NASA has been aggressive about identifying near-Earth objects that could pose a threat to our planet in the future, as well as pursuing ideas to deal with space rock aimed at Earth. It has taken its efforts to the next level with its new Grand Asteroid Challenge, which was announced at the space agency’s headquarters
If you like space exploration, you’ll want to get used to these eight faces — odds are that you’ll see at least some of them again. They represent NASA’s 2013 astronaut candidate class, and they’ll start training in August for a chance at going on missions to the International Space Station, asteroids and even Mars. The trainee pool is more eclectic than usual this time around. Half the picks are women, while three of the candidates come from non-military outfits such as Harvard Medical School and NOAA. Check out the full roster after the break.
Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt
Via: Space Travel
Source: NASA
Some people claim to have a great view from their bedroom window or work desk. Their claims are worth nothing compared to the view the astronauts in the ISS get.
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We’ve seen NASA‘s Mars Curiosity rover bore into Martian rock with a small drill multiple times, but the robot has just taken things to the next level: lasers. Specifically, the rover got to bore a small hole into Martian rock by blasting it with a laser repeatedly, causing a hole a few millimeters in diameter,
NASA has picked its next eight astronaut trainees, the so-called “NASA Class of 2013″ selected from more than 6,000 applications, and the first time equal positions have been given to male and female candidates. The space agency threw open the virtual gates to would-be space explorers 18 months ago, with the promise of potential inclusion
Rejoice fellow space and brick nutters, because Lego is going to release an official Mars Curiosity set! The original model was designed by Stephen Pakbaz, an actual NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s mechanical engineer who worked in the mission. Pakbaz entered his creation in Lego Cuusoo, a web site that allows fans to submit models that could be turned into real sets, like the incoming Back to the Future
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NASA has revealed that its Hubble Space Telescope made a new discovery: evidence of a planet forming at a record distance from its star, something that – if proven to be true – could then shake up current theories regarding planets and their formation. The discovery was made in the Hydra the Sea Serpent constellation.
Robotic sports were bound to involve balls in space at some point. Students from the U.S. and Europe can now sign up for what is described as “the ultimate robot game” in which they will navigate floating spheres through the International Space Station for the Zero Robotics programming competition.
The competition was organized by MIT and the European Space Agency. The idea is to use volleyball-sized SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, and Reorient Experimental Satellites) that are equipped with 12 jets of compressed gas to move them in different directions. The teams from secondary schools program algorithms to maneuver the satellites and to complete game objectives by navigating obstacles and accomplishing certain tasks.
Just float some hoops around and I will slam dunk these robots everywhich way to a win! Not really. It sounds like fun though.
Just try not to hit our astronauts in their heads, guys. And no high speed fly-bys of the crew either. You leave that showboating stuff at home.
The first competitions take place in computer simulations online, but the best of the best teams will have their code put to the test on the SPHERES themselves in the finals next January aboard the International Space Station.
[via io9 via Geekosystem]
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