Category Archives: Moon Colonization

A team of 11 UC San Diego students who lost after competing in Googles Lunar XPRIZE competition as finalists have been given a second chance to take their project to the moon after teaming up with Synergy Moon, a fellow competitor in Googles contest.

The student team, known as Original Gravity, commenced the experiment back in August 2016 after being involved in another student competition introduced to them by Dr. Ramesh Rao, a professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering.

The objective of that competition was to come up with an experiment that can sustain life on the moon, and whomever can come up with the best experiment, won a spot on a rocket that was involved in the Google Lunar XPrize Competition, Neeki Ashari said, a fifth-year Bioengineering major in Revelle College and one of Original Gravitys three team leaders.

Googles Lunar XPrize consists of teams who are privately funded to be the first to land their spacecrafts on the moon. After landing, the spacecrafts are to travel 500 meters and then transmit back high definition images and videos of the travel.

After hearing about the competition, the team got together to come up with possible projects that would secure them a place on the rocket.

As we were discussing possibilities for a concept, a home brewer on our team threw in the idea of brewing beer on the moon, Ashari said. We were all fans of the idea, especially because we all enjoyed the craft and science behind it. We had a few laughs, but then slowly we began to realize that it would also serve a scientific purpose: understanding yeast in a lunar gravity environment.

Aside from understanding the viability of yeast on the moon as well as in low Earth orbit (LEO), the project would play a crucial role in determining the possibility of a lunar colony ever being established on the moon as humans are very dependent on yeast in their daily food intake.

Yeast is one of the most prevalent microorganisms around, Ashari said. It is a major component in all of our everyday necessities. Such as foods (bread), beverages and pharmaceuticals (insulin). It is a necessity for which the majority of humans have become dependent on. This experiment would far exceed brewing applications and would actually serve as a vital purpose. If we can understand this, it can play a role in consumptive and clinical applications for the future of colonization in space exploration.

The projects consist of a small canister that upon moon landing, will mix yeast and wort, which will then start the fermentation process to produce the alcohol.

Original Gravitys beer-brewing experiment landed them in the finals, however, the team faced a devastating loss.

It was very disheartening to hear, however, we were not going to quit, Ashari said.

After the loss, Ashari reached out to team Synergy Moon, another finalist in the competition.

I chose them in particular because they emphasized the same ideals and principles as we did, Ashari said. I then wrote up a short, sweet, yet concise email stating who we were and if our small canister can have a spot on their rocket to the moon in 2017. The CEO of the international space company [Synergy Moon] then responded back to me accepting my offer. I was ecstatic.

After much more talk, the two teams signed contracts giving Original Gravity a space for their canister on Synergy Moons lunar landing campaign. In addition, Original Gravity was also offered seven LEO flights, allowing them to brew beer not only on the moon but also while in orbit around Earth.

Original Gravitys partnership with Synergy Moon allows for more freedom and opportunities to conduct multiple experiments while in space. The team has already made plans to produce wine and bread as well.

As for the now, the team is working on its canister to ensure positive results for the lunar project.

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Home News Campus UCSD Students to Brew Beer on the Moon After Getting Second Chance... - The UCSD Guardian Online

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket comes down for a successful landing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 3, 2017.

A series of spectacular photos chronicles the big day SpaceX had over the weekend.

On Saturday (June 3), the California company launched a re-used Dragon capsule for the first time, sending the robotic craft on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) on a cargo mission for NASA. [In Photos: SpaceX's 1st Reused Dragon Spacecraft]

The launch, which used SpaceX's two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, was the 100th mission to take place from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. The venerable pad famously served as the jumping-off point for most of the agency's Apollo moon missions and space shuttle flights. (SpaceX signed a 20-year lease to use LC-39A in 2014.)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a pre-flown Dragon cargo capsule from NASAs Kennedy Space Center on June 3, 2017.

About 2.5 minutes after liftoff on Saturday, the Falcon 9's first stage separated, then began maneuvering for a trip back to Earth. About 5 minutes later, the booster made a pinpoint vertical touchdown at Landing Zone 1, a facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, KSC's next-door neighbor.

SpaceX has now pulled off 11 such first-stage touchdowns. And the company has re-flown one of these landed boosters to date, during March 30's successful launch of the SES-10 communications satellite. (The launch of the BulgariaSat 1 communications satellite, which is scheduled for June 15, will also use a pre-flown Falcon 9 first stage, SpaceX representatives have said.)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a used Dragon cargo capsule streaks into the sky above NASAs Kennedy Space Center on June 3, 2017.

These activities are part of SpaceX's effort to develop reusable spaceflight systems, a key priority for company founder and CEO Elon Musk. Full and rapid reuse of spacecraft and rockets will slash the cost of spaceflight, potentially making Mars colonization and other grand exploration feats economically feasible, Musk has said.

"It's starting to feel kinda normal to reuse rockets. Good. That's how it is for cars & airplanes and how it should be for rockets," Musk tweeted Saturday.

The nine Merlin engines on the first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket power the companys Dragon cargo capsule toward orbit on June 3, 2017.

The Dragon that launched Saturday reached the ISS today (June 5), delivering about 6,000 lbs. (2,700 kilograms) of scientific experiments, hardware and other gear to the orbiting lab. The capsule will stay attached to the station for about a month, then return to Earth for a soft, ocean splashdown.

The Falcon 9 first stage touches down at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 3, 2017.

This particular Dragon also visited the ISS once before, back in September 2014. Each Dragon can probably safely fly about four missions to and from the ISS, Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX's vice president of build and flight reliability, said during a press conference Saturday.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket stage is seen safely on its Florida landing pad with the trail of its fiery descent visible in this amazing long-exposure photo taken June 3, 2017 after the booster launched a Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station for NASA.

Each Falcon 9 first stage is designed to fly 10 times with no hardware changes, and at least 100 times with only moderate refurbishment, Musk said in late March.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter@michaeldwallandGoogle+.Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebookor Google+. Originally published onSpace.com.

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See Awesome Photos of SpaceX's Dragon Launch and Rocket Landing - Space.com

Feast of the Strawberry Moon

April Stevens , WZZM 11:38 AM. EDT June 04, 2017

(Photo: Provided by the Feast of the Strawberry Moon)

GRAND HAVEN, MICH. - If you've ever wanted to know what life was like during the 18th century, you can step back in time next weekend at the Feast of the Strawberry Moon happening in Grand Haven.

The historical reenactment captures what 18th century life in West Michigan. There are historical vendors, demonstrators, entertainers, games, and military reenactors there to give the full experience. This year, the event is hosted by the West Michigan Historical Alliance.

This year, the event will explore the history of Native American culture, the French exploration, the English colonization and the American unification that all took place in West Michigan, organizers say. There will be entertainment, battles and other events every half hour at the center of the camp.

The Feast of the Strawberry Moon is family friendly weekend long event from June 10-11 at Harbor Island in Grand Haven. It is $5 per person, $15 per family and there is free parking available. There are no animals allowed on the grounds.

Also, new this year will be the Kid's Day, held on Friday June 9. School-age children can visit the camp a day earlier. Organizers say anyone interested must register ahead of time.

For more information, visit the Feast of the Strawberry Moon Facebook page or their website.

Makeit easy to keep up to date with more stories like this.Download theWZZM13 app now.

April Stevensis a multi-platform producer atWZZM13. Have a news tip? Emailnews@wzzm13.com, visit ourFacebook pageorTwitter.

2017 WZZM-TV

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Step back in time with the Feast of the Strawberry Moon in Grand Haven - WZZM

Life on Mars may soon be excluded from the sci-fi category. Elon Musk aims to move a million people to Mars, and renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has said before that mankind has only 100 years to settle on another planet. Its a sad thought a space colony but if you ask the #European Space Agency, humanity ought to stay on Earth.

To find a new home outside of Earth, despite technological advancements, we still have a long way to go, according to ESAs Director General Johann-Dietrich Wrner. Even if we got there, it would be a foreboding experience for everybody.

Speaking with The Times, Dr. Wrner mentioned the Hollywood blockbuster The Martian. Matt Damon, who plays a stranded astronaut in the movie, has resorted to farming on Mars and along with his efforts are the various trudges he had to endure here and there.

The director implied that the astronauts experience is a walk in the park when compared to the harsh realities of actually living on the red planet.

Always you have to be sheltered and covered, but you cannot even bring your dog to the next tree," Dr. Wrner said. "Mars is not nice.

In the same interview, Dr. Wrner put emphasis on the difference between colonizing a planet and visiting one. Colonization is the wrong word, he asserted. What works instead as the operative term for establishing a life outside of Earth is visitation.

The idea of exploring other planets and moons had always been there, but the move to bring life beyond Earth recently had come to light. Advocates began sprouting, Musk being one of them, founder of SpaceX. While Mars is the most common choice to establish a colony, the moon isnt far off.

However, life on the moon is no different from living on Mars, according to the ESA head.

Daytime on one side of the moon lasts about 13 and a half days, followed by 13 and a half nights of darkness. When sunlight hits the moon's surface, the temperature can reach 253 degrees F (123 C). The "dark side of the moon" can have temperatures dipping to minus 243 F (minus 153 C). With this fact, Dr. Wrner said it wouldn't be "a nice life."

As scientists continue their search for extraterrestrial life, what theyre usually looking for are planets that are within a certain range of their host star, called the habitable zone. In that orbit distance, the planets are just in the right radiation levels to support life as know it. In our case, the Earth is not so far from the sun that it freezes into a rock of ice, and its not so close either that bodies of water boil into a gas.

But with Earth on the brink of destruction, reports of exoplanets have presented the possibility of life beyond the living planet. Whats interesting is that Dr. Wrner believes its better for humankind to stay, and is hoping somehow, well find a way to preserve life right where we are. #life on Mars #Colony On Mars

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ESA chief on space colonization: 'Mars is not nice' - Blasting News

Moon Colonization Project - is a big game. Really big game with multiple endings, different buildings, a lot of place to explore and settle.

Today Moon Colonization Project of course big. But we want develope more great game.

Moon Colonization Project presents for player, to find gamers, who love this game, to show game's potential and more!

Now you buy cool sandbox platformer, but with your help it become ultimate game, with multiplayer, Steam Workshop, a lot of content and more!

We plan release complete version after 3-3.5 months. But it does not mean we stop introduce players' ideas in the game.

More content, features, modes and endings. And of course special updates with new gameplay elements.

Full list of new features of the complete game: ->Multiplayer ->New buildings types ->New locations ->Home systems ->Chests ->Advanced energy system ->Aliens ->Earth news system ->6 full endings ->Ending song

At the moment already: ->Building system ->Energy system ->Explore system ->Laboratory ->Communication core ->3 endings ->Full story

Accordingly, price of game may be increase during the early access.

When we release complete game - price will be really raised.

Players can post his idea/information about bug/suggestion on Steam game forum or directly to our email/facebook/etc. We will be respond and release popular and necessary ideas, fix bugs and answer to suggestions.

Excerpt from:
Moon Colonization Project on Steam

Living on Mars would not be as rad as people think. The head of the European Space Agency himself doesnt seem too keen on becoming a Martian immigrant, based on what he said at this week'sU.K. Space Conference in Manchester, England.

If you go to Mars you cannot go outside for a small walk, ESA director general Johann-Dietrich Wrner told the TimesWednesday. Always you have to be sheltered and covered, but you cannot even bring your dog to the next tree. Mars is not nice.

Read: Humans in a Mars Colony Would Be a Different Race

During a conference that also featured speakers like former International Space Station astronaut Tim Peake, astrophysics professors and space company founders, Wrner emphasized the difference between visiting a planet and inhabiting one. Humans will fly to Mars, for sure. Humans will fly to the moon again, for sure. But colonization that always sounds to me as though we should leave the Earth. And I hope that we will not leave the Earth in the next 3 billion years, but that humans will find a way to secure life on Earth.

The idea of securing life on Earth clashes with the words of another authority on space: Stephen Hawking. The astrophysicist, who has been known for making extreme statements and predictions about the future of humanity, is warningif humans want to survive extinction, they will have to start a space colony within the next 100 years. He says the species will not survive the next millennia on our planet.

But Wrner told the Times living on Mars or the moon would be no replacement for Earth: This is something like, We destroyed everything, so lets go to a better place.But you will hardly find a better place.

Space enthusiasts have been imagining space colonies for decades, including this artistic rendering of a colony that has plenty of trees. But at least in the foreseeable future, a colony in space or on a planet like Mars would not be a pleasant place, the head of the European Space Agency warns. Photo: NASA

Space agencies and companies are advancing space technology, learning more about how microgravity and long trips affect the human body, how to grow crops in space and how to make space travel more sustainable. Beyond simply visiting and exploring other planets and moons, there is a push to start up a human colony somewhere, with SpaceX founder Elon Musk being one of the most vocal advocates. Mars is the most popular destination, with the moon not trailing far behind. There are also the possibilities of moons in the outer solar system and planets orbiting other stars.

But even if the technology catches up to those dreams, that doesnt mean it will be pleasant. Wrner gave Earths closest neighbor, the moon, as an example: Would you like to stay in a place where half of the month its dark and half of the month theres sun? That is the moon. No. To stay for two weeks in darkness, thats not a nice life.

Read: Humans in a Space Colony Would Evolve into Mutants

Mars has better lighting but the other conditions are not much better. It has a thin atmosphere, after losing much of its air to outer space, so breathing outside is out of the question. With barely any atmosphere, dangerous radiation from the sun also beats down on the Red Planet.

And while temperatures have at times been as warm as a spring day, its record-low surface temperature is -190 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus its a dusty, rocky and dry planet.

Read the rest here:
Human Space Colony On Mars Would Be Awful Idea, ESA Chief Says - International Business Times

Blizzard wants to take itsplayers to the one place that capitalism hasnt corrupted: space. Or, more accurately, the moon.

Overwatch, a game where beautiful people smooch each other between rounds of colorful violence, is getting the new Horizon Lunar Colony map (no relation to PlayStation 4s Horizon: Zero Dawn). It takes place on the Earths only natural satellite in a research station that served as the home of the games ultra-smart gorilla character Winston (that Winston came from the moon! Im sorry). The map is available now on Overwatchs public test region server, and Blizzard said it is coming soon to the general servers on PC and the consoles.

As with all maps and characters, Blizzard is rolling out Horizon Lunar Colony at no additional cost for anyone who owns the game. The developer does this to keep players engaged and coming back, which could convince some players to spend more money on superfluous cosmetic items like custom skins and emotes. This has the benefit of not splitting the player base among various map packs while also enabling wealthy players to spend as much money as they want.

Horizon Lunar Colony falls into the assault class of Overwatch maps, which means it will have a payload that one team must push and the other must stop through multiple checkpoints. Blizzard introduced this new setting in a story trailer where Winston talks about growing up on the moon before escaping due to extreme circumstances.

As for details about the map, the video pans over various areas of the colony. We see Winstons room, a playground with tires swinging from ropes, and workstations for the research scientists. But you can try out the map now, and it should show up in your standard playlists soon. Blizzard doesnt take a long time between putting content on its test server and launching it for the wider audience. So expectHorizon Lunar Colony to hit Overwatch proper in the next couple of weeks.

Read the original here:
Overwatch's new map colonizes the moon - VentureBeat

Tech

14:20 01.06.2017(updated 16:07 01.06.2017) Get short URL

The possibility ofunfettered migration tothe Red Planet is not only far outof the reach ofmankind's current technological sophistication, butit would be a grim and vacuous existence even if we managed topitch our tents there, according toDr. Johann-Dietrich Worner, the director-general ofthe ESA.

Dr. Worner has urged people toturn away fromHollywood-induced fantasies such asthe box office hit The Martian, starring Matt Damon ofwhat it would be liketo live onthe desolate planet and recognize that, infact, colonizing Mars would be a far harsher reality.

"Colonization is the wrong word," Dr. Worner told the British Times newspaper ata UK Space conference inthe city ofManchester.

"Would you liketo stay ina place where half ofthe month it's dark and half ofthe month there's sun? That is the Moon. No. To stay fortwo weeks indarkness, that's not a nice life."

"Mars is the same. If you go toMars the light situation is a bit better, butyou cannot go outsidefor a small walk. Always you have tobe sheltered and covered, butyou cannot even bring your dog tothe next tree. The Martian was nice, butMars is not nice," intoned Dr. Worner.

He said that while visiting Mars might be an opinion onthe table, aswith the Moon, living there is another matter all together.

"Humans will fly toMars, forsure. But colonization that always sounds tome asthough we should leave the Earth. And I hope that we will not leave the Earth inthe next thee billion years, butthat humans will find a way tosecure life onEarth," he warned.

AFP 2017/ NASA

This NASA handout image, released on June 13, 2008 shows the Robotic Arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander with a sample of martian soil as it prepares to move to the spacecraft's microscope station.

He also battered away the esteemed scientists Stephen Hawking's comments that life onEarth is only sustainable forthe next 100 years and that we must find another habitable planet bysaying:

"You will hardly find a better place."

The business magnate Elon Musk has proposed landing a colony onMars forunder US$200,000 per passenger, butit seems people likeDr. Worner are more concerned aboutwhat may come afterhumanity arrives.

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Extraterrestrial Living Might Not Be So Appealing, Says ESA Chief - Sputnik International

Miami Dolphins defensive end William Hayes is one of the more interesting players in the NFL, and its not because he was traded for a stapler and a coffee machine. Its because of his beliefs, like that dinosaurs never existed.

What he does and does not find to be true are typically the meat of questions he receives from the media. It was the main topic of conversation between him and reporters during Dolphins OTAs, where he let us in his mind even more.

Because he receives so many questions that reveal things he believes (or doesnt) were keeping track of those things.

On Thursday afternoon, Hayes said, I dont believe a T-rex ever walked this Earth. It was the same tone he delivered in 2015.

When he was asked how he would explain his theory on dinosaurs, he told reporters, I just think we just put those things there just so we can have some shit to talk about, you know what I mean?

Hayes claims he did do a lot of research on dinosaurs in the past, but as he grew older it became ridiculous to him. It made me definitely not believe in it.

Jimmy Kimmel tried to prove dinosaurs were real to Hayes, but it didnt quite pan out.

Jimmy Kimmel done took me to a dinosaur museum, had other people take me to dinosaur museums and every time I went there it just made me just realize how ridiculous theories seem even more.

At least he (and others) made an effort to prove their existence.

In December of 2015, his then-Rams teammate Chris Long told ESPN, He does not believe that dinosaurs ever existed and he thinks that mermaids are real. I love dinosaurs, so we have a big point of contention.

When Hayes was still with the Rams, a mermaid showed up to the teams practice.

On Thursday, he gave a little clarification.

Im not saying theres necessarily a mermaid out there, Im just saying there possibly could be. Its a lot we havent discovered yet. We find different life form in the water every day.

He also told Jimmy Kimmel that he would have sex with a mermaid, but thats another story.

A new revelation on Thursday was that Hayes doesnt think the United States ever landed on the moon. I just dont think man went to the moon. I dont think weve been back there after we went have we?

He was shocked that we had gone up to the moon on multiple occasions. It led him to ask, And we just went up there and chilled? I dont know about all that.

Hayes just isnt buying it. He felt the same about the moon landing as he did about dinosaurs: its just something to talk about. Hes also confident he can convince his head coach of the same.

If [Adam] Gase just hear me out one time hell probably feel where Im coming from.

Hayes didnt clarify if he thinks Neil Armstrongs one small step for man was filmed on a soundstage. Either way, he doesnt think it happened.

Even though Hayes is a skeptic, he also is optimistic, like thinking there are other life forms out in the universe.

Im just thinking they could possibly be somewhere else. I mean, some other type of life form, he said. Im not saying a human or a legit alien with two little things coming out his head. Im just thinking like there could be another life form.

A reporter asked him about the colonization of Mars and if hed like to visit. Of course, Hayes was all for it.

That sounds pretty dope man, I wouldnt mind taking a trip to Mars and see how it looks up there.

Listening to Hayes discuss what he thinks about certain things in the world is fun to listen to. Hopefully were fortunate enough that he keeps sharing what he believes in with us.

Excerpt from:
A running list of everything NFL conspiracy theorist William Hayes does and does not believe in - SB Nation

Published time: 23 May, 2017 19:14

Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos wants to send people back to the moon but this time to colonize.

The billionairerevealed more about his ambitious plan to settle on the moon during a Q&A with kids at the Seattle Museum of Flights Apollo exhibit Saturday.

Answering a question about the impact of AI on space exploration, Bezos said: I think we should build a permanent human settlement on one of the poles of the moon. Its time to go back to the moon, but this time to stay.

READ MORE: Amazon boss wants to start delivery service to the Moon

Bezos has previously spoken about Blue Origins plan to send cargo shipments to the moon to deliver equipment necessary for building a human colony.

Writing in an internal company report earlier this year, Bezos said: A permanently inhabited lunar settlement is a difficult and worthy objective. I sense a lot of people are excited about this.

The future lunar mission could be underway as early as July 2020, Bezos said although he is counting on NASAs help.

Our liquid hydrogen expertise and experience with precision vertical landing offer the fastest path to a lunar lander mission, he said. I'm excited about this and am ready to invest my own money alongside NASA to make it happen.

READ MORE: Cosmic concrete ideal for Mars can make Red Planet settlement a reality

Meanwhile, the race to colonize other parts of the solar system is hotting up. Earlier this month, NASA revealed it has developed a form of concrete that could be produced on Mars, solving the problem of how to build structures that can withstand the planets radiation.

While the space agency still hopes to accomplish its Mars mission goal by 2030, SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk is confident he can get humans on the red planet by 2024.

See the rest here:
Amazon boss Bezos outlines ambitious plans for permanent moon colony (VIDEO) - RT