_galactic
50 Years
Just weeks before the agency's 49th anniversary, NASA has unveiled the logo for its 50th anniversary celebration.
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Today In History
Forty-five years ago yesterday, Kennedy gave his Rice University speech:
So it is not surprising that some would have us stay where we are a little longer to rest, to wait. But this city of Houston, this State of Texas, this country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward -- and so will space.
...
If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred. The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all time, and no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in the race for space.
Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolutions, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it -- we mean to lead it. For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding.
...
We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people.
...
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.
...
Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, "Because it is there."
Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.
Used tags: apollo, constellation, history, moon, nasa, space
Monday, 10 September 2007
Spaceport America
Recently released artist's rendering of Spaceport America, "the nation's first purpose-built commercial spaceport."
Used tags: altspace, space, virgin_galactic
STS-120 Update
Per Spaceflight Now:NASA managers are expected to add a fifth spacewalk to the shuttle Discovery's upcoming space station assembly mission, officials say. The additional EVA will be devoted to testing a heat-shield repair tool that could prove useful in the event of damage like the tile gouge experienced during the last shuttle mission.
...
But the repair tool, a caulk gun-like device called the TPS repair ablator dispenser, or T-RAD, has never been tested in space. NASA had planned to test it on a mission next year, but after the Endeavour incident, managers started discussions aimed at moving it up to Discovery's mission.
Used tags: nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Friday, 7 September 2007
STS-120 Update
Per Space.com:NASA engineers attached the space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank to its twin rocket boosters Wednesday following a week of repairs to avoid the same type of foam debris that dinged the Endeavour orbiter during liftoff earlier this month.
Shuttle workers are now readying Discovery to move into NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida in preparation for its planned Oct. 23 launch toward the International Space Station (ISS).
...
Engineers removed the ablator layers from four of five brackets with the cracks on Discovery's fuel tank and plan future repairs for the next two tanks that will support shuttle flights in December and February.
...
Commanded by veteran shuttle flyer Pam Melroy, Discovery's STS-120 construction mission will deliver the new Harmony connecting node to the ISS, where it will serve as a foundation for the future addition of international laboratories. Once attached to its fuel tank and rocket boosters, Discovery will roll out to its KSC launch pad in late September, Diller said.
Used tags: launch_schedule, nasa, space, space_shuttle, sts_120
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Today In History
On this date 30 years ago, Voyager 1 began the journey that has led to it being the most remote object created by humanity.
Used tags: history, nasa, space
Friday, 28 September 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight Update
Space Adventures officially announces Garriott's flight. (Read Entry)
Space Race '08
Comments from Democratic also-runnings. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Roll-out is scheduled for tomorrow. (Read Entry)Thursday, 27 September 2007
Next Year
Cool Foo Fighters video. (Read Entry)
Underground Press
Huntsville looks at reviving fallout shelters. (Read Entry)
Trek XI Update
Has the new Kirk been found? (Read Entry)
Another Knight
NBC is "bringing back" Knight Rider (Read Entry)
Rising Dawn
Asteroid spacecraft it on its way. (Read Entry)
Failure IS An Option
Student journalism is about making mistakes. (Read Entry)
Write Place, Wrong Time
The week's Hatbag strip is now online. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Crosscutting O.J.
Is Simpson hit man for Steve Jobs? (Read Entry)Friday, 21 September 2007
Dave-Friend Book-Pimping Update
Links to reviews for a couple of books. (Read Entry)Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Who Wants To Be An Astronaut?
NASA opens up applications for next class. (Read Entry)Monday, 17 September 2007
Next-Generation Spaceflight
Richard Garriott reported to be in line for ISS flight. (Read Entry)
Bang! Zoom!
Japanese lunar spacecraft enters Earth orbit. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Leak may delay launch. (Read Entry)Friday, 14 September 2007
Dropping Robots On History
Could Google X Prize endanger artifacts. (Read Entry)
Ex Luna, Quo
Google, X Prize team up for lunar competition. (Read Entry)
50 Years
NASA unveils anniversary logo. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Today In History
"We choose to go to the moon..." (Read Entry)Monday, 10 September 2007
Spaceport America
Plans are revealed. (Read Entry)
STS-120 Update
Repair test EVA added to mission plans. (Read Entry)Friday, 7 September 2007
STS-120 Update
Stacking has begun. (Read Entry)Wednesday, 5 September 2007