Kickstarting the Luna Project Medalet Program

Christopher Carson, a fervent advocate of putting humans on the Moon and one of the “stars” of the documentary Lunarcy!, has opened a Kickstarter campaign to fund the Luna Project Medalet Program : Fire This Time — Luna City Mint 2013 by C.D. “publius” Carson — Kickstarter

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The Luna Project stands for nothing less than the liberation of humanity, the transformation of mankind from a species tied to one planet, to one free and at home in the vastness and wonder of the Universe.  The first step — one which must and can be taken without further delay — is to establish a foothold on the Moon, as a first center of civilization beyond Earth, and a supply base for steps farther out.  And this step can and must be taken by those people, around the world, who care about it and understand its importance.  Nobody, whether governments, businesses, or millionaire patrons, will do for us what we are not willing to do for ourselves.

This message has to be spread far and wide to be effective.  So much the better if it spreads itself.  This can be helped along with promotional materials of the sort that people will show off to their friends and neighbours — bumper stickers, for example, and badges.

The best part of a thousand medalets, some in packaging
The best part of a thousand medalets, some in packaging

An especially distinctive and popular Luna Project promotion has been the medalet, a coin-like item about the size of a US quarter-dollar, typically put up in an attractive package with an informative insert card.  A thousand of these were made back in 2008, by a private mint which afterwards folded.  The intention was to release new types periodically, soliciting new designs (perhaps by way of contests) so as to engage artists, who are not as well represented in the space movement as they should be.

After many delays and diversions, the Medalet Program is moving forward.  A new pattern of medalets has been designed, but now it has to be committed to metal.  And that is where you come in.

[…]

The means to the end of getting these new medalets struck is the Luna City Mint, and so this campaign has to — well, kickstart it.  Once it is operating, there is a clear way forward for the further development of the Medalet Program.  And, when its capabilities are not otherwise occupied, it can help pay for itself by taking on outside work.  Maybe that will include a project of yours.

Update: Speaking of Lunarcy! here’s a trailer for it:

Astronauts tweet latest great snapshots of earth

Check out this great collection of photos taken by astronauts on the International Space Station and posted to earthlings via Twitter: NASA Shutdown Unleashes Beautiful Astronaut Photos on Twitter – News Watch

US astronaut Karen Nyberg tweeted this striking photo of storm clouds above Ghana on October 8, 2013. Credit: Karen Nyberg/NASA

US astronaut Karen Nyberg tweeted this striking photo of storm clouds
above Ghana  as seen from the International Space Station.on October 8, 2013.
Credit: Karen Nyberg/NASA

See many more such photos at The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth, which also includes videos taken by the astros.

“Gravity” doing phenomenally well

The movie Gravity has moved from just a successful film to the category of “phenomena”:  Why the World is Watching ‘Gravity’ – WSJ.com

Now heading into its third weekend, “Gravity” is an increasingly rare phenomenon: a movie that draws audiences in droves, yet also wins joyous praise from critics. Exhibitors are thrilled that word is out the film should be seen not at home but in theaters, on a big screen, with high-quality sound. Comedian Albert Brooks slyly underscored the rewards of the immersive big-screen experience, tweeting “Just watched Gravity on an iPhone. Not that impressed.”

[…]

If current trends continue, “Gravity” is likely to end up grossing more than $500 million world-wide, territory rarely seen by movies that aren’t based on a comic book or toy and released in summertime or holiday season. It is unlikely to approach the world-wide grosses of movies like this year’s No. 1 hit, “Iron Man 3,” which sold more than $1.2 billion in tickets around the world.

See also:

Great views of exoplanets through artists’ eyes

Check out the marvelous depictions of exoplanets as imagined by several different artists: The Most Mind-Blowingly Beautiful Artists’ Conceptions of Exoplanets – io9

Find more such images in the galleries of the artists such as:

[]
Planet 
– Maciej Rebisz

[]

Event Horizon – Kenneth Jensen

US Air Force activates “The Launch of GPS IIF” STEM project

A message from the US Air Force Collaboratory:

U.S. Air Force Activates “The Launch of GPS IIF” Project
Students and innovators called to collaborate in launch of next generation satellite

LOS ANGELES, October 16, 2013 – The Air Force Collaboratory is now open for its third and final project, “The Launch of GPS IIF.” Students, educators and innovators with an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are invited to submit their ideas to solve real world Air Force challenges on the interactive online platform. Technological advances from the project will enhance navigation and detection capabilities and can save lives in combat, search and rescue, and humanitarian missions.

More than 2,000 ideas were submitted by participants in the first two Collaboratory projects, “Search and Rescue 2.0” and “Mind of a Quadrotor.” Contributors, whether new or returning, are asked to bring ideas to “The Launch of GPS IIF” project, to determine the most effective location to launch the Air Force’s newest GPS satellite. “The Launch of GPS IIF” began on October 10, 2013, and will remain open through November 30.

The GPS IIF series is the next generation of Air Force GPS satellites. These advanced satellites are an integral part of a spacebased navigation system giving threedimensional location, velocity and timing information for GPS users around the world. “The Launch of GPS IIF” will test students and other collaborators to target the precise coordinates within the 27 new and legacy GPS satellites to launch the Air Force’s newest $225 million GPS satellite. More innovative and unique ideas brought to the Air Force will help to find solutions to get nextgeneration satellites launched and operational.

“The Launch of GPS IIF” is the third and final of the Collaboratory projects planned for 2013. The first project, “Search and Rescue 2.0,” opened on August 1 and asked contributors to submit plans to locate, stabilize or transport victims trapped in collapsed structures. The second project, “Mind of a Quadrotor,” challenges participants to create an autonomous quadrotor that can navigate with minimal human interaction and opened on September 1. “Mind of a Quadrotor” remains active through October 31.

To find out more and to submit ideas to The Air Force Collaboratory, visit airforce.com/collaboratory.

About the United States Air Force
The mission of the U.S. Air Force is to fly, fight and win in Air, Space and Cyberspace. In 2013, the Air Force Recruiting Service is hiring more than 26,000 new Airmen. An emphasis is on recruiting people with no prior military service into one of about 140 enlisted career opportunities. The Air Force continues to bring in quality men and women because it matters. The Air Force recruits the brightest candidates possible and provides them with tough, highly technical training that gives them the right skills to sustain the combat capability of America’s Air Force. For more information about Air Force benefits and opportunities, go to www.airforce.com.

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