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
- 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.
- Boldly Go? Can Humanity Afford ‘Star Trek’-Like Space Exploration? May 20, 2013Some space-obsessed prognosticators see a way to pay.
- NASA to Lease Historic Launch Pad for Commercial Rocket Missions May 20, 2013Pad 39A hosted Apollo launches to the moon and space shuttle liftoffs over the years.
- Sally Ride: First American Woman in Space (Pictures) July 23, 2012See photos of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and her iconic spaceflights.
- Neil Armstrong's 'Heartbeat,' Apollo Joystick Pulled from Auction May 20, 2013Neil Armstrong's heartbeat readout and Apollo 11 flight control joystick are just not for sale.
- Congress to Hear Manned Mars Mission Ideas on Tuesday May 20, 2013Scientists and former NASA officials will present on the challenges and motivations for manned Mars missions.
- Curiosity Drills Into Mars Again - First Image | Video May 20, 2013The Mars Science Laboratory has completed its second drill into the surface of the Red Planet. The drilling target was nicknamed 'Cumberland'.
- 1st British Space Station Astronaut Launching in 2015 May 20, 2013Astronaut Tim Peake will be the first British astronaut in space for the United Kingdom in 20 years.
- Europa Report Dramatizes Human Mission To Jupiter's Moon | Video Trailer May 20, 2013Hidden oceans underneath the icy moon's surface attracts a privately funded manned mission to Europa. Technical failures lead to death and loss of communication. But is something else at work? In theaters on August 2nd, 2013.
- NASA's Curiosity Rover Drills Into 2nd Mars Rock May 20, 2013The 1-ton robot pulled samples from deep within a Martian rock for the second time ever.
- Pow! Mars Hit By Space Rocks 200 Times a Year May 20, 2013Asteroids and comet fragments tear fresh craters on Mars more often than previously thought.
- X Prize Eyes New Contests for Spaceflight Innovation May 20, 2013X Prize officials aren't revealing any details yet, though.
- Meteoroid Strikes Moon in Largest Explosion NASA's Recorded May 20, 2013The explosion was so bright that it could be seen by the naked eye all the way from Earth. Powered by Newslook.
- Latest Photos from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter December 16, 2011These shots of the Martian surface from orbit show our planetary neighbor as never before.
- Jupiter, Venus and Mercury Get Together - Where & When To Look | Video May 20, 2013Night-sky-watchers alert: This tri-planetary conjunction will be most apparent from May 26th to June 5th. Here's where to see it best.
- Space History Photo: Sikorsky JH-19D Chickasaw Helicopter May 20, 2013The Sikorsky JH-19 Chickasaw, used for several purposes, prepared to drop a NASA research model.
- Warp Drive & Transporters: How 'Star Trek' Technology Works (Infographic) May 20, 2013Where did all that superscience tech come from?
- Clearwater | Space Wallpaper May 20, 2013This stunning space wallpaper is a Landsat image of the Clearwater Lakes in Canada’s Quebec province. Located to the east of the Hudson Bay, what appears to be two separate lakes is actually a single body of water that fills two depressions.
- Alien Big Apple: Artist Envisions NYC on Other Planets May 20, 2013The project showcases the diversity of worlds in our solar system.
- How NYC Would Look on Other Planets (Gallery) May 20, 2013The iconic city as seen through other planets' air.
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
- Anesthetic Drug May Treat Depression May 21, 2013The hallucinogenic drug ketamine improves symptoms of major depression for people for whom other treatments have failed.
- Co-Sleeping with Baby Raises SIDS Risk May 21, 2013Babies sleeping in bed with their parents have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, a new study finds.
- Oklahoma Tornado - 'This Is War Zone Terrible' | Video May 21, 2013A huge tornado flattened an area near Oklahoma City on Monday, leaving a wake of tangled wreckage, as a dangerous storm system threatened as many as 10 states. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
- Location Data Reveals Our Changing Planet May 20, 2013Can we all benefit from flood of geospatial data?
- The 7 Weirdest Things Made By 3D Printing May 20, 2013From fetus paperweights to working guns, weird stuff created in 3D.
- Extinct 'Scissorhands' Critter Named for Johnny Depp May 20, 2013A 500-million-year old creature with a resemblance to Edward Scissorhands has been named after Johnny Depp.
- Major Tornado Strikes Moore, Okla., Damage Severe May 20, 2013Tornado is unrated, but has caused considerable damage.
- What is a Prime Number? May 20, 2013A prime number is an integer, or whole number, that can be divided evenly only by 1 and by itself.
- Image Gallery: Moore, Okla., Tornado Damage - May 20, 2013 May 20, 2013A deadly tornado barreled through Oklahoma, leaving a path of destruction.
- What Explains the Recent Outbreak of Tornadoes? May 20, 2013May usually is the month with the most tornadoes.
- Nearly 19 Feet! Longest Burmese Python Captured in Florida May 20, 2013A Miami man wrangled and killed a Burmese python that measured 18 feet, 8 inches long.
- Sleep-Deprived Teen Drivers More Likely to Crash May 20, 2013Young drivers who are sleep-deprived are more likely to crash their cars.
- Facts About Strontium May 20, 2013Properties, sources and uses of the element strontium.
- Army of Underwater Vehicles to Unravel Ocean Mysteries May 20, 2013Underwater vehicles made with off-the-shelf parts could be used by amateurs to explore the deep sea.
- Facts About Rubidium May 20, 2013Properties, sources and uses of the element rubidium.
- 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Names May 20, 2013The complete list of hurricane names for the 2013 season.
- Missing Parts? Salamander Regeneration Secret Revealed May 20, 2013This amphibian ability to regrow lost limbs could increase understanding of wound healing in humans.
- Deadly Middle-East Coronavirus Has a New Name: MERS May 20, 2013Virus that has killed 20 people, mainly in the Middle East, now has a name.
- 'Crazy Ants' Displacing Fire Ants in US May 20, 2013A new study finds that 'crazy' ants are invading the southeast, and they are reportedly much worse than fire ants. Powered by NewsLook.
- Monster May Snow Buries Newfoundland May 20, 2013Normal snowfall for the month of May is 13 cm (5 inches), according to Environment Canada (EC).
Discover Magazine — Space
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NASA Blog Updates
- Mission: Ames May 21, 2013Firm Flexibility
- NASA - Best Place to Work in the Federal Government May 20, 2013Florida Space Day 2013
- Watch the Skies May 17, 2013Fireball in the Sky!
NASA Image of the Day
- The Twin Rectangular Jet model, installed on the Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig in the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory at NASA's Glenn Research Center being tested. May 20, 2013The Twin Rectangular Jet model, installed on the Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig in the Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory at NASA's Glenn Research Center, is being tested to determine the acoustic impact of engine configurations on low sonic boom aircraft for the High Speed Project of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. The High Speed Project is a multi-cent […]
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
- 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!
- 1998 QE2: Massive Asteroid to Make 'Royal' Flyby May 17, 2013A big asteroid will cruise by Earth at the end of the month, making its closest approach to our planet for at least the next two centuries.
- Opportunity Breaks NASA's 40-Year Roving Record May 17, 2013After nine years of hard Mars roving, Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has broken a 40-year-old extraterrestrial distance record. Continue reading →
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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