The Project Morpheus lander had another tethered flight test today. The video includes a neat infrared view of the heat around the vehicle.
http://youtu.be/iwb7K3xU-no
Space policy roundup – Aug.7.13
Some space policy related items:
- SN Blog | More Names Emerge for NASA Deputy Administrator – SpaceNews.com
- Exit Interview | A Brief Conversation with Outgoing NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver – SpaceNews.com
- NASA’s Deputy Administrator Is Leaving Agency – NYTimes.com
- Congressman Fattah Statement on the Departure of NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver – Congressman Chaka Fattah
- Senate Bills Express Continued Concerns Over EELV – Aviation Week
Video: Jill Tarter talks about SETI and exobiology & asks for support for research
Jill Tarter of the SETI Institute, and the role model for Jodie Foster’s character in the movie Contact, talks in this video about “her experiences, and the need to support the future of scientific research”.
International Space Orchestra – goes to space
I mentioned a couple of times (see here and here) the musical project International Space Orchestra, “the world’s first orchestra of space scientists”, which was organized by Nelly Ben Hayoun. Their work, “An Opera in Space”, actually went to space last week –
Recordings from Skywalker ranch, George Lucas’ studio have launched in space on 4th August on board of two ArduSat (satellites for which NanoSatisfi is the parent company). The lift off was taking place in Japan.
More at
- Nelly Ben Hayoun’s artwork launched into space – Beyond The Beyond/Wired.com
- The International Space Orchestra is IN Space – Nelly Ben Hayoun
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The press release:
GROUND-CONTROL: AN OPERA IN SPACE first performed by the International Space Orchestra (ISO) in September 2011 in front of the World Largest Windtunnel in NASA Ames Research Center, was Recorded at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’ Studio. The two ArduSat carrying ISO’s recordings were launched aboard the H-II transfer vehicle, HTV-4, also known as Kounotori-4.
Time and Date of Launch: August 4, 2013 (Around 4:48am, Japan Standard Time, JST) Transfer Vehicle: “KOUNOTORI-4″ (HTV-4)
Launch Vehicle: H-IIB No.4
Launch Site: Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre
Audio Broadcast Method: Morse Code and Radio Waves
See the launch here
The broadcast of Ground-Control: An Opera in Space (27min) will be released by radio waves and morse code. One ArduSat will be broadcasting the voice, the other one the musical part, just like a real ’space’ orchestra. The International Space Station (ISS) launching of the two ArduSat will not be immediate after the rocket launch. It will depend on the ISS schedule. The broadcast will be radio waves and morse code. Time and Dates will be confirmed soon on www.nellyben.com and on this website.
‘Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life. Much as science washes away the fallacies of how the world was formed and sustains itself… Good luck in your cosmic endeavours and may you truly make the music of the spheres.’
John W Boyd Senior Advisor to the Center Director of NASA Ames, the Senior Advisor for History and the Center Ombuds, letter to Nelly Ben Hayoun, August 13th, 2012
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An intro to the project:
The International Space Orchestra_ Official IFFR selection 2013 from International Space Orchestra on Vimeo.
A beginners guide to astronomy
Astronomy newbies should check out the Beginners Guide To Astronomy at Learn Astronomy HQ:
This guide covers how to get started cheaply in astronomy and then progresses to a guide to telescopes and what to consider when buying a telescope. Once you have your equipment the guide covers setting up a telescope, what to start out observing, how to develop your knowledge of the night sky and provides a list of uk astronomy equipment to begin expanding your range and skills.