Splitting continent: it looks like a picture, but it’s ASAR

Most of the lessons I’ve posted on my site have dealt with imagery taken from camera payloads on satellites. So it should be no shocker that I’ve relayed this NewScientist post of a nice picture of the Albertine Rift, showing where the Earth’s tectonic plates are splitting East Africa apart. Here’s the picture, straight from […]

Another secret Chinese launch

A Chinese Long March 2C rocket boosted another satellite with unknown intentions into orbit earlier today. You can read all about it from NASASpaceflight.com’s posting: Chinese Long March 2C lofts Yaogan Weixing-18 satellite. According to the article, this launch was not officially announced. There’s not too much advertised about Yaogan Weixing-18, although NASASpaceflight.com’s article does a great […]

Interesting stories about the teams that are pursuing XPRIZE

Fresh from Twitter, and the Google Lunar XPRIZE website, here are a few interesting posts. The posts contain stories and videos of five different teams and their activities as they pursue the Google Lunar XPRIZE. For those who don’t know what this particular prize is–here’s the explanation straight from their “Prize Details” page: The Google […]

Buran Buran: when notorious space programs die on planet earth, where do the buildings go? Rio?

Well, “the reflex”-ive answer is “Nowhere, of course!!” But what does happen to space launch facilities once a program goes away? Maybe some people “save a prayer” for them,” but in most of the modern world, facilities tend to be reused. Space launch complex-6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, is a good example […]

Russian spacesuits, showers, and toilets for space operators

Popular Mechanics posted this article and these pictures of an old Soviet spacesuit factory. According to the article, the Tomilino, Russia-based factory is still manufacturing things (but doesn’t really say spacesuits, specifically). They apparently manufactured spacesuits for cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin–and for dogs named Laika, too. The toilet looks, um, functional. Related articles Skydiver record could affect spacesuit […]