The latest on the Mars One application drive: Private Mars Colony Project Undaunted by Application Shortfall – Space.com.
Category Archives: Space participation
NASTAR education director selected as Citizens in Space astronaut
Here’s a profile of Greg Kennedy, director of education for the NASTAR Center and a Citizens in Space civilian astronaut selectee: Lower Southampton man chosen as a civilian astronaut – phillyburbs.com: Business
Mars One – update on applications
The Mars One organization has been inviting applications for the first crew to initiate settlement of the Red Planet (see their latest Road map). This week they released an update on the response so far:
- Mars One updates figures, but actual number of applicants still unclear – NewSpace Journal
- Deadline approaching: Ten days remain to join aspiring Martians from 140 countries – Mars One
Amersfoort, 21st August 2013 – With ten days left before the end of its online application program, Mars One has received interest from more than 165,000 people hoping to be the first humans on Mars. The Mars One Application Program is turning out to be the most desired job vacancy in the world. People from over 140 countries are looking towards the final frontier and envisioning their life on another planet.
USA is at the top of the list of countries where most applicant are from– 23% of all applicants being Americans, followed by China, Brazil, India, Russia, UK, Mexico, Canada, Spain and the Philippines.
Bas Lansdorp, CEO and co-founder of Mars One said: “The cultural diversity of Mars One applicants reflects the international nature of this project and ultimately makes it humanity’s mission to Mars.”
Dr. Norbert Kraft, Chief Medical Officer of Mars One said: “The response to the first round of the Astronaut Selection Program has been tremendous. We now have a large group of applicants from where we can start our search. Finding the best crews of qualified and compatible individuals is crucial to the success of our mission.”
Mars One will continue to accept online applications until 31st of August 2013. Anyone over the age of 18 considering themselves qualified should enter the program by applying online at apply.mars-one.com.
Dr. Kraft encourages potential applicants: “It’s easily assumed that Mars One is only looking for pilots and engineers. Don’t disqualify yourself too easily. If you wish to be a Mars pioneer despite of the risks and challenges that come with this job, you’re already more qualified than most people on this planet. It’s most important that you are healthy and smart and have the right mindset. Mars One will teach you the skills you need in the years of training ahead.”
Completed applications will be screened by a team of Mars One experts. They will select the individuals who will pass to the next round of the Selection Program.
The FUNcube Dongle SDR for satellite reception
I’ve posted about the FUNcube Dongle before but it’s worth a repeat. This small device plugs into a USB port and when combined with a program like SDR# “A Software Defined Radio in C#” your computer becomes a fully functional radio tuner. With a proper antenna and preamplifier you can pick up satellite transmissions such as weather satellite images.
The FUNcube Dongle came out of a AMSAT UK project to allow students and hobbyists an easy system to use to receive signals from the FUNcube UK Amateur Radio Educational Satellite, which is expected to be launched this fall.
More at
See also the See HobbySpace Space Radio section and the HobbySpace Weather Satellite Station.
Brothers in Texas sending experiments to the ISS through DreamUp program
The Conrad Foundation, in collaboration with NanoRacks, started the DreamUp program in 2012 to provide opportunities for students to send experiments to the International Space Station: NanoRacks Teams with Conrad Foundation on American Express Program to Space – NanoRacks.
Junior high, high school and undergraduate college students from accredited U.S. schools who register for the DreamUp program will have access to NanoRacks’ two standardized research platforms aboard the ISS (also known as NanoLabs) each of which supports 16 payloads, or experiments, housed in small containers. Each NanoLab is plugged into the ISS’ power and communications system by a NASA astronaut, offering students a chance to test scientific theories in a zero gravity environment. Students also get the opportunity to interact with ISS astronauts regarding their experiments.
“Some experiments can’t be done on Earth because we can’t ‘turn off’ gravity,” Conrad said. “DreamUp, powered by our partner NanoRacks, is the ultimate ‘plug and play,’ helping our next great innovators participate in a scientific research opportunity like no other.”
Students can design two different size payloads, starting at $15,500 each. For every 1,000 American Express points redeemed, the DreamUp program will receive $10.00 for the team/school of the donator’s choice.
This article and video describes a couple of such experiments created by two brothers in Texas : Dickinson brothers to launch science experiments into space for astronauts to test – abc13.com
American Express allows its card users to convert reward points into a Donation to Conrad Foundation for DreamUp.