MetaFilter posts tagged with space and spacestation

A fire-eater in space

bru — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:24:09 -0800

We previously lamented the lack of a real writer in space. Well, at least now we will have a poetic and social fire-eater.

There's nothing as beautiful as a urine dump at sunset.

desjardins — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:24:29 -0800

How space toilets work. They've come a long way. They sure don't look like the one in my house. What happens when they break? NPR explains the logistics of the repair process. Oh thank heavens, it's working again.

"Gravity pretty much is irrelevant"

homunculus — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:57:22 -0800

Does a boomerang thrown in space return to its pitcher? It does indeed. [Via]

Save Skylab

Chinese Jet Pilot — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:03:09 -0800

While enjoying today's International Space Station construction mission, don't forget America's first outpost in space, Skylab. Launched in 1972, the experimental station, cobbled together from Apollo hardware, was abandoned two years later and plunged to Earth in 1979. Today, you can pitch in to save the rotting hulk of the Skylab trainer.

Space Shuttle Launch

Brandon Blatcher — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:15:12 -0800

Launch of the Space Shuttle as seen from the International Space Station

Golf in spaaaaaaaaaaaace!

blahblahblah — Wed, 24 May 2006 21:21:17 -0800

Though not the first time golf has been played in space, Russian cosmonauts are still planning to go ahead with the world's longest drive (3-4 years in orbit) from the International Space Station, as sponsored by the golf company Element 21 [link is to a rather neat CGI video of the shot, in wmv format. Coral Cache version.] The only problem -- it might hit the space station with the force of a 6.5 ton truck moving at 60 mph, though others are more worried about what the stunt means for the space program.

March 2006 Solar Eclipse Photos

brownpau — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 15:26:06 -0800

There was a lovely total solar eclipse over parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia yesterday. See the photo galleries from Spaceweather, BBC, various Flickr users, and the International Space Station.

Stairway to Heaven

alms — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 18:34:12 -0800

An Elevator to the Stars. The paper of record claims this isn't science fiction, but do we really believe that in ten years we'll be able to build a 60,000 mile long cable capable of supporting 13 ton cargo loads? Would you trust this to take you into asynchronous orbit? (Or maybe you just want to make like Joe Kittinger and jump out at 100,000 feet.)

LuxFX — Wed, 16 Oct 2002 07:38:54 -0800

Maybe they should have let Lance Bass on this one. A Soyuz rocket explodes 29 seconds after takeoff, killing one and injuring eight from the blast. Although it was not carrying any material destined for the International Space Station, launch delays caused by the investigation into the explosion might hurt the IIS project in the long run.

Steven Den Beste — Thu, 11 Oct 2001 16:48:32 -0800

"Tears don't flow the same in space." Frank Culbertson provides the most unusual eye-witness account of the attack I've heard of. He's the only American on the International Space Station right now, and saw the aftermath of both attacks from orbit.

the_ill_gino — Fri, 27 Apr 2001 07:38:08 -0800

One small step for man, one giant leap for Tito. It looks like the American millionaire is actually going to make it to space despite NASA objecting. The launch is scheduled for tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and he'll be held responsible if he breaks anything while he's up there.

ewagoner — Tue, 13 Mar 2001 08:08:02 -0800

Mir spotted in skies over India, millions panic? While the fall of Mir has been getting plenty of press coverage, this is the first blatantly alarmist piece I've seen, and it's from CNN/Reuters. Does this kind of "reporting" border on criminal?

iceberg273 — Thu, 08 Mar 2001 13:17:07 -0800

The ~~Andromeda~~ MIR Strain. Russia pushed back the MIR deorbit dates by another two weeks on Tuesday. Meanwhile, questions have surfaced about whether the mutant micoorganisms that inhabit the station will survive the fiery decent. Just another sci-fi story? Or should we be worried both about the ISS and Biosphere One (a.k.a. Earth)?

Brilliantcrank — Thu, 08 Feb 2001 08:06:13 -0800

Space U-Haul Atlantis on its way. Atlantis is climbing orbit to reach Alpha carrying with it the Destiny module for Space Station Freedom. The module only has 2 inches of clearance from the shuttle itself and will take one hell of a can opener to get it out.

davidgentle — Wed, 10 Jan 2001 22:47:44 -0800

Is this really very likely to happen? The Russians plan a new space station.

Cavatica — Tue, 26 Dec 2000 05:18:10 -0800

Russia to Mir....come in Mir... Russia's been recently unable to sustain radio contact with Mir. The station itself is empty, but radio communication is necessary in order to control the autopilot. They are supposed to try again in about an hour, but if they are unable to do so within that hour, they'll have to send someone up. I think they're more afraid that it might fall out of orbit before it's planned sinking into the Pacific this coming February.

Brilliantcrank — Thu, 16 Nov 2000 09:34:10 -0800

Mir to be dropped into the Pacific Ocean next February. Is it wise to bring a vessel with a toxic fungus back into our atmosphere and let it swim in the Pacific?

rich — Thu, 02 Nov 2000 06:49:07 -0800

Momentus occasion ignored. Well, mostly, or at least buried in the inner pages of most major U.S. pages. Isn't this sort of more important than the Knicks and Nets loosing their opening games? You wouldn't think so, since those stories were carried on the front pages on newspapers in the Northeast while this one was back on page 14 between two full page ads.

highindustrial — Thu, 14 Sep 2000 14:42:20 -0800

In space no one can hear you ... never mind.