Reignite Your Passion for Space Travel With ‘The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration’
Take a trip through time and the universe with a new book about our searches among the stars.
Continue ReadingTake a trip through time and the universe with a new book about our searches among the stars.
Continue ReadingThe brand-new IMAX film ‘A Beautiful Planet 3D’ was made in cooperation with NASA, and all of the footage was conceived and shot by astronauts aboard the ISS. The film opens today on IMAX screens around the country and presents a view of Earth that is beautiful–yes–but also inspiring, humbling, and just downright breathtaking.
Continue ReadingI know we’re a self-selected group here in Nerdland, but which of us hasn’t wondered about what it’s like to be in space, live in space, and work in space? Regardless of your generation, there were important, space-related events that happened during your formative years. Sputnik. Yuri Gagarin. Alan Shepherd. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (and don’t forget Michael Collins). Skylab. Sally Ride. Challenger. Mir. Columbia. The International Space Station. SpaceX. Future-oriented people look toward space.
Continue ReadingNeal Stephenson’s latest novel is a detail heavy behemoth that may just make you cry.
Continue ReadingThe newest mission post for an expedition to the International Space Station was revealed, and it’s a wonderful homage to Star Wars. It made me go digging, and I’ve discovered that this is no anomaly.
Continue ReadingFrom astronaut Chris Hadfield is a new book showing us what we all have in common, our home. This is planet Earth as seen from the ISS, one picture at a time.
Continue ReadingPresenting the ISSpresso, an innovative zero-g espresso machine to help astronauts brew a perfect espresso in space.
Continue ReadingIn 2010, astronomer and author Jeffrey Bennett answered a call from a number he didn’t recognize. The voice on the other end told him that astronaut Alvin Drew wanted to read one of Bennett’s books from space — Drew needed a pdf.
Continue ReadingI can’t tell you every session or event to be at, but I can recommend ten events that every geek dad should go to.
Continue ReadingThe latest ISS re-supply mission will include a shipment of ants involved in a K-12 educational research project.
Continue ReadingToday, May 23rd, from 3-4 PM EDT, you can join a NASA hosted Google+ hangout with three of the former International Space Station (ISS) astronauts. NASA astronauts Kevin Ford and Tom Marshburn and Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency are back home in Houston, Texas, and undergoing physical rehabilitation after their recent return from their extended time in the nearly weightless environment.
Continue ReadingIs it me, or does the upcoming emergency spacewalk by the ISS crew make this trailer scarier?
Continue ReadingWe were already huge fans of Commander Chris Hadfield, the soon-to-return Canadian leader of the International Space Station. The videos he has posted have done so much to popularize space science, the impact will be felt for years to come. But now, he’s taken it to a whole new level. David Bowie, in space.
Continue ReadingAs “a last glimpse of the World,” Commander Chris Hadfield recorded a revised version of “Space Oddity” by David Bowie on board the International Space Station (ISS). Watching it put something in my eye.
Continue ReadingThe coolest astronaut ever is back with another dose of daily life on the ISS.
Continue ReadingCanadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield demonstrates how to do this simple, but usually somewhat messy, daily routine in the zero-gravity of the International Space Station.
Continue ReadingOn February 15, 2013, The Chieftains performed in Houston, Texas. One of the songs they performed was Moondance. To make this performance of Moondance special, Canadian astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield performed with them, live, from the International Space Station (ISS).
Continue ReadingThis week SpaceX became the first US commercial company to deliver cargo to ISS and became the world’s leader in returning cargo back to Earth from space.
Continue ReadingAs I’d mentioned in an earlier Dragon*Con Diary post, my family felt the most at-home at the Space and Science Tracks throughout our Dragon*Con weekend. While others had chances to meet such sci-fi stars as John Barrowman, and attend panels with the cast of True Blood, my family was not going to be as patient with those incredibly long lines and levels of uber-fandom that we don’t quite have. The Science and Space Tracks were perfect for us! Here are summaries of my two favorite panels from those tracks.
Continue ReadingIn its second year, the Lego Education Summit has grown in attendance and scope. Last year’s conference, held in St. Louis, focused solely on STEM education topics, but the 2012 Summit, held in Kanas City, expanded its seminar topics to …
Continue ReadingStartup rocket company Space Exploration Technologies (we all know them as SpaceX) is set to launch their Dragon capsule to the International Space Station early in the morning (3:44am EDT!) on Tuesday. SpaceX will be webcasting the launch on their …
Continue ReadingRemember way back when Buzz Lightyear flew to space? Yes, the toy — and yes, really to space! He spent 468 days in orbit between May 2008 and September 2009. During his time on the International Space …
Continue ReadingWhen it comes to astronomical photography, results are often governed by location, location and location. This was certainly the case for Don Pettit, who, like many before him, decided to take long-exposure pictures to capture the trails of stars as …
Continue ReadingAbout a year ago, Lego Education announced a partnership with NASA. The goal of the collaboration, called Bricks in Space, was to produce an educational program to help kids learn about space and other STEM related topics through the use …
Continue ReadingNASA revises its stance on the ground-breaking short film shot in space.
Continue ReadingIf you’re a student between the ages of 14-18, you are eligible to enter a new contest announced this week, called Space Lab. The competition, sponsored by YouTube and Lenovo, gives students the opportunity to submit a science experiment that …
Continue ReadingIf you’re a student between the ages of 14-18, you are eligible to enter a new contest announced this week, called Space Lab. The competition, sponsored by YouTube and Lenovo, gives students the opportunity to submit a science experiment that …
Continue ReadingRobots are cool. The first robot I remember was Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still. I thought he was amazing. An alien robot who didn’t talk, he guarded his master’s spaceship with fierce devotion and shot a laser beam from his head that destroyed puny Earth weaponry without hurting anyone. I wanted a […]
Continue ReadingWhen Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off the pad in Florida — currently targeted for tomorrow (Monday) at 2:34pm EDT — it will be carrying a very special payload. Contrary to what you might think, it won’t be a communications satellite, …
Continue ReadingWhen Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off the pad in Florida this Friday, it will be carrying a very special payload. Contrary to what you might think, it won’t be a communications satellite, ISS module or telescope parts. No, the Endeavour …
Continue Reading