![Click here to read NASA: "We've Discovered the First Tatooine-Like Planet"](http://cache.io9.com/assets/images/8/2011/09/small_tatooinishtop.jpg "Click here to read NASA: "We've Discovered the First Tatooine-Like Planet"")
Posts Tagged ‘Nasa’
NASA: "We've Discovered the First Tatooine-Like Planet" [Video]
15
Sep
Photo: India-Pakistan Border From Space
06
Sep
- Reuters/NASA/Handout
See the orange line? This is what the border between Pakistan and India, floodlit for surveillance purposes, looks like at night, from space.
The bundles of light in the photo, which was taken from north to south, are the following cities: Delhi (top center), Srinagar (left), Lahore (center, just below the border line), and Islamabad (bottom center.)
The picture, taken by the International Space Station’s Expedition 28 crew, was shot on Aug. 21 and recently released.
How to Take a Gorgeous Photo Like This on a Perfect Summer Night [How To]
05
Aug
Goodbye, Space Shuttle: Now the Space Race Can Really Begin
21
Jul
NASA’s 135th space shuttle flight ended this morning when Atlantis touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking the close of a 30-year run for NASA’s ambitious, controversial and troubled orbital vehicle.
America’s space programs will continue, but without their flagship space plane — or any manned vehicle, for now. Over the next few years at least, U.S. astronauts will hitch rides to the International Space Station in Russian capsules. Meanwhile, purely robotic systems will take over other space duties.
Listening to some critics, you’d think America had just retreated from space, forever. “We’re basically decimating the NASA human spaceflight program,†former astronaut Jerry Ross told Reuters. “The only thing we’re going to have left in town is the station and it’s a totally different animal from the shuttle.â€
Today many observers consider the Shuttle the ultimate expression of American technological prowess, and see its demise as a signal of America’s decline. In one sense, they’re right: With its huge size, distinctive shape and fiery launches, the shuttle has always been an impressive symbol. But as a practical space vehicle, it has long been an overpriced, dangerous compromise.
There’s a reason the Soviets canceled their space shuttle, and that the Chinese have never attempted one. Even without their own shuttles, both nations are now nipping at America’s heels in space. Russia has increasingly reliable rockets and capsules; China began manned spaceflights back in 2003 and is mulling a space station and a moon mission. Both countries are working hard to expand their satellite fleets, though they remain far behind the United States with its roughly 400 spacecraft.
In truth, the shuttle’s retirement could actually make the U.S. space program stronger, by finally allowing the shuttle’s two users — NASA and the Pentagon — to go their separate ways in space, each adopting space vehicles best suited to their respective missions.
“When I hear people say, or listen to media reports, that the final shuttle flight marks the end of U.S. human space flight, I have to say … these folks must be living on another planet,†NASA administrator Charlie Bolden said in a July 1 speech at the National Press Club in Washington.
For NASA, future manned missions will ride in upgraded 1960s-style manned capsules: first Russian models, then potentially American-built ones. Missions that don’t require a human passenger will fall to rockets of various sizes. The military will use many of the same rockets, and could also expand its brand-new fleet of small, robotic space planes.
Together, these vehicles will make space flight cheaper, safer and more flexible than was ever possible with the shuttle.
NASA Graphic Standards Manual — 1976
19
Jul
As some of you already know, I’m a little obsessed with finding vintage design materials, especially graphics manuals like this one for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. So you can imagine how far my jaw dropped when I saw this 1976 NASA Graphics Standards Manual. Created by design firm Danne & Blackburn in 1975, this manual outlines the proper use of, in my opinion, one of the best brand identities of the last century. One lucky soul has managed to get some hi-res scans of the some of the pages. The hunt has officially begun.
Photo: Father and son at first and last Space Shuttle launches, 30 years apart
12
Jul
"Father and Son: STS-1 and STS-135," a photo by Chris Bray, who is the younger of the two in these side-by-side captures from the very first shuttle launch thirty years ago, and the final one, last Friday. "The picture we waited 30 years to complete."
(Flickr, via Reddit and Laughing Squid.)
Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Video: The Final Flight
08
Jul
At 11:26 ET Friday, space shuttle Atlantis flew up in the sky toward the International Space Station, marking an end of an era: It was the last aircraft to launch as part of NASA’s space shuttle program.
Atlantis will carry four astronauts during the 12-day mission, bring supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station and conduct an experiment to test new refueling and repair technology for satellites in orbit, after which it will return to Earth and retire.
If you’ve missed the live stream of the launch, you can see it in the archived video below. The actual liftoff starts somewhere around 18:00 in the video.
Photos from the Final Atlantis Flight
Stay tuned. We’ll keep updating this gallery with new photos.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Solid Rocket Booster Separation
Photo courtesy of NASA.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Liftoff
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Mashable Media Badge
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
NPR Tweeted
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Official Launch M&Ms
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Elmo Reports Launch
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Media Getting Signals
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
@SethGreen Tweeted
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Tweetup Participants
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Tweetup Participants
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Tweetup Badge
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Tweetup Participants
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Tweetup Participants
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Tweetup Participants
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
@schierholz Handed Out M&Ms
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
@schierholz Tweeted
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
@schierholz's Badge
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.
Shuttle Atlantis
Shuttle Atlantis moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Photo courtesy of NASA.Atlantis Sunrise
The sun rises over the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Photo courtesy of NASA.Atlantis Sunset
Sunset over Launch Pad 39A before the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module (MPLM) is delivered.
Photo courtesy of NASA.Atlantis Sunrise
Another sun rises over the Shuttle Atlantis.
Photo courtesy of NASA.The Crew Celebrates
The STS-135 crew wave American flags in honor of Independence Day. From left: Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim.
Photo courtesy of NASA.The Crew Heads for Final Launch Preparation
The STS-135 team departs for the Astronaut Crew Quarters in Kennedy's Operations and Checkout Building.
Photo courtesy of NASA.Firing Room 4
In Firing Room 4, NASA team members prepare for launch.
Photo courtesy of NASA.Launch Pad
Atlantis was "hard down" at its seaside launch pad by 3:29 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1.
Photo courtesy of NASA.Atlantis Flag
The Atlantis flag flutters below the American flag.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Launch Pad
A view of the launch pad from across the water.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Media Gathers
News crews prepare their equipment at tents near the launch pad.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Media Tents
Two-tier media tents provide better views of the Atlantis.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Launch Clock
Ryan Matzner, lead strategist at Fueled, a mobile app development firm, stands in front of the countdown-to-launch clock.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Media Tripods
Media stakes out their turf with tripods aimed at the shuttle launch.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Tweetup
Media and spectators alike participate in the lunch Tweetup.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.En Route
The van will lead the procession of astronauts to the shuttle.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.En Route
The astronauts en route to the launch pad.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.En Route
Precious cargo on the way to the launch pad.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Vehicle Assembly Building
An impressive spectacle in itself, the Vehicle Assembly Building has been used to assemble NASA vehicles since 1968. It is the largest single-story building in the world.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.Vehicle Assembly Building
A view of the vehicle assembly building.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Matzner.BONUS: Amazing Photographs From Endeavour’s Last Voyage
NASA recently released these breathtaking images from the last voyage of Endeavour following its return from space last month. Until October 2010, it was believed that the Endeavour mission would be the last space shuttle flight — now Atlantis is set to take that honor.
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
Endeavour's final voyage
More About: flight, NASA, space, space shuttle, Space Shuttle Atlantis, video
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