astronaut

02.11.12
Science

Now Discovery Has a Fuel Leak; Delayed Another 48 Hours At Least

Perhaps its sentimentality that's making Discovery stall its 39th and final mission. Scheduled to launch at 3:04 p.m. today after four days of delays for reasons ranging from helium and nitrogen leaks to voltage irregularities to stormy weather, the shuttle began leaking hydrogen fuel this morning midway through the fueling process.

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By Lizzie Schiffman Posted 11.05.2010 at 9:59 am 3 Comments
read more about > astronaut, discovery, launch, lizzie schiffman, nasa, robonaut 2, Space
Technology

Recounting a Rough Landing

Astronaut Peggy Whitson talks about dropping down to Earth in an out-of-control Soyuz
By Gregory Mone Posted 05.05.2008 at 8:07 am 2 Comments

Yes, it ended well, but the rough-and-tumble landing that astronauts experienced recently as a Soyuz capsule on its way back from the International Space Station missed its landing target by 300 miles sure doesn't sound like something you'd want to do twice.

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read more about > astronaut, cosmonaut, Gregory Mone, ISS, nasa, Peggy Whitson, Soyuz, Yuri Malenchenko
Gadgets

An MP3 Mini-Fridge

By Gregory Mone Posted 09.12.2007 at 3:53 pm 0 Comments

The new Cooltone pony fridge looks like it's been designed for astronaut picnics on the Moon, but it wouldn't be bad for a day out on the deck, either. The pint-sized fridge holds up to 20 cans of the beverage of your choice, and six bottles of wine. Plug it in and it starts cooling instantly, using an efficient air re-circulation system that won't burn up the atmosphere. It has a built-in CD player on top for those of you still holding on to the endangered discs and, more importantly, an iPod or MP3 jack so you can play DJ.—Gregory Mone

Via Crave

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read more about > astronaut, circulation system, dj gregory, Gregory Mone, picnics

Asimo's Pimp Shuffle

By popsci Posted 01.09.2007 at 2:53 pm 24 Comments

Honda's Asimo demos on their North Hall stage have been drawing large crowds, likely full of people hoping to see the bipedal 'bot take another tumble. Monday's demos didn't come through in that respect, but the gathered onlookeres were instead treated to a different spectacle: Asimo's "running" capabilities. While it may look like a child astronaut urgently needing a restroom (or a child astronaut who has mastered a sort of fast-motion pimp walk), Asimo's four-mph jog—in which both feet leave the ground for a brief .08 seconds at the height of the stride—is nonetheless a pretty amazing sight. —John Mahoney

Check out the little guy warming up and then making the dash below:


   

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February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


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