Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Voyager enters the 'Final Frontier'
Here's a link to Blogsofwar on Voyager I. On it's 28 year mission, it will soon leave the "solar system." Here's a nice graphic of the bow shock on JPL's site.
Solar Sails and NASA missions reviewed
In the Wednesday, May 25th issue of the OC Register are two space related articles. The Local section has an article about Solar Sailors. A Tustin company named L’Garde is manufacturing a sail made of Mylar to propel a spacecraft. NASA wants to monitor solar activity by using a spacecraft propelled by a solar sail.
The second article is in the Science section about NASA’s reviewing the missions planned. Manned Space flight is taking precedence as some planetary projects though Jet Propulsion Laboratory would be “deferred--not eliminated.” Two missions deferred are the Terrestrial Planet Finder and the Mars Science Laboratory due to a tight budget. Getting Discovery ready for launch has increased the budget by 1 billion.
Good news is NASA’s new Chief Michael Griffin is looking at Saving the Hubble if the next two Shuttle fights are successfully flown and demonstrate safe flight to rescue the ailing space telescope.
The second article is in the Science section about NASA’s reviewing the missions planned. Manned Space flight is taking precedence as some planetary projects though Jet Propulsion Laboratory would be “deferred--not eliminated.” Two missions deferred are the Terrestrial Planet Finder and the Mars Science Laboratory due to a tight budget. Getting Discovery ready for launch has increased the budget by 1 billion.
Good news is NASA’s new Chief Michael Griffin is looking at Saving the Hubble if the next two Shuttle fights are successfully flown and demonstrate safe flight to rescue the ailing space telescope.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Star Wars Technologies and the spin offs
As an original "Star Wars" fan from 1977, I'm looking forward to the last installment. George Lucas developed the technology that now appear in
"Home stereos, cell phones, medical imaging devises and virtually every Hollywood studio.." Lucas formed a group of computer artists to create a computer program called "EditDroid," one of the first digital editing system. The system allowed movies to be transferred to computer disks from film reels. Now all movie-editing bays contain the technology. Lucas sold off his technologies because at the time there was no market for them. Pixar was a spin-off from selling his computer team to Steven Jobs in 1986. Another technology Lucas created was the theater sound system "THX."
My hats off to George Lucas and all the spin-offs he created. Special effects in movies have really improved since "Star Wars" in 1977.
"Home stereos, cell phones, medical imaging devises and virtually every Hollywood studio.." Lucas formed a group of computer artists to create a computer program called "EditDroid," one of the first digital editing system. The system allowed movies to be transferred to computer disks from film reels. Now all movie-editing bays contain the technology. Lucas sold off his technologies because at the time there was no market for them. Pixar was a spin-off from selling his computer team to Steven Jobs in 1986. Another technology Lucas created was the theater sound system "THX."
My hats off to George Lucas and all the spin-offs he created. Special effects in movies have really improved since "Star Wars" in 1977.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Voyager program saved for now
The Voyager program was in jeopardy of being cancelled. Money has been transferred from another fund. Space Politics has more. I wonder how far, far away Voyager is from earth. It was a grand journey traveling to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and beyond.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust awards
I support the commercial use of space and an avid reader of Robert A. Heinlein. The trustees of Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust have established "The Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize For Accomplishments in Commercial Space Activities”. The prize 'recognizes the practical accomplishments of individuals in the field of commercial space activities”. The cash award is $500,000. The Heinleins' award shares their dream of a “future of humankind expanding ever outward into space.” The link to the award information is at the Heinlein Society site.
OCSS Shuttle display at Discovery Museum
Two members of Orange County Space Society (local chapter of the National Space Society), Kaya and Mary Tuncer, have donated a full scale nose section of a Space Shuttle orbiter. It will be constructed under the Giant Cube at the Discovery Science Center near the Santa Ana Main Place mall off the I-5 freeway. It should be ready for viewing on Sunday, May 15 at the DSC. More information can be found on the OCSS web site at OCspace.org.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
What a week for space!
What a week for space! The senate has approved Griffin for the NASA Administrator position, ISS expedition crew has launched to the space station and Dart is launched to rendezvous with a satellite. I found an interesting article on why humans need space; to work, to live and to survive!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Welcome to Star Base OC
Welcome to my Space Blog, which will focus on US Space policy. I’ve been a supporter of Space exploration most of my life, influenced by the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. My interests include the Moon-Mars initiative, return of the Space Shuttle, Space tourism, and enterprise in space. Space is the next frontier and America’s future. I hope to spark interest about space and exploring the cosmos!
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