Launch! From the SRB’s Perspective

March 28, 2011

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“… and the Shuttle has cleared the tower.”  For the next two minutes, twin solid rocket boosters propel the Space Shuttle toward orbit.  Cameras are mounted in several locations on each booster, and if you’ve ever wondered what happens to them, here’s your chance to find out.  Two minutes of powered flight, separation from the Shuttle and main fuel tank,  four minutes of fall, and then splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

Here’s what it looks like to a really tough fly on the wall…  er, booster.

 

Fascinating… Leonard Nimoy Turns 80

March 26, 2011

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Actor Leonard Nimoy, best known as Star Trek’s Spock, is 80 today. The actor, singer, and artist is the second of Star Trek’s original cast to reach the 80 year mark.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Nimoy!
Earlier this week, William Shatner, aka Captain James T. Kirk, also turned 80.
De Forest Kelly, Dr. Leonard McCoy, and James Doohan, Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, and Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, are deceased. Surviving cast members of the original series include Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura, George Takei, helmsman Sulu, and Walter Koenig, navigator Chekov.

NASA Geek – Starry Starry Night, at the pad

March 24, 2011

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Photo Credit: Terry Corbin USA/NASA

SuperMoon Today! Run for your lives!

March 19, 2011

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It’s Super Moon! It’s tonight!

Tsunamis!  Earthquakes!  Werewolves!  Really bad news reports!

The world may come to an end!

Or not.

The full moon that makes it’s appearance tonight will seem about 14% bigger than when it’s at it’s furthest distance from the Earth.  The tides will be affected by maybe an inch in most places, and up to 6 inches in some geographically odd locales.  Beachfront residents might want to move the chaise lounges back a foot, just to be safe.

It didn’t cause the recent Japanese earthquake.  Any quakes that happen today won’t have been caused by it’s nearness.

There’s something you need to remember about the Moon, tonight’s super fullness, and the effect it has on the Earth.

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Space Bat’s Final Voyage – A Tribute

March 19, 2011

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Keanu Reeves – immortal? I report, you decide

March 11, 2011

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The Elixir of Life

March 11, 2011

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Why would anyone drink anything else?

Keep your Red Bulls, your Monsters, and your over-priced fancy coffees!  This is the beverage the Universe came into existence to create.

The true Elixir of Life.

(Coke will do in a pinch, if there’s no Pepsi, but it’s a pale imitation of the true Elixir!)

This in response to a post on QueerFresno 9.0 about Nathan’s Starbux addiction!

Space Cadet Makes Momentary Appearance

March 10, 2011

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It happened again.  On Monday the 7th, the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station flew overhead just after dark.  I went outside to watch, expecting only the Space Station, and was jumping up and down (at least internally. I doubt anyone driving by noticed) when I realized I was getting the double lucky view of the shuttle leading the station in the same orbit, just miles apart from each other.  The Discovery had undocked from the station earlier that day, and was slowly increasing the distance between it and the orbiting outpost with each moment.  Tonight, the shuttle is on the ground, but ISS is still up there, and still gliding majestically across my sky from time to time.

Photo: NASA

Space Cadet Jimmie made a sudden appearance Monday, and again today.  He’s someone I don’t get to visit very often these days, but maybe…  just maybe…  he’ll come around more often.

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Testing. Tweeting. Twondering.

March 9, 2011

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This is a test. This is only a test. Testing a Tweet, or Tweeting a test.

That is all.

Discovery Makes Final Landing – Will Be Retired

March 9, 2011

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Photo Credit: NASA

OV-3, Discovery,  made it’s final landing today at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, ending it’s career as the most historic member of the Space Shuttle fleet.  39 missions, 365 total days in space, first to return to space after the Challenger and Columbia disasters, Discovery completed it’s last mission by delivering supplies and the last habitable component to the International Space Station.

The Shuttle now heads to museum duty, to be displayed as a monument to the United States space program.

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