Gizmodo
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space
The Max Launch Abort System Launch Makes Me Want to Be an Astronaut Again
Looks like Flash Gordon came to Virginia this Wednesday. Here you have images and video of the spectacular Max Launch Abort System in action. Sadly, the spiffy spacecraft won't be in Orion. Maybe they can send me one to test. More »
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By Jesus DiazComment by KeepingTheForeName_GitEmSteveDave: JINX no like. Can not cause thermal curtain failure and send Max to space! JINX and Max, friends forever! But seriously, was anyone... 6 Responses | Other threads
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space
From Earth To Moon Redux: How The Next Moonshot Will Happen
May 2019: Our scheduled return to the moon. There's plenty of laboring to be done on the Constellation Program before then, but the foundation is set. Here's how you—as an astronaut—would experience the mission: More » -
image cache
Orion Capsule Under Testing in Anechoic Chamber
Three parts of tequila, two parts of triple-sec, one part of lime juice, then shake with ice, and filter. Oh wait, it's just the Orion capsule getting tested for electromagnetic waves. Or something. More » -
space
The Next Space Shuttles
500 days—or thereabouts: That's the amount of time between now and the final flight of the awesome Space Transportation System, better known to you and me as the Space Shuttle. Here's what comes next... More » -
space
NASA Testing Next Generation Firefighting Gear for Fires... In Spaaace!
In space, no one can hear you scream "Fire." Not that it'd matter, as few people could recognize a microgravity fire anyway. This means space firefighting gear needs to be special. NASA is on it. More »
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By Jack LoftusComment by kaubuchon: Step 1: Put on suit Step 2: vent O2 Step 3: drink beer 9 Responses | Other threads
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nasa
See the New Orion Spacecraft Up Close and Personal
NASA is now showing Orion—the spacecraft that will take humans to the Moon and Mars—at the National Mall in Washington. It's not the real thing, but it looks great (needs more pretty decals). More »
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By Jesus DiazComment by Major-n0ob: no way in hell that is taking people to mars. That is for the moon and the ISS. to go... 27 Responses | Other threads
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space
Cool Flash Graphic: Every Craft In NASA's Constellation System, Deconstructed
Accompanying a long piece on the future of NASA's Orion/Constellation system, the NYTimes threw together a nice Flash graphic detailing the individual components of what may or may not (ahem Fianciapocalypse) replace the Space Shuttle.
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By John MahoneyComment by Matt: Can someone explain to me why we are scrapping the old fleet? I know we want to go back to... 7 Responses | Other threads
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space
Obama Considering Ares Cancellation, Orion Scale Back
NASA better come up with some good reasons to keep Ares and Orion alive, because Barack Obama is no JFK: The office of the President Elect has send them a questionnaire asking some tough questions about our favorite space program, Space News reports. You know, the one which is supposed to take Humanity back to the Moon and go to Mars. In fact, the questionare goes as far as asking if NASA could redesign the Orion spacecraft so it could be launched by the European Ariane 5 or the Japanese H2A: More »
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By Jesus DiazComment by UltimateIdiot - Imperfection at Best: I never supported Obama, this being one of the reason. I don't like McCain either but at least he wanted to... 35 Responses | Other threads
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nasa
NASA's New Ejector System Borrows Tech From Yesterday's Apollo Program
If something goes wrong with the upcoming space shuttle replacement program, and we hope it does not, this is what could save the astronauts' lives. As they hurdle hundreds of miles per hour into the heavens, and their ship begins to break apart, mission control will scream "ABORT!" (or perhaps something a bit more technical), and the astronauts will be ejected from the capsule with a force that's actually much greater than the g's they'll experience during launch. More »
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By Jack LoftusComment by Mrfireman: Just wondering, what if they're on the edge of space when they eject? Wouldn't it shoot them up and into... 3 Responses | Other threads
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time capsule
NASA Uncrates Apollo Heat Shield After 35 Years, Describes the Experience as a "Nerd Christmas"
It is no secret that NASA is looking to the past to help us go back to the moon and, eventually, to Mars. Today NASA revealed that scientists working on the Orion crew module visited the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum Garber Facility in Suitland, Md. over the summer to unpack Apollo heat shields for the first time in 35 years. More »
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By Sean FallonComment by tande04: Wait, I'm confused. Its an interesting read an all but shouldn't they have that information? Maybe it got lost in an... 5 Responses | Other threads
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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 »
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By John MahoneyComment by Con Seannery: NOOOO! BUSTER! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!?! 1 Responses | Other threads
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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 »
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By John MahoneyComment by tdeckard2000: @Chromeo is typing this on his iPhone 3G: I saw the pic an i thought the exact same thing. In fact... more » | Other threads
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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 »
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By John MahoneyComment by jlindenbaum: They... can't use a different substance that has a high ammonia content? 2 Responses | Other threads
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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 »
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By Jesus DiazComment by HaLfRiCa: @aec007: Earth Laws?... actually it isn't an "earth law". The fact that the moon is off limits was decided specifically... more » | Other threads
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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 »
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By Mark WilsonComment by GadgetPlayPissedSomebodyOff: @hnkelley: I take Him at Communion with a nice Red Wine Sauce. more » | Other threads
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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 »
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By Jesus DiazComment by shmokes: So we're deciding to go to the moon and we're not going to be able to accomplish it for 11... more » | Other threads
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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]
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