12.1 That Time Congress Considered Building Cities In Space
12.2 Undiscovered lands and new worlds
12.3 GSLV Mark III
12.4 NASA emailed new socket wrench to ISS astronauts
12.5 Venus
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12.1 That Time Congress Considered Building Cities In Space (6/12/2014)
That Time Congress Considered Building Cities In Space
Forget
the flying cars and robot maids, we're just a few precious generations
away from ditching this hunk of space rock called Earth and living among
the stars. The dream of off-world living is thanks, in large part, to a
single Princeton physics professor who not only envisioned a new path
for humanity but nearly convinced Congress to go along with it. Piers
Biznoy explains just how close we came to building orbital habitats in
the 1980s in his new book New Space Frontiers.
Cities in Space
Today
it is hard to imagine a time when U.S. Senators listened in rapt
attention while a charismatic lecturer argued for the construction of
giant orbiting habitats as a way of easing environmental pressures on
Earth. The structures, at least two miles long, would support thousands
of people, all living in leafy suburbs. In January, 1976 it was possible
for Gerard K. O'Neill, a physics professor at Princeton University, to
talk about space colonies without sounding like a dreamer. Whatever
happened to an idea that once captivated the world?
12.2 Undiscovered lands and new worlds (9/12/2014)
Undiscovered Lands and New Worlds:
http://vimeo.com/108650530
12.3 GSLV Mark III (18/12/2014)
India has successfully launched its largest rocket and an unmanned capsule which could send astronauts into space.
The 630-tonne Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (MK III) blasted off from Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning.
The new rocket will be able to carry heavier satellites into space.
India has successfully launched lighter satellites in recent years, but has faced problems sending up heavier payloads.
The new rocket is capable of carrying communication satellites weighing 4,000kg, reports say, meaning India will not have to rely on foreign launchers to do so.
... The rocket's main cargo was an Indian-made capsule capable of carrying two to three astronauts into space.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-
12.4 NASA emailed new socket wrench to ISS astronauts (22/12/2014)
We have a winner for the most interesting email attachment of 2014! NASA
recently provided the astronauts currently aboard the International
Space Station (ISS) with a new tool via little more than a standard
email. The attachment was actually instructions for a special 3D printer
the astronauts have thanks to a delivery from a SpaceX Dragon capsule
back in September. The printer is specially made to work in low gravity,
and the emailed instructions included the design for a socket wrench
that specifically needed.
http://www.slashgear.com/nasa-
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http://www.slashgear.com/nasa-
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Interesting!
We can send a small robot factory to the Moon, which will manufacture a
larger robot factory, which will manufacture a still larger robot
factory .... eventually we can set up huge physical facilities on the
moon (or elsewhere). Supporting humans appears to be the problem (which
can be tackled later).
Regards,
Selvaraj12.5 Venus (29/12/2014)
However, a strange thing happens just thirty miles above the surface of Venus. The atmosphere is much more forgiving and, as a matter of fact, the conditions about 30 miles above the surface of Venus are damn near exactly the same as those of Earth–perhaps more exact than any other place in the entire galaxy (that we know of right now).
The gravity at that altitude above Venus is just a little lower than the gravity on Earth. But more importantly, the atmospheric pressure is about the same and there is much more protection from solar radiation.
And so, NASA has developed HAVOC: the High Altitude Venus Operational Concept. This would basically be a series of blimp-esque vehicles that could carry technology and provide a somewhat habitable environment for a few astronauts to explore Venus more closely for upwards of 30 days.
The agency is now working on early versions, prototypes, for this project to see if and how it could be done.
http://www.piercepioneer.com/
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Still the problem remains, from where do you get Hydrogen for water. Life of the type we have on Earth cannot manage without water. In this respect Mars would be superior to Venus.
The big question remains is there water on the Moon? How much? Could there be water under the ground on the Moon.
Regards,
Selvaraj
12.1 The end of shop class (9/2/2012)
12.1 The end of shop class (9/2/2012)
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