Bill Housley
Science Fiction and Fantasy Author
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Into the Dark–Escape of the Nomad
Where’s The Cat?
Another Man’s Terrorist
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Space.com Top Stories
- China Space Program Ramping Up Capabilities, Pentagon Says May 21, 2013China is intent on becoming a major space power.
- NASA Funds 3D Pizza Printer May 21, 2013The 3D food printer could one day be used to feed astronauts on long-duration space missions.
- Rare Sight: See Bright Saturn Near Moon on Wednesday May 21, 2013Glowing Saturn will be close to the gibbous moon.
- Big Meteor Explosion on Moon Shows Lunar Exploration Risks May 21, 2013The lunar surface is incredibly exposed.
- First Trailer for Sci-Fi Thriller 'Europa Report' Unveiled (Video) May 21, 2013A crew of astronauts venture to Jupiter's moon Europa in the new sci-fi thriller 'Europa Report.'
- Oklahoma Tornado Storms Seen from Space: Satellite Photos May 21, 2013See photos of the Oklahoma tornadoes that struck on May 20, 2013, as viewed from space.
- Amazon CEO's Moon Rocket Engines Being Conserved in Kansas May 21, 2013A set of F-1 rocket engines from a Saturn V booster will soon go on display.
- Alien Planets Could Shed Light on Earth's Climate Future May 21, 2013Scientists are studying other rocky planets and moons to better understand Earth.
- Aurora Nights In Finland: Almost 60 In Time-Lapse Video May 21, 2013Photographer Thomas Kast (facebook.com/salamapaja) imaged the aurora borealis from September 2012 to March 2013. Different shooting locations include the frozen Baltic Sea, Lapland and Oulu in Finland.
- Storms That Spawned Deadly Oklahoma Tornadoes Seen from Space (Video) May 21, 2013The storms that gave rise to the Moore, Okla. tornado and others nearby were sighted from space.
- Vancouver Link to Hadfield's Space Guitar May 21, 2013A Vancouver company says it will re-start production of a guitar that was used by Chris Hadfield in space, prompting thousands of dollars in new orders. Powered by NewsLook.
- Self-Destruction of a Gigantic Star | Space Wallpaper May 21, 2013This stunning space wallpaper reveals Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Glittering stars and wisps of gas create a backdrop for the self-destruction of a massive star.
- 3 Planets Performing Rare Night Sky Show: How to See It May 21, 2013Such a tight three-planet grouping won't happen again until 2026.
- Space History Photo: Engine Test in Ames Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex May 21, 2013NASA engineers prepare a laser light sheet for a flow visualization test in a Full-Scale Aerodynamic Complex wind tunnel.
- Oklahoma Tornadoes Seen From Space | Time-Lapse Video May 21, 2013The NASA/NOAA GOES-13 satellite captured the midwest tornado outbreak. The time-lapse covers May 19th-20th, 2013. (Looped 3X)
- Extreme Solar Storm Could Cause Widespread Disruptions on Earth May 21, 2013A large coronal mass ejection from the active sun could affect entire continents, scientists say.
- National Tribute Honors Memory of Sally Ride, 1st American Woman in Space May 21, 2013Astronauts, celebrities and the public honored the late Sally Ride with a tribute to her life and work.
- Stargazer Snaps Amazing Photo of Deep Space Oasis May 21, 2013The galaxy NGC 4214 glows brightly in this photo captured by space photographer Jeffrey O. Johnson.
- Lost Apollo 11 Moon Dust Found in Storage May 21, 2013An archivist rediscovered lunar samples brought back to Earth by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
- Amazing Night Sky Photos by Stargazers (May 2013) May 8, 2013See eye-popping photos of the night sky by submitted by SPACE.com readers in May 2013.
NASA Breaking News
- NASA and The White House Pay Tribute to Sally Ride May 20, 2013NASA and President Obama are honoring the life and legacy of Sally Ride on the day a national tribute was held for the first American woman in space.
- NASA, Bigelow to Discuss Private Sector Human Space Exploration and Development May 20, 2013NASA and Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas are holding a media availability at 1:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 23, to discuss the agency's Space Act Agreement with the company for its insight on collaborating with commercial industry on exploration beyond Earth orbit. Journalists can participate in-person or by teleconference.
- Vanderbilt Takes Top Prize in NASA Student Launch Challenge May 20, 2013The Aerospace Club of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., took first prize in the 2013 annual NASA Student Launch Projects challenge, in which student teams design, build and fly small rockets with science payloads to an altitude of 1 mile and return them safely to Earth.
- NASA Administrator Visits California Centers, Meets Media May 20, 2013NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will hold media availabilities at all three of the agency's centers in California this week, highlighting progress on the asteroid mission, commercial crew transportation and space technology development.
- International Space Station Program, Science Briefing Set May 20, 2013NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will host a news conference and social media event at 1 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. EDT) Wednesday, May 22, to preview the upcoming Expedition 36 mission aboard the International Space Station.
- Sally Ride National Tribute at Kennedy Center Tonight May 20, 2013NASA and Sally Ride Science are inviting journalists to tonight's "Sally Ride: A Lifetime of Accomplishment, A Champion of Science Literacy," a national tribute to America's first woman in space. The special event will be held at the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., […]
- NASA TV Coverage Set for Next Soyuz Space Station Crew Launch May 17, 2013NASA Television will provide extensive coverage of the launch and docking of the next crew members who will fly to the International Space Station on Tuesday, May 28.
- NASA Seeks Proposals for Commercial Operations at Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A May 17, 2013NASA released a synopsis Friday announcing plans to issue an announcement for proposals for the commercial use of Launch Pad 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The announcement is expected next week.
- NASA Extends Environmental Testing and Integration Services Contract at Goddard May 16, 2013NASA has extended a contract with Analex Corporation of Fairfax, Va., for Environmental Testing and Integration Services at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
- NASA Satellite Data Help Pinpoint Glaciers' Role in Sea Level Rise May 16, 2013A new study of glaciers worldwide using observations from two NASA satellites has helped resolve differences in estimates of how fast glaciers are disappearing and contributing to sea level rise.
LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- Can Any Buildings Survive Tornados? May 21, 2013Your best bet for surviving a tornado like the one that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma is with a tested storm shelter.
- Like Father Like Son: Mice Follow Dad's Example May 21, 2013Sons of neglectful male mice were worse fathers themselves.
- Study: Stress Isn't Hot May 21, 2013Men see women with high stress hormones as less attractive.
- Who Invented Velcro? May 21, 2013Velcro, a popular brand of hook-and-loop binding, was inspired by burrs that stuck to clothing and fur. NASA did not invent it, but the space agency helped popularize it.
- Lake Ontario Facts May 21, 2013Lake Ontario may be the smallest Great Lake, but its waters run deep.
- Deadly Moore Tornado Tops the Scale at EF-5 May 21, 2013Storm survey crews reach the area of worst damage and confirm the twister was one of the country's worst.
- Could a Drug Prevent Brain Aging? May 21, 2013Drug may stave off brain function decline by mimicking effects of calorie restriction.
- The 10 Weirdest Things Created By 3D Printing May 21, 2013From model fetus paperweights to a replica of Richard III's face, the tech has made some far-out creations.
- Facts About Yttrium May 21, 2013Properties, sources and uses of the element yttrium.
- Antidepressants May Help With Heart Disease May 21, 2013Antidepressants may improve symptoms for some patients with heart disease.
- Surprising Pollution Problem: Too Many Trees (Op-Ed) May 21, 2013Have dense forests become an environmental hazard?
- All-Natural 3D Printers: Salt and Wood Can Be Used May 21, 2013New process can 3D print objects using wood, salt and other natural materials.
- How Many People Have Died From Tornadoes? (Infographic) May 21, 2013A chart of tornado deaths since 1875.
- Sounds Of The Sea: Stones Clanging May 21, 2013Tide-borne pebbles on the seabed can drown out other ocean noises.
- Weird Pirate Ant Comes With an 'Eye Patch' May 21, 2013The newly discovered pirate ant has a dark stripe over its eyes that may help ward off predators.
- Did an Abandoned 'Ghost Ship' Disappear? May 21, 2013The ill-fated vessel was last seen off the Irish coast.
- T. Rex's Smaller Cousin Ate Like a Falcon, Study Finds May 21, 2013The Allosaurus used its neck and body to tug flesh from carcasses.
- How Moore Tornado Compares to Famous 1999 Twister May 21, 2013Tornadoes hit the same spot twice west of Moore, Okla.
- On the Job: How Rescue Dogs Hunt for Tornado Survivors May 21, 2013Man's best friend may also be man's best hope.
- Why Penguins Quit Flying May 21, 2013A study of seabirds shows that penguins traded flight to become better swimmers.
Discover Magazine — Space
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NASA Blog Updates
- Mission: Ames May 21, 2013Science enabled by the platforms of Air & Space
- NES Teachers Corner May 21, 2013Activity Continues On the Sun
- NASA - Best Place to Work in the Federal Government May 20, 2013Florida Space Day 2013
NASA Image of the Day
- Strong Storms Over Oklahoma May 21, 2013This image of the storm system that generated the F-4 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma was taken by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard one of the Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites. The image was captured on May 20, 2013, at 19:40 UTC (2:40 p.m. CDT) as the tornado began its deadly swath. Image Credit: NASA/God […]
Masten-space.com Blog updates–X-Prize winner!
- Xaero B Rises March 18, 2013Since last summer, even while we focused on Xombie flights for JPL and expanding Xaero’s flight envelope, we were working. Designing, tweaking, and starting to build the next iteration of Xaero that we affectionately (and creatively) call Xaero-B. We’re finally ready to pull the curtain back and share her with you! Xaero-B is intended to [...]
- February Flight Frenzy! February 1, 2013We finished our work early and now we have extra time for you! As a result, a special one-time deal can be yours this February. Think of it as our Valentine’s Day present to the space community. For projects that can fly by the end of February, we’re offering an open loop flight on our [...]
- Announcing Postgraduate Fellowships January 25, 2013We’re about to embark on a historic year for Masten Space Systems. Team members will be part of test flight firsts, the design and construction of some of the most advanced suborbital test vehicles ever built, and fulfillment of some unique contracts that will further establish Masten as the world leader in VTVL technology. We’re excited today [...]
- Introducing Scimitar October 9, 2012I’m often reminded of an inspirational quote from a truly great self-made man: “I’m on to the next one On to the next one On to the next one On to the next one On to the next one On to the next one On to the next one Hold up, freeze Somebody bring me [...]
- Next September 18, 2012Last week we encountered a sub system failure in flight that necessitated turning the rocket off while still in the air. Landing at that point winds up considerably rearranging the rocket into rocket parts. Since then we’ve heard from a lot of folks offering support, encouragement, and concern. Thank you. Please know that the team [...]
- Xaero Test Update September 11, 2012Today, Masten Space Systems conducted a flight test of Xaero to 1 km altitude with the intention of testing flight controls at higher ascent and descent velocities. Our test objectives were met and initial results show the vehicle performed better than expected at altitude. However, the vehicle was lost during final approach to landing, and [...]
- Xombie 750 Meter Downrange Flight, Precision Landing August 16, 2012You may have noticed we’ve been flying Xombie a lot lately doing some interesting things. We just finished the third leg of a flight campaign on Xombie that expands the boundaries of what we believe to be the nation’s leading terrestrial landing testbed. We are working hard to deliver a way to test systems at [...]
- Xaero: 444 for the 4th! July 4, 2012Happy Independence Day from Masten headquarters! It’s been a while since we released a video but trust us, we’ve been busy! In addition to multiple client projects and bending metal in the shop on yet-to-be-unveiled rocket hardware, we’ve been spending a significant amount of time on Xaero, culminating in a flight to 444 meters AGL [...]
- Katana First Fire May 22, 2012Hello from Mojave! It’s time for some video of some new hardware! On Friday, we fired Masten Space Systems’ newest engine prototype, the Katana class KA5S at our test site in Mojave, CA. In this video, you’ll see a 2 second mid-throttle run on a new engine test trailer designed to test engines significantly larger than [...]
- Why Precision Landing? February 16, 2012We’ve received a number of inquiries about precision landing and why it’s important to us – shouldn’t we be focusing on high altitude suborbital vehicles? The short version is that it addresses a major market need and provides near-term customers for us as we develop our long-term launch capability. That said, it also is an [...]
Discovery Space News
- Can Space Tourism Save Earth? May 21, 2013Opening spaceflight up to the masses could help spark a global conservation ethic that stems the tide of environmental destruction on Earth.
- EXPOSED: Taking Astronomical Pictures May 21, 2013Ever wanted to take dazzling photos of the night sky? Here are some essential tips before you start slapping your DSLR to the back of your telescope!
- Curiosity Drills into Second Mars Rock May 21, 2013NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has drilled into another rock and plans are afoot to analyze the pulverized material. Continue reading →
- How Kepler Could Die and Keep Giving May 20, 2013NASA hasn’t given up on resurrecting its planet-hunting Kepler space telescope, but it can’t be saved, scientists expect it already has accomplished its goal of finding a habitable, Earth-like planet.
- UK to Send First Astronaut to Space Station May 20, 2013A former army helicopter pilot was on Monday named as the first 'home-grown' British astronaut to head to the International Space Station.
- Kickstarting Our Interstellar Future May 20, 2013The Starship Congress will see some of the most forward-thinking scientists and engineers descend on Dallas, Texas -- now you can get involved with an interstellar Kickstarter campaign. Continue reading →
- Moon Gets Slammed by Cosmic Bullet May 20, 2013On March 17, a space rock the size of a basketball slammed into the lunar surface at a speed of 56,000 miles per hour, creating a new crater around 20 meters wide. Continue reading →
- Rodent Space Travelers Perish in Orbital Test May 19, 2013A number of mice and eight gerbils sent into space in a Russian capsule perished during their journey, after a month-long mission touched back down on Earth.
- Big Bang 'Blood Spatter' Produced by Atom-Smasher May 17, 2013The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has recreated the world's tiniest droplets of a primordial state of matter that last existed moments after the Big Bang, some 13.82 billion years ago. Continue reading →
- Venus, Jupiter and Mercury Will Dance on May 28 May 17, 2013Later this month, three planets will gather very close in the twilight sky -- make sure you don't miss this stunning conjunction!
New Scientist
- Over the rainbow: Patchwork view of Kansas from space May 20, 2013From 700 kilometres above Kansas, you can see how huge swathes of the state have been patterned by agriculture
- Astrophile: Saturn's egg moon Methone is made of fluff May 17, 2013Sitting in an icy nest near Saturn, tiny Methone is oddly smooth, perhaps because it is made of lightweight stuff that can flow to erase impact scars
- Kepler telescope's planet-hunting days crunch to a close May 15, 2013The pioneering NASA mission has been hobbled by damaged hardware, probably ending its four-year search for Earth-sized worlds around sun-like stars
- Neutrinos from outer space open new eye in the sky May 15, 2013Fancy seeing the sky in neutrino? Supermassive black holes, giant exploding stars and dark matter may give up their secrets now that neutrinos from space are detectable
- How to build a Mars colony that lasts – forever May 15, 2013A sustainable outpost on the Red Planet may be humanity's only chance of survival, but challenges include growing food and overcoming insomnia
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