Oh, and one more treat to celebrate the end of the Cmdr. Hadfield era on the ISS as he readies for his return tomorrow.
Here he is singing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”, in space.
Your head now has permission to explode.
Guitar. Singing. About space. IN space. as;dlifja;woif;lkajfds
ISS long exposure photography
These images are part of a series photographed by NASA astronaut and Expedition 31 flight engineer Don Pettit using a mounted camera on the International Space Station. He used a special long exposure technique to create star trails as well as city light trails. Lightning storms are also featured prominently in the images.
ISS long exposure photography
These images are part of a series photographed by NASA astronaut and Expedition 31 flight engineer Don Pettit using a mounted camera on the International Space Station. He used a special long exposure technique to create star trails as well as city light trails. Lightning storms are also featured prominently in the images.
Holy star-trails, Spaceman! O.O
Photography In Space - How It’s Done
Alan Poindexter had the honor of commanding the shuttle Discovery on her final mission, STS-131. NASA takes space photography very seriously, and trains their astronauts to capture informative and inspiring images while in orbit.
If you’ve ever wondered about some the techniques and technology behind capturing those great shuttle and ISS photos, check out Captain Poindexter’s great behind-the-lens post. Little-known fact: If you become an astronaut you apparently get access to prototype Nikon cameras … so study that science, you budding photographers!
When done right, this space photography can be truly inspiring. If you really want to dig in to some astronaut photography, you can’t miss the Crew Earth Observations collection. Truly epic photos and videos (including this eye-popping distorted moonset from the ISS).
(via Luminous-Landscape.com, images copyright NASA)
Hey, now you get to do your own star porn! Well … if you had the right vantage point. :D
Immigration form filled out by Apollo 11 astronauts upon their return from Moon.
“Do you have anything to declare?”
“Why yes, yes I do. From up there, you all look like ants.”
O man, so cool! :D
EXPERIMENT TO DISCOVER WHETHER AN ASTRONAUT CAN IMITATE THE FALLING MOVEMENTS OF A CAT, 1968
An experiment to see whether a person in a space suit can imitate the falling movements of a cat, to find out how astronauts can move in space. The experiment was conducted by Professor Thomas R. Kane in 1968 using a trampoline, a cat, and a trampolinist in a spacesuit.
Images by Ralph Crane
Huh.
This is not in Newt Gingrich’s space plan. And that is unfortunate.
KITTIES and SPACE. How can anything be more perfect.
Each January, we honor the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews, as well as other members of the NASA family who lost their lives supporting NASA’s mission of exploration. We thank them and their families for their extraordinary sacrifices in the service of our nation.
On this Day of Remembrance, as we remember our fallen heroes with tributes and public ceremonies, I will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Across the country, all flags at NASA Headquarters and the NASA centers will be flown at half-mast in their memory.
Space exploration is a difficult and dangerous endeavor. We recognize these pioneers’ sacrifices each day with our ongoing commitment to safety. As an agency, we know the risks inherent in each mission. Ensuring the safety of our employees is our highest priority.
The legacy of those we have lost is our ongoing work and the inspiration of generations of new space explorers. Every day, with each new challenge we overcome and every discovery we make, we honor these remarkable men and women. Please join me in working to fulfill their dreams for the future.
Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
NASA AdministratorHeroes.
International Space Station Science
Astronaut Ron Garan takes you on a tour of the International Space Station’s research facilities, which have contributed to advances in materials, environmental science, medicine and our understanding of the human body, our planet and the universe.
GREAT speaker. A wonderful up-close-and-personal introduction to the work that actually takes place on the ISS.
One of the things I find fascinating is how we are attempting to understand so many things about life in the most inhospitable environment to life available. Obviously, the key differentiation here is the lack of gravity rather than the other variables (that we, incidentally, shield the experiments from, such as cosmic radiation or the frigid cold), but it is amazing to think that the lack of something which we take for granted like nothing else on Earth - the presence of gravity - could result in understandings and technological breakthroughs that have a huge impact on life on Earth.
And lookit all those lenses and floor-portholes for taking photographs through! :D
Farts: an underappreciated threat to astronauts
Another scientific paper that actually exists. If you think about it, it’s actually kind of a big deal.
“Intestinal bacteria form two gases, hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4), that could constitute a fire hazard in a closed chamber. So H2 and CH4 pass from the anus but these gases are also transported by the blood to the lungs and removed to the atmosphere. Several factors affect gas formation: 1) amount and kind of fermentable substrate; 2) abundance, types, and location of microflora; and 3) psychic and somatic conditions that affect the gut. We evaluated the first factor by studying men fed different diets and have also recorded influences of uncontrollable factors.”
(via NCBI ROFL)
Well. I’ve always been in awe of the sheer number of variables that scientists/engineers have to consider in attempting to maintain life in space, some of which could only have been pinpointed through SHEER IMAGINATION ALONE until those first few experimental trips up there. Believe me, I am impressed.
Restored Photos: Project Gemini Comes to Life
On 23 March 1965, the first of ten crewed Gemini spacecraft was launched carrying it’s crew of two astronauts, Gus Grissom and John Young.
The NASA Johnson Space Center and the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University today proudly unveil the Project Gemini Online Digital Archive. The archive contains the first high-resolution digital scans of the original Gemini flight films, now available in several formats with a click of your mouse.
Project Gemini (1964-1966) was the second United States human spaceflight program, after Project Mercury (1960-1963). The overarching goal was to test systems and operations critical to the Apollo program (1961-1975), conceived with the purpose of “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth”.
The successful NASA Gemini missions indeed provided critical space operations experience and directly enabled all American space achievements that followed, in particular the Apollo Moon landings and the first American space station, Skylab (1973-1974).
Go to the Project Gemini digital scan archive →
Because spacesuits and astronauts are amazing.
Ever waved at the International Space Station? They wave back.
(via André Kuipers, NASA/ESA)
I do! I’ve waved at the ISS as it went overhead! :D \o/
All on the International Space Station.
(Source: howmanyareinspace)
The Moon Spacesuit Under X-Ray
This is an X-ray of the suit that Alan Shepard wore on the Moon in February 5, 1971, during the Apollo 14 mission spacewalks, on the Fra Mauro formation. Nothing in the suit is superfluous. Every single thing has a purpose. View more spacesuits here →
To complete my line-up of spacesuits for today…
All images taken from Spacesuits: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collection, by Amanda Young, photographs by Mark Avino
Just simply, wow. Other than the spaceship, this is the best symbol for what humans have managed to accomplish, beyond all other living creatures that have ever roamed the Earth.
(Source: arpeggia)
God, this is the best. I wish I could make buttons of all of these and swap them out EVERY SINGLE DAY.
