Here’s a nifty shot of October 7th’s Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg. This launch included SpaceX’s first landing of a booster on the West Coast.
Hibernation
Hibernation during space travel is a common sci-fi trope, but I wasn’t aware anyone was actively working on it. What I find particularly compelling here is that hibernation could have positive effects on bone density change as well as helping mitigate the effects of radiation exposure.
Another thought occurs to me, though it is not mentioned here. Keeping the travelers contained in a small area opens up options for radiation shielding that might otherwise be prohibitive. What about sleeving the hibernation quarters in water, for instance? If that water could be mined from the Moon, the cost of lifting it for use in the craft could be acceptable.
CNET Curiosity picture book
This looks like a nice book about Curiosity for kids. I like that, in the interview, the author/illustrator notes that he has no technical qualifications for writing this book, just an abundance of inspiration and a willingness to do the research. That’s the key, really.
Hopping on an asteroid
Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe is currently in orbit around the asteroid Ryugu. It has successfully deployed two rovers, MINERVA-II1a and MINERVA-II1b, designed to literally hop around on the surface of the asteroid. The pics sent back so far are rather trippy. In particular, check out the video of the sun moving across the asteroid’s sky.
The Planetary Society About those moons…
“The issue of the origins of Phobos and Deimos is a fun sort of mystery, because we have two competing hypotheses that cannot both be true,” Fries said.
Another Airbender?
We cast a wide net of interest here at Generation Mars. I think this warrants a quick mention. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is one of the greatest animated series ever made. If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to seek it out.
It’s enjoyable at any age. My kids cut their teeth on extended plot arcs and long-term character development with this series.
Netflix is apparently working on a live action remake. My first reaction was that this is something that doesn’t need to be redone: it was so perfect the first time around. But it seems that the original creators are heading up the effort. This could be interesting…
No ordinary spacecraft
I’m not sure there is such a thing as an “ordinary spacecraft”, but there certainly has never been a spacecraft like SpaceX’s BFR. The sheer audacity of someone trying this is balanced by the earnestness of the effort, and the whole process is fascinating to watch unfold. This article investigates some of the challenges SpaceX is facing.
“To be able to launch, refuel in orbit, endure months of flying through space, land on Mars, leave that planet, and safely return to Earth — then do all that over again — the BFR can’t be an ordinary spacecraft.”
Business Insider Mars PD
How will we keep law and order on Mars? This article digs into various facets of concern, from the physics of hand-to-hand combat in low gravity to the ethical implications of humans living in an environment controlled all the way down to the air they breath. There’s a lot to digest here, but it’s interesting to think about.
The Atlantic An Emmy for Cassini
Getting Science out there! This is really very cool when you think about it.
Mountains of Mars
The volcanic mountains on Mars are truly impressive. Here’s why.