Russia, China aim for Red Planet

China will launch a joint mission with Russia to Mars, a "milestone" in space co-operation between the two countries. The move follows pledges by Moscow to work more closely with the Chinese on missions to Mars and the Moon. A small satellite developed by China will piggyback on the Russian launch of a spacecraft called "Phobos Grunt", probably in October 2009. There was no mention of a timetable in the Chinese space agency statement. But earlier Russian reports said the launch window for the 10-11 month voyage to Phobos, Mars' largest moon, will be in October 2009. The mission plan so far is to have the Russian craft orbit Mars. Then the Chinese micro-satellite will detach from the Russian spacecraft, and probe the Martian space environment. The Russian spacecraft will touch down on the Martian moon Phobos and collect soil samples for return to Earth.

submitted by Shaun A. Saunders

2007 Hugo Award Nominees!!!

Here are the nominations for this year's Hugo Awards for best science fiction!!!! I think readers and listeners will recognize some of the nominees and some of the stories as well!!! Highlighted stories are those that can be found online.

Novel
Michael F. Flynn, Eifelheim
Naomi Novik, His Majesty’s Dragon
Charles Stross, Glasshouse
Vernor Vinge, Rainbows End
Peter Watts, Blindsight

Novella
“The Walls of the Universe” by Paul Melko
“A Billion Eyes” by Robert Reed
“Inclination” by William Shunn
“Lord Weary’s Empire” by Michael Swanwick
Julian: A Christmas Story by Robert Charles Wilson

Novelette
“Yellow Card Man” by Paolo Bacigalupi
“Dawn, and Sunset, and the Colours of the Earth” by Michael F. Flynn
“The Djinn’s Wife” by Ian McDonald
“All the Things You Are” by Mike Resnick
“Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter” by Geoff Ryman

Short Story
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” by Neil Gaiman
“Kin” by Bruce McAllister
“Impossible Dreams” by Timothy Pratt
“Eight Episodes” by Robert Reed
“The House Beyond Your Sky” by Benjamin Rosenbaum

NASA Tests Inflatable Lunar Shelters

NASA is preparing to test an inflatable structure that might one day be used to establish an outpost on the Moon. The inflatable structure is made of multilayer fabric and looks like an ungainly white robot with legs.

The main unit is 12 feet in diameter and 18 feet tall. It has a volume of about 1,600 cubic feet and is connected to an airlock, also inflatable. The two spaces are essentially pressurized cylinders, connected by an airtight door. Inflatable structures are just one of the construction types NASA is considering for an outpost on the Moon.

NASA says testing of inflatable habitats on the Moon could begin in 2020. As currently envisioned, a lunar outpost would begin with four-person crews making several seven-day visits to the Moon until their power supplies, rovers and living quarters are operational.

The mission would then be extended to two weeks, then two months and ultimately to 180 days.

In a related development, NASA will team up with the National Science Foundation to begin field testing of a similar inflatable structure in Antarctica either later this year or early next year.

submitted by Shaun A. Saunders

Bizarre Hexagon Spotted on Saturn

One of the most bizarre weather patterns known has been photographed at Saturn, where astronomers have spotted a huge, six-sided feature circling the north pole.

Rather than the normally sinuous cloud structures seen on all planets that have atmospheres, this thing is a hexagon.

The honeycomb-like feature has been seen before. NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft imaged it more than two decades ago. Now, having spotted it with the Cassini spacecraft, scientists conclude it is a long-lasting oddity.

he hexagon is nearly 15,000 miles (25,000 kilometers) across. Nearly four Earths could fit inside it. The thermal imagery shows the hexagon extends about 60 miles (100 kilometers) down into the clouds.

At Saturn's south pole, Cassini recently spotted a freaky human eye-like feature that resembles a hurricane.

The hexagon appears to have remained fixed with Saturn's rotation rate and axis since first glimpsed by Voyager 26 years ago. The actual rotation rate of Saturn is still uncertain, which means nobody knows exactly how long the planet's day is.

submitted by Shaun Saunders

Man claims to have met himself in the Future

Now as you know, I don't often link to material like this, and really this is no different. However this utube video is getting a lot of notice on the web and most notably DIGG.

The video shows a man standing beside an older man who does look very much like the younger version. (the man had a camera phone with him) and they both sported body markings that were identical.

This little short is just errie enough to be entertaining and is short enough for a quick look.

Check it out here YOUTUBE short