A review of space development progress in Nigeria: Nigeria: Emerging Nation Status Soon? - GO FOR LAUNCH - July.16.10.

Those who are interested in the interaction of the arts with spaceflight as well as other areas of science and technology might want to check out Leonardo On-Line: Art, Science and Technology.

About Leonardo/ISAST

Our Mission: The critical challenges of the 21st century require mobilization and cross-fertilization among the domains of art, science and technology. Leonardo/ISAST fosters collaborative explorations both nationally and internationally by facilitating interdisciplinary projects and documenting and disseminating information about interdisciplinary practice.

Vision Statement: Leonardo creates opportunities for the powerful exchange of ideas between practitioners in art, science and technology. Through publications, initiatives and public forums, Leonardo/ISAST facilitates cross-disciplinary research in these fields, seeking to catalyze fruitful solutions for the challenges of the 21st century. Among the challenges requiring cross-disciplinary approaches are establishing sustainable environmental practices, spreading global scientific and artistic literacy, creating technological equity, and encouraging freedom of thought and imagination. By enhancing communication between scientists, artists, and engineers, Leonardo supports experimental projects and interacts with established institutions of art and science to transform their research and educational practices.

40th Anniversary: In 2008, Leonardo celebrated the 40th anniversary of its flagship journal Leonardo with special projects and events around the world.

A reader notes that you can see up close a full scale model of the James Webb Space Telescope in New York City's Battery Park this summer: Science Friday's Photos - James Webb Space Telescope model | Facebook. The JWST is scheduled for launch in 2014.

Check out also this Science Friday item with a cool video about lightning researchers who fire rockets trailing thin wires into clouds to induce strikes.

My thanks to Linksgiving.com for giving HobbySpace.com its Weekly Link Award for the week of January 10th.

I posted the December edition of the HobbySpace homepage today. This month the space artist spotlight shines on James Hervat. The space music of the month selection is Buzz from the group Above & Beyond. The New Outer Space focus is on the recent SpaceShipTwo Rollout.

The space activities and hobbies section looks at space related gift ideas for Christmas. I point to the Shopping section and other pages at HobbySpace with links to online stores where you can find lots of space and astronomy related items.

I also issued a plea for readers to shop with the advertisers who support HobbySpace. These include SpaceToys.com, SpaceShots.com, and the Rocket Science CD book from Dave Ketchledge. See also the many text ads that are posted in the right column here.

Also, please remember that if you Click on any Amazon ad on this site and HobbySpace will receive a commission on any item you buy during that session on the Amazon site. This does not affect the prices you pay.

Finally, if you want to support HobbySpace directly, drop a contribution in the PayPal Tip Jar in the left column here.

Alan Boyle gives a heads-up on several diverse space related events in the week ahead: Watch the skies - Cosmic Log/msnbc.com - Dec.4.09

A couple of reports on happenings "in space" this week:
The Herschel infrared space telescope begins to send back images: New European space telescope opens a sharp eye on the sky - csmonitor.com - June.19.09. The Herschel gallery will start to fill up soon I'm sure.

Meanwhile, on Mars the Spirit rover remains stuck in a spot of soft dirt: Rover Update With Video - Universe Today - June.19.09

A list of 100 Amazing Online Tools to Learn About Outer Space.

The new issue of The Space Review begins with Burke O. Fort describing the 8th Continent Project and developments with space entrepreneurial businesses based on space related technologies: Space 2.0: bringing space tech down to Earth.

Jeff Foust reviews the status of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge competition: Still a challenge.

Dwayne Day returns to the topic of signals detection spysats: Robotic ravens: American ferret satellite operations during the Cold War. Taylor Dinerman worries about one-sided negative consequences for US military space systems of possible UN regulations on in-space operations : Sustainability: just another excuse for a UN power grab?.

John Marburry suggests that DoD offer to purchase power from commercial space based solar power operators rather than funding such systems directly: Space-based solar power: right here, right now?

Jeff Foust reviews the new book The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet By Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Well, I think I've been pretty consistent with the Moon but not with the sun, I mean Sun: moon vs. Moon: A Study in Arrant Pedantry - The Once and Future Moon

Alan Boyle also reports on a new visuals of Titan and the Saturn system from the Cassini orbiter mission: Take a tour of Titan - Cosmic Log/msnbc.com - Mar.24.09.
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Here's the latest on the possibility that the Phoenix lander detected liquid water (saturated with perchlorate salts): Mars water story spawns kudos and controversy - Spaceflight Now - Mars.24.09
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NASA astronaut Sandra Magnus has carried out some exploratory cooking experiments during her stay on the ISS: Astronaut experiments with space cooking - Discovery.com/msnbc.com - Mar.24.09

Res Communis offers the latest collection of links to articles on space law, policy and regulation: Library: A Round-up of Reading - Res Communis.
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Gee whiz, what a mess. Check out these images of simulated distributions of debris from the satellite collision: PICTURES: Iridium Cosmos collision simulation - Hyperbola.

The company Celestis will send portions of the ashes of the late Gene Roddenberry and his wife Majel, who died in December, into space:
/-- Star Trek Creator And Spouse To Fly Into Outer Space - Celestis - Jan.22.09
/-- Ashes of "Star Trek" creator and wife rocketing to deep space - AFP - Jan.26.09

You can read the announcement from their son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry II, on this page at Celestis.

You can place a message that will travel along with them via the Gene and Majel Roddenberry tribute message page.

Nick Spall of the British Human Space Flight Campaign makes the case for a British astronaut program: Human spaceflight: Britain needs a real-life Dan Dare to inspire the young Even Sweden can afford to inspire its future scientists and engineers by sending an astronaut into space. Why not Britain? - Guardian.co.uk
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UK students ages 16-18 can compete for free attendance at a summer space school: Space Academy Competition 2009 - Rocketeers.co.uk

MAKE Magazine, the technology DIY guide, now offers on-line webcast programs:

An update on Richard Garriott's stay at the ISS: Latest Space Tourist Gets His Money's Worth - SPACE.com - Oct.20.08.

Here is a video report from Garriott: Life on board the ISS
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Here's another round-up of space law, regulations, and policy links: Library: A Round-up of Reading - Res Communis - Oct.20.08

This video comes from the "Space travel and science fiction" session at the recent Int. Astronautical Congress in Glassglow . It includes an interesting talk by science fiction author Stephen Baxter about the effects of science fiction on interest in space travel. This is followed by presentations from NSS chief George Whitesides, Melchor Antunano, and Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides on "Opportunities in public spaceflight - commercial, medical and personal aspects":

Klyde Morris is off to Oshkosh and the rocket races.
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Richard Garriott has gained and lost a fortune or two on his way to space: Austin adventurer following dad into space: Texan following astronaut dad into space, but by a different path - Houston Chronicle (w/video)

A press release from the Stardance movie project:

[Update Dec.27.07: An article about the project: Dancing
with the stars project resurrected: It's a dream come true for choreographer Robinson - hfxnews.ca [Halifax] - Dec.27.07]

A Dance In Space
Author/Choreographer to experience Zero G for “Stardance” film project

Las Vegas – On December 30th a dream will be realized when award-winning author and choreographer Jeanne Robinson, along with her “Stardancer” Kathleen McDonagh, rocket through parabolic arcs in a specially designed 727 operated by Zero-G Corporation. In free-fall they will test Jeanne’s concepts of “dance beyond the bonds of gravity” as part of pre-production for their large format film “Jeanne Robinson's Stardance Experience” (www.stardancemovie.com).

“The principal purpose of this trip is to inform the choreography for the Stardance film through the direct experience of the weightless environment. I’ve had zero-gravity choreography in my mind and heart for over 30 years – now I’m going to know it on a cellular level,” says Ms. Robinson, who originated the concept of zero gravity dance in her novel “Stardance,” co-authored with her husband, acclaimed science fiction writer Spider Robinson.

My wife is helping to organize this event and asked me to post this announcement:

We are holding the Third Fistula Awareness and Fundraising Event organized by the Washington DC area committee of the Tesfa Ineste, a project of the Fistula Foundation on Sunday, December 9, 2007, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Crystal City, Virginia. The Fistula Foundation is a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to the treatment and prevention of obstetric fistula and supports the programs of the Addis Abeba Fistula Hospital. Tesfa Ineste, which translates “let us give hope,” is a campaign to fund the construction of the Harrar Hamlin Fistula Center (HFC), a mini-fistula hospital in the City of Harrar, in Eastern Ethiopia. We believe your support will help make the project a reality by mid -2008.

As you may know, obstetric fistula, which is the most devastating childbirth injury, has been eradicated in the developed world. In Ethiopia, however, it continues to affect an estimated 10,000 women every year. Until recently, the Addis Abeba Fistula Hospital was the only establishment in the entire country offering dedicated help to fistula victims. The construction of five HFCs in strategic locations across Ethiopia was planned a few years ago to address the needs of many young girls and women who require fistula care. Three of the five planned centers have been completed and have begun providing services focusing on treatment, prevention, and health education. Also, I am delighted to inform you that construction has begun on the fourth mini-fistula hospital, the Harrar HFC, which is intended to serve the entire Eastern part of Ethiopia. When completed in mid-2008, the Harrar HFC will provide 35 beds as well as a separate building to accommodate the nursing aides.

All raised funds from the Third Fistula Awareness and Fundraising Event will be applied to the construction of the Harrar HFC. To date, we have raised $217,000, or 54% of our goal. In 2006, we hosted an event combining information and entertainment, which raised $60,000. The results are encouraging; however, we realize more needs to be done. This year’s program will include speakers, honoring individuals who made important contribution to the cause as well as entertainment and a showcase of Ethiopian art and culture. Invited guests include members of Congress, various organizations, and individuals who share our goal of eradicating obstetric fistula and improving women’s health

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