Bill Housley
Science Fiction and Fantasy Author
Contact
To contact Bill, click here.
Into the Dark–Escape of the Nomad
In a world where space travel is forbidden, former astronaut Stan McPherson wants to return to space but finds himself caught up in a dangerous game of interstellar cloak-and-dagger. Click the image above to read Chapter 1 online for free.
Where’s The Cat?
On a long cargo flight to the outer solar system, Pauline gets a visitor she didn't expect, and learns of a marvelous friend she never knew she had. Click on the image above to read this short fiction online for free.
Another Man’s Terrorist
Two orphaned child soldiers sell all they have to leave their war-torn planet on a quest for peace, but when they arrive at their new home they find that the war has beaten them there. Now the older sister Jessica must struggle to keep the only family she has left from being lost in a conflict that she no longer wants. Click the image above to read this story for free online. For a limited time only!
Get RSS updates from this page
Space.com Top Stories
- Halley's Comet: Facts About the Most Famous Comet September 19, 2017The comet's frequent recurrence has played a part in historical events for millennia.
- Planet Venus Facts: A Hot, Hellish & Volcanic Planet September 19, 2017Venus is the brightest planet in our solar system, has a hellish atmosphere, and is covered in volcanoes. Learn more about planet Venus here.
- Enhanced NASA Images Show Potential for Buried Ice Near the Martian Equator September 19, 2017Improved observations from NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft show an abundance of hydrogen, which is a sign of potential watery deposits.
- Hurricane Maria: See the Latest Videos from Space September 19, 2017NOAA satellites have been capturing imagery of the storm since it was developing in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Fun in Zero-G: Weightless Photos from Earth and Space September 19, 2017See amazing, and sometimes hilarious, photos of fun in weightlessness in these zero gravity photos on airplanes and spacecraft.
- Zero-G Zoo? Nope, Just an Astronaut Making Balloon Animals in Space September 19, 2017Have you ever seen a giraffe floating in zero-g?
- Virgin Orbit Still Aims to Fly Twice a Month in 2020 Despite Test Delays September 19, 2017Virgin Orbit says it will perform 24 missions with its LauncherOne small-satellite booster in 2020 despite pushing initial test flights into 2018.
- In Photos: Hurricane Maria Seen from Space September 19, 2017Hurricane Maria peaked as a massive Category 5 storm as it rolled across the Caribbean in September 2017. See photos of Hurricane Maria from space by satellites in our gallery here.
- Retro Alien 'Field Guide' Profiles 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Creatures September 19, 2017"Star Trek" fans will get a great nostalgia kick from a new book that covers every alien species featured in "The Next Generation" (TNG), from Acamarians to Vulcans.
- Satellites Tracking Powerful Hurricane Maria From Space September 19, 2017A number of satellites are keeping tabs on Hurricane Maria as the dangerous storm churns its way through the Caribbean.
- Watch Hurricane Maria in Action in These NASA and NOAA Gifs September 19, 2017Satellites operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are tracking Hurricane Maria from space you can see some of those observations below, shared by the agencies on social media.
- Image of the Day September 19, 2017Before NASA's Cassini spacecraft dove into Saturn last Friday (Sept. 15), it bade farewell to Iapetus, one of Saturn's "Pac-Man" moons. Also known as the "yin-and-yang" moon, Iapetus is bright on one side and dark on the other.
- Cold World, Hot Topic: Can Microbes Survive on Mars? September 19, 2017Scientists are working to determine if microbes can survive on Mars — and if so, what the best habitats on the Red Planet may be.
- Curiosity Rover Climbing Steep Martian Ridge (Photos) September 19, 2017Curiosity began climbing Vera Rubin Ridge in early September. The rover's handlers want Curiosity to study the ridge's many layers all the way to the top.
- Jaw-Dropping Jupiter: Juno Probe Snaps Dramatic Up-Close Views of Planet September 19, 2017New photos by NASA's Juno spacecraft capture the solar system's largest planet in all its complex glory.
- Planet Jupiter: Facts About Its Size, Moons and Red Spot September 18, 2017Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and is known for its many moons, its dangerous radiation belt and its iconic Great Red Spot.
- Planet Saturn: Facts About Saturn's Rings, Moons & Size September 18, 2017Learn about the physical characteristics of Saturn and its famous rings, what we know about Saturn’s moons and Saturn’s roots in Greek mythology.
- Human-Caused Climate Change Could Doom Coastal Cities, Neil Tyson Says September 18, 2017The United States "might not be able to recover" from climate change if extreme weather events and flooding continue to swamp the country's largest coastal cities, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson told CNN yesterday (Sept. 17).
- Arecibo Observatory Closes as Hurricane Maria Threatens Puerto Rico September 18, 2017The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico will cease observations through Thursday (Sept. 21) and keep its visitor's center closed through Sept. 28, due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Maria.
- Space Act Agreement to Support Private Space Telescope Project September 18, 2017NASA has signed a Space Act Agreement with a private organization currently raising funds for studies of a space telescope designed to look for habitable planets around a nearby star.
NASA Breaking News
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- Officer's Failed Drug Test: How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Hair? September 19, 2017A NYPD officer recently said she failed a marijuana drug test because officials tested hair from a weave she wore. But how does marijuana get into hair, and how long does it stay there?
- E.T. Art? Crop Circles Look 'Alien' from Space September 19, 2017Seen from space, these discs look more like modern art than potatoes.
- Brain-Computer Interface Allows Users to Compose Music With Only Their Thoughts September 19, 2017Brain signals are recorded with an electroencephalogram worn on the head like a swim cap, which allows the wearer to select musical notes and tones displayed on a computer screen.
- War Games: Xbox 360 Controllers Will Operate Submarine Periscopes September 19, 2017Microsoft usually sells its Xbox 360 controllers to gamers who play "Call of Duty" or "Halo," but now these controllers have an entirely new customer: the U.S. Navy.
- In Photos: Hurricane Maria Seen from Space September 19, 2017Hurricane Maria peaked as a massive Category 5 storm as it rolled across the Caribbean in September 2017. See photos of Hurricane Maria from space by satellites in our gallery here.
- Powerful 7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Mexico September 19, 2017A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck central Mexico this afternoon, southeast of Mexico City, not even two weeks after another powerful temblor of magnitude 8.1 hit the country.
- Hurricane Irma's Wake: Caribbean's Scars Will Likely Last Years September 19, 2017The Caribbean is still reeling after Hurricane Irma, and now the region is being pummeled by Hurricane Maria. How will this part of the world recover?
- Halloween 2017: A Guide to the When, Why, What and How September 19, 2017Here's everything you've ever wanted to know about Halloween, including how the holiday started and evolved, and why we celebrate it when we do.
- Why Today's Teens Aren't in Any Hurry to Grow Up September 19, 2017Should parents be worried that many teens are putting off traditional rites of passage like working, driving and dating?
- How Deaths from Opioids Have Impacted US Life Expectancy September 19, 2017Life expectancy in the United States ticked upward between 2000 and 2015, but that rise was blunted by increasing rates of opioid-related deaths, a new report finds.
- Toilet Paper Power: How Used Bathroom Tissue (Yuck) Could Generate Electricity September 19, 2017Are we flushing away a greener future? Perhaps, according to scientists who found a way to turn used toilet paper into electricity.
- Hurricane Maria: 'Potentially Catastrophic' Category 5 Storm Has Puerto Rico in Crosshairs September 19, 2017Hurricane Maria is rapidly strengthening and is barreling straight towards Puerto Rico, where it's expected to make landfall by early Wednesday.
- Did Ancient Greeks Deliberately Build Temples on Earthquake Faults? September 19, 2017A new paper suggests the ancient Greeks built and rebuilt structures on fissures created by earthquakes, viewing the tremors as mystical occurrences.
- London's 143-Ton 'Fatberg' Gets Second Chance As Biofuel September 19, 2017Even a 143-ton "fatberg" — a clotted, greasy mass of oily garbage recently found clogging a London sewer — deserves a second chance.
- US Cities Ranked by Exercise Rates: Full List September 19, 2017A new poll ranks nearly 200 U.S. communities based on the percentage of residents who say they exercise regularly.
- These Cities Have the Highest Rates of Regular Exercise September 19, 2017Several cities in Colorado and California lead the nation in rates of regular exercise, according to a new poll.
- History of Halloween September 18, 2017Halloween has its roots in a pagan harvest festival, while different traditions were added on throughout the years.
- Human-Caused Climate Change Could Doom Coastal Cities, Neil Tyson Says September 18, 2017The United States "might not be able to recover" from climate change if extreme weather events and flooding continue to swamp the country's largest coastal cities, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson told CNN yesterday (Sept. 17).
- Satan's Enigma: 'Possessed' Nun's 17th-Century Letter Deciphered September 18, 2017A mysterious letter written more than 300 years ago by a Sicilian nun who claimed to be possessed by Satan has finally been deciphered. Scientists used a deep-web code breaker to read the letter.
- This Area of the Brain May Explain a Link Between Poor Sleep and Depression September 18, 2017People whose brains respond strongly to rewards may be less prone to some of the negative effects of sleep deprivation, a new study finds.
Discover Magazine — Space
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
NASA Image of the Day
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Masten-space.com Blog updates–X-Prize winner!
- Masten Achieves First Hot-Fire of Broadsword Rocket Engine May 11, 2017Mojave, CA – On September 30, 2016, Masten Space Systems successfully concluded the 13-month design, build, and test period for the first development unit of the Broadsword 25 rocket engine, funded as a technology demonstration under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program. This first phase of the engine […]
- What’s the Point? April 27, 2017That is a question that comes up from time to time when people see Xaero-B and Xodiac. Both vehicles seem to be doing what other rocket companies have already *demonstrated* and to greater lengths at that. The underlying premise of the question is this: you are not seeing anything that hasn’t already been done. And
- Masten’s Green Bipropellant: MXP-351 March 23, 2017As part of our partnership with NASA through the Lunar CATALYST (Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown) program, we have been actively developing a proprietary new bipropellant – MXP-351. This propellant is intended to be flown on our XL-1 lunar lander which is capable of bringing up to 100 kg (221 lb) softly
- Summer 2017 Internship December 5, 2016Masten is now accepting intern applications for the Summer of 2017. 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 for
- Introducing Xodiac and XaeroB June 7, 2016Introducing the next generation of reusable rockets – Masten’s Xodiac and XaeroB. These two new rockets are designed and built on the success of their predecessors – Xombie, Xoie, and Xaero. For those who have followed us, you will see the obvious connection to our previous vehicles. With this new iteration, we are bringing greater capability
- Masten Space Systems selected by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for XS-1 Program July 23, 2014Mojave, CA (July 23, 2014) — Masten Space Systems, Inc. (Masten) announced today that the company has been awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of Phase 1 of the Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program to develop a reusable launch vehicle. Over the last decade, Masten has built three highly
- Astrobotic Technology And Masten Space Systems Perform Visually Guided Precision Landing June 30, 2014Contact John Thornton contact@astrobotic.com Sean Mahoney smahoney@masten.aero FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ASTROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY AND MASTEN SPACE SYSTEMS PERFORM VISUALLY GUIDED PRECISION LANDING Groundbreaking effort integrates two privately developed technology platforms to validate performance of autonomous precision landing capability Mojave, CA: Astrobotic Te […]
- Project Prometheus May 19, 2014A lot has been going on in the past year, and while we have been busy with clients and flying customer payloads, the Masten Team has also been thinking about ways we could engage the broader community and increase accessibility to our VTVL vehicles. One of the largest barriers to entry for any technology developer
- NASA Partners with Masten for Lunar CATALYST April 30, 2014We’re excited to be part of opening the moon to commercial enterprises. Masten has been investing private money for years building core technologies to open the Moon for business. The CATALYST program is a great step towards unlocking the Moon’s potential. (Source: NASA)
- 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
Discovery Space News
- Huge Tsunamis May Have Ravaged Ancient Mars May 25, 2016When Mars was a wet world, did its oceans experience powerful tsunamis spawned by meteorite impacts?
- Collapsing Cosmic Clouds Birth Black Hole Monsters May 24, 2016Supermassive black holes occupy all known galaxies, but astronomers have little idea how they formed. Now space telescopes have found a clue.
- Mystery Plumes: Did the Sun Bruise Mars? May 24, 2016Strange plumes have been spotted high in the Martian atmosphere that have, so far, defied explanation. Now scientists think space weather is to blame.
- NASA Probe Tracks Object in Solar System's Badlands May 23, 2016While coasting through the outer solar system, NASA's New Horizons is busying itself with astronomical observations of a distant Kuiper Belt Object.
- Solar Superflares Set Stage for Life on Earth May 23, 2016Earth could have grown warm enough for liquid water as far back as 4 billion years ago thanks to massive and frequent solar flares.
- See the Red Planet with Your Own Eyes This Weekend May 21, 2016Mars reaches opposition this weekend, making Saturday and Sunday (May 21 and 22) an opportune time to see the Red Planet with your own eyes.
- Extreme Exoplanets Reveal Migration Mystery May 20, 2016A star hosting 4 massive gas giant exoplanets has been spotted -- is this how our solar system looked in its ancient past?
- How to Form Io's Mountains? Just Squeeze! May 20, 2016On Earth, mountains form along tectonic boundaries, but Io, Jupiter's volcanic moon, is awash with molten rock and dotted with solitary mountains -- how did they form?
- DNews: Meet a Black Hole 17 Billion Times the Sun's Mass May 20, 2016DNews sits down with U.C. Berkeley astronomy professor Chung-Pei Ma to learn all about supermassive black holes, including one nearby that's just honking huge.
- LHC Opens the Quantum Physics Floodgates May 20, 2016As it restarts its mission to discover weird and exotic things about our universe, the Large Hadron Collider is about to become a firehose of quantum data.
New Scientist
- Mysterious flashing star seems destined for an explosive end September 18, 2017A detective story that began in the 1950s when a star seemed to go supernova but survived ended this month when someone figured out what was going on
- Watching Cassini’s last moments from inside NASA mission control September 15, 2017The Cassini team was at once somber and excited as they watched the spacecraft’s radio heartbeat flicker out. Mika McKinnon joined them to say goodbye
- Brown dwarfs have strong magnetic fields just like real stars September 15, 2017Failed stars called brown dwarfs straddle the line between big planets and small stars. An observation of a magnetic field puts another tick in the star column
- Final pictures from Cassini as probe smashes into Saturn September 15, 2017Say goodbye to humanity’s outpost at Saturn with a look at Cassini’s final images before it was swallowed by Saturn’s atmosphere
- Cassini takes last look at the ring patterns made by mini moons September 15, 2017These unusual patterns in Saturn's rings give us clues to what happens when planets are born, and may help us understand how our solar system formed
Recent Comments