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Skies to Stars: Coming Attractions
By Ed Downs
Part of the fun at looking into deep space (beyond our own solar system) is knowing that the light you are seeing has been traveling through space for possibly millions of years. While astronomers talk as if they are viewing in the present, the images they observe are actually being seen as if you were looking back in time. In other words, the dramatic announcement of spotting a super nova (massive exploding star) makes it sound as if the event was currently in the process of happening whereas, in fact, it may have happened a million years ago. That does not, however, alter the fact that it is the first time the event is being seen from our planet. True, others, on other exoplanets (planets not in our solar system, and there are a BUNCH of those) may have seen an event first, but they (the little green guys) are not talking… yet.
But let’s take another approach at talking about celestial objects and events, like those that are to come. What about “coming attractions?”
The Discovery Program: NASA Gets it Right
By Ed Downs
Our August issue of In Flight USA carried coverage and comments about the ending of America’s Manned Space Program (read on www.inflightusa.com). America’s surrender of leadership in manned space flight to a country with space technology from the late 1950s is, at best, questionable. Those making this fateful decision should have asked the question, “What happens to the International Space Station (ISS) if that obsolete technology breaks down?” Well, it has, and no answer is at hand.
On Wednesday morning, August 24, 2011 a Russian Progress M-12M vehicle lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on an unmanned supply mission to the ISS. This is the booster system that has been used since the late 1950s and is now used to launch the manned Soyuz capsule. It did not reach orbit. This is currently the only vehicle combination used to take crews to and from ISS. It is now grounded. The Russian Proton rocket was to have served as a back up, but it, too, failed just a week earlier. The much touted entry of privatized boosters into service that are man rated is at least five years in the future. America’s more than $100 billion investment in ISS is in significant jeopardy due to self-serving political decisions. NASA has lost much of its glitter.