Thu 29 Apr 2010
Check out this cool photo gallery of Antarctic bases which in some ways could prepare us for off world living (Mars, Moon). I’d prefer to live in something that probably resembles Biosphere 2 with a few plants around. Recently, I was camping in Joshua Tree National Park which also has an off-world quality to the area.
What places have you traveled to that make you feel like you are off world? One of the pics below was not taken on Earth.
Wed 28 Apr 2010
Related links
9 years ago today, Dennis Tito, became the first self-funded private space traveler. Happy Space Tourism Day!
Wed 28 Apr 2010
Notes from Rebecca Chiu who attended the program last night.
The panel discussion with James Cameron revealed the painstaking effort that he went through with the scientists/writers to create a near-future environment at Pandora, which has some resemblance with the human race. Cameron dived for thousands of hours in the deep sea in search of images and footages of exotic bacteria, coral reefs, and rock formation. Many times, he blows deep-water living organism out of proportion and bring them above ground to create a fantasy world with a glimpse of familiarity. Every detail was thought through, giving credence to the look of the characters, the method by which the characters were processing oxygen (through an effective filtering system from ears directly to throat and lung), and the composition of the spaceship (antimatter to accelerate it into space with large mirror to prevent it from disintegration by heat), etc
I was thoroughly impressed by Cameron’s depth of knowledge, his discussions with the scientists (some may be tapped for creating parts in the sequel), and the emotional impact of the movie. Seeds of trees were passed out to each attendee, in conjunction with Earth Day. 20th Century Fox will aim to be carbon footprint neutral by end of 2010 (does that include all of the flights that the actors take to places like New Zealand for four years?) Definitely a worthwhile endeavor, which inches him closer to Cameron’s objective of establishing a tighter link to nature for the audience, which we all had during childhood.
Go to website for 300 pages more of scientific materials behind the movie.
Original posting from April 21st, 2010
Is Pandora Possible?
A Discussion of the Science, Technology and Environmental Messages Behind AVATARTuesday, April 27, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Beckman Auditorium
FREE; no tickets or reservations requiredPresented By: Twentieth Century Fox and Caltech
With
James Cameron
Director, AVATARJess F. Adkins
Associate Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science, CaltechJohn P. Grotzinger
Fletcher Jones Professor of Geology, CaltechModerator:
Robert Hurt
Astronomer and Visualization Scientist for NASA’s Spitzer Space TelescopeTo commemorate the launch of AVATAR on Blu-ray and DVD, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Caltech will host this special presentation and panel about the science and technology behind cinema history’s box office champion. The discussion will include the film’s important environmental messaging and director James Cameron’s worldwide Earth Day initiative that is spearheading the planting of 1,000,000 new trees.
Presentation of select film clips from the Blu-ray release of AVATAR will be displayed on HD monitors. Panelists will discuss the creation and development of the most successful film in box office history, new technologies developed to create the film, and the story’s powerful environmental messaging and impact, which have been felt around the world.
Note: Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you arrive at least one hour prior to the event.
_______________________________________________
Mon 26 Apr 2010
A brief break from all the serious space news.
Space Monkey from Leo Burnett on Vimeo.
Thu 22 Apr 2010
The XPRIZE foundation extends an invitation to the public for a program being hosted at its headquarters next Friday evening April 30th. Reservations are required.
Invite from our friends at The XPRIZE Foundation
We are having a “Tweetup” event at the X PRIZE Foundation on
Friday, April 30. We will be opening the doors to the public to
check out the X PRIZE offices, meet some of the staff
(including XPF president, Bob Weiss), and meet space explorer
Anousheh Ansari. Details for the event are available here:
http://bit.ly/di40od, and the direct link to the registration
page is xpftweetup.eventbrite.com. Registration is free!Would love to have any of the New Space crowd come join us –
please extend the invite if you think this is something that
this meetup group might be interested in!Google Lunar X PRIZE
Thu 22 Apr 2010
Source California Space Authority
Next week CSA will hold a series of webinars to determine the tasks and objectives to be included in our 2010-2012 California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan. Here’s your chance to make sure we get some things done that help you!
All webinars are free. Attend any or all. To RSVP, simply go to the address provided for the webinar(s) you wish to attend. Once registered, you’ll receive access information (make sure you enter your email address correctly).
Webinar: Revisiting the California Space Enterprise “Vision Statement”
Monday, April 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/760092810
Webinar: Maintaining CA/U.S. Space Competitiveness in a Challenging Business and Economic Climate
Tuesday, April 27, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/590454371
Webinar: Sustaining the California Space Industrial Base, Cornerstone of U.S. Competitiveness
Wednesday, April 28, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/612196859
Webinar: Investment Risk/Planning Challenges in Uncertain (NASA/DOD Technology Roadmap) Environment
Wednesday, April 28, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/314794114
Webinar: Attracting Appropriately Trained 21st Century Space Workforce
Thursday, April 29, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/542302771
Webinar: Building a Cohesive, Broad-Based California Space Enterprise Communications Strategy (How to Create Passion, Advocacy and “Knock Your Socks Off” Strategies for Space Awareness and Appreciation)
Friday, April 30, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/705452730
Wed 21 Apr 2010
Source: CSA
Webinars to Develop “the Meat” of California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan 2010-2012
Now’s the time to participate in the defining of the tasks and objectives of the next (fourth) California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan which will guide the next 3 years of activity. Six webinars during the week of April 26 will cover: Vision, Competitiveness, Industrial Base, Science/Technology, Education/Workforce, and Industry Communications. Participation is free, please see the linked flier and join us for any or all of the webinar sessions.
http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/pdfs/CSA-April2010-StratPlan-Webinars.pdf
Wed 21 Apr 2010
Source: OASIS/NSS
Is Pandora Possible?
A Discussion of the Science, Technology and Environmental Messages Behind AVATARTuesday, April 27, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Beckman Auditorium
FREE; no tickets or reservations requiredPresented By: Twentieth Century Fox and Caltech
With
James Cameron
Director, AVATARJess F. Adkins
Associate Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science, CaltechJohn P. Grotzinger
Fletcher Jones Professor of Geology, CaltechModerator:
Robert Hurt
Astronomer and Visualization Scientist for NASA’s Spitzer Space TelescopeTo commemorate the launch of AVATAR on Blu-ray and DVD, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Caltech will host this special presentation and panel about the science and technology behind cinema history’s box office champion. The discussion will include the film’s important environmental messaging and director James Cameron’s worldwide Earth Day initiative that is spearheading the planting of 1,000,000 new trees.
Presentation of select film clips from the Blu-ray release of AVATAR will be displayed on HD monitors. Panelists will discuss the creation and development of the most successful film in box office history, new technologies developed to create the film, and the story’s powerful environmental messaging and impact, which have been felt around the world.
Note: Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that you arrive at least one hour prior to the event.
_______________________________________________
Wed 21 Apr 2010
An animated feature film Starring Chris Pine, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, WIlliam Shatner, Neil Armstrong, Amanda Peet, Robert Picardo, Doug Jones, Brent Spiner, Jason Alexander, Abigail Breslin, James Earl Johnes, Mark Hamill, Sandra Oh, Spencer Breslin, and Tom Kenney.
Writer/Producer: Dr. Harry Kloor
Scheduled for May 2010 release
Tue 20 Apr 2010
