The Troubadour

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Grasshopper rocket descends toward landing pad. Credit: SpaceX.

Science fiction fans are loving this.

Back in the 1950's and early 60's it was a staple of Sci-fi space movies to include a group of intrepid explorers in their finned rocket blasting off from their government base, and landing at their destination in a similar manner: On it's tail!

On the Moon: scene from Destination Moon (1950) [George Pal Productions]. Look for astronauts near the base of the rocket for scale perspective.

These days it's SpaceX creating the rocket buzz. The company that has given us the Falcon rocket and the Dragon robotic spacecraft delivering supplies to the ISS, is producing a variant of the Falcon rocket that will be re-useable. Lifting off from its launchpad in McGregor, Texas, the most recent flight saw the Flacon 9 derivative reach 1066 feet (325 meters), hover, then descend to a perfect precision landing at its original pad. Parabolic Arc has the cool video of this event:

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/07/05/watch-spacexs-grasshopper-fly-to-325-meters/

Grasshopper in flight. Credit: SpaceX

Currently, Grasshopper uses the Falcon 9 first stage and the Merlin 1D engine. Eventually, SpaceX hopes to fly an advanced version that will reach space, deliver its payload, then carefully re-enter the atmosphere and descend back to its pad. Then it would be refurbished, refueled, and fly again. The designation for this type of craft would be VTVL (Vertical Take-off Vertical Landing).

Russian Proton M Rocket Explodes

After beginning to tumble, the rocket fuel tanks burst into flame. Credit: Russian TV.

After a week of space successes, the Russian space program suffered a setback Monday with the loss of a Proton-M rocket and its three global positioning navigation satellites. Launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, the rocket lifted off OK but quickly developed a veer away from the flight path and started a tumble. As the rocket broke apart under the aerodynamic stress, the fuel exploded moments before the entire assembly crashed into the ground, creating a huge fireball.

Because the rocket broke up first, a large cloud of its rocket fuel, which is toxic to humans, moved with the wind towards the nearest town. Residents were warned to stay inside and close all windows and doors.

Reporter James Oberg notes that this type of rocket is scheduled to deliver a new module to the ISS later this year. The Russians might want to make sure this doesn't happen again...

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/russian-rocket-takes-nosedive-after-launch-kazakhstan-6C10511650

A cloud of smoke marks the impact site. Credit: RiaNovosti

A Week of International Space Activity

Cosmonaut Yurchikhin outside the ISS.

It wasn't a week of ONLY International space activity, but I thought I'd post some of the goings-on by our ISS partners the Russian Space Agency and the conclusion of the Chinese Shenzhou 10 mission. On June 24, Expedition 36 flight engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Alexander Misurkin completed a successful six and one half hour spacewalk outside the ISS. The main reason for the EVA was to continue hookup preparations for a new Russian-built ISS Module, coming later this year, that will replace the PIRS module. That project will be the first renovation of the station since its completion at the end of the Space Shuttle program.

Cosmonaut Misurkin works on the Zarya module.

During the spacewalk, the cosmonauts also retrieved some experiments that had been outside the station exposed to the vacuum of space, and did some preventative maintenance on the Zarya module cooling system. There are four more Russian spacewalks scheduled for 2013, and two spacewalks by Americans in July.

Outside the ISS.

During the spacewalk, the Expedition 36 crew continued on working with ISS equipment or were involved in supporting the EVA. Due to the layout of the Russian module segments and their hatch locations, astronaut Chris Cassidy and Commander cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov were required to remain in the Soyuz 08M craft attached to the Poisk module, while the other two astronauts were free to move about the American side of the station.

Soyuz 2-1b rocket on launch pad.

The Russians also had a busy launch schedule. On June 25, they launched a Soyuz 2-1b rocket from Baikonur and paced a remote-sensing satellite in orbit. Then on June 26, a Soyuz ST-b rocket lifted off from the European Space Agency launch site in French Guiana, carrying four satellites designed to expand broadband Internet communications to areas of the planet that currently have weak or no coverage.

Televised parachute opening of returning Shenzhou-10 capsule.

June 26 also saw the ending of China's Shenzhou-10 space station mission. Declaring a success, China's crew landed in Inner Mongolia safely and was returned to a cheering nation. China will now focus on building the technology for a new station and expanded series of ferry rockets for carrying crew and supplies.

The Imaginarium
Today, we make the ordinary, extraordinary. Tomorrow we conquer the world.

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Thanks for sharing Mark.

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He ordered the child's meal

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Everyone who drives will understand

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Ambition

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A Child Collider

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Space Center Director, Megan Warner to Serve Jail Time. YOU Can Help? The Imaginarium.

Megan Warner

Space Center Director

MDA Jailbird

Hello Troops,

Shocking news from the Space Center at Central School. Megan Warner, my replacement and new director, is bound for jail and NEEDS YOUR HELP. I pray this plea for help doesn't fall on deaf ears. I pray you'll take pity or her poor soul and shorten her sentence. Remember how fragile and delicate she is. She'll waste away on a diet of bread and water. She'll mentally break after one night sleeping on a flea infested, vomit gorged mattress.

This could be Megan. Won't you Help?

Megan's future without your help. 10 minutes of fresh air and sunshine daily isn't
enough for someone with her natural milky white complexion

They're waiting. Only you can prevent her from falling into their hands.

Megan's new home, unless action is taken right away!

Let's raise the money to bail her out. I know you can help. Think of the small treasure concealed behind those couch cushions and in the chair's cracks and crevices. Think about the money you waste every day on food, bills, rent and gas. What's more important, Megan, or your selfish desire to live somewhat comfortably? Talk to your parents, talk to your spouse, talk to your relatives and neighbors. Convince them to give until it hurts (and make it hurt if they refuse). Any amount will help.

I will lead by example. I'm willing to donate at least $50 towards the bribes necessary to get her released, or at least to smuggle in a few necessary items like soap and toothpaste. Who's with me on this? Let's get the ball rolling. Read Megan's plea below, then do your duty!

Mr. Williamson

PS. Seriously folks, the MDA is a great cause and worthy of your generous donation. Let's help those kids suffering with muscular dystrophy. Please read Megan's plea, click on the donate button and give whatever you can.

Hey everyone!

This is Megan. In case you didn't know, I'm Mr. Williamson's replacement here at the Space Center. It's been an interesting experience trying to run this place without him, let me tell you. While I would love to share some stories, that's not the point of this message. In fact, I'm writing to ask for your help.

I'm going to jail! Because of Bossman's retirement, I have been given the chance to help with this year's MDA Lock-Up, a fundraiser to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The goal of this is for local business owners and leaders to help raise money to send kids with MD to summer camp. From what I've heard, it's a great program, and I'm excited to get to help. I'm hoping everyone that reads this blog will be willing to help, too. Whether it's $1, $2, $10, whatever- every penny is appreciated and adds up.

For all those who are willing and able to help, I'm gonna copy and paste a little thing my 'friendly parole officer' sent me to use as a template for emails. (I can't figure out how to do it otherwise, or I would. Sorry.) This gives you a little more information about some of the reasons to donate, as well as a link to my Lock-Up website. Thanks in advance for anything you can do to help. I appreciate it, and so do these kids.

Space Center and Troubadour Friends!

Yep, I’m a Jailbird. And I’m pretty proud of it.

As I am sure you already know, I am a jailbird for MDA this year and I NEED YOUR HELP! This is a great opportunity for you and I to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association by participating in the Utah Valley Lock Up at Chef’s Table. Basically, my goal is to raise $800 by July 11^th and I cannot do it without you! This is a local event and everything we raise will go straight back to the MDA families right here in the Utah. That way MDA can continue to provide services like summer camp, annual flu shots, support groups and of course, research. MDA is striving to find a cure but research is expensive. With your help, MDA will be that much closer to finding a cure for these muscle wasting diseases.

Here is what you will help fund:

$30 Flu shot

$74 One minute of research

$100 One support group session

$150 One occupational, physical, respiratory or speech therapy consultation

$300 Professional fees related to initial diagnostic work-up at an MDA clinic

$500 Annual repairs of durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs, leg braces, communication devices and more

$800 Week at MDA summer camp for one child

$4,440 One hour of research

I am asking you for your support. Not only to bail me out of jail, but to support our local community and the families that need it most!

Click here to donate to my bail!

Together we'll make a difference.

Thanks again, and I hope to see you all soon!

The Imaginarium

Making the ordinary, extraordinary

Creativity Gone Wild!

Tom Hanks using finding a good use for his Emmy Award.

Creativity in Design

Ouch! This guy is in the wrong business

Wow, that's quite the public works project.

Great Expectations

Fire hair

The Morals Taught by Pixar

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Saturday in the Troubadour. A Cadet's Story. Space and Science News. The Imaginarium

Hello Troops,
I chaperoned last night's Discovery Space Center Overnight Camp. We had 35 boys and 9 girls, meaning the camp was beyond full. These numbers tell us that BJ, and the Discovery Space Center staff and interns are doing a good job. The campers were awesome and a pleasure to work with. It's just like the old days at the Space Center. I'm still on the floor with my pads listening to the snoring and night yelling. No need for the Happy Bucket yet, but I'm sure it will happen sometime this summer.
I've noticed a decline in the number of boys who wake me up in the middle of the night because they're scared; this is despite the fact that the DSC allows campers as young as 9. It is just one of those interesting observations I haven't figured out.

Isaac O, one of our Farpoint Cadet's, sent the following short story from one of his volunteer missions.

Well, I assigned Dr. on the Challenger for the last 5 hour on the Galaxy Camp. Normally, I get little bored of Dr. on a 5 hour since you can only give the kids so much candy :P but the crew was great on this ship! We had some really smart kids who were totally awesome, and a captain that made everyone laugh. Anyways, during the mission the crew needed to take a break for water and bathroom etc. so I took them all down and waited, when we were done I started transporting the crew back, when I transported the last person over I turned the transporter back to get back on (but the captain stayed in the transporter) and the yelled "AAA!" super loud when it opened. I jumped back about 3 feet and I could hear the crew laughing behind the wall, latter that day he did the same thing to Dave :P. Thanks Captain for that little morning scare I needed to wake up! You guys were a great crew! -Isaac O. (aka Dr. Frank)

Please send me your short story from time spent working or volunteering at either Space Center.
spacecamputah@gmail.com

Mr. Williamson

Let's See What a Little Curiosity Can Do.

Space and Science News

The Day We May Have Made First Contact with an Alien Civilization

Everyone remembers the Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic sci-fi film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” which depicted an imagined first contact with an alien civilization. But most probably don’t realize that a few months before the movie came out, real-life scientists believed—at least for a few exciting moments—that they might have detected an actual message sent by extraterrestrials.

It was mid-August 1977, and across the U.S., many if not most people were focused on the shocking death of rock-and-roll great Elvis Presley at age 42. But in Ohio, a 37-year-old man named Jerry Ehman was transfixed by another startling event that—at least for searchers for extraterrestrial intelligence—potentially was even more momentous. Read More

Strange, New Radio Blasts from Space.

Powerful and puzzling radio blasts in other galaxies constantly explode across the night sky, a new study suggests.

A team of international astronomers has detected four explosive events, known as fast radio bursts (FRBs), above the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. Lasting only a few thousandths of a second, these sources send powerful signals across the universe, traveling

billions of light-years through space.

"These bursts gave off more energy in a millisecond than the sun does in 300,000 years," said principal investigator Dan Thornton of the University of Manchester in England. Read More

Your Cellphone, a Nesting Ground for Bacteria

Cellphones carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats, so it shouldn't be surprising that a man in Uganda reportedly contracted Ebola after stealing one.

He stole the phone from a quarantined ward of a hospital, near the site of a recent Ebola outbreak, reports said.

But regardless of your proximity to an Ebola outbreak, your cellphone is still probably pretty grimy, said Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. Read More

The Imaginarium

Ordinary people finding ways to make life extraordinary