Monthly Archives: December 2013

Activism, Mars, Space Systems

Plans for Mars + Participation in a Space Legislative Blitz

There are several plans currently being promoted by non-government groups for getting humans to and on Mars. Here is a list with brief outlines of four such plans along with a list of reasons for going to Mars in the first place: The Many Plans for Mars (Issue #25) – Mars Society Education Forum.

—

The Mars Society and a dozen other space activist groups are planning a Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz  on February 23rd-25th in Washington, D.C They welcome your participation :  Get Involved in Mars/Space Advocacy, Participate in 2014 SEA Legislative Blitz – The Mars Society.

The 2014 Legislative Blitz comes at a time when our space program is at a crossroads, both in terms of funding and direction. The voices of the space advocacy community must be heard now as perhaps never before. The 2014 Legislative Blitz will call upon Congress to ensure that our nation’s space program is a compelling national priority.

Come join space advocates from around the country to let Congress know that there is strong constituent support for an ambitious space program. You will find this experience to be exciting and rewarding. There will be an information/training session on Sunday, February 23rd, with materials for meetings on Monday, February 24th and Tuesday, February 25th.

This event will not be successful without your help. Please JOIN US from February 23-25, 2014, so that YOUR voice can be heard. See you in Washington, D.C.

Register Here 

Space Policy

Space policy webcasts & link roundup – Dec.3.13

Bob Zimmerman will discuss space policy and politics on The Space Show this evening at 7-8:30 PM PST (9-10:30 PM CST, 10-11:30 PM EST) : Exciting Times in Space – Behind The Black.

Last Sunday space law expert Michael Listner was on the program: Michael Listner, Sunday, 12-1-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog.

And last Friday, space historian Roger Launius talked about his new book on the Shuttle program: Dr. Roger Launius, Friday, 11-29-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog

On the most recent Hotel Mars segment of the John Batchelor Show,  Mars advocate Robert Zubrin discussed manned missions to Mars with Russian participation: John Batchelor Hotel Mars, Wednesday, 11-27-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog

—

Some of today’s space policy/politics items:

Mars, Multiple media

Video: A quick history of the surface of Mars

A NASA Goddard animation showing how Mars may have evolved:

Billions of years ago when the Red Planet was young, it appears to have had a thick atmosphere that was warm enough to support oceans of liquid water – a critical ingredient for life. The animation shows how the surface of Mars might have appeared during this ancient clement period, beginning with a flyover of a Martian lake. The artist’s concept is based on evidence that Mars was once very different. Rapidly moving clouds suggest the passage of time, and the shift from a warm and wet to a cold and dry climate is shown as the animation progresses. The lakes dry up, while the atmosphere gradually transitions from Earthlike blue skies to the dusty pink and tan hues seen on Mars today.

Events, Multiple media

Space Advent Calendars

Check out these two holiday season advent calendars. They both will display a beautiful new space picture for each day till Christmas:

First day of The Atlantic calendar:

This year’s first image: A composite image of visible-light observations by
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, combined with infrared data from
the ground-based Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona to assemble a
dramatic view of the well-known Ring Nebula….continue

 

First day of the PhotoBlog/MSNBC calendar:

The Mars Color Camera for India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan,
captures an image of Africa, Arabia, India and other parts of Asia on Nov. 19
during its Earth-orbiting phase, from an altitude of
almost 43,500 miles (70,000 kilometers).