Space Tech Put To Good Use: Helping Miners

One of the great benefits about the space program is that engineers create technical solutions to problems that cannot be foreseen, to the benefit of us back down on earth.  In this case, technology developed to regulate air supply in space will be used for minining expeditiosn. From the Science Daily article:

Paragon Space Development Corp. of Tucson, Ariz., is providing the air revitalization system it matured under a NASA Space Act Agreement to Mine Shield LLC of Lancaster, Ky., for use in its underground miner refuge chambers. These air-tight metal chambers are used by miners as lifesaving havens when trapped underground, providing air, water and food until rescued.

Project like these show that space exploration has benefits beyond the initital intention. Check out more pratical applications of space technology here, including LEDs and artificial limbs.

Fantastic Image of Atlas V Rocket Launch

This image by Mike Killian is a perfect example of why #ScienceLooksGood. From Space.com:

This spectacular image was taken in the early morning hours as the Atlas 5 rocket shot off to explore Earth's Van Allen radiation belts.

Astrophotographer Mike Killian took this stunning photo from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Aug. 24, 2012.

Check it out!

Video Games, Lasers, Fire, Oh My!

Engadget has an amazing article on a Nintendo Zapper that fires an actual laser. The team from North Street Labs has done a lot of research on lasers, and decided to have some fun by applying this to the same Nintendo gun that many of us used to play Duck Hunt in the 80s. Check out the video below!

Star Trek + Endeavour = Amazing.

Image from Star Trek online

Thanks to the Black Tribbles for putting me up on this. Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura on the original Star Trek, gave a speech and impromptu song at the Los Angeles landing ceremony. See previous coverage of the trek from Floria to Los Angeles in previous posts here and here.

Ms. Nichols broke ground as one of the first black women featured in a major television series not portraying a servant. She's a very important part of American history, and I'm happy to see that recognized on a large scale. Check out the video of her singing below.

Mars Curiosity Rover $2.5 Billion Cost: "The Best Stimulus You Could Imagine!"

In the above video, NASA engineer Adam Steltzner discusses the awesomeness that is the Mars Curiosity rover.  My favorite part is when Stelzner addresses the critics of the program's $2.5 billion cost: 

"It's not 2 ½ billion dollars we stuffed in a trunk and blew into space. It’s thousands of high tech jobs spread over 37 states. It's honing and developing our skills in science, engineering, and math."

He notes that the U.S. has slipped to 14^th in science education and 18^th in math¹ – in a world where we're competing for economic prosperity with nations 1 through 13.

"This mission is an investment in high tech jobs, in inspiring the youth of our country, in stepping up rung by rung toward 1^st place.  It's the best stimulus you could imagine!"

If we ever want a chance to be a reputable country in science and math education, we need to spend on the programs that inspire the future.  I hope to see this country become tops in science and math education within my lifetime.