Posted by Chris Radcliff in News on February 18, 2009
Mike Brotherton, an astronomer and science fiction writer, teamed up with the NSF to present a free-to-read collection of astronomy-based science fiction stories called Diamonds in the Sky.
The purpose of the anthology is to provide stories with ample and accurate astronomy spanning a range of topics covered in introductory courses. Instructors in high school and college may these stories useful, as some students may learn concepts more easily through story than from lecture. Fans of science fiction with good science should also enjoy these stories. Contributions include both original stories and reprints from some of the top science fiction writers working today.
[via John Scalzi]
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Events on February 17, 2009
Over the weekend, SD Space, OCSS, and Mars Society San Diego members got an impressive tour of the SpaceX facility in Hawthorne (near LAX). I wish I could share photos with you, but we weren’t allowed to bring cameras into the building. Still, in the spirit of You! Are! There!, be sure to read the descriptive and detailed account of the tour over at Tales of the Heliosphere:
The first thing that catches the eye is how spacious and clean the facility is. The building was formerly used for manufacturing Boeing airliners. So, it’s big. The second thing that catches the eye is a white space capsule looking very much like an Apollo, in the center of the room. The third thing noticed is a persistent familiar hum. The fourth thing is the life-size Cylon warrior robot standing next to a pillar about 50 feet away. That’s a Cylon hum filling the air! The Cylon is standing next to a microphone, as if it’s giving a speech. That Cylon sets the tone for the tour. This is no ordinary manufacturing facility.
Thanks again to SpaceXer and former TMS-SD member Joel Brinton for setting up the tour.
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Calendar, Meeting Notes on February 17, 2009
Wed, Feb 18, 2009
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center (map)
1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
The SDAA program meeting on Wednesday, February 18 will give a JPL/NASA Mars update presented by SDAA’s own Jerry Hilburn.
This 45 minute lecture will update the status of the MRO, Spirit, Opportunity, and Phoenix missions to Mars. Recent information provided through the JPL education outreach services will be presented, along with the latest feedback and analysis from the mission program scientist.
The meeting is at at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor and Interpretative Center, beginning at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
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Posted by Chris Radcliff in Calendar on February 14, 2009
Fri, Feb 27, 2009
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Location:
MiraCosta College Gymnasium (map)
One Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Be a part of history in the making!
NASA selected MiraCosta as the only location in California south of Santa Barbara to unveil new mural-sized prints of the spiral galaxy Messier 101 from NASA’s Great Observatories: the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
In recognition of the 400th anniversary of the astronomical telescope, the United Nations designated 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. Be there when Dr. Michelle Thaller from the Spitzer Science Center helps MiraCosta unveil the spectacular images in honor of IYA09.
A stargazing party will follow (weather-permitting).
Free and open to the public.
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Calendar on February 13, 2009
Sun, Jun 14, 2009
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Location:
Serra Mesa Branch Library (map)
9005 Aero Dr, San Diego, CA
Join us for the June general meeting of the San Diego Space Society. Greg Meholic will give a talk on advanced space propulsion concepts for interstellar travel, including nuclear rockets, faster-than-light travel, quantum drives, wormholes, and some really exciting physics.
Mr. Meholic works at the Aerospace Corporation where he supports future space launch concept development and evaluates novel propulsion systems for the US government space industry. He is an expert in upper-stage cryogenic rocket engine performance and design and has supported over 40 rocket launches as well as a number of advanced programs. He is member of the AIAA Nuclear and Future Flight Propulsion Technical Committee and has published a number of papers about faster-than-light travel, the construct of space-time, and the grand unified theory. Greg is also a lecturer at both UCLA and Loyola-Marymount University on Propulsion Systems for both aircraft and spacecraft.
