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Video: Reggie Watts Visits Mars, Speaks Martian

Andrew Dalton — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:15:36 GMT

Comedian/Musician Reggie Watts is in San Francisco this week for a couple performances at the the Outside Lands Festival this weekend. Before taking the stage in the Barbary Tent, Watts dropped in to the Exploratorium on Thursday to help the celebrate the Curiosity rover's successful landing on the surface of Mars. Of the red planet, Watts says: "I've always had dreams of going to Mars and I've always had dreams of not going to Mars as well."

Here are the Exploratorium's two delightfully geeky staffers introducing Reggie and his original song about "how super easy it is to get to Mars":

Watts, who apparently became enamored with the interactive science museum while on tour last year has also been named the Exploratorium's most recent Osher Fellow. During yesterday's event, he also took a moment to leave a message for Thomas Dolby's time capsule in Martian:

[Exploratorium]

Photo: SpaceX Dragon Capsule Floating Off The Pacific

Brock Keeling — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:35:38 GMT

After spending a week in orbit, the SpaceX Dragon returned to Earth and was found floating in the Pacific near California. "Reentry scorch marks visible on the heat shield," notes SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who posted this shot of his private spaceship's return on Twitter. The return is "the last major hurdle for the groundbreaking spacecraft" privately built by Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Regarding the capsule, Huffington Post notes:

"SpaceX's Dragon capsule is rare in its ability to survive re-entry to Earth and be recovered. Most automated cargo vehicles that visit the space station, such as those built by Russia, Japan and Europe, are designed for one-way trips only, and are destroyed after their missions as they plunge through the planet's atmosphere.
"Dragon is equipped with a heat shield to withstand the fiery temperatures of re-entry, which can reach about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1650 degrees Celsius). That means it can deliver cargo both to and from the space station."

The Dragon is noteworthy for being the "first commercial mission to ferry supplies into space."

Happy 40th Anniversary, Moon Landing

Brock Keeling — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:55:54 GMT

Forty years ago today, ~~inside a Culver City movie studio,~~ the lunar module parked on the ~~alleged~~ surface of the Moon, and out came a couple of guys who made history as the first human beings to land up there. The first one to emerge from the pod was Neil Armstrong, who made some sort of famous quote about baby steps and giant leaps and kind men, followed by Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins, sadly, had to keep the engine running by orbiting above as the two men played with each other on the moon's surface.

The landing was a most historic event, one that everyone remembers where they were when they saw it happen. (Us? We were watching an episode of The Wonder Years. How about you?)

You can check out the Apollo 11 mission audio recording in real time, which NASA is playing in its entirety. Also, here are some swell moon images you'll want to check out, to get you in the mood. Wired has more anniversary info, and The New York Times has a fantastic 1969 timeline that's sure to get your boomer juices flowing.

Next up for human exploration? Mars.

Eagle

Mars Phoenix Lander Finds Water Ice

Brock Keeling — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:58:51 GMT

Our sister site LAist informs us, via the Mars Phoenix Lander's Twitter, that water ice has been found on the planet Mars today. At around 5:15 p.m., NASA folks exclaimed, "Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!"

Martian discoveries soon to follow. Presumably. Read more about today's icy, outer space discovery here.

Mars Phoenix Lander Lands On the Internets, Twitter

Brock Keeling — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:44:48 GMT

In case any slimy, green Maritans appear, brandishing pointy laser guns--and all experts agree that there will be--keep track of them and the Mars Phoenix Lander on Twitter. It's scheduled to land on Mars this evening at 4:53 p.m. (PDT). Or so.

For those of you not outside getting ripped at a barbecue today, you can also check out Mars Phoenix Lander coverage live on NASA TV.

Via Laughing Squid.