One year ago (and two days), the family of Neil Armstrong announced that this navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut passed away at the age of 82. Making known that Armstrong was a “reluctant American hero”, his family said that he “always believed he was just doing his job.” Neil Armstrong became the first […]
The space shuttle Enterprise, has a new baby brother. A fully-detailed, 1/35th scale replica of the prototype orbiter. Today, Ed Diment, Lego "Master Builder," unveiled his latest model at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. It’s on display this weekend ONLY, so get off your ass and check it out!
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Joining Space Shuttles Endeavour, Discovery, and Enterprise, the Atlantis will open up to the public tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Atlantis marked the end of an era and was the last Space Shuttle NASA sent up into space, which was launched on July 8, 2011 and returned
With a custom-made setup connecting an app, the iPhone, and a telescope together to take photos of space, one photographer has shown some surprisingly high-quality pics this week of our own moon. Jared Earle’s custom build included the iPhone 4S, a 5-inch lens-toting Celestron spotter scope, a Magnifi accessory, and the app Cortex Camera. With these simple components, surprising results have appeared.
The photo of the moon you’re seeing here comes from Earle’s Flickr account, and was indeed taken with an iPhone 4S. Cortex Camera is used to take a series of photos that, in the end, create one massive high-quality and, as they say, “noise free” composite image.
Though no tripod is necessary when using this app outside of this setup, it’s important that the telescope is not sitting free on its own – don’t want to drop it, after all. The Magnifi accessory is one that allows the user to mount their iPhone to any of a collection of instruments. Telescopes can be attached at the eye, as can microscopes, binoculars, and other oddities.
Earle decided to work with Cortex Camera to make up for the eyepiece he had on hand. Using electrical tape around the 24mm eyepiece allowed the Magnifi accessory to fit properly, while using Cortex Camera allowed the iPhone’s sensor to be fully utilized.
While it’s suggested that the photographer get a remote shutter of some sort or another for the iPhone – and there are many, many of them out there, mind you – Earle made the process work without. Testing this setup – or one similar to it – should be done during the day to assure one’s self of being able to execute a great one-off photo. Once night comes, you’ll want to take said photos in the dark!
SOURCE: 23x
iPhone takes HD moon photos with custom telescope setup is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Interested in buying a 15,000-foot runway? Or maybe a launch pad? It turns out that NASA is quietly planning to lease or sell off a few of its assets at the Kennedy Space Center. A list of items for sale apparently isn’t available yet, but it’s said that Launch Pad 39A, a runway, and the Launch Control Center are up for sale.
If you’re interested in starting your own private space program, talking with NASA about their liquidation sale might be a good start, but of course, you’ll have to have a lot of money in order to get it off the ground (pun intended). Currently, entrepreneur Elon Musk is doing just that with his SpaceX program.
Apparently NASA is wanting to sell their things off quickly before any of the structures fall into a state of disrepair — ideally they want everything sold by the end of 2013, with offers expected to roll in about six months from now. So, if you’re serious about your new space venture, you might be able to snag a bargain or two with some strategic offers.
The process is mostly secret, though, because NASA has agreed to let bidders declare their proposals proprietary and keep them out of the view of competitors and the general public, similar to how a silent auction works, so be prepared to come with your best offers in hand, or else Musk might beat you to the punch.
[via Orlando Sentinel]
Image via Flickr
NASA to hawk space shuttle facilities is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Ever since NASA started wrapping up its space shuttle program, it’s had a lot of extra gear on its hands. The shuttles were sent off to retirement and other assorted equipment was cleaned out of the garage. Now NASA’s game to lease or sell some of the infrastructure that’s still hanging around at the Kennedy Space Center. More »
When NASA cleans their garage, they always end up with the largest yard sale in the world. The giant platforms in the photo above are just part of the last shuttle-era equipment being removed from the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building. More »
On Friday, Space Shuttle Atlantis made its final voyage, marking the last time an orbiter in America’s shuttle program would be on the move. We were on-hand during the occasion and followed Atlantis as it slowly trekked to its destination, a 90,000 square-foot exhibit building at Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Complex. To live out the event vicariously, check out the photos below or hit the jump for the video.
Filed under: Science
Visualized: Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its final journey, arrives at new home (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We followed the final trek of Space Shuttle Endeavour closely. Endeavour was given to the California Science Center and its last 12 miles required numerous trees to be cut down and involved using a pickup truck to tow the massive shuttle down public roadways. The final 10-mile journey for Space Shuttle Atlantis promises to be much less interesting.
Atlantis is the last of the Space Shuttles to hit the road and head to its final home. The gigantic spacecraft will be towed down broad industrial avenues, many of them not even open to the public. The 10-mile journey will include travel through the Kennedy Space Center. Atlantis will move at only 2 mph during its journey perched atop a 76-wheel platform.
The man charged with delivering Atlantis is understandably nervous about the 10-mile drive:
“It’s only a priceless artifact driving 9.8 miles and it weighs 164,000 pounds,” said Tim Macy, director of project development and construction for Kennedy’s visitor complex operator Delaware North Cos. “Other than that, no pressure at all,” Macy said. “Only the eyes of the country and the world and everybody at NASA is watching us. But we don’t feel any pressure.” He paused. “Of course, we feel pressure!”
People wanting to see the shuttle up close and personal can purchase tickets costing as much as $90 each.
[via ABC News]
If you live in Los Angeles and didn’t get a chance to see the space shuttle Endeavour as it was towed down the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center, you have another chance starting today. This chance doesn’t involve the space shuttle being towed down city streets, but you will be able see the space shuttle in its new Pavilion. This Pavilion is a temporary spot for the space shuttle until the air and space wing opens in about five years.
Sadly, the inside of the space shuttle isn’t open for exploration. However, the California Science Center does have a virtual display that lets you check out what the inside of the space shuttle looks like. The space shuttle galley and the space toilet were both removed and are being displayed separately.
I wonder how exactly they cleaned that space toilet before putting it on display. Many an astronaut rear end has occupied the throne over the years. The exhibit does place the shuttle far enough off the ground that visitors can walk underneath to see the tiles, including some that were damaged during the shuttle’s final 25th mission.
When the official exhibit is completed in approximately five years, the space shuttle will be displayed in a vertical position as if it’s ready to launch. It will also be displayed with its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. I like the idea of the space shuttle in a horizontal position making it easy for visitors to check out.
[via LA Times]
Space shuttle Endeavour exhibit to open today is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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