Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

Video: TMRO 9.02 – Sphere-iously

The latest episode of the TMRO.tv weekly program is now available in the archive: Sphere-iously – TMRO

This week we look at the small but vocal #FlatEarth crowd and talk about how low-cost, everyday space travel can help minimize these thoughts.

Space news topics discussed:

* SpaceUp San Diego
* Launch of NASA’s Next Mars Mission Delayed till 2018
* Planetary Resources 3D Prints Object From Meteorite
* ESA having second thoughts about Extending ISS operations
* ESA wants to be a part of NASA’s Europa Mission
* U.S. lab generates first space-grade plutonium sample since 1980s
* Space Mold
* Europe not so enthusiastic about Lunar Plans

TMRO is viewer supported:

TMROLive is a crowd funded show. If you like this episode consider contributing to help us to continue to improve. Head over to http://www.patreon.com/tmro for information, goals and reward levels. Don’t forget to check out our SpacePod campaign as well over at http://www.patreon.com/spacepod

Rockets

Videos: 86 orbital rocket launches in 2015 + SpaceX Falcon 9 flight and landing

Most of the public seems quite unaware of how active the space business is. It is actually quite active and will become more so in the coming years. In 2015 there were 87 launches around the world of rockets to put satellites into orbit. (Three of those launches failed to reach orbit.) In a week long period in December, there were 6 launches. Here is a compilation of launch videos for all but one of those launches (a Chinese rocket) : Here Are [86] Bad Ass Rocket Launches from 2015 – Gizmodo.com 

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Here is a new video from SpaceX showing more views of the recent Falcon 9 launch and the landing back at the Cape of the first stage:

Astronomy, Space participation

Dwarf galaxy spotted by Australian “strongman” amateur astrophotographer

Australian Michael Sidonio is “a competitive strongman” and also a first rate amateur astrophotographer who spotted a previously unheralded dwarf galaxy:

From his gallery:

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NGC 253-dw2 Deep Discovery Image – Credits Michael Sidonio

As part of a professional team lead by Aaron J. Romanowsky and David Martinez-Delgardo, this is my first involvement in a scientific discovery and my first scientific paper too. The paper was accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of The Royal Astronomical Society on Monday 21 Dec 2015.

The galaxy, in this case a Dwarf Spheroidal, was first discovered in a deep image I did of NGC 253 using my Orion Optics UK AG12 a 12″ F3.8 corrected Newtonian. This was then subsequently followed up by deep exposures by the CHART 32 team with their 32″ F7 corrected Cassegrain telescope at Cerro Tololo and then finally the Suprime-Cam on the 8m Subaru telescope was used, in sub arc sec seeing, to resolve stars and confirm the discovery and galaxy classification.

So to discover something so faint and so close to such a well researched galaxy like NGC 253 is extra special and the new galaxy is called NGC 253-dw2

The last line of the abstract is very encouraging too: “We also note the continued efficacy of small telescopes for making big discoveries”

Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week – Jan.11.16

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, January 11, 2016: 2-3:30 PM PST (5-6:30 PM EST; 4-5:30 PM CST): We welcome back DR. LOUIS FRIEDMAN to discuss his new book, Human Spaceflight: From Mars to the Stars.

2. Tuesday, Jan. 12 , 2016,7-8:30 PM PST (10-11:30 PM EST, 9-10:30 PM CST): We welcome back JIM MUNCY to discuss the asteroid resource utilization portion of the new commercial space act plus what we know so far about the space policies of presidential candidates.

3. Friday, January 15, 2016, 2016; 9:30 -11 AM PST (12:30-2 PM EST; 11:30-1 PM CST) We welcome back STEVE WOLFE with JAMES CAUSEY to update us on the recently held SpaceCom event in Houston.

4. Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016: 12-1:30 PM PST (3-4:30 PM EST, 2-3:30 PM CST): We welcome back CHRIS STONE to update us as to our space deterrence and national space defense policies.

See also: /– The Space Show on Vimeo – webinar videos /– The Space Show’s Blog – summaries of interviews. /– The Space Show Classroom Blog – tutorial programs The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

Everyone can participate in space