John Hunter spoke on the Space Show on Monday about “hydrogen gas gun technology and capability, microwave propulsion for delivering cargo”: Dr. John Hunter, Monday, 2-18-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog.
===
David and callers discussed in an Open Lines show last night a range of topics that included “Carnival Cruise lines & informed consent, space radiation, nanosat launchers, & much more” : Open Lines, Tuesday, 2-19-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog
The Everyday Spacer blog hosts the latest Carnival of Space.
BTW: My thanks to Pam of Everyday Spacer for the very generous review of HobbySpace.com : Visit the Hobby Space Blog! – Everyday Spacer.
A dramatic meteor shower took place over the Urals area of Russia today with large fireballs and smoke tails seen in the sky and loud explosions heard. (See video below.) Sightings were reported in the cities of Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg and Tyumen. Widespread meteorite debris hitting the ground caused injuries to several hundred people and damage to buildings (see second video below.)
Update: It was just a cosmic coincidence. The meteoroid that caused the shower came from a much different orbit than asteroid 2012 DA14 and so they are not related: Astronomers: Russia’s Meteorite Is Not Related To Today’s Near-Earth Asteroid Fly-By – Popular Science.
From reading the articles today, some definitions are in order. A meteoroid is the rock traveling in space, a meteor is the bright flashy trail as it streaks through the atmosphere. and a meteorite is a chunk of a meteoroid that made it to the ground without vaporizing.
Bob Zimmerman reports on the latest space news during regular weekly slots (usually Tuesday and Thursdays) on the John Batchelor radio program. See the iTunes free Podcast for links to the latest shows.
This week Bob was on both the Tuesday and Wednesday shows and will be on again tonight. Here is what he has talked about so far:
Tuesday: Science:
Life found in Lake Whillans.
Help name two of Pluto’s moons.
Curiosity drills its first rock.
The founder of the Green movement rejects the modern Green movement.
The weak solar maximum continues.
Wednesday: Space:
Orion parachute tests.
Sea Launch’s problems: a failed launch last week plus Boeing is suing them.
Russia and Kazakhstan apparently have an agreement. Also, Proton flights are to resume, despite problems with upper stage.
Update: Here are the Thursday topics –
Antares hot fire test aborts just before initiation.
The next Dragon flight is now set for March 1.
Asteroid 2012 DA14. There is a lot to talk about here.
-are the minerals on it worth $195 billion?
-the various asteroid mining companies are all using it to sell their wares.
-the possibility of asteroid quakes as it goes by.
The Dear Astronomer blog hosts the latest Carnival of Space.