space
News
Private mission to space station scrubbed half a second before liftoffSpaceX's launch of the first private spacecraft bound for the International Space Station has been rescheduled for next week after the mission was aborted Saturday a half a second before liftoff, the company said.
Topix.net | 21-May-2012 11:40
Skywatchers Enjoy 'Ring Of Fire' Eclipse
Astronomy buffs in the western U.S. were treated to an eclipse known as the Ring of Fire over the weekend. Technically, it's an annular solar eclipse, during which time the moon passes between the earth and sun. The moon blocks out much of the Sun's light and casts a giant shadow on the earth. From member station KUOW, Amelia Templeton reports from one of the best places to see the Ring of Fire: Southern Oregon.
npr.org | 21-May-2012 10:00
Rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse dims skies
The sun and moon aligned over the earth in a rare astronomical event on Sunday - an annular eclipse that dimmed the skies over parts of Asia and North America, briefly turning the sun into a blazing ring of fire.
Topix.net | 21-May-2012 07:21
World's Largest Solar Eclipse Party Draws Thousands to Stadium
The crowd cheered on the eclipse and booed away clouds.
space.com | 21-May-2012 06:48
Rare 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse: First Photos
See photos of the May 20 annular solar eclipse.
space.com | 21-May-2012 05:48
Millions Watch 'Ring Of Fire' Eclipse Cross Asia, U.S.
The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across Asia early Monday. It then moved across the Pacific and was also seen in parts of the western United States Sunday afternoon.
npr.org | 21-May-2012 05:38
Sunday's solar eclipse visible in Alamogordo
This map shows the zone in which people will be able to view the annular solar eclipse's "Ring of Fire" on Sunday evening.
Topix.net | 21-May-2012 03:07
Photos: Annular Solar Eclipse of May 20, 2012
See images of the annular solar eclipse of May 20, 2012 in this photo gallery.
space.com | 21-May-2012 02:52
Skywatchers Hot for 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse
The "ring of fire" solar eclipse of May 20 is now full swing.
space.com | 21-May-2012 02:34
LIVE Q&BA Hangout for the eclipse | Bad Astronomy
[UPDATE: The hangout's over. Thanks to all who watched! I'll have the YouTube video up as soon as I can!]
I know this is last minute, but I decided to do a live Hangout on Google+ to talk about the solar eclipse. I’ve embedded the video below if you want to watch. If you want to ask questions, go to the link above or send me something on Twitter. If you leave a comment here I won’t see it!
discovermagazine.com | 21-May-2012 00:39
Nasa Space Telescope Captures Planet Disintegration
Astronomers from Nasa and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have detected a possible planet disintegrating under the searing heat of its host star, which is located 1,500 light-years from earth.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 23:07
Best Space Photos of the Week - May 20, 2012
See an amazing new view of Earth, the launch of a Russian rocket and more in the best photos for the week of May 20, 2012.
space.com | 20-May-2012 20:57
Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week - May 20, 2012
From complete coverage of the solar eclipse to Smokey Bear on a rocket, it's been a busy week in space.
space.com | 20-May-2012 20:57
19-year-old Egyptian girl invents spacecraft propulsion device
A 19-year-old Egyptian university student called Aisha Mustafa has invented a propulsion device intended to offer spacecrafts a new method and cheaper means of energy consumption.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 18:52
Movie Review: Bland BATTLESHIP Makes Game Effort
Several parts of Battleship make an honest attempt at bringing the rainy-day antics of the board game to life.
space.com | 20-May-2012 18:49
Eclipse followup part 2: tons o’ links on how to safely watch | Bad Astronomy
Today’s the eclipse! I’m excited, though our weather here in Boulder has been fairly touch-and-go the past few weeks. I’m hoping for clear skies so I can see it; I got my eclipse glasses in the mail yesterday, so I’m all set. Locally, CU Boulder is holding a viewing in the football stadium! That’s a pretty nifty idea. As a reminder, the eclipse begins at 20:56 UTC (13:56 Pacific US time) on May 20, and ends at 02:49 UTC May 21 (19:49 on May 20 Pacific time).
I have links in an earlier post on where and when to watch (and yesterday I posted about why the "Supermoon" two weeks ago guarantees today’s eclipse being annular).
Observing the Sun during an eclipse can be tricky, since it’s very bright and can damage your eyes. Wikipedia has an excellent article about this. Something I want to make special note of: during the deepest eclipse, when the Sun is blocked the most, is ironically the most dangerous time to look at it with your unaided eye. Your pupil dilates (opens wide), letting in more light, but the parts of the Sun not ...
discovermagazine.com | 20-May-2012 18:45
US Could Lose Aging Eyes In The Sky
About every two weeks, Rick Allen gets a series of thermal snapshots from high above Earth that show how water gets used across the western United States, a perennial source of friction in the largely arid region.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 14:48
Eclipse-Chaser Shares Thrill Of The Hunt
Out West Sunday, it will start getting dark earlier than normal, but just for a little while. A major solar eclipse, although not quite total, will spread across the skies in a 200-mile swath from Oregon into west Texas. Longtime Washington, D.C., meteorologist Bob Ryan has traveled the world chasing eclipses with his wife. He joins host Rachel Martin.
npr.org | 20-May-2012 14:00
SpaceX Replaces Faulty Rocket Valve for Space Station Flight
Engineers will check repairs made to a faulty engine valve on the Falcon 9 rocket.
space.com | 20-May-2012 10:53
Rare 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse Visible from China to Texas Today
The annular solar eclipse will begin in southern China and end in northwestern Texas Sunday afternoon.
space.com | 20-May-2012 10:48
How to watch 'Ring of Fire' solar spectacle
This image provided by NASA Wednesday Feb. 22, 2012 shows a partial solar eclipse as seen from space taken on Tuesday Feb.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 10:38
Astronauts May See Solar Eclipse Shadow From Space
Astronauts living aboard the International Space Station may get a unique solar eclipse view.
space.com | 20-May-2012 10:37
Watch Today's 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse Here: Webcast Info
See a list of many webcasts for today's solar eclipse from around the world.
space.com | 20-May-2012 08:19
Scott Carpenter leaves mark on Boulder, 50 years after blasting into space
Scott Carpenter rides with his family during a parade on May 29, 1962, in Boulder.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 06:24
SpaceX rocket launch aborted in last half-second
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A new private supply ship for the International Space Station remained stuck on the ground Saturday after rocket engine trouble led to a last-second abort of the historic flight.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 02:14
Video: SpaceX rocket launch in last-second abort
The first privately-owned rocket to head for the International Space Station aborted its first launch at the last second, after an apparent engine problem.
Topix.net | 20-May-2012 00:14
Station
SpaceX readies for launch this Saturday, - If all goes according to plan, tomorrow, Saturday, May 19th, SpaceX will become the first commercial space flight company in history to head for the International Space Station.
Topix.net | 19-May-2012 20:05
SpaceX launch aborted; next attempt Tuesday | Bad Astronomy
The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 this morning was aborted at literally the last second — the sensors detected too high a pressure in a combustion chamber in one of the engines. Apparently this didn’t put the rocket in any danger, but it was outside the limits for an allowable launch so the computer shut things down.
Here’s video of the last few seconds of the countdown.
Ouch. My thoughts on this are pretty clear: it’s a bummer, but then again that’s all it is. Not a disaster, not a failure, just a setback. These are complicated, complex machines, and delays are inevitable.
The good news is there’s a backup launch date of Tuesday, May 22, at 07:44 UTC (03:44 Eastern US time), and another the next day, May 23, at 07:22 UTC. Hopefully, this glitch can be fixed and the rocket launched on one of those dates.
Related Posts:
- Space X set to launch on Saturday May 19
- Elon Musk of SpaceX on CBS’s 60 Minutes
- SpaceX to launch Dragon capsule December 7
discovermagazine.com | 19-May-2012 19:20
How to Safely Observe Sunday's Solar Eclipse
SPACE.com offers tips to observe Sunday's solar eclipse safely using the right gear.
space.com | 19-May-2012 16:15
2. Devon or Cornwall could be location for space port
The Westcountry should have its own version of Cape Canaveral where satellites and intrepid travellers could be blasted into space, say business leaders.
Topix.net | 19-May-2012 15:55
Why Sunday's Solar Eclipse 'Ring of Fire' Will Be Rare Sight
Find out what makes Sunday's "ring of fire" a rare celestial sight in this skywatching guide.
space.com | 19-May-2012 15:19
Followup: Supereclipse | Bad Astronomy
I wrote earlier about the annular eclipse happening this coming Sunday. It’s a solar eclipse, with the Moon blocking the Sun, but because the Moon is at apogee — the point in its orbit farthest from Earth — the Moon appears smaller in the sky, so it doesn’t completely block the Sun. We’re left with a ring of solar surface surrounding the Moon, the so-called Ring of Fire.
I got a couple of people asking me why this eclipse is happening at lunar apogee when we just had a "Supermoon", when the Moon was full at perigee (when it’s closest to Earth in its orbit). This is a good question! It’s not a coincidence. In fact, it must happen this way! Here’s why.
First, here’s a drawing of the Moon’s orbit, courtesy NASA:
The Moon orbits the Earth in an ellipse, so sometimes it’s closer to us, and sometimes farther. The ellipticity is exaggerated in the drawing; it’s actually about a 10% difference in distance between apogee and perigee. The Moon orbits the Earth once every 27.3 days, so ...
discovermagazine.com | 19-May-2012 15:00
Failure To Launch: SpaceX Delays Mission
With NASA's help, SpaceX is trying to send the first commercial spaceship to the International Space Station. The launch was aborted Saturday morning, but there will be another opportunity on Tuesday. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce.
npr.org | 19-May-2012 14:00
How To Watch The Solar Eclipse
A solar eclipse is in store for the western United States on Sunday. Host Scott Simon lays out how eclipse-watchers should prepare with Dee Friesen of the Albuquerque Astronomical Society.
npr.org | 19-May-2012 14:00
Possible Rocket Engine Problem Triggered SpaceX Launch Abort
SpaceX's launch abort Saturday (May 19) may have been caused by a rocket engine issue
space.com | 19-May-2012 13:55
SpaceX No Stranger to Launch Day Rocket Glitches
The last-second launch abort of a private Falcon 9 rocket may be a familiar sight to SpaceX
space.com | 19-May-2012 13:45
Rocket set to blast off, open new space era
Jurors in the John Edwards' campaign corruption trial are taking a break for the weekend and their requests for evidence and office supplies may be a sign that they are in for detailed discussions when they reconvene on... Jurors in the John Edwards' campaign corruption trial are taking a break for the weekend and their requests for evidence and ... (more)
Topix.net | 19-May-2012 11:50
SpaceX Dragon Launch Aborted At Last Second | Video
Computers aboard the Falcon 9 rocket cut off the engines after seeing a high pressure warning on May 19th, 2012. Next launch attempt could occur on Tuesday May 22nd after the problem is investigated.
space.com | 19-May-2012 11:26
SpaceX Aborts Launch of Private Space Capsule to Space Station
An unexpected engine sensor reading forced the Falcon 9 rocket and capsule to abort launch.
space.com | 19-May-2012 11:07
Aborted Liftoff Delays Trip To Space Station
The privately funded, unmanned spacecraft was attempting its first flight to the International Space Station. The spacecraft had a one-second window to take off, and the failed launch means they won't be trying again for at least a few days.
npr.org | 19-May-2012 07:58
SpaceX Fuels Rocket for Historic Test Flight to Space Station
The Falcon 9 rocket is due to loft SpaceX's Dragon capsule to orbit at 4:55 a.m. ET.
space.com | 19-May-2012 07:46
Space-X Launching Payload Rocket for NASA Space Station
"Space-X Launching Payload Rocket for NASA Space Station" is categorized as "local". This video was licensed from Grab Networks.
Topix.net | 19-May-2012 07:36
Not-So-Secret Souvenirs Riding Historic SpaceX Capsule Flight to Space Station
Some special mementos are hitchhiking on SpaceX's first-ever launch to the International Space Station.
space.com | 19-May-2012 06:53
SpaceX Launch: Falcon Rocket to Carry 308 Cremated Remains
When SpaceX launches its Falcon 9 rocket it will secretly be carrying celebrities.
Topix.net | 19-May-2012 03:26
NASA to Watch Solar Eclipse from Grand Canyon Sunday
An impressive annular solar eclipse will occur on Sunday (May 20).
space.com | 19-May-2012 00:28
Let The Real Space Age Begin
Astrophysicist, Adam Frank, says that private rocket ships will launch a sure future for Americans.
npr.org | 18-May-2012 23:59