Of the many covers of the Elton John/Bernie Taupin song Rocketman, this version by Iron Horse is one of the most unusual that I’ve heard : This Bluegrass ‘Rocketman’ Cover by Iron Horse is Awesome (Video) – Space.com
Space policy roundup – Jan.31.14 [Updated]
Some recent space policy related webcasts:
- Bob Zimmerman on the radio:
- Chuck McMurray, Tuesday, 1-28-14 | Thespaceshow’s Blog – Topics discussed with McMurray of the Mars Society included the Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz on Capitol Hill, Feb.23-25.
More space policy/politics related links:
- Space casualties a necessary tragedy – Rand Simberg/USA Today
- Is the Relationship Between NASA and Private Space About to Sour? 2014 will be the year when the space agency and private companies must find a way to work together to get astronauts safely into orbit. For boosters of the private space, there’s plenty to worry about. – Popular Mechanics
- Air Force’s mysterious X-37B space plane passes 400 days in orbit – Space.com/Fox News
- Challenger and the Diminishment of the NASA Space Program – Wired Science
Update:
- NASA marks progress on JWST, but concerns remain – Space Politics
- NASA’s Day of Remembrance 2014 Honoring Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia Crews – spacepolicyonline.com
- Getting ready for asteroids – ESA
- U.S. Air Force Claims Big Savings on EELV Block Buy – SpaceNews.com
- Four Delta 4-Heavy rockets part of ULA block buy deal – Spaceflight Now
- NASA Education Goes Dark – Citizens in Space
- NASA Education Chief Resigns – Citizens in Space
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Video: “Space to ground” ISS update
The latest episode of NASA’s Space to Ground videos, “your weekly update on what’s happening aboard the International Space Station”.
Asteroid Ceres spouting water vapor
The European Hershel infrared space telescope has detected water vapor emissions from Ceres, the largest asteroid (it’s also called a dwarf planet):
- Herschel discovers water vapour around dwarf planet Ceres – Herschel/ ESA
- Herschel Telescope Detects Water on Dwarf Planet – Dawn
From the last item:
Scientists believe Ceres contains rock in its interior with a thick mantle of ice that, if melted, would amount to more fresh water than is present on all of Earth. The materials making up Ceres likely date from the first few million years of our solar system’s existence and accumulated before the planets formed.
Until now, ice had been theorized to exist on Ceres but had not been detected conclusively. It took Herschel’s far-infrared vision to see, finally, a clear spectral signature of the water vapor. But Herschel did not see water vapor every time it looked. While the telescope spied water vapor four different times, on one occasion there was no signature.
Here is what scientists think is happening: when Ceres swings through the part of its orbit that is closer to the sun, a portion of its icy surface becomes warm enough to cause water vapor to escape in plumes at a rate of about 6 kilograms (13 pounds) per second. When Ceres is in the colder part of its orbit, no water escapes.
Artist’s impression of Ceres
NASA’s Dawn spacecraft will reach Ceres in the summer of 2015. Launched in September 2007, Dawn investigated the asteroid Vesta until July 2012 and then began moving towards Ceres, where it will have a lot of interesting science to pursue.
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Here’s a discussion of the Ceres finding and teh significance of so much water among the asteroids: Why It Matters That There’s So Much Water in the Asteroid Belt – Popular Mechanics
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Asteroid specialist Humberto Campins spoke about the Ceres findings with David Livingston and John Batchelor on Wednesday : John Batchelor Hotel Mars, Wednesday, 1-29-14 – Thespaceshow’s Blog
Video: Search for Life in our Solar System
Here’s another interesting video posted by the SETI Institute. Dr. Alfonso Davila talks about the search of life in the solar system outside of Earth, particularly in Mars but also other sites such as the Jupiter moon Europa:
The search for life on Mars is a priority for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, a pivotal question of the Astrobiology Program, and the ultimate goal of the Mars Exploration Program (MEPAG, 2008). Also, assessment of the presence or absence of life on Mars is a prerequisite for human exploration in that it will allow mitigation of potential threats to planetary protection. Nevertheless, the Viking missions remain the first, and only, attempt to search for life on the planet (or anywhere else beyond the confines of Earth). Robotic missions to Mars since Viking have focused on characterizing the physical, chemical, and geological environment, and future missions will attempt to search for evidence of past life,perhaps after samples have been returned to Earth.
In this talk Dr. Davila will propose an alternative strategy to how we search for life in the Solar System. This strategy is centered on the search for biochemistry, and stems from decades of research experience in Mars Analogue Environments, a deeper understanding of the environmental limits of life, and the drive to understand the fundamental principles and the origin of life.