space | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:04:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png space | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 KitGuru Games: Starfield’s poor presentation is its prime problem https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/mustafa-mahmoud/kitguru-games-starfields-poor-presentation-is-its-prime-problem/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/mustafa-mahmoud/kitguru-games-starfields-poor-presentation-is-its-prime-problem/#respond Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:00:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=629781 We have a rare difference of opinion at KitGuru this week. While Matt has loved Starfield from start to finish, Mustafa is less impressed. In today's KitGuru Games, Mustafa offers his critique of Starfield and its space-exploration offering. 

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We have a rare difference of opinion at KitGuru this week. While Matt has loved Starfield from start to finish, Mustafa is less impressed. In today's KitGuru Games, Mustafa offers his critique of Starfield and its space-exploration offering. 

When Todd Howard walked on stage during E3 2018 all those years ago and promised to show us a brand new space sci-fi adventure 25 years in the making, I – like many others – had one thought in my mind “this is No Man’s Skyrim but (hopefully) good”. Many of us were still burned at the time by the launch of Hello Hames’ far too overhyped indie experience, claiming to present us with 18 quintillion planets, all explorable from top to bottom – each telling a unique story.

Now, all these years later No Man's Sky has been transformed into one of the most impressive redemption stories in the entire industry, with Sean Murray and the team having worked tirelessly to match and eventually even exceed initial expectations. That said, even the launch version of No Man's Sky got at least one thing right. It was a core dedication to this singular aspect which made NMS such an exciting prospect – and why its initial lack of content was disappointing. Even so, after a quarter of a century in conception, Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield is here, but unfortunately in my opinion it misses the mark in the most important aspect for a space-exploring experience – that being the one thing which Hello Games managed to get right from the off: Presentation.

What do I mean by this? Well, one needs to look no further than the very initial splash screen of No Man's Sky to understand how Hello Games' emphasis and importance placed upon the concept of presentation helped make what I deem to be the ultimate space exploration experience. Before you even press the start button players are presented with the infinite vastness of space, showcasing a ‘starfield' of near limitless possibilities. Upon pressing start, the game's loading screen is masked by a dolly zoom through the universe and it's countless stars, some of which have weird and unfamiliar names placed upon them; moving too fast for you to absorb the details, but just slow enough to let you understand that these are all places which you may or may not come across during your travels. Additionally during this interim loading period, players are actually already given control, with you able to subtly look left, right, up and down using the camera – almost as if you were a passenger aboard a ship, looking outside the window as it careens through space. The game hasn't even started yet, but already you are actively exploring space thanks to the careful considerations made by Hello Games to ensure an immersive experience.

This presentation, this sense of complete and utter immersion is only further enhanced once you actually start playing the game itself. Pretty much any and all actions are presented in a seamless manner with all transitory elements being dynamic in their execution. Of course, there's the general land traversal which uses on-the-fly loading to allow you to unendingly explore each planet's surface with no barriers nor any limitations. Furthermore, your inventory and other menu-based UI elements are overlaid on top of the viewable world itself, no matter whether in 1st or 3rd person meaning you remain grounded within the world surrounding you at all times.

This seamless approach is not limited just to the ground level, but all aspects of traversal. Entering your ship is presented in a quick and fluid motion, not giving you enough time to realise during the half a second long animation that you aren't directly controlling your character. Once in the ship you immediately regain control, allowing you to fly the vessel wherever you please and at whatever speed you wish. Taking off; landing; speeding up; slowing down – all is in your direct control. Even engaging hyperspeed in order to warp to different solar systems (which requires a loading period) is masked with similar tricks used during the introduction; letting you control where your character looks to some degree while also using certain UI overlays to make the journey feel more in-the-moment and dynamic.

Speaking to NPCs uses familiar swoops and pans to position the camera in a UX friendly way, while doing so dynamically as to not make the moment feel jarring or disconnected from the rest of the world. I could go on and on listing every which way that Hello Games designed No Man's Sky to make for an uninterrupted experience. For a space exploration game, in my opinion this factor trumps all else. Even when No Man's sky launched to great disappointment in 2016 and planets were relatively barren with little to do or find, it felt real; it felt immersive – and as someone who will never go to space in real life due to being born at the wrong time in history, Hello Games succeeded in giving me the next best thing. No Man's Sky is truly a seamless experience in the most literal sense of the word, and with seamlessness comes immersion. This is where Starfield fails badly in my opinion.

First things first, I'm not trying to besmirch Starfield or Bethesda Games Studios, nor am I saying that No Man's Sky is an overall better game, but there is a clear disparity between the two titles when it comes to presentation. I'm a huge fan of many of BGS' prior titles. Fallout 3 served as my introduction to that franchise, quickly becoming one of my favourite games atmosphere-wise. The alternate history post apocalyptic Americana vibes just hit right. Fallout 4 was a day-one purchase for me, even going so far as to attend a midnight release at my local Game shop (while wearing a homemade vault-dweller cosplay).

The BGS formula is one I very much enjoy and will likely continue to enjoy going forward. All this is to say that what I'm presenting here isn't a Starfield hit-piece targeted at hating the new popular kid in town. However, I do believe that the way in which you go about traversing the universe in Starfield fails to capture the imagination due to the way it is presented. Okay, let's get into it.

My primary issue with Starfield is its disjointedness in pretty much all interactions, be it with the world; your character; inventory; NPCs and of course space travel. As mentioned earlier, No Man's Sky isn't entirely free from loading screens nor does it eschew moments in which control is taken away from the player. That being said, Hello Games managed to successfully mask those moments in a number of intelligent ways. Starfield on the other hand presents a universe which is full of separate pocketed moments – which is totally fine – but fails to integrate all these individual instances in a seamless manner.

Entering your ship is met with a pitch black loading screen. Admittedly, it lasts for about a second, but during that moment you are taken out of the experience. Leaving the planet is met with yet another short loading screen, followed by a canned animation of your spaceship taking off from a perspective external of the shuttle itself. I played Starfield entirely in first person and yet so many moments force you away from being in the eyes of your character in lieu of a static cinematic. After taking off you then load into space, with no real sense of where you are positionally or how you travelled from the planet.

Upon regaining control of your character you can fly about if you want but there's not much point in doing so. In wanting to land on a separate planet to continue operations, you click on the objective marker which then pops up another black loading screen followed by yet another canned animation of your ship just about landing on the docking station viewed from the outside. You then regain control of your character, walk to the ladder, engage in another black loading screen and set foot on the surface.

This entire song and dance fails to feel like I am truly traversing space at any point. There is no sense of scale nor time – which in my opinion are two of the core identities of space travel. Space is Infinitely vast, yet none of this is properly presented to the player. It doesn't stop there however. After landing on New Atlantis and exiting my ship, I then walk a few steps forward towards one of the NPCs to continue the mission at hand. Bethesda's games have never been the best when it comes to NPC interactions. After experimenting with a slightly more dynamic camera in Fallout 4, BGS decided to revert back to their old method of having a talking head statically stand in front of you – forcing a first person-like perspective. This in and of itself is not a big deal (especially as I was playing in first-person) however in trying to inject some of that Fallout 4 personality into these moments, they ironically made a system even worse than that seen in the likes of Fallout 3.

When there is more than one person engaged in the conversation (be it due to quips by your companion or other characters chiming in), the camera will constantly switch back and forth between these talking heads. The main problem here however is the fact that there is zero sense of location or respective placement between all those involved. Despite being in wholly different locations relative to your character, each time someone talks it is presented as though they are directly in front of you. So even though it is all in first person, it doesn't feel as though your character is actually there. Instead, no matter who is talking or where they are talking from, the camera shows off a flat, from-the-shoulder-up portrait at an equidistant perspective, as if it is being shot like a show or film – except with zero sense of cinematography whatsoever.

This back and forth disjointed representation of these interactions not only looks bad, but is actively confusing. Older BGS games may have been equally as awkward in their presentation of conversations, but at the very least the camera seemed to be somewhat grounded to your character. This new method of conversational presentation is an active regression from both Fallout 4's 3rd-person conversations and earlier entries' first-person interactions – somehow being the worst of both worlds.

When considering the fact that traveling through space and talking to people comprises 2/3rds of the entire Starfield experience, these small yet significant hiccups in motion and flow are more than simple nit-picks. While I understand that for some, all which I have presented here could be a non-issue, to me, these are highly egregious dealbreakers. As mentioned, I have thoroughly enjoyed most if not all of Bethesda Game Studios' prior titles and not once did I think about these games' abundant use of loading screens (except maybe for Skyrim – though I did admittedly enjoy twirling around the various vases and weapons displayed during them).

The difference between BGS' prior games and Starfield however is the reality of the scope of the games, and the fact that Starfield is intended to be a galaxy-hopping space adventure. What's the use of 1000 planets if they are segmented in such a way as to make the sense of scale impossible to gauge? Ironically, walking across the wastelands of Fallout or the mountains of Skyrim felt much more like an actual journey. Again, I want to reiterate that my issue comes not from the number of loading screens but the fact that nothing is done with these to ease the (many) moments in which they occur.

One of the most disappointing parts of all this is that BGS do know how to inject some personality into moments in which control is wrangled away from players. When inside your ship, if you go to the pilot's seat to begin take-off, your character will take a moment to actually sit down, adjust themselves and bring the monitor closer to themselves. It's a short but significant moment which allows you to feel more connected with the world, giving your ship a greater sense of groundedness and making it feel more real. Yes, this animation is always played in the 3rd-person, but even so the considerations and choices made during this moment helped keep me in the experience. If Starfield took the same approach with the rest of the game as they did with that one example then many of my issues with the game would have been alleviated.

As it stands, to me Starfield feels unfinished. All the main elements are there, but they are segregated in a way which fails to make any interactions feel like much more than micro-instances of pocketed gameplay. My issues with Starfield are entirely in its presentation – and I haven't been able to look past it. The very first gameplay reveal trailer for Starfield began with a quote: “The wonder is, not that the field of stars is so vast, but that man has measured it”. Because of the way travel is presented in Starfield however, it is unfortunately impossible to measure.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you been enjoying Starfield? Has the game's presentation bothered you? Is immersion important to you for a space exploration game? Let us know down below.

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Star Citizen funding passes $400 million with no release date in sight https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/star-citizen-funding-passes-400-million-with-no-release-date-in-sight/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/star-citizen-funding-passes-400-million-with-no-release-date-in-sight/#respond Mon, 22 Nov 2021 16:37:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=540466 Back in June of 2020 Star Citizen made headlines when it was revealed that the game had surpassed $300 million in funding, making the multiplayer space trading and combat simulator the most expensive game of all time. Star Citizen has outdone itself however, with the total amount raised now surpassing $400 million. On its website, …

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Back in June of 2020 Star Citizen made headlines when it was revealed that the game had surpassed $300 million in funding, making the multiplayer space trading and combat simulator the most expensive game of all time. Star Citizen has outdone itself however, with the total amount raised now surpassing $400 million.

On its website, the Star Citizen team keeps track of the amount of money raised through crowdfunding. Roughly a year and a half after it was announced that the game had made £300 million, Star Citizen has now officially raised $403,306,964. While a ludicrous amount of money, this does not even account for the amount raised through private funding.

Star Citizen is viewed by different people in different lights. To some, Star Citizen is simply a money sink, with those still investing simply falling into the sunk cost fallacy. In the eyes of others however, this money is an investment into one of the most ambitious games of all time.

Whichever side you land on in this argument, the team at Cloud Imperium Games are offering everyone a chance to try out the game, with a free trial currently underway until the 1st of December. With crowdfunding still live, it’ll be interesting to see just how much money will have been raised by the time the game finally releases. The live crowdfunding stats for Star Citizen can be found HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you played Star Citizen? Have you invested any money into the game? Will Star Citizen ever officially release? Let us know down below.

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Astronaut twins reveal more about space’s effects on the human body https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/astronaut-twins-reveal-more-about-spaces-effects-on-the-human-body/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/astronaut-twins-reveal-more-about-spaces-effects-on-the-human-body/#respond Wed, 01 Feb 2017 11:21:13 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=320364 The first results of a study into the effect space has on the human body, using twins Scott and Mark Kelley, have now been released. Thanks to their shared DNA, the studies show that space has effects on human gene expression, DNA methylation and “other biological markers.” The Kelley twins are a unique case, because …

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The first results of a study into the effect space has on the human body, using twins Scott and Mark Kelley, have now been released. Thanks to their shared DNA, the studies show that space has effects on human gene expression, DNA methylation and “other biological markers.”

The Kelley twins are a unique case, because not only are they twins, but they are also both astronauts. However where they differ is in their time spent in space. While Mark has flown beyond our atmosphere for a total of 54 days throughout four space shuttle missions in the '00s, his brother Scott has spent 340 days there between 2015 and 2016.

Looking at their genomes, their gut flora, their chromosomes and a number of other in-depth metrics, NASA and other scientific bodies have been looking to see how longer stays in space affect the body. While we don't expect the full results from the studies to come out until later this year, early results suggest that time in space appears to affect the way genes express gene products.

Scott (L) and Mark (R) Kelley. Source: NASA

The challenge now however, is to figure out how to link these changes with the rigours of space travel. We already know, for example, that weightlessness affects the vertebrae and spinal fluid, and that it leads to muscle atrophy because of a lack of effort required to hold your body together when gravity isn't crushing it. In that same way, scientists must now figure out why the Kelley brother's differ at a genetic level. Why does space have that effect?

Most interesting though, is that there is possibility that space travel could have some positive benefits on the human body. One area where space appears to aid the human experience, is with the length of Scott Kelley's telomeres. Those caps on the end of his chromosomes, which seem to have an impact on ageing, appeared to have grown during his time in space, which is the opposite of what was expected.

As Nature reports, Kelley's telomeres appeared to return to normal quite quickly once he returned to Earth, suggesting any sort of benefit is temporary, but it holds promise as a potential avenue of research.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This is exciting stuff and is just one more step on the road to humans making the long journey to Mars and beyond. 

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Astronauts may have virtual friends in future space missions https://www.kitguru.net/components/vr/jon-martindale/astronauts-may-have-virtual-friends-in-future-space-missions/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/vr/jon-martindale/astronauts-may-have-virtual-friends-in-future-space-missions/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:42:06 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=309102 Beyond the physical challenges of hurling tonnes of plastic, metal and fuel at Mars, getting there with humans aboard has a whole host of problems related to the psychological problems of such a journey. To keep astronauts from going nuts in deep space like every movie tells us they will, future long term missions may have …

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Beyond the physical challenges of hurling tonnes of plastic, metal and fuel at Mars, getting there with humans aboard has a whole host of problems related to the psychological problems of such a journey. To keep astronauts from going nuts in deep space like every movie tells us they will, future long term missions may have virtual messages from real people to keep the astronauts company.

To make this a (virtual) reality for astronauts, NASA is looking to partner with 8i, a firm which has previously produced 360 degree scenes for VR and is currently developing volumetric video capture for lifelike interactions and meetings with people in virtual reality. The idea would be to use this sort of technology to record footage of people, which astronauts could then play back and view in virtual or augmented reality for a form of escapism.

aldrinspace

Source: 8i

To test the waters for this idea, 8i worked together with Time Inc to create short, holographic messages from astronaut Buzz Aldrin and comedian Reggie Watts. These messages will be sent to participants of a Mars journey simulation set to take place in the future, to see what effect it may have on the psyche of those viewing them.

Aldrin made a statement that he was honoured to take part in the initiative and hoped that his words and virtual presences could help inspire and bolster the resolve of astronauts as they made their year long round trip to and from Mars. He also expressed interest in showing people back home what Mars was really like through the power of virtual reality.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPkvSQ44baM']

Other messages are planned for recording over the next few months, with announcements made on who will be making them sometime next year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Virtual and augmented reality are awesome for those of us who are able bodied, but the people who could benefit the most are those in isolation and those with restricted movement. Being able to travel somewhere impossible and to perform normal functions despite your location or inability, could be a god send. 

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This year’s Call of Duty could tackle Sci-Fi https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/this-years-call-of-duty-could-tackle-sci-fi/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/this-years-call-of-duty-could-tackle-sci-fi/#respond Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:45:48 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=288256 Call of Duty has gone through several changes over the years but the big focus right now appears to be on futuristic themes with Black Ops III and Advanced Warfare. However, this year's game from Infinity Ward could take things a step forward with a full blown Sci-Fi setting with most of the game taking …

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Call of Duty has gone through several changes over the years but the big focus right now appears to be on futuristic themes with Black Ops III and Advanced Warfare. However, this year's game from Infinity Ward could take things a step forward with a full blown Sci-Fi setting with most of the game taking place in space, which would be a pretty big departure from what we've seen so far.

Details on Infinity Ward's new Call of Duty first popped up over the weekend on NeoGAF. Eurogamer also asked around and heard from some of its own sources that this information is accurate.

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Infinity Ward's new Call of Duty will depart from Ghosts entirely, which received a fairly poor response from fans and critics. Activision has not outright denied these rumors either so take from that what you will.

This wouldn't be the most surprising move, the last two Call of Duty games have tried to take on more futuristic themes and Infinity Wards' series ditched zombies for an alien-based wave mode so it would make sense for the studio to take things a step forward and switch it up this year.

KitGuru Says: Infinity Ward's last two Call of Duty games have been fairly mixed bags so it is clear that the studio needs to reignite its spark this year. Perhaps a full-blown Sci-Fi setting will do the trick!

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Do you have space for room-scale VR? Check here https://www.kitguru.net/components/vr/jon-martindale/do-you-have-space-for-room-scale-vr-check-here/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/vr/jon-martindale/do-you-have-space-for-room-scale-vr-check-here/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:49:04 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=285777 If you're a VR fan with deep pockets, then likely you've gone back and forth in your mind about whether to pre-order an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Making that choice comes down to a lot of different factors, but one is whether you actually have the physical space for room-scale VR – but without …

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If you're a VR fan with deep pockets, then likely you've gone back and forth in your mind about whether to pre-order an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Making that choice comes down to a lot of different factors, but one is whether you actually have the physical space for room-scale VR – but without the games, how do we know? Well now we do, as the physical specs for many of them have been unveiled.

All of this is possible because following the HTC Vive pre-orders opening up earlier this week, a number of compatible titles have appeared on Steam, giving us a much better idea of what we're going to play when our headsets arrive. That is of course if we aren't going to end up punching a wall when fully immersed.

brandonspace

Fortunately it looks like almost everything requires just a minimum of two metres by two metres, which for most people should be doable, if not permanently, at least by sliding a sofa back a couple of feet. Here's the list of smaller space titles compiled by Redditor ShoneysBreakfast:

This list of games doesn't even require a couple of metres in each direction, which shows that it will be possible to play many Vive games as long as you have enough space to stand still and spin in a circle with arms outstretched. Better yet, two of them – Fantastic Contraption and Job Simulator – come free with the Vive, so you know you are getting at least two games that will work in small spaces right off of the bat.

There are games that need a little more space though, but even they don't push you beyond three metres by three metres:

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NixHENChoQ4′]

We also know from an earlier video, that Hover Junkers by Stress Level Zero, will require just enough space to stand still and point in any direction. That's thanks to its clever ship-designs, which come in many shapes and sizes, offering everyone, regardless of space, the chance to gun each other down in VR.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There are also applications like TiltBrush which will likely infinitely scale depending on the space you have, but will work just fine standing still too.

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Space X cancels second launch attempt two minutes before takeoff https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/space-x-cancels-second-launch-attempt-two-minutes-before-takeoff/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/space-x-cancels-second-launch-attempt-two-minutes-before-takeoff/#respond Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:03:55 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=285420 Space X has a lot of planned launches in 2016, more so than any previous year in-fact – that's why it's now mass producing the Falcon 9 rocket. However the second launch attempt since the new-year has been rather problematic, with the commercial space venture cancelling its last two launch attempts within the past week. …

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Space X has a lot of planned launches in 2016, more so than any previous year in-fact – that's why it's now mass producing the Falcon 9 rocket. However the second launch attempt since the new-year has been rather problematic, with the commercial space venture cancelling its last two launch attempts within the past week. The latest one was just two minutes before the countdown was set to begin.

falcon999

Source: SpaceX/Twitter

Although the initial launch planned for Wednesday this week was cancelled due to problematic weather – too much wind makes sending something as large as a Falcon 9 into space more than problematic – the reason for the canned launch yesterday hasn't been revealed as of yet.

There was some rushing around just before the launch, as the liquid oxygen required additional cooling to further compact it, so it may be that the team ran out of time before takeoff. For now, Space X has simply said it is reviewing data and has yet to announce a renewed attempt to launch its payload into orbit.

This launch is designed to take the Boeing-made, Belgian communication satellite, known as the SES-9 into orbit. When it does eventually make its space faring debut, the satellite will orbit the earth at an altitude of some 26,000 miles (as per Forbes).

While the secondary stage of the Falcon 9 will carry that payload into its orbit, the first stage will once again attempt to land on Space X's drone barge. The last time it tried was the closest attempt yet. The booster rocket landed near-perfectly on the platform, but one of its legs failed to lock out and the rocket quickly collapsed and exploded.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Better to be safe than sorry with expensive rocket launches, but it's always a bummer when one doesn't go up. Little makes me prouder to be human than seeing those big piles of fuel and metal hauling ass out of the atmosphere.

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Bill Nye’s Lightsail completes first round of flight software tests https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/bill-nyes-lightsail-completes-first-round-of-flight-software-tests/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/bill-nyes-lightsail-completes-first-round-of-flight-software-tests/#respond Fri, 29 Jan 2016 09:20:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=282392 Scientific educator Bill Nye's Lightsail, crowd funded space-craft project is continuing apace. Following the successful test flight and opening in mid-2015, the final version of the fuel-free space craft is continuing development, with a completion of the latest round of testing, which used a base-station, known as BenchSat, to simulate key points in the spacecraft's …

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Scientific educator Bill Nye's Lightsail, crowd funded space-craft project is continuing apace. Following the successful test flight and opening in mid-2015, the final version of the fuel-free space craft is continuing development, with a completion of the latest round of testing, which used a base-station, known as BenchSat, to simulate key points in the spacecraft's future journey.

Known as the operational readiness test (ORT), LightSail's engineering clone, BenchSat did a fantastic job of testing real time data transmission for the upcoming solar sail mission. Specific points in its launch and deployment were simulated, such as a ground station pass, a solar panel and sail deployment, as well as an image download.

lightsailisnye

Source: Loren Roberts / The Planetary Society

Data was transmitted in packets sent at seven second internals, each containing 235 lines of data taken from on board sensors. This equates to almost three times the number used on the LightSail test unit, so there will be a lot more information to work with when the final LightSail build is launched. As a given example, each camera now sends heater status, last contact time and temperature, as well as imagery.

Data was transmitted to the same ground station that will be used during the eventual flight and fortunately no major problems were identified.

Better yet, component-level testing and assembly has now been completed for the LightSail itself. The plan now is to move on to system level testing, followed eventually by more physical trials of the LightSail's deployment system for the sail.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Once those tests have been completed, LightSail will head off to Georgia Tech for installation on the Prox-1, which will in turn be fitted to a Falcon Heavy rocket at some point this year for launch into LEO.

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Obama gives go ahead for asteroid mining, ownership https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/obama-gives-go-ahead-for-asteroid-mining-ownership/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/obama-gives-go-ahead-for-asteroid-mining-ownership/#comments Thu, 26 Nov 2015 09:20:14 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=276330 Although the U.S. and Russia were at each other's throats when it came to the 20th century space race, they did agree in 1967 that no state could claim ownership of celestial bodies. That hasn't stopped some commercial ventures from doing so of course, even without legal binding, but now they may be able to …

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Although the U.S. and Russia were at each other's throats when it came to the 20th century space race, they did agree in 1967 that no state could claim ownership of celestial bodies. That hasn't stopped some commercial ventures from doing so of course, even without legal binding, but now they may be able to get it. President Obama has signed in a piece of legislation that makes it legal to own and mine asteroids.

The Space Resource Commercial Exploration and Utilisation Act of 2015, was signed in by Obama and makes it legal to commercially explore and recover asteroids for the purpose of mining or otherwise. It will also “discourage government barriers,” to the development of economic, viable and safe ventures into space and the recovery of useful materials.

The bill calls on Obama to further rectify the law within no-less than 180 days, by specifying the authorities and federal institutions that will watch over space resource acquisition and to work on any disputes.

Chris Lewicki, President of Planetary Resources, Inc., said, “This off-planet economy will forever change our lives for the better here on Earth. We celebrate this law as it creates a pro-growth environment for our emerging industry by encouraging private sector investment and ensuring an increasingly stable and predictable regulatory environment.”

asteroidmining

When the time comes, we know who we have to send. Just make sure you duct down Steve Buschemi. Source: Buena Vista

Of course there is a reason this legislation is only coming about now – because mining in space is difficult and incredibly expensive. You would need to fund the creation of space craft that could capture and bring an asteroid into near-Earth orbit, build a mining rig that could operate without spraying rock and debris – contributing to the Kessler Syndrom – and find a way to safely bring that material to Earth.

But if someone can do all that, the financial rewards are of a magnitude previously unheard of. While doing all of the above may cost untold billions, if a company were to mine Eros 443 for example (an asteroid around 17 million miles from Earth) and extract only its platinum resources, that could be sold for almost 500 quintillion dollars. That's 500,000 trillion dollars (as per the ErosProject).

And that doesn't even factor in its other useful resources like iron, aluminium and oxygen, the latter of which could be particularly useful in space.

But of course  we'd need to get at it first, and at more than 70 times the distance from the Earth to the moon even at its closest approach, Eros 443 is still a long way away. Capturing such an asteroid – which is around the size of a mountain – would be no small feat.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I would imagine moon-mining will take place before asteroid mining, simply because it's easier to get to and is in a stable orbit. However asteroid mining has a lot of potential if they can be successfully and safely captured. I'm not convinced mining in Earth's orbit wouldn't cause a lot of debris issues though.

 

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Lockheed and Boeing to build re-usable rocket too https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/lockheed-and-boeing-to-build-re-usable-rocket-too/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/lockheed-and-boeing-to-build-re-usable-rocket-too/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:08:09 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=274626 When a new piece of hardware is introduced to a market that shakes things up, it's often termed disruptive. Elon Musk is himself, a disruptor of many industries, helping push the world towards electric cars, high-speed maglev hyperloop travel and indeed, cheaper and more efficient space transits. So much so in fact, that aerospace giants …

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When a new piece of hardware is introduced to a market that shakes things up, it's often termed disruptive. Elon Musk is himself, a disruptor of many industries, helping push the world towards electric cars, high-speed maglev hyperloop travel and indeed, cheaper and more efficient space transits. So much so in fact, that aerospace giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing have announced that their joint venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will also be working on a re-usable rocket.

As it stands, rocket launches are unbelievably expensive, but that's not because of the fuel burned, or the salaries for the staff involved in its development, but in the actual materials and construction of the rockets themselves. This is only the case though because after shooting a minuscule payload into an orbital trajectory, most rockets entirely burn up on re-entry or crash into the ocean, destroying their often tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars of net worth in a second.

That's why Space-X's reusable rocket has been so disruptive, as it has the potential to cut development costs by enormous margins; so ULA is now looking to put together something similar. It's planned rocket is called the Vulcan, will be entirely re-usable and will be more powerful than current generations of the Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy.

vulcanrocket
Pretty sure I've used all these in KSP. Source: ULA

Perhaps more importantly though, it will also have entirely American made engines. Current ULA launches utilise Russian made engines, something that Musk has used as leverage to criticise the joint venture, suggesting that worsening relationships between the USA and Russia could make acquiring the necessary hardware for future missions difficult.

While the Vulcan isn't set to be launch ready until 2019 and Space X's Falcon 9 has already been launched several times, the latter still isn't reusable as has failed (albeit by small margins) to effectively land on its recovery barge to date. Its recent mid-flight explosion also sent it back to the drawing board until 2016.

As MotleyFool points out though, the best news here is for taxpayers, as the competition in NASA contracts will make both the ULA and Space X operate within tighter margins, making for a better deal for those funding either or both of them.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Reusable space hardware will be the key for space tourism over the next hundred years. I have my fingers crossed. Although it will likely always be expensive in my lifetime, I want a chance to experience the overview effect one day. 

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NASA to launch 4K TV channel in November https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/nasa-to-launch-4k-tv-channel-in-november/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/nasa-to-launch-4k-tv-channel-in-november/#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2015 19:08:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=267492 NASA has announced that it will soon be launching a TV channel dedicated to showing off ultra high-definition footage. A company called Harmonic has stepped in to help the space agency with its new channel, which is set to officially launch on the 1st of November. Right now, NASA is calling this the “first ever …

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NASA has announced that it will soon be launching a TV channel dedicated to showing off ultra high-definition footage. A company called Harmonic has stepped in to help the space agency with its new channel, which is set to officially launch on the 1st of November.

Right now, NASA is calling this the “first ever non-commercial consumer ultra-high definition channel in North America”. Harmonic's video delivery infrastructure will allow NASA to broadcast video at 4096×2160 at 60 frames per second.

NASA

The channel won't be too different from the current NASA TV, by the sounds of things. You will be able to view it on the web, though you will need a connection of 13Mbps or higher for a stable stream. The channel will also show up on traditional TV, as NASA is currently in talks with satellite and cable companies in the US, though “no deals have been finalized” just yet.

NASA will mostly be showing off 4K footage that it has been filming on the International Space Station this year. The space agency will also be re-mastering old footage from historical missions. You can see the full announcement, HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The NASA channel will only be available in the US but it is still pretty interesting news.

Via: The Verge

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NASA funds research to make human waste more useful in space https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/nasa-funds-research-to-make-human-waste-more-useful-in-space/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/nasa-funds-research-to-make-human-waste-more-useful-in-space/#respond Mon, 24 Aug 2015 10:40:03 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=264645 Going to the toilet in space isn't easy. Without gravity human bowels work slightly differently, and there's the ever present problem of what comes out floating around the cabin or space station, as happened during the Apollo 10 mission. There's also the problem of disposal, as we don't want any of that human waste forming …

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Going to the toilet in space isn't easy. Without gravity human bowels work slightly differently, and there's the ever present problem of what comes out floating around the cabin or space station, as happened during the Apollo 10 mission. There's also the problem of disposal, as we don't want any of that human waste forming icy-hard debris which may contribute to the Kessler Syndrome. So what's to be done? We could use it to make stuff.

poobag
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti seen here demonstrating the polite replacement of the poo bag. 

That's what one team of researchers at the Clemson University in South Carolina have been trying to do and NASA has now given them $200,000 a year for up to three years, to help it look into ways to turn the faecal matter into something useful.

The plan is to develop a system that extracts nitrogen from urine and carbon from exhaled carbon dioxide and faeces, in order to grow a particular strain of yeast. That yeast can feed on the carbon and produce fatty acids like Omega 3 and plastics, which could be used in 3D printing. While still a less viable technology for mass production than injection moulding, 3D printing in space can allow astronauts to create any tools or components they need with ease.

Fresh food and vitamins will also be vital for any astronauts sent on long term missions to places like Mars. ISS astronauts recently ate the first space-grown food, a type of Romaine lettuce, though this is just the beginning. It's hoped that with recycling techniques and on-board gardening, astronauts will be able to have a much more exciting and varied diet, which is good for their bodies, but also their minds too.

Gardening and other similar activities will also help stave off boredom on the long journey to Mars and other planets, which will takes months and potentially years at at a time.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: At least on the ISS you probably get a lot of privacy when you go the toilet. Some of those crew capsules used in one-shot missions are far more communal.

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NASA’s Mars engine test firing video showcases its power https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/nasas-mars-engine-test-firing-video-showcases-its-power/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/nasas-mars-engine-test-firing-video-showcases-its-power/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2015 11:53:11 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=263705 Although lovers of space have been calling for a manned trip to Mars for decades ,we still don't seem any closer to sending people to its far-flung surface. That doesn't mean steps aren't being taken though, with NASA last week testing the engine that will make up the core stage of the rocket which will …

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Although lovers of space have been calling for a manned trip to Mars for decades ,we still don't seem any closer to sending people to its far-flung surface. That doesn't mean steps aren't being taken though, with NASA last week testing the engine that will make up the core stage of the rocket which will eventually take the first intrepid humans all the way to Mars. And now we have video of it being tested.

engine

The motor in question is the RS-25, the same one used throughout the Shuttle program. Unlike the Shuttle program however, four of these engines will eventually be used (compared to the three on the older program), giving the craft a much greater lifting capacity and making it possible to carry cargo and people alike beyond low Earth orbit.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Gv7qDxgUE']

However as well as more of them, the core RS-25 design has been upgraded too. This newer version features more thrust, higher propellant inlet pressures and it operates at a lower temperature according to NASA. It also has a much improved engine controller (as per The Register) – as you might expect, considering the first RS-25 was developed in the early '80s.

The test of the single engine that took place last week went well and ran for the full 535 seconds it was intended to – equivalent to the amount of time that the engines would be active during an actual launch.

One more test of the developmental engine will take place within the next few months, but after that actual flight engines will begin to be tested for the eventual construction of the full Space Launch System (SLS), which will be NASA's first full replacement for the Shuttle program which was retired in 2011.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5sWfhkpE0′]

An extended timeframe has an unmanned test orbiting the moon in 2018, followed by a manned visit to a captured asteroid in 2021. A manned mission to Mars could take place in the early 2030s, or mid 2040s, though any such mission would require up to seven launches of the SLS to construct the craft necessary in orbit.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I have to agree with Mr Zubrin. It should be humans to Mars in 10 years. Musk is a big fan of the idea. Perhaps Space X will help it on its way? 

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SpaceVR wants to turn us all into astronauts https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/spacevr-wants-to-turn-us-all-into-astronauts/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/spacevr-wants-to-turn-us-all-into-astronauts/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2015 10:17:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=263684 Despite decades and decades of flinging things and ourselves into space, only 533 people have left the confines of our little blue marble and orbited around its expanse, truly experiencing what it's like to be in space. One company wants to change that however. Space VR is a Kickstarter campaign to put a 360 degree …

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Despite decades and decades of flinging things and ourselves into space, only 533 people have left the confines of our little blue marble and orbited around its expanse, truly experiencing what it's like to be in space. One company wants to change that however. Space VR is a Kickstarter campaign to put a 360 degree camera system on the International Space Station and beyond, to let the world see in real-time what only a select few have enjoyed.

overviewone

The idea with this is not only to provide an interesting view point, but to allow everyone to experience what's known as the Overview Effect. It's something that many astronauts have individually described as a much greater understanding of the world and our place in it, when you realise just how small our planet is within the great cosmos.

To achieve this, the SpaceVR teams wants to send up several Go-Pro cameras, that can be fitted within a vacuum proof frame, 3D printed aboard the ISS. Together with some smart compression software, they should provide ultra high-definition views from within and without the ISS. But they need our help to fund it.

The team is looking for half a million dollars, but has yet to achieve 10 per cent of its goal. To entice more of us to put money down on this project, they have rewards that include preview VR trailers of what the view will be like, posters, early access to the footage and a cardboard VR kit for those without a virtual reality headset to be able to experience the view with their phone.

Better yet, drop $10,000 on this project and you can view Space VR while in a parabolic flight, so you'll be weightless, while getting a view of space. That should be about as close to the real deal as can be captured on Earth.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: None of us are likely to go into space, for another few decades at least and even then, only if we're pretty well off. Let's make VR in space happen and we can do it in a few years time. 

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New Horizons confirms Pluto is bigger than we thought https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/new-horizons-confirms-pluto-is-bigger-than-we-thought/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/new-horizons-confirms-pluto-is-bigger-than-we-thought/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2015 08:08:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=258831 Poor Pluto. Once part of the collective of nine planets that make up our solar system, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2005, after the discovery of the larger Eris – a trans-Neptunian object – forced scientists to consider the formal definition of “planet;” unfortunately for Pluto it didn't make the cut. However, …

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Poor Pluto. Once part of the collective of nine planets that make up our solar system, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2005, after the discovery of the larger Eris – a trans-Neptunian object – forced scientists to consider the formal definition of “planet;” unfortunately for Pluto it didn't make the cut. However, as if in an attempt to prove us wrong, Pluto has turned out to be slightly larger than it was originally thought, with the New Horizons probe confirming that it is bigger than previous estimations.

Over the past decade since Pluto's reclassification, many individuals have postulated that it is of various sizes, ranging from 2306 kilometres in diameter, to 2368KM. It turns out however that Pluto is in-fact 2,370KM in diameter, larger than anyone expected. It means that Pluto's surface area is roughly equivalent to that of Russia.

However this size increase does have some ramifications. It means that Pluto is less dense than previously thought, which suggests that there is a higher density of ice in its interior and a little less rock.

plutoplanets
Image source: NASA

As much as it may remain a dwarf planet though, Pluto's moons are far smaller. We will get a better view of them soon, but Nix is estimated to be just 20 miles across, whilst Hydra is closer to 30 miles in diameter.

This is all only possible thanks to the approach of the New Horizons probe, which after almost a decade in the inky blackness of space and billions of miles traversed, is now set to flyby Pluto in the next few hours. However, due to the distance between the control centre and the probe, there will be no direct control and to make sure that processing capabilities and power are conserved, scientists will have no contact with New Horizons until it has completed its complicated series of manoeuvres and picture taking.

It's said that we'll hear about the success or failure of New Horizons in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with images and scientific data to follow in the coming days – though it will take many months to receive all of the space craft's measurements and readings.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Fingers crossed for you New Horizons. Do us proud. 

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Philae comet lander space probe wakes up https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/philae-comet-lander-space-probe-wakes-up/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/philae-comet-lander-space-probe-wakes-up/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:08:52 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=254561 It's been seven long months since anyone has heard from the Philae lander, which was touched down on a comet, hundreds of millions of miles from earth, in a descent that was fraught with nail biting triumphs. After 60 hours though, its batteries ran dry, as it had managed to land in an area of near consistent …

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It's been seven long months since anyone has heard from the Philae lander, which was touched down on a comet, hundreds of millions of miles from earth, in a descent that was fraught with nail biting triumphs. After 60 hours though, its batteries ran dry, as it had managed to land in an area of near consistent shade. However, now that it's closer to the sun, its brief periods of sunlight are enough to power it back up and the European Space Agency has begun communicating with it once again.

There had been no guarantee that even as Philae drew closer to its power source, that it would be able to turn back on, but the decade+ old hardware did its just admirably and re-established contact with its parent craft Rosetta, which in turn beamed back its confirmed reinvigoration to Earth, where the ESA informed the world. It's now hoped that Philae will be able to transmit some of the scientific data it still had on board when it shut down last year and also carry out new experiments and take photographs as the comet reaches its closest point to the sun.

philae23

It's expected that as 67P nears the great stellar body, it will continue to heat up and that may cause some strange activity aboard the comet, potentially sending up jets of gas, or even parts breaking off to form the tail. It will reach its closest approach to the sun in August and will be at a distance of 127 million miles from it at that time.

The only worry is, that as it gets closer, Philae itself may overheat, though at this time, it's racing through space at a comfortable – relatively – minus 35 degrees celsius.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It's great to see Philae come back online, if for no other reason than the ESA does a great job of making all of its space craft feel as if they are talking to one another. 

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Crowd funded lightsail to take part in test flight https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/crowd-funded-lightsail-to-take-part-in-test-flight/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/crowd-funded-lightsail-to-take-part-in-test-flight/#respond Wed, 20 May 2015 09:22:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=250242 Just less than a week on from Bill Nye and his Planetary Society's smashing of their Kickstarter goal, the Light Sail Solar Sail satellite, slated to officially launch next year, is set to go through a test run. Sat atop an Atlus V rocket, the miniature cubesat will be launched into a sub-orbital trajectory, where it …

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Just less than a week on from Bill Nye and his Planetary Society's smashing of their Kickstarter goal, the Light Sail Solar Sail satellite, slated to officially launch next year, is set to go through a test run. Sat atop an Atlus V rocket, the miniature cubesat will be launched into a sub-orbital trajectory, where it will unfurl its mylar ‘sail' to make sure that it opens correctly in a vacuum. If that goes well, it will speed along the eventual deployment of the space craft some time in 2016.

lightsail2

The launch, set to take place today at 10:45 EDT (14:45 GMT), will be live streamed via the Plantery Society's website. Users can watch it here, as well as view some of the related tweets from members of the development team.

Measuring around 300 square feet, the reflective sheets set to be spread across the inky blackness of space is designed to ‘catch' as much sunlight as possible. Even though the photons that make up the light have no mass, they do have momentum, which means they should give the Light Sail space-probe a small push on a consistent basis, forever – once its launched. While it may take years for the little satellite to really get up to speed, when it does, there should be no stopping it, as without the need for fuel it could explore the very far flung reaches of the solar system at very little expense.

atlasv

Of course it's not free, which is why the Planetary Society has been crowd funding its efforts to take the miniature satellite into orbit. Although it's easily smashed its initial Kickstarter goal, there are still stretch goals to reach, so you can continue to pledge if you want to contribute. Or get yourself a sweet looking Light Sail badge.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I've practically sworn off Kickstarter at this point as there's so many projects I've backed and lost interest in. Still, this was one I had to throw a few quid at. It's just an exciting one to be a part of. 

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NASA wants a clear path for Pluto probe https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/nasa-wants-a-clear-path-for-pluto-probe/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/nasa-wants-a-clear-path-for-pluto-probe/#comments Mon, 18 May 2015 10:55:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=249803 As NASA's New Horizons probe gets ever closer to its intended target of Pluto, where on the 14th July it is expected to complete its first flyby of the dwarf planet, scientists on the ground are scanning the inky blackness of space to make sure that it has a clear path. Since the probe is travelling …

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As NASA's New Horizons probe gets ever closer to its intended target of Pluto, where on the 14th July it is expected to complete its first flyby of the dwarf planet, scientists on the ground are scanning the inky blackness of space to make sure that it has a clear path. Since the probe is travelling at more than 32,500 miles per hour (relative to the Sun), colliding with something as small as a speck of dust would be the equivalent of setting off a huge explosion on the surface of the craft, so keeping it sailing through space free from obstacles is an important part of the mission.

To keep New Horizons running safely, NASA is now conducting weekly observations using the probe's long-range camera to look for potential debris, as well as sources of it. Pluto is known to have several moons of its own, some of which may be shedding dust into the nearby system. If so, that needs to be avoided at all costs.

However veering off at those sorts of speeds isn't easy and it's potentially costly in terms of fuel, of which in space, there is always a finite supply of. One suggested strategy from NASA researchers is to use the ship's high-gain antenna as a forward facing shield, letting it take the brunt of any dust particles in its path; though this is hardly ideal. Fortunately then there are three potential course changes that could be made, allowing the craft to still achieve its mission objectives, whilst not sacrificing too much fuel.

nerhorizons
Artists interpretation of New Horizon's orbiting Pluto

That said, NASA would rather not change course at all, since the alternatives would send the craft much closer to the surface of the dwarf planet and therefore the images recovered of its surface would not be as clear.

“Our cameras are designed to work from a certain distance, with things moving at a certain rate of speed through the system,” explained NASA's John Spencer (via Yahoo). “If you're speeding along a highway, it's hard to read the sign on the front of a business that's right next to the road.”

Fortunately though, whatever route the craft takes, it's predicted that it will have enough fuel left (even after a manoeuvre) to visit other objects beyond Pluto in a plan for an extended mission beyond current parameters.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Fingers crossed for you New Horizons. It's time Pluto got a bit of a redemption after it was dropped from school books around the world. 

You'll always be the ninth planet to us '90s kids Pluto. Don't worry.

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Bill Nye successfully crowdfunds LightSail solar sail space craft https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/bill-nye-successfully-crowdfunds-lightsail-solar-sail-space-craft/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/bill-nye-successfully-crowdfunds-lightsail-solar-sail-space-craft/#comments Thu, 14 May 2015 09:44:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=249374 Even though the past few years have seen some amazing space endeavours and science recovery from traditional space-faring organisations like NASA and the ESA, some of the most exciting developments as of late have come from commercial ventures like Space X and Virgin Galactic. However that time has also seen the birth and growth of …

The post Bill Nye successfully crowdfunds LightSail solar sail space craft first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Even though the past few years have seen some amazing space endeavours and science recovery from traditional space-faring organisations like NASA and the ESA, some of the most exciting developments as of late have come from commercial ventures like Space X and Virgin Galactic. However that time has also seen the birth and growth of online crowd funding, which is why it's extra exciting to learn that Bill “The Science Guy,” Nye and his solar sail satellite project have been successfully funded in just a few days and the campaign looks set to go to the moon and beyond, with stretch goals a plenty to break through.

lightsail
How could you not give money to this guy?

The project, called Lightsail, is headed by the Planetary Society (an organisation that Nye is the CEO of and has Neil Tyson on the board) that democratises space, by giving every member a vote in what projects it works on. As it stands, it's developing a solar sail equipped cube sat, which is a miniature satellite equipped with giant mylar sheets, which use the infinitesimally small ‘push' that light gives to reflective surfaces, to propel a space craft through the inky blackness of the solar system.

As Mr Nye points out in the campaign video, this is possible because while photos have no mass, they do have momentum, which is enough to provide a small amount of impetus on a consistent basis. This should allow the little space craft to – over time – reach very high speeds with almost no fuel usage. That makes the launch and maintenance of the craft much cheaper, which is why it can be crowd funded.

Set to launch atop the first Falcon Heavy booster from Space X in 2016, the Cubesat system is now fully funded, but there are more than 40 days to go in the campaign, so it's likely to achieve a few stretch goals before then. The first one, which is just $17,000 away would mean more testing from other research institutes. A total of $450,000 would pay for the tracking and management of the satellite for up to four months after its launch, while $550,000 would see the publication of several scientific studies about the project in appropriate journals.

However, this is all peanuts compared to what the campaign may reach. Thanks to its explosive success already, it's on “traq” to hit over $4.5 million, which would destroy its final $1 million reward tier, which will launch a public awareness campaign about cubesats and solar sailing. What else they can offer remains to be seen.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: What would you guys like them to do with all of that extra money the campaign is likely to earn?

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NASA bringing rover tech to driverless cars https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/nasa-bringing-rover-tech-to-driverless-cars/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/nasa-bringing-rover-tech-to-driverless-cars/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:24:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=245203 Driverless car technologies are coming on leaps and bounds at the moments, with the world's first motorway-only automated features set to hit commercial cars as soon as 2017. However, whether our automated future will look like the cars of old, or something more akin to Google's Pod Car design remains to be seen. Especially when NASA …

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Driverless car technologies are coming on leaps and bounds at the moments, with the world's first motorway-only automated features set to hit commercial cars as soon as 2017. However, whether our automated future will look like the cars of old, or something more akin to Google's Pod Car design remains to be seen. Especially when NASA is also developing some very versatile and driverless vehicles of its own, based on some of its remote rover technology.

nasamrvc
Who knew a NASA scientist would be the next drift king?

The Modular Robotic Vehicle, or MRV, was shown off in a recent trial run at the Johnson Space Centre, where the fully electric vehicle debuted its abilities to operate with and without a driver, as well as pull off stunts that are impossible for traditionally powered vehicles. Thanks to its individual wheels, all fitted with liquid cooled electric motors that can operate independently, the MRV is capable of driving completely sideways, making parking – and drifting – a piece of cake.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-VUHdmjytM']

The MRV has several redundant safety systems built into it and can be controlled remotely, in-the car itself or instructed to operate entirely autonomously.

According to the video's description, this is just one of several automated vehicles that the space agency is developing in conjunction with traditional automakers. NASA recently announced plans to work with Japanese automaker Nissan to develop an autonomous, zero-emissions vehicle with the first test set to take place this year – it's not clear if the MRV is part of that pledge.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: They look like they have a lot of fun at NASA. I'm starting to wonder if writing about all of this cool stuff was the wrong career path. 

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Warm oceans discovered on Saturn’s moon, could contain life https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/warm-oceans-discovered-on-saturns-moon-could-contain-life/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/warm-oceans-discovered-on-saturns-moon-could-contain-life/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2015 09:18:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=239569 Although Jupiter's moon Europa has often been considered the mostly likely place in our solar system other than Earth to have life as we know it somewhere within its under-ice oceans, there may be another, more viable contender on the cosmic horizon. Enceladus, a small moon orbiting Saturn, is now thought to have a warm ocean …

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Although Jupiter's moon Europa has often been considered the mostly likely place in our solar system other than Earth to have life as we know it somewhere within its under-ice oceans, there may be another, more viable contender on the cosmic horizon. Enceladus, a small moon orbiting Saturn, is now thought to have a warm ocean underneath its thick layer of surface ice, within which scientists believe are hydrothermal vents, which are considered one of the places on Earth where life may first have evolved. This news stands on the shoulders of last year's discovery that the oceans were present on the moon, reaching at points as far as six miles deep. However, it's only with further study of the solar-body's gravity and its erupting particles that scientists were able to determine the potential for life. Even though from the outside Enceladus looks as impenetrable and foreboding as many of our solar bodies, its interior could be far more exciting. In a new study in Nature, scientists working at the Laboratory of Ocean–Earth Life Evolution Research, the Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Heidelberg and Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University among others, used gravitational field measurements and analysis of dust particles ejected from the core of the moon, to determine that the oceans are warm and potentially could house hydrothermal vents. These vents are present in some of Earth's oceans and are teeming with life. hydrothermal Hydrothermal vents here on Earth could have led to the first organisms on our planet The way scientists deduced this, is through looking at the size and composition of the dust particles, which under analysis are thought to be nano-metre sized silica particles. Since silica of that particular type can be formed through the interaction of water and rock, there is likely to be liquid water on the moon and the fact that their size is almost always within a limited range, suggests that they were transported from the ocean floor to the surface quite rapidly, which would require global-scale geothermal activity to be taking place. Hence the potential for undersea hydrothermal vents. KitGuru Says: Now we need to get a drilling probe there as well as Europa. I volunteer to be the ambassador to the Europan fish people. 

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How fast is the speed of light really? https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/how-fast-is-the-speed-of-light-really/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/how-fast-is-the-speed-of-light-really/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2015 12:42:16 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=236741 Update: Thanks to our readers for pointing out some of the problems with this piece. Mark Smith came up with a short and sweet analogy for what's going on in the video below: “The times given are how long *we* perceive it takes light to travel those distances. Relativity tells us that the faster you …

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Update: Thanks to our readers for pointing out some of the problems with this piece. Mark Smith came up with a short and sweet analogy for what's going on in the video below:

The times given are how long *we* perceive it takes light to travel those distances. Relativity tells us that the faster you travel, the more compressed distances become in the direction you're travelling. At the speed of light, that distance becomes zero. So from a light beam's point of view (which the physics say doesn't actually exist), it takes no time at all to travel any of the distances mentioned.”

The speed of light is one of the universe's great constants. Since it's discovery, it's provided us with all sorts of measuring sticks, including the speed limit of matter, a better way to understand time and a wonderfully simple way of discussing vast distances in the universe. It's also incredibly useful simply because it's so fast, as it allows you to read this split seconds after I've posted it and for us to receive messages from our automated space craft millions of miles away in mere minutes.

But as fast as it is, it's still slow enough that were you to hitch a lift on the back of a beam of light, like a photon riding Silver Surfer, it would take you a long, long time to get anywhere, as this excellent video showcases.

If you were to start at the heart of our solar system, with your nose touching the sun's surface – preferably with something a little heftier than factor 50 covering it – and you shot off directly away from it at the speed of light, in just ten minutes you'd have travelled over 180 million kilometres, passing the orbit of Mercury, Venus and our own little blue marble on your way out.

NB. Though that would be how we on Earth would view it, rather you, the traveller.

You won't be able to see much on your fly by though, as when you're travelling at 299,792 kilometres per second, the distance between the Earth and the Moon is traversed in just 1.3 seconds. But consider that even at this monumental speed, the fastest that anything with or without mass has ever travelled as far as we know (except perhaps the universe's original expansion), you aren't even close to leaving our solar system after 20 minutes.

sun

And you aren't much closer at the half hour mark either. Or at 45 minutes, when you fly by Jupiter and its many moons and the Sun just looks like a brighter pinprick in a sky of stars. At that point you've travelled over three quarters of a billion kilometres and you have so much further to go if you want to get somewhere new.

To reach Pluto, that once upon a time planet, you'd need to travel for over five hours at the speed of light and catching up to Voyager, humanity's furthest ever probe would take even longer.

Of course, travelling at the speed of light yourself isn't theoretically possible, as you have mass. You could potentially hit 99.9999 per cent  the speed of light, but you would need a ridiculous amount of energy to achieve it.

If you want to get really bizarre, consider that if you were travelling at that sort of speed, it would seem to take far less time for you, than those of us back home, thanks to time dilation.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While I think I have the science right here, my brain hurts just proof-reading it. Feel free to correct any mistakes I may have made in the comments and I'll give the article an update.

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Scientists still confused over Mars ‘protuberance’ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/scientists-still-confused-over-mars-protuberance/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/scientists-still-confused-over-mars-protuberance/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:15:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=235975 If there's one thing we know about the universe at large, it's that it can always surprise us. Even close to home in-fact, as Mars, one of our solar system companions has been puzzling scientists for years, having protruded something from its atmosphere back in 2012 and nobody is quite sure what it was. The plume …

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If there's one thing we know about the universe at large, it's that it can always surprise us. Even close to home in-fact, as Mars, one of our solar system companions has been puzzling scientists for years, having protruded something from its atmosphere back in 2012 and nobody is quite sure what it was.

The plume of cloud, or haze – whatever it is – first appeared in 2012 and is said to be projected up to 200 kilometres from the planet's surface, giving a very distinct impression on images. However, it only seems to occur along the morning terminator and since showing up over a period of days three years ago, hasn't been seen since.

mars

Now as fun as a sentence as that was to write, it doesn't – unfortunately – have anything to do with time travelling cybernetic organisms, instead, that translates to the arc that the sun is rising in. It doesn't appear as the sun goes down though, suggesting some sort of cyclic behaviour, according to the Nature journal entry. This prompts some to suggest that the ‘haze' could be a cloud of ice crystal or CO2. Another suggestion however is that it's an aurora of some kind, over 1,000 times brighter than our own and concentrated over a region of intense magnetic anomaly.

However nobody is particularly keen to accept either of these theories, as it would suggest that the current understanding of the Martian atmosphere is wrong, as the plume extends far higher than any know aspect of Mars' atmosphere and there is no understood reason why an aurora would be so bright and visible. Scientists studying it hope that by publishing a paper containing all of the data they have on the plume at this time, it will allow some others with scientific minds to figure out what it could be – otherwise it's back to the drawing board and a wait for the protuberance to appear again.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Perhaps some of our KitGuru reader scientists can figure this one out? 

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SpaceX and Boeing release Crew Commercial Vehicle test schedule https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/spacex-and-boeing-release-crew-commercial-vechicle-test-schedule/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/spacex-and-boeing-release-crew-commercial-vechicle-test-schedule/#respond Tue, 27 Jan 2015 19:33:57 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=232788 On Monday in a joint press conference with NASA, SpaceX and Boeing announced their plans for flight tests of their Commercial Crew Programs, that will eventually lead to commercial manned missions to the ISS. With both companies launching manned test flights in 2017, we are still in for quite a wait. “It’s an incredible testament to …

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On Monday in a joint press conference with NASA, SpaceX and Boeing announced their plans for flight tests of their Commercial Crew Programs, that will eventually lead to commercial manned missions to the ISS. With both companies launching manned test flights in 2017, we are still in for quite a wait.

“It’s an incredible testament to American ingenuity and know-how, and an extraordinary validation of the vision we laid out just a few years ago as we prepared for the long-planned retirement of the space shuttle,” said Charlie Bolden, NASA administrator, during the briefing at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This work is part of a vital strategy to equip our nation with the technologies for the future and inspire a new generation of explorers to take the next giant leap for America.”

ccp-path-forward

The Boeing schedule, with its CST-100 spacecraft, calls for a pad abort test in February 2017, followed by an unmanned flight test in April 2017, then a flight with a Boeing test pilot and a NASA astronaut in July 2017. SpaceX are planning a pad abort test in about a month with their Crew Dragon spacecraft, then an in-flight abort test later this year and an unmanned flight test is planned for late 2016 with a crewed flight test in early 2017.

This is the first time both companies have had a joint press conference together since competing for and winning, NASA's Crew Commercial Program contract. “We understand the incredible responsibility we've been given to carry crew,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX.

It was also revealed that the STS-135 mission, the final flight of the space shuttle, delivered an American flag to the station as a prize for the first Commercial Crew astronauts to visit the orbiting laboratory. A second flag will be taken to the station and brought back as a symbol of success as well. “When we have both of these flags on the ground with their crews safely returned, we'll all be winners,”  Kathy Lueders, manager of the Kennedy Space Center-based Commercial Crew Program.

There is still a long way to go, with lots of testing for both companies and NASA before the 2017 manned launches, but all being well, this will free up more of NASA's resources so that it can work on more unmanned deep space missions. Also having two totally separate crew launch systems, should end the US reliance on Russian rockets to get US astronauts to the ISS.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It's a shame that this process will take so long, with the end of 2017 still being three years away, really it should have been started many years ago, before the US Shuttle was retired. But at least once it has been tested, assuming all goes well, the US will have manned access to low earth orbit on it's own terms.

Source: NASA

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Lunar Xprize gives $5.25 Million as a stepping stone to the Moon https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/lunar-xprize-gives-5-25-million-as-a-stepping-stone-to-the-moon/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/lunar-xprize-gives-5-25-million-as-a-stepping-stone-to-the-moon/#respond Tue, 27 Jan 2015 00:31:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=232533 The Google Lunar Xprize, like the Ansari Xprize that gave rise to Spaceship One and ultimately Virgin Galactic, exists to challenge and incentivise small, privately funded teams to do amazing things in space. In this case, that challenge is to get a robot to the Moon and travel across the surface while sending back live video before …

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The Google Lunar Xprize, like the Ansari Xprize that gave rise to Spaceship One and ultimately Virgin Galactic, exists to challenge and incentivise small, privately funded teams to do amazing things in space. In this case, that challenge is to get a robot to the Moon and travel across the surface while sending back live video before 2016. The grand prize: $30 million dollars.

So far progress has been a little slow, so to further incentivise and motivate the teams that are taking part, they will be receiving Milestone Prizes totalling $5.25 million. These are being given out for three separate challenges that will be part of the finial mission. They are mobility, imaging and landing technology.

google_lunar_xprize_launch_in_2007

The teams that won the Milestone Prizes are Astrobotic (US), Moon Express (US), Part-Time Scientists (Germany), Team Indus (India) and Hakoto (Japan), all who won a minimum of $250,000 each for various categories.

[yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8NcwSqmHFM']

Not all Xprize participants choose to aim for these milestone prizes however with some teams aiming to keep focused on the big win at the finish, with 18 teams still in the running from an original 34. However the main challenge before all of the team is still the moon landing before the end of 2016 and if no teams are ready for this before the end of 2015 the challenge may be scrapped altogether.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While the two US teams seem to be pretty far in the lead at this stage, with Astrobotic being the only team to pass all three of the Milestones, who knows what will happen in the end. Do you have any hopes for any of the teams or will you be happy whoever wins?

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Sid Meier goes beyond space, to Starships https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/brendan-morgan/sid-meier-goes-beyond-space-to-starships/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/brendan-morgan/sid-meier-goes-beyond-space-to-starships/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:46:16 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=231299 Sid Meier is apparently not happy with just going beyond earth and will soon be launching an all out assault on the stars, with 2K and Firaxis announcing their new game, Sid Meier's Starships. Taking to space with a new interstellar strategy game that is set in the same universe as Civilization: Beyond Earth, it should be out for PC, Mac and …

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Sid Meier is apparently not happy with just going beyond earth and will soon be launching an all out assault on the stars, with 2K and Firaxis announcing their new game, Sid Meier's Starships. Taking to space with a new interstellar strategy game that is set in the same universe as Civilization: Beyond Earth, it should be out for PC, Mac and iPad sometime in Spring 2015.

While it still seems to feature the traditional hexagonal tiles of the Civ series it looks totally different in other ways, seemingly being far more about unit control than cities and permanent bases. The last time that Firaxis took on a new style of game was when they released XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which was released to much praise. Hopefully they can keep up their good track record with Starships as well.

Starships

While we don't know very much about the gameplay yet we do know that it will be a turn based game in which you will have to control a fleet of starships, hence the name. These ships will be upgradable and customizable and will allow you to explore, complete missions and generally keep things under control in your part of the dynamically generated universe. Sid himself said: “My goal was to create an experience that focuses on starship design and combat within a universe filled with interstellar adventure, diplomacy, and exploration.”

Interestingly Firaxis has said that there will be some kind of “cross-connectivity” for players who own both Starships and Civilization: Beyond Earth, adding to the experience of both games. It remains to be seen how this will work and what is will bring to both games. Check out the teaser trailer below.

[yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aHVqIIhxl4′]

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I've spent many hours playing Sins of a Solar Empire and Sword of the Stars II, which both look like they will be similar to this, so the thought of a Sid Meier take on this genre makes me pleased! We should find out more about the game during the week, so lets wait and see what is in store…

Source: Gamespot

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SpaceX plans to land a rocket on a drone ship, tomorrow https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/spacex-plans-to-land-a-rocket-on-a-drone-ship-tomorrow/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/spacex-plans-to-land-a-rocket-on-a-drone-ship-tomorrow/#respond Thu, 18 Dec 2014 08:39:57 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=226956 If you are a fan of potential failure and large explosions then tomorrow could be a good day for you! SpaceX, the US rocket company owned by Elon Musk, is planning to land one of its Falcon 9 rockets on a sea-based floating platform known as the “autonomous spaceport drone ship”. That's not me being pessimistic …

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If you are a fan of potential failure and large explosions then tomorrow could be a good day for you! SpaceX, the US rocket company owned by Elon Musk, is planning to land one of its Falcon 9 rockets on a sea-based floating platform known as the “autonomous spaceport drone ship”.

That's not me being pessimistic by the way. SpaceX itself has predicted that the probable outcome of success is “perhaps 50% at best”. The main reason that it is so low, is that this has never been attempted before. The closest it has come to this in testing was around five months ago when it soft landed a Falcon 9 first stage straight into the Atlantic Ocean, as you can see in the video below.

[yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIlu7szab5I']

“At 14 stories tall and traveling upwards of 1300 m/s (nearly 1 mi/s), stabilizing the Falcon 9 first stage for reentry is like trying to balance a rubber broomstick on your hand in the middle of a wind storm,” a SpaceX spokesperson said.

Three extra burns will be needed to try to bring the first stage down in the correct place. The first will roughly position where it will land, the second will then slow it down from 1300 m/s to about 250 m/s, while the third burn will slow it down again from 250 m/s to just two m/s and this should allow it to accurately land once the legs have deployed.

SpaceX_autonomous_spaceport_drone_ship
The autonomous spaceport drone ship is 300 by 100 feet

This really is not going to be easy for SpaceX, but even if tomorrows test is a failure, it will persist, as it will have several other opportunities in the coming months' launches to test the landing and gather more data, which should increase the likelihood of success in future attempts.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm very conflicted here. I really want to see SpaceX succeed and land this thing first time, so that it can start to bring down the cost of space launches. On the other hand, I also love massive explosions.

What do you want to see happen tomorrow?

Source: SpaceX

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Mars may have methane producing microbes https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/mars-may-have-methane-producing-microbes/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/brendan-morgan/mars-may-have-methane-producing-microbes/#respond Wed, 17 Dec 2014 08:32:25 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=226660 In a paper released in the Science academic journal a few days ago, a group of NASA scientists has confirmed the existence of methane gas on Mars. This is a good indicator of life, as 95% of methane here on Earth is generated by Microbes. While this is in itself impressive, some of the other facts about their findings, make this …

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In a paper released in the Science academic journal a few days ago, a group of NASA scientists has confirmed the existence of methane gas on Mars. This is a good indicator of life, as 95% of methane here on Earth is generated by Microbes. While this is in itself impressive, some of the other facts about their findings, make this an even more interesting discovery!

Over the past 20 months, NASA made observations using the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) on the Curiosity rover. This has shown large bursts over the usual background levels of atmospheric methane, sometimes more than 10 times the usual amount.

nasa mars methane

While scientists cannot yet be sure exactly what is sending these bursts of gas into the Martian atmosphere, they do have a few theories. The leading one is that the methane is escaping from under the surface of the red planet in an outgassing, similar to the way that a geyser works here on earth.

NASA has also released findings from several drilling samples, which show Martian organic chemicals in the dust produced by the drill. These are “the first definitive detection of organics in surface materials of Mars.” according to the space agency. It cannot be sure however if these were formed on Mars itself, or if they were brought to the planet by meteorites.

Hopefully when the European Space Agency's ExoMars touches down in January 2019, it will be able to confirm some of these NASA findings. Failing that NASA hopes to have the first humans on Mars in the 2030s, so not long to wait!

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Both of these discoveries could point to multi-cellular life on Mars, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. While finding life of any kind outside of our own blue marble would be amazing, it will probably still be a long time until it can be confirmed. Do you have any hopes of us finding extraterrestrial life on the red planet?

Source: Science, NASA

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No Man’s Sky gets two new trailers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/brendan-morgan/no-mans-sky-gets-two-new-trailers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/brendan-morgan/no-mans-sky-gets-two-new-trailers/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:17:11 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=225417 Two more trailers for the procedurally generated, sci-fi sandbox game, No Man's Sky have been released following the Sony PlayStation Experience event and The Game Awards. These two trailers below give us another small glimpse at the incredible detail in the game's different planets that are just waiting to be discovered, explored and for us to leave our mark …

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Two more trailers for the procedurally generated, sci-fi sandbox game, No Man's Sky have been released following the Sony PlayStation Experience event and The Game Awards.

No Mans Sky

These two trailers below give us another small glimpse at the incredible detail in the game's different planets that are just waiting to be discovered, explored and for us to leave our mark on them. The finished game, which will be coming to PS4 sometime in 2015 and then PC shortly after, is being developed here in the UK by Guildford based, Hello Games. Considering the success of this indie studios last game, Joe Danger, hopes are high for No Man's Sky; especially since it wowed gamers and journalists alike in its first unveiling at the tail end of 2013. 

[yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X8KMoAWFPE'] [yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwG6Sj1Yfg']

A vast and epic world also needs a suitably epic soundtrack and it was recently announced that UK band 65daysofstatic will be composing the OST for the game, with some of their music used in the above trailer.

KitGuru Says: While there are still quite a lot of unknowns about the multiplayer features and what the gameplay will actually be like, these trailers look amazing. I for one cannot wait to get my hands on this and get out there exploring the ‘verse. Anyone else excited about finding your very own world?

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Rosetta to land on comet in next 36 hours https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/rosetta-to-land-on-comet-in-next-36-hours/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/science/jon-martindale/rosetta-to-land-on-comet-in-next-36-hours/#respond Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:07:29 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=221100 Remember Rosetta? The little probe that left Earth back in 2004 and spent a near decade taking a jaunt through space so that it could finally enter orbit around the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet? Back in August this year it did just that and many watched it happen live. If that's something you did tune in for or …

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Remember Rosetta? The little probe that left Earth back in 2004 and spent a near decade taking a jaunt through space so that it could finally enter orbit around the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet? Back in August this year it did just that and many watched it happen live. If that's something you did tune in for or wished you'd seen as it happened, set yourself a reminder for 34 hours from now, as that's when the lander portion of Rosetta will begin its official ‘descent' to the comet's surface. 

You may need to set aside a fair block of time however, as despite being just 10 kilometres above the surface of 67P, the Philae Lander will take as much as seven hours to reach it, travelling at less than one metre per second by the time it reaches the surface. This is to make sure that it doesn't simply bounce off due to the comet's exceedingly low gravitational pull.

For some context, the escape velocity for 67P is just 0.5 metres per second, or 1.1 miles per hour. In short, walking speed would see you ejected into space. 

philae
Artist's interpretation of Philae touched down on the comet's surface. Source: ESA

When it does land though, it will be a historic scientific milestone, marking the first time that a human satellite has landed on a comet's nucleus. While we have smashed satellites into comets before (known as impactors) throwing up debris for us to study, this will be the first controlled landing and will give us a great insight into what comets are really made of. 

Once landed, Philae will conduct a number of experiments over a seven day period, though if all goes well many months of tests may be possible. Some of the equipment on Philae will be used to take pictures of the comet in different spectrums of light, as well as testing it for certain types of radiation. Other collections of sensors will be used to test things like the density, temperature and physical properties of the comet's surface. 

To watch the landing play out live, head to the LiveStream here.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says:  We have our fingers crossed for you Philae. Make us proud. 

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