NASA just released a video how the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory will be launch, entry and land on the Mars surface. Unlike the other rovers that have been sent to Mars this lander is nuclear powered and so does not rely upon solar panels to work. This means that it will not be subjected to loss of power during sandstorms that happen frequently over the entire planet.
SpaceX has just revealed plans to build a rocket called the “Falcon Heavy” by the end of 2012/early 2013 that will be capable of carrying the heaviest ever payload into space. This rocket is capable of lifting up to 53 metric tons into space which is not even matched by today (at least for now) space shuttle. The only other rocket to have ever beaten this lift weight was the now long retired Saturn V rocket that was used to put man on the moon. While the Falcon Heavy could be used to put man on the moon again one day it seems that it would be far more likely that it will be used to shuttle cargo to the International Space Station and used for rendezvous missions to near earth object. The main advantage of this rocket is that the boosters are reusable and thus it greatly reduces the cost of the mission. While the price tag of $80 to $125 million dollars sounds like a lot it is still relatively cheap compared to the almost 1 billion dollars cost of a space shuttle launch. It really exciting to see that private enterprise is now picking up the slack in the NASA program now that there is only two space shuttle launches left before they are permanently retired.
Lockheed Martin has just released a video showcasing the new Orion space capsule that is going to replace the space shuttle one it is retired.
Source via: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/22/orion-moon-craft-unveiled-new-spaceflight-facility/
Just some really awesome video of the Apollo XI Launch Video in glorious High Def….
Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch (HD) Camera E-8 from Mark Gray on Vimeo.
This clip is raw from Camera E-8 on the launch umbilical tower/mobile launch program of Apollo 11, July 16, 1969. This is an HD transfer from the 16mm original. Even more excellent footage is available on our DVDs at our website at http://www.spacecraftfilms.com
The camera is running at 500 fps, making the total clip of over 8 minutes represent just 30 seconds of actual time. Narration is provided by Mark Gray (me), Executive Producer for Spacecraft Films.
Seems that Apollo 13 would not have gone off into space as previously thought if they had entered the earths atmosphere at the wrong angle…
