NASA focused on commercial space travel

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Crossing oceans isn’t enough for you? Well, NASA is working to scratch the most extreme of travel itches. The organization is putting $50 million of economic stimulus cash from the feds into putting the average traveler into space. Companies eager to develop a commercial space vehicle have 45 days to submit their proposals, and the winner will be announced by the end of September.

The program comes at a time when NASA is drastically changing its approach to space. After seven more missions next year, the space shuttle fleet is going to be retired – with the final touch being the completion of the International Space Station. Then, we’ll be outsourcing our space travel to Russia, with U.S. astronauts hitching rides to the space station. Cargo will be shipped to this extraterrestrial spot – 225 miles from Earth – by rockets and capsules being developed by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences.

So, commercial space travel appears to be the key to getting the United States back into the game. Some big names have shown some interest in building the vehicles, including Boeing, Retro Aerospace, Davidson Technologies and Emergent Space technologies.

Watch the shuttle launch!

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Space Shuttle Discovery will leave the Earth behind on February 12, 2009. If you want to be there to witness it, pick some tickets for the launch. Guests will be able to watch the commencement of mission STS-119 from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which is as close as you can get.

This mission will take the shuttle from Florida (and you, if you’re at the visitor complex) to the International Space Station, where it will drop off a set of large solar arrays, which will provide additional power for up to six crew members this spring, instead of the usual three. Making this mission unique, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata will be on board. Upon arrival at the International Space Station, he’ll be the first crew member from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Back at Kennedy, there will be plenty to do before and after the launch. Video presentations, astronaut appearances and launch briefings will help you make sense of what happens out on the pad. And at $38 for adults ($28 for kids ages three to 11), this is a fantastic deal even in today’s tough economy.

Learn more about watching a launch >>

NASA wants $42 million for retired space shuttle

by Meg Massie on

NASA has three space shuttles scheduled for retirement in the next two years, and for the first time ever, museums will have to shell out big bucks if they want to display the crafts.

NASA estimates that it will cost $42 million to get each shuttle ready for display — including $6 million to transport it — and they are asking the museums to foot the bill. NASA has never charged institutions like the Smithsonian in the past, but with the Ares I rocket and Orion capsule believed to be well over budget, NASA insiders say the program needs to pinch pennies wherever possible.

$42 million seems steep, but NASA isn’t trying to squeeze a profit out of these charges. This is simply their estimated cost for safing, display preparation, and transportation of a shuttle. “Safing” means decontamination of the fuel systems and removal of other safety and environmental hazards.

No museums have commented yet as to whether or not they would be willing to pay NASA’s asking price, which, by the way, is “subject to change.”

Click the images to learn about the most unusual museums in the world — from funeral customs, to penises, to velvet paintings, to stripping.


Mommy, what does space smell like?

by Jerry Guo on

Now you know. According to a NASA flight engineer on a International Space Station mission, space smells like “an arc welding torch repairing heavy equipment for a small logging outfit.” Or more succinctly, “pleasant sweet-smelling welding fumes.”

Yums. Another useless (but quite interesting) piece of trivia to know.

Of course, there’s always somebody to burst your bubble. One theory is the smell has something to do with LCVG and PLSS, which are responsible for regulating and radiating heat away form the user (respectively). Out in the space vacuum, these chemicals may get vaporized, and hence, that “sweet-smelling welding fume.”

Then, there’s the alternative explanation. “That’s God’s crotch you’re smelling.”

Airline safety survey kiboshed by NASA

by Grant Martin on

NASA appears to be sandbagging on reporting the results of a survey they conducted a few years back on airline safety. Their data, which is taken from phone interviews across 24,000 pilots, apparently suggest that the number of “incidents” in airline travel are significantly higher than reported by the FAA.

Asked to reveal the data to the AP, NASA politely declined, stating that revealing the findings could damage the public’s confidence in airlines and affect airline profits.

Since when does safety take a back seat to airline profits? Does anyone else see the airline lobby at work here?

I’m well past the conspiracy theory and into the complacent stage in my life where this sort of stuff doesn’t bother me anymore. Perhaps its because I’m still confident in the general safety record of the industry. As the MSNBC article concedes, there is only 1 fatality in about 4.5 million departures. I suppose I can take my chances for now.