Stars Reach for the Stars

Ashton Kutcher became the 500^th person to place a deposit with Virgin Galactic to take a visit into space.  According to Richard Branson, Kutcher is “thrilled.”  Kutcher is part of the growing list of celebrities that are getting in line to blast off with Virgin Galactic.  According to reports by RedOrbit.com, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Katy Perry will be exploring space as well.

The flight will give astronaut tourists to an altitude of 68 miles into the atmosphere, where passengers will experience zero gravity for a few minutes.  Tickets are $200,000, requiring a $20,000 deposit.  Flights are expected to take off in 2013 or 2014. 

Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/kutcher-puts-down-deposit-for-virgin-galactic-space-ride-becomes-ventures-500th-customer/2012/03/19/gIQAJiM6NS_story.html

http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112498659/ashton-kutcher-buys-500th-virgin-galactic-ticket/

Interested in teaching your students more about space science? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Space Science – Everyday Astronauts.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about space science? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Gates Speaks on Energy

Bill Gates recently spoke at the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Summit, in Seattle, Washington.  During his presentation, Gates addressed the matter of the US government’s funding to alternative energy research and development.  His concern is that “funding for energy [research] in the US is underfunded by a factor of two.” 

In 2010, the US government spent about $5 billion on energy research.  On the other hand, the US government spent $30 billion for medical research, and over $80 billion for defense research and development.  A continuation of underfunding will slow the development and progress of alternative energy growth in the US.

Source:

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/02/bill-gates-on-insanity-and-energy.html?ref=em

Interested in teaching your students more about energy? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episodes Energy – Understanding Hydroelectric Power, Energy – Transforming Renewable Resources Part I & II.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about energy? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Virgin Galactic Test Flight

Virgin Galactic aims to conduct its first test flight by the end of 2012.  The first commercial suborbital passenger flight is proposed to take place in 2013 or 2014. 

Almost 500 customers have purchased tickets to ride into space on the six-passenger spaceship, SpaceShipTwo.  Tickets cost $200,000.  The spaceship reaches an altitude around 68 miles into our atmosphere.  Passengers will experience a few minutes of zero gravity, and will be able to see Earth against the blackness of space. 

Source:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/space-business-idUSL2E8DS0M920120228

Interested in teaching your students more about space science? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Space Science – Everyday Astronauts.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about space science? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

3.5 Second Bridge Demolition

An 83 year old bridge over the Ohio River was quickly demolished this week.  The Fort Steuben Bridge was closed in 2009 after the Ohio Department of Transportation declared it “functionally obsolete.” 

The 1,255ft bridge was loaded with 153lbs of explosives, and was splashing down into the water below 3.5 seconds after detonation.  A video, filmed by the ODOT, can be found at the link below. 

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-21/news/31081991_1_ohio-river-deadspin-transportation

Interested in teaching your students more about engineering? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Engineering – Bridges by Design.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about engineering? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Going Up… and Up, and Up, and Up!

For those who do not enjoy a long elevator ride, perhaps this form of space tourism does not sound like the joy-ride others may think of it being.  A Japanese construction company has set its sights on constructing a 60,000 mile-long cable into space, roughly ¼ of the distance from Earth to our moon.  One end of the cable would be fixed in the ground here on Earth, and the other end suspended in space by a counterweight.  This is all made possible with the science of carbon nanotubes, which are 20 times stronger than steel. 

The elevator would take approximately one week to reach its destination, at a speed of 125mph.  It will be powered by magnetic linear motors.  The elevator will have the capacity to carry 30 people, and will dock with a terminal station, at 22,400 miles up, that has laboratories and a living area.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/international/space-elevator-could-be-ready-by-2050-ride-takes-a-week/

Interested in teaching your students more about space science? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Space Science – Everyday Astronauts.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about space science? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com