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
- Live Webcast Helps Track Large Newfound Asteroid Tonight: How to Watch March 9, 2014An asteroid the size of a skyscraper will make a distant flyby of Earth this week, and you watch astronomers track the space rock tonight (March 9) in a live webcast, weather permitting. The asteroid poses no threat to Earth.
- WEBCAST REPLAY: Asteroid 2014 CU13 Tracking by Slooh Observatory January 9, 2013The online Slooh community observatory will host a free webcast tonight at 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT) to track to track asteroid 2014 CU13. Here's how to watch it.
- Carl Sagan & 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey': Complete Coverage March 9, 2014Carl Sagan launched 'Cosmos,' an epic 1980 TV series that brought science to the public like never before. Now, Sagan's legacy lives on in 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey' — a 13-episode series airing on Fox. See our complete coverage.
- 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey' Reboots Carl Sagan's Landmark TV Series on Fox Tonight March 9, 2014Famed astronomer Carl Sagan shared the universe with millions with 1980's 'Cosmos.' That legacy lives on with 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey' hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, which premieres March 9 on Fox.
- Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week – March 9, 2014 March 9, 2014What was your favorite space news story of the last week?
- Best Space Photos of the Week - March 8, 2014 March 8, 2014From a disintegrating asteroid to space junk cleanup, don't miss these amazing space images of the week for March 8, 2014.
- Best Night Sky Photos of the Week: March 8, 2014 March 8, 2014From amazing auroras to an orange supergiant star, don't miss these spectacular night sky images by stargazers and Space.com readers.
- NASA at SXSW: A Space Fan's Guide March 8, 2014See NASA's schedule of events and exhibits at the annual SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, in this announcement from the space agency. Let
- Moon Passes Brilliant Jupiter Sunday Night: How to See It March 8, 2014If the skies are clear where you live on Sunday night, you'll be able to see a waxing gibbous moon shining high in the southern sky, and glowing brightly well above it will be the largest planet in our solar system: Jupiter.
- March Stargazing: Jupiter and Gemini Twins Shine While Asteroids Fly By March 8, 2014If March brings clear weather, stargazers should be able to easily spot Jupiter and the Gemini twins among the planets and spring constellations set to shine in the night sky this month.March Stargazing: Jupiter, Gemini Twins and Asteroid Flybys
- Vintage 'Cosmos' Marathon Airs This Weekend on National Geographic Channel March 8, 2014Fans of the late astronomer Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" have even more to be excited about this weekend. Ahead of Sunday's premiere of the "Cosmos" reboot, the National Geographic Channel will air a marathon of the original series.
- Where's Planet X? NASA Space Telescope Discovers Thousands of New Stars, But No 'Nemesis' March 8, 2014Despite finding a slew of new stellar bodies outside the solar system, NASA's WISE telescope discovered no suggestion of a brown dwarf companion to the sun or a massive hidden planet.
- Carl Sagan's Legacy: Scientists, Fans Share Memories of Famed Astronomer March 7, 2014Carl Sagan brought science into homes around the United States with his TV shows and books for years. When the famed astronomer died in 1996, he left a legacy of people that were inspired by his unique brand of science education.
- Space Camp Launches Crowd-Funding Effort to Land NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft March 7, 2014One of four business jets converted to train NASA astronauts to land the space shuttle is on final approach to the Alabama home of Space Camp, pending the result of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's first crowd-funding campaign.
- Carl Sagan's Legacy: From the 'Pale Blue Dot' to Interstellar Space March 7, 2014Famous astronomer Carl Sagan brought the wonders of the universe to people living on the planet he dubbed the "pale blue dot." Although Sagan died in 1996 of a rare bone-marrow disease when he was 62, his influence on the public still lives on today.
- Amazing Aurora Photos from the Great Solar Storm of 1989 (Gallery) March 7, 2014In March 1989, a sunspot unleashed a solar flare towards the Earth that caused a spectacular display of the northern lights, or aurora borealis, reaching all the way down to the Gulf Coast.
- One Twin In Space, One On The Ground - Boon For Science | Video March 8, 2014NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will spend a year aboard ISS, giving researchers a better understanding of how spaceflight effects in the human body. Scott's identical twin Mark (fmr. Space Shuttle cmdr.) provides a unique Earth-based comparison.
- NASA Picks 10 Experiments for Unprecedented Astronaut Twin Study (Video) March 8, 2014Scott and Mark Kelly, the only set of astronaut twins, are set to become test subjects in an unprecedented NASA investigation into how weightlessness impacts the human body.
- Project 'Red Dragon': Mars Sample-Return Mission Could Launch in 2022 with SpaceX Capsule March 7, 2014A new study indicates that the entry, descent and landing of SpaceX's unmanned Dragon capsule at Mars is viable. Moreover, the capsule's descent technique would help set the stage for future human missions to the Red Planet.
- 25 Years Ago: Amazing Auroras from 1989's Great Solar Storm March 7, 2014In March 1989, a sunspot unleashed a solar flare towards the Earth that caused a spectacular display of the northern lights, or aurora borealis, reaching all the way down to the Gulf Coast.
NASA Breaking News
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LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- Sea Cucumbers are So Popular in Asia They Face Extinction March 10, 2014Sea cucumbers are the less glamorous cousins of starfish and sea urchins, occurring in all of the major oceans and seas. As a delicacy in many Asian cultures, they are appreciated for their soft texture, dietary and medicinal properties.
- Why are Some Snakes So Venomous? March 10, 2014Australia is world famous for its venomous critters, including its many highly venomous snakes.
- 'Smart' Helmet Startup Wins Wearable Tech Award at SXSW 2014 March 10, 2014A startup that makes augmented-reality motorcycle helmets was named the best wearable tech company after a competition here at South by Southwest Interactive Sunday night (Mar. 9).
- The Best Wearable Tech Gadgets of SXSW Interactive 2014 March 10, 2014Here's a look at the best wearable tech gadgets on display at this year's South by Southwest Interactive festival in Austin.
- Craig Ferguson to Host New Series 'I F-ing Love Science' March 9, 2014The Science Channel will produce a new series called "I F-ing Love Science," hosted by Craig Ferguson, the late-night star announced Saturday night (Mar. 8) at the South by Southwest Interactive festival.
- New Ozone-Destroying Chemicals Discovered in Atmosphere March 9, 2014Researchers have found four new substances in the stratosphere capable of depleting the ozone layer.
- Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Triggered Lethal Acid Rain March 9, 2014The oceans became a lethal sulfuric-acid stew after the huge asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago, a new study suggests.
- Posh Dog Outfit from China's 'Forbidden City' Revealed March 9, 2014A silk dog outfit dating back to the declining days of China's Forbidden City reveals the posh lives of China's royal dogs.
- Wearable Tech Startups Pitch Their Wares at SXSW 2014 March 9, 2014Ideas for new wearable technologies, from a device that uses heart rhythm to verify a person's identity to a stylish handbag that can charge a phone, were part of a pitch competition on Saturday at tSouth by Southwest Interactive festival.
- 4 Unlikely Places to Find a Job March 9, 2014Are you only searching job boards and LinkedIn to find employment opportunities? Check out some of these unlikely resources to enhance your search and land a job.
- Work Isn't Fair ... Especially for Women March 9, 2014Women are getting a raw deal at work, and it's not their imagination. New research finds that women face more hurdles and have fewer opportunities at work then men.
- Wow! The Most Amazing Images in Science This Week March 8, 2014Baby sea turtle migration, rock snot and a rare look at deep-sea life are just a few of the favorite photos from this week.
- Momentum Builds for Deforestation-Free Palm Oil (Op-Ed) March 8, 2014Whether in food or cosmetics, palm oil is everywhere — but where is it coming from?
- For 25 Years, Another's Heart has Beat in His Chest March 8, 2014Thomas Cook just celebrated the proud milestone of 25 years with a donated heart.
- 'Blackfish'-Inspired Bill Would Ban SeaWorld Orca Shows in California March 7, 2014"Blackfish" is making ripples in California. A state lawmaker has proposed a bill that would end SeaWorld's killer whale shows.
- Too Little Sleep Increases Heart Disease Risk in Obese Adolescents March 7, 2014Obese teenagers who don't get an adequate amount of sleep are more likely to develop certain diseases.
- Doing the Math on Polar Sea Ice Melt March 7, 2014Antarctica may be the last place one would expect to find a mathematician, but Ken Golden isn't your average mathematician. Golden, a mathematician at the University of Utah, is using math to model the melting of the polar ice caps.
- Gallery: A Mathematician Goes to Antarctica March 7, 2014Mathematician Ken Golden has taken multiple trips to the Antarctic and Arctic to study the math of melting sea ice.
- The Truth About '10,000 Steps' a Day March 7, 2014If you buy a smart pedometer or fitness tracker like a Fitbit, chances are it will encourage you to take 10,000 steps a day. But do you really have to walk this much to be healthy?
- How To Clean Your Fitness Tracker | Video March 7, 2014Fitness trackers can get dirty, sweaty or smelly, especially if you wear them on the wrist while exercising. Here's what you need to know to clean almost any fitness band, quickly and effectively.
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
- Japanese Astronaut Takes Command of Space Station March 9, 2014Pledging to uphold the Japanese spirit of "wa" -- harmony -- Koichi Wakata took command of the International Space Station on Sunday, the first Japanese astronaut to lead a human space mission. Continue reading →
- There's No Planet X March 7, 2014There's no evidence for the existence of Planet X, despite a NASA space telescope’s best efforts to track it down.
- Infrared Stellar Mystery Solved With Magnetic Fuzz March 7, 2014NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has helped solve an infrared mystery surrounding baby star systems that has puzzled astronomers since the 1980s. Continue reading →
- Comet Swarm Smash-Up Spied Around Nearby Star March 7, 2014A giant clump of carbon monoxide found around a nearby star hints at collisions between comets and the presence of a massive hidden planet. Continue reading →
- Martian Spring Thaws Frigid Sand Dunes: Big Pic March 7, 2014As winter descends on Mars' southern hemisphere, forming tell-tail frost in the lengthening shadows, the opposite is true in the northern hemisphere -- spring has sprung and the northernmost dunes are beginning to thaw.
- Impact Crater Origin of Mars Meteorites Discovered March 6, 2014Out of the thousands of craters scarring the face of Mars, one has emerged as the likely source of most of the Martian meteorites that have been recovered on Earth.
- Hubble Witnesses Mysterious Breakup of Asteroid March 6, 2014Hubble has observed some weird things since it was launched in 1990, but this is probably one of the strangest. Continue reading →
- Dinky Space Rock to Buzz Earth in Not-So-Scary Flyby March 5, 2014It happens 20 times a year, but the mere mention of an asteroid flying past Earth is enough to whip the tabloid press into a frenzy. Continue reading →
- Distant Black Hole Spins at Half the Speed of Light March 5, 2014Back when the universe was half its present age, supermassive black holes were feeding from a steady and plentiful diet of neighboring galaxies, the first measurement of a distant supermassive black hole’s spin shows.
- Lightning, Stars, and Aurorae Shine in Epic Time-Lapse March 5, 2014When the sun sets, the show begins: night after night of incredible weather, shimmering aurorae, and stunning starry vistas over the rugged and rural landscapes of South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming are captured in "Huelux." Continue reading →
New Scientist
- Most Mars meteorites may be from same giant crater March 7, 2014Fresh evidence hints that most Martian rocks found on Earth could be from the same ancient terrain, but the claim has set off a firestorm among meteorite experts
- Hubble catches first disintegrating asteroid on camera March 7, 2014The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a space rock as it breaks apart – the first one ever caught in the act. What's to blame?
- Earth raises a plasma shield to battle solar storms March 6, 2014Defending itself like a knight in a fight, Earth can funnel material from its immediate surroundings to act as a buffer against incoming geomagnetic storms
- Did dark matter kill the dinosaurs? Maybe… March 6, 2014The link between the most mysterious stuff in the universe and fatal comet strikes on Earth is tenuous – but it would elegantly connect two open questions
- Daring Mars fly-by in limbo after US Congress hearing March 4, 2014NASA may be asked to take the helm of a 2021 human mission to Mars originally intended for private backing, but funding and feasibility remain vague
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