NASA está a recrutar novos astronautas!

Os candidatos que forem seleccionados irão voar na próxima geração de naves espaciais da NASA, as Orion do projecto Constellation. Na altura em que entrarem no activo, o Space Shuttle já deverá ter sido desactivado, a manterem-se os planos actuais.

No grupo de astronautas que serão seleccionados poderão estar os próximos astronautas a andar na Lua, por volta de 2020. A maioria dos seleccionados poderá esperar missões à Estação Espacial Internacional.

Infelizmente este recrutamento só se aplica a cidadãos dos EUA, pelas informações de que disponho neste momento (ver ao fundo desta página http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/recruit.html)

Link: Press Release da NASA

RELEASE: 07-196

NASA Opens Applications for New Astronaut Class

HOUSTON - NASA is accepting applications for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class. Those selected could fly to space for long-duration stays on the International Space Station and missions to the moon.

"We look forward to gathering applications and then being able to select from the largest pool possible," said Ellen Ochoa, NASA's chief of Flight Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center. "Continuing our impressive record in successfully carrying out challenging human spaceflight missions depends on maintaining a talented and diverse astronaut corps."

To be considered, a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience are required. Typically, successful applicants have significant qualifications in engineering or science, or extensive experience flying high-performance jet aircraft.

Teaching experience, including work at the kindergarten through 12th grade level, is considered qualifying. Educators with the appropriate educational background are encouraged to apply.

After a six-month period of evaluation and interviews, NASA will announce final selections in early 2009. Astronaut candidates will report to Johnson in the summer of 2009 to begin the basic training program to prepare them for future spaceflight assignments.

NASA will accept applications through July 1, 2008. To apply visit:

http://www.usajobs.gov

Additional information about the Astronaut Candidate Program is available by calling the Astronaut Selection Office at 281-483-5907 or by visiting:

http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/recruit.html

Stephen Hawking nos Simpsons

O Prof. Hawking é, apesar da sua doença, um homem muito bem humorado!

Novas imagens dos 'buracos' em Marte mostram paredes

Os buracos descobertos há algum tempo na superfície de Marte (de que falei aqui) estão a ser de novo fotografados, pela camera HiRISE, do Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Uma dessas fotos revela uma parede, o que parece negar que o buraco seja uma entrada para uma enorme gruta subterrânea, sendo apenas... um buraco.

No entanto, em minha opinião, e se clicarem na imagem à direita, nada está ainda provado, na realidade não se sabe o que há do lado esquerdo da imagem.

Continuarei a seguir este 'mistério'.

Fonte: New Scientist

Strange Martian feature not a 'bottomless' cave after all

20:49 30 August 2007
NewScientist.com news service
David Shiga

An extremely dark feature on Mars is probably just a pit – not the entrance to a deep cavern that future astronauts could call home, a new image reveals.

The 150- by 157-metre feature was first noticed in an image taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on 5 May 2007 using a camera called the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE).

Viewed from directly overhead, the dark spot showed no evidence of walls or a floor, leading some HiRISE scientists to suspect it was the opening to a cavern (scroll down for image).

That would have been exciting, since caves might be good places to search for life, as they offer protection from intense ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Caves could also provide shelter for any future human visitors to Mars.

The new image, however, suggests the feature is just a vertical shaft cutting into the surface. Taken on 8 August from a different angle, the image reveals a wall on the feature's eastern side.

Bouncing robots

It is not clear how deep the pit is, because its floor has still not been seen. But the HiRISE team says it must be at least 78 metres deep.

Similar "pit craters" form on the flanks of volcanoes in Hawaii when lava deep underground drains away, causing the overlying rock to collapse downward, forming a well.

Although this particular feature did not turn out to be a cave entrance, Mars may have caves in the form of intact "lava tubes" – long tube-shaped cavities sometimes left behind when underground lava drains away. Some collapsed lava tubes are known on Mars and intact ones may well be present too.

Scientists have designed small bouncing robots that could one day investigate Martian caves.

Começa o 'circo' mediático à volta da ex-astronauta Lisa Nowak.

Chamo-lhe circo porque na realidade não se tratará de um julgamento, mas de mero entretenimento para as massas. O julgamento só começará realmente no final deste mês, mas em frente ao Tribunal onde este decorrerá já se juntam várias carrinhas de jornalistas, que estão a cobrir as audiências preliminares.

Tudo isto para entreter um povo que há meses não sabia nem queria saber o que Lisa Nowak tinha feito pela vida, e que agora pretende ver algo de chocante, e com o pior castigo possível, apenas para seu gáudio... Enfim, Panem et Circenses...

Desenvolvimentos ainda há poucos, à excepção de Nowak já ter sido 'libertada' do dispositivo GPS que era obrigada a usar constantemente, e ter dado uma breve conferência de imprensa na qual pedia desculpas à sua 'rival', e condenava os media pelas várias intromissões na sua vida pessoal, da sua família e vizinhos.