Hasta La Gadget!

Astronomers have discovered a large quasar group, more commonly referred to as an LQG, that is reported to be the largest known structure in the universe. The discovery was reported in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal, and was led by the University of Central Lancashire. The LQG is so large, in fact, that it challenges the Cosmological Principle.

The Cosmological Principle states that when the universe is observed at a large enough scale, it will look the same regardless of where it is being observed from. This principle is based on an assumption, which is now being challenged by the LQG. Just how large is it? According to the Royal Astronomical Society, it would take a car 4 billion years to travel across it at the speed of light.

According to the modern theory of cosmology, a structure like this should not be discoverable at over 370 Megaparsecs, with LQGs being capable of exceeding 200 Mpc. The large LQG discovery, however, measures in at 500 Mpc, with its longest dimension clocking in at 1,200 Mpc. According to RAS, this is about 1,600 times bigger than the distance between Andromeda and the Milky Way.

Dr. Roger Clowes, who led the team that made the discovery, had this to say. “While it is difficult to fathom the scale of this LQG, we can say quite definitely it is the largest structure ever seen in the entire universe. This is hugely exciting – not least because it runs counter to our current understanding of the scale of the universe.”

[via RAS]

Astronomers discover the universe’s largest known structure is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

NASA announced recently that it has awarded a contract worth $17.8 million to Bigelow Aerospace. The contract will allow Bigelow to build an expandable module for the International Space Station. Bigelow Aerospace is a commercial company that builds inexpensive commercial space stations designed for low Earth orbit.

Forbes reports that Bigelow has been working on the development of its expandable space station modules since 1998. The company put its first prototype modules in orbit in 2006 and 2007. The company designs its inflatable modules to work individually in orbit or to be connected other modules to create a larger space station.

More details on the space station module Bigelow Aerospace is working on for NASA will be offered this week at a press event scheduled to be held Wednesday. It is known that Bigelow Aerospace has a launch scheduled with SpaceX in 2015. That launch could be for the inflatable space station module, but that is unconfirmed at this time.

NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver issued a statement noting that the partnership agreement between NASA and Bigelow Aerospace for the use of expandable habitats “represents a step forward in cutting-edge technology that could allow humans to thrive in space safely and affordably…” Specific details about the inflatable module and when it is expected to be added to the orbiting International Space Station will be offered on Wednesday.

[via Forbes]

NASA grants $17.8 million contract for inflatable space station module is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The large Apophis asteroid passed by Earth a few days ago, some 9,000,000 miles from our fair planet. The asteroid, which is named after an Egyptian demon, was said to measure 270 to 275 meters wide. The European Space Astronomy Center’s Herschel Space Observatory observed as it neared, however, that it is much larger than that.

Herschel came to this conclusion by observing the asteroid using thermal infrared in different wavelengths, which you can see in the image above. Combining the infrared observations with optical measurements, Apophis’s size estimates were refined, with the asteroid turning out to be about 20-percent larger in diameter than previously believed at 325 meters wide.

The European Space Astronomy Center’s Goran Pilbratt offered this statement. “Although Apophis initially caught public interest as a possible Earth impactor, which is now considered highly improbable for the foreseeable future, it is of considerable interest in its own right, and as an example of the class of near Earth objects. Our unique Herschel measurements play a key role for the physical characterization of Apophis, and will improve the long-term prediction of its orbit.”

Many call Apophis the doomsday asteroid because it was initially believed there was a small 2.9-percent chance of it hitting Earth in the year 2029. That information was later refined, with the asteroid actually passing by at a distance of about 22,000 miles. Apophis will near Earth again in the year 2036, but no one knows how close it will come to our planet.

[via Astronomy]

Herschel Space Observatory finds Apophis asteroid is larger than believed is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Cameras being sent to the edge of space are nothing new, but it requires a bit of tinkering skills to set up the balloon and camera mount. Quirky wants to help more people send their cameras to space, which is why they made the Kepler Space Kit. They didn’t say anything about retrieving your precious GoPro though.

The Kepler Space Kit is actually a modification of the Kepler, another upcoming Quirky product. Invented by Brian Erickson, the Kepler was designed for aerial photography – it’s basically a camera mount attached to a kite. The Space Kit takes that to another level, turning this:

Into this:

Here’s a test run of the Kepler Space Kit prototype:

Here’s what the camera was able to capture (you might want to turn down the audio for this, since the audio beacon’s beep will quickly drive you insane.)

You can help dictate the price of the Kepler Space Kit by answering a few questions on Quirky. Before you beam yourself up, keep in mind that Quirky is only selling the parachute, landing legs and the camera mount itself. You’ll have to supply the camera, the weather balloon and the helium, and an audio beacon. The kit is only compatible with GoPro cameras (with the GPS module) and the iPhone 5.

[via Quirky]

SpaceX stated during a conference at the Kennedy Space Center that it plans to send a crew of its own employees into orbit in 2015. This follows the company’s successfully completed unmanned mission to the ISS, earning the record of first commercial company to do so. The announcement was made by Garret Reisman, one of SpaceX’s project managers and former NASA astronaut.

SpaceX is taking this step as a way to demonstrate that its Dragon and Falcon 9 are safe and ready to carry NASA crew members into space. NASA is likewise enthusiastic about the mission, stating that it wants to know when these companies are ready to fly their own crew at their own risk. Unlike its historic unmanned mission to the ISS, this flight will not dock at the station. Likewise, it is being reported that the vessel will stay in space for a minimum of three days.

When asked if he would be part of the crew that SpaceX sends into orbit, Reisman offered this statement. “I did not come to SpaceX specifically … with the intent of going back to space. What’s important to me is that I can look myself in the mirror … [and say] that the risk is acceptable for me to fly.”

NASA has been pursuing commercial companies, having had to utilize Russia for sending astronauts into space after the space shuttle was retired. Commercial companies will save the U.S. a substantial amount of money, but aren’t quite at the point they need to be yet. By sending a crew into space, SpaceX will demonstrate its abilities while taking a big step towards ushering in a new future of space exploration.

[via Orlando Sentinel]

SpaceX wants to send its employees into orbit in 2015 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.