Monthly Archives: March 2015

Let #39;s Play Interstellar Marines: "Pants; the Leader"
Today, the Where #39;d the Time Go? Crew is back playing Interstellar Marines by Zero Point Software. Jason, Dave, and Jeff continue exploring the depths of an abandoned space station and continue...

By: Where #39;d the Time Go?

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Let's Play Interstellar Marines: "Pants; the Leader" - Video

Space Station Enters Fight Against Alzheimer #39;s Disease | Video
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station will attempt to grow the fibrous plaque (amyloids) that are the root cause of the brain disease. Comparing results of this microgravity experiment...

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Space Station Enters Fight Against Alzheimer's Disease | Video - Video

It will also permit NASA to increase the size of the American crew on the station, and double the amount of scientific research that the team can perform, according NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz.

NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion contract in September to develop a transportation capable of carrying human passengers, according to Kelly Kaplan, a spokesperson for Boeing. Other reports indicate Space X received $2.6 billion for manned space missions at the same time.

Read MoreTech investors make billion-$-baby boom

Both companies, along with others, have other space contracts with NASA.

The commercial crew program is expected to improve the quality of the research being done on the station, by getting research samples from space to scientists on the ground faster; under the terms of the contract, crew have to be returned within an hour of landing and critical cargo have to be retrieved within two hours.

"The longer you have something from microgravity sitting in gravity," said NASA's Shierholz, "the more degradation there is, and the tougher it is to study it as it would be in space."

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Space station preps for 'space taxis'

Lugging groceries and supplies to the astronauts on the International Space Station may not be as cool as ferrying the astronauts themselves into orbit. But the NASA contract to fly cargo to the station in unmanned rocket ships has attracted bids from high-profilecompanies in what analysts say is another indication of commercial spaceflights recent renaissance.

It appears that at least five space firms have submitted proposals for the work, including giants such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which didn't bother to bidon the work the last time. In a new sort of space race, the contract has touched off an intense competition between stalwart defense contractors and new space start-ups that have, in just a few years, shown they can compete.

Years ago, NASA implemented a plan to outsource transportation to the space station in low Earth orbit, saying that, with a tight budget, it needed to be focused on bigger targets, such as Mars.

Some members of Congress and others criticized the decision, saying that private industry could not be trusted with such high-stakes work and that the business of spaceflight should be left to NASA. But in the years since, NASAs decision to rely on commercial companies helped ignite the commercial space industry, which, backed by new infusions of cash and with more launches to its credit, has grown more robust.

For the past few years, two companies have been resupplying the space station, taking supplies and experiments to the orbital laboratory. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musks SpaceX won a $1.6 billion contract, and so far has had five successful trips, and is scheduled for a sixth in April.

On Jan. 10, SpaceXs Falcon 9 was launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral to deliver more than two tons of supplies and science experiments to the Expedition 42 crew aboard the International Space Station. (NASA)

The other company to win the cargo contract, Orbital Sciences, now Orbital ATK, had its unmanned rocket explode shortly after takeofflast year.That raised questions about whether NASA should be relying on the commercial sector so heavily.

But at NASA, the explosion did not dampen enthusiasm for outsourcing the work. Thats in part because of SpaceXs success. But also because given the NASAs tight budgets, it doesnt really have a choice but to hire contractors to do the work for it, analysts said.

The private space industryhas been buoyed by billionaires, such as Musk, Richard Branson, who owns Virgin Galactic, and Jeff Bezos, the Amazon.com founder who owns Blue Origin (as well as the Washington Post).

But now others are looking to invest in space as well. On a recent trip to Silicon Valley, Eric Stallmer, the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, said many other investors had a palpable fear-of-missing-out vibe.

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A new space race emerges as NASA prepares to award contract to ferry supplies to space station

It will also permit NASA to increase the size of the American crew on the station, and double the amount of scientific research that the team can perform, according NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz.

NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion contract in September to develop a transportation capable of carrying human passengers, according to Kelly Kaplan, a spokesperson for Boeing. Other reports indicate Space X received $2.6 billion for manned space missions at the same time.

Read MoreTech investors make billion-$-baby boom

Both companies, along with others, have other space contracts with NASA.

The commercial crew program is expected to improve the quality of the research being done on the station, by getting research samples from space to scientists on the ground faster; under the terms of the contract, crew have to be returned within an hour of landing and critical cargo have to be retrieved within two hours.

"The longer you have something from microgravity sitting in gravity," said NASA's Shierholz, "the more degradation there is, and the tougher it is to study it as it would be in space."

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Boeing preps for 'space taxis'

Published February 28, 2015

A NASA astronaut on board the International Space Station tweeted a picture Saturday from orbit of a 'Vulcan' hand salute as a tribute to actor Leonard Nimoy, known best for his 'Star Trek' role as 'Mr. Spock.'

Nimoy, who died Friday at 83, of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his Los Angeles home, with family at his side, said his son, Adam Nimoy.

His final public statement, last Sunday on Twitter, was thoughtful and bittersweet.

"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory," he wrote, followed by his customary "LLAP" signoff - shorthand for "Live long and prosper," Spock's catch phrase.

The reaction to his death was swift, on Earth and in space.

Astronaut Terry W. Virts tweeted out the Vulcan hand salute from the space station with Earth's blue seen through the window. He was joined by Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti who tweeted, "Live Long and Prosper, Mr. Spock!" tweeted Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, aboard the International Space Station.

William Shatner, whose often-emotional Captain Kirk was balanced by the composed Nimoy.

"I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love,"

President Barack Obama said, "I loved Spock."

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SPACE-STATION SALUTE Astronaut gives 'Mr. Spock' farewell salute from orbit

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Two U.S. astronauts took the first of three spacewalks outside the International Space Station today to create parking spots for so-called space taxis that will ferry crew to and from the station.

Station commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 52, and flight engineer Terry Virts, 47, started the spacewalk shortly before 8 a.m. ET for the 6 1/2 hour venture. This is the first of three spacewalks in the next eight days to install wiring for two docking mechanisms for crewed commercial capsules built by Boeing and Space X. It is the first major overhaul of the station since it was completed in 2011.

"We're doing a lot of reconfiguration this year," Kenneth Todd, NASA's International Space Station operations integration manager, said earlier this week. "We are really trying to take the station into this next phase in support of the commercial industries and providers."

The astronauts worked on Saturday to install electrical wiring, new antennas and cables at the station's Harmony module in preparation for the Boeing-built International Docking Adapters. The IDAs will allow the Boeing and Space X spacecraft to dock at the top and front of Harmony beginning in 2017. NASA is hoping to end its dependance on Russia for rides to the ISS since the space shuttle was retired in 2011.

Wilmore and Virts are expected to continue the work on Wednesday and March 1.

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U.S. astronauts make renovations to ISS for space taxis

Astronaut Terry Virts posted a picture of the solution to Twitter Shows him with a laptop strapped to his face

By Mark Prigg For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:02 EST, 20 February 2015 | Updated: 19:05 EST, 20 February 2015

Nasa has revealed that astronauts aboard the International Space Station use virtual reality to train for spacewalks.

However, while Facebook's Oculus and Samsung are developing small, hi-tech solutions, Nasa has used the advantage of zero gravity to fashion a more low tech solution.

Instead of a dedicated headset, astronaut Terry Virts posted a picture of the solution - a laptop strapped to his face.

Nasa's system uses a standard laptop strapped to an astronaut's face.

A prototype of Facebook's Oculus VR headset

His tweet revealed the system is being used to train astronauts in using a jet pack they use to get back to the station in the event of an incident that left them stranded.

Essentially a 'life jacket' for spacewalks, SAFER is a self-contained maneuvering unit that is worn like a backpack.

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Virtual reality in space: Nasa astronaut tweets pic of ISS system that uses zero gravity to float a LAPTOP in front of ...