Space Flight – Threads from Henry's Web

And There It Is!

I’ve been fascinated by Pluto since I found out it existed way, way back in prehistoric times.

So here it is. I’m looking forward to closer images after the flyby.

SNEAK PEEK of gorgeous Pluto! The dwarf planet has sent a love note back to Earth via our New Horizons spacecraft, which has traveled more than 9 years and 3+ billion miles. This is the last and most detailed image of Pluto sent to Earth before the moment of closest approach – 7:49 a.m. EDT today. This same image will be released and discussed at 8 a.m. EDT today. Watch our briefing live on NASA Television at: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv The high res pic will be posted on the web at: http://www.nasa.gov. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was 476,000 miles (766,000 kilometers) from the surface. Image Credit: NASA #nasa #pluto #plutoflyby #newhorizons #solarsystem #nasabeyond #science

A photo posted by NASA (@nasa) on Jul 14, 2015 at 4:00am PDT

July 14, 2015

The More in Space the Merrier

It’s good to see that South Korea has joined those nations who have sent someone into space, in this case the youngest woman to do so. Congratulations! The more the merrier!

April 9, 2008

There are a number of news areas I follow regularly but don’t comment on, and space flight is one of them. Nonetheless as both a science fiction fan, and an advocate of sound science, I have been very excited to see the development of the private space industry.

Today, in catching up on news reading, I encountered the reports and some discussion of the tragic accident at a Scaled Composites (note that I couldn’t access this site, presumably because of high traffic volume test site. Three men died. I didn’t knew these men, and I didn’t know of them. But in every pioneer effort, there will be accidents, and there will be those who pay with their lives. They weren’t doing some massively heroic thing; they were just doing their jobs. But that’s how most of those who pay do so. It’s not in going out of one’s way and doing some extraordinary thing, but rather in getting caught doing everyday, routine things.

There’s a good deal of speculation as well as to how this will impact the new revolution in private space flight. I hope it will not have a chilling effect. It shouldn’t. As tragic as such accidents are, they are going to be part of any pioneering effort. I’m certain the folks involved will investigate, find the causes, make necessary corrections and go forward. That’s how it should be.

The best way to honor pioneers is to keep right on pioneering, and I’m thankful to those who work to pave the way.

July 28, 2007

Category: Space Flight

And There It Is!

The More in Space the Merrier

Space Industry Accident