Bill Housley
Science Fiction and Fantasy Author
About.me
Bill Housley
Author, Actor, Father, Wildman
Hates the World;
Loves the world;
Writes about the world;
End of Story.
Contact
Into the Dark–Escape of the Nomad
Where’s The Cat?
Another Man’s Terrorist
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Space.com Top Stories
- Guion Bluford: First African-American in Space April 23, 2014Guion "Guy" Bluford is a former NASA astronaut who was the first African-American to fly into space. He flew four shuttle missions.
- Space Station Beams Down Earth Day Greetings | Video April 22, 2014ISS Commander Koichi Wakata and Flight Engineers Richard Mastracchio and Steve Swanson have a message to share with the world on April 22nd, 2014, Earth Day. -- Satellite's Earth Day Photo: http://goo.gl/iXd3z8
- Photos: SpaceX's Amazing Falcon 9 Reusable Rocket Prototype in Pictures April 22, 2014See photos of SpaceX's innovative F9R, the Falcon 9 Reusable rocket prototype, as it soars through test flights. The SpaceX F9R rocket is a Falcon 9 booster first stage equipped with landing legs and a vertical landing system.
- Earth Day from Space: Satellite Snaps Far-Out Photo (Image) April 22, 2014A U.S. satellite has captured the ultimate Earth Day view from space, showing the entire planet in a stunning group shot of humanity. The photo, taken today (April 22) to mark Earth Day, was captured by the GOES-East satellite at 7:45 a.m. EDT (1145 GMT)
- 'What Is Relativity?' (2014): Book Excerpt April 22, 2014Many people with a basic knowledge of physics know that Einstein developed the theory of relativity, yet few people actually understand what it means. But author and astrophysicist Jeffrey Bennett relativity should be something anyone can understand.
- What Is Relativity? New Book Offers Simple Explanation April 22, 2014Why can't anything travel faster than the speed of light? Do black holes really suck? And why is the universe expanding? These are just a few of the questions author and astrophysicist Jeffrey Bennett answers in his new book, "What is Relativity?"
- Warming Earth Leads To Dangerous Droughts and Disease | Video April 22, 2014In 2013 and 2014, areas around the globe have experienced record breaking temperatures over extended periods of time. This has led to a diminished water supply, thriving disease carrying insects and fire.
- Laptop Bill Clinton Used to Email Outer Space Sold for $60K April 22, 2014Long before the first Instagram from space, the first check-in from orbit, or even the first astronaut's tweet, John Glenn sent an email to President Bill Clinton. The reply it prompted was the very first email transmitted by a sitting U.S. president — it
- Space History Photo: M2-F3 In-Flight Launch from the B-52 Mothership April 22, 2014The M2-F3 is launched from the B-52 Mothership.
- Powerful Asteroids Strike Earth with Surprising Frequency (Video) April 22, 2014Since the start of the 21st century, dozens of incoming asteroids have slammed into Earth, some of them packing far more energy than a city-destroying atomic bomb, a new animation illustrates.
- Asteroid Impacts on Earth More Powerful than Nuclear Bomb | Video April 22, 2014Between 2000 and 2013, 26 explosions ranging from 1-600 kilotons have been detected by the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization's network of sensors. -- FULL STORY: http://goo.gl/pKFcCq
- NASA Earth Day Events Celebrate Our Home Planet: A Space Fan Guide April 22, 2014Today marks the annual celebration of our home planet.NASA has a slew of live events planned to highlight what makes Earth so special. NASA also has many online activities available, too. Here's our NASA Earth Day guide.
- Red Planet Roadmap: DC Conference Eyes Manned Mars Missions April 22, 2014Sending astronauts to the surface of Mars has been a longtime goal for NASA and other space exploration agencies. That Martian goal takes center stage in a Washington, D.C. conference, and you can watch it live online.
- WATCH LIVE TODAY ALL DAY: Manned Mars Exploration Conference October 6, 2012Watch scientists, NASA officials and Mars exploration advocates discuss manned missions to the Red Planet during the Humans 2 Mars summit, which runs from April 22-24, 2014.
- 'Losing the Dark': Video Illuminates Threat of Light Pollution April 22, 2014Light pollution doesn't just make it more difficult for professional and backyard astronomers to observe the heavens, according to a film called "Losing the Dark." It also disrupts wildlife, wastes resources and adversely impacts human health.
- Proposed Houston Spaceport Lands Private Space Plane Partner April 22, 2014Houston has landed a new partner in its bid to establish its own spaceport in the form of a private spaceflight company that may someday land its mini space shuttle in the city.
- Milky Way's Structure Mapped in Unprecedented Detail April 22, 2014The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy — but what exactly does it look like? Does it have two, four, or more arms? Astronomers think that now they’re one step closer to the answer.
- US Leading the Path to Mars: NASA Chief Charles Bolden (Op-Ed) April 22, 2014NASA has long held the lead in the exploration of Mars, and that trend will continue, says NASA administrator Charles Bolden.
- M33: Facts About the Triangulum Galaxy April 22, 2014The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) that is about 3 million light-years away from Earth. Among its most distinctive features are ionized hydrogen clouds, which are massive regions of starbirth.
- WEBCAST REPLAYS: Lyrid Meteor Shower Webcasts from NASA, Slooh January 9, 2013NASA and the online Slooh community telescope will host separate webcasts featuring the Lyrid meteor shower tonight (April 21) and into the wee hours of Tuesday (April 22) morning. Here's how to watch live.
NASA Breaking News
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LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- Oranges: Health Benefits, Risks & Nutrition Facts April 23, 2014High in vitamin C and potassium, oranges may boost your immune system, improve your skin and reduce the risks of cancer.
- This is What Global Warming Looks Like — 2013 Edition (Op-Ed) April 23, 2014The effects of a warming planet are now directly impacting the United States, says NRDC's Dan Lashof.
- Preventing Injury From Spring Sports That Span Seasons April 23, 2014Train in cold, compete in heat — how do you avoid injury?
- Dutch Student Sells His Data for €350 but at What Price Privacy? (Op-Ed) April 23, 2014A dutch student has taken the bold decision to sell all his data at auction. It’s a decision that should make us think about the future of our own information.
- With a Bullet: China's High-Speed Rail Dream Begins to take Flight (Op-Ed) April 23, 2014As a young university student, I first visited Guangzhou during the mid-1990s and found it a gloomy and unsettling place. When I went back again in 2010, it was transformed. Here was living proof of the media mantra that “China is changing.”
- Mystery of Bizarre Duck-Like Ocean Sound Solved April 22, 2014A mysterious duck-like sound recorded in the ocean has baffled scientists for decades, but the source of the sound has finally been found, researchers say.
- Sailfish Stealthily Slash Prey with Bills April 22, 2014Researchers solve the mystery of the Atlantic sailfish's bill. This oceanic hunter uses its bill to sneak into schools of fish and slash or 'tap' potential prey. The finding reveals an unknown evolutionary solution to overcome the defense of schooling.
- Hot Tchaikovsky: Fertile Women Prefer Complex Composers April 22, 2014Women in the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle are more likely than women in the nonfertile phase to say they'd be interested in a fling with the composer of a complex tune.
- The Costs of Fresh Water in a Changing World (Op-Ed) April 22, 2014As freshwater resources diminish, even wealthy nations like the United States are trying to figure out how to adapt.
- Magnifying The Body May Reduce Pain April 22, 2014In healthy people, seeing an enlarged hand lessened the subjective experience of pain.
- Slowest Start to Tornado Season in a Century April 22, 2014A cold spring in the Midwest and Southwest brought a quiet start to tornado season this year, with the fewest twisters since 1915.
- Mt. Everest: Why Do People Keep Climbing It? April 22, 2014Despite tales of overcrowding, fighting and tragedy, hundreds of people continue to try to summit Everest every year. What's the appeal?
- Where Are Tornado Hot Spots Outside of the US? April 22, 2014The United States is not the only country that possesses the prime ingredients and topography to harness these often life-threatening storms.
- 3D Print a New House in Just a Few Hours April 22, 2014Gone are the days when building a house required months of hammering wall studs, screwing floor joists and other backbreaking tasks. If a company in China has its way, a new house can be yours in a matter of hours with a 3D printer.
- Antarctic Lava Lake Huffs and Puffs Like a Sleeping Dragon April 22, 2014The coldest place on Earth is also one of the rare spots where a roiling lava lake offers a window into the heart of a volcano.
- Not in the Mood: Study in Mice Sheds Light on Human Libido April 22, 2014Pain seems to discourage female mice from having sex, but it does nothing to stop males from copulating, according to a new study.
- Storm to Spoil Spring for Millions Next Week in Midwest, East April 22, 2014A large storm will form over the eastern half of the nation next week and will bring a swath of unsettled conditions for days.
- Mysterious Duck-Like Ocean Sound-Source Revealed | Video April 22, 2014Lars Kindermann and Ilse Van Opzeeland of the Alfred Wegener Institute obtained this sound recording, which – although it sounds like the quack of a mechanical waterfowl – is actually a minke whale.
- Blue-Footed Boobies Are Declining in the Galapagos April 22, 2014The population of seabirds with characteristically colorful feet has been decreasing. And a lack of sardines in the region may be the culprit.
- Ospreys Plague Maryland Traffic Cam April 22, 2014Thanks to a group of stubborn ospreys, a traffic cam watching over the flow of cars in Maryland has become an improvised wildlife cam.
Discover Magazine — Space
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NASA Blog Updates
- NASA Deputy Administrator's Blog June 26, 2013A Great Day for Equality
- NASA Administrator June 26, 2013Protecting Planet Earth
- NASA IV&V Matters June 24, 2013Summer Interns Return to IV&V
NASA Image of the Day
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Masten-space.com Blog updates–X-Prize winner!
- Fall 2014 Internships January 20, 2014Masten is now accepting applications for internships for the Fall of 2014. If you’ve followed us you know we’ve had a great history of outstanding interns working with us. There are few places like us that can deliver an internship with this level of responsibility and hands on work. We’re not looking for gophers, we’re looking
- Masten featured on PBS documentary December 2, 2013We get asked on a regular basis what life is like working at Masten. Well, the good folks at KQED (San Francisco Bay Area PBS affiliate) came out in May to capture a slice of Mojave with a healthy dose of Masten rockets. Watch for Masten to appear around time marker 13:47. We really enjoyed hosting
- Summer 2014 Internships November 11, 2013Masten is now accepting applications for internships for the Summer of 2014. If you’ve followed us you know we’ve had a great history of outstanding interns working with us. There are few places like us that can deliver an internship with this level of responsibility and hands on work. We’re not looking for gophers, we’re looking
- Joy and Sadness November 11, 2013Most of the time these blog posts update you on just a glimpse of what’s going on behind the curtain over here at Masten, and the man behind that curtain for most of those posts over the last three plus years has been Colin. Today’s post is a little different. Today, it is both with
- 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
Discovery Space News
- Saturn Moon's Weird Ridge Rained Down From Space April 22, 2014Saturn certainly has some oddball moons and astronomers think they're close to explaining how a weird feature formed on one of them.
- Asteroids Whack Earth More Often Than Thought April 22, 2014An infrasound network detected 26 explosions between 2000 and 2013 caused by asteroids blasting apart in Earth's atmosphere.
- DNews: Why NASA is Experimenting on Twins in Space April 22, 2014To understand the the long-term effects of space on the human body, NASA is conducting an experiment involving twins! Join Tara as she explains what they hope to learn by sending one twin to space, but not the other.
- Look Up! Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight April 21, 2014The Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight (April 21) and if Mother Nature spoils your 'shooting stars' display with bad weather, you can watch the celestial light show live online with two webcasts.
- 'Easter Dragon' Pays a Visit to the Space Station April 21, 2014Astronauts aboard the International Space Station on Monday opened the hatch on the SpaceX Dragon cargo ship that arrived Sunday and began unpacking more than two tons of supplies and experiments. Continue reading →
- V-2: The Rocket Fueled by the Nazi War Machine April 21, 2014The unexpected spinoffs from the weaponized rocket technology from World War Two ultimately led to the more peaceful space launch applications we have today. Continue reading →
- Opportunity: The Amazing Self-Cleaning Mars Rover April 21, 2014Opportunity has been given a new lease on life after the red planet gave the tenacious Mars rover a power-boosting spring clean. Continue reading →
- DNews: Can We Grow Plants on Mars? April 20, 2014Last year, NASA announced that they had found water on Mars. This posed a question to scientists: Could we grow plants in the soil of Mars? Trace explains what is necessary to grow crops on Earth, and if Mars is able to sustain life.
- SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Defies Bleak Weather and Flies April 19, 2014Defying a bleak weather forecast, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Friday to send a Dragon cargo capsule on its way to the International Space Station. Continue reading →
- Kamikaze LADEE Moon Mission Ends With a Splat April 18, 2014Out of fuel and flying fast, NASA’s LADEE spacecraft crashed into the moon early Friday, three days shy of its expected mission end. Continue reading →
New Scientist
- Asteroid strike map built from nuclear watchdog data April 22, 2014The network that monitors for covert nuclear weapons testing helped detect 26 asteroids entering Earth's atmosphere since 2000 – this movie maps them
- Red lettuce and dinosaur germs head to space station April 18, 2014SpaceX has launched its third cargo mission to the ISS, carrying gear that includes robot legs, a collapsible garden and a microbes from a dino fossil
- The LADEE killers: NASA has crashed probe into moon April 18, 2014The lunar spacecraft has been intentionally smashed into the far side of the moon after months spent measuring dust and testing laser-based broadband
- Space shuttle carrier plane heads out on Texas convoy April 18, 2014One of the huge 747s that gave piggyback rides to space shuttles is headed to Houston to star in an 8-storey-tall museum exhibit
- Smallest life-friendly exoplanet may be lit by auroras April 17, 2014Found by NASA's Kepler telescope, the world is slightly bigger than Earth and orbits an active red star that could drive dazzling sky shows
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