General, Space Science, SpaceCasts

Space on the John Batchelor Show: Bob Zimmerman and Hotel Mars

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.

Tuesday’s segment: Space:
1. A rocket launch tomorrow by North Korea?
2. India wants to privatize its launch fleet.
3. Boeing about to begin wind tunnel tests of its manned capsule.
4. Antares is scheduled for launch April 17.
5. NASA has delayed its first manned commercial launch by one year.

Wednesday’s segment: Climate:
1. The scientists who tried to re-invent Michael Mann’s hockey stick graph have admitted their data is worthless.
2. The weak solar minimum continues.
3. Another global warming advocate admits the climate has not warmed for two decades.
4. Which means: The doom and gloom shifts to reports of extreme weather!

Thursday segment: Space
1. Has Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted the remains of a 1971 Soviet Mars lander?
2. The Orion capsule begins stress tests, after being repaired from cracks.
3. Boeing introduces a new line of tiny commercial satellites.
4. Canada’s Radarsat 1 goes dead.

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On  the weekly Hotel Mars segment with David Livingston, retired NASA astrophysicist Dr. Don Kessler talked about space debris and mitigation issues: The John Batchelor Show “Hotel Mars,” Wednesday, 4-10-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog

Science and Technology, Solar Science

NASA ScienceCasts: “A whiff of dark matter on the ISS”

The latest NASA ScienceCasts video reports on “A Whiff of Dark Matter on the ISS”:

Contests and Games, Software

Challenges selected for the 2013 Int. Space Apps Challenge competition

An announcement from NASA:

NASA Announces Challenges for the 2013 International Space Apps Challenge

WASHINGTON — NASA and over 150 partner organizations worldwide will be hosting the International Space Apps Challenge on April 20-21, 2013. The International Space Apps Challenge is a technology development event during which citizens from around the world work together to solve challenges relevant to improving life on Earth and in space.

NASA and its partners have released 50 challenges for the second International Space Apps Challenge. Participants are encouraged to develop software, hardware, data visualization, and mobile/web applications that will contribute to space exploration missions and help improve life on Earth. Examples of challenges include:

— Spot the Station: Extend the functionality of the Spot the Station website (spotthestation.nasa.gov) that allows you to share your sightings of the International Space Station with others.

— Hitch a Ride to Mars: Design a CubeSat (a small research satellite) for an upcoming Mars mission.

— 3-D Printing Challenge: Create an open source model of space hardware that can be generated by a 3-D printer.

— Curiosity at Home: Foster a connection between citizens and the Mars rover through software, visualizations, or an app.

— Seven Minutes of Science: Develop a concept to make use of 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of ejectable mass during the entry and landing phase of a Mars mission to accomplish scientific or technical objectives.

— Catch a Meteor: Create an app that would allow observers of a meteor shower to trace the location, color and size of the meteor.

— Smart Cities, Smart Climate: Explore the impacts of atmospheric changes on the health, infrastructure and society in urban areas.

— Why We Explore Space: Share the “why” of space exploration through the creation of compelling narratives and visualizations.

To register for a local International Space Apps Challenge event and to find more information, visit http://spaceappschallenge.org

For information about NASA’s programs and missions, visit http://www.nasa.gov

Space Science

Curiosity Rover Report: Mars bygone atmosphere

The latest Curiosity Rover Report (April 12, 2013) discusses “Mars’ Bygone Atmosphere”:

Education, Space Arts

Space art contest winners gather at National Space Symposium

A report on the space art contest at the 29th National Space Symposium  (see also the earlier report: 2013 Space Foundation student art contest winners selected – Space-for-All at HobbySpace):

Art Contest Award Reception Attracts Student Winners
from Across the U.S.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 8, 2013) – The 36 winners of the 2013 Space Foundation International Student Art Contest were invited to attend the Space Foundation’s 29th National Space Symposium, being held at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs this week.

Grand Prize, 3rd-5th grade and 1st Place, 3rd-5th Grade, Drawing Vincent Zheng
Vincent Zheng – Grand Prize, 3rd-5th grade and 1st Place,
3rd-5th Grade, Drawing 

Young artists from 12 countries were selected for the top slots from among more than 4,700 entries representing 45 countries, including 38 U.S. states and territories – the largest response since the contest began three years ago.

Surprisingly, nine of the student artists and their families from across the U.S. plan to attend the Space Symposium’s April 10 art contest reception, including:

Poem Shiuey, Meyerholz Elementary School, San Jose, Calif.
Grand Prize, PreK- 2nd Grade and 1st Place, PreK- 2nd Grade, Painting and Mixed Media

Vincent Zheng, SKA Academy of Art and Design, Duluth, Ga.
Grand Prize, 3rd-5th grade and 1st Place, 3rd-5th Grade, Drawing

Skylar Duncan, The Colorado Springs School, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1st Place, 3rd-5th Grade, Painting and Mixed Media

Bryan Montenegro, The Mirman School, Los Angeles, Calif.
2nd Place, 3rd-5th Grade, Digital

Edwin SJ Nah, St. James Episcopal School, Los Angeles, Calif.
2nd Place, 6th-8th Grade, Painting and Mixed Media

Koty Thomas, Penn Trafford High School, Harrison City, Pa.
3rd Place, 9th-12th Grade, Painting and Mixed Media

Raquel Arens, Air Academy High School, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1st Place, 9th-12th Grade, Digital

Sydney-Paige Kay, Jericho Senior High School, Jericho, N.Y.
2nd Place, 9th-12th Grade, Digital

Ananya Jain, Jericho Senior High School, Jericho, N.Y.
3rd Place, 9th-12th Grade, Digital

The students will meet former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao at the reception, and will receive ribbons and prizes co-sponsored by Fisher Space Pen. Dr. Chiao is Space Foundation special advisor – human spaceflight.

About the Contest
The Space Foundation invited students from around the world in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to submit original artwork depicting the theme, If I Were Going…, challenging them to imagine how they would personally experience space travel, exploration or settlement and then interpret that idea into an original work of visual art.

Where to See the Artwork
Winning artwork submitted for this year’s contest can be seen on the Space Foundation website photo gallery at www.spacefoundation.org/media/photo-galleries, and at www.artsonia.com/museum in the If I Were Going… Space Foundation art gallery.

Learn more about the annual Space Foundation International Student Art Contest by visiting www.spacefoundation.org/education.

Everyone can participate in space