Live streaming + animations on Curiosity Mars rover & launch
Curiosity Rover Animation:
Nuclear Mars Rover:
11 Amazing Things NASA’s Huge Mars Rover Can Do: http://www.space.com/13689-nasa-amazing-mars-rover-curiosity-science.html
Tagged: Travel RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
-
mazsa
-
mazsa
A Fusion Thruster for Space Travel – Clean, highly energetic reaction delivers a lot of drive from a drop of fuel “[...] improvements in short-pulse laser systems could make this form of thruster more than 40 times as efficient as even the best of today’s ionic propulsion systems that push spacecraft around. The specific power of the proton-triggered boron fuel would be so great that a mere mole of it (11 grams) would yield roughly 300 megawatts of power. [...]” http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/space-flight/a-fusion-thruster-for-space-travel/0
-
mazsa
Are we unlikely to ever leave the solar system? http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2007/06/the_high_frontier_redux.html Cf. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2639456
mazsa
Project Icarus: Flying closer to another star http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/
http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/icarus_project.php
http://arxiv.org/abs/1005.3833
http://science.slashdot.org/story/11/05/09/1929201/Project-Icarus-an-Interstellar-Mission-Timeline
mazsa
Why exactly can nothing go faster than the speed of light? http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fjwkh/why_exactly_can_nothing_go_faster_than_the_speed/ (Cf. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2244304 )
Cf. http://www.amazon.com/Fabric-Cosmos-Space-Texture-Reality/dp/0375727205 Index: ‘speed of light’, p. 564.
mazsa
Space Fence: Watching Over Us [video]
mazsa
Akin’s Laws of Spacecraft Design: http://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/akins_laws.html
mazsa
The Human Mission to Mars – Colonizing the Red Planet http://journalofcosmology.com/Contents12.html
mazsa
“[...] At least based on our current human characteristics, we’d expect that our technology would advance to the point where we can tool around the universe—and colonize it.
So why haven’t we met any extraterrestrials? It seems like it’d take only one instance to eventually fill the whole universe.
Well, maybe there just aren’t ones close enough to human-like. Or maybe we’ve got something wrong in our expectations for the future.
Perhaps exploration just isn’t terribly popular. I mean, there are lots of parts of the Earth—like the bottoms of the oceans—where we could in principle go, but we usually don’t bother.
But unless something kills off diversity in purposes, even if there wasn’t a giant cultural push towards exploration, one might still expect one solitary extraterrestrial to decide to do it. And that’d be enough.
Of course, what really is the point? Let’s assume we know the fundamental theory of physics; we know the program for our universe.
Well, there’s computational irreducibility, so we can’t make general predictions from it. But we can certainly use it to systematically search for possible technology that we can implement in our universe, and so on.
But in a sense we don’t need physical—starships and everything—exploration to find it.
We just need to be running computations.
Well, you might think surely it’d be good to do a giant, bizarrely modified version of SETI@home all over the universe. But, you know, there are a lot more orders of magnitude that can be achieved by making things smaller than by going out and co-opting other planets to turn into computers and so on.
Well, OK, so we have a sort of strange view of the limiting future.
We’re reduced to computations. But computations that in some absolute sense are nothing special; they’re just as sophisticated or unsophisticated as lots of other computations happening around the universe.
But what’s special about these computations is that they have evolved from us—with our various special features and purposes.
How will those purposes evolve? Perhaps they will in effect dissipate—and it will in a sense be the end of meaningful history.
But I have a slight—perhaps self-serving—guess.
That when our current constraints are all removed, our future selves will indeed have a difficult time knowing which of all possible purposes to pursue.
But that one of the most important guides will be to look at history. To look back at a time when there were constraints—like mortality and scarce resources—that pruned out possible purposes.
And perhaps there will be a desire to go back as far as possible—to understand the origins of purposes.
But one will need data—as much as possible—on what actually happened.
So here’s the funny thing: our times, these years, are the first times in history when a decent fraction of everything that happens is recorded.
And that will only increase over the next few years.
So from the future, as one tries to analyze history and purposes, one will potentially land right on our times in these years.
So that it’ll be our activities and purposes in these years that define the purposes for our whole future.
I don’t know if that’s actually how things will work. It’s perhaps satisfying to think so. Though it’s a big responsibility.
To think that our efforts at this time in history might not just be stepping stones to the future, but actually define all of it.
In effect, pulling from the computational universe that part which defines the future essence of the human condition.
Well, I think I should wrap up.
I hope you found this interesting, and that it didn’t get too abstract.
I find all this fun. But I also like to think more seriously about how it relates to things I actually do.
And for example to my own life projects.
Well, obviously NKS is trying to tell us about everything that’s out there, independent of our human condition—and giving us a paradigm to think about it all.
And Wolfram|Alpha is trying to capture the computable knowledge of our civilization—the stuff that in a sense defines what’s special about the human condition.
And Mathematica is in a sense the bridge between these two—a language that makes raw, formal, precise computation accessible to us humans.
I have my next big project picked out: trying to find the fundamental theory of physics.
But if I get the chance to do more projects, it’s this kind of thinking about the future that’s going to determine what they are.
It’s always fun at that moment when all the abstraction condenses into something very definite—and turns into something that helps us concretely define the future.
I hope I’ll be back in a few decades to talk more about what happened.
Well, I should stop now. I’d be happy to discuss both abstract and concrete things.
Thanks very much.”
http://www.stephenwolfram.com/publications/recent/hplus2010/
Cf. http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/if-the-answer-is-42-what-is-the-question
mazsa
100-Year Starship Program
http://www.kurzweilai.net/nasa-ames-worden-reveals-darpa-funded-hundred-year-starship-program
mazsa
The International Space Station (ISS) Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB) has approved for public release an International Docking System Standard (IDSS) which contains the information necessary to describe physical features and design loads of a standard docking interface.
International Space Station Partner Agencies:
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
European Space Agency (ESA)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
http://www.internationaldockingstandard.com/
http://www.internationaldockingstandard.com/download/IDSS_IDD_Basic_Revision_101810_1245.pdf
Cf:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/oct/HQ_10-266_Docking_Standards.html
mazsa
A new planet that’s the right size and location for life has been discovered 20 light-years away.
The newly discovered world exists in a solar system very similar to our own but much smaller.
Current technologies won’t allow scientists to study the planet’s atmosphere for chemical signs of life.
admin is discussing. -
admin
mazsa
Obama defends his new space strategy: “[...] let me start by being extremely clear: I am 100 percent committed to the mission of NASA and its future. [...] So NASA, from the start, several months ago when I issued my budget, was one of the areas where we didn’t just maintain a freeze but we actually increased funding by $6 billion.
[...] we will work with a growing array of private companies competing to make getting to space easier and more affordable. Now, I recognize that some have said it is unfeasible or unwise to work with the private sector in this way. I disagree. The truth is, NASA has always relied on private industry to help design and build the vehicles that carry astronauts to space [...] By buying the services of space transportation — rather than the vehicles themselves — we can continue to ensure rigorous safety standards are met. But we will also accelerate the pace of innovations as companies — from young startups to established leaders — compete to design and build and launch new means of carrying people and materials out of our atmosphere.
[...] after decades of neglect, we will increase investment — right away — in other groundbreaking technologies that will allow astronauts to reach space sooner and more often, to travel farther and faster for less cost, and to live and work in space for longer periods of time more safely. That means tackling major scientific and technological challenges. How do we shield astronauts from radiation on longer missions? How do we harness resources on distant worlds? How do we supply spacecraft with energy needed for these far-reaching journeys? These are questions that we can answer and will answer. And these are the questions whose answers no doubt will reap untold benefits right here on Earth. [...]
The bottom line is nobody is more committed to manned space flight, to human exploration of space than I am. (Applause.) But we’ve got to do it in a smart way, and we can’t just keep on doing the same old things that we’ve been doing and thinking that somehow is going to get us to where we want to go. [...]
Early in the next decade, a set of crewed flights will test and prove the systems required for exploration beyond low Earth orbit. (Applause.) And by 2025, we expect new spacecraft designed for long journeys to allow us to begin the first-ever crewed missions beyond the Moon into deep space. (Applause.) So we’ll start — we’ll start by sending astronauts to an asteroid for the first time in history. (Applause.) By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth. And a landing on Mars will follow. And I expect to be around to see it. (Applause.)
But I want to repeat — I want to repeat this: Critical to deep space exploration will be the development of breakthrough propulsion systems and other advanced technologies. [...]
Now, I understand that some believe that we should attempt a return to the surface of the Moon first, as previously planned. But I just have to say pretty bluntly here: We’ve been there before. Buzz has been there. There’s a lot more of space to explore, and a lot more to learn when we do. So I believe it’s more important to ramp up our capabilities to reach — and operate at — a series of increasingly demanding targets, while advancing our technological capabilities with each step forward. And that’s what this strategy does. And that’s how we will ensure that our leadership in space is even stronger in this new century than it was in the last.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-space-exploration-21st-century
-
admin
mazsa
Advancing the Frontiers of Space Exploration “[...] Better Coordination with Other Federal Agencies Involved in Space The Department of Defense (DOD) invests heavily in space assets to provide troops with weather, communications, navigation, early warning, space surveillance and other information critical to conducting military operations. In fiscal year 2008 alone, DOD expects to spend over $22 billion dollars to develop and procure satellites, launch vehicles, and other space systems. This is more than NASA’s annual budget. The National Reconnaissance Office operates satellites that provide information essential to national security and global stability. In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operates an array of weather satellites that provide billions of dollars of benefit to the U.S. taxpayer. Barack Obama believes that NASA can work more closely with other federal agencies to take advantage of their expertise and technologies. This includes sharing research and technical information as well as better coordination of acquisition programs. Ensuring an integrated and fully coordinated national space program will be the major responsibility of the re- established National Aeronautics and Space Council. Obama will also work to better integrate NASA in a better coordinated national science policy. Obama will appoint an Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Policy who will report directly to the president, and be deeply involved in establishing research priorities that reflect the nation’s needs based on the best available advice from experts around the country. [...]
“Expanding Public/Private Partnerships to Advance Leading Edge Technologies The commercial space sector plays an essential role in the lives of normal Americans, contributing more than $100 billion to the global economy. Commercial satellites support direct-to-home television and digital audio services to over 30 million U.S. subscribers, high-speed Internet, traffic and weather monitoring, rapid transfer of financial data, and the imagery essential to natural resource and city planning. Technologies developed to meet the challenges of space exploration have found more than 30,000 commercial uses in products ranging from tennis shoes to medical equipment, bar codes, pacemakers and sunglasses, to technology that makes air travel safer and more efficient. Barack Obama knows that advanced space and aeronautics research can help catalyze economic growth. He will encourage public/private space technology partnerships to spur innovation.
- Enhancing the Role of NASA as a Premier Institution of Innovation: Engineers and scientists at
NASA have developed state-of-the-art innovations across the technological spectrum in areas ranging
from solar cells and imaging to communications and aeronautics. Barack Obama will renew NASA’s
commitment to innovation-driving basic research that the private sector can use to develop new products for American consumers.
- Increasing Commercialization Benefits: Obama will promote cost sharing initiatives between government and industry to increase the state of the art in various technical areas, such as micro- electromechanical systems, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. Obama will establish multi-agency programs that focus on rapid maturation of advanced concepts and transfer to industry for commercialization.
- Jumpstarting Consumer Technology: Obama will expand the use of prizes for revolutionary
technical achievements that can benefit society, and funds for joint industry/government rapid-to-the-
consumer technology advances.
- Supporting Commercial Access to Space: Obama will stimulate the commercial use of space and private sector utilization of the International Space Station. He will establish new processes and procurement goals to promote the use of government facilities. We must unleash the genius of private enterprise to secure the United States’ leadership in space.
- Revising Regulations for Aerospace Export Control: Some sections of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) have unduly hampered the competitiveness of domestic aerospace industry. Outdated restrictions have cost billions of dollars to American satellite and space hardware manufacturers as customers have decided to purchase equipment from European suppliers. While protecting our national security interests, Barack Obama will direct a review of the ITAR to reevaluate restrictions imposed on American companies, with a special focus on space hardware that is currently restricted from commercial export. He will also direct revisions to the licensing process to ensure that American suppliers are competitive in the international aerospace markets, without jeopardizing American national security.
- Expanding the American Skill Base in Science and Engineering: Barack Obama fully supports efforts to advance new frontiers in technical areas, such as advanced structures, power generation, communication and navigation systems, and biomedical systems. These efforts address the requirements for exploration, but also have high potential for technological benefits in the private sector as well as in training the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/policy/Space_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf
Cf.
“President Obama’s plan for America’s space program, according to early reports, represents a fundamental shift for human spaceflight, some experts say.
The reports suggest the Obama administration intends to move toward relying on commercially-built spacecraft, rather than NASA’s own vehicles, to carry humans to low-Earth orbit. The plan would also involve extending the International Space Station’s lifetime and abandoning current plans to send astronauts on moon missions by 2020.
“This is definitely a paradigm shift in the way the country will go about its space program,” said John Logsdon, a space policy expert and professor emeritus at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.”
http://www.space.com/news/obama-nasa-space-plan-reactions-100128.html
-
admin
mazsa
Teleportation will not duplicate you. “[...] the general idea seems to be that the original object is scanned in such a way as to extract all the information from it, then this information is transmitted to the receiving location and used to construct the replica, not necessarily from the actual material of the original, but perhaps from atoms of the same kinds, arranged in exactly the same pattern as the original. A teleportation machine would be like a fax machine, except that it would work on 3-dimensional objects as well as documents, it would produce an exact copy rather than an approximate facsimile, and it would destroy the original in the process of scanning it. A few science fiction writers consider teleporters that preserve the original, and the plot gets complicated when the original and teleported versions of the same person meet; but the more common kind of teleporter destroys the original, functioning as a super transportation device, not as a perfect replicator of souls and bodies.
“In 1993 an international group of six scientists [...] confirmed the intuitions of the majority of science fiction writers by showing that perfect teleportation is indeed possible in principle, but only if the original is destroyed. In subsequent years, other scientists have demonstrated teleportation experimentally in a variety of systems, including single photons, coherent light fields, nuclear spins, and trapped ions. Teleportation promises to be quite useful as an information processing primitive, facilitating long range quantum communication (perhaps unltimately leading to a “quantum internet”), and making it much easier to build a working quantum computer. [...]
“In the past, the idea of teleportation was not taken very seriously by scientists, because it was thought to violate the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics, which forbids any measuring or scanning process from extracting all the information in an atom or other object. According to the uncertainty principle, the more accurately an object is scanned, the more it is disturbed by the scanning process, until one reaches a point where the object’s original state has been completely disrupted, still without having extracted enough information to make a perfect replica. This sounds like a solid argument against teleportation: if one cannot extract enough information from an object to make a perfect copy, it would seem that a perfect copy cannot be made. But the six scientists found a way to make an end run around this logic, using a celebrated and paradoxical feature of quantum mechanics known as the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen effect. In brief, they found a way to scan out part of the information from an object A, which one wishes to teleport, while causing the remaining, unscanned, part of the information to pass, via the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen effect, into another object C which hasnever been in contact with A. Later, by applying to C a treatment depending on the scanned-out information, it is possible to maneuver C into exactly the same state as A was in before it was scanned. A itself is no longer in that state, having been thoroughly disrupted by the scanning, so what has been achieved is teleportation, not replication.”
Recently Discovered Habitable World May Not Exist http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/recently-discovered-habitable-world.html