Space Policy

Space policy roundup – Feb.3.14 [Updated]

A selection of space policy/politics related links:

Update:

Update 2:

Satellite Watching, Space participation

ISS-Above lights up when a huge space station flies over your location

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Via Universe Today comes a pointer to the Kickstarter for ISS-Above by Liam Kennedy. The ISS-Above is a

device that lights up whenever the International Space Station is nearby (that happens more often than you might expect)

[…]

The International Space Station passes overhead most of the populated areas of the world more frequently than you would imagine. If only you knew it was there.

That’s what the ISS-Above does.

It lights up when the ISS is nearby, but that’s not all. It can also TWEET a message to the Space Station and it has its own built-in web server to give you a ton of information about current and future passes.

It’s both an awareness thing, so more people get to know the Space Station is in their sky, and it’s also to let those who are “up there” know that we know and appreciate what they are doing!  

[ Update: A reader points to a Kickstarter project  in 2011 for a similar ISS flyover device : ISS-Notify by Nathan Bergey — Kickstarter.]

The goal of the Kickstarter is to make the device available to more people. The campaign has already exceeded its goal with over 24 days left.

From Universe Today :

A complete ISS-Above device preloaded with your location is available for kicking in to the Kickstarter for $115. If you just want the memory card with your location and custom Twitter login for sending a Tweet to the ISS, then the price is just $42. There are several other options as well.

Astronomy, Space participation

Disk Detective: Search for star systems with planet-forming debris

Zooniverse  has opened a new citizen science program called Disk Detective:

Scientists are combing our galaxy looking for stars that could be harbouring planet-forming disks. They need your help to explain this puzzling part of stellar evolution!

What is WISE looking for?

WISE is a NASA mission surveying the whole sky in infrared. This project is looking at stars to find dusty debris disks, similar to our asteroid field. These disks suggest that these stars are in the early stages of forming planetary systems. Learning more about these stars can tell us how our Solar System formed.

How will my contribution help?

Computers often confuse debris disks around stars with other astronomical objects. We need your help to sort out what stars actually have these disks from Galaxies and Nebulae.

Read about the project here: Disk Detective: The Newest Astronomy Citizen Science Project – astrobites

Contests and Games, Education, Simulators

Space Pioneer – updates and new video

I wrote here previously about the Kickstarter campaign to fund development of the game Space Pioneer by Space Enigma Studios. Since then they have posted Updates on the project and they have a new video as well:

Activism, Living in Space, Space Policy

Video: The reasons for going to outer space

At the TEDxPCC event,  Will Pomerantz, the Virgin Galactic Vice President for Special Projects,  gave his answers to the question, “Why is it worth it to explore outer space?

Everyone can participate in space