Author Topic: The Official Space Exploration Thread  (Read 230885 times)

Offline Jeff

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #900 on: November 16, 2009, 02:39 PM »
Maybe this is old news, but I just found out about it this past weekend from a friend - the NASA App for the iPhone or iPod Touch.

I downloaded the app this past weekend.  You can get neat little updates (news, images, video) on the various programs and follow things live like the shuttle launch today.  Lots of fun and a nice time killer/waster.   :)
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Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #901 on: November 17, 2009, 08:45 AM »
Nice, technology is a wonderful thing.  ;D

NASA Hails Fifth Shuttle Launch of 2009



A camera on the space shuttle Atlantis' external tank beamed this view of the spacecraft's heat shield to Earth during its Nov. 16, 2009 launch. Credit: NASA TV.

As for the Leonid Meteor Shower, it was clear for awhile last night till the wind picked up & blew the clouds in. Now that it is clear, I stepped outside for 10 mins before the sun hits & caught a couple of them zipping .  8)

Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #902 on: November 18, 2009, 01:02 PM »
Atlantis Docked to Station:

At 11:51 a.m. EST, Commander Charlie Hobaugh backed space shuttle Atlantis into pressurized mating adapter #2 on the International Space Station’s Harmony node. The two spacecraft were flying 220 miles above Earth between Australia and Tasmania at the time they docked.

The shuttle and station crews will open hatches and hold the traditional welcome ceremony at 1:48 p.m. When hatches open, astronaut Nicole Stott’s tenure as a station Expedition 21 flight engineer will come to an end as she joins the Atlantis crew.



Space shuttle Atlantis performs a "backflip" during the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver. Photo credit: NASA TV.



The space shuttle Atlantis is seen via a camera mounted to the exterior of the International Space Station as it arrives on Nov. 18, 2009 during NASA's STS-129 mission to deliver much-needed spare parts. Credit: NASA TV.



The current configuration of the International Space Station as of Sept. 2009 at the end of NASA's STS-128 mission to deliver supplies and new gear. Credit: NASA.

Offline BillCable

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #903 on: November 18, 2009, 01:36 PM »
Wow... that station is getting big!
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Offline Phrubruh

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #904 on: November 18, 2009, 09:35 PM »
Yup. It's almost the size of a small moon.
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Offline jedi_master_sal

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #905 on: November 19, 2009, 10:10 AM »
Yup. It's almost the size of a small moon.

That's no moon, it's a space station!
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Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #906 on: November 19, 2009, 11:13 AM »


STS-129 spacewalkers Mike Foreman (top) and Robert Satcher exit the International Space Station's Quest airlock, beginning the first spacewalk of the mission. Photo credit: NASA TV.



Backdropped by the blackness of space, a partial view of Space Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system pods and docking mechanism are featured in this image photographed by the STS-129 crew from an aft flight deck window. Credit: NASA.

Meteor Explosion Lights Up Sky Over Utah


Great video footage in linky below.  8)

Meteor lights up early morning sky, alarms Utahns

Offline Darth_Anton

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #907 on: November 24, 2009, 09:17 AM »
Maybe this is old news, but I just found out about it this past weekend from a friend - the NASA App for the iPhone or iPod Touch.

I downloaded the app this past weekend.  You can get neat little updates (news, images, video) on the various programs and follow things live like the shuttle launch today.  Lots of fun and a nice time killer/waster.   :)

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Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #908 on: December 16, 2009, 01:55 AM »
Universe size comparison.

How Small We Are

Quote
Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be. Carl Sagan.

Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #909 on: December 17, 2009, 03:29 AM »
Scientists spot nearby 'super-Earth'



This artist's conception shows the newly discovered super-Earth GJ 1214b, which orbits a red dwarf star 40 light-years from our Earth. Credit: David A. Aguilar, CfA.

New NASA space telescope launched



An artist’s concept of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a new NASA sky-mapper to scan the cosmos in infrared better than ever before. Credit: NASA/JPL.

Name the 2 movie soundtracks in the clip below.  :P

Star size comparison

Offline Phrubruh

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #910 on: December 17, 2009, 02:35 PM »


Name the 2 movie soundtracks in the clip below.  :P

Star size comparison

The Black Hole and Blade Runner.  :D
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Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #911 on: December 18, 2009, 09:34 PM »
NASA reveals first-ever photo of liquid on another world



This image shows the first flash of sunlight reflected off a lake on Saturn’s moon Titan. The glint off a mirror-like surface is known as a specular reflection. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/DLR.

Offline DSJ™

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #912 on: December 31, 2009, 05:41 AM »
Blue moon to shine on New Year's Eve



A full moon is visible in this view above Earth's horizon and airglow, photographed by Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao on the International Space Station.

Offline Ryan

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #913 on: December 31, 2009, 08:02 PM »
I went and saw Avatar (the 3D IMAX version) last night and caught an amazing preiew for an upcoming space flick. I'm spacing the name right now but it's a documentary about the crew that fixed Hubble, all in IMAX 3D. There were some AMAZING visuals. I'll definitely be checking that one out. :)
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Offline name

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Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #914 on: January 5, 2010, 01:05 PM »
Remember those styrofoam solar systems we all made in fifth grade for science projects?

Turns out, they may have more accurate than we thought.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-01/nasa-finds-hotter-weirder-bodies-ever-sky?page=
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