space

Trump’s Space Force Isn’t the Only Military Space Program: Here’s What China and Russia Are Up To

Posted on by johnbarleycorn12

The United States may or may not be getting a Space Force, but while President Trump is all-in on the creation of a new branch of the U.S. Military—and blowing up the military bureaucracy—it’s worth keeping in mind other countries have their military space programs. A recent DIA report shines a light on how the U.S. views these programs, particularly those of Russia and China, neither of which seem particularly threatening—for now anyway.

— Read on foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/as-trump-s-space-force-ramps-up-what-are-russia-and-ch-1832772367

Trump is spot on with heading in this direction. He needs to make cuts in other areas of the military that have become obsolete, not ask for more money.

Israel’s First Moon Probe Ready for Lift-Off on SpaceX Rocket

Posted on by johnbarleycorn12

(Bloomberg) — Israel hopes to be the first country to land a privately financed spacecraft on the moon when “Beresheet” — Hebrew for Genesis — lifts off aboard one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets early Friday.
— Read on www.bloombergquint.com/technology/one-giant-step-for-israel-as-probe-set-to-lift-off-for-the-moon

Why the 2018 Discoveries on Mars Give Us the Best Hope of Life Yet

Posted on by johnbarleycorn12

Let’s get something straight right away: there are no little green beings on Mars. Horror films about the Red Planet often show humans being eaten by something sinister and creature-like on Mars. Luckily, the reality is more subtle. Yes, we do have a hope of finding life on Mars — especially due to two new discoveries this year. But when we talk about life on Mars, we don’t mean monsters. We mean microbes.

— Read on curiosity.com/topics/why-the-2018-discoveries-on-mars-give-us-the-best-hope-of-life-yet-curiosity

A New Arecibo Message to Extraterrestrials Needs Your Suggestions

Posted on by johnbarleycorn12

If you had the chance to talk to an extraterrestrial, what would you want to say? There’s a coalition of astronomers hoping to update an old message sent to aliens in 1974 that talked about the world as it was in the era of the Vietnam War and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. If you’re 5 to 16 years old, you can help craft the new message yourself — and if not, be sure to let the younger people in your life know how to get involved!

— Read on curiosity.com/topics/a-new-arecibo-message-to-extraterrestrials-needs-your-suggestions-curiosity

ET Phone home

NASA’s First Asteroid-Sampling Spacecraft Is About to Reach Its Destination. Here’s What’s Next

Posted on by johnbarleycorn12

A NASA spacecraft is on a rendezvous with history. The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) spacecraft is on final approach to asteroid Bennu for a December 3 arrival, when it will enter the asteroid’s orbit. Next comes an incredible 18 months of preparations for the spacecraft to make its date with history: landing on the rock itself in order to pick up a sample to send back to Earth. Here’s why that’s exciting.

— Read on curiosity.com/topics/nasas-first-asteroid-sampling-spacecraft-is-about-to-reach-its-destination-heres-whats-next-curiosity