tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59341031810771458572024-03-12T20:25:36.593-07:00SpaceSuits Are NeatInsert witty description about adventures in learning about and advocating for space exploration (both crewed and robotic) here.
It is difficult to survive in space without a space suit. FACTAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-36323619754940259922017-09-14T08:10:00.000-07:002017-09-15T06:39:57.931-07:00Goodnight, Cassini<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the gravity well of the great yellow king</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5911/?category=images" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYVBMB3KfO0/WbqUIhn3W8I/AAAAAAAAnAE/lDPrv13s_okRg05pe74QH4HhvPGPMgKIACLcBGAs/s640/Saturn.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5911/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5911/?category=images</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There were many moons with mysterious things</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="911" height="388" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg7ct5L9Xww/WbqUIfu-SDI/AAAAAAAAm_0/-PEiF8_EwTcsgGxQf3EqP8P72I2pvgUTgCEwYBhgL/s640/Moons.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5122/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5122/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And delicate, dynamic, dreamlike rings</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1016" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvInyxK3G5I/WbqUIgOOi-I/AAAAAAAAm_8/4n4w3rBRztIs-SB6w7dy1MTI53Bd7jn4wCEwYBhgL/s640/Rings.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5681/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5681/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And a hexagon jet stream with six perfect lobes</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="753" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bieM5jfPKPk/WbqUIUhFz4I/AAAAAAAAnAM/Q1ArdCU_rsU2sJM6plA2IaEZlaYklyL4QCEwYBhgL/s640/Hexagon.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5941/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5941/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the Huygens probe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Parachuted down through Titan’s robe</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P7rVj_XbDnU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7rVj_XbDnU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And a moon with tiger-stripes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Makes a ring with its water ice</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="1016" height="372" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V4_OA1aUiQw/WbqUIJ8tznI/AAAAAAAAnAM/r1FSUyaz2b80-LkcU4FfGvk6GkhYgao4wCEwYBhgL/s640/Enceladus.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/6074/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/6074/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And shepherds herding gaps</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1015" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8hu5rOU0L4/WbqUI3apCgI/AAAAAAAAnAM/pvMFMNJoVOElvRIqJlgiSwG7nUs-Ga9nQCEwYBhgL/s640/Shepherds.jpg" width="638" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5895/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5895/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And aurora like a lace cap</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="737" height="444" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oqMva6Q6nOo/WbqUIIL6jrI/AAAAAAAAnAM/wlhvV60MXawt_Gycz74QpijTtODDQKxfgCEwYBhgL/s640/Aurora.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5143/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5143/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cassini is now* gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xrGAQCq9BMU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrGAQCq9BMU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But her science will live on<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So –</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight gravity well of the great yellow king<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight moons with mysterious things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight delicate, dynamic, dreamlike rings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight hexagon jet stream with six perfect lobes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight Huygens probe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That parachuted down through Titan’s robe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight moon with tiger-stripes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That makes a ring with its water ice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight shepherds herding gaps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight aurora like a lace cap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight Planets</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wkJN0qS6id0/WbvTTRd-cnI/AAAAAAAAnVw/AHZDBu_R05opCTBL7pqW1z_EOaS-r5oYwCEwYBhgL/s640/Planets.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5918/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/5918/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1014" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrluLigjiRg/WbqWPzceq5I/AAAAAAAAnAY/AXbQWlo3ymsJOI4-yI0nRMlbu8TR4xMAQCLcBGAs/s640/Stars.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/4496/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/4496/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goodnight...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Earthlings, seen from afar</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1020" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IFoZsKInw2U/WbvTSYIrgNI/AAAAAAAAnVs/egUGuLQ6KUc7OvXzo-SQHNNUcMElQZwjACLcBGAs/s640/Earth.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7656/?category=images" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7656/?category=images</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Cassini LOS September 15, 2017 11:55:46 UTC 😭</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">All images are by the Cassini teams at NASA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">See more images from the Cassini-Huygens mission, <a href="https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://ciclops.org/?js=1" target="_blank">here</a>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">and in the beautiful *free* ebook, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/the-saturn-system.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodnight Moon is a children's book by Margaret Wise Brown. This was obviously based on that book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Anthropomorphizing things I already loved a lot makes me sad. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-48444982744753549752017-08-02T12:18:00.000-07:002017-08-02T12:20:38.497-07:00Great American Eclipse on Public LandsHi stranger. It's been awhile. I've missed you.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to bother with introductions about the solar eclipse about to take over the country (except that all of North and Central America will witness portions of the eclipse).<br />
<br />
If you are planning on making the trip to totality in a couple weeks, no doubt you probably have your preferred spot picked out. A lot - a LOT - of travelers are intending on making the trek to some of our public lands. Here's the thing, though. We're all probably thinking of National Parks and Monuments right? So if we're all headed to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the sea of humanity will be unbearable. Meanwhile Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge is teeming with birds along the river with no one to take in the view. (I'm posing hypotheticals here - both might have a lot of visitors on the 21st.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwQ9WWjwD24/WYIbokfsXnI/AAAAAAAAmD8/Pusm3nuu8eMBTUzx13BfNMHI8QWdhXvQACLcBGAs/s1600/Federal%2BLands%2BEclipse%2BMap%2BNASA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1053" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwQ9WWjwD24/WYIbokfsXnI/AAAAAAAAmD8/Pusm3nuu8eMBTUzx13BfNMHI8QWdhXvQACLcBGAs/s640/Federal%2BLands%2BEclipse%2BMap%2BNASA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/fed_land_eclipse_map_big-01-01%5B2%5D.pdf" target="_blank">Federal Lands in the Path of Totality (NASA)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The National Park Service did a really nice job with an <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/naturalphenomena/2017eclipse.htm" target="_blank">interactive map</a> for the eclipse. But what about our National Forests? Bureau of Land Management? National Wildlife Refuges? Each unit has also put together some pretty comprehensive sites with their respective lists within the path of totality. You should check them out, and maybe add some to your backup list. I mean, we all need options <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> (sometimes even <i>D</i>) in case <i>A</i> doesn't pan out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0x31OpVwZTA/WYIaxonazRI/AAAAAAAAmD4/m9e4lx6zOmUGyf4cSX8VKsGYGWUtE7N3ACLcBGAs/s1600/fseprd552290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="662" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0x31OpVwZTA/WYIaxonazRI/AAAAAAAAmD4/m9e4lx6zOmUGyf4cSX8VKsGYGWUtE7N3ACLcBGAs/s400/fseprd552290.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodsy Owl had better put on those solar glasses (photo: USFS)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The <a href="https://www.blm.gov/node/11354" target="_blank">Bureau of Land Management</a> will host totality across Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming lands.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=total-solar-eclipse-and-wildlife:-more-than-a-dozen-wildlife-refuges-in-&_ID=36109" target="_blank">US Fish and Wildlife Service</a>, with 19 sites in the path, will start and end the eclipse in the contiguous US with refuges on both coasts, including Middle Mississippi River and Crab Orchard Lake NWRs, which will be in greatest duration (2:40).<br />
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The <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/eclipse2017" target="_blank">US Forestry Service</a> are clearly the overachievers of the public lands group with 28 separate sites (National Forests, National Grasslands, National Recreation Areas), sprawling from (almost) coast to coast, with many forests hosting activities and official watch locations.<br />
<br />
You're going to pay a fee to get access into any of these places, unless you have that handy-dandy <a href="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm" target="_blank">America the Beautiful Pass</a>, which will get you in. It costs $80 for the Average Jody (that's right - JODY), so if you don't intend on visiting many public places with entrance fees in the next year, it's not really worth it.<br />
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And I haven't even gone into all the state forests, state parks, county parks, city parks, state wildlife management areas that you could also detour to instead of the almost certain-to-be overcrowded NPS areas. Please don't randomly stop on a road. That's not safe.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb-3sUNnMxE/WYIgPsJwo4I/AAAAAAAAmEI/yk5JIOAvofYwGu40Tec23HxXJ4XyH1pAQCLcBGAs/s1600/bumpersmokeygradient_eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="1600" height="108" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb-3sUNnMxE/WYIgPsJwo4I/AAAAAAAAmEI/yk5JIOAvofYwGu40Tec23HxXJ4XyH1pAQCLcBGAs/s400/bumpersmokeygradient_eclipse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only <u>YOU</u> can keep your eyes safe during a solar eclipse (photo: <a href="http://nwccinfo.blogspot.com/2017/07/7312017-whitewater-fire-pacific-crest.html" target="_blank">NWCC</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-5112549732693952872017-02-13T12:46:00.000-08:002017-02-13T12:50:49.484-08:00Impressionist ChesapeakeDoesn't the water look like a French Impressionist painted it? Just me? Ah well.<br />
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So, I did a thing. @NASAOcean <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAOcean/status/829391083037655041" target="_blank">tweeted</a> a picture of the lower Chesapeake this morning.<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChesapeakeBay?src=hash">#ChesapeakeBay</a> where land,ocean,&biology travel thru time, &humanity, for better or worse, grips the helm.<a href="https://t.co/IkekBSfZv1">https://t.co/IkekBSfZv1</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Landsat8?src=hash">#Landsat8</a> <a href="https://t.co/vwmLKKBhtx">pic.twitter.com/vwmLKKBhtx</a></p>— NASA Ocean (@NASAOcean) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAOcean/status/829391083037655041">February 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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And all I could think was all of the federal wildlife lands in that Landsat image. So I downloaded it (good googly moogly it's huge - the original is <a href="ftp://samoa.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/norman/Landsat8/LC80140342017035LGN00_B432.LowerChesapeake.png" target="_blank">here</a>), colored them in, labeled them, and posted them here for you:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg-_CxdfggY/WKIURfis4pI/AAAAAAAAhcY/3OPnlWDQkJojxcQkZ4qjpmcOPYJvcDiNQCLcB/s1600/LowerChesapeakeNWRs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg-_CxdfggY/WKIURfis4pI/AAAAAAAAhcY/3OPnlWDQkJojxcQkZ4qjpmcOPYJvcDiNQCLcB/s1600/LowerChesapeakeNWRs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Image Courtesy USGS/NASA Landsat 8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also included are two NASA facilities. I mean, why *wouldn't* you? They're right there!<br />
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Also also, I am not a professional map colorer; don't @ me about my crappy job - the borders of the refuges are more a guide for this image.<br />
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Also also also, not included are all of the state managed wildlife lands. There's actually a lot in this image. Land conservation and wildlife habitat preservation is a big deal on the Eastern Shore. We don't have a lot of land as it is, so we have to protect every precious parcel we have, which is<a href="http://www.inlandbays.org/wp-content/documents/Preparing%20Delaware%20to%20Adapt%20to%20Sea%20Level%20Rise.pdf" target="_blank"> threatened</a> by <a href="http://firstmap.gis.delaware.gov/inundation/" target="_blank">rising sea levels</a> due to climate change (links are only for Delaware information which isn't even in this image, because I live there and have them bookmarked for easy access to shut down the deniers).<br />
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Fact.<br />
Period.<br />
Full Stop.<br />
Take that to the bank.<br />
Then get some Dippin' Dots.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-30630549698202556012016-12-14T07:25:00.000-08:002016-12-14T07:25:17.796-08:00"Forget The Camera"<div style="text-align: center;">
Every year, I post some part of Gene Cernan's now-infamous last words spoken on the Moon, because every year the expanse widens between us and the time when humans explored other worlds, or even attempted to leave the gravity well of our home. The future has become more uncertain than ever.</div>
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Today marks the 44th anniversary of the last human presence on the Moon. If you're looking for some nostalgia, or education (a little of both, perhaps?), <a href="http://apollo17.org/" target="_blank">Apollo 17</a> is a great real-time site (you can scroll through to whenever you want, as well) with mountains of information.</div>
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I'm giving it to you here, because I feel the words, from the head and heart as they were, are poignant, hopeful, and provocative.<br />
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It's important for those of you alive to witness the Apollo Program not to forget what was acomplished and fight to push those boundaries out again.<br />
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For those of us who are the Shuttle Generation, to forge ahead into the unknown and foster change in perceptions about exploration, and pass your passion on to both young and old.<br />
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To you who are the International Space Station Generation, push with everything you are to make yourselves the Mars Generation, and let everyone know what you love.</div>
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<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Bob, this is Gene, and I'm on the surface; and as I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i53FHzVnhpA/WFAPx9IoIyI/AAAAAAAAfzY/Qndhafy4Y-IJz7mMds-6QqvCpWcIDnoyACLcB/s1600/apollo-17-launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i53FHzVnhpA/WFAPx9IoIyI/AAAAAAAAfzY/Qndhafy4Y-IJz7mMds-6QqvCpWcIDnoyACLcB/s400/apollo-17-launch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The First Nighttime Crewed Launch. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_53.html" target="_blank">NASA</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">- but we believe not too long into the future -</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Moondust</i>. <a href="http://spencerfinch.com/view/installations/35" target="_blank">Spencer Finch</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'd like to just let, what I believe history will record: that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow</span>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQg77ROuPeY/WFARfQC27pI/AAAAAAAAfzk/99WJ0vuTqGYlZi2H4BOoOr8MeAaf8CHrQCLcB/s1600/78575_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQg77ROuPeY/WFARfQC27pI/AAAAAAAAfzk/99WJ0vuTqGYlZi2H4BOoOr8MeAaf8CHrQCLcB/s400/78575_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunar Sample 78575, Apollo 17. <a href="http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/samples/atlas/thin_section/?mission=Apollo%2017&sample=78575&source_id=donohue01806-x" target="_blank">Lunar & Planetary Institute</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, god willing, as we shall return, with peace and in hope for all mankind.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp-PgDtpdr0/WFATOKvEkfI/AAAAAAAAfz0/1s-2q7Y53X07FSwy1XXv0R04I55leGM6wCLcB/s1600/lastman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp-PgDtpdr0/WFATOKvEkfI/AAAAAAAAfz0/1s-2q7Y53X07FSwy1XXv0R04I55leGM6wCLcB/s640/lastman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Last Man on the Moon</i>. <a href="http://www.alanbeangallery.com/lastman-new.html" target="_blank">Alan Bean</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bonus: <i>Tomorrow</i> by <a href="http://publicservicebroadcasting.net/" target="_blank">PSB</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-55698344611441919502016-03-04T11:45:00.000-08:002016-03-07T08:03:49.772-08:00Girl Scout Astronauts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Women's History Month, and that means celebrating all the awesomeness of the X Chromosome! I was raised in scouting, so I wanted to kick off the March blogging with the space-faring scouts. Did you know that, according to <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/content/the-path-to-high-adventure-begins-with-scouting-0" target="_blank">NASA</a> and <a href="http://www.gsvsc.org/join/gs-greats/" target="_blank">GSUSA</a>, over 90% of female astronauts report being former Girl Scouts/Girl Guides? Yes!! More of this, please. </div>
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I'm often asked how I acquired the random and varied skills I have in my bag-o-tricks, and my reply is a shy shrug and "girl scouts?" I can't even tell you in a blog post everything I learned from scouting.</div>
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I joined the <a href="http://www.gscb.org/" target="_blank">Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay</a> as a Daisy, and never looked back. I graduated high school a Senior Girl Scout and Gold Award Honoree (our version of the Eagle Scout Award, if you don't know). Until this year, I was an adult volunteer, and a co-leader for several different troops from State College to Orlando. I lived outdoors in all weather more than I care to count, including an entire summer <u><b>VOLUNTARILY</b></u> as a counselor at my council's <a href="http://www.gscb.org/08_common/camp/grove_point/grove_point.html" target="_blank">resident camp</a>. I am the successful leader I am today because of what I learned in my youth as a scout, and the countless women in the organization who mentored me. </div>
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If the bodacious femmes of microgravity learned half as much as I did, they were clearly the shoe-in candidates. I'm just saying old school girl scouting gave you mad skills.</div>
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So you might ask, who are some of these boundary-breakers you so clearly adore, Brandi? Well, I'm going to highlight some of them and one or two of their extra-astronaut accomplishments: </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu4P887aB7s/Vtmq0WEgWoI/AAAAAAAAYbE/wXphYemBia0/s1600/ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu4P887aB7s/Vtmq0WEgWoI/AAAAAAAAYbE/wXphYemBia0/s400/ride.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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We <b>have</b> to start with the Goddess of American Astronauts, Dr. Sally Ride. *prostrates* The first American woman in space (albeit 20 years after the<a href="http://www.astronautix.com/astros/terhkova.htm" target="_blank"> first woman</a> - sigh), Sally was among the first minority astronauts selected in 1978 (dubbed the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/flats.html" target="_blank">"Thirty-Five New Guys"</a>): women along with Black- and Asian-Americans, as well as being non-military. Her first flight was STS-7 aboard the Orbiter <i>Challenger</i> on June 18, 1983. She flew again on <i>Challenger</i> on STS-41G, and served on the Rogers Commission investigating the <i>Challenger's</i> disaster in 1986, as well as the <i>Columbia</i> Accident Investigation Board in 2003. She also founded NASA's Office of Exploration. She's the founder of initiatives such as <a href="https://sallyridescience.com/" target="_blank">Sally Ride Science</a>, which serves to inspire youth, especially girls, in STEM. Whenever you read a book on the TFNGs, they tell you Sally Ride didn't take any of those guys' junk. She was out to prove herself, and pave a way for women.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mVxB28RS54/VtmwoJM84bI/AAAAAAAAYbc/F14JPcUwTZc/s1600/Sullivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mVxB28RS54/VtmwoJM84bI/AAAAAAAAYbc/F14JPcUwTZc/s400/Sullivan.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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Dr. Katheryn Sullivan was also selected in Astronaut Selection Group 8 (1978). She performed the first American Female EVA (this time only 3 months after the <a href="http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=89" target="_blank">*first* woman</a>) on STS-41G. She was part of the crew to deploy Hubble from <i>Discovery</i> on STS-31, as well as a science mission on STS-45 on <i>Atlantis</i>. Apart from her career at NASA, she is also an oceanographer by training, and that was her career in Alaska prior to joining the Astronaut Corps. While at NASA, she joined the Navy Reserves as an oceanographer, retiring in 2006. She has also served at NOAA as Chief Scientist, and currently serves as <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/leadership/dr-kathryn-d-sullivan" target="_blank">NOAA's Administrator</a> and the Department of Commerce's Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSZd-7vWv2Y/Vtm4aPG93oI/AAAAAAAAYbs/-B9pvvnoAmU/s1600/resnikmcauliffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSZd-7vWv2Y/Vtm4aPG93oI/AAAAAAAAYbs/-B9pvvnoAmU/s400/resnikmcauliffe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two former scouts that served aboard the ill-fated STS-51L on January 28, 1986 were Judy Resnik, of Astronaut Selection Group 8, and Christa McAuliffe, the "first" Teacher In Space. This was to be Judy's second flight, her first was aboard <i>Discovery</i> August 30, 1984 on STS-41D. Judy was the first Jewish woman to go into space. She was one of the recruits of the famous <a href="http://www.makers.com/nichelle-nichols" target="_blank">Nichelle Nichols</a> (as well as fellow <i>Challenger</i> crewmate Ron McNair). While working toward her Ph.D. in electrical engineering, she worked at <a href="http://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank">NIH</a> as a biomed engineer.</div>
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Christa was the selected candidate from the 1985 <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/reagan-teacher/" target="_blank">Teacher In Space Program</a> out of over 11,000 completed teacher applications. Christa was a social studies teacher, and even self-designed a course called "The American Woman." She had some amazing planned classes while on mission, including "the ultimate field trip" - a tour of the shuttle with lessons.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rZHPzaTAdQ/VtnLJDKJbXI/AAAAAAAAYb8/lxFTM4D8O3c/s1600/Jemison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rZHPzaTAdQ/VtnLJDKJbXI/AAAAAAAAYb8/lxFTM4D8O3c/s400/Jemison.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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"<a href="http://news.stanford.edu/stanfordtoday/ed/9607/9607mj.html" target="_blank">Hailing Frequencies Open!</a>" Dr. Mae Jemison, blazed a path to the stars for minority girl scouts on board <i>Endeavour's</i> STS-47 in 1992. She began her career as a practicing M.D., traveling to Cuba, Kenya, and Thailand in Medical School. She also served as a doctor in the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone. She was a scientist by trade, but an artist at heart. An avid dancer and actor, building a dance studio in her home, and appearing on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She founded her own company that develops science and technology for everyday use, as well as a foundation named after her mother, sparking projects such as the international science camp <i><a href="http://www.drmae.com/education-social-responsibility-2/tews/" target="_blank">The Earth We Share</a></i>.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dqvOB9sIhh0/VtnYD_LKw-I/AAAAAAAAYcQ/xERY3izEvl8/s1600/collins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dqvOB9sIhh0/VtnYD_LKw-I/AAAAAAAAYcQ/xERY3izEvl8/s400/collins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Col. Eileen Collins was the first woman to both pilot and command the space shuttle. Her NASA experience includes her "first female pilot" flight on STS-63 <i>Discovery</i>, as well as STS-84 <i>Atlantis</i>, both part of the Shuttle-Mir Program. She commanded her first shuttle mission with STS-93 <i>Columbia</i>, overseeing the deployment of the <a href="http://chandra.si.edu/" target="_blank">Chandra X-Ray Observatory</a>. Also, she commanded the STS-114 <i>Discovery</i> "Return to Flight" after the <i>Columbia</i> Disaster, performing the first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendezvous_pitch_maneuver" target="_blank">rendezvous pitch maneuver</a>. Other than her NASA experience, she was the second female Air Force test pilot, and was a flight instructor for the T-38, C-141, and T-41 (the last while she taught at the USAF Academy).</div>
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I could go on and on with this post, and maybe I will do a second post later in the month. But for now, if there are any current young scouts reading, you should know that, from these brief examples alone, you can come from various backgrounds and have an interest in a wide variety of things, and still attain great accomplishments. Don't let it limit you from a lofty goal. These women were determined in what they loved, and didn't let anyone stop them.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-5297951292286725902016-02-17T10:50:00.002-08:002016-02-17T14:09:28.706-08:00The State of NASA is Neat at Plum Brook<h3 style="text-align: center;">
WARNING: LOTS OF INITIALISMS AHEAD</h3>
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As with the past few years, NASA held their "State of NASA" across several of their centers last week on February 9th - Ames Research at Moffet Field, CA; Armstrong Flight Research at Edwards AFB, CA; Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, OH; Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, MD; Jet Propulsion Laboratory at CalTech Pasadena, CA; Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX; Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL; Langley Research in Hampton, VA; Marshall Spaceflight in Huntsville, AL; and Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, MS.</div>
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Last year I had the great honor of being a last-minute addition to Langley, thanks to a good recommendation to their PAO by Angela Gibson (fellow #SpaceSister, and Langley's resident Space Tweep). This year, I wanted to apply and go somewhere new, but also in a driveable distance. Cleveland is about an 8 hour drive. The next closest center (Marshall) is over 13 hours. Um, yeah.</div>
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I was actually very excited to go, because I know people who have been to Glenn Research and, judging by their social media postings, it was <u>not</u> going to be a waste of a drive. First of all, I had no idea before this that Glenn had two completely separate facilities - their main research complex at Lewis Field in Cleveland, and the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/testfacilities/index.html" target="_blank">Plum Brook Facility</a> in Sandusky. <b>NASA, what else are you hiding from me?!</b> (Probably nothing - I'm simply bad at investigating.)</div>
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Fun background tidbits about Plum Brook before the cool tour breakdown:</div>
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Plum Brook is named for the brook (not creek - that's a Colonial Colloquialism!) running through the land NASA uses. The brook is named after the variety of plum trees found all over, the bitter fruit of which the Delaware Native Americans used to make deer pemmican. They do quite a bit of controlled brush burning as well (by a certified specialist, and retired biology teacher), replanting the opened up areas with native field grasses and flowers that had been pushed out by the brambled overgrowth. This is promoting healthy native wildlife populations to reenter the immediate area, and they are a major stopping point for Monarch Butterflies in their migrations, as well as a safe haven for honeybees. Plum Brook was also the site of WWII gunpowder bunkers (manufactured on-site, then called <a href="http://epa.ohio.gov/portals/30/FFS/docs/fuds/Plumbrook_Ordnance_Works.pdf" target="_blank">Plum Brook Ordinance Works</a>).<br />
I feel bad because the guy on our bus was going on and on and I couldn't remember everything he said. I'm sure the people at the Social representing 'official' media outlets simply tuned him out but I could listen to that all day. I need a notepad. Please remind me for the next time.<br />
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Okay, I know why you're really here - what did we see? What are the cool things up in Ohio and what are they using them for (also, what were they used for in the past)? I know what my three readers like.<br />
The first stop in my group (we split in two) at the Space Power Facility [SPF] (which houses the world's largest and most powerful Space Environment Simulation Facilities [SES], by the way. It's kind of your 'one-stop shop' for qualifying flight craft for spaceflight.) was to the Mechanical Vibration Facility [MVF]. This is the largest capacity and most powerful spacecraft shaker system. In the photos, you see part of a second stage of the Ares 1 rocket bolted as a calibration test article, but they are preparing everything we toured at SPF for Orion. The MVF tests each three axes, the shaking accomplished using 4 horizontal and 16 vertical actuators. There is an incredible amount of seismic protection and vibration isolation systems in place, (1/2 foot of steel on top of 19 feet of concrete tied to the bedrock using 50 foot tensioned anchors), AND STILL they told us that while wearing hard hats outside the facility, when they fired it up to approve it for testing people's hats were popping off their heads - the vibrations are so pronounced. Some people even get sick. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2pALhPmvAg/VrzyIEpO4dI/AAAAAAAAYJg/-JrVtX6pOb0/s1600/IMG_20160209_143942020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2pALhPmvAg/VrzyIEpO4dI/AAAAAAAAYJg/-JrVtX6pOb0/s400/IMG_20160209_143942020.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">These are mass analogs for the Orion Capsule, top and bottom</span></div>
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To the left of the MVF, also in the Vibroacoustic Highbay, is the Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility, or RATF (pronounced 'Ratif'). This is the world's most powerful spacecraft acoustic testing chamber, and I've been in some spacecraft acoustic testing chambers. They are not joking around with this one. The walls are 6' thick concrete, and the 36 horns can create overall sound pressure of up to 163 dB (with upgrades to 166 dB in the works). By comparison, 140 dB is considered equivalent to a jet aircraft 50m away. In addition, it can create a broad spectrum of audio frequencies from 25 - 10,000 Hz. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWrQ9mgyPWs/Vrz66ulNmAI/AAAAAAAAYJw/uLVcvAqZq2M/s1600/IMG_20160209_143611226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWrQ9mgyPWs/Vrz66ulNmAI/AAAAAAAAYJw/uLVcvAqZq2M/s400/IMG_20160209_143611226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Behind our guide (the facility manager Robin Brown) is a test table, with a few of the 19 control microphones set up. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-576rCwhZhL0/Vrz66qrc9sI/AAAAAAAAYJw/v07ah7VIkvI/s1600/IMG_20160209_143625515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-576rCwhZhL0/Vrz66qrc9sI/AAAAAAAAYJw/v07ah7VIkvI/s400/IMG_20160209_143625515.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The bottom of the door to get your goods in. They are not joking around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Moving east, we head into the space simulation vacuum chamber that shames all other vacuum chambers, and...well...let me have Brian Cox explain a little:</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E43-CfukEgs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E43-CfukEgs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Glenn Plum Brook is super ~SUPER~ proud of this video</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry into the Vacuum Chamber</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking through the chamber annulus</td></tr>
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The Space Simulation Vacuum Chamber, the world's largest at 122ft high and a diameter of 100ft, was built for both nuclear and non-nuclear testing, though only the latter have been performed at the facility. Measuring pressure in Torr, where 1 Torr equals 1/760 of a standard earth atmosphere (atm), the vacuum chamber can reach a vacuum of 2x10<span style="font-family: "ms pgothic" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">⁻⁶</span></span> Torr in less than 8 hours. Quick Torrs for you: Mars is ~5 Torr, outside ISS is 10<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms pgothic" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">⁻⁹</span></span> Torr, and outer space is anywhere from 10<span style="font-family: "ms pgothic" , sans-serif; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span style="font-size: large;">⁻⁶</span></span> to greater than 3x10<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms pgothic" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">⁻¹⁷</span></span> Torr. In other words: they're coming pretty darn close to creating space inside those concrete and aluminum walls.</div>
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In addition, they have a shroud, which they fancily call a "Cryoshroud" (pictured below) which can both heat and chill the testing components, using a system of gaseous and liquid nitrogen. Because we all know that not only do you have to survive the deep dark cold of space, but also the scorching bright heat of space!</div>
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Next, we headed next door to the Assembly Highbay, where they are currently in the middle of building an Orion Service Module structural test article. Not the largest highbay facility you'll see in the agency by any means, but anything is dwarfed by what we just walked out of.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the three faring panels for the capsule. Did I touch it? No. Was I close enough? YES</td></tr>
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After a (not-nearly-as-romantic-as-you-get-when-you-go-to-a-NASASocial-at-Langly) bus ride and the history lessons I mentioned toward the top, we arrived out at the B-2 Facility, or Spacecraft Propulsion Research. This facility was built in the 1960s to test the Centaur rocket upper stages, then upgraded in the 90s to handle testing of the Boeing Delta III program. This test chamber is a bit smaller, but still boasting of being the agency's third largest, at 62ft tall and 38ft in diameter. Everyone wants to test at the facility (private launch companies and foreign partners alike), but nobody wants to fork over any funds into upkeep and upgrades, which B-2 could really use. However, they have been asked by the overarching agency heads to do studies on what it would take to test SLS's second stage. There is a lot more to the facility, and I admit I was more excited about going into a vacuum chamber that tests hot fires to pay that much attention. More reason to return!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0B5L9EdJ5Wg/VsM_UtCgc3I/AAAAAAAAYNc/UWnuERP1W14/s1600/IMG_20160209_151608045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0B5L9EdJ5Wg/VsM_UtCgc3I/AAAAAAAAYNc/UWnuERP1W14/s400/IMG_20160209_151608045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lid has the capability to "burp" excess gas in overpressurization event and it vents out through the facility's ceiling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper cold wall for LN2 supercooling. Very unique and extremely expensive to build today.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That guy is me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GANB5nx-fWg/VsM_UvVIFlI/AAAAAAAAYNc/IJLKGq9ms60/s1600/IMG_20160209_153724683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GANB5nx-fWg/VsM_UvVIFlI/AAAAAAAAYNc/IJLKGq9ms60/s400/IMG_20160209_153724683.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see where the engine is placed for live firing during testing (they can handle long-duration fires)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some STEREO Art at B-2, because Sun Art is best</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;">♪ </span>Oh, and can I tell you what I'm the most excited about? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;">♪</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Glenn is having not one, but <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-glenn-invites-public-inside-to-celebrate-75th-anniversary" target="_blank">TWO Open Houses</a>!! Lewis Field in May and Plum Brook in June! You should go to one (or both - I'll see you there!)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-69622632019257403142015-05-01T10:20:00.000-07:002015-05-01T10:20:13.616-07:00Adieu, MESSENGER: 8/03/2004 - 4/30/2015<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Alas, poor <a href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/index.php" target="_blank">MESSENGER</a>! </div>
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I knew it, Mercury, a spacecraft of
infinite data gathering, of most excellent fancy. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMkhMGJSAME/VUO1bDgEXbI/AAAAAAAAK9M/0PNkAmJqqNE/s1600/MESSENGER_Numbers_hi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMkhMGJSAME/VUO1bDgEXbI/AAAAAAAAK9M/0PNkAmJqqNE/s1600/MESSENGER_Numbers_hi.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Numbers as of last August. via Johns Hopkins APL</td></tr>
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It hath borne my wonder on its
back a thousand times, and now, how abhorred in my newsfeed it is! My gorge
rises at its <a href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=284" target="_blank">impactful outcome</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ec-G3KQtXb0/VUOx5FaXOpI/AAAAAAAAK80/kDFAOWSo46M/s1600/Last_Image_MESSENGER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ec-G3KQtXb0/VUOx5FaXOpI/AAAAAAAAK80/kDFAOWSo46M/s1600/Last_Image_MESSENGER.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?page=1&search_type=and&image_id=1596&keyword=96&search_cat=" target="_blank">Last image</a> from MESSENGER </td></tr>
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Here hung those cameras whose images I have
view'd I know not how oft. </div>
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—Where be your tweets now? </div>
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Your gifs? </div>
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Your <a href="http://messenger-act.actgate.com/msgr_public_released/react_quickmap.html" target="_blank">false-color imaging</a>? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Your flash of Earth that was wont to set the media on a roar? </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSTj_x2Ofws/VUOzTf7UjYI/AAAAAAAAK9A/xWitNoGEfg8/s1600/EW1016558881B_montage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSTj_x2Ofws/VUOzTf7UjYI/AAAAAAAAK9A/xWitNoGEfg8/s1600/EW1016558881B_montage.png" height="320" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/image.php?page=3&search_type=and&image_id=1228&keyword=&search_cat=" target="_blank">Earth/Moon from Mercury</a>!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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Not about
now to mock your own accomplishments? </div>
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Quite chapfallen?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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[h/t W. Shakespeare for the prose]</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-1667320110178431602015-04-28T07:56:00.001-07:002015-04-28T07:56:51.537-07:00Dava Newman and Advanced SpacesuitsFriday night (April 24th), I had the wonderful opportunity to meet then-NASA Deputy Administrator Appointee <a href="http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/people/dnewman/bio.html" target="_blank">Dr. Dava Newman</a> (she was confirmed by the Senate Monday the 27th). She was giving a lecture at the <a href="http://philsoc.org/" target="_blank">Philosophical Society of Washington</a> (DC) on [what else?!] advanced spacesuit research, which happens to be her forte.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBEMz9THXyA/VT-FLSLhICI/AAAAAAAAK6I/tvm4uzl7uoY/s1600/IMG_20150424_202238416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBEMz9THXyA/VT-FLSLhICI/AAAAAAAAK6I/tvm4uzl7uoY/s1600/IMG_20150424_202238416.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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She highlighted four different prototypes - two intra-vehicular and two extra-vehicular suits. She also made clear, and quite excitedly I might add, the potential worldwide medical impacts these types of suits could have.<br />
<br />
But more on that later.<br />
<br />
Because spacesuits.<br />
<br />
<br />
The first suit is like a super compression suit, called the Gravity Loading Countermeasure Suit. It is made to mimic gravity by compressing the muscles constantly, therefore the astronaut's body is in a constant state of exercise. The hope is, simply by wearing it, they can decrease muscle atrophy and bone loss associated with extended spaceflight.<br />
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<br />
<br />
The second suit, also used while inside the capsule/station, is called the Variable Vector Countermeasure Suit. It is still a work in progress, but the suit is to have mini gyroscopes in strategic locations, which will orient a "down" direction, providing viscous resistance to the body during movements. The ideal size for these gyros are 1"-2", but the smallest they can make them functional right now are 6". Work in progress, but promising!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPutb57zxvM/VT-KJPQhR1I/AAAAAAAAK6g/Sqp3sBEFEGs/s1600/IMG_20150424_203913950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPutb57zxvM/VT-KJPQhR1I/AAAAAAAAK6g/Sqp3sBEFEGs/s1600/IMG_20150424_203913950.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Then she dove into what everyone really wanted to hear about, which were the glamorous EVA EMUs. She showed the past EMUs and how bulky they are and how difficult it was to operate on the moon:<br />
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<br />
If we're going to Mars, we need to be more agile. We need a locomotion suit.<br />
Then there is a segue into astronaut injuries for the Injury Comfort and Protection Suit. It's interesting. There have been dozens of documented - documented - injuries from NBL training. However, there are no documented cases of injuries from flight EVAs. I happened to have a gaggle of astronauts at Udvar-Hazy on Saturday, and I asked Rich Linnehan about this (he's logged a modest 42 hours of EVA time, including working extensively on Hubble). He said that training in NBL is brutal, he actually had to have shoulder surgery from injuries sustained in the pool. In space, it is completely different, so much easier on the body.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RSC8uG2p2lA/VT-PtmblIvI/AAAAAAAAK6w/LRIH94tesMs/s1600/IMG_20150424_204607664_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RSC8uG2p2lA/VT-PtmblIvI/AAAAAAAAK6w/LRIH94tesMs/s1600/IMG_20150424_204607664_HDR.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Dr. Newman and her teams from MIT have done research with the current and new prototypes with sensors, and revealed that pressurized suits restrict body movements by over 50%, especially the upper body. One of many short-term solutions is to offer customizable inflatable padding in trouble spots to alleviate injuries.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tRnj8LVCR-Y/VT-P2LnFFDI/AAAAAAAAK68/5079wb8KL9M/s1600/IMG_20150424_205433842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tRnj8LVCR-Y/VT-P2LnFFDI/AAAAAAAAK68/5079wb8KL9M/s1600/IMG_20150424_205433842.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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The last suit is by far the most interesting and outrageous. I am sure you've seen it grace articles the internet over:<br />
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<br />
The Human BioSuit. If the ladies at ILC Dover thought those suits were time-consuming, this bad boy has 340 meters of lines of non-extension. Well, what the heck is that?<br />
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Lines of non-extension are non-lineal lines that run along the human body. Body movement doesn't cause contraction or stretch. The suit utilizes this by placing tension elements in high strain areas like joints to enable constant pressure directly on the skin no matter how the body moves.<br />
(Okay, it's more complicated and in-depth than this, but this was way over my head and I haven't yet had time to do my own research to understand it. My hope is to read up on it, then get to have conversations with her, because her passion is my passion.)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o43B3b2Or90/VT-Zxw9SlSI/AAAAAAAAK7Y/AsdzI4nzQN4/s1600/IMG_20150424_210400225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o43B3b2Or90/VT-Zxw9SlSI/AAAAAAAAK7Y/AsdzI4nzQN4/s1600/IMG_20150424_210400225.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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They use active materials (materials that contract/constrict with a current passed through) at critical points where constant pressure is an issue, like joints. There are questions as to whether 1/3 of Earth atmospheric pressure is adequate, as bre-breathing takes a lengthy and expensive period of time The suit already creates that amount of pressure across most of the body. What should be considered, instead, is the astronauts' daily atmospheric living conditions. Why is ISS pressurized to a full atmosphere? If you make it 2/3 atmosphere, it would be much easier to transition to and from EVAs. Dr. Newman is clearly thinking ahead to Mars.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0T-1PVaMlrw/VT-eHjcP19I/AAAAAAAAK7k/QnSdL8sDYs8/s1600/IMG_20150424_210759984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0T-1PVaMlrw/VT-eHjcP19I/AAAAAAAAK7k/QnSdL8sDYs8/s1600/IMG_20150424_210759984.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20008, USA38.911755 -77.04785900000001713.3897205 -118.35645300000002 64.4337895 -35.739265000000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-52439002516384488442015-01-08T10:50:00.000-08:002015-01-08T10:52:00.231-08:00#Spacewalk50<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqAwuDlvWtY/VK7OcXON4kI/AAAAAAAAHxU/_r4ikXoYArE/s1600/IMG_20150107_190740_869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqAwuDlvWtY/VK7OcXON4kI/AAAAAAAAHxU/_r4ikXoYArE/s1600/IMG_20150107_190740_869.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNhV42e_H-Y/VK7OcXoOtNI/AAAAAAAAHxc/oBl5Vr8F1CI/s1600/IMG_20150107_190757_772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNhV42e_H-Y/VK7OcXoOtNI/AAAAAAAAHxc/oBl5Vr8F1CI/s1600/IMG_20150107_190757_772.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Floating.<br />Walking.<br />Working.<br />Imagining.</span></blockquote>
<br />
These are the the highlights commemorating the 50th anniversary of the excursions by humans into the void of space, presented by the <a href="http://airandspace.si.edu/" target="_blank">National Air and Space Museum</a> in Washington, DC.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D56EMLrl6zk/VK7OcVq6rFI/AAAAAAAAHxY/fcC6Fk_SYbI/s1600/IMG_20150107_191016_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D56EMLrl6zk/VK7OcVq6rFI/AAAAAAAAHxY/fcC6Fk_SYbI/s1600/IMG_20150107_191016_009.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eyecatcher is most likely the "slinky" of gloves</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sMRaFISh7I/VK7Oc0dynMI/AAAAAAAAHxg/_tOEWprJc6s/s1600/IMG_20150107_191030_614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sMRaFISh7I/VK7Oc0dynMI/AAAAAAAAHxg/_tOEWprJc6s/s1600/IMG_20150107_191030_614.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-inkgHhFI0mI/VK7OdDL31gI/AAAAAAAAHys/-l31PzVTMVU/s1600/IMG_20150107_191040_788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-inkgHhFI0mI/VK7OdDL31gI/AAAAAAAAHys/-l31PzVTMVU/s1600/IMG_20150107_191040_788.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GmvXcwnkw6Q/VK7Od0WUHxI/AAAAAAAAHxw/ZmF4GtMyieU/s1600/IMG_20150107_191106_906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GmvXcwnkw6Q/VK7Od0WUHxI/AAAAAAAAHxw/ZmF4GtMyieU/s1600/IMG_20150107_191106_906.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uHUcFUmHAzU/VK7OdDRDw_I/AAAAAAAAHxk/1RPT3AtKkzw/s1600/IMG_20150107_191047_730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uHUcFUmHAzU/VK7OdDRDw_I/AAAAAAAAHxk/1RPT3AtKkzw/s1600/IMG_20150107_191047_730.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<br />
Last night they held a preview for Air and Space Society Members. The temporary exhibit officially opened today, and is on public display at the museum on the National Mall until June 8, 2015. I just wanted to share photos, and I will be returning (several times, most likely) because this is a wonderful gallery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvVAyrw_7s0/VK7OeFWxCzI/AAAAAAAAHx0/K1JHEcFSeGQ/s1600/IMG_20150107_191723_401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvVAyrw_7s0/VK7OeFWxCzI/AAAAAAAAHx0/K1JHEcFSeGQ/s1600/IMG_20150107_191723_401.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disassembled Omega watch face from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gU3vyaqFYY/VK7OedgeNHI/AAAAAAAAHyA/pU2ZarQZMzw/s1600/IMG_20150107_191732_418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gU3vyaqFYY/VK7OedgeNHI/AAAAAAAAHyA/pU2ZarQZMzw/s1600/IMG_20150107_191732_418.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And from the front</td></tr>
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This isn't just objects on display. This is thoughtful artistic consideration of how the objects should be presented, while still maintaining preservation of the pieces. They are interspersed amongst fine art relevant to Extravehicular Activities, and mission photography.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Hpq1dgYOeU/VK7Pe2xZN0I/AAAAAAAAHzQ/8lKzc_6DNcs/s1600/IMG_20150107_195635_728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Hpq1dgYOeU/VK7Pe2xZN0I/AAAAAAAAHzQ/8lKzc_6DNcs/s1600/IMG_20150107_195635_728.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_BA1RTRotk/VK7PevUqzHI/AAAAAAAAHzI/uWHtbDIIfOA/s1600/IMG_20150107_195359_281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_BA1RTRotk/VK7PevUqzHI/AAAAAAAAHzI/uWHtbDIIfOA/s1600/IMG_20150107_195359_281.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gene Cernan's G4-C Pressure Suit from Gemini IX & a prototype cover layer in front</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6EqGVK24vA/VK7PfzHaykI/AAAAAAAAHzk/nOHLzOZ00m8/s1600/IMG_20150107_200029_462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6EqGVK24vA/VK7PfzHaykI/AAAAAAAAHzk/nOHLzOZ00m8/s1600/IMG_20150107_200029_462.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed White's Helmet & Gloves from Gemini IV</td></tr>
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Air and Space has an <a href="http://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/outside-the-spacecraft/online/index.cfm" target="_blank">interactive website</a> you can peruse and learn even more about these objects and more. This isn't everything in the exhibit; this is only what I took photos of last night. There is SO much more.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06PWe9zKwvE/VK7Pe42sG7I/AAAAAAAAHzM/YUAfLvqEOzA/s1600/IMG_20150107_195856_796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06PWe9zKwvE/VK7Pe42sG7I/AAAAAAAAHzM/YUAfLvqEOzA/s1600/IMG_20150107_195856_796.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-50976584272494587342014-12-09T08:04:00.000-08:002014-12-09T08:04:50.590-08:00The Future of Human Spaceflight - OrionLast week was amazing. I was one of the fortunate to witness the maiden launch of the next vehicle that will take humans beyond Earth's orbit, that will take us back out to another celestial body. It is difficult to describe the emotions I'm still feeling, four days after the mission. I'm still grasping for the appropriate words to share with people back home, but everything I say, no matter how detailed and eloquent, fall unequivocally short.<br />
<br />
We are striving to advance, to evolve, as a species, and I was part of that, in my small insignificant way. I am so very fortunate to have had both the opportunity to go, and be with the people who make me feel at home during the event. I hope they feel as warmly about me as I do them, because I see them as my family.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VlHvBOAs6ck/VIcQEjPogwI/AAAAAAAAGT4/rTKfc7X_jUQ/s1600/15783865410_be12229025_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VlHvBOAs6ck/VIcQEjPogwI/AAAAAAAAGT4/rTKfc7X_jUQ/s1600/15783865410_be12229025_k.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunrise both days of the launch attempts were stunning. Well worth getting up at "Orion O'clock" to see this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYrOtRrslqY/VIcQHJSd_dI/AAAAAAAAGUA/N1FWpki6nyo/s1600/15969211061_b26c5a1966_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AYrOtRrslqY/VIcQHJSd_dI/AAAAAAAAGUA/N1FWpki6nyo/s1600/15969211061_b26c5a1966_k.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seconds after powering off the launchpad. We were positioned at the Saturn V Center looking southeast. The ascent was silent.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R41U49ZwU0g/VIcQIWIeSaI/AAAAAAAAGUI/djR9hily-8M/s1600/15348922294_5bf1182979_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R41U49ZwU0g/VIcQIWIeSaI/AAAAAAAAGUI/djR9hily-8M/s1600/15348922294_5bf1182979_k.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the Delta IV Heavy disappeared into the cloud cover, and the delay of deafening thunder subsided, all that remained was the vapor. And "Base Sec Helo".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DIIwotHCcrM/VIcRvJFCsKI/AAAAAAAAGUU/FyYDeLTOF6k/s1600/EFT-1-Kennedy-Space-Center-Orion-flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DIIwotHCcrM/VIcRvJFCsKI/AAAAAAAAGUU/FyYDeLTOF6k/s1600/EFT-1-Kennedy-Space-Center-Orion-flag.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Orion Flag is hoisted at Kennedy Space Center. The first time a vehicle flag has been raised since the Shuttle Fleet were retired. Via <a href="http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/human-spaceflight/eft-1-flight-detail-liftoff-splashdown/" target="_blank">Spaceflight Insider</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The community of "spacetweeps" worldwide is quite frankly astounding. They came from all over, just to watch a minute of a rocket. But it's clearly about so much more than watching a controlled explosion leap into the sky. While I ran around with my "space sisters" Kristen and Jennifer, I got to catch up with friends from near and far, some I see a couple times a year, some I haven't seen in years, and yet others I've just met for the first time. And that's what makes this community so special. We may be complete strangers, yet when we meet for the first time in person, it's like we're long lost pals.<br />
<br />
It's utterly heartwarming that such a passion could do this, could bring people together in such a way. We all came together to witness history in the making, and I wouldn't have wanted to stand next to anyone else. It doesn't matter what we look like, where we live, who we voted for. We honestly and earnestly believe in this great endeavour we are undertaking, and we are committed to helping its success.<br />
<br />
I miss everyone already as we go our separate ways again, and I can't wait to do this again. I love you all. Thank you for the memories.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
The rest of my photos from the trip can be found here:<br />
<a href="https://plus.google.com/112969662283270149144/posts/SK5gAMfnaDk" target="_blank">google plus photo album</a><br />
and<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kosame06/sets/72157647323181284/" target="_blank">flickr album of the launch</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-60740102740959978542014-10-31T12:49:00.003-07:002014-10-31T13:59:05.877-07:00Sensitivity in SpaceflightIt has been quite a week in space, amirite?<br />
<br />
As I type even now, helicopters and vehicles are littered around a section of the Mojave in the aftermath of a terrible account that no one wants to hear happen - Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo suffered a "serious anomaly" resulting in the loss of the ship.<br />
<br />
As soon as it occurred, the speculation game was afoot. Now, earlier this week, Orbital Sciences lost their rocket, the Antares, very shortly after launch. The first thing everyone who witnessed it in person told each other was "Don't Speculate. It Isn't Your Job To Speculate Or Spread Unconfirmed Rumors."<br />
<br />
Three days later and oh how quickly we have forgotten this. Jumping on the local police scanners and tweeting what we hear, completely unfiltered. Sharing "eyewitness" accounts of the scene, blatantly ignorant of how horrific the scene may be.<br />
<br />
Let us please, <b><u>PLEASE</u></b>, take a step back, and try to be as respectful as possible in times like these. I think of it like this: if that were a loved one of mine, would I be posting information as unfiltered as I would normally want to? I think sometimes we may forget that when discussing spaceflight mishaps, the majority of the time it is uncrewed, so we are desensitized to a degree.<br />
<br />
So, if one of these crew members were your loved one, would you want this sensational, headline-grabbing, reader-drawing, unfiltered information streaming through your timeline like it is now? I know I wouldn't. It makes me sick thinking someone is talking about them with no regard for who their audience may be.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>To repeat: please be more respectful with what you post and share on these delicate topics.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Please?</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-17737300745392834832014-10-01T12:04:00.002-07:002014-10-01T12:04:36.334-07:00#ThingsNASAMightTweet - An Anniversary Of SortsHappy 56th Anniversary, NASA! You officially opened shop <a href="http://history.nasa.gov/brief.html" target="_blank">on this day</a> in 1958! And, while your priorities and strategic goals are no longer mired in Cold War politics, your outcomes have inspired the world to aspire to your status in planetary and space exploration.<br />
<br />
I think we can both agree that you've done some fairly awesome things since you've been around:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
You've shown us a whole new world. Literally.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IambiTcVYgg/VCxEH7E2_kI/AAAAAAAABnY/8uXwMSV8Pfc/s1600/apollo11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IambiTcVYgg/VCxEH7E2_kI/AAAAAAAABnY/8uXwMSV8Pfc/s1600/apollo11.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humans on another planetary body!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OfkWDIPI7uY/VCxEKLis67I/AAAAAAAABng/dNH4hHZ2nBI/s1600/landsat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OfkWDIPI7uY/VCxEKLis67I/AAAAAAAABng/dNH4hHZ2nBI/s1600/landsat.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many ways to keep track of our world (<a href="http://landsat.usgs.gov/" target="_blank">LandSat</a> images here)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
You've shown us ourselves. Again, literally.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEIPNkyXPTM/VCxEMT4YEmI/AAAAAAAABno/tfp8uGNJJeE/s1600/voyager1pbd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEIPNkyXPTM/VCxEMT4YEmI/AAAAAAAABno/tfp8uGNJJeE/s1600/voyager1pbd.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earth mote, via Voyager 1 (now in <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/interstellarvoyager/" target="_blank">interstellar space</a>!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_EfdQVEiqvs/VCxEGOR8F9I/AAAAAAAABnQ/p0mQAsXIH-w/s1600/cassinipbd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_EfdQVEiqvs/VCxEGOR8F9I/AAAAAAAABnQ/p0mQAsXIH-w/s1600/cassinipbd.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And an update to the above classic with <a href="http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/waveatsaturn/gallery/" target="_blank">Cassini</a>, which should move you to tears.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You gave us this:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--duLvipGc84/VCxHpzk6ueI/AAAAAAAABn0/kbbn_pBrO00/s1600/tumblr_mbjmwo6T181qzmhhxo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--duLvipGc84/VCxHpzk6ueI/AAAAAAAABn0/kbbn_pBrO00/s1600/tumblr_mbjmwo6T181qzmhhxo1_500.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(via <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/search/Space+Shuttle+Launch" target="_blank">launchviewing</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Which gave us this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lljylu07d1Y/VCxLTcMZ6kI/AAAAAAAABoA/LemIM0COQDc/s1600/brucemmu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lljylu07d1Y/VCxLTcMZ6kI/AAAAAAAABoA/LemIM0COQDc/s1600/brucemmu.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce McCandless, free-floatin' on STS-41B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this: </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pr9XxF3VnTM/VCxLWgogCiI/AAAAAAAABoI/aqlYsMM1JlM/s1600/hstdeploy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pr9XxF3VnTM/VCxLWgogCiI/AAAAAAAABoI/aqlYsMM1JlM/s1600/hstdeploy.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every day we're <a href="http://hubblesite.org/" target="_blank">Hubblin'</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aaaand this: </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Rgt4GDF6K0/VCxLZ0y1xYI/AAAAAAAABoQ/T472QzWidsE/s1600/iss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Rgt4GDF6K0/VCxLZ0y1xYI/AAAAAAAABoQ/T472QzWidsE/s1600/iss.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/multimedia/gallery/iss027e036700.html" target="_blank">cake-topper</a> to the Shuttle's accomplishments: the <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload" target="_blank">International Space Station</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are so many things that have been left out, <b>I KNOW</b> (or this post would never end), but the accomplishments I have included are astounding feats of humanity in and of themselves. We are amazing creatures, and we can do so much more if we center our focus on more of the things above, and less of the things of the killing and antagonistic sort.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's good to have you <a href="http://mashable.com/2013/10/04/nasa-twitter-shutdown/" target="_blank">this year</a>, NASA. Let's go do some more stuff.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rN_U9fms6Nc/VCxNM4OQ5RI/AAAAAAAABoc/SczPUG7YqRg/s1600/Screenshot_2013-10-17-13-07-39.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rN_U9fms6Nc/VCxNM4OQ5RI/AAAAAAAABoc/SczPUG7YqRg/s1600/Screenshot_2013-10-17-13-07-39.png" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From October 17, 2013. Everyone was happy to go to work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-83627115982185424492014-09-18T07:28:00.000-07:002014-09-18T07:28:21.604-07:00Get To Work, MAVEN<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Atmospheric gas<br /><br />stripped harshly by solar wind<br /><br />MAVEN seeks account.</em></span> </div>
</blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bX8z_bu47uQ/VBrqYYoXaJI/AAAAAAAABnA/SfgO7D8Lf6Q/s1600/Mars-Hubble-giant-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bX8z_bu47uQ/VBrqYYoXaJI/AAAAAAAABnA/SfgO7D8Lf6Q/s1600/Mars-Hubble-giant-1.jpg" height="361" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shamelessly taken from NASA. They give everything away. Your tax dolla-dolla-billz at work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
That's my haiku, currently hurtling toward what's left of the Martian upper atmosphere. I like that NASA and the Planetary Society decided to put all of them on board, instead of just the winners. <br />
<br />
Because we're all winners.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/maven/" target="_blank">MAVEN</a>, or Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, has been on a planetary trek to the Red Planet for 10 months. This weekend, it will enter its orbit, and begin its mission. There are a couple main scientific queries the spacecraft has been sent there to answer, along with a lot of minor and indirect ones. <br />
<br />
The major ones are: What is the current state of Mars' upper atmosphere? What is the current escape rate (of gasses into space)? And, what has the total loss into space been over time?<br />
<br />
For the uninitiated, you may be wondering why we want to know the state of another planet's atmosphere. Good grief, those crazy scientists won't shut up about how messed up Earth's is, now they want to poke around Mars?<br />
<br />
I know, right?<br />
<br />
Deep breath. If we want to send astronauts there one day (soon, I hope, and maybe a person or people I know *fingers crossed*), we kind of want to know what's going on instead of charging in blindly. Basically, we want to know how bad it's going to be for our explorers when we send them, and further down the road, would it be possible to replenish the atmosphere for some long-term tenants. <span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">WHAT?!</span> Yes! There's a line scientists love to say, and Arthur C. Clarke is popular for quoting his friend Larry Niven: "The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program." Well, humans have space programs. We need to ensure our species survives (besides stop killing each other, of course!!) by branching out and populating other habitable worlds, in case, you know, Bruce Willis can't drill to 800 feet (that movie is one giant lie, ftr) and Earth meets its fiery <strong>DOOM</strong>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wallstreetotc.com/nasas-maven-probe-on-schedule-to-land-on-mars-on-sunday/29322/" target="_blank">Here</a> are <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/18/maven-spacecraft-reaches-mars_n_5837488.html" target="_blank">some articles</a> in the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/17/tech/mars-maven-spacecraft-orbit/" target="_blank">meeedia</a> you can <a href="http://www.kunc.org/post/nasa-mars-mission-led-cu-boulder-readies-orbit">read.</a><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-79012984330951749462014-05-16T08:56:00.000-07:002014-05-16T08:56:08.672-07:00Marketing Dreams: Japanese Beverage Company Going To The Moon!<div style="text-align: left;">
Well. We knew this was coming eventually. Leave it to Japan to be the first to do it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/88q3ZoYUKEg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A Japanese beverage company, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/05/15/japanese-sports-drink-launch-goes-lunar/" target="_blank">recently announced</a> that they have plans already in the works to send a capsule, which looks exactly like their Pocari Sweat brand (think sports drinks, but a little healthier) soft drink can, to the moon, and land it safely on the lunar surface.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WfMOH6oUj1w/U3YsQWfqrXI/AAAAAAAABUI/s24zwPinxJI/s1600/titaniumpocari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WfMOH6oUj1w/U3YsQWfqrXI/AAAAAAAABUI/s24zwPinxJI/s1600/titaniumpocari.jpg" height="191" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Titanium Pocari Moon Capsule. Pocari Earth Capsule Contents May Vary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
According to the official <a href="http://lunar-dream.com/" target="_blank">website</a> (yes, there is one - very detailed with english subs for everything, because they want us to know that they're doing this), they will send a powdered form of the drink sealed inside the ca(n)psule, and let it sit there until astronauts find it to make a beverage with lunar water. Because, I guess they think future astronauts might forget to pack tang or something?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Kids can even send in messages of their dreams for the future, which they will inscribe on plates and include inside the ca(n)psule for the future lunar explorers to read. That part is cool.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My only question (besides 'how much is this PR stunt costing you, really?') is, how is this stuff going to taste XX years (decades; centuries) in the future, after sitting in metal, all of the ingredients' shelf lives ridiculously past expiration dates? I don't know about you, reader, but I wouldn't drink that.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And my first thought when I read the article from WSJ was the end scene from the movie Hancock, with the All-Heart logo on the moon.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7e7jicAWXaM/U3Y0c2mLWVI/AAAAAAAABUQ/UuYAN-ckVvU/s1600/hancock.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7e7jicAWXaM/U3Y0c2mLWVI/AAAAAAAABUQ/UuYAN-ckVvU/s1600/hancock.png" height="264" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: Columbia Pictires</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-51992816707330403222014-02-26T12:24:00.002-08:002014-02-26T12:24:31.774-08:00High Visibility Close Call (Looked More Like Low-Visibility)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IB6sGglEgHk/Uw5KgMCm3yI/AAAAAAAABMk/bMrWLAt09bc/s1600/LucaHelmet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IB6sGglEgHk/Uw5KgMCm3yI/AAAAAAAABMk/bMrWLAt09bc/s1600/LucaHelmet.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's up?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I didn't catch the conference call, just the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Suit_Water_Intrusion_Mishap_Investigation_Report.pdf" target="_blank">report post</a> on it (because, you know, work - BOO), but I heard about the findings Sunday, although nobody went into detail. ILC was just stoked to say "WASN'T US!!"<br />
<br />
So, for those of you that don't know, two separate entities make the EVA EMU (that's fancy talk for spacesuit - whay are you here again?). <a href="http://www.ilcdover.com/Space-Suits/" target="_blank">ILC Dover</a> makes the part astronauts wear, and <a href="http://utcaerospacesystems.com/cap/products/Pages/space-suits.aspx" target="_blank">Hamilton Sundstrand</a> makes the life support systems contained inside the "backpack."<br />
<br />
The part that failed was from a fan pump separator in said backpack, which prevented the water from flowing as it should have. So, like your toilet, it backed up into Luca Parmitano's helmet, and accreted around his face. Now, I haven't had time to read the report, just skim it (and look at the pages upon pages of [NOT FOR YOUR EYES]), but I didn't see any company names mentioned. I don't know if they did in the call or not.<br />
<br />
IDC; I'll tell you what's up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-72979732902730613572014-02-23T14:39:00.001-08:002014-02-23T14:40:14.668-08:00ILC Dover Talks What They Know Best <p dir=ltr>Today at Dover Air Force Base's Air Mobility Command Museum, ILC Dover Historian and all-around cool guy Bill Ayrey gave his yearly talk on - you guessed it - the spacesuit. <br>
There wasn't anyone in my age group. In fact, other than the four young kids, it was all old people. But I'll bury my disappointment. This is about people enthused about space artifacts. <br>
There isn't anything in the talk you can't find on ILC's website or Wikipedia, but that's not why we're there. We go to listen to Bill. The way he tells the story of the company and the life-saving equipment is magical. <br>
If you've never heard him talk, well shame on you! </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-31VqO-sMkpw/Uwp4I8uEPPI/AAAAAAAABL0/p6ksBYCQbhg/s1600/IMG_20140223_134938_702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-31VqO-sMkpw/Uwp4I8uEPPI/AAAAAAAABL0/p6ksBYCQbhg/s640/IMG_20140223_134938_702.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Dtf182s23PU/Uwp4KgJvuxI/AAAAAAAABL8/1HDdVsPlbA0/s1600/IMG_20140223_151204_312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Dtf182s23PU/Uwp4KgJvuxI/AAAAAAAABL8/1HDdVsPlbA0/s640/IMG_20140223_151204_312.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LGld1VX5768/Uwp4MCyuIQI/AAAAAAAABME/9GSvDnET5lQ/s1600/IMG_20140223_151108_656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LGld1VX5768/Uwp4MCyuIQI/AAAAAAAABME/9GSvDnET5lQ/s640/IMG_20140223_151108_656.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wNN5IlYT-Ho/Uwp4gjOSyQI/AAAAAAAABMM/op6tc4XtGc0/s1600/IMG_20140223_151043_259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wNN5IlYT-Ho/Uwp4gjOSyQI/AAAAAAAABMM/op6tc4XtGc0/s640/IMG_20140223_151043_259.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ut0KAjL9hu8/Uwp4uA7VXJI/AAAAAAAABMU/gwKYTJi-_HU/s1600/IMG_20140223_135511_105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ut0KAjL9hu8/Uwp4uA7VXJI/AAAAAAAABMU/gwKYTJi-_HU/s640/IMG_20140223_135511_105.jpg"> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-17413049095600590722014-01-31T10:19:00.002-08:002014-01-31T10:19:16.221-08:00They're Called 'UFO's' Because They're UNIDENTIFIED You DummyMark my words. <br />
<br />
It's been published in an online tabloid, but it's only a matter of time before a "real" "news" outlet (I see you, Fox and CNN) picks <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2547769/Has-Nasa-spotted-UFO-MARS-Rover-images-reveals-conical-object-streaking-sky.html" target="_blank">this ridiculous story</a> up and rolls with it. <br />
I went and scoured JPL's <a href="http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/" target="_blank">photo bank</a> of the front hazcams, and had to go aaaaaaaaall the way back to Sol 504.<br />
BUT I FOUND the image in question, courtesy of Left Hazcam B:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_442235847EDR_F0250000FHAZ00323M_&s=504" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_442235847EDR_F0250000FHAZ00323M_&s=504" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FePbQnrLYno/UuvgCtBaQVI/AAAAAAAABLM/WN0UAFly-5g/s1600/zzz.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Link takes you right to the image detail page</td></tr>
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Detail (the only thing I did was put a big red circle on it):<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qC1TFV4KkaM/Uuvn04hbYsI/AAAAAAAABLk/ks9cspBOFnk/s1600/zzzCircle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qC1TFV4KkaM/Uuvn04hbYsI/AAAAAAAABLk/ks9cspBOFnk/s1600/zzzCircle.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Okay, so yeah. The thing wasn't photoshopped in or anything. Can we see it on Front Right Hazcam B?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FRB_442235847EDR_F0250000FHAZ00323M_&s=504" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FRB_442235847EDR_F0250000FHAZ00323M_&s=504" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOBD_HHcnT4/Uuvm5cv45RI/AAAAAAAABLc/PhUUGihmWJ8/s1600/zzz1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another linky</td></tr>
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<br />
That's a negative, Ghostrider. If it were a sky object, *should* be visible just below MSL's sample area, right? I could be wrong that it should be viewable, but I printed it out and lined the photos up to the horizon and turret/swiss army knife instruments.<br />
Make the decision for yourself. I've presented you with the evidence you need.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, it's the ghost of ISON (profuse crying) come back to haunt the solar system. <br />
I still haven't forgiven you for what <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2013/12/02/ison_anim.gif" target="_blank">you did</a>, scumbag sun.<br />
<br />
It could also be a lens flare.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-8254361961763255232014-01-28T07:34:00.000-08:002014-01-28T07:34:34.596-08:00I Wasn't Yet Three Years Old. But January 28, 1986...I Was There.Isn't it amazing, the odd, almost insignificant details you can recall from early childhood? I was almost two and a half years old, and here are the things I remember from a trip my parents and I took to visit my aunt and uncle stationed at Patrick AFB in Florida:<br />
<ul>
<li>I remember an oversized stuffed white-ish (maybe yellow?) dog my aunt had at her house. I loved that thing, and we were only there for I think a week or so.</li>
<li>I remember walking down the road with my aunt. I can't tell you where we went, but I walked with her.</li>
<li>I remember that's when my love affair with gummy bears began (thanks again, Aunt Kate).</li>
<li>I remember standing under the jet my uncle flew and being scared because the area was loud and I thought it was going to run me over (even though it wasn't even on).</li>
<li>I remember my dad yanking me, and hugging me so tight that it hurt. People covering my face. My dad crying. Throughout my life I can count the number of times I have seen my dad cry on one hand. This was the first.</li>
</ul>
I never knew, or understood, what happened or what I saw until years later when I was in middle school learning about it. We watched film and I got chills. As in, déjà vu chills. When I told my dad what happened, he said "honey, <em>you were there</em>." He then told me all about it.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR9Fb0KRzkQ/UufLy4AqKNI/AAAAAAAABK8/K1U4eupjYrQ/s1600/Last-known-photos-Challenger-Crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR9Fb0KRzkQ/UufLy4AqKNI/AAAAAAAABK8/K1U4eupjYrQ/s1600/Last-known-photos-Challenger-Crew.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"...And perhaps we've forgotten the courage
it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware
of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven
heroes: Michael Smith, Dick
Scobee, Judith
Resnik, Ronald
McNair, Ellison
Onizuka, Gregory
Jarvis, and Christa</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
McAuliffe</span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We mourn their loss as a nation
together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...We've grown used to wonders in this
century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States
space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space,
and, perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They,
the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> - exerpts from Ronald Reagan's Address to the Nation on the Evening of January 28, 1986</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-20404710425422742612014-01-27T10:02:00.000-08:002014-01-27T10:02:38.867-08:00#Apollo1 Crew Were Just Cool Guys
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know everyone likes to share photos of Gus, Ed, and Roger
looking all badass and the epitome of "the right stuff" and all, but
I gotta tell you, this is one of my favorite photos. Just lounging in the pool
during water egress training. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoh10WSCdM8/Uuaen3f4INI/AAAAAAAABKs/CmK3mXNVdsI/s1600/Apollo_1_crew_during_water_egress_training,_June_1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoh10WSCdM8/Uuaen3f4INI/AAAAAAAABKs/CmK3mXNVdsI/s1600/Apollo_1_crew_during_water_egress_training,_June_1966.jpg" height="508" width="640" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Never forget that they were probably guys that liked to hang out and
have a good time and enjoy a good laugh like you and I. Yes, we made them heroes (apropriately so)
because they paid the ultimate price - their lives - in the name of the
advancement of space exploration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But they were men. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They were human. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And I,
for one, like to remember that part of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-68491282003049562162014-01-14T14:12:00.001-08:002014-01-14T14:23:32.717-08:00Things You Might See at Goddard<h3 style="text-align: center;">
First off, don't ask me which building any of these are in. They're all called "Building ##," and you're whisked through just about all of them in your action-packed (okay - science-packed) day.</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the folks accepted into the James Webb Space Telescope <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/webb-social-2013/" target="_blank">#NASASocial</a> next week, I thought I would share a little taste of what you MIGHT see while you run all over Goddard Space Flight Center. I was selected to attend the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GPM/main/" target="_blank">Global Precipitation Measurement</a> NASASocial that was held in conjunction with JAXA and the <a href="http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/" target="_blank">National Cherry Blossom Festival</a> last year (which you should check out; the events are awesome).</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMcInt7HFis/UtWqD0eqYnI/AAAAAAAABFQ/BlaM8IM8-mU/s1600/BadgeShot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMcInt7HFis/UtWqD0eqYnI/AAAAAAAABFQ/BlaM8IM8-mU/s1600/BadgeShot.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you DO NOT perform the obligatory "badge shot" post to your social media account(s) you are not a real #SpaceTweep and I regret to inform you that you need to turn in your membership card immediately.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jPgF4o0StU/UtWqIkFfhgI/AAAAAAAABFg/tqsho3sTzPY/s1600/Centrifuge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jPgF4o0StU/UtWqIkFfhgI/AAAAAAAABFg/tqsho3sTzPY/s1600/Centrifuge.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You might get to go in to see the High Capacity Centrifuge. It can accelerate your mom so fast, she'll experience forces 30x greater than Earth's gravity. If she weighs 2.5 tons. And not human (they are NOT allowed to ride).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjoAyEF4RBc/UtWqWoJ-f9I/AAAAAAAABGY/LgVGHg4HyP4/s1600/Room+of+Many+Space+Environment+Simulators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjoAyEF4RBc/UtWqWoJ-f9I/AAAAAAAABGY/LgVGHg4HyP4/s1600/Room+of+Many+Space+Environment+Simulators.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You might walk through the "Room With Many Variant-Sized Space Environment Simulators" (my name - I think it's catchy).</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G15kMO9ZGyc/UtWqUhW-JOI/AAAAAAAABGQ/5zVQ1jLkHUs/s1600/Pink+Extention+Cord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G15kMO9ZGyc/UtWqUhW-JOI/AAAAAAAABGQ/5zVQ1jLkHUs/s1600/Pink+Extention+Cord.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">While you're in the "Room With Many Variant-Sized Space Environment Simulators," see if you can spot my hot pink extension cord.</span><br />
</td></tr>
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<img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8Y0wdvEdv8/UtWqMtvWuMI/AAAAAAAABF0/sSqX6AbsGmc/s1600/Hyperwall.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">If they don't take you to see visualizations on their Hyperwall, they are meanies and you should all immediately riot* because this thing is REALLY COOL.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*DISCLAIMER: I take no legal responsibility if NASASocial attendees do, in fact, initiate a riot of any means at any point in time.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syGXQhz_hec/UtWqHCw6NaI/AAAAAAAABFc/fLjKxOBP5tw/s1600/BIG+SES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syGXQhz_hec/UtWqHCw6NaI/AAAAAAAABFc/fLjKxOBP5tw/s1600/BIG+SES.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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I'm going to take bets that you see this. Also, no photo can accurately show how large the Large Space Environment Simulator is. It fit Hubble in it. And they're gonna put JWST in it. That's a baaad mother-SHUT YOUR MOUTH- I'm just talkin' 'bout SES.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWpoETTI6cc/UtWqQYPzzbI/AAAAAAAABGE/AF4Sn8REiNY/s1600/MMS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWpoETTI6cc/UtWqQYPzzbI/AAAAAAAABGE/AF4Sn8REiNY/s1600/MMS.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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You might be lucky enough to see someone working on another craft! Like we did with two of the <a href="http://mms.gsfc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">MMS</a> probes!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsklzziltU0/UtWqOdo0mWI/AAAAAAAABF8/4y0-hbkyLps/s1600/JWST+Cleanroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsklzziltU0/UtWqOdo0mWI/AAAAAAAABF8/4y0-hbkyLps/s1600/JWST+Cleanroom.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know for a FACT you will go to the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/servicing/series/cleanroom.html" target="_blank">highbay cleanroom</a> (the world's largest cleanroom - YEAH IT'S BIG). That's just a given that you're going there. Note the entire wall - 9000 square feet - is HEPA filters.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmIW-lUNbHU/UtWqSg10OgI/AAAAAAAABGM/pfG8MdHX-Zg/s1600/Old+Rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmIW-lUNbHU/UtWqSg10OgI/AAAAAAAABGM/pfG8MdHX-Zg/s1600/Old+Rocks.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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More than likely, you'll also stop off in Astrobiology, where they'll let you handle space material that is [I don't often use the word "literally," but when I do] LITERALLY older than dirt. Because it's older than the Earth.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">WHAT YOU WILL NOT SEE WHILE AT GODDARD:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_DIUH8lA4sE/UtWqK_ezQNI/AAAAAAAABFs/94cQrAwCvhA/s1600/GPM+Hardware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_DIUH8lA4sE/UtWqK_ezQNI/AAAAAAAABFs/94cQrAwCvhA/s1600/GPM+Hardware.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Because the GPM satellite is already at Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. And if there is a crate of "GPM critical hardware" still lying around, well then, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-73901729025473427862014-01-09T11:51:00.001-08:002014-01-09T11:51:25.875-08:00Astronaut GeishaIf you need a reason (YOU NEED A REASON?!?!) to like the Japanese band <a href="http://www.asiankung-fu.com/eng/" target="_blank">Asian Kung Fu Generation</a>, and the artist Yusuke Nakamura that collaborates with them to do all of their album art, this would be it. <br />
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Their last album, titled Landmark (which you <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/landmark/id566030309" target="_blank">can buy</a> in the US iTunes store, btw!), features a geisha in an EVA suit, on the moon.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--90eQtTCcI4/Us76Iq5sqAI/AAAAAAAABFA/RnAy8Bu3Y88/s1600/Landmark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--90eQtTCcI4/Us76Iq5sqAI/AAAAAAAABFA/RnAy8Bu3Y88/s1600/Landmark.png" /></a></div>
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Oh, the symbols! THE SYMBOLS!! Not to mention the cymbals [crash]. Littered through the cover image, you will find a reference to every song on the album, as well as recurring AKFG themes (the band members, parakeet, Fuji/Tokyo, cd, a girl).<br />
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I just find it a little weird that in her visor you can see the guys walking across the crosswalk with Tokyo Tower and Fujisan. Is her helmet pointed at the Stargate or something?<br />
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Favorite part of this? The floating cell phone still hooked up to its usb charger. Because Ajikan are #CHARGEAHOLICS obviously.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-51967506384340688802013-12-15T11:51:00.001-08:002013-12-15T11:51:19.210-08:00Wreaths for Astronauts (and other service members)One thing I make certain I block time to participate to do is <a href="https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/" target="_blank">Wreaths Across America</a>. After I donate wreaths to several locations, of course. This year, they offered donations to Cooch's Bridge, the location of the only Revolutionary Battle fought in Delaware, as well as the location of Revolutionary veteran graves. I leapt at the chance. So that means I have to get up there soon to see it.<br />
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But the sight of people from all walks of life coming together at a national landmark is both sobering and heartwarming. It's extremely emotional, and I always have tears in my eyes.<br />
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(Tears can also be there when your friends fail to show up to help, or other "friends" don't even try to meet up with you while they're there because they see it as a social outing and apparently shy = antisocial, but hey LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT THAT.)<br />
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I got to spend the entire morning by myself. No talking, other than taking an acquaintance who is in CAP some hot chocolate first thing when I arrived. Arlington is a great place for introspection.<br />
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For more photos, check out my <a href="http://on.fb.me/19qTzMc" target="_blank">fb album</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-RxZFcLPWU/Uq4GFQqkL3I/AAAAAAAABB4/ewWX_7aqzjY/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-RxZFcLPWU/Uq4GFQqkL3I/AAAAAAAABB4/ewWX_7aqzjY/s320/IMG_0419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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German soldiers came to volunteer</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k68z5meNrDQ/Uq4GPMqOOnI/AAAAAAAABCA/9S_8GLkZ2U0/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k68z5meNrDQ/Uq4GPMqOOnI/AAAAAAAABCA/9S_8GLkZ2U0/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Something you have to see yourself</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BhKLV8xxqhA/Uq4GVGZ4qII/AAAAAAAABCI/6MJP3iX_IUc/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BhKLV8xxqhA/Uq4GVGZ4qII/AAAAAAAABCI/6MJP3iX_IUc/s320/IMG_0417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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through adversity, to the stars</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-77834075255152348412013-12-04T12:50:00.001-08:002013-12-04T12:50:13.773-08:00Saturn's North Pole is Cool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjdCFAWY81k/Up-S4EDNoTI/AAAAAAAAA98/J4hGMExKjaY/s1600/PIA17652.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjdCFAWY81k/Up-S4EDNoTI/AAAAAAAAA98/J4hGMExKjaY/s1600/PIA17652.gif" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA17652" target="_blank">Motion Image courtesy NASA JPL</a></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">OMG I LOVE SATURN</span></strong></div>
I'm recovering from being incredibly sick, but this is too good to NOT blog about.<br />
Right now (as in, 3:50 p.m. December 4, 2013) members of the Cassini team are holding a g+ hangout about this, along with <a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/pia17172" target="_blank">the Day the Earth Smiled</a>.<br />
This false-color imaging from NASA's Cassini shows a six-sided jet stream that creates and maintains the beautiful Hexagon of the north pole. It shows wavelengths from IR all the way to UV. Trippy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-56968446575635084362013-11-26T18:13:00.000-08:002013-11-27T06:18:09.463-08:00Out Of This World OrnamentsI feel bad, because I have long ago lost the link to the craft site that shows how to make these.<br />
I will keep looking, so I can give that person full credit. They deserve it!<br />
<br />
But, I thought the idea was amazing, simple, easy to remember, and inexpensive, so I decided to make it this year's holiday ornament.<br />
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All you do is buy clear glass bulbs, pour floor wax in them to coat, then shake different glitter colors in them. Neat. This is a bad photo, and I'll post more once they're dry, but they really <i><b>do</b> </i>look like nebulae!!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCt-2wdu_sU/UpVUof81RMI/AAAAAAAAA9o/cfL_AvWrdgs/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCt-2wdu_sU/UpVUof81RMI/AAAAAAAAA9o/cfL_AvWrdgs/s320/IMG_0407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><strong></strong></u><br />
<u><strong>UPDATE:</strong></u> I was able to find two sites that do something similar, but not exactly the nebular desing I was looking for. Instead of pouring all one color in, you dash multipe colors in. They are both good tutorials, though, and you can see how easy they are to make. You can find them <a href="http://www.mom4real.com/2012/11/make-your-own-glitter-filled-glass.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://randomcreativity.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/glittered-christmas-bauble-ornament-tutorial/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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I'm not blogging step-by-step, because this isn't a craft blog. <br />
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This is a space blog.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5934103181077145857.post-23101117463112115662013-11-23T11:05:00.004-08:002013-11-23T11:05:39.149-08:00Fake Response Letter Is FAKE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyCh4UY0DdQ/UpD3HApRtbI/AAAAAAAAAxk/4lqUYdE_OQU/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iyCh4UY0DdQ/UpD3HApRtbI/AAAAAAAAAxk/4lqUYdE_OQU/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Okay, guys. Sometimes, people forge some fairly high quality items. What I'm posting below is certainly <i>not</i> among them.<br />
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This guy, @JamieDMZ on twitter (because, twitter) has passed off onto too many gullible people, this letter, saying "NASA wrote back to me."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Sa0LbknE_c/UpD0pp1v83I/AAAAAAAAAw8/utWLyzYqyeU/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Sa0LbknE_c/UpD0pp1v83I/AAAAAAAAAw8/utWLyzYqyeU/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come on, guys</td></tr>
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Thank goodness NASA is good at twittering, because they responded to the guy with <a href="https://twitter.com/nasa/status/404304814667886592" target="_blank">this tweet:</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oX6jFY02qE/UpD79U0ysJI/AAAAAAAAA04/8eAOwMS_8Uo/s1600/IMG_0405.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oX6jFY02qE/UpD79U0ysJI/AAAAAAAAA04/8eAOwMS_8Uo/s320/IMG_0405.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We could go into details why it's fake, but it should be obvious just by reading it (if you overlooked the gargantuan meatball logo and lack of agency contact information, which no real state or federal office would use as letterhead).</div>
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Further, Jason Townsend, one of the social media gurus at NASA, and all-around awesome guy, provided <a href="http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/npg_img/N_PR_1450_010D_/Figure_3_6a.gif" target="_blank">this link</a> which shows what a REAL letter from NASA looks like (as if we didn't already, from all the lovely Instagrams of Astronaut Candidate Selection Rejection Letters over the summer).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02521894271767318544noreply@blogger.com0