The Kickstarter to send 2000 Student Projects to the Edge of Space (see earlier post) is close but needs a push in the next week to reach their target before the time runs out. Help JP Aerospace with their campaign to fly 2000 student made Pongsats to Near Space:
B612 Foundation: Webcast briefing today + Video shows asteroid impacts since year 2000
The B612 Foundation today released the video below and will be webcasting a news conference from Seattle at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST) to discuss it. Here is their description of the video:
Between 2000 and 2013, a network of sensors that monitors Earth around the clock listening for the infrasound signature of nuclear detonations detected 26 explosions on Earth ranging in energy from 1-600 kilotons – all caused not by nuclear explosions, but rather by asteroid impacts.
These findings were recently released from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, which operates the network.
To put this data in perspective, the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 exploded with an energy impact of 15 kilotons. While most of these asteroids exploded too high in the atmosphere to do serious damage on the ground, the evidence is important in estimating the frequency of a potential “city-killer-size” asteroid.
For more information on this data, please check out our Impact Video FAQ.
Yutu lunar rover update
Leonard David reports on the latest info from China on the status of the Yutu lunar rover: Update: China’s Yutu Moon Rover
According to the news outlet, there are “last-ditch efforts” to rescue the ailing lunar rover.
Chinese engineers now say a blockage in the rover’s power circuitry is at fault for issues encountered and specialists are looking to bypass the problem. The trouble has meant that the rover’s main driving mechanism cannot be powered up. Yutu – or “Jade Rabbit” — is currently incapable of activating its wheels or solar panels.
Video: Jason Silva praises cosmic revolutionaries
I’ve probably posted this video before but Jason Silva’s eloquent alleluia to spaceflight is worth a re-watch: Exploring Space: Cosmic Revolutionaries – YouTube (via Richard Branson)
The Space Show this week
The guests and topics for The Space Show this week:
1. Monday, April 21, 2014, 2-3:30 PM PDT(5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): NO SHOW TODAY DUE TO MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE. I suggest listening to an archived oldie of your choice and share your perspective on the subject with us during our special Open Lines program on Sunday, April 27. For details, see the Sunday, April 27 program description.
2. Tuesday, April 22, 2014:, 7-8:30 PM PDT (10-11:30 PM EDT, 9-10:30 PM CDT): NO SHOW TODAY DUE TO MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE. I suggest listening to an archived oldie of your choice and share your perspective on the subject with us during our special Open Lines program on Sunday, April 27. For details, see the Sunday, April 27 program description.
3. Friday, April 127 2014, 9:30 AM-11 AM PDT (12:30-2 PM EDT; 11:30 AM-1 PM CDT): NO SHOW TODAY DUE TO MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE. I suggest listening to an archived oldie of your choice and share your perspective on the subject with us during our special Open Lines program on Sunday, April 27. .
4. Sunday, April 27, 2014, 12-1:30 PM PDT (3-4:30 PM EDT, 2-3:30 PM CDT). A special OPEN LINES program is planned for today. During the week, listen to golden oldies programs of your choice and see if you can compare what we were doing in space at the time of the oldie show to today. Call our OL show and tell us what archived program(s) you listened to and share your perspectives with us. In addition, Al Jazeera America ran a 30 minute quasi documentary on space development and exploration Easter weekend. They may archive the video from their series Faultline. Many well known space experts and advocated were interviewed. If you see it, please call and give us your take on program. I will hold my comments until air time. Check the website newsletter Sunday entry for more details on this program and confirmation that I will be able to do it as planned. www.thespaceshow.com/newsletterfinal.htm. I will post a status report about this program on Friday, April 25.
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.