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
- Moon Glows with Earthshine Over Italian Citadel (Photos) April 24, 2014Night sky photographer Giuseppe Petricca of Pisa, Italy, took these gorgeous images on March 3 of the crescent moon illuminated with earthshine over an Italian citadel. See how he did it.
- Can Iconic 'Earthrise' Photo Help Protect Earth from Asteroid Impacts? April 24, 2014The NASA astronaut who snapped the 20th century's most famous photograph of Earth from space hopes the image can continue helping to protect the planet — not just from the depredations of its human inhabitants, but also from incoming space rocks.
- Bitcoins in Space: Private Deep-Space Venture Aims to Launch 'BitSats' April 24, 2014Bitcoins soon may go off the grid and into space. One private venture is aiming to launch a cluster of tiny satellites that would broadcast the latest bitcoin transactions from orbit.
- Spectacular Night Sky Photos for April 2014 (Stargazing Gallery) April 1, 2014See stunning photos of the night sky and sun as seen by stargazers around the world in this Space.com photo gallery for April 2014 made up of images sent in by Space.com readers.
- On-Orbit Satellite Builds: DARPA Phoenix Project Animation April 24, 2014The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) multi-faceted project (satellite recycling, repair, construction) is looking to reduce the cost of geosynchronous orbit satellites, with 'Satlets'.
- Flying Robots Play Theme of '2001: A Space Odyssey' (Video) April 24, 2014The agile drones play a variety of specially rigged musical instruments — including drums, guitar and keyboard — during their performance of the famous song. They also play several other ditties, including the "Star Spangled Banner."
- Harrison Ford Takes On Climate Change, Visits NASA | Video April 24, 2014Last November, the actor visited NASA's Ames Research Center to talk scientists about their work in Earth Science. Ford is co-hosting the Showtime Channel's documentery "Years of Living Dangerously".
- Venus and the Moon Shine Together at Dawn This Week: Where to Look April 24, 2014If your skies are clear before dawn on Friday and Saturday (April 25 and 26), check out the sky low to the east-southeast horizon about 60 to 90 minutes before sunrise for a view of the two brightest objects in the nighttime sky: the moon and Venus.
- Space History Photo: Launch Phase Simulator at Goddard Space Flight Center April 24, 2014This machine simulates the vibration, G-forces and pressure spacecrafts encounter during launch and landing.
- Mystery Solved! Super-Bright Supernova Was Magnified by Cosmic Lens April 24, 2014An incredibly bright supernova spotted in 2010 has been the subject of a stellar mystery until now.
- Supernova Magnified 30X By Gravitational Lens | Animation April 24, 2014As Einstein predicted, Spacetime warps around massive objects (i.e. galaxies). Light from objects ‘behind’ them (e.g. Supernova PS1-10afx ) is bent and magnified to observers on Earth. Full Story: http://goo.gl/zbEnnK
- Hubble Space Telescope Instruments Star in New Smithsonian Exhibit April 24, 2014Nearly a quarter century after its launch, two of the Hubble Space Telescope's most well-known instruments have landed in an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in DC. 'Repairing Hubble' displays the orbiting observatory's correctiv
- Saturn Moon's Weird Ridge Rained Down from Space April 24, 2014Saturn certainly has some oddball moons and astronomers think they're close to explaining how a weird feature formed on one of them. New 3D maps are giving scientists an idea of how Iapetus' strange moons actually formed.
- WATCH LIVE NOW: Manned Mars Exploration Conference October 6, 2012NASA officials and Mars exploration advocates discuss manned missions to the Red Planet at the Humans 2 Mars summit, which runs from April 22-24, 2014.
- 'Graveyard' on the Moon's Far Side Welcomes NASA Spacecraft April 24, 2014NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) slammed into the moon's surface, as planned, in the early hours of April 18, bringing to six the number of spacecraft whose remains are known to dot the lunar far side.
- US Air Force's Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Passes 500 Days in Orbit April 24, 2014The U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane launched on its third and latest mission on Dec. 11, 2012. As of today (April 24), the vehicle has been aloft for 500 days — far longer than its officially stated maximum orbital lifetime of 270 days.
- Gathered Observations | Space Wallpaper April 24, 2014This stunning space wallpaper shows a patch of sky from the COSMOS survey, as viewed by XMM-Newton. COSMOS is a project studying how galaxies form and evolve, gathering observations using a variety of ground- and space-based telescopes.
- Solar Eclipse Will Transform Sun into 'Ring of Fire' Next Week April 23, 2014The sun will look like a ring of fire above some remote parts of the world next Tuesday (April 29) during a solar eclipse, but most people around the world won't get a chance to see it.
- 'Ring of Fire' Annular Solar Eclipse of April 29, 2014 (Visibility Maps) April 23, 2014On April 29, 2014, the moon will block much of the sun in a so-called annular solar eclipse, also known as a "ring of fire" solar eclipse. See where the solar eclipse will be visible from in this Space.com gallery.
- Moon and Mercury Shine Together in Amateur Photo April 23, 2014Skywatcher Victor Rogus of Jadwin, Missouri captured this wonderful image of 4 percent illuminated moon in conjunction with planet Mercury on Feb. 27, 2014. See how he did it.
NASA Breaking News
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LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- Two Adorable Baby Gorillas Born at Bronx Zoo April 24, 2014Two baby western lowland gorillas have been born at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, in New York. A 33-year old gorilla named Julia gave birth on March 10 and a 19-year-old gorilla named Tuti gave birth on April 17. The newborn apes are the
- Improve the Food, Not Just the Food Label (Op-Ed) April 24, 2014A recent proposal aims to change the information we see on food labels. But what's really needed is an improvement to the quality of the food, not just the food labels.
- Active Guatemala Volcanoes Seen From Above (Photo) April 24, 2014Four active volcanoes in Guatemala are seen from a NASA aerial science mission. The mission aimed to measure ground deformation around the volcanoes, which can give advance warning before eruptions.
- What Is Whey Protein? April 24, 2014Whey protein is a supplement often used for building muscle. But is it safe to use, and does it work? Live Science looked at the science behind taking whey protein.
- Pet Bearded Dragons Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in US April 24, 2014A salmonella outbreak that has so far sickened 132 people in 31 states over the last two years has now been traced to a source — pet lizards called breaded dragons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Tapping Electrical Signals: Turning Thought Into Action April 24, 2014Biomedical engineer Walt Besio uses his brother's paralysis as motivation to invent technology to help people with disabilities return to a more normal life.
- Ancient Chisel Used to Build Western Wall Found April 24, 2014The 2,000-year-old stonemason's chisel may have been used in the construction of the holy site for both Muslims and Jews.
- Going up? Hitachi Plans World's Fastest Elevator April 24, 2014Elevators for the CTF Guangzhou skyscraper under construction in China will transport passengers at a record-breaking 45 miles per hour.
- Dangerous Tornado Threat to Arise From Texas to Nebraska This Weekend April 24, 2014A dangerous multiple-day severe weather outbreak will begin this weekend over the South Central states and will include the potential for nighttime tornadoes in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
- Walking May Spark Creative Thinking April 24, 2014From artists to office workers, people in all walks of life claim that going for a stroll helps them work out ideas or overcome creative blocks, and now new research finds that stretching one's legs really does give a mental boost.
- 2 Newborn Gorillas + Moms Caught On Bronx Zoo Video April 24, 2014Western lowland gorilla's Julia (33-Years Old) and Tuti (19-Years old) gave birth in March and April of 2014. The both share the same father, a silverback called Ernie (31-years old).
- Vaccination Has Saved 732,000 Children's Lives Since 1994 April 24, 2014About 322 million illnesses and more than 732,000 deaths among U.S. children have been prevented in the past 20 years due to routine vaccinations, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Coral Species May Adapt to Warmer Waters (Video) April 24, 2014Coral reefs tend to be vulnerable to damage from warmer waters, but at least one coral species may be able to adapt to the higher ocean temperatures that may come with climate change.
- Photos: Portraits of the Blood-Sucking Tsetse Fly April 24, 2014Photos of the tsetse fly, which spreads sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers have sequenced the full genome of this insect and hope to use the results to develop new ways to control the fly.
- In Photos: Coral Species May Adapt to Warmer Waters April 24, 2014A coral species called Acropora hyacinthus may be able to adapt to the higher ocean temperatures that may come with climate change.
- Blood in Gourd Didn't Belong to Louis XVI, New DNA Study Finds April 24, 2014New genetic evidence casts further doubt on the authenticity of a grisly French relic: a gourd long believed to be stained with the blood of Louis XVI.
- 'Hidden Dragon' Beast Gave Rise to Fearsome Flying Reptiles April 24, 2014A Chinese fossil is the earliest and most primitive pterodactyloid, part of a group of flying reptiles that ruled the skies some 163 million years ago, scientists report.
- Missing Link? Mississippi Floods, and a Great City Disappears April 24, 2014The mysterious abandonment of Cahokia, one of North America's greatest cities, may be linked to a massive Mississippi River flood 1,800 years ago.
- Blood-Sucking Tsetse Flies Caught On Video April 24, 2014Tsetse flies suck blood through an artificial feeding system at Yale University. Researchers have sequenced the genome of this fly, which spreads fatal sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa.
- How Coral Strength Is Tested | Video April 24, 2014Researchers have created a 'stress tank' to see how corals from different parts of the ocean react to high heat stress. Coolers are set up with fans, lights and heaters to simulate conditions.
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
- Top Secret Military Mini-Shuttle Marks 500 Days in Orbit April 24, 2014A robotic miniature space shuttle on a classified mission for the U.S. Air Force marked its 500th day in orbit on Friday, with no word about when and where the space plane will land. Continue reading →
- Eta Aquarid Meteors: Passing Through Comet Halley's Tail April 24, 2014The Eta Aquarid shower is coming, but where do the meteors come from and how can we see them?
- BitSat Verification: Bitcoin's Giant Leap into Orbit April 24, 2014Bitcoin, the electronic peer-to-peer currency that sidesteps more traditional methods of payment, is about to be launched into space. Continue reading →
- Spacewalking Astronauts Replace Dead Computer on Space Station April 23, 2014Two astronauts made quick work of their repair during the spacewalk.
- DNews: Why Does Russia See So Many Meteors? April 23, 2014A few days ago, a fireball lit up the skies over Murmansk, Russia. It seems like Russia sees more meteors than the rest of the world. Why Russia? Trace and Discovery News Space Producer Ian O'Neill have the answer.
- 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 →
New Scientist
- Big bang breakthrough: The dark side of inflation April 24, 2014The sighting of gravitational waves from the universe's birth is a great advance – but if confirmed might also be the ultimate setback for cosmology
- Supernova found aligned with galactic magnifying glass April 24, 2014For the first time, a particular type of exploding star has been found perfectly arranged so that a galaxy in front of it acts like a magnifying glass
- Playing peek-a-boo in a colossal rocket box April 23, 2014We take a rocket's-eye view of the monolithic gantry surrounding the European Space Agency's latest launch vehicle, the Vega, as it prepares for take-off
- Build a stable wormhole with the help of dark aliens April 23, 2014An extension of Einstein's gravity would let us build a wormhole – if we could send messages to invisible aliens via space-time ripples
- 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
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