Hasta La Gadget!

An unmanned cargo ship built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to go up in flames tomorrow in the name of interplanetary research. Along with a load of space station junk, the Kounotori 2 spacecraft is packing something akin to a black box, also known as a Re-entry Breakup Recorder (REBR), that will collect and transmit data about the ship’s final moments. The space station’s crew will activate the REBR before Kounotori 2 begins its final assignment. As soon as it starts showing signs of re-entry, the sensor will begin to collect data including temperature, acceleration, and rotation rate, and will then break away from the craft for a final free fall to Earth, at which point the REBR will dump its findings. Scientist hope the device will help answer questions about exactly what happens when things fall apart during re-entry. If all goes according to plan, the REBR will plunk down in the ocean sometime later, but its host will never be seen again… farewell, Kounotori 2.

Japan sends Kounotori 2 spacecraft on suicide mission to study re-entry process originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick question: What is this device?

A An interstellar alien spacecraft

B A steam-punk version of the classic game Simon

C A $5,000 laser-level

The answer is “C” (although “B” would also be very cool). It’s called the Cornerstone Classic, and its gorgeously made body contains lasers, tilt-sensors and motors that let it work as a level to an accuracy of 1/32 inch over 100 feet.

Clearly this isn’t for you or me, unless you are a construction professional. The Cornerstone self-levels (although you can level it manually), and projects lasers in three planes without any moving parts in the optical system. This, says Origin Laser Tools, keeps the device smaller and lighter, and easier on the batteries.

Speaking of batteries, the Cornerstone uses li-ion calls, and the body is made from “7075 aircraft aluminum, 360 brass and 440c surgical stainless steel.”

It is utterly gorgeous to look at. And re-reading the post above, with talk of lasers and aircraft aluminum, maybe an “A”, an interstellar alien spacecraft, isn’t so far off the mark. After all, who says that extraterrestrials should be as big as us? Maybe they’d easily fit an entire crew inside this little 3.5 pound vessel.

Available for pre-order now.

Cornerstone Classic [Origin Laser Tools via Tool Snob]

See Also:

• 'Stud' Utility-Belt Hides Six Handy Tools
• Lasers
• 'Darkfield' Lasers Let Mice Track On Glass
• Sniper-Busting Lasers Catch Shooters Before They Fire

No one said Bob Kimball’s job was going to be easy when he took the reigns from RealNetworks founder Rob Glaser, about a year ago. Kimball had been serving as the company’s attorney for a decade before ascending to Real’s top spot. The past decade hadn’t been particularly kind to the company, but Kimball was reportedly working to rebuild the once ubiquitous streaming media provider.

Among the many great feats of his career, film director James Cameron counts the rather unorthodox achievement of being able to convince NASA to use a stereoscopic camera on its next Mars rover project. Unfortunately for him, us, and the hard working folks over at Malin Space Science Systems, technical snags have been encountered in the integration of the jumbo mastcam (pictured above) with the rover’s hardware and the resulting delays have caused NASA to nix the idea altogether. You might think that 3D visuals of Red Planet gravel will be no great loss, but the MSSS cams also had zoom lenses attached, whereas the research project will now be returning to tried and true fixed focal length imaging. Ah well, such is the bumpy road to interterrestrial enlightenment. NASA’s rover, titled Curiosity, is set to begin its voyage in November of this year, while Cameron and co remain upbeat about the future, saying they’re “certain that this technology will play an important role in future missions.”

NASA forced to abandon plans for 3D camera in next Mars rover, James Cameron not losing faith yet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next week is the Week Without the Web at Hofstra University–well, at least part of it is. Actually, the Week Without the Web is only five days–apparently they haven’t gotten to the days of the week part of their curriculum. The annual event is aimed at the University’s School of Communication, but the college is welcoming all of its students and faculty to join in on the shutting off.

The aim of the week is “to give students and faculty the opportunity to explore and discuss the effects of the Internet on their everyday lives.” A number of events are planned to mark the occasion, including speeches, movie screenings, and a “Back in the Day” party, which will involve the Nintendo 64. Remember 1996? Before the Internet was invented?

Also, oddly, the University will be giving away an iPad 2 and domain names. Next year I’d recommend keeping with the theme–perhaps some oxen and a butter churn. You can find more information on the event over at the official blog, which may or may not be up next week.