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orion

ouch

NASA Tests Orion Parachute (Result: Spectacular Failure)

Filed under the "good thing we tried it out first" department is this recent test of Shuttle-replacement Orion's parachute re-entry system. Based on the same system used for Apollo, the group of eight parachutes deploys after re-entry, ensuring the Orion capsule glides down back to terra firma for a pillow-soft landing. That's what's supposed to happen, anyway. More »

space

New Space Suits Deal Cancelled: Astronaut's Wardrobes Bare

Back in June we brought you the news that NASA's astronauts would be wearing brand new-designed space suits when they walk on the Moon next. But now it looks like the firm Oceaneering, who had been awarded the contract, have had the deal pulled by the government after protests about the procurement from a rival suit manufacturer. It's a $745 million contract for 109 suits (24 for the moon,) so we get why it's important. But I hope the mess is sorted soon: you don't really want astros popping open their space wardrobe and thinking "Oh, I can't go out tonight, I've not a thing to wear." [AP]

space

Unmanned Japanese Cargo Spacecraft Could Be NASA's Next Space Shuttle

With the dinosaur Space Shuttle set to retire in 2010, and Orion due to be finished (optimistically) by 2015, NASA may purchase the $131 million unmanned HTV cargo vehicle from JAXA, Japan's space agency, to guarantee fresh shipments of space-Doritos flowing up to the brave souls on the International Space Sation. While they had initially planned to fill this gap by relying on commercial space cargo flights by companies like SpaceX, Reuters is reporting that delays in the private-sector space companies have caused NASA to look elsewhere to avoid being crippled by the Shuttle's retirement. UPDATE: NASA issued a statement this afternoon saying the Reuters' report was full of baloney. They're still dedicated to finding commercial haulers—full release below. More »

yuck

NASA Collecting 8 Gallons of Employees' Urine Daily For Space Toilet Research

NASA workers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston received what may be the high point in inter-office email last week requesting they begin to pay regular visits to the good folks of Hamilton Sundstrand, aka the "Wee Wee Contractors." They're collecting urine in massive quantities—eight gallons per day—as part of their contract to build the toilet for the upcoming Orion lunar spacecraft. But why do they need so much? I'm sure it's all there in the email... More »

nasa

How the New Mission to the Moon Will Work

The NASA 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class recruitment—for the first mission to the Moon in four decades—may be over, but if you didn't send your résumé, don't worry: you can still be a space couch potato and look at the pretty images and videos, like this newly-released NASA simulation showing how the whole thing is going to work. More »

space

New Astronaut Suits, Stellar Fashion

US firm Oceaneering International was recently awarded a $745 million contract to design and test new spacesuits for future trips to the moon. Fully functional and considered the height of Mooninite fashion, the modular suit can be worn two ways depending on the occasion. More »

darpa

50 Years of DARPA: 5 Good Inventions, 5 Lousy Ones

To commemorate the golden jubilee of America's Defense Advance Research Projects Agency—formed these 50 years ago in response to a little traveler called Sputnik—New Scientist has come up with a short list of 10 DARPA inventions: five that changed the world, and five that fell flat: More »

to infinity and beyond

Orion Crew Test Module Timelapse Build

This timelapse video shows the construction of the first Orion crew module, the spacecraft that will take humanity to the moon and Mars. As you can see, this version is not the full ship, as it lacks all computer, engine and support systems, not to talk about the proton torpedoes and turbolasers. However, the Apollo-style module is the first real tangible part of the Constellation Program, and will play a crucial part in its early development.
More »

clips

George Dyson On the Orion Project: A Nuclear, Saturn-Bound, Hotel-Sized Spaceship That Should Have Happened


The George Dyson video from 2002's TED just went live, describing the Orion Project, a deeply classified space vessel from the Atomic Age. It was nuclear powered. The size of a Marriott hotel and 400 tons. George Dyson's father worked on it, starting in General Atomic in 1957. Did I mention that scientists from the hydrogen bomb worked on this thing? Why? Because the nukes weren't used as fuel like they are at Homer Simpson's workplace. They were hoping to smash the atoms and direct the explosions for 20 megatons of lift! More »

mario galaxy

Control a Telescope Using Your Wii Remote


An ingenious tinkerer over at Cloudy Nights Telescope Reviews decided that the standard remote for his Orion Atlas EQG telescope was too clunky. So he decided to modify the telescope to be controlled by his Wii Remote. Now with the simple flick of the wrist or finger he can control the direction and Right Ascension/Declination of his telescope. This will definitely give new meaning to Mario Galaxy. [CNTR via Makezine]