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
- WATCH LIVE TODAY @ 5 p.m. ET: NASA News Conference About SpaceX Dragon Launch October 6, 2012SpaceX is slated to launch an unmanned Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station at 3:25 p.m. EDT (1925 GMT) on April 18 to deliver nearly 5,000 lbs. of supplies to the orbiting lab's crew. Watch it Live Here
- SpaceX Launches Robotic Cargo Mission to Space Station April 18, 2014SpaceX's unmanned Dragon spacecraft blasted off at 3:25 p.m. EDT today from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, riding into space atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket. Dragon is scheduled to rendezvous with the orbiting lab on Sunday.
- SpaceX Launches Cargo Mission to Space Station, Reusable Rocket Test | Video April 18, 2014The Falcon 9 rocket carrying Dragon lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on April 18th, 2014. Its first stage has retractable legs attached and an re-entry burn and water landing will be attempted.
- Easter Skies Feature Big Dipper and Southern Cross April 18, 2014As soon as darkness falls this Easter weekend, step outside and look skyward. What is the most prominent and easiest star pattern to recognize? If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you only need to look overhead and toward the north.
- Vitamins from Space! B3 Found in Meteorites April 18, 2014An essential nutrient for life on Earth also cooks up in space, a new study finds.
- Space History Photo: Standing on the Edge of the Bay April 18, 2014An astronaut evaluates the Portable Foot Restraint in space.
- Gargantuan Iceberg – 8X Manhattan-Size – Has Left Glacier | Time-Lapse Video April 18, 2014“Ice island B31” is 200 feet thick and 21mi X 12mi. It separated from the Antarctic Pine Island Glacier in Nov. 2013. NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites have been imaging its progress towards open ocean.
- US Military Developing Foldable Space Telescope (Video, Images) April 18, 2014The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) says the telescope design — known as the Membrane Optical Imager for Real-Time Exploitation — would be of great use in geosynchronous Earth orbit.
- Boeing-Built Fighter Jets Could Launch US Military Satellites Into Space April 18, 2014The next generation of satellites could hitch a ride on a fighter jet before heading into space. A new concept awarded to Boeing in late March could slice the launch costs by up to 66% if all goes well, the company said in a press release.
- RIP LADEE: NASA Moon Probe Crashes Into Lunar Surface April 18, 2014The space agency's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft (LADEE) made its planned crash into the lunar surface between 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 GMT) and 1:22 a.m. EDT (0522 GMT) on April 18 after orbiting the moon since October 2.
- The Greatest Moon Crashes of All Time June 6, 2009Here's a list of the top 11 things that have impacted the lunar surface.
- Alien Planet Kepler-186f: Complete Coverage of 'Earth Cousin' Discovery April 18, 2014On Thursday (April 17), NASA announced the historic discovery of Kepler-186f, an Earth-size alien planet 490 light-years from our own world that is located inside the habitable zone of its star. See Space.com's complete coverage of the Kepler-186f find.
- Amazing Mars Rover Curiosity's Martian Views (Latest Photos) October 17, 2012NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is beaming home amazing photos of the Red Planet.
- SpaceX to Launch Dragon Supply Ship to Space Station Today: Watch It Live April 18, 2014Private spaceflight company SpaceX is expected to launch its unmanned cargo-carrying Dragon capsule to the International Space Station today (April 18) after multiple delays.
- Next Up for NASA's Planet-Hunting Kepler Telescope: Finding Earth's True Twin? April 18, 2014The discovery of Kepler-186f still falls short of the ultimate prize in exoplanet science: a true "alien Earth." But the first such world may lurk in the data already gathered by NASA's Kepler space telescope, just waiting to be pulled out.
- 5 Things to Know About Alien Planet Kepler-186f, 'Earth's Cousin' April 18, 2014A newly discovered planet that has been called 'Earth's cousin' has just been found 490 light-years from Earth.
- Death Spiral: Doomed Orbiter Sends Close Surface | Video April 17, 2014NASA's LADEE will soon intentionally crash into the Moon. In March the dust-studying probe flew as low as 2 miles above the surface and faster than bullet at 3,690 miles per hour.
- 'Earth Cousin' Discovery a Milestone in Search for Alien Life April 17, 2014The discovery of the exoplanet Kepler-186f further bolsters the emerging view that Earth is not such a unique place, and that habitable environments may be widespread throughout the galaxy, experts say.
- NASA Spacecraft Spies Mars Rover Curiosity at 'Mount Remarkable' from Space (Photos) April 17, 2014A spacecraft circling the Red Planet has spotted NASA's Mars rover Curiosity hard at work on the Martian surface.
- Vesta and Ceres: How to Spot the Solar System's Biggest Asteroids April 17, 2014Here's how to see two of the three largest asteroids, Ceres and Vesta, in the night sky this month. Although Vesta is about half the size of Ceres, it appears brighter in our sky, because its surface is whiter than that of Ceres, reflecting a lot more of
NASA Breaking News
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LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- Facts About Flight 370: Passengers, Crew & Aircraft March 20, 2014As the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 continues, here are some facts about the passengers, crew, aircraft and airline.
- How the Bluefin-21 Searches For Flight 370 Wreckage on the Ocean Floor (Infographic) April 18, 2014Unmanned submersible uses sonar to scan the ocean floor and return a 3D map to the surface.
- Disabled Pets Get 'Bionic' - PBS Show Trailer April 18, 2014PBS's show Nature is featuring animals who have been treated with latest state-of-the-art prosthetics. It premiered April 9th, 2014.
- Calculus Is Fun! Math Exhibit Demos Principles of Motion April 18, 2014Most people probably don't think of learning calculus as fun. But a new interactive exhibit here at the Museum of Math (MoMath) lets visitors learn about the principles of motion in an interactive way, by walking or running on a special motion-sensing tra
- Is Global Warming a Giant Natural Fluctuation? (Op-Ed) April 18, 2014Natural fluctuations have driven Earth's climate for millennia, but they are not the cause of modern warming.
- With Climate Change, Wildfires Getting Worse in the West April 18, 2014Across the West, wildfires grew bigger and more frequent in the past 30 years, according to a new study that blames climate change and drought for the worsening flames.
- Ah-CHOO! 7 Tickling Facts About Sneezing April 18, 2014Everyone knows the feeling: it begins with that insidious tickle in the back of your nose, then comes the gasping intake of breath and the final, cathartic blast: a sneeze.
- In Photos: Orchids April 18, 2014A new orchid species has been discovered in Panama.
- Teen Driving: Loud Talking & Rowdiness Are Risky Distractions April 18, 2014Although texting and talking on the phone can be hazardous for young drivers, old-fashioned distractions such as loud conversations and rowdy passengers may be more likely to lead to car crashes, a new study suggests.
- Mountainous Fib: Andes Lie About Their Age April 18, 2014New research into the height of a very remote Andean plateau reveals just the latest surprise from the Earth's second-greatest mountain belt.
- RIP LADEE: NASA Moon Probe Crashes Into Lunar Surface April 18, 2014The space agency's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft (LADEE) made its planned crash into the lunar surface between 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 GMT) and 1:22 a.m. EDT (0522 GMT) on April 18 after orbiting the moon since October 2.
- Why You Forget: 5 Strange Facts About Memory April 18, 2014Although forgetting is normal and vital to how the brain works, it sometimes happens in strange or unexplained ways.
- Vitamins from Space! B3 Found in Meteorites April 18, 2014An essential nutrient for life on Earth also cooks up in space, a new study finds.
- Mt. Everest Avalanche: Is Climate Change to Blame? April 18, 2014Many Sherpas insist that Mount Everest and other slopes in the area have become more dangerous because of climate change.
- Bright Idea or Shady Scheme? Cosmetic Company Wants to Lighten Moon April 18, 2014A think-tank associated with a cosmetics company has a plan to brighten the surface of the moon in an effort to lighten up the night sky and reducing the need for electricity to run street lights. Scientists are skeptical.
- When Will You be Miserable This Allergy Season? April 18, 2014The start of spring signals many things, one of which is the start of allergy season.
- Parkinson's Drug Shows Promise in Preventing Breast Cancer April 18, 2014Women with mutations in the BRCA1 gene are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Early research suggests that existing drugs may help prevent this type of breast cancer.
- Gargantuan Iceberg – 8X Manhattan-Size – Has Left Glacier | Time-Lapse Video April 18, 2014“Ice island B31” is 200 feet thick and 21mi X 12mi. It separated from the Antarctic Pine Island Glacier in Nov. 2013. NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites have been imaging its progress towards open ocean.
- Strong Earthquake Shakes Mexico City April 18, 2014An earthquake of preliminary magnitude 7.5 struck today near southern Mexico's Pacific resort city of Acapulco, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
- Wild Chimps Prefer a Firm Bed April 18, 2014Chimpanzees are quite choosy when it comes to their sleeping arrangements, and new research suggests the apes prefer a firm bed made from stiff, resilient wood.
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
- 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 →
- Bathing in the Sunset of an 'Earth-Like' Alien World April 18, 2014Could a sunset on Kepler-186f look like this? Continue reading →
- Hubble Cuts a Core Sample Out of the Cosmos April 18, 2014It's a big, big universe out there and the Hubble Space Telescope bores a hole over halfway out into it with this image, showing a gathering of galaxies near and far. Continue reading →
- Earth-Likenesses: Have We Discovered Earth 2.0? April 17, 2014Astronomers have announced the groundbreaking discovery of an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting a star within its habitable zone. Although this is exciting, calling this world "Earth-like" is a little premature. Continue reading →
- Most 'Earth-Like' Alien World Discovered April 17, 2014About 500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus lives a star, which, though smaller and redder than the sun, has a planet that may look awfully familiar.
- Chew On This: Best Picture Yet of Gum 41 April 17, 2014Hot young stars blaze at the center of a vast cloud of interstellar hydrogen gas in this stunning new observation by the awesomely powerful MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the La Silla Observatory. Continue reading →
- When Apollo 12 Encountered the Surveyor 3 Moon Lander April 17, 2014Forty-five years ago, Surveyor 3 launched to the Moon. Two years later parts of it came back.
- Mars Orbiter Spies on Curiosity's Work Site April 16, 2014Curiosity may feel distant and isolated, but its orbital buddy is never far away.
- This Supernova Remnant Cranks Up the Heat April 16, 2014The debris from a stellar explosion from 2,200 years ago still shines brightly in x-rays -- even though it shouldn't Continue reading →
- Rare Night-Shining Clouds Becoming More Common April 16, 2014These silvery clouds have become more frequent sights over lower latitudes, including southern Canada and the northern United States.
New Scientist
- 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
- Swirling red nebula is part of angry chicken in the sky April 16, 2014A crucible of bright stars illuminates a nebula in glowing red hydrogen that would normally be too faint for the human eye to see
- Star dust casts doubt on recent big bang wave result April 15, 2014Dust left over from an exploding star could mimic the effect that primordial gravitational waves would have had on ancient cosmic light
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