The Military's Walrus: An Unlikely Flying Machine

I am fascinated by lighter than air stuff. Look for a stratopheric internet platform soon and see also for information about the new operational Zeppelin NT. Note that public fears of hydrogen (though the new Zeppelin uses Helium) are fueled by the Hindenburg explosion. It was not the hydrogen that caused the big problems, but the dope used to hold the fabric onto the frame of the Hindenburg. It turns out to have the same formula as solid rocket fuel used today! See the argument put forth by a NASA rocket scientist , though this is disputed by A.J. Dressler of the U of Arizona See
I bring this hydrogen thing up because the public seems to have this overblown fear of the hydrogen economy because of the film and sound track of the Hindenburg disaster: "Oh the Humanity" See:

The Military's Walrus: An Unlikely Flying Machine

The Space Review: The hurricane and the vision idea

Should NASA end the Shuttle program? Maybe that would be a good thing, but probably not politically feasible. The Space Station, an idea in orbit looking for a mission, would probably be hard pressed to keep flying with only the Soyez. However, it would save billions that could be used towards a new heavy launch vehicle for the Moon and Mars.
The Space Review: The hurricane and the vision

Slashdot | Visiting Our Red Space Neighbor Enthusiasm for visiting our red space neighbor seems to be growing. m4dm4n67 writes "A study carried out by

Slashdot | Visiting Our Red Space Neighbor: "Enthusiasm for visiting our red space neighbor seems to be growing. m4dm4n67 writes 'A study carried out by MIT's Aeronautics and Astronautics department has concluded that getting men to Mars in the 2020 timeframe is possible"

Solutions Scenario

Perchance we are not Doomed???
Solutions Scenario

Do black holes exist? Or are they really 'dark energy stars'?

Do black holes exist? Or are they really 'dark energy stars'?

A Sunshine Deal-Stirling Solar

A Sunshine Deal

NASA Assesses Hurricane Katrina Damage | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference

NASA Assesses Hurricane Katrina Damage | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference

Technology Responds to Hurricane Katrina

Technology Responds to Hurricane Katrina

Katrina Reignites Global Warming Debate - Comcast.net

Premature Speculation??

Watch live local hurricane coverage on New Orleans TV:
Katrina Reignites Global Warming Debate - Comcast.net

Scientific American: Drowning New Orleans

IF ONLY SOMEONE WOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION!
Scientific American: Drowning New Orleans

Holographic Memory-I wish I had some

Holographic Memory

The Buzz: Want Enhanced Spatial Memory? Eat Oatmeal

I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!!!
The Buzz: Want Enhanced Spatial Memory? Eat Oatmeal

Just for Fun - UFO Artwork A.D.

UFO Artwork A.D.

The Space Review: Nuclear waste in space?

Well, laser launch has been demonstrated on a very small scale, allowing levitation of small objects. Is this solution, even if technically and environmentally feasible, politically feasible???

The Space Review: Nuclear waste in space? (page 1)

SPACE.com -- Thinking Clearly About Space Part 1: Hustling the Future

For your perusal. I am not sure I agree with the thesis of this article, depending on the writer's definition of "hustling.

SPACE.com -- Thinking Clearly About Space Part 1: Hustling the Future

Iceland Worldwide - Northern Lights

Back with more!Iceland Worldwide - Northern Lights

Great Mars Image

Mars!

Russia to offer trip around the moon - Space News - MSNBC.com

Those Darned Commies have really turned Capitalists! Russia to offer trip around the moon - Space News - MSNBC.com

Picture is the ill-fated Soviet N-1 Rocket that was to lift a manned flight to the moon. However, it was too complex and it failed miserably...BOOM!

However, China is really on the go!

China on track for moon mission

China is preparing to launch its first ever lunar orbiter in 2007, as part of its burgeoning space programme.

The spacecraft will pave the way for future missions, which may include China putting a lander on the Moon.

The expedition, christened Chang'e-1 after the Chinese Moon goddess, will map the moon in 3D in an effort to identify future landing sites.

Designs for the spacecraft have been completed and development will begin next month, officials say.

"The design of various plans which serve to meet different situations and simulation satellites has finished and all related professional experiments are ongoing," said the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's Ye Peijian, chief designer of the satellite.

Gaining prestige

The satellite will also study the Moon's composition and radiation environment and may use radar to probe below its surface.

Dean Cheng, senior Asia analyst at the think tank CNA Corporation in Alexandria, US, told New Scientist that a huge part of this mission is prestige.

"The Chinese have consistently tried to make sure their 'first' was bigger, better and more capable than anybody else's," he said.

After Chang'e-1's mission, some suggest China will send a lander to the Moon by 2010 and a robotic rover to sample the surface by 2020.

"After this lunar flight, China will carry out soft landing exploration and auto inspection missions on the moon, with the core part being the realization of landing probes on the moon surface and carrying out scientific exploration," Ye said.

However, Mr Cheng is sceptical about these dates. "The Chinese are generally reticent about putting out specific dates because it puts them in the position of potentially losing face," he said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/4146226.stm

Join Now! The Mars Society

I recently returned from Four Days In Space ("But when you get back, it's the same old place..." With aplogies to Barry McGuire. Well, okay, it was really the 2005 Mars Society Conference. A great time was had by all, especially me. Click the here (Mars Society) for the Society website.

For a critical Review of the Conference, see the Woodstock of Mars

Also, Learn about the latest in Mars Fashions. The latest space suit design does away with the bulky pressure suits.

The lastest craft is off! See Picture Above
NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter


Let's look at the China Space program a little more closely!

Mars ~~ China is getting ready ~~ Why isn't the U.S.? City on Mars by 2042 is ON NOW ~~~~ Nov. 12, 2001...

Interplanetary Collaboration

NASA's attempt to avoid previous Mars failures such as the Polar Lander and the Climate OrbiterInterplanetary Collaboration

Nuclear Rocket Motor Explosion (Planned)

(Transient Nuclear Test) test; a KIWI nuclear rocket test reactor was
purposely given a runaway nuclear reaction to see what its failure would result in.

Note the railway tracks for scale, and the flying sparkling stuff- which
given that uranium is pyrophoric, I assume are the uranium pellets from
the reactor's fuel elements.

From:
http://www.wps.com/

TechnologyReview.com - Tropospheric Temperatures

Is this the smoking gun on global warmind???
TechnologyReview.com - Tropospheric Temperatures

Nuclear Powers Up....Is it better to subsidize demand side technologies?

Is it not cheaper to reduce demand (assuming no massive government subsidy). I hate to be a knee jerk "No Nukes", but this still has to be thought out. True, reduces CO2, maybe a good way to make hydrogen, but do the full cost study first. Does glassification and in situ storage of nuclear waste work? Will Yucca Mt. ever come on line? Will communities find ways to stop waste from going through? Doom!

Nuclear Powers Up

HoustonChronicle.com - NASA outlines moon, Mars missions

TO THE MOON, ALICE!
HoustonChronicle.com - NASA outlines moon, Mars missions

Is bubble fusion back? (July 2005) - News - PhysicsWeb

Is bubble fusion back? (July 2005) - News - PhysicsWeb