space

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

Seeing The Universe More Clearly Than Even Its Own Engineers Hoped For – The James Webb Space Telescope Is Finally Ready To Do Science

NASA is scheduled to release the first images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope on July 12, 2022. They’ll mark the beginning of the next era in astronomy as Webb – the largest space telescope ever built – begins collecting scientific data that will help answer questions about the earliest moments of the universe and allow astronomers to study exoplanets in greater detail than ever before. But it has taken nearly eight months of travel, setup, testing and calibration to make sure this most valuable of telescopes is ready for prime time. Marcia Rieke, an astronomer at the University of Arizona and the scientist in charge of one of Webb’s four cameras, explains what she and her colleagues have been doing to get this telescope up and running. 1. What’s happened since the telescope launch...

50 Years Ago Computer Space Launched The Video Game Industry – Here’s The Real Reason You Probably Haven’t Heard Of It

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY, VIDEO REELS

50 Years Ago Computer Space Launched The Video Game Industry – Here’s The Real Reason You Probably Haven’t Heard Of It

Noah Wardrip-Fruin, University of California, Santa Cruz Before Pong there was Computer Space, the first commercial video game. The progenitor of today’s US$175 billion industry debuted on Oct. 15, 1971, at the Music Operators of America trade show in Chicago. Housed in a futuristic-looking cabinet, Computer Space took its place alongside the latest jukeboxes, pinball machines and other coin-operated games manufacturers were pitching to arcade and bar owners. Computer Space was innovative, but how was it to play? Ed Fries, CC BY-ND Computer Space, made by the small company Nutting Associates, seemed to have everything going for it. Its scenario – flying a rocket ship through space locked in a dogfight with two flying saucers – seemed perfect for the times. The Apollo Moon missions were in...

“Whitey On The Moon” Perfectly Captures Bezos’ Space Joy Ride

13Aug

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

Journalism

“Whitey On The Moon” Perfectly Captures Bezos’ Space Joy Ride

After Jeff Bezos returned from his 10-minute space flight in late July, there was a moment during his post-flight news conference when the crowd seemed to realize just how fucked up it all was. Bezos singled out Amazon’s customers and staff, saying “you guys paid for all this.” Realizing the gravitas of that casual statement, the audience emitted some pained laughter while the hostess looked around awkwardly, waiting for the moment to subside. It reminded me of what Gil Scott-Heron, the “godfather of rap” said in his 1970 poem “Whitey on the Moon.” Those watching Bezos might have realized just what it meant when the world’s richest man said that the public paid for the lavish goods he enjoys, especially seeing as he doesn’t seem to contribute much to the goods that the public enjoys. Mayb...

21May

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

CULTURE

When The First Baby Is Born In Space

When the first baby is born off-Earth, it will be a milestone as momentous as humanity’s first steps out of Africa. Such a birth would mark the beginning of a multi–planet civilization for the human species. A permanent Moon colony could become a reality in a few decades. NASA/Dennis Davidson/WikimediaCommons For the first half-century of the Space Age, only governments launched satellites and people into Earth orbit. No longer. Hundreds of private space companies are building a new industry that already has US$300 billion in annual revenue. I’m a professor of astronomy who has written a book and a number of articles about humans’ future in space. Today, all activity in space is tethered to the Earth. But I predict that in around 30 years people will start living in space – and soon afte...

20 Years After The First Stellar Tourist Space Tourism Is Here – Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Plans To Send Civilians To Space

7May

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

SCIENCE

20 Years After The First Stellar Tourist Space Tourism Is Here – Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Plans To Send Civilians To Space

For most people, getting to the stars is nothing more than a dream. But on May 5, 2021, the 60th anniversary of the first suborbital flight, that dream became a little bit more achievable. Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson on the International Space Station with a view many more are likely to see soon. NASA/Tracy Caldwell Dyson/WIkimediaCommons The space company Blue Origin announced that it would start selling tickets for suborbital flights to the edge of space. The first flight is scheduled for July 20, and Jeff Bezos’ company is auctioning off one single ticket to the highest bidder. But whoever places the winning bid won’t be the first tourist in space. On April 28, 2001, Dennis Tito, a wealthy businessman, paid US$20 million for a seat on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to be the first tou...

20 Years In The Making – Space Tourism Is Finally Ready For Launch

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY

20 Years In The Making – Space Tourism Is Finally Ready For Launch

For most people, getting to the stars is nothing more than a dream. On April 28, 2001, Dennis Tito achieved that lifelong goal – but he wasn’t a typical astronaut. Tito, a wealthy businessman, paid US$20 million for a seat on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to be the first tourist to visit the International Space Station. Only seven people have followed suit in the 20 years since, but that number is poised to double in the next 12 months alone. NASA has long been hesitant to play host to space tourists, so Russia – looking for sources of money post-Cold War in the 1990s and 2000s – has been the only option available for those looking for this kind of extreme adventure. However, it seems the rise of private space companies is going to make it easier for regular people to experience space. From...

Physicists Give Chances Of Faster-Than-Light Space Travel A Boost – Warp Drives

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY

Physicists Give Chances Of Faster-Than-Light Space Travel A Boost – Warp Drives

The closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri. It is about 4.25 light-years away, or about 25 trillion miles (40 trillion km). The fastest ever spacecraft, the now- in-space Parker Solar Probe will reach a top speed of 450,000 mph. It would take just 20 seconds to go from Los Angeles to New York City at that speed, but it would take the solar probe about 6,633 years to reach Earth’s nearest neighboring solar system. Faster than light travel is the only way humans could ever get to other stars in a reasonable amount of time. Les Bossinas/NASA/Wikimedia Commons If humanity ever wants to travel easily between stars, people will need to go faster than light. But so far, faster-than-light travel is possible only in science fiction. In Issac Asimov’s Foundation series, humanity can travel from...

Thanks To Pop Culture Space Force Sounds Like A Joke – That Could Be A Problem For An Important Military Branch

16Mar

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

CULTURE

Thanks To Pop Culture Space Force Sounds Like A Joke – That Could Be A Problem For An Important Military Branch

The U.S. Space Force has a serious role to play in the modern world. Its stated mission is to train and equip personnel to defend U.S. interests in space. Given the increasing military and economic importance of space, the USSF is likely to grow in importance. But a quick internet search shows that for most people, the Space Force is more a meme than a military branch. It has been the subject of jokes on “Saturday Night Live,” and Netflix was working on a comedy show before the service was officially formed. None other than Captain Kirk himself, actor William Shatner, has weighed in, arguing for the use of Navy ranks over Air Force ranks in the Space Force – after all, he wasn’t Colonel Kirk. Given this relationship between science fiction and the USSF, few people take it seriously. Mode...

Going To The Bathroom In Space – How Do Astronauts Go?

3Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

TECHNOLOGY

Going To The Bathroom In Space – How Do Astronauts Go?

Whether you use a hole in the ground or a fancy gold-plated toilet, on Earth, gravity pulls your waste down and away from you. For astronauts, “doing their duty” is a bit more complicated. Without gravity, any loose drops or dribbles could float out of the toilet. That’s not good for astronauts’ health, nor for the sensitive equipment inside the space station. Toilets in space are a bit more complicated than those on Earth. Don DeBold via Wikipedia, CC BY-ND Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. How do astronauts go to the bathroom in space? – Henry D., age 7, Cambridge, Massachusetts I study volcanoes on other planets, and I’m interested in how people can work i...

At 20 The International Space Station Offers Hope And A Template For Future Cooperation

6Nov

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

SCIENCE

At 20 The International Space Station Offers Hope And A Template For Future Cooperation

On Nov. 2, 2020, the International Space Station celebrated its 20th anniversary of continuous human occupation. With astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world working together, the ISS has demonstrated humankind’s ability to not only live and work in space but cooperate with one another. This remarkable achievement is significant as countries and companies around the world look to expand space exploration beyond Earth orbit. The path to this anniversary was not easy; like most things done in space, the cost and the difficulty were high. Supported by the Reagan administration as part of the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union, the ISS began its life in the 1980s. Following the Challenger disaster in 1986, planning fell by the wayside as costs increased. Facing delays and cost ...