Jeff Patterson conquers the solar system.
Posted by Rand Simberg at 05:50 PMIt's been a year since Henry Cate kicked off the Carnival of Space. He's asking for entries for the anniversary edition:
Fraser Cain, the current organizer of the Carnival of Space, has graciously asked me to host the anniversary edition of the Carnival of Space.Posted by Rand Simberg at 08:35 AMCould you:
1) Consider sending in an entry to the carnival? Send the link to a post about space to:
carnivalofspace@gmail.com. It is helpful if you include a brief summary of your post.2) Encourage your readers to also send in an entry?
You could direct them here.
This weekend, I met a young woman, now attending law school in Ann Arbor, who was in diapers when it happened. To her, it's ancient unremembered history, just as the Eisenhower administration is to me (though I at least study it, unlike most of my age cohorts). It made me feel old. We have a generation, though, about ten years older than her, now in their thirties, for whom it was probably the most traumatic event of their young lives. The comments are closed on my post from six years ago, but anyone who wants to post remembrances can do it here, with the caveat that I still haven't completely recovered from my recent MT upgrade (still hoping that someone who knows it will volunteer to help), so you can use them, but they will time out. Don't expect to get a response after submitting the comment. Just back up after a while, and refresh the page to see it.
I'm particularly interested in how the event changed your perception of the Shuttle, and the space program in general, if at all, per my previous thoughts.
Posted by Rand Simberg at 12:28 PMWireless is up. There was an announcement from Space Frontier Foundation that the Teachers in Space program has had the donation of 3 suborbital spaceflights, one each from Armadillo, Rocketplane-Kistler and XCOR. The sponsors hope to find federal sponsorship for hundreds of educator flights.
-- Update 6:07 MST --
Alan Boyle has more.
Posted by Sam Dinkin at 05:04 PMSpace Journalism Prize submissions have been light this year. It has been revamped as follows.
Note that the judging criteria are the same as last year except that there is only nine months worth of material to compete against. If you entered last year, do it again this year. Winner will be announced at Space Frontier meeting.
Posted by Sam Dinkin at 08:52 PMOut of the Cradle has a list of books for space enthusiasts (though they mostly seem to be for moon enthusiasts).
Posted by Rand Simberg at 06:38 AMThe editorial page letter below (Florida Today) affirms my view that there is much work to be done in the area of space site and artifact preservation. The fine effort to save the Apollo LUT, while both brave and bold, lacked adequate momentum and money to succeed.
Find ways to preserve more of space historyI applaud a recent letter wake-up call to save our Space Coast heritage before it is all gone with the wind. As the writer said, many launch sites are already dismantled.
Since then, a March 24 FLORIDA TODAY photo on page 1B showed the Apollo launch umbilical tower being disposed.
On the plus side, the letter also mentioned several facilities such as the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center and the Space and Missile Museum at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station that are actively preserving what they can. However, they need help.
Neither the Air Force nor NASA use taxpayer dollars expressly to preserve historical sites and facilities. The Air Force Space and Missile Museum Foundation Inc., a private nonprofit corporation, is authorized to raise money for the Museum. Perhaps their charter could be expanded to include the following launch complexes:
LC-13, the last remaining ICBM service gantry; LC-14, where Mercury Atlas astronauts flew into space; LC- 19, where Gemini-Titan missions were launched; and LC-34, where we lost three astronauts in the Apollo 1 fire.
Anyone wishing to learn more should call the Air Force Space and Missile Museum at 853-9171.
M.J. Martin
Merritt Island ------------
I don't know, but the news isn't good. Tripoli just lost its suit against ATFE, and the agency will be allowed to classify ammonium perchlorate compound propellant as an explosive, which will be a significant damper on the hobby, since hobbyists will now have to get a federal Low Explosives Users Permit (LEUP).
This kind of bureaucratic stupidity is the reason that I'm not thrilled with the Bush administration, but there's no reason to think that a Kerry administration would be any better.
The only way this can be fixed now is with legislation, but that's unlikely to happen in an election year.
[Thanks to emailer Bruce Brazaitis for the heads up.]
Time to use some of your frequent flyer miles:
Free Public Lecture By Dr. Harrison Scmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut, geologist
Topic: Lunar Resources (e.g. Helium-3)
Location: UAB Alys Stevens Center at 8:00 PM on April 1, 2004
The Alys Stephens Center is located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which is in the Southside area of Birmingham, Alabama. The street address is:
1200 10th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-1280
The ASC is easily accessible from two major thoroughfares.
I-65 Northbound
Exit onto 8th Avenue South (University Boulevard). Turn right on 13th Street, then right again on 10th Avenue South. The Alys Stephens Center will be on your right.
I-65 Southbound
Exit onto 4th Avenue South. Turn right on 13th Street, continue to 10th Avenue South and turn right. The Alys Stephens Center will be on your right.
Highway 280 (Red Mountain Expressway)
Exit onto 8th Avenue South (University Boulevard) and turn right. Travel to 13th Street South and turn left. Turn right on 10th Avenue South, and the Alys Stephens Center will be on your right.
Off street parking is located directly across the street from the ASC. Street parking is also available. There is an upper and lower circular driveway that can be used to drop off disabled patrons. Allow extra time for parking during weekday performances.
- Jim McDade