Monday, December 29, 2003
NOVA/PBS special, "Mars Dead or Alive" (story here). Airs Sunday night, the ending is as-yet unwritten, and will hopefully include clips from the actual landing (on Saturday).
Friday, December 26, 2003
"Mars and Man's Pursuit of Space" on To the Point, NPR
Zubrin and others comment on Mars missions on NPR. Although the host repeatedely drives the conversation towards the "spirituality" of human space travel and exploration, the discussion is generally positive towards human spaceflight, but there is nothing really new here.
Zubrin and others comment on Mars missions on NPR. Although the host repeatedely drives the conversation towards the "spirituality" of human space travel and exploration, the discussion is generally positive towards human spaceflight, but there is nothing really new here.
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
No human spaceflight announcement at Kitty Hawk. I'm sure you're not surprised.
"To the Moon!" on KUOW (Seattle). Dana Andrews, Wendell Mendell, and Robert Zimmerman think that the moon is the best target for the future of the human space program. Although the moon does have some advantages over Mars (e.g. close proximity, we already did it over 30 years ago) these are also its detriments. After all, the Moon is still just going 'round and 'round the Earth, meaning that, on average, we won't have gone anywhere.
Although committed to the Moon, I did, however, like Wendell Mendell (manager of the Office for Human Exploration Science at JSC), he seems to be very excited about human space flight.
Although committed to the Moon, I did, however, like Wendell Mendell (manager of the Office for Human Exploration Science at JSC), he seems to be very excited about human space flight.
Friday, December 12, 2003
Mars or moon shot may leave contractors' profits earthbound - CNNMoney
I don't think anyone ever planned a Mars or Moon mission to make Boeing or Lockheed rich, so this article is not very surprising. Nevertheless, there are many reasons to think that a Mars or Moon mission would enrich our economy and our lives. New technology development, as mentioned in the article, is one. Another, and probably more important, would be an increase in student interest in science and engineering, like that accompanying the Space Race. Even if we don't spend 100 billion dollars on a project, an IDEA can still be interesting, exciting, and powerful enough to influence future generations of scientists. This in turn leads to more technology, bigger ideas, bigger goals, and bigger payoffs, scientifically and economically.
I don't think anyone ever planned a Mars or Moon mission to make Boeing or Lockheed rich, so this article is not very surprising. Nevertheless, there are many reasons to think that a Mars or Moon mission would enrich our economy and our lives. New technology development, as mentioned in the article, is one. Another, and probably more important, would be an increase in student interest in science and engineering, like that accompanying the Space Race. Even if we don't spend 100 billion dollars on a project, an IDEA can still be interesting, exciting, and powerful enough to influence future generations of scientists. This in turn leads to more technology, bigger ideas, bigger goals, and bigger payoffs, scientifically and economically.
Nozomi Out - Sky and Telescope
Bummer. Let's hope this is not an omen for things to come... not that we believe in omens or curses or anything...[cough]Mars Polar Lander[cough]Mars Climate Orbiter[cough]Mars 96[cough]Mars Observer[cough]. Sorry, had something in my throat.
GO MERs!
Bummer. Let's hope this is not an omen for things to come... not that we believe in omens or curses or anything...[cough]Mars Polar Lander[cough]Mars Climate Orbiter[cough]Mars 96[cough]Mars Observer[cough]. Sorry, had something in my throat.
GO MERs!
Thursday, December 11, 2003
I've heard whispers...
"keep your ears open on the 17th--there's talk like Scaled Composites is going to make a test flight of their X-Prize-winnable rocket that day."
Does anyone know anything definite?
"keep your ears open on the 17th--there's talk like Scaled Composites is going to make a test flight of their X-Prize-winnable rocket that day."
Does anyone know anything definite?
Exploring the Origins of Life, with Steve Benner (UF) -- 94.9 KUOW
Steve Benner is a really cool guy who will probably win a Nobel Prize some day. He makes O-chem not only fun, but exciting!
MP3
Steve Benner is a really cool guy who will probably win a Nobel Prize some day. He makes O-chem not only fun, but exciting!
MP3
Thursday, December 04, 2003
