The Space Race | Flashback | NBC News
As we watch astronauts take spacewalks outside the International Space Station this week, here #39;s a look back at the early years of exploration that laid the foundation for today. Subscribe...
By: NBC News
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Timelapse over Europe
This timelapse video shows two passes over Europe taken by ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst as he flew overhead on the International Space Station at around 400 km altitude. The International...
By: European Space Agency, ESA
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By Matthew Bodner
The St. Petersburg Times
Published: October 16, 2014 (Issue # 1833)
According to Denis Lyskov, Russia's reluctance to commit to an ISS extension has more to do with resource allocation than politics. Photo: Pixabay
Russia may favor putting boots on the moon over financing for the International Space Station (ISS) program, Denis Lyskov, deputy director of federal space agency Roscosmos told news agency TASS on Wednesday.
"We have obligations [to the ISS] until 2020, which we will carry out," Lyskov said. "Concerning the future of the ISS, this decision is not for today. Some analysis needs to be carried out in connection with our lunar program, there needs to be a decision made on how long we need [the ISS]."
The ISS has found itself at the center of Ukraine's crisis, with Russian officials hinting that, in response to U.S. sanctions, Roscosmos may reject a NASA-backed proposal to extend the life of the space station beyond its current 2020 end date.
According to Lyskov, however, Russia's reluctance to commit to an ISS extension has more to do with resource allocation than politics.
Russia receives a relatively low scientific return on its investment in the space station, despite allocating about half of its annual civil space budget on it. Moreover, Roscosmos is now looking to land men on the moon after 2030 a goal the Soviets abandoned after losing the moon race to NASA in the late 1960s and early '70s.
With this in mind, Lyskov said Roscosmos has developed a special program for developing deep-space exploration, which envisions a manned flight to the moon after 2030, and a robot mission to Mars at some unspecified time.
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The International Space Station will soon be equipped with its very own same-day delivery service, for returning critical scientific samples back to Earth. The service will be provided by the Terrestrial Return Vehicle (TRV), a small, wingless capsule that can be loaded up with samples andejected from the airlock, guaranteeing delivery back to Earth in under 24 hours. A number of these TRVs will be shipped up to the ISS as part of a normal cargo run (via the SpaceX Dragon capsule, perhaps), and then the astronauts aboard the space station will be able to send samples back down to Earth whenever they want a bit like a gravity-powered courier service (and coincidentally, probably the most reliable courier service in the world).
As you probably know, getting to the International Space Station is a rather arduous and expensive task: Generally, it involves loading up a fairly big capsule with a few tons of cargo, and then burning millions of gallons of fuel (and hundreds of millions of dollars) to lift it a few hundred miles into space. Technically it should be a lot easier to get stuff back to Earth from the ISS you can always trust gravity to take care of everything but for some reason, theISSs only return capability is provided by the very same cargo capsules. In other words, to send something back from the ISS, we first have to spend a few hundred million dollars getting a return vehicle up there.
Getting a TRV from the Space Station back to Earth
The Terrestrial Return Vehicle, made by Intuitive Machines, will change all that. The TRV is a small, wingless capsule that looks a lot like the Space Shuttle or Boeing X-37B space plane, but without the stubby little wings. Theres no word on the TRVs actual dimensions, but I think its probably no more than a meter long. The concept art suggests its about the size of a small child. (But no, amusingly enough, the first version of the TRV wont be able to carry living things.) The TRV will be loaded up with scientific samples, pushed into an airlock, and then shunted out into space by the Space Stations Japanese-made robot arm. It will then return to Earth much like any other spacecraft, descending through the atmosphere, eventually deploying a drogue parachute to slow it down from supersonic speeds, and then a larger parachute to bring it safely down to a landing site in Utah.
Read:SpaceX carries the first ever zero-g 3D printer to the Space Station
The return to Earth will take about six hours. Because the ISS orbits the Earth about 15 times per day, the total delivery time should always be under 24 hours. This is significant because the International Space Station is home to many scientific experiments and the samples produced by those experiments would much prefer it if they could be sent straight back to Earth, rather than waiting weeks for the next cargo ship. As Popular Science points out, the ISS is actually a very important location for research because of its zero-gravity environment some things, like bioprinting organs or developing new pharmaceuticals, are much more effective when cells can freely grow in three dimensions, rather thanon Earth where gravity crushes everything.
The ISSs new Rodent Research Facility
Intuitive Machines TRVs are being developed in coordination with NASA and CASIS the non-profitCenter for the Advancement of Science in Space, which was recently endowed with the responsibility of making sure that we make good use of the US laboratory aboard the ISS. The first batch of TRVs is scheduled to be sent up to the ISS in 2016. At first, the TRVs will just be used to return scientific samples but apparently theyre working on a version thats capable of returning live rodents, too.
(NASA is currently preparing to send mice up to the ISS, but the current plan is to butcher them up there, and send their frozen organs back to Earth courieringlive rodents in a TRV would be a little more humane, I guess.)
Now read:60,000 miles up: Space elevator could be built by 2035, says new study
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The Space Station will soon have a same-day delivery service
Space Flight, 1960 #39;s - Film 4688
Astonaut John Glenn space flight.
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ICESat-2 Beauty Pass
On October 19, 2014, Comet Siding Spring will make a remarkably close encounter with Mars, buzzing the Red Planet at just one third of the Earth-Moon distance. To witness this historic event,...
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LOMPOC, Calif., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- An unmanned vehicle designed for space flight landed in a California air force base Friday, concluding a nearly two-year mission to conduct experiements while in orbit.
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle finished its third mission when it touched down on the tarmac at Vandenberg Air Force Base Friday morning. The vehicle spent 674 days conducting on-orbit experiments, raising its overall time in such missions to 1,367 days, the Air Force said.
The X-37B is "an unmanned space vehicle that will be used by the United States Air Force to explore reusable vehicle technologies in support of long-term space objectives," according to Boeing, the craft's designer.
Both Boeing and the Air Force have called the X-37B "the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft" in the world. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the craft, which resembles a small space shuttle, was designed for "risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies."
The vehicle was launched on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Dec. 2012.
The previous two missions were launched in 2010 and 2011, respectively, each ending at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.
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Technicians service an X-37B space plane shortly after the unpiloted craft glided to a computer-controlled landing Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to close out a classified military mission, U.S. Air Force
Last Updated Oct 17, 2014 11:00 PM EDT
An unpiloted Air Force space plane glided back to Earth Friday after a record 674-day stay in orbit, closing out a clandestine military mission with a computer-controlled landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, wrapping up its second long-duration mission and the secretive program's third flight overall, touched down at 12:24 p.m. EDT (GMT-4; 9:24 a.m. local time), rolling to a stop a few moments later.
Other than a brief Air Force statement last Friday announcing landing preparations at Vandenberg, there was no advance warning of the space plane's re-entry and, in keeping with the secrecy surrounding the program, no details on what the spacecraft might have been doing during its nearly two years aloft.
In a brief statement released shortly after landing, the Air Force said "the OTV-3 conducted on-orbit experiments for 674 days during its mission, extending the total number of days spent on-orbit for the OTV program to 1,367 days."
"The 30th Space Wing and our mission partners, (the) Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Boeing and our base support contractors have put countless hours of hard work into preparing for this landing," said Col Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander. "I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing."
It was the first official update on the spacecraft since launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket on Dec. 11, 2012.
"The landing of OTV-3 marks a hallmark event for the program," an unidentified program manager said in the Air Force release. "The mission is our longest to date and we're pleased with the incremental progress we've seen in our testing of the reusable space plane. The dedication and hard work by the entire team has made us extremely proud."
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Recovery crew members process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base after completing 674 days in space. A total of three X-37B missions have been completed, totaling 1,367 days on orbit. Photo: Boeing Watch cool landing video below
The US Air Forces unmanned, X-37B military space plane made an autonomous runway landing on Friday, Oct. 17, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., concluding an orbital test flight nearly two years in duration on a record breaking mission whose goals are shrouded in secrecy.
The Boeing-built X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), successfully fired its baking thrusters, plunged through the atmosphere, endured scorching re-entry heating and safely rolled to touch down on Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. PDT Friday, concluding a clandestine 674-day experimental test mission for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.
This was the third flight of an X-37B OTV vehicle on a mission known as OTV-3.
Im extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing, said Col Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, in a statement.
Everyone from our on console space operators to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this unique mission and exemplify excellence during its execution.
Nothing is known about the flights objectives or accomplishments beyond testing the vehicle itself.
The OTV is somewhat like a miniature version of NASAs space shuttles. Boeing has built two OTV vehicles.
The reusable space plane is designed to be launched like a satellite and land on a runway like an airplane and a NASA space shuttle. The X-37B is one of the newest and most advanced reentry spacecraft.
A third mission of the Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle was completed on Oct. 17, 2014, when it landed and was recovered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif, following a successful 674-day space mission. Photo: Boeing
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Mysterious Military X-37B Space plane Lands after Nearly Two Years in Orbit Video
After a record-shattering 22 months in space, the U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane returned to Earth on Friday (Oct .17) in a smooth landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The 674-day mission launched in December 2012, but the purpose of the top secret spaceflight has been classified. The X-37B space plane landing was completely automatic and captured in images and video. You can see those amazing images here in this Space.com gallery.
Here, the X-37B is serviced by a ground crew wearing protective suits after its successful landing on Oct. 17. The winged robotic spacecraft landed at 9:24 a.m. PDT at the Vandenberg Air Force Base to end its 22-month mission. The mission originally launched on Dec. 11, 2012. The U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office oversaw the mission, which marked the third X-37B flight since 2010. Credit: Boeing.
The X-37B space plane is also called the Orbital Test Vehicle (or OTV) in Air Force parlance, with its latest mission known as OTV-3. Here, the spacecraft swoops down toward the runway at Vandenberg during its pinpoint landing. [See more X-37B photos from the OTV-3 mission.]
The images here were provided to the Air Force by Boeing, which built the two X-37B space planes using its Phantom Works division. You can see some more amazing views of the landing here:
Another view of the X-37B space plane landing on Oct. 17 as it approaches the Vandenberg runway. Credit: Boeing
This view of the X-37B space plane landing is actually a still from an Air Force video of the landing captured on the runway at Vandenberg. The X-37B space plane that flew the OTV-3 mission was actually making its second spaceflight. The spacecraft launched on the first X-37B mission, called OTV-1. in 2010 and spent 225 days in space on that flight. This latest mission puts its time in space at 899 days. Credit: Boeing.
Another view of the X-37B space plane landing. While the X-37B may look like a version of NASA's space shuttles, the military space plane is actually much smaller. Two X-37B vehicles could fit inside the 60-foot payload bay of a NASA shuttle. Credit: Boeing.
The X-37B space plane zooms by a camera during the successful landing of the OTV-3 mission at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A recovery team was standing ready to receive the spacecraft after its 674-day spaceflight. Credit: Boeing.
Recovery crew members work on the X-37B space plane after the vehicle's successful landing on Oct. 17. The recovery crew is responsible for processing the X-37B vehicle to make sure the vehicle is safe to be towed back to its hangar for additional work. Credit: Boeing.
Here, the recovery crew is working on the aft of the X-37B, which houses its tail fins, rocket engine and other vital systems. The X-37B spacecraft has its own small payload (which is about the size of a pickup truck bed) and a solar array to generate power during long space missions. The black tiles and panels along its nose, wings and belly serve as a protective heat shield during re-entry. Credit: Boeing.
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After spending nearly two years in orbit on a secret mission, the U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane landed today (Oct. 17) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The unmanned, reusable vehicle logged an unprecedented 675 days in space, but very little is known about the record-setting flight.
The X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle,touched down at the Vandenberg Air Force Basetoday at 9:24 a.m. local Pacific Time (12:24 p.m. EDT). It was the third in a series of flights that the Air Force has conducted using its two X-37B planes.
This most recent flight, called OTV-3, was the third one to make it into orbit and was the longest mission, at 675 days. The program's inaugural mission launched in April 2010 and lasted 225 days. The space plane's second mission lasted 469 days. [Flying Saucers to Mind Control: 7 Declassified Military & CIA Secrets]
"I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing," Col. Keith Balts, commander of the 30th Space Wing, headquartered at Vandenberg, said in a statement.
But what has thespace planeactually been doing in orbit? The top-secret nature of the X-37B missions has sparked a number of conspiracy theories. Here are some ideas about the X-37B's purpose:
While the United States military has plenty of surveillance satellites in orbit, some people have suggested that the X-37B has high-tech monitoring gear designed to keep an eye on certain regions of Earth. "X-37B is probably carrying prototype reconnaissance gear, for spying on the Middle East and other sensitive geopolitical regions,"said ExtremeTech.com. So what's the advantage of using a space plane to spy instead of a satellite? The plane likely can move to a region of interest faster than a satellite can,Business Week reported, although others have pointed out that the fuel requirements for doing this would likely be prohibitive.
While conspiracy theorists have jumped on this notion,Popular Mechanics dumped cold water on the idea. "Changing a spacecraft's orbital plane requires a great amount of thrust so using something like the X-37B as a bomber would mean changing its orbit to fly over targets, and that would eat up its limited fuel supply," Popular Mechanics stated, quoting University of Maryland professor Mark Lewis, a former Air Force chief scientist.
Another idea is that the X-37B is, in the style of James Bond, supposed to take out other satellites that are making the U.S. government nervous. But, unless the plane is somehow conducting these nefarious activities from far away while not moving around very much, some suggest this is unlikely. "It would be very easy to trace that sort of activity back to the U.S. government since governments and amateurs alike can easily track the X-37B,"the Daily Beast reported.
Just before the X-37B launched, BBC and Spacefllight Magazine published reports suggesting that the orbit of the vehicle is close enough towatch what's going on with China's Tiangong-1 space station. Space analyst Jim Oberg, however, told BBC that this would be impossible. "They are in orbits which cross the equator about 90 degrees apart. They crisscross each others' paths at thousands of meters per second. Any observation from one to the other is impossible," he said.
Perhaps instead of interfering with satellites, the X-37B sends out its own. The space plane's 2011 mission, at the least, carried it over the same regions of the Earth repeatedly, similar to the motions of satellites, so perhaps it released probes into a similar orbit. In aNew York Times report, several amateur observers watching the space plane said that it flies over the same area of the planet every four days, which is expected of a reconnaissance satellite.
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What was the secret Air Force space plane's mission? Five theories (+video)
After spending nearly two years in orbit on a secret mission, the U.S. Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane landed today (Oct. 17) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The unmanned, reusable vehicle logged an unprecedented 675 days in space, but very little is known about the record-setting flight.
The X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle,touched down at the Vandenberg Air Force Basetoday at 9:24 a.m. local Pacific Time (12:24 p.m. EDT). It was the third in a series of flights that the Air Force has conducted using its two X-37B planes.
This most recent flight, called OTV-3, was the third one to make it into orbit and was the longest mission, at 675 days. The program's inaugural mission launched in April 2010 and lasted 225 days. The space plane's second mission lasted 469 days. [Flying Saucers to Mind Control: 7 Declassified Military & CIA Secrets]
"I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing," Col. Keith Balts, commander of the 30th Space Wing, headquartered at Vandenberg, said in a statement.
But what has thespace planeactually been doing in orbit? The top-secret nature of the X-37B missions has sparked a number of conspiracy theories. Here are some ideas about the X-37B's purpose:
While the United States military has plenty of surveillance satellites in orbit, some people have suggested that the X-37B has high-tech monitoring gear designed to keep an eye on certain regions of Earth. "X-37B is probably carrying prototype reconnaissance gear, for spying on the Middle East and other sensitive geopolitical regions,"said ExtremeTech.com. So what's the advantage of using a space plane to spy instead of a satellite? The plane likely can move to a region of interest faster than a satellite can,Business Week reported, although others have pointed out that the fuel requirements for doing this would likely be prohibitive.
While conspiracy theorists have jumped on this notion,Popular Mechanics dumped cold water on the idea. "Changing a spacecraft's orbital plane requires a great amount of thrust so using something like the X-37B as a bomber would mean changing its orbit to fly over targets, and that would eat up its limited fuel supply," Popular Mechanics stated, quoting University of Maryland professor Mark Lewis, a former Air Force chief scientist.
Another idea is that the X-37B is, in the style of James Bond, supposed to take out other satellites that are making the U.S. government nervous. But, unless the plane is somehow conducting these nefarious activities from far away while not moving around very much, some suggest this is unlikely. "It would be very easy to trace that sort of activity back to the U.S. government since governments and amateurs alike can easily track the X-37B,"the Daily Beast reported.
Just before the X-37B launched, BBC and Spacefllight Magazine published reports suggesting that the orbit of the vehicle is close enough towatch what's going on with China's Tiangong-1 space station. Space analyst Jim Oberg, however, told BBC that this would be impossible. "They are in orbits which cross the equator about 90 degrees apart. They crisscross each others' paths at thousands of meters per second. Any observation from one to the other is impossible," he said.
Perhaps instead of interfering with satellites, the X-37B sends out its own. The space plane's 2011 mission, at the least, carried it over the same regions of the Earth repeatedly, similar to the motions of satellites, so perhaps it released probes into a similar orbit. In aNew York Times report, several amateur observers watching the space plane said that it flies over the same area of the planet every four days, which is expected of a reconnaissance satellite.
Read the rest here:
What was the secret Air Force space plane's mission? Five theories.
A Turn Down to What Red Heads Interpretation
What a 5 yr old does to a Popular Piece.I call him Mr BUG , look for his other dance grooves, BUG getting jiggy with it, and more....
By: Annemarie Norman
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Updated OCT 18, 2014 1:50a ET
TORONTO
Disappointed with his play in Detroit's loss in its last game, Henrik Zetterberg came through in a big way against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Zetterberg had four assists and Johan Franzen scored twice to lead the Red Wings to a 4-1 victory over the Maple Leafs on Friday night.
Zetterberg managed just one shot on goal and was outworked on faceoffs by Boston's Patrice Bergeron in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins on Wednesday night.
"The way we played Wednesday in our house against Boston ... it could've been one of my worst games as a Red Wing," Zetterberg said. "It was a tough game and I didn't have much. It was nice to feel better today and bounce back a little bit."
Gustav Nyquist and Justin Abdelkader also scored and Jimmy Howard stopped 23 shots for Detroit.
Franzen left the game late in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return. However, he expected to play Saturday when the teams complete the home-and-home series at Detroit.
"It just cramped up, the whole side, a really tight spasm," Franzen said. "It relaxed a little bit, I got out for the next shift and it just seized up on me. As soon as I pushed it just cramped up on me, so hopefully it goes away tomorrow."
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TORONTO Booed off the ice at the second intermission, the Toronto Maple Leafs watched another blue and white jersey get hurled to the ice in the third period.
They werent happy about that or their performance in a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
"Any time you lose in the National Hockey League, as players, were not happy about it," captain Dion Phaneuf said Friday night. "The fans have a right to be upset. They come to support us, they want to see winning hockey and we want to win for them. But when we dont play well, its unfortunate when jerseys are thrown on the ice."
"For whatever reason, we find ways to make life more difficult for ourselves, and thats the most frustrating part," Carlyle said. "We played too much on our heels and in the defensive zone."
Thats never a good sign.
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"It was nice to feel better today and bounce back a little bit," Zetterberg said.
Zetterberg took advantage of a turnover by Roman Polak to set up Johan Franzens first of the night, then made the most of a bad change by Morgan Rielly for Franzens second. Zetterberg won a race to a puck on Nyquists fourth goal in four games this season, and he picked up a secondary assist on Justin Abdelkaders goal with Cody Franson standing frozen in front of the net.
Detroit coach Mike Babcock called Zetterberg his teams "catalyst." Jimmy Howard made 23 saves but wasnt tested much in goal.
Down at the other end, Reimer wasnt at his sharpest in allowing four goals on 35 shots.
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TORONTO - Penalties and turnovers turned to a cascade boos as the Toronto Maple Leafs turned in an uninspired performance against the Detroit Red Wings. One fan even threw his blue and white jersey on the ice in protest.
It was that kind of night as the Leafs never quite got in a rhythm and couldn't stop Henrik Zetterberg in a 4-1 loss to the Red Wings on Friday at Air Canada Centre.
Zetterberg exploited some shaky defence and assisted on all four Detroit goals, two by Johan Franzen, one each by Gustav Nyquist and Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings' captain set up each of the first three and got the primary assists.
James Reimer wasn't at his best in allowing four goals on 35 shots. Mike Santorelli scored the Leafs' only goal.
After scoring his first two goals of the season, Franzen left the game late in the second with a lower-body injury and did not return.
The Leafs visit Detroit on Saturday night for the second half of this back-to-back. Jonathan Bernier is expected to start at Joe Louis Arena.
Though the pace was quick out of the gate, neither team had a shot on net for the game's first five-plus minutes. The Red Wings (2-1-1) came up empty on an early power play, too.
But Detroit got on the board with their third shot exactly midway through the first. Roman Polak gave the puck away to Zetterberg behind the net and he made a slick cross-crease pass to Franzen for his first of the season.
The Leafs (2-3-0) took two more penalties the remainder of the period, but Reimer and the PK units got the job done. Winger Brandon Kozun even cut the final kill short by drawing one of his own.
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Power Spacewalk on This Week @NASA
During an October 15 spacewalk outside the International Space Station the second U.S. spacewalk in as many weeks Expedition 41 Flight Engineers Reid Wiseman and Barry Wilmore of NASA,...
By: NASA
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Nasa ruska zima 1710
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Ancient Aliens On Mars: Ancient Petroglyph And Column Photographed by NASA
For More Exclusive Information on UFO Welcome: http://erigia.blogspot.com Visit My Blog: http://areazone51ufos.blogspot.com ANCIENT ALIENS ON MARS: http://ancientaliensmars.blogspot.com BEST ...
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Ancient Aliens On Mars: Ancient Petroglyph And Column Photographed by NASA - Video
Saturn #39;s #39;Death Star #39; Moon Might Have A Hidden Ocean
The smallest of Saturn #39;s main moons, Mimas, wobbles as it orbits. Research reveals it might be due to a global ocean underneath its icy surface. Follow Katherine Biek: http://www.twitter.com/kathe...
By: Newsy Science
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Saturn's 'Death Star' Moon Might Have A Hidden Ocean - Video