Outer Space on a Diet

Want to go into space? But it's a bit too pricey? Try Dennis Wingo's Plan B.

Phoenix Mars Lander Update

The trajectory of the new Phoenix Mars Lander, NASA's first low-cost Scout mission, was changed a week ago on the 10th. Since its launch on August 4th, Phoenix has travelled just over 380 million miles, currently running at a reported 46,000 miles per hour (73,577 kph). The speed is tricky because it depends on your frame of reference, and on the fact that the project FAQ lists the cruising speed as 74,000 mph (presumably relative to Earth) and 14,000 mph wrt Mars, but the 73,577 kph reported above is from the 16 April computer-generated trajectory views from the project web site. Phoenix is expected to land on May 25th.

Yuri's Night

Yuri's Night. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin was the first man into Outer Space, to orbit the Earth three times and then return safely.

The celebration begins: 178 parties in 50 countries -- find one near you.

Ed, note: Corrected in response to a comment.

Black Bird Breakup at Mach 3

Test pilot Bill Weaver tells his harrowing tale of an SR-71 test run gone very very bad.

I attempted [...] to stay with the airplane until we reached a lower speed and altitude. I didn't think the chances of surviving an ejection at Mach 3.18 and 78,800 ft. were very good. However, g-forces built up so rapidly that my words came out garbled and unintelligible

Then the SR-71 ... literally ... disintegrated around us.

Attention Silicon Gulch Space Cadets

Want to lose weight without losing mass? Has skydiving become, what's that word, boring? Well, Pete Diamandis has an answer for you. Surely, you remember Pete? He created the X-Prize foundation and the Rocket Racing League.



Well, his new company, Zero Gravity just finalized an agreement with NASA to help you out.

"Commercial, weightless flights will be offered this weekend at Moffett Field, Calif., under the terms of an agreement with the Zero Gravity Corp, Las Vegas. Although corporation officials said the first flight scheduled Saturday, Feb. 16 is already sold out, additional flights will be scheduled later this year."

"Passengers aboard the aircraft will experience for brief periods the same weightlessness that the space shuttle astronauts encounter while orbiting the Earth, as well as the same gravity conditions they would experience on the moon and on Mars."

SpaceShipTwo Announced

Erick Schonfeld has a post about Burt Rutan's new bigger suborbital spaceship.

It's worth a quick peek.



Virgin Galactic Unveils Design For SpaceShipTwo