Bill Housley
Space Exploration, Science, Opinion and Current Events
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Another Man’s Terrorist
Now released separate from Satirica as a Kindle Novella! In a war far into the future, two young refugees, orphaned by insurgent violence on their home planet, flee behind the lines to make a new life for themselves. But when the turmoil they sought to escape beats them to their new home, thirteen year old Jessica Ratcliff must find peace for her small family while learning the true difference between friend and enemy.
Invader Space
New on Kindle! What do we expect of our heroes? What do we do with them when they’re finished serving us? This 600 word short SciFi story tallies the cost of a war on the souls of two generations of soldier.
Where’s The Cat?
Now available on Kindle! 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 here to preview!
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.
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Space.com Top Stories
- How to Grow Crops on Mars If We Are to Live on the Red Planet September 23, 2018Preparations are already underway for missions that will land humans on Mars in a decade or so. But what would people eat if these missions eventually lead to the permanent colonization of the red planet?
- SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell: 'We Would Launch A Weapon to Defend the US' September 23, 2018During an appearance on Monday at the Air Force Association's annual symposium, Shotwell was thrown a question she said she had never heard before: "Would SpaceX launch military weapons?"
- Watch Stars Drift and Constellations Change Shape Using Mobile Apps September 23, 2018We assume that the stars' positions in the heavens are eternal. But everything in space is in motion.
- Satellite Flare Photobombs a Lunar Eclipse Under the Milky Way (Photo) September 23, 2018Captured 15 minutes after the end of totality during the longest total lunar eclipse of the century, this scene shows the red glow of a partially eclipsed moon very close to Mars.
- Japanese Cargo Ship Launches Toward Space Station September 22, 2018A robotic Japanese resupply ship launched toward the International Space Station today (Sept. 22), kicking off a four-day orbital chase.
- They Made It! Japan's Two Hopping Rovers Successfully Land on Asteroid Ryugu September 22, 2018A pair of tiny Japanese robots sent back wild images once they successfully landed on their new home, the asteroid Ryugu.
- On This Day in Space! Sept. 22, 2006: Japan Launches Solar Observatory September 22, 2018On Sept. 22, 2006, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency launched a sun-observing satellite called Hinode, or Solar-B.
- This Week's Top Space Stories! September 22, 2018A Japanese billionaire is the first SpaceX lunar tourist, tiny "rovers" begin their descent on asteroid Ryugu and a bizarre quantum physics phenomenon says objects can be two temperatures at once. These are some of the top stories this week from Space.com
- Hologram of NASA Astronaut Mae Jemison Arrives at NYC's Intrepid Museum September 22, 2018Visitors at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the Hudson River here in New York can now come face to face with a hologram of Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.
- Japanese Cargo Ship Launching Toward Space Station Today: Watch Live September 22, 2018A Japanese cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch toward the International Space Station today (Sept. 22), and you can watch the action live.
- Rover Team Confident Curiosity Will Bounce Back from Glitch September 22, 2018It's still unclear exactly what's ailing NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, but mission team members are optimistic they can get the six-wheeled robot up and running again.
- Why the Autumnal Equinox Doesn't Fall on the Same Day Every Year September 22, 2018Autumn is right around the corner for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere, while those in the Southern Hemisphere are gearing up for warmer spring weather.
- Peace in Space: World Leaders to Discuss Peaceful Uses of the Cosmos at UN Event September 21, 2018Next week, leaders in space from around the world will come together for Space2030: Space As a Driver for Peace, an event that will take place at the 73rd session of the U.N. General Assembly.
- The Most Amazing Space Photos This Week! September 21, 2018Here are our picks for the most amazing space photos of the week.
- A Space-Themed Band from London Just Rocked Out with NASA's Shuttle Enterprise in NYC September 21, 2018London-based band Public Service Broadcasting performed its beloved album "The Race for Space" alongside NASA's space shuttle Enterprise aboard the Intrepid aircraft carrier in honor of NASA's 60th anniversary.
- Are Japanese Hopping Robots Safe on Asteroid Ryugu? September 21, 2018Two little hopping rovers appear to have hit their asteroid target, but it's still unclear if they're safe and sound on the surface.
- Rockers Coheed and Cambria Are Heading to a 'Planetary Prison' September 21, 2018Coheed and Cambria's ninth studio album "Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures" is a return to their sci-fi universe.
- Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Launches Exclusive Retro 51 Pen September 21, 2018A new collectible pen comes with a unique feature: the ability to help launch the future of U.S. space exploration.
- Image of the Day September 21, 2018More than 1,000 galaxies of various shapes and sizes huddle together inside the Coma Cluster, which lies about 32 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Coma Berenices, also known as "Berenice's Hair."
- The New BFR: How SpaceX's Giant Rocket-Spaceship Combo for Mars Has Changed September 21, 2018SpaceX's Mars-colonizing BFR spaceflight system just went through a growth spurt.
LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- 'Lucky' Raccoon Survives 9-Story Leap from Building September 23, 2018The daredevil raccoon miraculously survived a horrifying fall.
- 1,500-Year-Old Maya Altar Reveals Amazing Secrets of the 'Snake Kings' September 23, 2018The carved stone alter was found deep in the jungles of northern Guatemala.
- They Made It! Japan's Two Hopping Rovers Successfully Land on Asteroid Ryugu September 22, 2018A pair of tiny Japanese robots sent back wild images once they successfully landed on their new home, the asteroid Ryugu.
- Should All Nobel Prizes Be Canceled for a Year? September 22, 2018This year's Nobel Prize for literature was nixed because of a sex scandal. Other Nobels have neglected key contributors. Should all prizes be cancelled while criteria for winning is reassessed?
- Why Do Book Pages Turn Yellow Over Time? September 22, 2018If you look at old newspaper clippings, aging paper documents and books that are past their prime, you'll notice that they likely have a yellow tinge. But why do old paper products turn this golden hue?
- Why the Autumnal Equinox Doesn't Fall on the Same Day Every Year September 22, 2018Autumn is right around the corner for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere, while those in the Southern Hemisphere are gearing up for warmer spring weather. But the 2018 autumnal equinox of Sept. 22 is later than usual. Why?
- The Most Interesting Science News Articles of the Week September 21, 2018Here are the most interesting, amazing and unusual things that happened in the world of science this week. A recap of Live Science's best.
- Amazing Images: The Best Science Photos of the Week September 21, 2018Here are the stories behind the most amazing images in the world of science this week. A recap of the coolest photos featured on Live Science.
- How Do Flat-Earthers Explain the Equinox? We Investigated. September 21, 2018Flat-Earthers try to explain the equinox, and the results are as odd as you'd expect.
- Mutant Green Crabs Are Mean, and They're Invading Maine's Waters September 21, 2018Fearless crabs threaten the state's shellfish industry.
- Soot from Air Pollution Found in Placentas of City-Dwelling Women September 21, 2018The harmful effects of air pollution affect far more than a person's respiratory system; previous research has found that it can also hurt babies in the womb.
- This Week's Strangest Science News September 21, 2018Ready to get weird? Here are some of the strangest stories on Live Science this week.
- Ancient Mystery Creature That Defied Classification Is Earth's Oldest Animal September 21, 2018Fat molecules show that a mystery creature that lived 558 million years ago was in fact an animal.
- What You See in This Famous Optical Illusion Could Reveal How Old You Are September 21, 2018Do you see an old woman or a young woman?
- Astronauts Going to Mars Will Absorb Crazy Amounts of Radiation. Now We Know How Much. September 21, 2018There are plenty of challenges to putting people on Mars, whether you look at the rocket, the astronaut or the planet itself.
- Family Finds Gooey 'Alien' Jellyfish on NZ Beach. And It Looks Like a Jell-O Mold. September 21, 2018The glob was an enormous lion's mane jellyfish.
- World's 2nd-Largest Shark Has an Olympic-Worthy Secret September 21, 2018The basking shark — known for its languid, filter-feeding lifestyle — has an Olympic-worthy secret: It can hurl its body out of the water just as fast and as high as its predatory cousin, the great white shark, a new study finds.
- Your Personal Bubble Isn't Empty Space, It's Actually Teeming with Tiny Guests September 20, 2018Talk about overstaying your welcome.
- Woman's Swollen Pinkie Finger Was Rare Sign of Tuberculosis September 20, 2018For one woman in California, a puffy pinkie was a rare sign of tuberculosis, according to a new report of the case.
- Daylight Saving Time 2018: A Guide to the When, Why, What and How September 20, 2018Here's everything you've ever wanted to know about Daylight Saving Time (often misspelled as "savings"), including times, dates, its history and more.
New Scientist
- 10 mysteries of the universe: What is dark matter? September 23, 2018It’s invisible, and yet the motions of galaxies suggest it must be there. But a recent discovery has just deepened the mystery of the universe we cannot see
- Don’t miss: A digital sidekick, culture of crystals and bits of bear September 22, 2018A computer game with a character created through machine learning, crystalline art mixed with John Ruskin's mineral collection, and a science-culture podcast
- 10 mysteries of the universe: What makes monster stars? September 22, 2018Mega-stars hundreds of times the mass of our sun lurk in a galaxy nearby. We don’t know how they formed – but they could make the cosmos a richer brew for life
- Lunar renaissance: start celebrating Earth’s first moon landing September 22, 2018A biopic about Neil Armstrong, a moon festival in London, real Chinese missions - there’s a lot to enjoy as we near the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s landing
- 10 mysteries of the universe: Is Earth in a special place? September 21, 2018From Copernicus on, we’ve resisted the idea that Earth has a special place in the cosmos. Whisper it, but recent discoveries suggest that’s not the whole truth
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.
SpaceRef
- This Week at NASA - First Light for New Instruments September 23, 2018Several NASA instruments see their first light, another active week for our administrator, and discover just how much space is in our daily lives ... a few of the stories to tell you about - This Week at NASA.Marc Boucher
- HTV-7 Is On It Way To The ISS September 22, 2018H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7) was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan at 1:52 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 22 (2:52 a.m. Sept. 23 Japan standard time). HTV-7 is now safely in orbit.Keith Cowing
- Hayabusa Mini-Rovers Land On Asteroid Ryugu September 22, 2018@haya2e_jaxa "This dynamic photo was captured by Rover-1A on September 22 at around 11:44 JST. It was taken on Ryugu's surface during a hop. The left-half is the surface of Ryugu, while the white region on the right is due to sunlight."Keith Cowing
- NASA Weekly ISS Space to Ground Report for September 21, 2018 September 21, 2018NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station.Marc Boucher
- NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 20 September 2018 - Service Module ISS Reboost September 21, 2018The launch of a Japanese resupply ship to the International Space Station was postponed till Saturday. Meanwhile, the Expedition 56 crew moved on with critical space research and orbital lab maintenance.Marc Boucher
- Earth from Space - São Miguel, Azores September 21, 2018The Copernicus Sentinel-2A satellite takes us over the largest island of the Azores: São Miguel.Marc Boucher
- ScanMars Demonstrates Water Detection Device for Astronauts on Mars September 21, 2018Analogue astronauts have successfully trialed a radar that could help future Mars explorers identify where to dig for water.Keith Cowing
- New Small Satellite Peers Inside Hurricane Florence September 21, 2018A new experimental weather satellite no bigger than a cereal box got an inside look at Hurricane Florence in a test of technology that could influence the future of storm monitoring from space.Keith Cowing
- Recent Tectonics on Mars September 21, 2018These prominent trenches were formed by faults that pulled the planet's surface apart less than 10 million years ago.Keith Cowing
- Matter Falling Into Black Hole at 30% of the Speed of Light September 21, 2018A UK team of astronomers report the first detection of matter falling into a black hole at 30% of the speed of light, located in the centre of the billion-light-year distant galaxy PG211+143.Keith Cowing
NASAWatch
- Russia Complains About A Gateway Role It Can't Afford September 23, 2018Russia throws doubt on joint lunar space station with U.S.: RIA, Reuters "Moscow may abandon a project to build a space station in lunar orbit in partnership with U.S. space agency NASA because it does not want a "second fiddle role," a Russian official said on Saturday. Russia agreed last year to work with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Sp […]
- NASA Birthday Parties In DC September 21, 2018And the season of invitation-only #nasa60th @NASA contractor parties have started in Washington, DC. ... think of all the money that could have been spent on scholarships instead. #PartyOn pic.twitter.com/sDvmkeBIDd— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) September 21, 2018
- Space Tensions Eased: Cosmonauts Love Ivanka September 21, 2018Ivanka Trump sent over the moon by Russian cosmonaut's message from ISS, ABC 13 "Before ending the call, NASA commander Dr. Andrew Feustel said he would be remiss if he didn't give Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev a chance to say hello. "Ivanka, I think you very kind and nice person," Artemyev said, as the crew looked on. "When I see you […]
- Another Overtly Political Campaign Visit At JSC September 20, 2018I am proud of the work being done to strengthen America's leadership in space by fellow Texans & @NASA. Glad to be joining @IvankaTrump & @JimBridenstine in a visit to @NASA_Johnson in #Houston today!— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 20, 2018 Ivanka Trump touring NASA's Johnson Space Center on Thursday, Houston Chronicle "Ivan […]
- One Major Road Block To Bridenstine's Advertising Ideas September 20, 2018Why NASA Needs a New Logo, Space.com "The logo looks more vintage than victorious, according to the designers I interviewed. (Disclosure: None of the designers I spoke to works for, or has worked with, NASA. They are all experts, however, regarding branding campaigns for major public or private organizations.) The logo is an anachronism. A new logo shou […]
- Apparently The Force Is Not With The Space Force September 20, 2018Shanahan downplays disagreements over Space Force structure, Defense News "Days after the Air Force released a Space Force memo that seemed to contradict a plan laid out by Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, the number two at the Pentagon downplayed any differences of opinion." Wilson: $13 billion Space Force cost estimate is 'conse […]
- That Time A Falcon Rocket Visited Washington, DC September 19, 201815 yrs ago, @elonmusk brought his un-flown falcon rocket to the @airandspace museum to show the world he was ready to take on the traditional aerospace firms. This week - he and @yousuck2020 announce their mission to the moon. #dearMoon Photos: @spaceref @KeithCowing pic.twitter.com/pQVFdQE9fC— TJ Cooney 🚀 (@TJ_Cooney) September 19, 2018 SpaceX Falcon Launch […]
- Which Future In Space Do You Want To See? September 18, 2018IMHO We can either try and create a future where people - many people - live and work in space - or we can settle for 6 civil servants in flight suits doing interviews about things that no one understands. Let's give #dearMoon @dearmoonproject a chance. pic.twitter.com/qKVohz9ssR— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) September 18, 2018
- A Very Different Take On Experiencing Space Travel September 18, 2018The Next Expedition To The Moon Will Be Filled With Artists "SpaceX exceeded everyone's expectations tonight by announcing that Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa bought not just one but all of the seats in a BFR mission to fly by the Moon. Stating "I choose to go to the Moon", Maezawa, who made his money in the entertainment and clothin […]
- National Space Council UAG Goes Through The Motions Of Being Interested September 17, 2018Keith's note: Once again we see an exercise in checking the boxes with regard to the making of space policy. A White House-created committee of experts, hand-selected to focus on a desired ad somewhat pre-determiined outcome, goes through the motions of being interested in what people have to say. They only go to friendly locations where dissent or diff […]
SpaceRef — Mars News
- ScanMars Demonstrates Water Detection Device for Astronauts on Mars September 21, 2018Analogue astronauts have successfully trialed a radar that could help future Mars explorers identify where to dig for water.
- Recent Tectonics on Mars September 21, 2018These prominent trenches were formed by faults that pulled the planet's surface apart less than 10 million years ago.
- ExoMars Highlights Radiation Risk for Mars Astronauts, Watches Dust Storm Subside September 20, 2018Astronauts on a mission to Mars would be exposed to at least 60% of the total radiation dose limit recommended for their career during the journey itself to and from the Red Planet
- Frosty Crater On Mars September 17, 2018This image shows the south-facing rim of a pit crater at 68°S in the Sisyphi Planum region of Mars.
- Curiosity Encounters Some Hard Rocks On Mars September 7, 2018After snagging a new rock sample on Aug. 9, NASA's Curiosity rover surveyed its surroundings on Mars, producing a 360-degree panorama of its current location on Vera Rubin Ridge.
- Six Things About Opportunity's Recovery Efforts August 17, 2018NASA's Opportunity rover has been silent since June 10, when a planet-encircling dust storm cut off solar power for the nearly-15-year-old rover.
- Where Martian Dust Comes From August 1, 2018The dust that coats much of the surface of Mars originates largely from a single thousand-kilometer-long geological formation near the Red Planet's equator, scientists have found.
- NASA Says Mars Terraforming Not Possible Using Present-day Technology July 30, 2018Science fiction writers have long featured terraforming, the process of creating an Earth-like or habitable environment on another planet, in their stories.
- Mars Express Detects Liquid Water Under Mars' South Pole July 25, 2018Evidence for the Red Planet's watery past is prevalent across its surface in the form of vast dried-out river valley networks and gigantic outflow channels clearly imaged by orbiting spacecraft.
- Global Impact Of Massive Martian Dust Storm July 20, 2018In June, one of these dust events rapidly engulfed the planet. Scientists first observed a smaller-scale dust storm on May 30. By June 20, it had gone global.
Space Flight Now
- New sample return capability launches with Japanese space station freighter September 22, 2018A Japanese cargo freighter launched Saturday on a five-day trek to the International Space Station, carrying a set of six replacement batteries, an experimental life support system, and a small new landing craft to bring specimens from the space station back to Earth.Stephen Clark
- Japanese robots land on asteroid, send back pictures September 22, 2018A pair of tiny automated robots touched down on asteroid Ryugu on Friday after separating from Japan's Hayabusa 2 spacecraft, sending back pictures as the probes bounced across the asteroid's alien landscape nearly 200 million miles from Earth.Stephen Clark
- Photos: Final Delta 2 launch shines before dawn in California September 21, 2018Flying for the 155th and final time, a United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket took off from California on Sept. 15 with NASA's ICESat 2 satellite.Stephen Clark
- Launch of Japan’s seventh HTV supply ship reset for Saturday September 21, 2018Japanese space officials have rescheduled the launch of an H-2B rocket and a space station-bound HTV supply ship for Saturday after halting a countdown last week due to a propulsion system problem and bypassing a launch opportunity Friday because of a poor weather forecast.Stephen Clark
- Expansion of China’s Beidou satellite fleet continues with successful launch September 20, 2018Another successful launch Wednesday carried two more Beidou satellites into orbit, continuing a string of missions to push China's independent navigation network closer to global coverage and adding international search-and-rescue support to the program's portfolio.Stephen Clark
- Japanese billionaire reserves moon flight with SpaceX September 18, 2018Promising to take a half-dozen or more artists with him on the journey, Japanese fashion magnate Yusaku Maezawa said Monday he has paid a deposit for a ride around the moon aboard SpaceX's planned BFR rocket as soon as 2023, a financial infusion that will help bankroll development of the company's futuristic interplanetary transporter.Stephen Clark
- British Earth-imaging satellites ride Indian rocket into orbit September 17, 2018Two British-built reconnaissance satellites, one designed to test new radar imaging technology and another to collect high-resolution optical imagery, arrived in orbit Sunday after a successful liftoff aboard an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.Stephen Clark
- Live coverage: Two British satellites launch from India September 16, 2018An Indian rocket lifted off with two British-built Earth-imaging satellites at 1638 GMT (12:38 p.m. EDT) Sunday -- one developed with the financial backing of the UK government to demonstrate radar reconnaissance technology, and another destined for use by a commercial imaging company in Asia.Stephen Clark
- Leftover Delta 2 rocket to go on display at Kennedy Space Center September 15, 2018United Launch Alliance plans to assemble leftover parts for a Delta 2 rocket display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida alongside other icons of U.S. rocketry, the company announced Saturday soon after the final Delta 2 launch.Stephen Clark
- Early morning launch closes book on Delta 2 legacy spanning nearly 30 years September 15, 2018A United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket fired away from a California military base and disappeared into an overcast cloud deck Saturday on its final flight, carrying a NASA research satellite into orbit and closing the book on a nearly 30-year legacy of launches.Stephen Clark
SpaceX
- First Private Passenger on Lunar BFR Mission September 18, 2018
- Telstar 18 VANTAGE September 10, 2018
- Merah Putih Mission August 9, 2018
- Iridium-7 NEXT Mission July 25, 2018
- Telstar 19 VANTAGE Mission July 22, 2018
- CRS-15 Mission June 29, 2018
- SES-12 Mission June 4, 2018
- Iridium-6/GRACE-FO Mission May 22, 2018
- Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Mission May 11, 2018
- TESS Mission April 20, 2018
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