Space Travel and Exploration: Dreaming About the Future of Space Tourism

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Welcome fellow hustler! Busy morning? Here's what you need to know to start your day.

For ages mankind has dreamed of traveling the stars and visiting distant planets. Not just astronauts but civilians too. Over the years we have seen a few of these achievements come to fruition. People have been sent up to orbit the earth and collect data for scientists back on the planet. A select few have claimed the great achievement of setting foot on the moon. A rover was even sent to Mars and transmitted back pictures of the alien surface.

Even with all these advancements over the last 30 years, space exploration is still in its infancy. The recent crash of Virgin’s Space Ship Two can attest to that. Not only are the ‘kinks’ still being worked out, but what has been explored so far, is merely a drop in the ocean when compared to the billions and billions of stars that have yet to be reached. Aside from Mars and the Moon, our own solar system remains an unexplored mystery. With the future of space tourism hinging on uncertainty; what does this mean for the average citizen?

The taxpayer no longer foots the bill

When the idea of space travel was first put on the table, it was the taxpayer’s dollars that funded the missions. Politicians formed the plan, while the working class paid for it. With the introduction of private spaceflight, the politicians have no say and the American citizen isn’t left paying for everything. The only real restriction they have is how much money is available.

Failure is an option

Private companies can fail as much as they want, within reason. They aren’t tied to an ever shrinking budget like NASA was. Unfortunately, not every test is a success, just look at Virgin Galactic. The explosion of their Space Ship Two was a tragedy and devastating blow to private space flight; but this doesn’t mean they have to call it quits. And now that the politicians can’t step in and pull the funding, that’s one less hurdle they have to deal with. Virgin now has the option to try again, if the funds are there. 

Engineers play a bigger part

If one were to work for NASA as an engineer, they would be part of a larger team working together. With smaller teams being employed by private companies, it allows for a more hands on experience. The engineer actually gets to go in the field and fire the rockets, rather than sit behind a desk all day. Smaller teams and limited resources actually foster more creativity, making them almost like modern day MacGyver’s. 

The price of space travel will drop

The flight of a Virgin space plane costs $250,000. That’s nothing compared to the $12 million price tag of launching a satellite into orbit. On top of that, the rocket that sends it to space can only be used once. If the privately funded space planes can make it to orbit consistently, the price of space travel is going to be drastically reduced. A host of scientists are standing by waiting to run tests on these flights. Also, lower cost means more accessible tourism.

Hypersonic travel may finally happen 

Circumnavigating the globe will be achievable in an afternoon. The promise of sub-orbital travel has been talked about for a while now. Until these privately funded space flights came around, it has always been just out of reach. Right now $95,000 for a ticket still may not be for everyone, but as with any new technology it’s always expensive when it first hits that market. The first microwave cost about $5,000. Now you can pick one up for less than $50. The same thing will happen with sub-orbital flights. Once they hone the production process and discover cheaper ways to build these space planes, tickets may even be as cheap as regular commercial flights.

The view will be humbling

Every astronaut has said that seeing the planet against the infinite backdrop of space was not only awe inspiring, but life changing. What’s going to happen when an artist sees this for the first time? What happens when politicians and CEOs start to take these flights regularly? Will they be moved like the astronauts; or will it be business as usual? 

Even though Richard Branson suffered a major set-back, this doesn’t leave him down and out. Without politicians calling the shots, they can go back to the drawing board and try again. This doesn’t mean that failure isn’t costly; this just means that without the threat of having funding pulled, they have a better chance of learning from their mistakes. Whatever Virgin is doing in the wake of this tragedy, people need to start seriously thinking about how space tourism will affect their lives and how it’s about to change the world.

RECOMMENDED: The Infinite Stretch of the Universe

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*by andreascy*

Some Emergent Internet Applications

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

As the Internet grows day by day (by trillions of addresses) even more uses are made of it. Seriously, that's not a typo.

Here we look at two futuristic applications that are with us today; an Interplanetary Internet (known as InterPlaNet) and robots that are controlled by our own thoughts.

1. The Interplanetary Internet 

No, it is not science fiction. There really is an interplanetary internet, and its primary node is inside the International Space Station. In fact it has been operational since 2009, but it is now expected to take on an entirely new role as rumors emerge that NASA is working on new plans to develop a hovering moon base.

This base (called EML-2) would be situated 60,000 kilometres away from the dark side of the moon at what is called a Lagrange Point. There are a number of such points close to the earth’s orbit where all the gravitational pulls even out, creating gravity neutral regions where space craft can effectively be parked without the need of any fuel to keep them there. 

Astronauts aboard EML-2 would be able to control robotic vehicles on the surface of the moon in real time rather than the three second delay when controlling them from earth. The concept has now been tested by controlling a prototype moon rover on earth via the interplanetary internet. 

2. Your mind in a machine 

VGo is a robot. It attends school and goes from lesson to lesson using a camera. It is surrogate of a young boy who, because of allergies, cannot attend school himself. He controls the robot over the internet and takes part in school lessons and communicates with his friends through it. He is not unique. Such virtual travellers are becoming common place; they save lives in operating theatres and take them in wars; they even carry out nine to five jobs.

Currently they are controlled by mice and keyboards, but the next generation will be controlled by thought alone. As well as sight and sound they will send back to the user senses of touch and smell. Effectively we will be able to become completely immersed in an alternative location; effectively we will be the mind in a remote robotic body.

You can buy basic ones now for under £10,000. To control it remotely over the internet you just need access to a computer and web camera and people are using them for such purposes as touring museums and visiting family. They are being trialled in hospitals for remotely checking on patients. 

A prototype has been built that is controlled remotely over the internet by a person wearing a body suit and controlling one just by thought has been demonstrated using a MRI brain scanner.

Final Words

As broadband continues to develop, ever more uses will be made of it that extend far further than downloading movies and social networking. Perhaps future broadband deals will include the option to add a robot that we can send off to work while we put our feet up. 

*by andreascy*

Remembering Neil Armstrong

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

History will remember Neil Armstrong, foremost, as the first human to step foot on another heavenly body. But his NASA family and many admirers worldwide will forever appreciate him for more than just that one, albeit world-changing, accomplishment. 

Neil A. Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930. He began his NASA career in Ohio.

After serving as a naval aviator from 1949 to 1952, Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1955. His first assignment was with the NACA Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn) in Cleveland. Over the next 17 years, he was an engineer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator for NACA and its successor agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

As a research pilot at NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., he was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the well known, 4000-mph X-15. He has flown over 200 different models of aircraft, including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders.

Armstrong transferred to astronaut status in 1962. He was assigned as command pilot for the Gemini 8 mission. Gemini 8 was launched on March 16, 1966, and Armstrong performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.

As spacecraft commander for Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing mission, Armstrong gained the distinction of being the first man to land a craft on the moon and first to step on its surface.

Armstrong subsequently held the position of Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. In this position, he was responsible for the coordination and management of overall NASA research and technology work related to aeronautics.

He was Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati between 1971-1979. During the years 1982-1992, Armstrong was chairman of Computing Technologies for Aviation, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.

He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California. He holds honorary doctorates from a number of universities.

Armstrong was a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Royal Aeronautical Society; Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the International Astronautics Federation.

He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. He served as a member of the National Commission on Space (1985-1986), as Vice-Chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (1986), and as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Peace Corps (1971-1973).

Armstrong was decorated by 17 countries. He was the recipient of many special honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Congressional Gold Medal; the Congressional Space Medal of Honor; the Explorers Club Medal; the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy; the NASA Distinguished Service Medal; the Harmon International Aviation Trophy; the Royal Geographic Society's Gold Medal; the Federation Aeronautique Internationale's Gold Space Medal; the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award; the Robert J. Collier Trophy; the AIAA Astronautics Award; the Octave Chanute Award; and the John J. Montgomery Award.

Armstrong passed away on Aug. 25, 2012 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He was 82. August 2012

For someone involved in one of the most famous events in world history Armstrong was a very private person. He kept to himself as much as he could. But after he died, his family put out a statement which said : "When you see the moon smiling down on you, look up and think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink."
A public memorial service for Armstrong is being planned for early September in Washington, DC. 

*by andreascy*