Archive for the ‘space’ category: Page 973
Jan 20, 2016
Solar system may host 9th planet, a distant super-Earth
Posted by Dan Kummer in category: space
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 20 (UPI) — Astronomers at Caltech say they’ve discovered significant evidence of a large, hidden body at the edge of the solar system — a 9th planet. The team of researchers have dubbed the body “Planet Nine.”
The scientists haven’t actually seen Planet Nine. No one has. But they’ve inferred its presence by studying the orbits of several icy objects beyond Neptune. Scientists noticed the orbits of these Kuiper belt objects, or KBOs, feature similar anomalies.
The orbital oddities suggested the objects were all being affected by a singular source, the gravity of a large object.
Jan 20, 2016
New player Masten eyes Space Coast for launches, research
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: business, space
A scrappy but successful startup in the space industry, Masten Space Systems, is making new moves toward opening an office at Cape Canaveral.
Masten recently hired former NASA engineer Jason Hopkins as a business-development scout at Kennedy Space Center.
“I’m basically paving the way to get us set up here and have an office here,” Hopkins said. “Masten is a very small, efficient company, with about 30 people total at the Mojave (Calif.) Air and Space Port. We are considering another office here with the same capabilities.”
Jan 19, 2016
Objet d’Art: A Space Oddity — By Rachel Small | Interview Magazine
Posted by Odette Bohr Dienel in categories: media & arts, space, space travel
“Though humble in appearance, this object is the product of great ambitions. Dubbed a “Lunar Rake,” it was designed and manufactured in the late 1960s in partnership with NASA. A facsimile of the implement that astronauts would theoretically use to scrape up dust on the moon, this model was used only during training.”
Jan 18, 2016
4 Cosmic Phenomena That Travel Faster Than The Speed Of Light
Posted by Sean Brazell in categories: particle physics, space
Hopefully one day soon we’ll be able to add a fifth cosmic phenomena that can travel faster than the speed of light to the list — humanity.
When Albert Einstein first predicted that light travels the same speed everywhere in our universe, he essentially stamped a speed limit on it: 670,616,629 miles per hour — fast enough to circle the entire Earth eight times every second.
But that’s not the entire story. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
Continue reading “4 Cosmic Phenomena That Travel Faster Than The Speed Of Light” »
Jan 18, 2016
Space elevators will become feasible
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: materials, satellites, space
The material to create space elevators will be developed by 2030, enabling a new golden age of space travel, according to a study published in the journal New Space.
“The material needed to have a 100,000 km rope will become real before 2030 and enable the creation of this low-cost access to space,” wrote Cathy W Swan, of SouthWest Analytic Network, Peter A Swan and John M Knapman, of the International Space Elevator Consortium, and David I Raitt, retired from the European Space Agency.
A space elevator would make launching people, satellites and craft into geostationary orbit dramatically cheaper than at present, with the researchers estimating it would drop from the current prices of $25,000 per kg for commercial launches and $40,000 per kg for governmental launches to $100 per kg for materials.
Jan 18, 2016
It’s surprisingly difficult to play guitar in space — By Mike Murphy | Quartz
Posted by Odette Bohr Dienel in categories: media & arts, space
“Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who lived aboard the International Space Station from 2012 to 2013, recently explained to CBC Music how difficult it was to play guitar in space, along with some pointers for future space musicians.”
Jan 18, 2016
China will visit the dark side of the moon in 2018. Here’s why you should care
Posted by Karen Hurst in category: space
Hmmm; China to explore the “dark side” of the moon by 2018. And, potential huge pay off in the form of rich mineral deposits is the key.
China’s going to land on the dark side of the moon, for the first time in human history. That means more than you might realize.
Jan 17, 2016
NASA Teaching Robonaut to Perform Surgery
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: biotech/medical, education, humor, robotics/AI, space
The real question is: “what is the healing time in space v. earth? What is the risk of infection on earth v. space when surgery is performed in space?” If stats show patient survival, healing, and low to no infection rates in space v. earth; we could see a time when hospital colonies in space exist to handle initially complicated and high risks surgeries by robots v. earth.
NASA is grooming its robonauts to eventually perform surgery on people living in remote areas, like space. Lisa D’Souza has more on the future droid docs.
Continue reading “NASA Teaching Robonaut to Perform Surgery” »
Jan 16, 2016
Belgian Astronomers Pay Tribute to David Bowie With New Constellation
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in category: space
Belgian astronomers have paid tribute to David Bowie with a constellation of seven stars that form the ‘Aladdin Sane’ lightning bolt.
