Monthly Archives: March 2014

Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield sings "Danny Boy" for St. Patricks Day – Video

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Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield sings "Danny Boy" for St. Patricks Day
A St.Patricks Special: Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield dons an Irish jersey and wows Dublin crowd with "Danny Boy." He explains how his mother taught ...

By: Hugh Toohy

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Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield sings "Danny Boy" for St. Patricks Day - Video

Book Review and Giveaway: Max Goes To the Space Station Childrens Books

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by Katrina Cain on March 18, 2014

Want to stay on top of all the space news? Follow @universetoday on Twitter

Max Goes to the Space Station A Science Adventure with Max the Dog [Hardcover]by Jeffery BennettIllustrated. 32 Pages. Big Kid Science

Jeffery Bennetts Max Goes to the Space Station is the newest addition to the series A Science Adventure with Max the Dog. This series introduces children ages 4 to 12 to the exciting world of scientific thinking through adventurous story telling featuring a lovable and intelligent dog named Max. Max Goes to the Space Station also includes age appropriate suggested activities spanning grades 1 through 8.

This book uses words and illustrations to tell the exciting tale of Max the dog and his journeyto the International Space Station, his adventures while on the station and his return home to hisfamily. The main story is written so that younger children can follow along with Max and his adventures while also providing a Big Kid Box on each page for the older children. A Big Kid Box is a text box on each page that has more in-depth information for older children. At the back of the book are suggested activities for children in the first grade through the eighth grade. Max Goes to the Space Station is one of the many books included in the Stories from Space program. In this program, astronauts read a book from space while on the International Space Station. This year; 2014, astronauts are scheduled to read this book as well as other books from the series.

Universe Today and Big Kid Science are pleased to be able to offer two free copies ofMax Goes to the Space Stationto our readers. In order to be entered into the giveaway drawing, just put your email address into the box at the bottom of this post (where it says Enter the Giveaway) before Tuesday, March 24th. If this is the first time youre registering for a giveaway, youll receive a confirmation email immediately where youll need to click a link to be entered into the drawing. For those who have registered previously, youll receive an email later where you can enter this drawing.

Max Goes to the Space Station and other books in this series are available on Amazon.com.

About the author: David and his wife live in Conway, Arkansas. They are amateur astronomers that love spending nights stargazing and their days working in Higher Education. David graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Master of Education degree.

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Book Review and Giveaway: Max Goes To the Space Station Childrens Books

Live from Space – live from Stardome

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Over 130 space fans gathered at Stardome this weekend (15 March), braving the weather to watch a live stream from the International Space Station. SKY and The National Geographic Channel presented this special event at Stardome where viewers got a glimpse of life in the International Space Station (ISS), hundreds of kilometres above earth.

Unprecedented access was granted to the high-tech, space station which orbits the earth every 90 minutes, so viewers were able to take a round the world trip without leaving their seats.

Astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata live and work in the ISS and gave a guided tour through the space station during the two-hour television event, showing how they live for months in microgravity. Astronaut Mike Massimo, who has completed two Space Shuttle missions to service the Hubble telescope acted as the earth correspondent, reporting live from Houston.

The space team demonstrated how they wash their hair, where they sleep (sleeping bags tethered to the wall), what happens on cleaning day and how the space menu is prepared and delivered. The crowd also learnt about the not-so reliable toilet and how repairs are made by the astronauts themselves.

David Britten, Astronomy Educator at Stardome says "The ISS passed through Auckland skies on the day of the event. However, in daytime skies it isnt visible without specialised optical systems - even on cloudless days. The best naked eye views from Auckland are not till the next series of favourable local evening passes starting on 23rd March. Details of visible passes of the ISS over local New Zealand skies are available at http://www.stardome.org.nz/astronomy/resources/iss-satellites/.

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Live from Space - live from Stardome

Why Trapping Somebody In Space Only Takes A Breeze (And Other Highlights From Expedition 40)

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European Space Agency astronaut Alex Gerst during training prior to Expedition 40/41 in 2014. Credit: European Space Agency

Imagine that you were in the middle of a module on the International Space Station. Floating in mid-air, far from handholds or any way to propel yourself. Is there any way to get out of that situation?

The short answer is not easily, and the longer answer is it could be an effective way to trap criminals in space, joked veteran cosmonaut Maxim Suraevin a press conference today (March 18) for the upcoming Expedition 40/41 mission, which also includes rookies Alex Gerst and Reid Wiseman.

Speaking in Russian, Suraevexplained that during his last 2010 mission, he had crew members set him up in the middle of the stations Node 3.It is true that you can twist asmuch as a contortionist, but youwont be able to move because youhave nothing to bear against, he said in remarks translated into English.

That said, the ventilation system on station does tend to push objects (and people) towards the vents after a time, he observed. What if you had multiple vents set up, however?

I thought that if ever we have apermanent human habitation in space,this would be the best way to keep aperson confined like in a prison inthe middle of the room, where he orshe could not move anywhere, Suraev continued.Being inlimbo, as you will. The only thing that is required is alarge room, a person and several fansblowing in different directions tokeep the person in the middle of theroom. Thats scary, trust me!

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman does spacewalk training in a partial gravity simulator ahead of his Expedition 40/41 flight in 2014. Credit: NASA

Theres no fear on Suraevs part that it will happen with his crewmates, however. My new crew, theyre really good guys and Im really looking forward to being with my new crew in space, and to spend five and a half months aboard the space station, he said in an English phone interview after the press conference. (Good news given that Suraevwill assume command of Expedition 41.)

The crew (who lifts off in May) will have an action-packed mission. It will include the arrival of the last Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and if NASA fixes on a spacesuit leak allow two American maintenance spacewalks. There also are 162 experiments to perform (this according to Gerst) and if theres time, checking out our home planet.

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Why Trapping Somebody In Space Only Takes A Breeze (And Other Highlights From Expedition 40)

Future Space Station Crew to Participate in NASA TV News Conference, Media Interviews

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The crew of International Space Station Expedition 40/41, including NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, will participate in a NASA Television news conference and media interviews Tuesday, March 18, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Wiseman, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, and cosmonaut Maxim Suraev of the Russian Federal Space Agency will launch to the space station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft May 28 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They are scheduled to return to Earth in November.

NASA TV will broadcast at 1:30 p.m. EDT pre-recorded footage of the crew preparing for their mission, followed by live coverage at 2 p.m. of the crew news conference. Reporters who wish to participate by telephone should call Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 18. Those following the briefing on social media can ask questions using the hashtag #askNASA.

After the news conference, interview opportunities are available in person at Johnson, by phone or online. To request credentials to attend in person, or to reserve an interview opportunity, media must contact Johnson's newsroom by 6 p.m. Monday, March 17. The deadline for international journalists to attend in person has passed.

Wiseman, who grew up in Baltimore, is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md. As a naval aviator, Wiseman flew the FA-18F Super Hornet and served in numerous assignments around the world before his selection to NASA's astronaut corps in 2009.

The crew members will share their experiences aboard the space station on Instagram and Twitter, at:

http://instagram.com/iss

For Wiseman's full biography, visit:

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Future Space Station Crew to Participate in NASA TV News Conference, Media Interviews

Orion Getting Closer To Its First Trip To Space

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March 17, 2014

Image Caption: Engineers prepare Orions service module for installation of the fairings that will protect it during launch this fall when Orion launches on its first mission. The service module, along with its fairings, is now complete. Credit: NASA

NASA

Orion is marching ever closer to its first trip to space on a flight that will set the stage for human exploration of new destinations in the solar system.

The Orion team continues to work toward completing the spacecraft to be ready for a launch in September-October. However, the initial timeframe for the launch of Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) has shifted from September-October to early December to support allowing more opportunities for launches this year. Completing the spacecraft according to the original schedule will allow many engineers and technicians to continue transitioning to work on the Orion spacecraft that will fly atop the agencys Space Launch System. It will also ensure that NASAs partners are fully ready for the launch of EFT-1 at the earliest opportunity on the manifest.

To that end, the core and starboard boosters for the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket that will launch Orion into space for the first time arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station this month. That leaves just one booster still in production at the companys Decatur, Ala., facility. Its scheduled to arrive in April along with the rockets upper stage, and will join the other boosters inside ULAs Horizontal Integration Facility for processing and testing.

Meanwhile, in the spacecraft factory at Kennedy Space Center the Operations and Checkout Facility Orion itself is making progress of its own.

After completing construction on the service module in January, engineers at Kennedy moved on to testing whether it could withstand the stresses that it will endure during launch and in space. The service module sits below Orions crew module and above the rocket, and would normally provide power and in-space propulsion and house a number of other systems that arent needed on this first flight. Despite being pushed and twisted in multiple directions, the service module came through the tests not only unscathed, but earlier than planned.

Once the service module testing was completed, it was the crew modules turn.

Almost all of the spacecrafts avionics components have been installed, and system by system, the engineers are powering them up. Its a methodical, deliberate process, in which each connector is checked individually before theyre hooked up and the system turned on to make sure each battery, heater, camera and processor to name a few works on its own, before the entire system is turned on together. Otherwise, one faulty cable could damage an entire, one-of-a-kind system.

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Orion Getting Closer To Its First Trip To Space

Sen. Nelson: Speed up manned space flight

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ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson met with NASA and intelligence officials and now does not believe the problems between Russia and the Ukraine will keep the United States from being able to use Russian rockets to get to the International Space Station.

Nelson tells FOX 35 the two countries are too interdependent with their space programs and the ISS to let these tensions interfere with allowing U.S. astronauts on the ISS flights.

"Almost all of the Russian power that they need on the Space Station comes from the US system. Secondly, most of the commands that are given with regard to the Russian modules all are integrated and come through NASA."

Nelson says this crisis is a good reminder that by giving NASA more money, private companies vying to launch the next generation of manned flights could happen more quickly. "The timeline that NASA is using right now is 2017. However, you pour more juice into the development of commercial crew, some of the companies will tell you they can do it by 2016."

Nelson believes that if the Obama Administration's request of 850 million for NASA is approved, perhaps more than one company could be selected for the manned flights. "We need to give NASA the money, the appropriations so that as it starts to do the down select on companies, that it doesn't have to limit it just to one company."

Nelson also issued a warning to Vladimir Putin. "The economic screws are going are going to be tightened, and he's going to have to think long and hard whether or not he wants that economic pain."

The U.S. does not have much choice for the next 3 years. If they want to send astronauts to the ISS, it will have to be on a Soyuz rocket.

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Sen. Nelson: Speed up manned space flight

Abraham On Toucher & Rich: Will Sizemore Be Red Sox Opening Day Center Fielder?

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BOSTON (CBS) When Grady Sizemore signed with the Red Sox in January, he wasnt sure what the future held after missing over two years of baseball.

But Sizemore has impressed beyond what anyone could have imagined down in Fort Myers, hitting .381 (8-for-21) with a double and three runs scored in 21 games. On Monday he not only had three hits against the St. Louis Cardinals, but made a pair of beautiful catches in center field, crashing into the wall for one and sprawling out for another.

With the three-time All-Star turning heads and Jackie Bradley Jr. struggling (6-for-33 in 11 games), Sizemore is making things tough on manager John Farrell.

Could Sizemore be Bostons opening day center fielder? The Boston Globes Peter Abraham joined98.5 The Sports HubsToucher and Rich on Tuesday, and said while that is still to be determined, Sizemore is making a strong case.

Its only seven games and only 21 at-bats but he has been beyond what anyone has expected, even himself, said Abraham. The first few days of camp he was talking about hoping to find a way to help the team. Yesterday, hesaid his goal now is to try to be on the opening day roster.

Things have changed for him and things have changed for the Red Sox too, said Abraham. Farrell was talking about at the start of spring training that (Sizemore) might have to start on the DL, and now hes in the mix if this continues.

After missing all of 2012 and 20013, and playing just 77 games in 2011, the main concern with Sizemore remains his durability throughout a 162-game season.

The biggest concern is how many games he can play in a row. When they start the season theyll have 13 games in 14 days, and theyre all in the cold, noted Abraham. Hes only played back-to-back days once so far in spring training, so you dont really know if he can be counted on to be an everyday player.

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Abraham On Toucher & Rich: Will Sizemore Be Red Sox Opening Day Center Fielder?

NASA Pot O Gold Rush march 16th , 2014. #40 RAAW Motorsports Spec E30. Road Atlanta. – Video

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NASA Pot O Gold Rush march 16th , 2014. #40 RAAW Motorsports Spec E30. Road Atlanta.
Spec E30 Blitz race 03/16/2014. Qualified 1st in horrible weather conditions. Another GREAT battle with Sandro Espinosa. Was able to hold him off for the win.

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NASA Pot O Gold Rush march 16th , 2014. #40 RAAW Motorsports Spec E30. Road Atlanta. - Video