Contests and Games, History

A week left to enter contest to name Space Shuttle replica at NASA JSC

The deadline nears for the Name the Shuttle contest sponsored by the NASA JSC visitor center:

One week remaining to submit entry for Space Center Houston’s
“Name the Shuttle” contest 

 Texas residents have the unique opportunity to name the Shuttle replica
that will rest atop the massive 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
at JSC’s Official Visitor Center

WHAT: Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC), recently launched a free, statewide contest that gives one lucky Texan the opportunity to name the high-fidelity Shuttle replica that will sit atop the massive 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) as part of a new $12 million, six-story attraction currently under development. Residents can visit www.nametheshuttle.com and submit an original name that symbolizes the spirit of Texas and its unique characteristics of independence, optimism and can-do attitude. The contest closes at noon CST, Labor Day, Sept. 2.

Full contest details are available at www.nametheshuttle.com.

WHEN:   Monday, Sept. 2, 2013 at noon CST – contest closes
Mid-September – winner to be announced

WHO/WHERE:   Richard Allen, president of Space Center Houston, is available for media interviews to discuss the contest in more detail. Interviews can be scheduled by contacting Jack Moore at 281-244-2137 or jmoore@spacecenter.org.                     

OTHER:         The state-of-the-art Space Shuttle attraction is slated to open in 2015 and will provide a one-of-a-kind visitor experience exclusive to Space Center Houston. It will be the only place in the world where guests can climb aboard the huge 747 SCA and the Shuttle replica and experience the 30-year Space Shuttle program in the most dynamic, hands-on environment imaginable. The attraction will also expand Space Center Houston’s current educational programs, which aim to inspire students to consider careers in math and science.

Space Center Houston is the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) education foundation with award-winning educational programs designed to inspire and encourage students to consider a career in math and science. Space Center Houston features a multitude of permanent exhibits, attractions and theatres and is open every day with the exception of Christmas Day. Space Center Houston is located at 1601 NASA Parkway; Houston, TX 77058. Please visit www.spacecenter.org.

General, SpaceCasts

Video: This Week@NASA – New Exploers, New Roadmap

The latest This_Week @NASA is about the new astronaut class, new Global Exploration Roadmap, etc:

Caption:

A big week for NASA’s newest astronaut candidates … chosen from more 6-thousand applicants, the group of eight arrived at Johnson Space Center to begin training for future missions and were introduced to the media during a news conference with Administrator Charlie Bolden. The candidates could be some of the first explorers to help NASA and its international partners blaze the trail outlined in the recently announced Global Exploration Roadmap. The roadmap makes clear the U.S. and its international space partners share an interest in pursuing ambitious exploration goals. Also, Commercial Capsule Visit, ISS Spacewalk, Lunar Mission Previewed, Webb Backplane Arrives, Climate Mission Media Day, NASA 905 to Houston and more!

History, Space films and videos, Space Settlement

Libra – a 1978 movie about space colonies

I recently wrote about what I considered the wrong-headed view of in-space colonies in the movie Elysium. A diametrical approach in politics and film-making quality is found in the obscure 1978 film Libra in which a large space habitat is depicted as a refuge of freedom from an increasingly oppressive earth:

It is obviously a low budget, amateurish promotion of a political point of view but is still interesting and probably closer to the future than Elysium.

Here is a segment of the film, which was made by an organization called World Research Inc.:

And here is the full 39 minute version:

DIY space, Rockets

Copenhagen Suborbitals: Testing free-fall and emergency egress

Copenhagen Suborbitals continues with their space suit testing: Space Capsule Emergency Egress – Space Suit Session Day 07 – Wired Science

Madsen_freeFall_BT02Stable free fall flying donned the DIY space suit.
Image: Bo Tornvig

 

Events, Future space, Space Systems

Space elevator conference – Day 3

Ted Semon posts a report on the Space Elevator Conference presentations given on Sunday, the final day, of the event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle: 2013 Space Elevator Conference – Day 3 – The Space Elevator Blog

Previous days:

 

Everyone can participate in space