Desert dwellers near Las Vegas will receive an unusual addition to the population at some point next year: a habitat built by Bigelow Aerospace.
Public details are still few, except for these: it is called The Guide, it’s described as a “flight-like” test article that is somewhat smaller than an automobile, and it will be placed in a dry lake near Alamo sometime in the spring or summer of 2014.
This is just one of a series of tests that Bigelow is undertaking as it seeks to build one of its inflatable habitats on the Moon someday, said founder Robert Bigelow in a press conference Thursday.
May 25th, 2013
Bigelow to test habitat prototype in desert near Las Vegas SEN
January 29th, 2013
Where a river once flowed on Mars SEN
The European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter has captured images of a deep channel carved into the Martian landscape which is believed to have been created by a river in the distant past.
Named Reull Vallis, the river-like channel stretches 1,500 kilometres and is almost 7 kilometres wide in places, and 300 metres deep. The valley is flanked by many tributaries, one of which can be seen on the main image. The orbiter’s High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) was used to take the pictures.
Along the floor of the valley are grooves that run parallel to its sides, and scientists believe these were scratched into the floor by the movement of debris and ice long after running water had carved out the valley. The scars are therefore evidence of glacial movement along the valley.
October 19th, 2012
Mars One plans human settlement on the Red Planet by 2023 SEN
Mars One, a Dutch company, is aiming to establish a permanent human settlement on the Red Planet. The mission, to be funded from the sale of broadcasting rights, would see the first 4 settlers arrive on Mars in 2023.
The Mars One vision belongs to entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp and scientist Arno Wielders. They believe that if they can build a human settlement on Mars there will be sufficient money from broadcasting to finance the mission. As well as television shows documenting the build up, astronaut selection process and journey to Mars, video would be streamed continuously from the surface as soon as the first Mars One rover lands.
The founders say “As with the Apollo Moon landings, a human mission to Mars will inspire generations to believe that all things are possible, that anything can be achieved.”