What’s in an astronaut’s closet? (And seriously, how do scratch your face in one of those things?)
All this and more answers to your space-suit-related questions below!
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Posts Tagged ‘space exploration’
An Astronaut’s Closet
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, astronauts, NASA, space, space exploration on May 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The Labyrinth of Night
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, Mars, science, space exploration on October 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today, a trip to a most excellently named location on Mars, courtesy of the European Space Agency’s Mars Express satellite program.
Fly across Mars’s ‘labyrinth of night’ with Mars Express
The video begins on a rotating full-globe of Mars, with white polar caps and mottled tan surface visible. It then zooms in on the westernmost part of the large Valles Marineris canyon system, a region highlighted by a white box, and swaps to a new Mars Express visualisation of Noctis Labyrinthus. The camera then flies slowly across a landscape that is broken apart by deep intersecting valleys and canyons.
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Space News!
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, NASA, science, space exploration on October 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
In less than an hour, NASA is set to launch Psyche, a mission to an asteroid with lots and lots of bling, arrival date in 2029.
Set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Psyche will travel across the solar system to an asteroid of the same name, which has unusually high metal content. Scientists hope understand why this is so, and to help answer fundamental questions about Earth’s own metal core and the formation of our solar system.
— Psyche – NASA
All of those important fundamental questions, yes. But you know they are also going to look for the shiny shiny.
For more on the mission:
6 Things to Know About NASA’s Asteroid-Exploring Psyche Mission – NASA
Can’t wait until 2029 to get into all things Psyche? Get Involved Opportunities | NASA Psyche Mission
(I particularly like the examples of #PsycheSpaceCRAFTY.)
Watch the launch live:
(Good news from the future: New mission to metal-rich asteroid Psyche successfully blasts off!)
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A Bold Mission
Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, 25% Canadian, Artemis, free fiction, genre fiction, inspiration, NASA, science, space exploration, Thoughts, Writers on April 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »
NASA recently released the Artemis II roster for the next crewed lunar mission. As one article put it, “this is not your grandfather’s moon mission” and that’s a good thing. The crew is 25% female, 25% African American, and even (gasp!) 25% Canadian! (Think you too have what it takes? Here’s a link to get started: Astronaut Selection Program | NASA. Good luck!)
Why go to space? There are a lot of potential answers. Given the complex, diverse and fascinating future of exploration, here’s a collection of stories and essays that address this very question.
Visions, Ventures, Escape Velocities: A Collection of Space Futures from ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination
Stories by: Madeline Ashby, Steven Barnes, Eileen Gunn, Ramez Naam, Carter Scholz, Karl Schroeder, Vandana Singh
Essays by: Jim Bell, Lawrence Dritsas, Linda T. Elkins-Tanton, Emma Frow, Roland Lehoucq, Andrew D. Maynard, Clark A. Miller, Deji Bryce Olukotun, Steve Ruff, William K. Storey, Sara Imari Walker, G. Pascal Zachary
Interview with: Kim Stanley Robinson
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How to Rocket
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, research, science, space exploration on February 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »
And So We Wait
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Artemis, NASA, space exploration on September 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
You may have heard that NASA scrubbed the Artemis moon launch for technical reasons. The good news is that the launch will be rescheduled.
NASA could again try to launch Artemis moon mission as soon as late September : NPR
Until then, we wait.
Why Is NASA’s Hold Music So Catchy? – The Atlantic
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Because It’s Hard
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Artemis, inspiration, NASA, space exploration on August 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »
This morning at 8:33 a.m. EDT (12:33 GMT), NASA’s Artemis rocket is set to launch for the moon.
Watch NASA’s Artemis 1 moon launch online today | Space
The space agency will host Artemis 1 launch webcast on Aug. 29 to showcase the uncrewed launch on NASA’s first Space Launch System megarocket from Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
As of this writing, live updates have begun. Weather forecasts are good but there is an engine issue. Engineers are working the problem but some delays are expected.
The fact that humanity has been going into space, and to the moon, for decades doesn’t mean it’s easy. And that’s ok.
“I don’t need easy. I just need possible.”
— Katie Bone, 16-year old nationally-ranked athlete and Type 1 diabetic
Follow launch live updates or watch it on NASA’s livestream now.
Update: Today’s launch has been scrubbed. More later!
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Let’s Go To The Moon!
Posted in Entertainment, Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, genre fiction, inspiration, learning@lunch, NASA, space exploration on October 12, 2021| 1 Comment »
What am I reading with lunch? How about a graphic novel about a woman, space, and a spunky little robot? App and interactivity are optional (but could be fun).
NASA – First Woman (read online, download PDF)
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Mars Is So Hot Right Now!
Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, Mars, MarsCuriosity, ollllldetyme book covers, space exploration on February 18, 2021| 1 Comment »
So, Mars. For the NASA mission, today is the day! I posted on Mars yesterday to give you time to download any apps, plan your landing watch party (socially distanced, of course!), and look up your nearest Krispy Kreme.
Are you ready? Curiosity is! Look at the little guy waving;)
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Mission home: Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover – NASA Mars
Where to watch: Watch Online: Mars Landing – NASA Mars
Fingers crossed, but no matter what happens, it’s an exciting day in space!
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Why is Mars red, anyway?
For the same reason that so many of our barns are red: iron oxide. It’s a common compound, both here and on Mars. We use it for paint and our planetary core, among other things, but Mars is a little different. First, of course, there’s no Sherwin-Williams on Mars, but also:
Whereas the bulk of Earth’s iron sank to its core when the planet was young and molten, NASA scientists think Mars’ smaller size (and weaker gravity) allowed it to remain less differentiated. It does have an iron core, but abundant iron exists in its upper layers, also.…The planet’s bloody tinge — visible even from millions of miles away — got it strapped with the name of the Roman god of war, while other civilizations also named the planet for what was once its main distinguishing feature. The Egyptians called it “Her Desher,” meaning “the red one,” while ancient Chinese astronomers went with “the fire star.”
— Why Is Mars Red? | Space
More fun Mars Facts: Mars Facts | All About Mars – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program
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Get Your A** to Mars!
Posted in Likes, Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2021, #CountdownToMars, space exploration on February 17, 2021| 1 Comment »
This is quite a month for Mars missions. NASA’s Curiosity rover has been on the planet since 2012, toddling around mountains and craters (ahem, doing serious science, but it’s so cute!), far beyond its expected lifetime.
Now if all goes well, it will get a little company.
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Due to good planetary positioning*, three spacecraft launched from Earth last July. Amal, the spacecraft helmed by the UAE, is now in position for orbital observations. China’s Tianwen-1 is orbiting now in preparation for a summer rover landing, and NASA’s Perseverance is slated to (fingers crossed!) land tomorrow February 18th around 3:55 p.m. ET.
I’m serious about the fingers crossed but though, because Perseverance is trying something dramatic, parachuting down to the surface, firing rockets for stability, then dropping cables to the surface. Here’s a video illustrating the process, aptly dubbed “7 Minutes of Terror,” of Entry, Descent, and Landing.
Have I mentioned there’s an eleven-and-a-half minute comms delay? That’s the scary part. Once they put the quarter in, they just have to let the whole song play out.
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Want all the fun and none of the terror? Live near a Krispy Kreme shop?** Then February 18th is your lucky day! Krispy Kreme is offering a one-day only promotion!
The Mars Doughnut: A Chocolate Kreme-filled doughnut dipped in caramel icing with a red planet swirl and sprinkled with chocolate cookie crumbs. This limited-edition doughnut is available in shops and online for one day only.
Buy these tomorrow or, if you were one of the many, many people who submitted your name for NASA’s “Send Your Name to Mars” campaign (me! oh wait, still no doughnut shop), print out your boarding pass and get a free doughnut.
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Want to get a better feel for what it’s like to actually drive a rover on the surface of Mars? There is a free augmented reality app lets you turn your backyard, or living room, or wherever into Mars. You can walk, drive the rover, explore or do science:
This New AR App is the Coolest Way to Learn About Mars
It’s definitely time to rewatch The Martian!
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* For more on how to calculate this, see Basics of Space Flight and Let’s Go to Mars! Calculating Launch Windows, or just rewatch The Martian. You know you want to!
** Like I used to, once upon a time!
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