Mutant Germs a Real Killer for Space Tourism

by Catherine Bodry on

Okay, so mutant germs and space tourism don’t really have too much in common. But you should still get ready for some real-life science fiction that has to do with space travel: when scientists sent salmonella up on a space shuttle, they found that it killed mice more quickly than it did on earth. And when the salmonella got back on terra firma, researchers discovered that 167 genes had changed in the space-traveling salmonella. And it took about one-third of the new, mutant salmonella to kill half the mice as regular salmonella.

The Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at Arizona State University doesn’t want you to panic, and is taking a positive spin on the whole gene-mutation situation. “Learning more about changes in germs has the potential to lead to novel new countermeasures for infectious disease,” gushes associate professor Cheryl Nickerson. And novel new measures for biological warfare, if you ask me. And has anyone here seen Outbreak? And what’s happening to the genes inside the astronauts? Anyone remember Pod People? Genes are mutating, people!

The Associated Press’ article has a lot of intriguing information, so if you’re curious about the science of it all, head there. As for me, I like the drama of the fear factor.

First Russian Space Tourist to be Launched in 2009

by Catherine Bodry on

Plans are already coming along for the world’s first space hotel, and now Russia is planning to send up its first space tourist, in 2009. Five other tourists have already paid (a cool $25 million!) for this honor, but four were from the U.S. and the other from South Africa.

The mystery man (described only as a serious, respectable, and young businessman and politician), is negotiating his ticket through Space Adventures, the company that brokers deals between potential space tourists and the Russian space agency.

The lucky tourist will be delivered to the International Space Station, but there are no reports of scheduled activities beyond that.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of November 26

by Adrienne Wilson on

Am I the only one who can’t believe it is December 1st? Where did November go? Where did the year go? How time flashes! If the end of the week managed to sneak up on you as fast as it got me you might want to review some of these posts found here over the week.

5. ABBA Museum to Debut in 2008:
Come on! You can’t tell me you’re not excited by the news. Get your dancing feet to this one to find out the details on the new Sweden based museum.

4. Maps of the World:
Erik brings our attention to the poor quality of maps too often found in guidebooks and then provides some good resources to finding good maps to take on your trip. AAA and another site new to me called, Just Maps are the only two that he mentions, but it’s a good starting place if you’re completely lost.

3.Magnifique Martinique:
Considering how popular the islands become once winter storms start pounding less tropical lands I thought this piece on the French Caribbean island of Martinique needed extra mentioning. It’s high on my travel agenda for that particular region of the world.

2. Garlic Card:
As a child I was never a fan of garlic, but this is mostly due to my aunt draping it in my window to protect me from vampires. I kid you not. However, some people can’t go a day with seasoning their food with a pinch of garlic. Neil brings us information on a Garlic card that can be used to help bring extra flavor and taste to your meals while camping in the great outdoors. I’m sure it will protect you from vampires in the woods as well, if you buy into that stuff.

1. Space Tourism Details Start to Fill In:
Everyone ready to go to space? More and more details are starting to come in on Space Tourism and it even looks somewhat affordable. If you think about $200,000 is a lot more affordable than $20 million bucks.

Space Tourism Details Start to Fill In

by Iva Skoch on

Not to steal too much thunder from Erik (who’s been blogging about this for some time), but it looks like the details of space tourism are getting clearer.

Virgin Galactic has already collected $200,000 from its first 100 customers, called “founders,” for their 150-minute flights on SpaceShipOne. More spots are still open for the next elite group of 400, called “pioneers” ($150,000 down payment). Booking is now also occurring for a third group, called “voyagers” ($20,000 down payment). They hope to put up 500 adventurous folks in the first year of operation: 2009.

Competitor Space Adventures is already off and running, haven taken the first three space tourists to the Space Station … for a $20 million “base price” apiece.

Finally, Benson Space Company will take you up on their Dream Chaser — once they complete it — for between $200,000 and $300,000, hopefully sometime in 2009. Get your $25,000 deposit ready.

First Pakistani Woman to Tour Space

by Adrienne Wilson on

Namira Salim is not an astronaut. She does music, art, sculpture and is a peace activist, but among all this she will become the first Pakistani woman to tour outer space. In 2008 she will set out with Virgin Galactic (sister company to Virgin Atlantic) as one of the good will ambassadors for the company. The lucky woman was chosen as a member of Virgin Galactic Founders Club out of some 40,000 registrants. I’m not sure who the other lucky space travelers will be as the story as featured on South Asia Biz only mentions Ms. Salim.

Now this isn’t to take any attention off of Namira Salim, but I do art, like music and consider myself a highly peaceful person and I’d like to go to space. You know, I’m just saying this in the event that Sir Richard Branson is reading right now. It never hurts to have alternates and I wonder if they have a blogger in their far-out crew? You know, I’m just going to open this whole thing up for anyone with some extra cash to burn and not just Mr. Branson – be the first to help send a real travel blogger into space. That would be me, Adrienne Wilson of course. Pretty please.