Engadget

X Prize adopts NASA guidelines for protecting lunar heritage sites, Buzz Aldrin punch averted

Jason Hidalgo — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:19:00 EST

NASA hopes that one small step by Google's Lunar X Prize will eventually lead to a giant leap in protecting historical sites on the moon. The X Prize Foundation announced that it will adopt guidelines released by the space agency last year to help preserve lunar heritage sites. The move comes at a crucial time as a new space race increases the possibility of an imminent moon landing, according to NASA. Google's Lunar X Prize alone currently has 26 contestants worldwide vying to land a robot on the lunar surface by 2015. NASA stressed that their recommendations aren't law and "do not represent mandatory U.S. or international requirements." Examples include approach and landing guidelines to minimize disturbance, contamination and degradation of Apollo mission sites. That certainly sounds more reasonable than, say, plopping some dude in a spacesuit at a lunar outpost to shoot trespassers with a plasma shotgun while yelling, "Get off my property!" In the meantime, feel free to mosey on over to the PR after the break.

Continue reading X Prize adopts NASA guidelines for protecting lunar heritage sites, Buzz Aldrin punch averted

X Prize adopts NASA guidelines for protecting lunar heritage sites, Buzz Aldrin punch averted originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA eyes waypoint near moon, Orbital Drop Shock Troopers not in plans ... yet

Jason Hidalgo — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:37:00 EST

Not content with its Foursquare badge from the International Space Station, NASA is now setting its sights closer to the moon, with plans for a deep space outpost near our celestial neighbor. NASA is looking at setting up an outpost near the recently filmed far side of the moon that could serve as a jumping point to other more exotic destinations like lunar space, asteroids and Mars. The waypoint could even serve as a place for assembling and servicing satellites and large telescopes, as well as robotics research ~~on crashed Transformers~~. The leading location so far is "Earth-moon libration point 2," a more gravitationally stable area in space that serves as an ideal parking spot for space craft. Echoing recent talk by Russians about a joint moon base, NASA also hopes to get by with a little help from its friends -- well, actually a lot of help from the international community -- by using the partnerships it has formed through the International Space Station.

NASA eyes waypoint near moon, Orbital Drop Shock Troopers not in plans ... yet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video)

Amar Toor — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:38:00 EST

Take a moment to Breathe, because this one's kind of heady. NASA has just published a new video of the Dark Side of the Moon and, contrary to popular belief, it's not really all that dark. (We'd probably describe it as a subdued gray, if we had to, but feel free to go with Any Colour You Like.) Compiled into a 30-second video clip, this footage provides a cursory glimpse of the moon's hind parts (its "B-Side," if you will), panning over the rock from north to south, in all its crater-y glory. It's all part of an initiative from NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), which presumably spent a lot of Time and Money to build its twin spacecraft, nicknamed Ebb and Flow. On January 19th, the lab sent the pair up to that Great Gig in the Sky, as part of the GRAIL MoonKAM mission -- a "progressive" educational outreach program geared toward middle school students. Ebb was charged with filmic duties, and did a remarkable job of shooting On the Run with its MoonKAM camera, returning high res footage to NASA's engineers, and giving both Us and Them something to think about during the next lunar Eclipse. See the video (along with its eerily sync-able counterpart) after the break, and if you've got any questions about it, please don't hesitate to Speak to Me.

Continue reading NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video)

NASA films dark side of the moon, finds no evidence of Brain Damage (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Russia in talks for Moon base timeshare with European Space Agency, NASA

Joseph Volpe — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:16:00 EST

Whether or not you believe we actually put a man on the moon, there's about to be a whole gaggle of'em bouncing about the place and mucking things up in the name of Science. Taking that whole "one giant leap for mankind" motto a few baby steps further, is an in-development initiative that would see our former, space race frenemy Russia teaming up with the ESA and NASA to develop a Moon base. Citing recently discovered reservoirs of water located near the polar caps, Roscosmos chief Vladimir Popovkin believes the time is ripe to continue exploration of Earth's satellite via the installation of a settlement on its surface or an orbiting station. As with all things outer space, expect this cooperative project to take some time coming to fruition. After all, there are billions of dollars, not to mention a bevy of international egos on the line here.

Continue reading Russia in talks for Moon base timeshare with European Space Agency, NASA

Russia in talks for Moon base timeshare with European Space Agency, NASA originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA's GRAIL spacecrafts enter Moon's orbit, set to map its gravitational field in March

Joe Pollicino — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EST

Way back in September, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory sent a duo of Lockheed Martin-produced spacecraft toward one of its favorite test subjects, the Moon, as a part of its GRAIL mission -- Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory. Now, nearly four months later, the administration has announced that the GRAIL-A and -B twin crafts have planted themselves within our Moon's orbit. According to NASA, they're currently in "a near-polar, elliptical orbit with an orbital period of approximately 11.5 hours," and it plans to execute more "burn maneuvers" in the coming weeks to shorten that time frame to less than two. By March, the research crafts will be positioned in a "near-polar, near-circular orbit" 34 miles above its surface, at which point they'll begin surveying its gravitational pull, by using radio signals to determine the distance between both units.

With this information, NASA hopes to better understand how gravity works, both above and below the Moon's surface, by detailing the findings in a high-resolution map. NASA also says that scientists can utilize it to get further insight into how our planets formed. Notably, both spacecraft feature a MoonKAM (Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students), that will allow students request pictures of specific areas the lunar surface for later study. Best of all, using NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" web app, you'll be able to follow the paths of both spaceships in detail. You'll find full details about the GRAIL mission at the source links below.

NASA's GRAIL spacecrafts enter Moon's orbit, set to map its gravitational field in March originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA looks to send landers to Europa in 2020, wants to break the ice

Amar Toor — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:34:00 EST

There's still a lot of mystery surrounding Jupiter's moon Europa, but researchers at NASA seem fairly certain that there's a watery ocean lurking beneath its icy exterior. Their theories may finally be put to the test later this decade, thanks to a concept mission crafted by astronomers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. According to Space.com, JPL researchers have come up with a plan that would send a pair of landers to Europa by 2026, in the hopes of finding out whether the rock has ever supported life forms. The endeavor certainly wouldn't be easy, since Jupiter blankets its moon in heavy radiation, but researchers think they can mitigate these risks by sending in an extra lander as backup, and by keeping the mission short and sweet. Under the plan, each 700-pound robot would use a mass spectrometer, seismometers and a slew of cameras to search for any organic chemicals that may be lodged within the moon's ice. Neither craft will sport a protective shield, so they'll only stay around the planet for about seven days, so as to avoid any radiation damage. At this point, the mission is still in the concept phase, though the JPL is hoping to launch both landers by 2020. JPL researcher Kevin Hand was quick to point out, however, that this would be a "habitability mission," and that NASA doesn't expect to find any signs of current life on Europa. Lars von Trier was unavailable for comment.

NASA looks to send landers to Europa in 2020, wants to break the ice originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA creates high-res Moon map, taunts you about your terrestrial tethers

Terrence O'Brien — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:47:00 EST

Chances are you will never set foot on the Moon. Sorry, we don't mean to rain on your parade (alright, maybe we do), but the closest you'll ever get is looking at pictures or traipsing around Google Moon. NASA's LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) has been circling our rocky satellite capturing such images, and now 69,000 of them have been stitched together to create the highest resolution topographic map of the lunar surface ever. The Global Lunar DTM 100 m topographic model has a scale of roughly 100 meters per-pixel, allowing researchers to better understand how the crust is formed and accurately scout landing sites for future missions -- be they robotic or manned. Check out the source for a larger image and a few more details.

NASA creates high-res Moon map, taunts you about your terrestrial tethers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

LED Moon shines message of hope, no dark side to see

Joseph Volpe — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:43:00 EST

Scale models of manmade wonders are usually the stuff of gimmicky travel souvenirs, but could you resist a faithful replica that was a topographic clone of our closest celestial body? We didn't think so. Dedicated to the super moon that brought his catastrophe-stricken nation comfort, Japanese designer Nosigner culled imagery taken by the lunar orbiter Kaguya to create a hope-swelling, LED-lit copy of Earth's favorite satellite. Recently on display at the Dwell on Design exhibit in LA, this spherical lamp of lunar love doesn't yet appear to be available for order -- but then again, how do you put a price on hope?

LED Moon shines message of hope, no dark side to see originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google and Slooh Space Camera make today's lunar eclipse viewable worldwide (video)

Donald Melanson — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:49:00 EST

As you may or may not be aware, there's a lunar eclipse today, and it turns out Google's decided to do something a little special this time for those not able to see it outside for themselves -- or those that simply prefer to stay indoors. It's teamed up with Slooh Space Camera to make the rare 100-minute long eclipse viewable online through a variety of means, including a live stream on YouTube, in the Sky layer on Google Earth, and in Slooh's Android app and Google App Engine-based website (which comes complete with narration from actual astronomers). It all gets started at 11:20AM PDT or 2:20PM EDT -- hit the source link below to choose your viewing preference.

Update: It's happening, people. Live stream is after the break.

Continue reading Google and Slooh Space Camera make today's lunar eclipse viewable worldwide (video)

Google and Slooh Space Camera make today's lunar eclipse viewable worldwide (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Space Adventures will shoot you (and your ego) to the moon for $150 million

Michael Gorman — Sun, 08 May 2011 08:11:00 EST

Y'know, there are only so many pristine beaches and spectacular slopes one can see before terrestrial tourism becomes blasé. That's why Space Adventures -- who lets folks vacay in space via suborbital jaunts -- is offering to shoot you to the moon during your next work sabbatical. Amateur astronauts won't actually land on the lunar surface, of course, but their Soyuz spacecraft will get within 62 miles of it. To indulge in your lunar fantasy, it'll only cost you 150 million bucks, or roughly the GDP of a [insert small island nation here]. One of the two seats is already taken, but the company needs another would-be moon man or lunar lady before the trip's a go. The only thing stopping us (and everyone we know) from signing up is an empty bank account -- does Fastweb do spaceflight scholarships?

Space Adventures will shoot you (and your ego) to the moon for $150 million originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 May 2011 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA collects proposals for space fueling stations

Brian Heater — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:05:00 EST

Sometimes rocket science is actually, you know, rocket science. Getting to the moon was tough enough, but deep space exploration poses all manner of additional concerns -- like getting back home alive, for one thing. And then there's the issue of fuel, something long distance trips require a lot of -- but stocking up on here on Earth means potential weight problems at launch. One proposal offered up in the past is space-based fueling stations conveniently located in key spots on the way to a distant destinations like the Moon, Mars, and asteroids. NASA is collecting proposals that can demonstrate the validity of such a plan, including the ability to store liquid oxygen and hydrogen, transfer it, and have a ship approach for fueling. If you think you've got your bases covered -- and can keep it under $200 million -- you've got until May 31st at 11:59 PM EST to hand over a proposal.

NASA collects proposals for space fueling stations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

McGill University researchers show off lunar rover prototype with unique 'iRing' wheels

Donald Melanson — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:14:00 EST

We've already seen researchers at the University of Chicago and Cornell use coffee grounds to develop an entirely different type of robotic hand, and it looks like some folks at McGill University in Montreal, Canada have also been taking a similar approach to quite literally reinvent the wheel. That's being done as part of the Lunar Exploration Light Rover (or LELR) project, which is aiming to build a lunar rover that's light and able to navigate difficult terrain (i.e. the surface of the moon) with ease. One of the key aspects of that, of course, are the wheels, and the McGill researchers' solution is something called the "iRing" -- a wheel made of a chainmail-type fabric and filled with "granular particulate matter" (or tiny pieces of metal). That creates a wheel that's heavy and sturdy enough to avoid bouncing around on the moon, but still flexible enough to absorb shocks and overcome any obstacles. Will it actually wind up on the moon? That remains to be seen, but the researchers expect the final prototype of the complete rover (which could even carry a crew) to be complete in the spring of 2012. Be sure to hit up the via link below for the best look at the rover on video.

McGill University researchers show off lunar rover prototype with unique 'iRing' wheels originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Visualized: the hardware of the Soviet lunar program

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 06:42:00 EST

The Russian space program's emphasis on orbital space stations can be traced back to July 1969, when America put the first man on the moon and the Soviet Union scuttled its own lunar ambitions, either destroying or dispersing the hardware in the process. Despite the fact that much of it is still classified, a Russian blogger was recently able to snap a bunch of pics of the gear currently at home in the Moscow Aviation Institute. It's a shame we can't see some of this stuff where it would do the world some good, such as in the foyer of Engadget HQ. Hit up the source link for the rest of the story.

Visualized: the hardware of the Soviet lunar program originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

China launches Chang'e II lunar probe, litters countryside with debris

Vlad Savov — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:07:00 EST

We'll have to just put this down to a relative lack of experience. China's recent launch of the Chang'e II lunar probe seems to have gone quite alright for the rocket-propelled explorer, but it's been a somewhat bumpier experience for the people down on the ground. The booster propelling the Chang'e II into orbit found its way onto farmland near Jinsha, Guizhou Province, while the satellite's discarded casing crashed down close to Suichuan, Jianxi Province. Thankfully, it seems like neither village has suffered any casualties as a result, though the locals do now have some rather neat, atmosphere-scarred rocket shells to admire. Check out the charred hardware in the gallery below.

Gallery: China launches Chang'e II lunar probe, litters countryside with debris

Continue reading China launches Chang'e II lunar probe, litters countryside with debris

China launches Chang'e II lunar probe, litters countryside with debris originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Visualized: NASA's lunar laser light show

Donald Melanson — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:41:00 EST

NASA's been quietly shooting lasers at the moon -- and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, specifically -- for some time now, but it only just opened its Laser Ranging Facility at the Goddard Space Flight Center to the public this weekend and, as you can see, it didn't fail to put on a show. Of course, the lasers do more than provide the backdrop for all-night NASA raves (we're guessing), they also measure the precise location of the LRO and ensure the accuracy of the lunar maps its generates.

Visualized: NASA's lunar laser light show originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone 4 cuddles up against telescope, snaps impressive moon closeups

Darren Murph — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:29:00 EST

What's a boy to do when he desperately needs a portfolio full of galactic imagery of his own doing? In most cases, we'd suggest he grab up a telescope (or one of these), the biggest DSLR he can find and a planetary expert who knows a thing or two about exposure. But thanks to a mod that's becoming more and more common these days, it seems that you can replace the latter recommendations with an iPhone 4. Yep -- Apple's latest smartphone, when paired up with a miniature tripod mount and a telescope, can apparently take lovely shots of our dear moon, and if you're struggling to actually spot it, we hear that Planisphere app is pretty handy. Hit the source links if you're scouting some inspiration.

iPhone 4 cuddles up against telescope, snaps impressive moon closeups originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA's Athlete Mars rover does a little dance, gets down tonight (video)

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:56:00 EST

Its been a few years since we last checked in on NASA's All Terrain Hex Limbed Extra Terrestrial Explorer rover -- aka, Athlete. Now a half-scale working prototype standing 15 feet tall, weighing 2.5 tons (about 2,300 kg), and capable of a 1.25 mph (2 kmph) top speed has been set loose for testing by its Jet Propulsion Laboratory creators. Its first task, set to begin next month in Arizona, will be to complete a test circuit of at least 25 miles (about 40 km) in two weeks under its own power. Failing that, we hear Woz is looking for a dance partner. See what we mean in the video of Athlete demonstrating a flare for cargo transport after the break.

Continue reading NASA's Athlete Mars rover does a little dance, gets down tonight (video)

NASA's Athlete Mars rover does a little dance, gets down tonight (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA successfully tests autonomous lunar lander navigation system, codename GENIE (video)

Sean Hollister — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:33:00 EST

Robonaut2 may have fantastic biceps, but raw muscle won't put a ~~man~~ humanoid on the moon -- that takes rockets. Rockets like the one in this RR-1 prototype lander, recently outfitted with a Guidance Embedded Navigator Integration Environment (GENIE) system to let the craft safely descend to the lunar surface. On June 23rd, NASA and partner Armadillo Aerospace put the system to the test, hoping it could figure out the complex algorithms necessary to process volumes of data from the laser altimeter, GPS and inertial sensors, and quickly enough to steer the rocket engine accordingly... but the machine performed like a charm. See its first solo flight in an inspiring, flame-filled video after the break, and skip to 4:12 for the good stuff.

Continue reading NASA successfully tests autonomous lunar lander navigation system, codename GENIE (video)

NASA successfully tests autonomous lunar lander navigation system, codename GENIE (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Russia's Lunokhod 1 robotic moon bounces back laser beams after 40 year nap

Paul Miller — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:34:00 EST

Back before dubstup and chillwave there was a decade called "the nineteen seventies" which capped off a delicious space race between the US and Russia. Also, other things happened. While America was busy shipping humans up to the moon, Russia managed to get two robots up there, the Lunokhod 1 (pictured, in a photo apparently taken in 1904) and Lunokhod 2. They were lost a few years later, but have recently been rediscovered by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Lunokhod 1 has been put back in use for one of its original purposes: laser ranging. A team from UC San Diego managed to get a lock on the bot and bounced 2,000 photons off the rover's laser retroreflector on their first try. They'll be using Lunokhod 1 and some Apollo-planted retroreflectors to test Earth-Moon distance at millimeter precision to test Einstein's theory of gravity.

Russia's Lunokhod 1 robotic moon bounces back laser beams after 40 year nap originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Japan building a robot moon base in 2020, and you're not invited

Paul Miller — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:16:00 EST

Not content with the sheer badassery of sending a humanoid robot to the moon in 2015, Japan has just unveiled a mission for 2020 that will involve setting up a whole robotic moon base. It will be unmanned in the flesh-and-blood sense, but will be populated with a 660 pound rolling bot. The station will be self-powered, and will let its citizen roam over 60+ miles of terrain, gathering scientific samples that can be sent back to earth. While rocks are great, we're even more excited about the HDTV the station will be beaming back as well. The whole project will run somewhere in the ballpark of $2.2, and will be developed simultaneously with Japan's manned moon program. We're going to get working on our "I'm 660 pound a scientific exploration robot" costume right away.

Japan building a robot moon base in 2020, and you're not invited originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 21:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Japan sending humanoid robot to the moon by 2015

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:46:00 EST

As the US prepares to send NASA's humanoid Robonaut2 up to the International Space Station in September, Japan's private SOHLA (Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association) is gearing up to send its own two-legged robot to the moon by 2015. The $10.5 million robot named "Maido-kun" is being developed in coordination with the Space Exploration Agency of Japan (JAXA), an organization that has been trying to send robots to the moon since at least 2006. Oh sure, there's little reason to send a wobbling two-legged robotic rover to the crater-pocked face of the moon when four-on-the-floor would be much more practical -- other than it's awesome.

Japan sending humanoid robot to the moon by 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia Vasco viral video ready, N8 flagship too?

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:49:00 EST

If you already believe the rumors that "Vasco" is the codename for Nokia's unannounced N8 flagship and that the N8 is the device pictured above then lean in, we've got a bit of news for you. A viral video for the "Nokia Vasco" has just wrapped according to cameraman Danny Gagatt's tweet above. That sets the expectation then, that the launch of what everyone expects to be Nokia's first Symbian^3 device is just around the corner. Plausible since Gagatt's slip (since removed) tips The Mill -- the same visual effects company used by Nokia for the N900 nuthouse job. Besides, it's almost mid-April so we expect things to get official right quick.

Nokia Vasco viral video ready, N8 flagship too? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Budget puts NASA's moon program on ice, promises to 'blaze a new trail of discovery'

Donald Melanson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:34:00 EST

It may only represent a smidgen of the multi-trillion dollar annual federal budget, but funding for NASA never fails to stir up debate, and that looks like it'll be the case more than ever with the Obama administration's just-announced 2011 budget. While NASA's budget will actually increase slightly to $19 billion, the big news is that Constellation moon program started by the Bush administration in 2006 (with the goal of returning by 2020) is being shelved amid what amounts to a fairly big change in priorities for NASA. That includes the first phase of more than $9 billion in spending on robotic exploration and heavy-lift rockets and, perhaps most notably, $6 billion in spending to promote the development of commercial rockets and spacecraft -- which NASA hopes will eventually be able to transport astronauts into orbit. Turning around a space agency isn't exactly easy though, and it'll apparently cost $3 billion over two years simply to end what's already been started on the Constellation program.

Feeling a little wistful? Then head on past the break for a brief history of NASA's recent lunar ambitions.

Continue reading Budget puts NASA's moon program on ice, promises to 'blaze a new trail of discovery'

Budget puts NASA's moon program on ice, promises to 'blaze a new trail of discovery' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable

Vlad Savov — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST

It started off innocently enough. Personal transporters, they told us, just robots to make life easier. Now look at them -- Toyota's Partner Robots are set for upgrades that include back-mounted solar chargers, spring-loaded jumping mechanisms, and a design hardy enough to withstand lunar temperature drops. Intended for the performance of exploratory missions on the moon -- alongside a four-wheeled robotic rover -- the new designs were introduced by Toyota in a presentation titled "Realization of Moon Exploration Using Advanced Robots by 2020." So, if the world doesn't actually end in 2012, by 2020 we'll have extraterrestrial robots plotting our demise anyway. More pictures of lunar colonization can be found after the break.

Continue reading Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable

Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA LCROSS moon impact in T-minus 15, water discovery expected in T-minus 19 (update: video!)

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:15:00 EST

NASA's LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite) mission is coming to a glorious end. The mission launched on June 18, 2009 is just minutes away from making dual-impact on the face of the moon. The first impact sees the Centaur craft hitting the surface at a speed of about 1 mile per second ejecting about 350 tons of debris from a crater about 20-30-meters in diameter and 2- to 4-meters deep. A second Shepherding spacecraft will pass through the debris plume 4 minutes later, collecting and relaying data back to Earth in real-time before meeting its end. With any luck, we'll know shortly if the moon contains the water-ice theorized by scientists... and cheese. While the obvious use of lunar-based water is to sate the thirst of astronauts, it could also be used be make fuel for off-Earth exploration. Hit the read link for live streaming of the mission from NASA -- first impact occurs at 07:31:19 AM EDT.

Update: Impact occurred... are we still here? Data is now being analyzed and NASA is expected to know the facts in about an hour. Post-impact news conference scheduled for 10:00 AM EDT.

Update 2: Video added after the break showing the final minutes before impact. The highlight seems to be the denied high-5 at 5:00 minutes in.

Continue reading NASA LCROSS moon impact in T-minus 15, water discovery expected in T-minus 19 (update: video!)

NASA LCROSS moon impact in T-minus 15, water discovery expected in T-minus 19 (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA's Desert RATS field tests the Lunar Electric Rover on simulated 14-day mission

Paul Miller — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST

NASA just took its fancy Lunar Electric Rover for a spin around the Black Point Lava Flow in Arizona for a bit of simulated moon exploration. The 14 day mission had a couple of crew members holed up inside the vehicle for the duration, proving the suitability of the vehicle for such a lengthy jaunt -- and providing for a good amount of Odd Couple-esque hijinks inside, to be sure. The LER also managed to track down "lost" crew members in a trial to test out the navigation systems of the rover, and docked with a habitation module mounted on the ATHLETE vehicle. Sounds like a real party down there! Video is after the break.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading NASA's Desert RATS field tests the Lunar Electric Rover on simulated 14-day mission

Filed under: Transportation

NASA's Desert RATS field tests the Lunar Electric Rover on simulated 14-day mission originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Orbiting fuel stations proposed for trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond

Vlad Savov — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:51:00 EST

A US government panel, summoned by el presidente to review the future of human space travel, has expressed strong support for introducing fuel depots into Earth's orbit. Refueling between stops is expected to cut down significantly on the weight of spacecraft and, accordingly, eliminate the need to engineer ever more powerful rockets to launch missions. It would then be up to private companies to compete -- and NASA already knows a thing or two about privatizing space missions -- by reducing costs and developing more efficient methods. While by no means the only potion NASA has bubbling, if the panel concludes in favor of orbiting gas stations, they will form the backbone of all future extraterrestrial exploration. So we're just letting you know in advance -- we're nice like that.

Filed under: Science

Orbiting fuel stations proposed for trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apollo 11 moon mission to be recreated on the web

Darren Murph — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:19:00 EST

While the shuttle Endeavour is having a tough time getting off of the launch pad, the Apollo 11 moon mission should proceed as scheduled later this week. Some 40 years after Neil Armstrong and a host of behind-the-scenes workers at NASA made JFK's vision a reality, WeChooseTheMoon.org is being launched to recreate the whole spectacle. Starting a full 90 minutes prior to the 40th anniversary (that's 8:02AM on July 16th), the site will be fully operational, tracking the capsule's route from Earth to the moon. Reportedly, visitors will be able to peek "animated recreations of key events from the four-day mission, including when Apollo 11 first orbits the moon and when the lunar module separates from the command module." If you're one of those who remembers "exactly where you were on that fateful day," you should probably queue up a Google alert and bookmark your browser to relive the whole experience again.

Filed under: Transportation

Apollo 11 moon mission to be recreated on the web originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola's Aura Celestial Edition soon taking "giant leaps" for "mankind"

Darren Murph — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST

Here's a fact: the world really doesn't need another mildly tweaked Aura. Sorry, it just doesn't. That being true and all, we're still pretty jazzed to see Motorola giving the ultra-luxurious handset another go with the moon-themed Celestial Edition. Word on the street has it that this here handset won't deviate much from the predecessor, but it will come pre-loaded with multimedia from the original moon landing mission, a laser etched quote honoring the 40th anniversary of the journey and a price tag that's far, far beyond stratospheric. We're told that it's all set to go on sale next month, but good luck finding one.

[Via phoneArena]

Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

Motorola's Aura Celestial Edition soon taking "giant leaps" for "mankind" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola's Aura Celestial Edition soon taking "giant leaps" for "mankind"

Darren Murph — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola's Aura Celestial Edition soon taking "giant leaps" for "mankind" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: NASA's next-gen space suit back on track

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:56:00 EST

It seems like only yesterday that we were hearing about Paragon's designs for greenhouses on the lunar surface (but that's because it was yesterday). Now we've been hepped to the fact that the company is teaming up with Oceaneering International to overhaul NASA's space suit. The last that we heard, the project had been scuttled altogether, but you know how quickly things can be unscuttled when the White House changes hands. The Constellation Space Suit System (CSSS) will be designed in a modular fashion, so that the same suit can be used by the astronaut for all the different aspects of his / her mission. You can look forward to the stylish debut of these bad boys on the new Orion spaceship, currently planned to launch in 2015. According to Engineering TV, this will be the first major space suit redesign in over forty years. Can we make a suggestion? Please don't do anything to that iconic NASA logo -- some things never go out of style. Video after the break.

Continue reading Video: NASA's next-gen space suit back on track

Filed under: Science

Video: NASA's next-gen space suit back on track originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Researchers tout plans for moon greenhouse, Silent Running sequel

Donald Melanson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:04:00 EST

The Google Lunar X Prize obviously hasn't drawn quite the same number of competitors as some of the more Earthbound X Prizes, but it looks like things are starting to heat up a little bit, with Paragon Space Development recently teaming up with Odyssey Moon in an effort to deploy the first greenhouse on the surface of moon. Specifically, the team is hoping to grow a Brassica plant (a member of the mustard family) in a pressurized greenhouse like the one picture above, and possibly even see the plant re-seed itself within a single Lunar day (or 14 Earth days), which just so happens to coincide with the average growth period for the plant on Earth. Of course, that would only be one small part of the X Prize mission, which first and foremost requires teams to safely land a craft, send some live video back to Earth, travel at least 500 meters, send some more video, and carry a payload. So, still a little ways off, but don't let that stop you from checking out the (autoplaying) video after the break, in which Paragon's Taber MacCallum (a Biosphere veteran himself) explains the project to the folks at Engineering TV.

Continue reading Researchers tout plans for moon greenhouse, Silent Running sequel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Researchers tout plans for moon greenhouse, Silent Running sequel originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Odyssey Moon hopes to bring lunar payloads to the masses with MoonOne

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:27:00 EST

Looks like our civilian space agency is serious about getting their little robot outpost on the moon, and now they've teamed up with a company called Odyssey Moon to develop small robotic lunar landers based on NASA's Common Spacecraft Bus. The firm hopes to provide regular commercial services (the craft supports a roughly 110 lb payload) in the event of an oncoming "moon rush," a magical future time where everyone and their mother are looking to get a piece of the lunar surface. Who knows what sorts of new discoveries (and new practical jokes) await those of us who are brave enough to exit the gravity well and live amongst the stars? To peep that far out Engineering TV episode where they break it all down for us, hit the read link.

Filed under: Robots, Science

Odyssey Moon hopes to bring lunar payloads to the masses with MoonOne originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA ruminating a robot-built lunar outpost to make way for manned missions

Paul Miller — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:10:00 EST

NASA commissioned a study on the feasibility of using little smallish tractor bots to prep a lunar outpost before the humans show up, and the research seems to show it as a good idea. The theoretical plan is for 330 pound mower-sized bots to show up on the moon and prep the surface for actual buildings, landing sites, roads and so forth. The robots are basically glorified tractors (or perhaps simplified tractors) so lunarnauts shouldn't expect a palace by the time they show up -- just a bunch of displaced dirt. Berms seem to be a big theme of construction, since a sort of "blast shield" is needed to make sure debris from takeoff and landing don't damage the actual settlement.

[Via ComputerWorld; warning: PDF read link]

Gallery: NASA ruminating a robot-built lunar outpost to make way for manned missions

Filed under: Robots

NASA ruminating a robot-built lunar outpost to make way for manned missions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA electric lunar rover struts its stuff for the President

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:54:00 EST

For the Inaugural Parade, NASA astronauts greeted our new President in the style befitting such an august organization (and one that'll take all the funding they can get) by trotting out their Small Pressurized Rover. Hopefully by 2012 this thing will be spending less time cruising around Washington DC and more time on the lunar surface, where it can support two intrepid explorers for up to two weeks at a time. It sure looks cramped, but man, what a view! Check out some video of the thing in action -- in the nation's capital and in the wild -- after the break.

[Via Billionaire Boys Club]

Continue reading NASA electric lunar rover struts its stuff for the President

Filed under: Transportation

NASA electric lunar rover struts its stuff for the President originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA demos 2020's 12-wheeled, pressurized lunar rover concept car

Tim Stevens — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:07:00 EST

We've all seen black and white footage of astronauts on the moon hot doggin' it over craters and dunes in a trick electric buggy, but that was over thirty years ago. In 2020, when a new generation of astronauts head there, they'll need a new generation of whip too, and that's just what NASA recently demonstrated to the public. Called the Small Pressurized Rover Concept, it looks to be an evolution of the 12-wheeled Chariot prototype we saw earlier this year, pimped out with an air-tight cabin that sleeps two and some bitchin' gold dubs. Inside a pair of explorers can go lunar RVing for up to two weeks at a time, covering 625 miles on one charge at a leisurely 6 mph, hopping out through rear-mounted (non-next-gen) spacesuits when something interesting catches their eye. You know, like aliens or something. Could happen.

[Thanks, Peter D.]

Filed under: Transportation

NASA demos 2020's 12-wheeled, pressurized lunar rover concept car originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA looking to go nuclear on the moon

Donald Melanson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:08:00 EST

As we've seen, NASA has some pretty big plans for the moon (which may or may not come to fruition), and it's now finally offering up a solution for how it might keep everything powered. Turns out, it's looking at going nuclear -- with a fission surface power system, to be specific. That system, seen above in an artist's concept, would consist of nuclear reactor buried below the lunar surface (which provides some handy radiation shielding), with the engines that convert the heat energy into electricity placed in the tower above the reactor -- those long radiators would "radiate into space" any leftover heat energy that wasn't converted to electricity. All told, the system promises to generate a steady 40 kilowatts of electric power, or enough for about eight houses on Earth, but with NASA's various power-saving measures, they say that'd be more than enough to sustain a serious lunar outpost.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

NASA looking to go nuclear on the moon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Next-gen NASA spacesuit contract mothballed

Ryan Block — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:17:00 EST

It may be true that no one can hear you scream in space, but we'd be wagering that a whole lot of people can hear the yelling coming out of Houston-based Oceaneering International, Inc., who just lost their two month old $745 million NASA contract to build the next-gen space suit. Of course, the bid was not without its fair share of bitching and moaning by competing contractors (apparently long time space suit-makers Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover made a big stink after the contract was awarded to their upstart competitor), but them's the breaks when your gear's headed to space. Too bad though, we were really looking forward to the gear -- especially since now we have absolutely nothing to wear to the astro-prom.

Filed under: Wearables

Next-gen NASA spacesuit contract mothballed originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

NASA delays unmanned trip to the Moon, Moon delays unmanned trip to Earth

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:02:00 EST

NASA has delayed plans to send an unmanned robotic spacecraft to the Moon -- and the pause in action will cost $7 million a month, say reports. According to various news outlets, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was set to blast off for the Big Cheese this December, but officials have decided a February 27th launch will provide the team with more wiggle room. The $491 million device is being sent skyward to circle the Moon's poles and map a safe touchdown spot for actual humans, set to journey up onto the Lunar surface sometime in 2020. In addition to the Orbiter, the space agency plans to launch an impactor probe into one of the Moon's poles in search of water ice. It should be a blast.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

NASA delays unmanned trip to the Moon, Moon delays unmanned trip to Earth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

OSU researcher developing GPS-like system for moon-bound astronauts

Darren Murph — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST

GPS on the moon may seem a bit far-fetched... that is, until you remember the US military's plans to launch a WiFi router into space. The same Ohio State University researcher who developed software for the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity is now developing a GPS-like system that would enable astronauts to navigate terrain as if they were simply routing themselves through a plot of land on Earth. Because of the moon's location (we're simplifying things here), Ron Li is having to create a similar system (read: not bona fide GPS) that relies on "signals from a set of sensors including lunar beacons, stereo cameras, and orbital imaging devices" in order to provide navigational output. Everyone involved is hoping to have it operational by 2020 (the next planned trip to the moon), but the team will be stuck testing in the Mojave Desert. Bummer.

[Via Physorg]

Filed under: GPS

OSU researcher developing GPS-like system for moon-bound astronauts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments