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
- 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.
- Virgin Galactic and Land Rover Team Up for Space Travel (Video) April 23, 2014Automaker Land Rover is teaming up with private spaceflight company Virgin Galactic to help transport future commercial astronauts on Earth before flights to space.
- Amateur Astronomers Capture Magnificent Mix of Celestial Delights in Amazing Photo April 23, 2014Two Michigan-based photographers, Terry Hancock of Fremont and Robert Fields of Howell Township, captured this brilliant image of three nebulas and a star cluster on April 11. See how they did it.
- Buzz Aldrin Wants NASA Astronauts to Visit Asteroid in Deep Space April 23, 2014While moonwalker Buzz Aldrin thinks that a mission sending humans to an asteroid is a good idea, the Apollo astronaut isn't so happy with NASA's current plan to get astronauts to a space rock.
- Lyrid Meteors Rain Over Earth, NASA Cameras Watch | Video April 23, 2014The annual meteor shower peaked on April 22nd, 2014 and NASA's All Sky Fireball Network captured many of the streaking meteors as they burnt up in the atmosphere.
- Spacewalking Astronauts Replace Dead Computer on Space Station April 23, 2014A pair of NASA astronauts replaced a dead backup computer on the International Space Station during a short spacewalk Wednesday (April 23) to restore a critical computer system back to full strength.
- Virgin Galactic + Land Rover Partnership Driving to Sub-Orbital Tourism | Video April 23, 2014In a marketing exercise, the private space tourism company has joined forces with the sport utility vehicle giant to unveil the Land Rover Discovery Sport compact SUV.
- Spacewalk Photos: NASA Astronauts Replace Dead Space Station Computer (April 23, 2014) April 23, 2014See photos of NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Steve Swanson as they spacewalk outside the International Space Station on April 23, 2014 to replace a dead backup computer on the outpost's exterior.
- US Astronauts Taking Spacewalk to Fix Space Station Today: Watch Live April 23, 2014Two NASA astronauts will take a short spacewalk to replace a dead computer on the International Space Station today. See how to watch it live here.
NASA Breaking News
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LiveScience.com – Top Stories
- 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.
- Image of the Day January 27, 2010Amazing images every day!
- Dolphins Put Sponges on Snouts to Snag Elusive Snacks April 24, 2014Dolphins can use sponges as tools to snag food they could not otherwise grab, the first direct evidence that dolphins use tools to carve out unique places in the food chain.
- 'Godzilla' the Hockey Goalie? Rare Mineral Specimen Up for Sale April 24, 2014Common minerals came together in a bubble of a lava flow to form a one-of-a-kind specimen, dubbed 'Godzilla as a Hockey Goalie.' This and other mineral specimens go up for auction in May.
- In Photos: A Fuzzy 'Godzilla' & Other Snazzy Minerals April 24, 2014The minerals are common, but the configuration of this 6-inch-tall specimen makes it one-of-a-kind. The unusual form, which came together in a bubble in a lava flow, inspired the nickname Godzilla as a Hockey Goalie.
- VIDEO: Solving the world's toilet shortage April 24, 2014
- Overcoming the Water Wars (Op-Ed) April 24, 2014Treating water like a "bankable" commodity may help nations manage scarce water resources around the globe.
- Why Adopting an Older Pet Makes Sense (Op-Ed) April 24, 2014If you are about to adopt a pet, it makes sense to first consider older, mellower candidates.
- For Fecal Transplants, Frozen Poop Just as Good April 24, 2014The devastating intestine infection called Clostridium difficile can be treated with a so-called "poop transplant," and now new research shows that frozen poop may work just well with fresh fecal matter.
- Zoos, Aquariums and Their Visitors Are Critical Advocates for Conservation (Op-Ed) April 24, 2014Zoos and aquariums are hubs for inspiring the public to support wildlife conservation.
- Revealing Wavelengths of Light | Space Wallpaper April 24, 2014Scientists created this stunning space wallpaper, which is a composite image of Vesta's crater Aelia. The image reveals the flow material on the inside and outside of the crater.
- Pregnancy Diet and Nutrition | What to Eat, What Not to Eat April 24, 2014There's a reason they say you're "eating for two" when you're pregnant. Find out what to eat when pregnant and what foods to avoid.
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
- 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 →
- V-2: The Rocket Fueled by the Nazi War Machine April 21, 2014The unexpected spinoffs from the weaponized rocket technology from World War Two ultimately led to the more peaceful space launch applications we have today. Continue reading →
New Scientist
- 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
- 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
- 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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