Reality Bites
Today, a group of scientists announced that beneath the surface of the Moon there may be as much water as we have on Earth. This revelation could change everything we know about the Moon — and pave the way for lunar colonies in the next twenty years. More »
A massive explosion that was spotted in 2009 has been declared, by some at least, to be the most distant object ever seen. It’s ninety-six percent of the way to the visible limit of the universe. More »
We tend to imagine a black hole sucking everything around it straight into oblivion. The truth, however, is even more gruesome. Astronomers have just captured an ultra hi-res image of our neighbouring galaxy, Centaurus A, and it helps to reveal what actually happens. Matter is yanked helplessly towards a black hole at the galaxy’s core, but it refuses to die quietly. For some unknown reason, it erupts as it falls, spewing out vast plumes of particles — like blood from celestial murder. These death throes emit radio waves, allowing us to witness them using radio telescopes even though we are 12 million light-years away. If only we were closer; if only we could intervene. Alas, all we can do is watch the video after the break and hit the source links for a fuller explanation — though, admittedly, none of those sound like awful options.
Continue reading Astronomers snap black hole murder in graphic detail (video)
Astronomers snap black hole murder in graphic detail (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 May 2011 21:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Go ahead and drive your SUV to the plastic factory: The French have discovered the first habitable planet in another solar system. It’s called Gliese 581d, and it’s a mere 20 light years away. More »
Continue reading Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off one last time (video)
Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off one last time (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Next time you plan on finding a good coffee shop around the universe, bring with you this giganormous 3850 x 1925 pixel You Are Here map. Zoom in to see where are you in the immensity of space. Zoom in! More »
Y'know, there are only so many pristine beaches and spectacular slopes one can see before terrestrial tourism becomes blasé. That's why Space Adventures — who lets folks vacay in space via suborbital jaunts — is offering to shoot you to the moon during your next work sabbatical. Amateur astronauts won’t actually land on the lunar surface, of course, but their Soyuz spacecraft will get within 62 miles of it. To indulge in your lunar fantasy, it’ll only cost you 150 million bucks, or roughly the GDP of a [insert small island nation here]. One of the two seats is already taken, but the company needs another would-be moon man or lunar lady before the trip’s a go. The only thing stopping us (and everyone we know) from signing up is an empty bank account — does Fastweb do spaceflight scholarships?
Space Adventures will shoot you (and your ego) to the moon for $150 million originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 May 2011 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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What’s that eerie light shining in the night sky over this city? That is the Soyuz carrier rocket launching from the Plesetsk cosmodrome near the city of Ekaterinburg, the largest city in Russia’s Ural Mountains. More »
Physicists have long studied the nature of the universe. But some go a step further into the unknown (and probably unknowable), contemplating what lies outside the boundaries of our universe. More »
Sometimes rocket science is actually, you know, rocket science. Getting to the moon was tough enough, but deep space exploration poses all manner of additional concerns — like getting back home alive, for one thing. And then there’s the issue of fuel, something long distance trips require a lot of — but stocking up on here on Earth means potential weight problems at launch. One proposal offered up in the past is space-based fueling stations conveniently located in key spots on the way to a distant destinations like the Moon, Mars, and asteroids. NASA is collecting proposals that can demonstrate the validity of such a plan, including the ability to store liquid oxygen and hydrogen, transfer it, and have a ship approach for fueling. If you think you’ve got your bases covered — and can keep it under $200 million — you’ve got until May 31st at 11:59 PM EST to hand over a proposal.
NASA collects proposals for space fueling stations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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China’s been making its mark on the world for years, but there’s still one massive piece of real estate where the country’s citizens haven’t hung their ubiquitous red flag: space. The China Manned Space Engineering Office hopes to change that within the next decade, however, unveiling a model of its first space station on Monday. The station’s current moniker is Tiangong (Chinese for “heavenly palace”) but the space agency is asking the public to suggest alternatives at kongjianzhan@vip.qq.com through July 25th. At 60 tons, the complete facility is significantly smaller than the 419-ton International Space Station, so residents should probably keep the man cave tidy in case Chinese astronauts need some room to stretch out while not connecting to the PlayStation Network. We’re working on our own list of names for little Tiangong here, but feel free to share your submissions after the break.
China unveils space station, launching by 2020 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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This week, the SETI Institute announced that it would have to shut down its large radio telescope facility, called the Allen Telescope Array, near the California mountain town Hat Creek. For over a decade, SETI has used the 42 radio dishes in its array to scan the skies for possible communications from extraterrestrial intelligence. More »
I want to ride the Mars Rover Curiosity. Sure, at a maximum of 90 meters (300 feet) per hour it would be a glacial ride, but the bloody thing is going to Mars. Where have I been lately? To the dog park two blocks from my house, that’s where. Plus, there’s no dog poop on Mars. More »
SpaceX promised something big, and it’s now delivered. The company today revealed its plans for the Falcon Heavy, which promises to be the “world’s most powerful rocket.” Just how powerful is that? SpaceX says the 22-story rocket will be able to carry satellites or spacecraft weighing over 53 metric tons (or 117,000 pounds) into low earth orbit, which is nearly twice what the Space Shuttle is able to carry. What’s more, this isn’t just a far off promise. SpaceX says the rocket will be “ready” sometime next year, and the first test flight is planned for 2013. The rocket’s sheer size isn’t it’s only selling point, though — it also promises to drastically reduce the cost of sending things into space, with each launch expected to cost “only” $100 million. Head on past the break for a taste of what’s in store.
Continue reading SpaceX reveals plans for world’s most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy
SpaceX reveals plans for world’s most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The tiny black dots set against their glowing host stars above represent 1,235 potential alien planets discovered by NASA’s Kepler mission. With any luck, at least one of them has never heard of Justin Bieber.
Visualized: 1,235 potential alien planets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Lasers destroy missiles, missiles shoot down satellites, and soon, satellites may tell both where to aim, as the United States successfully managed to track an entire ballistic missile launch from “birth-to-death” with its prototype Space Tracking and Surveillance System. After a year and a half in orbit, two Northrop Grumman-built satellites managed the feat last week, in what the company’s calling “the Holy Grail for missile defense.” While we’re not reading about any plans to mount any lasers on the satellite’s… ahem… heads, Space News reports that the US Navy will attempt to relay the satellite tracking data to its Aegis ships with interceptor missiles on board, and hopefully obliterate incoming projectiles with the extra range and reaction time that satellite coordinates afford. The Navy has reportedly scheduled its first game of space-based Missile Command for next month.
US satellites successfully track ballistic missile from cradle to grave, don’t pay for the flowers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The keyword here is obviously “considers,” but it looks like Japan’s space agency, JAXA, is indeed seriously thinking about using artificial intelligence to improve their rocket launches. As JAXA scientist Yasuhiro Morita explains, as opposed to simply being “automatic” as rockets are today, an “artificially intelligent” rocket would be able to keep watch on its condition, determine the cause of any malfunction, and potentially even fix it itself. According to JAXA, that would not only make rocket launches more efficient, but more cost-effective as well given the reduced manpower needs. That’s not the only new measure being explored to cut costs, though — as Space.com reports, JAXA’s new Epsilon launch vehicle is also being built using fewer, but more advanced components, which promises to let it be moved to the launch pad nearly fully assembled. It’s currently set to launch sometime in 2013, although it’s not yet clear how much it will actually be relying on AI if such a system is put in place.
Japan’s space agency considers using rockets with artificial intelligence originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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I still can’t believe this is the first up-close, 480p video of NASA retrieving the space shuttle’s two solid rocket boosters (SRBs) from the Atlantic Ocean, and yet it is! The SRBs, in a word, are massive. And they float! More »
Star Trek’s Data must be smiling. One of his kind has finally made it to the High Frontier. The voyages of Robo Trek have begun! More »
On Saturday March 19, we will be treated the largest full moon in some time. Don't worry about this perigee moon causing tidal weirdness — this extra-large moon will simply be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than apogee moons. More »