Tag: Space Exploration

It’s A Factory!

Continuing along the lines started with the first post….astronomy…..this science seems to adding to our knowledge of the universe daily…..the possibilities that some of the worlds circling distant stars are inhabited…..and then there is the search for dark matter, dark energy and those elusive black holes.

The science knows it is there just that we have not been able to find them….that may have changed…..

The center of our galaxy is teeming with black holes, sort of like a Times Square for strange super-gravity objects, astronomers have discovered. For decades, scientists theorized that circling in the center of galaxies, including ours, were lots of stellar black holes, collapsed giant stars where the gravity is so strong even light doesn’t get out. But they hadn’t seen evidence of them in the Milky Way core until now, the AP reports. Astronomers poring over old x-ray observations have found signs of a dozen black holes in the inner circle of the Milky Way. And since most black holes can’t even be spotted that way, they calculate that there are likely thousands of them there. They estimate it could be about 10,000, maybe more, according to a study in the journal Nature .

“There’s lots of action going on there,” says study lead author Chuck Hailey, a Columbia University astrophysicist. “The galactic center is a strange place. That’s why people like to study it.” The stellar black holes are in addition to—and essentially circling—the already known supermassive black hole, called Sagittarius A, that’s parked at the center of the Milky Way. There are good reasons the Milky Way’s black holes tend to be in the center of the galaxy, Hailey says. First, their mass tends to pull them to the center. But mostly the center of the galaxy is the perfect “hot house” for black hole formation, with lots of dust and gas. Hailey says it is “sort of like a little farm where you have all the right conditions to produce and hold on to a large number of black holes.” (Another galaxy mysteriously seems to have no dark matter.)

I find all this just fascinating……any thing you guys would like to add?

Us Coast residents are watching that small hurricane headed for the Gulf…..we are always watching these storms……I will not be caught with my pants down…..not by any storm.

I shall take my leave…..do whatever it is the better half has planned….I will be back to form tomorrow…..be well, be safe……chuq

They Are Stealing The Light

How many times in your life have you looked up in the evening skies and thought about the universe?  The expanse…..the wonder of it all.

Today is Sunday and I think that I have done enough history….so how about a little astronomy?

Have you watched the night skies and thought you saw a star twinkle and go out?  Is it possible that advanced civilizations are stealing starlight?

Watch out for stars moving across galaxies or losing power—it could be aliens gathering energy before the lights go out. Dan Hooper, an astronomy and astrophysics professor at the University of Chicago, posted a paper in the preprint journal arXiv.org arguing that aliens in far-off galaxies may be sucking energy from stars to offset risks posed by an expanding universe, LiveScience reports. “The presence of dark energy in our universe is causing space to expand at an accelerating rate,” writes Hooper. “As a result, over the next approximately 100 billion years, all stars residing beyond the Local Group [of galaxies including the Milky Way] will fall beyond the cosmic horizon and become not only unobservable, but entirely inaccessible, thus limiting how much energy could one day be extracted from them.”

Therefore, he argues, an advanced civilization may use something like “Dyson spheres”—an imagined solar-powered satellite dating back to 1930s science-fiction, notes LiveScience—to harvest a star’s energy or use that energy to move it closer to home. Hooper hinges his case on the work of Russian astronomer Nikolai Kardashev, who argued in 1962 that technologically advanced civilizations would expand via three steps: harvesting resources of their planet, then the nearest star, then all stars in the galaxy and nearby galaxies. So how to spot energy-grabbing aliens? Massive stars emanate certain light wavelengths, which will appear in galaxies’ light signatures if stars are drained energy—that is, when humans have powerful enough instruments to detect it.

This news should aid those “Ancient Alien” people smile with anticipation of upcoming TV documentaries…..and a hardy round of “I told you so”……any thoughts?

A bit cooler today but the humidity is still hovering around 90%……so the garden is out and A/C is called into action….

Is Terra Forming Possible?

I continue with my posts on space, the final frontier……we all have seen the old scifi movies about Mars, right?

It is a lifeless dead planet without atmosphere, water or life……is that about the extent of your knowledge?

Science is a wonderful thing…..looks like they may have found a way to terra form Mars to make in habitable….

The bacteria that 3.5 billion years ago were largely responsible for the creation of a breathable atmosphere on Earth could be press-ganged into terraforming other planets, research suggests.

A team of biologists and chemists from Australia, the UK, France and Italy has been investigating the ability of cyanobacteria – also known as blue-green algae – to photosynthesise in low-light conditions.

Cyanobacteria are some of the most ancient organisms around, and were responsible, though photosynthesis, for converting the Earth’s early atmosphere of methane, ammonia and other gases into the composition it sustains today.

The photochemistry used by the microbes is pretty much the same as that used by the legion of multicellular plants that subsequently evolved. The process involves the use of red light. Most plants are green because chlorophyll is bad at absorbing energy from that part of the visible light spectrum, and thus reflects it.

https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/pushing-the-limit-could-cyanobacteria-terraform-mars

Gotta admit this is just damn interesting……changing the face of a “dead” world…..

Making Mars safe for our new breed of “Space Marines” we will have if Fearless Leader gets his wish……”Starship Troopers” comes to mind….a look into the future?

There is your look into the possibilities that science has offered mankind…..now that I have given hope then I suggest that you go out and enjoy your Saturday….I shall do what I can to enjoy mine…..see you guys tomorrow….chuq

Who Was That Masked Visitor?

Today is a Saturday and I have decided to give my readers some science and what-not….today it will be all about space (simply because that dude in the Ivory Tower (president) has decided that we need a space force)

First post is about a fly-by we had to planet earth last year …….

Last year’s visitor from another star system—a cigar-shaped object briefly tumbling through our cosmic neck of the woods—has now been identified as a comet. A European-led team makes the case in Wednesday’s edition of the journal Nature, the AP reports. Telescopes first spotted the mysterious red-tinged object last October as it zipped through the inner solar system. Since then, astronomers have flip-flopped between comet and asteroid for our first confirmed interstellar guest. Neither a coma nor tail was spotted, hallmarks of an icy comet. But Italian astronomer Marco Micheli and his team reported that the object’s path and acceleration are best explained not just by gravity, but also gases shedding from a comet.

The release of what’s believed to be gaseous carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water applied only a tiny force on the object known as Oumuamua—about 1,000 times smaller than the effect of the sun’s gravity—and barely altered its path, the researchers said. But the team’s measurements “were so precise that we could actually see the change in position caused by the outgassing,” said co-author Paul Chodas, manager of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Discovered by a telescope in Hawaii, Oumuamua is Hawaiian for messenger from afar arriving first, or scout. It’s long gone, as are the chances of knowing conclusively what it was.

As long as we are talking about space…how about a phenom known as “space grease”?

President Trump’s “Space Force” might need to carry some heavy-duty cleaning products. A team of astronomers has determined that the universe is a much greasier and dirtier place than once thought, with grease-like molecules known as aliphatic carbon thinly spread throughout interstellar space, the Guardian reports. As part of a project to calculate the amount of carbon—essential for the formation of planets and life—that exists between the stars, the astronomers recreated the interstellar dust generated by carbon stars and discovered that the Milky Way alone holds around 10 billion trillion trillion tons of “space grease.” Solar wind keeps much of it out of our solar system, but any spacecraft travelling between the stars is likely to arrive with a sticky, dirty coating of carbon.

“This space grease is not the kind of thing you’d want to spread on a slice of toast,” says study co-author Tim Schmidt of the University of New South Wales. “It’s dirty, likely toxic and only forms in the environment of interstellar space—and our laboratory.” Schmidt tells CNN that the substance is like greasy soot. “It’s not a pure substance, it’s not biological,” he says. “It would make things dirty like soot would.” About half the carbon in space is thought to be elemental carbon. The team, whose research is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, now plans to calculate how much of the third form of interstellar carbon, aromatic “mothball” carbon, exists in our galaxy.

This is the type of intel that a space force will be needing if it is to be a success.

Uncle Sam Needs YOU!  Join the Space Marines!

Thoughts?

“To Infinity And Beyond”

We have our military branches…Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard and now our president has ordered yet another branch of the military…a 6th branch……a Space Force.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard … and Space Force? President Trump, speaking at a meeting of the National Space Council at the White House Monday, ordered the Pentagon to create a sixth branch of the military, Politico reports. “We are going to have the Air Force, and we are going to have the Space Force, separate but equal,” Trump said. “It is going to be something so important.” He specifically asked Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford to oversee the process. “Our destiny beyond the earth is not only a matter of national identity, but a matter of national security, so important for our military and people don’t talk about it,” Trump continued. “When it comes to defending America, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space, we must have American dominance in space.”

Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat and former astronaut, quickly tweeted that generals “don’t want” a space force. But some, including two Republican members of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, backed the initiative. Congress proposed, but ultimately rejected, a move to create a Space Corps within the Air Force while debating the fiscal 2018 defense policy bill; the House proposes the creation of a US Space Command in its version of the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, but it’s not clear if that will remain in the final version of the bill. Neither of those proposals, however, is quite the same as the creation of a standalone Space Force military service, an idea Trump first proposed in March. CNN notes that such an idea has “drawn skepticism” from the Pentagon in the past, and the Washington Post says experts have pointed out Trump can’t create a new branch of the military without congressional approval.

Seriously?  Yet another military to be funded and not to worry the cowardly Congress will roll over and suck at the presidential teat….truly a group of cowards that do nothing but raise money and kiss up to the president.

BTW this is NOT a new idea at all……

The notion of a Space Force has long been bandied about in Washington. Last year, Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama called for the formation of a space corps within the Air Force as a precursor to an independent service branch. (The Air Force, itself, was similarly established from the Army Air Corps.) The idea was shot down by Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who opposed the measure on the grounds that the military was trying to “reduce overhead,” and that a new branch would do just the opposite. Someone, however, must have made Trump think all of this was his idea. And now it’s policy.

http://theweek.com/articles/779779/does-america-really-need-space-force

Oh boy…..your child can grow up to be a Space Marine….bad enough that we are fighting on every continent on earth now Trump wants to extend it to space.

The beginnings of the Galactic Empire…..

A Space Force…..there are so many questions that need to be asked…….

https://www.vox.com/2018/6/18/17476266/trump-space-force-speech-questions

But his dream may be just that…a dream if the Congress does its job…that is…..

Creating a standalone service for space isn’t something the president can do on his own; he needs congressional authorization. But Monday’s announcement (here’s video, via Reuters), which follow broad endorsements of the concept by the Joint Chiefs’ office and various military branches, means that Senate holdouts who were taking their cues from the Air Force are likely to bow out of the fight.

That could clear the way for a Space Force to be in the 2019 defense authorization act, says Todd Harrison, who directs the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Aerospace Security Project.

https://www.defenseone.com/politics/2018/06/what-trumps-space-force-announcement-means/149093/

“I oppose the creation of a new military service and additional organizational layers at a time when we are focused on reducing overhead and integrating joint warfighting functions,” Mattis said in October in a memo to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Nothing could be more wasteful and redundant than creating a new branch of the military for space. There is no compelling reason to create a new branch of the military. It would mean expanding an already bloated military budget while breaking apart an existing branch just for the sake of doing it.

Adventurism knows no bounds, right?

Closing Thought–15Feb18

No surprise that I am an OLD FART!  I remember when NASA was an institution that brought great pride to most Americans…..we celebrated our 1st dude in space and our first to circle the globe and the first space walk and finally our walk on the moon…..and then as quickly as we fell in love with space we fell out of love.

Those were the days of fiscal responsibility and NASA lost all its allure…..maybe to never have it again.

Well it looks like billionaire and Tesla owner Elon Musk, an immigrant,  may be trying to revive our space enthusiasm…..

SpaceX’s big new rocket has blasted off on its first test flight, carrying a red sports car on an endless road trip past Mars. The Falcon Heavy rocket rose Tuesday from the same Florida launch pad used by NASA nearly 50 years ago to send men to the moon, per the AP. With liftoff, the Heavy became the most powerful rocket in use today. The three boosters and 27 engines roared to life at Kennedy Space Center, as thousands jammed surrounding beaches, bridges, and roads to watch the rocket soar, delayed more than two hours by high wind.

Two of the boosters were recycled and programmed to return for a simultaneous touchdown at Cape Canaveral, while the third, brand new, set its sights on an ocean platform some 300 miles offshore. SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk owns the rocketing Tesla Roadster, which is shooting for a solar orbit that will reach all the way to Mars. As head of the electric carmaker Tesla, he combined his passions to add a dramatic flair to the Heavy’s long-awaited inaugural flight. Musk previously said the auto would be in “deep space for a billion years or so.” The Heavy is intended for massive satellites, like those used by the US military and major-league communication companies. Even before the test flight, customers were signed up.

A screenshot of the "Starman" mannequin in the Telsa Roadster orbiting Earth.

https://mashable.com/2018/02/08/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-not-typical-space-junk/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link#Bk49qwjJgSqY

Too cool……

My day is finished thanx for stopping by…….. hope to see you guys tomorrow…..chuq

Moon Base Echo!

Together Into The unknown!

These days there is a lot of push back against Russia…..did they interfere in our elections?  Did they turn any Americans into spies?

So when I read this story I found it interesting that the US and Russia have a joint operation for the Moon…..

Two words: Moon base. AFP reports the US and Russia will work together on a NASA program to build the Deep Space Gateway, a space station in orbit around the moon. NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos signed an agreement to cooperate on the station, which will be “an invaluable pit stop for human and robotic exploration of the lunar surface” and “a staging point for deep space missions” to Mars and Venus, on Wednesday at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Australia, according to Motherboard. While the Deep Space Gateway program is being led by NASA, Roscosmos will contribute docking ports and life support systems, and Russian rockets will be used to help with construction, Engadget reports.

NASA wants to start work on the Deep Space Gateway, which will be crewed by four astronauts, in the mid-2020s. It’s one step toward its goal of sending humans to Mars by the 2030s. In statements, Roscosmos and NASA say they share a “common vision for human exploration.” The Deep Space Gateway agreement is important for a number of reasons. It clarifies NASA’s goals and how it will achieve them after years of funding issues. It also makes it less likely Congress will put the kibosh on the Deep Space Gateway at some point. Finally, the agreement will be one more thing keeping the US and Russia from—as Engadget puts it—descending “into outright hostilities.” Space is so far one of the few places where tensions between the two countries haven’t risen recently.

Could this be a new beginning for cooperative work between thew US and Russia?

I do not see this coming to a reality any time soon….too much animosity towards each other right now.

Storm approaches…..

“Guardians Of The Galaxy”

Another Summer Sunday and my granddaughter has a deal for me…..a coupon book in support of the High school band…of course I’m in.

How many have the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy”?

Guess what…if you liked the movies and would like to be a “super hero” then NASA has a job for you….

Want to become a Jedi? This is probably as close as you could possibly get: NASA is looking for someone to protect Earth and other planets in our known universe. The agency is accepting applications for the full-time post of “planetary protection officer,” a position created after the signing of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty—which sought to keep the peace in space by, among other things, barring countries from sending weapons of mass destruction to other planets. The main job of the planetary protection officer, however, isn’t to search the stars for bombs. Rather, the goal is to keep earthlings from contaminating space and returning spaceships from contaminating Earth, per Business Insider.

It’s a pretty sweet gig, and not just because it comes with a salary ranging from $124,406 to $187,000 a year. The three-year appointment (with a possible two-year extension) involves traveling the world visiting space centers and the rovers and other equipment each plans to send to space. Nabbing one of only two such full-time posts on the planet won’t be easy, though. NASA is looking for a candidate with an advanced degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics, plus “demonstrated experience planning, executing, or overseeing elements of space programs of national significance” and “demonstrated skills in diplomacy.” Think you’ve got the right stuff? Applications will be accepted until Aug. 14.

Since I am a nerd…I will apply for the gig….I have degrees in international relations and conflict management and resolution……both could be very useful in dealing with the prospects of meeting and dealing with our alien brothers and visitors…..as well as those Earthers that plan something nefarious for the space around us.

Source: UNITED NATIONS SPACE COMMAND DEFENSE FORCE – Home

Source: Legislation for ‘Space Corps’ Military Branch Introduced By House Armed Services Committee

Whatcha think?

Closing Thought–27Jun17

Let’s have a little fun today.

“Aliens”!

The Truth Is Out There!

Nope not a post about those supposedly illegals that sneak across our borders and steal jobs…..rather I am talking about those aliens from another planet that are visiting…and I use the term loosely.

News could be bigger than the Moon Landing.

By now most everyone has heard about the hacker group called “Anonymous”, right?

They say they have proof that aliens are here and NASA knows all about it…..

Anonymous, the global hacking collective, believes that alien life exists—and it thinks that NASA is about to confirm it.

The shadowy group made the claim in a 12-and-a-half-minute video published on an unofficial YouTube channel on Tuesday.

The video centers around recent findings by the American space organization, including the discovery of 219 new planet candidates—10 of which present similar conditions to Earth—by NASA’s Kepler space telescope team in June, as well as comments made by a senior NASA official in a U.S. government hearing.

Source: Anonymous says NASA has evidence of aliens

Alright….believe or no believe?

Could the “Ancient Alien” people be right?

Thoughts?

In Space, Does Sh*t Run Downhill?

It is the weekend and my readers know that I try to cover subjects that I overlook during the week….call it a break in routine if you will…..

Last weekend I covered this guy that has the world’s largest collection of poop…..and that got to thinking that there is a lot of concern these days with our bums….we have TP that makes it feel amazing….there are special concoctions that will maintain a regular BM…… we worry about our regularity and there is where I pick up this day’s post…..

Pooping in space “isn’t glamorous, but it is necessary for survival,” an astronaut explains—yet it’s presenting quite a challenge for NASA. See, while the International Space Station has a pretty fancy toilet, an astronaut must wear a diaper during launch and landing activities or while spacewalking. But as NASA looks toward future missions in deep space, it’s also looking for a way for astronauts to relieve themselves while remaining in their space suits for up to six days, reports Time. That’s where you come in. The agency is offering a $30,000 prize in a “space poop challenge” if someone can create “a system inside a space suit that collects human waste for up to 144 hours and routes it away from the body, without the use of hands.”

There are plenty of stipulations. For example, the system “needs to take no more than five minutes [to set up]” as an astronaut might be forced to jump into their suit quickly in an emergency, per Space.com. While such a challenge might seem humorous, a solution “could be the difference between life and death,” notes the contest website. “You don’t want any of these solids and fluids stuck to your body for six days,” NASA adds in a release. “Given enough time, infection, and even sepsis can set in,” says astronaut Rick Mastracchio in a video. Inventors have until Dec. 20 to submit their entries. NASA plans to test the top entries next year, with a solution executed within three years.

I truly hope this it the last time I need to report on poop in some fashion…..

Enough of this sh*t (pun intended)……Everyone go out and enjoy your weekend…..have some fun while you can.