Explore space! Promotional video.

It's been a while since I last got round to post on the blog. Sorry for the 5/6 month delay, but I was busy with some other projects. I simply couldn't get round to finding time for blogging much. I'm back and hopefully things will be going smoother in 2007.

For all those dropping by, thanks for your support and I hope this year will bring exciting things. As a suprise I created a little promo video for the space wallpaper site. Check it out, share it with your friends and let me know what you think!

Atlantis launch successful

Space Shuttle Atlantis has had a successful launch today after various previous delays to the launch schedule. The fifth launch attempt on 9 September was a great success with no problems being experienced despite some concerns.

The Atlantis crew will participate in spacewalks and further construction of the International Space Station. Good luck to them, and may they return safely!

Discovery Launch a Success

Third time lucky. The Space Shuttle Discovery has been successfully launched during the third launch attempt on Tuesday, 4th of July 2006. The previous two attempts on Saturday and Sunday were both cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions.

The third launch attempt also faced some challenges and the possibility of being called off when a crack in the protective foam layer on the fuel tank was discovered. NASA investigated the crack and decided to go ahead with the launch.

This succesful launch comes at a crucial time for the shuttle program. If this launch ended in failure it would have meant the end of the shuttle program. The ageing shuttles are going to be retired in 2010.

NASA Postpones Second Discovery Launch Attempt

NASA has just scrubbed the second launch attempt for space shuttle Discovery due to bad weather conditions. The launch director has stated that they will wait for a period of 48 hours and attempt to launch on Tuesday, 4th June. It is unclear at this stage if they will aim for a morning or afternoon launch. This will be established according to the prevailing weather conditions.

Update: NASA has just confirmed that the next attempt will take place on Tuesday, with liftoff scheduled to occur at 2:38 p.m., EDT

View the newest Discovery preperation/launch wallpapers

UFO Crash near Port Shepstone, South Africa

The South African National Sea Rescue Institute is monitoring the seas near Port Shepstone, South Africa, after numerous eye witnesses reported a Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) crashing into the ocean on Saturday, 21 May 2006.

Witnesses described seeing a craft crashing into the waves. They saw smoke and the water boiling after the alleged crash.

The NSRI and local police searched the sea in an area of 12 square nautical miles, but couldn't find any debris or indication of a crashed craft. They are keeping their eyes on the situation.

No aircraft has been reported as missing or lost. The possibility exists that it could have been some sort of space debris or a meotorite that was seen crashing into the waves.

All the witnesses are convinced that they saw something. It remains to be seen exactly what it was and if indeed it was a craft of alien origin.

Stardust makes it home

The US probe "Stardust" has had a safe landing in Utah after it's 4.63 billion kilometer journey in space. The stardust probe has been able to collect around a teaspoon full of space dust which is hoped to offer some vital clues to the origins of our solar system.

Analysis of the sample can take as much as 10 years to complete. In an effort to speed up the analysis process the University of California, Berkeley, has launched a project to recruit volunteer students who will help identify the samples.

Meteor shocks Perth, Australia

Citizens in Perth, Australia was witness to an unexpected light show, when a meteor passing through the atmosphere and appeared as a spectacular fireball in the night skies.

The fireball could be seen for hundreds of kilometers in Western Australia and was accompanied by a loud noise. A sonic boom caused by the meteor's speed shook buildings in a large area, and gave people quite a fright. One witness described it as being a "cataclysmic-like event".

It is believed that the meteor was about the size of a basketball and that it was around 100km up in the atmosphere when it exploded.

Scientist are hoping that debris will be found that can be used for further studies.

The BBC has a video containing amateur video footage of the event:
Meteor Shock (RealPlayer)
Meteor Shock (Windows Media Player)