There are a bazillion Gangnam Style parodies, but I think this is one of the best – especially when you think there is a PR hero somewhere who convinced the NASA people to do this:
(pay attention to the astronaut at 1:57 – hilarious !!)
Space
Every now and then I go back re-reading stuff that I find of particular significance.
One such piece is the Appendix to the report on the Space Shuttle “Challenger” disaster on January 28th, 1986. I have previously explained my link to the STS-51-L mission.
The Rogers Commission delivered to President Reagan its report six months later and Feynman, then a superstar physicist, played a key role in exposing NASA’s management misguided assumptions over safety factors.
The 9-page Appendix is great reading for anyone interested in the fine art of divulgation (download it here): never superficial, Feynman explains the mistakes made by management in rigorous terms but with what we could call, were it not for the sad subject, entertaining prose.
At the end, however, there is a sentence that I think should be learned by heart by all those practicing the PR profession:
[...] reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.
Stunning megapicture of our galaxy as if we were looking at it from outside.
click to see the details
The way our sun is orbiting within the galaxy, in another 10 million years we will be at our maximum distance from the galactic plane and will therefore enjoy the best possible view of its spiral structure in our sky.
Assuming we’re still there, that is.
Sadly, the Space Shuttle program has come to an end.
The space nerd in me hopes it will be replaced by something grander and more ambitious, but in this world increasingly run by beancounters I am not so sure.
Today, the Enterprise moved from its berth at the Kennedy Space Center to its final landing in New York, where it will be on display at the Smithsonian Institute. The final flight of the final Space Shuttle was the subject of the “spot the shuttle” event over the skies of Manhattan, where people could catch a sight of the ship as it approached the airport.
However please have a look at the two pictures below: the one on the left was taken as the Enterprise, mated to its 747 carrier aircraft, was departing Florida while the second is taken upon landing in NY.
Spot the differences? The worn out hull and the battered heat shield have magically became pristine again upon landing. On-flight paint job? Photoshop? Or maybe the conspiration theorists who always claimed we never went to the Moon were right all along and we never flew in space at all.
Go figure.
Interesting that the spot diameter is larger than our whole planet, making for upcoming wonders for those fortunate enough to see Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights for the non-latin speakers;-D).
Don’t forget to check out the video.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary’s of Yuri Gagarin’s flight. I do wish we do not lose the desire to look up to the stars instead of only worrying about the earth we walk on. Thanks to Google for reminding us
Who says science cannot be made as interesting, entertaining and plain fun?
When you have (at least) half an hour to waste, check out the fantastic Solar System Scope [via @Laura_Scott]: an interactive display of our Solar System (with nine planets, poor Pluto still has some fans) where you can move around like in your backyard, not just in space, but in time as well. Being done in Flash, this is one great app missing from my iPad (and it just cries for a touch interface), but loads of fun nonetheless!
Click for interactive site
BTW, the still frame above represent the three planets (Saturn, Jupiter and Earth) alignment that is maybe preliminary to the big 2012 one, if you believe such crap.
Landed a few minutes ago at the Kennedy Space Center in its final flight. Reminds me fondly of my tiny little brush with space, described in this commemorating post I wrote a while ago on the anniversary of the Challenger disaster.
Can’t help admire the skill of a pilot that lands a brick with no engines falling for 600 kilometers without as much as a whiff.
Respect !!!
That’s how I feel when I look at this.
Click to see full image of M51 (Canis Venatici)
Check out Jon Christensen’ site for more jaw-dropping images.
