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Archive for ‘Science!’
Geeky Space Picture of the Day: Atlantis
Space shuttle Atlantis with its crew of six astronauts lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The next time we see Atlantis launch, it’ll be the last time. After today’s launch there are only 5 more left in the shuttle program. Assuming that it isn’t extended by President Obama to close the gap between the shuttle and Orion. Of course since Obama has taken so long to make a decision on Afghanistan, I don’t think we can expect him to make a decision on NASA’s future until the shuttle program is already gone… which may actually force his hand as far as funding NASA’s future plans.
Geeky Space Picture Of The Day: I Can See My House From Here
A comet-chasing spacecraft swinging by Earth this week has snapped magnificent new images of our home planet. The new photos come from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft, which will make its closest approach by Earth Friday at 2:45 a.m. EST (0745 GMT), during its third and final flyby past the planet. The Rosetta spacecraft’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera captured three images of Earth with an orange, green and blue filter, and from a distance of about 393,330 miles (633,000 km). The resulting illuminated crescent is a combination of the trio.
Apollo 17 – “…our the flag was still there”
The Lunar Reconnassance Orbiter, currently orbiting the Moon just 50 km off the surface, has taken more shots of the Apollo 17 landing site… and has seen the actual U.S. flag!
(Here is a wider shot of the landing site)
So far all of the landing sites that the LRO has photographed have had tracks around them, and this one has the flag right where it should be. I’d say that lunar landing conspiracy theorists can officially suck it.
h/t to Phil Plait.
Coincidentally, here is Eugene Cernan the Apollo 17 commander and the last man to walk on the Moon on Fox News reacting the NASA’s Ares I-X test flight:
Geeky Space Picture of The Day: Ares I-X Launch
Ares I-X Roars Off the Pad
With more than 12 times the thrust produced by a Boeing 747 jet aircraft, the Constellation Program’s Ares I-X test rocket roars off Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At left is space shuttle Atlantis, poised on Launch Pad 39A for liftoff in November.
Also, here’s video of the launch, just in case you missed it on Wednesday:
Reason #91 to like Felicia Day
She’s making videos for NASA now too…
Here she’s talking about the Spitzer Telescope and some of the science behind galactic “collisions”
“What in the name of Joss Wheadon was that?”
Geeky Space Picture of the Day: Martian Sand Dunes
This picture comes from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera. The sand dunes are in the center of a large crater at mid-north latitude on Mars. (Large version)
(h/t to The Bad Astronomer)
About Me
Keith Conrad
Radio producer, internet enthusiast, all around nice guy. Keith can talk your ear off on everything from NASA's latest plans to what the Cubs need to do to win the World Series.