There are two more satellites dancing in orbit thanks to a Brazilian rocket launch this month.
So many countries are part of hubeing's race into space these days. India, Vietnam, the EU, Russia, China, and the good ol' US of A are all placing satellites into orbit or otherwise sending ships into space. Commercial enterprise coupled with military efforts mean more participants to the Carnival in Space. The more the merrier, we will need every one's ingenuity if the hubeing race is to survive into the distant future.
Here are more details about Brazil's recent rocket launch:
Friday, April 25, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Step One: Imagine Going to The Stars
Everyone who has every seen the original star trek show realizes that much of what was Science Fiction in the 1960's, has become Science Fact today. ST's communicators are today's cell phones, computer networks are everywhere and, of course, we can voice activate our computers if we want to (some improvement is still needed.)
If hu-beings are going to go To The Stars (AND WE ARE) then a necessary first step is to imagine doing so. Many science fiction stories, books and movies have depicted our voyages to the stars, educating each generation and getting us prepared to do the actual work. I came across the following video which reviews John Scalzi's new epic space adventure, The Last Colony.
This book chronicles the return of hero John Perry and explodes with all the combat and drama fans expect from John Scalzi. A previous work of John Scalzi's is the award-winning breakout book, Old Man's War.
It is this kind of fictional work that is helping to lead hu-beingkind into space.
If hu-beings are going to go To The Stars (AND WE ARE) then a necessary first step is to imagine doing so. Many science fiction stories, books and movies have depicted our voyages to the stars, educating each generation and getting us prepared to do the actual work. I came across the following video which reviews John Scalzi's new epic space adventure, The Last Colony.
This book chronicles the return of hero John Perry and explodes with all the combat and drama fans expect from John Scalzi. A previous work of John Scalzi's is the award-winning breakout book, Old Man's War.
It is this kind of fictional work that is helping to lead hu-beingkind into space.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Diamonds Are Forever In Space
Talk about your diamonds in the sky, it appears that outer space is filled with diamonds. But before De Beers and the other diamond merchants freak out, it should be noted that these diamonds (most of them) are very tiny, being no larger than a billionth of a meter.
It will take a lot of these nanodiamonds to make a decent diamond ring, but even as I write this my wife is encouraging me to check out the requirements for joining the space program.
These diamonds were found by the infrared eyes of NASA'S Spitzer Space Telescope.
The Spitzer Space Telescope consists of a 0.85-meter diameter telescope and three cryogenically-cooled science instruments which perform imaging and spectroscopy in the 3 - 180 micron wavelength range. Since infrared is primarily heat radiation, detectors are most sensitive to infrared light when they are kept extremely cold. Using the latest in large-format detector arrays, Spitzer is able to make observations that are more sensitive than any previous mission. While Spitzer's mission lifetime requirement remains 2.5 years, recent developments have brought a 5-year mission within reach. Spitzer launched on 25 August 2003.
It turns out that when starlight hits these space diamonds, the diamonds in turn radiate infrared energy that is in the range that the Spitzer Telescope picks up.
Could this be the mysterious "black matter" astrophysicists worry about? Now to be renamed sparkling, black matter... Probably not, but it is fascinating to discover what can be found in space. And to ponder the commercial possibilities that may exist out there.
For more details about these space diamonds, check out the following news story... And if you are looking for diamonds here on Earth, check out sparklingdiamonds.net.
It will take a lot of these nanodiamonds to make a decent diamond ring, but even as I write this my wife is encouraging me to check out the requirements for joining the space program.
These diamonds were found by the infrared eyes of NASA'S Spitzer Space Telescope.
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The Spitzer Space Telescope consists of a 0.85-meter diameter telescope and three cryogenically-cooled science instruments which perform imaging and spectroscopy in the 3 - 180 micron wavelength range. Since infrared is primarily heat radiation, detectors are most sensitive to infrared light when they are kept extremely cold. Using the latest in large-format detector arrays, Spitzer is able to make observations that are more sensitive than any previous mission. While Spitzer's mission lifetime requirement remains 2.5 years, recent developments have brought a 5-year mission within reach. Spitzer launched on 25 August 2003.
It turns out that when starlight hits these space diamonds, the diamonds in turn radiate infrared energy that is in the range that the Spitzer Telescope picks up.
Could this be the mysterious "black matter" astrophysicists worry about? Now to be renamed sparkling, black matter... Probably not, but it is fascinating to discover what can be found in space. And to ponder the commercial possibilities that may exist out there.
For more details about these space diamonds, check out the following news story... And if you are looking for diamonds here on Earth, check out sparklingdiamonds.net.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Will There Be Peace in Space?
Several recent events have focused attention on the use of weapons in outer space. The Chines tested a missile to strike satellites in orbit a month or so ago. And the United State military successfully smashed a falling satellite with a missile, breaking up the satellite and preventing it from causing damage upon its return to Earth.
With the ever increasing reliance on all types of satellites from weather monitors to communication satellites, an arms race in space could be disastrous for civilization.
On the other hand, space debris will continue to fall from orbit and endanger sections of the Earth. That issue needs to be addressed and the option to destroy errant space debris by missiles maintained.
Russia and China have proposed that a weapons free outer space treaty be created. I think this is a positive step. A treaty that bans orbiting weapons and deals with space junk is needed. But I suspect we are years from a viable treaty on this subject. And a treaty like this, must also take into account the need for protection for Earth's citizens with respect to the possibility of alien invasions...
For more details on the Russian/Chinese proposal, view the following news story:
With the ever increasing reliance on all types of satellites from weather monitors to communication satellites, an arms race in space could be disastrous for civilization.
On the other hand, space debris will continue to fall from orbit and endanger sections of the Earth. That issue needs to be addressed and the option to destroy errant space debris by missiles maintained.
Russia and China have proposed that a weapons free outer space treaty be created. I think this is a positive step. A treaty that bans orbiting weapons and deals with space junk is needed. But I suspect we are years from a viable treaty on this subject. And a treaty like this, must also take into account the need for protection for Earth's citizens with respect to the possibility of alien invasions...
For more details on the Russian/Chinese proposal, view the following news story:
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