Moon walker demo lets wannabe astronauts feel 0.17G (video)

DNP TE Connectivity demo at CEATEC lets you feel like you're on the moon handson

When we saw a guy strapped to a crane, bounced between colored spots on the floor, we had to have a go find out more. Within CEATEC, there are halls filled with companies you’ve not yet heard of. TE Connectivity is probably one of them, regardless of the fact that it’s a huge producer of data connectors, power protectors and other things that mass producers like. Now, exactly why it’s got this moon gravity simulator at the front of its stand is harder to explain, but it has a lot to do with promoting TE’s other products. The simulator includes a high-speed USB connector right above the harness, floor sensors that detect your landing, some other NASA-authorized parts and dynamic sensors within the balance motor that ensure that any hobbyist astronauts in training (like ourselves) don’t spin out of control while bounding around at 0.6G.

A computer behind the scenes continuously calculates and adjusts exactly how much lift it gives your body once you’re strapped in. Then the aim to this demo is to hop between specific colored spots on the ground, which was a little harder than it sounds. We strap ourselves in after the break. %Gallery-slideshow99771%

Filed under: ,

Comments

The World’s Biggest Telescope Is Finally Online

The World's Biggest Telescope Is Finally Online

With the arrival of the 54th—and final—12-meter wide radio telescope, the single largest astronomical project humanity has ever under taken can finally begin peering into the heavens at full strength.

Read more…


    



Scientists Just Discovered a Key Plastic Ingredient–In Space

Scientists Just Discovered a Key Plastic Ingredient--In Space

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft just detected propylene on Saturn’s moon Titan. You might recognize the name of the chemical as part of polypropylene, the material that the food storage containers in your cupboard are probably made of. It’s the first time that the plastic ingredient has ever been observed anywhere other than Earth.

Read more…


    



Government Shutdown Could Delay a $650 Million NASA Mission Until 2016

Government Shutdown Could Delay a $650 Million NASA Mission Until 2016

The government started to shut down on Tuesday morning after Congress embarrassingly failed to come to an agreement on the budget. It’s bad news. While science and technology programs as a whole took a hit, NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft set is particularly screwed.

Read more…


    



A Full View of the Gigantic Asteroid Vesta

A Full View of the Gigantic Asteroid Vesta

At 330 miles in diameter, Vesta is the second most massive object in the asteroid belt. NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has been orbiting it for some time now, but it’s finally generated an image which shows the asteroid in all its glory.

Read more…


    



NASA details plans in event of government shut down

A government shut down has been warned as possibly taking place tomorrow in light of budget agreement troubles within Congress. If such a shut down does take place, a myriad of individuals and agencies will feel the effects, not the least of which is NASA. On Friday, the space agency detailed plans it has in […]

A Real Astronaut Uncovers the Gaping Plot Hole in Gravity

A Real Astronaut Uncovers the Gaping Plot Hole in Gravity

Gravity looks pretty damn terrifying. Most philosophers would tell us that for a film to really be chilling to the bone, it must call to mind a real-life existential fear that’s buried within our souls. So Gravity is tugging at some deeply held fears we’ve got, then, right? Well, according to real astronaut Michael Massimino, the movie is a bunch of bull.

Read more…


    



Curiosity Rover finds no evidence of methane on Mars

One of the main goals of putting the rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars was to help determine if the planet could’ve harbored life in the past, or perhaps still has life on its surface or under. Prior to putting Curiosity on the surface of the red planet, measurements taken from Earth and by […]

SpaceX launches new Falcon 9 rocket with 60 percent stronger engines (video)

DNP Better, Faster, Stronger, Harder SpaceX Falcon rocket has 60% more powerful engines, bigger fuel tanks

While most of the news about SpaceX has surrounded the Grasshopper lately, the firm has been plugging away at its Falcon rocket, too. This just-launched Falcon 9 (dubbed version 1.1) boasts 60 percent more powerful engines, longer fuel tanks and according to the Global Post, other new features that were designed to boost lift capacity and “simplify operations for commercial service.” To that end, the spacecraft was carrying a science and communications satellite for Canada’s MDA Corp. when it left Earth’s atmosphere. The take-off comes just over five years after the first Falcon’s departure, and its itinerary will take it around both poles. Just remember, for a cool $56.5 million you too can send a Falcon 9 into space.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: YouTube

Source: SpaceX (YouTube), SpaceX (Twitter)

The Eagle Nebula Couldn’t Look Cooler

The Eagle Nebula Couldn't Look Cooler

That top image is pretty, but the only way to see this incredible combination of dust and gas is to take in the whole image below. Holy crap, right? This picture, which was created in 2005 using Hubble data and digitally assigned colors, shows the Eagle Nebula surrounded by and intertwined with dust pillars that are slowly being shaped by light and cosmic wind.

Read more…