tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226666902024-03-13T09:10:21.535+05:30Varun's Blog - At the Speed of Light !Why speed of light ? Well, the aim of this blog is to reach the impossible by exploration and scientific fervor. Exploration never ends, knowledge never dies but Speed of Light can be achieved ....Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-25116180502290644202014-01-31T22:19:00.004+05:302014-01-31T22:19:28.370+05:30Spaceflight Training Program Gets FAA Approval<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Head in the stars lately? Soon your body could join, but it will need some lessons first. Earlier this week, </span><a href="http://waypoint2space.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0068a5; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Waypoint 2 Space</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">, a commercial spaceflight training company, received FAA safety approval for programs set to begin later this spring. The company joins a </span>growing industry of programs<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> and services for those hoping to catch a ride on private spaceships. </span><br />
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Waypoint 2 Space's multi-level training program includes <b>fundamentals</b>, like being able to operate in confined spaces, wear a pressure suit, and adapt to microgravity; <b>suborbital</b> training, which "prepares the participant to take full advantage of the 5 to 7 minutes of weightlessness" during a spaceflight; and finally the eight-week <b>orbital</b> training, which will be available in 2015 and teaches students how to deal with the physical and psychological challenges of prolonged spaceflight.</div>
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The price may be steep ($45,000), but it's 18 percent of the price of a ticket on <b>Virgin Galactic</b>. Prospective astronaut trainees need not have a ticket to space booked, though. The program is currently based out of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where it collaborates with NASA. </div>
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<a href="http://www.popsci.com/article/science/spaceflight-training-program-gets-faa-approval">Source</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-25623265313537433582014-01-05T07:11:00.002+05:302014-01-05T07:11:36.447+05:30Over a thousand candidates shortlisted for life on Mars<br />
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A mission to put humans on Mars that drew 200,000 applicants has selected more than a thousand candidates who will now be tested to come up with a final list of 24 would-be Mars-dwellers. </div>
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Mars One was set up in 2011 by two Dutch men with the goal of establishing permanent human life on Mars in 2025. They hope the project will be funded by investors and the rights from the documentary-cum-reality TV broadcasting of the tests, training and final selection. </div>
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The 1,058 candidates who got through to the first round come from all over the world. By far the largest number - 297 - are American, followed by 75 Canadians and 62 Indians. </div>
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They must now undergo rigorous tests, including simulations of life on Mars and coping with isolation, co-founder Bas Lansdorp said.
"The challenge with 200,000 applicants is separating those who we feel are physically and mentally adept to become human ambassadors on Mars from those who are obviously taking the mission much less seriously," Lansdorp said. </div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/02/us-mars-humans-idUSBREA010N620140102">Reuters</a>
</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-83120023247149103982011-12-13T09:00:00.001+05:302011-12-13T21:50:39.247+05:30Meteor ShowerThe Geminid meteor shower peaks on Dec. 13th and 14th.<span id="fullpost"><br />Bright moonlight will interfere with the display, but not obliterate it. Forecasters expect observers with clear skies to see as many as 40 meteors per hour.<br /><br /><a href="http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/13dec_geminids/">More info</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-56135485037657455342010-12-21T13:05:00.004+05:302010-12-21T13:26:42.048+05:30Lunar Eclipse Photos - Dec 21, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/TRBZhLDyq5I/AAAAAAAAAgY/INcaO8tUCLE/s1600/lunar2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/TRBZhLDyq5I/AAAAAAAAAgY/INcaO8tUCLE/s320/lunar2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553036766987070354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/TRBZhH5CNnI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/TsaVmma6gJo/s1600/lunar1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/TRBZhH5CNnI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/TsaVmma6gJo/s320/lunar1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553036766136645234" /></a><br />Send your pics to vkhetarp@fit.edu with name and your location; I will feature it on this blog.<br /><br><br><br />© Exploreuniverse.com<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-92018453508201214132010-12-21T09:26:00.001+05:302010-12-21T09:29:19.296+05:30Total Lunar Eclipse TonightThe shadow of the earth is expected to pass between the sun and the moon beginning about 12:29 a.m. Tuesday, and will fully eclipse the moon in about 72 minutes. The entire eclipse should be completed by 4 a.m. for those watching in Michigan.<br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Weather permitting, a lunar eclipse will be visible from 1:33 to 5:01 a.m. ET Tuesday, with the total eclipse starting at about 2:41 a.m., according to NASA.<br /><br />The eclipse happens to be on the day of a solstice (first day of winter for the Northern Hemisphere; first day of summer for the Southern Hemisphere).<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/20/strangers-in-the-night-lunar-eclipse-solstice-meet-again/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20101220/NEWS06/12200383/1005/NEWS03/Lunar-eclipse-tonight">FreeP</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-35207871604257810102010-01-31T04:05:00.000+05:302010-01-31T04:06:08.434+05:30Difference between Accuracy & Precision<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/S2S0U-OhIeI/AAAAAAAAAf8/r2UfrdJJ9SY/s1600-h/accuracyvsprecision.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/S2S0U-OhIeI/AAAAAAAAAf8/r2UfrdJJ9SY/s320/accuracyvsprecision.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432665322909934050" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-84980454493685158912009-12-28T13:32:00.004+05:302009-12-28T13:37:20.733+05:30Hybrid Airplanes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/Szhm3Ncj7fI/AAAAAAAAAfY/5Q-WT9AZWJc/s1600-h/hybrid.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U_mEAe2M72A/Szhm3Ncj7fI/AAAAAAAAAfY/5Q-WT9AZWJc/s200/hybrid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420195250228686322" /></a><br /> The airplane can be hybrid i.e powered with fuel and electricity. The concept of using the combination of fuel and electricity to power the airplane seems a nice idea but it also has certain drawbacks. Boeing has already developed a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cell. The plane has minimal noise and causes almost no air pollution.<br /><span id="fullpost" align="justify"><br />In today’s time, traveling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way of getting from one place to another. Aircraft manufacturers are continuously researching and trying to build planes with more capacity, less maintenance costs and better fuel economy. If an airplane is highly maneuverable, it is designed to be unstable. <br />The airplane can be hybrid i.e powered with fuel and electricity. The concept of using the combination of fuel and electricity to power the airplane seems a nice idea but it also has certain drawbacks. Boeing has already developed a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cell. The plane has minimal noise and causes almost no air pollution. One of other interesting project i.e <a href="http://www.glennpew.com/">Sunseeker</a> is a solar powered airplane by Eric Raymond. Hybrid planes have a high initial setup and building cost as compared to maintenance. <br />There are also concepts of <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/go/3060/">gravity powered</a> airplane which are out. They fly with force of gravity and don’t need any fuel. The idea is a bit far-fetched for commercial airliners but is worth reading. <br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-22903585351105502522009-09-18T02:49:00.002+05:302009-09-18T02:54:20.067+05:30The Anyman AstronomerIn college its very hard to get into Astronomy-having to buy expensive equipment and dump hundreds of dollars into equipment that we sometimes dont even know how to use. A simple solution to this is to pick up a pair of Astronomy oriented binoculars. Most Objects are able to be seen by these and they are a cheap, grab and go solution to not being able to get out and watch the night sky. For under $400, you can have a portable scope that will travel with you wherever you go. Check out The Vixen range for some great Sky Binocs!!!!!<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br /><br />"Vixen OpticsVixen Optics announces the new Foresta Binocular series. Of particular interest to amateur astronomers is the Foresta 7×50 ZCF model ($329). These lightweight binoculars feature die-cast aluminum bodies encased in a protective rubber coating. The 50-mm, three-element objective lenses and BAK4 prisms are fully multi-coated to minimize light scatter and maximize light transmission. The binoculars are nitrogen-purged to reduce internal fogging, and they are waterproof. Smaller models feature a novel hinge-lock that allows you to preset your interpupillary distance so that it can be quickly returned to a comfortable position after sharing the views with other observers. The binoculars come with lens caps, neck strap, and a hiking-style carrying case. "<br /><br /></span><span id="fullpost"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Cole Penningtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04038846216942278110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-62374742919771111232008-11-09T06:26:00.001+05:302008-11-09T06:37:55.656+05:30Blue Angels Airshow 2008 Video<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5EWPzReWjU"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B5EWPzReWjU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wz3s8anPujc"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wz3s8anPujc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-64299418114045325932008-11-08T04:41:00.002+05:302008-11-08T04:48:05.923+05:30First Indian 'moon craft' ready to enter lunar orbit<p>The car-sized spacecraft will fire its liquid-fueled engine at about 1227 GMT (7:27 a.m. EST) Saturday to place Chandrayaan 1 in an oval-shaped parking orbit around the moon. That orbit will eventually be lowered to a circular path about 62 miles above the lunar surface. </p><p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="400"> <tbody><tr> <td width="400"> <img src="http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0811/07chandrayaan/chandrayaanearth.jpg" alt="" border="1" height="171" hspace="0" vspace="2" width="398" /><br /> <span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-2;">A view of Earth at an altitude of 9,000 km was taken by Chandrayaan 1's terrain mapping camera. Credit: ISRO<br />See larger image <a href="http://www.isro.org/pslv-c11/photos/chandrayaan/image1.jpg" target="_blank">here</a></span><br /><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Engineers will monitor the critical maneuver from the Indian Space Research Organization's Spacecraft Control Center in Bangalore. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The probe has fired its engine five times since its Oct. 22 launch aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle dispatched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on India's east coast. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The burns gradually raised the high point of Chandrayaan 1's orbit from about 14,200 miles to more than 235,000 miles, according to ISRO. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Controllers also turned on the probe's main camera at the end of October. The black-and-white stereo terrain mapping camera took pictures of Earth while zooming away from the planet. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Plans call for Chandrayaan 1 to release a 64-pound impactor around Nov. 15 for a suicidal nosedive into the moon. The trip from orbit to the lunar surface will take about a half-hour, and the small craft will relay imagery, altitude information and spectral data back to Earth through the Chandrayaan mother ship. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Chandrayaan means "moon craft" in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The $80 million mission is India's answer to a pair of lunar missions launched last year by Japan and China. Both countries' moon orbiters are still collecting imagery and scientific data. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But unlike the Japanese and Chinese missions, India invited large contributions from other nations to put instruments on Chandrayaan 1. Scientists from Europe and the United States answered the call. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">More than half of the probe's 11 instruments come from outside India. The European Space Agency spent $8 million to fund three payloads, while NASA provided two more sensors. Bulgarian scientists also contributed a radiation monitor to the mission. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Scientists expect data from Chandrayaan 1 to help create the most detailed global chemical map of the moon showing mineral concentrations across the lunar surface. Researchers will also make a three-dimensional terrain map of the moon based on information yielded by the mission. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The ESA-funded X-ray and near-infrared imaging spectrometers, called C1XS and SIR 2, will detect mineral signatures in soil on and just below the lunar surface. Both instruments are based on similar sensors that flew aboard Europe's SMART 1 spacecraft, which was deliberately crashed into the moon in 2006. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">"The Apollo missions went down to the surface, but only in a limited number of spots, whereas Chandrayaan tries to do detailed imaging of the entire sphere of the moon," said Christian Erd, ESA's Chandrayaan 1 project manager. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">"The opportunity to fly NASA instruments on Chandrayaan 1 undoubtedly will lead to important scientific discoveries," said Michael Griffin, NASA administrator. "This exciting collaboration represents an important next step in what we hope to be a long and mutually beneficial relationship with India in future civil space exploration." </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Moon Mineralogy Mapper, nicknamed M3, is a visual and near-infrared imaging spectrometer designed to plot mineral resources at higher resolutions than any instrument before. M3 scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory hope the device will help them create mineral maps to find science-rich landing sites for future missions. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">India's indigenous suite of science payloads include a terrain camera designed to take detailed black-and-white pictures of the whole lunar surface. The stereo camera will be able to spot features as small as about 16 feet, according to ISRO. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">ISRO scientists also built two spectral imagers, one focusing on near-infrared and another in the X-ray range, to help produce precise global maps of the minerals and soil contents on the moon's surface. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">A laser system was also bolted to the spacecraft to determine its altitude above the moon and chart lunar surface topography. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Indian engineers also constructed the moon impact probe. </p><p>"It has been the dream of Indian scientists to send a satellite around the moon and then collect more data about the surface features, minerals and so on," Nair said. "That dream is going to come true through this mission."</p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Source: Spaceflightnow.com</span><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-73966252371617972402008-09-01T00:51:00.001+05:302008-09-01T00:52:36.044+05:30Colorful Sunsets<div style="text-align: justify;">Sky watchers across the USA and Europe are reporting unusually colorful sunsets and sunrises. The cause appears to be the August 7th eruption of the Kasatochi volcano in Alaska's Aleutian islands. The volcano hurled a massive cloud of ash and sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere; high winds have since carried the aerosols over parts of the USA and Europe. "Violet domes," long pink rays crossing the sky, campfire-red aureoles around Venus--these are just a few of the sights documented on Spaceweather.com in recent days. When the sun goes down tonight, look west. You may be in for a treat.<br /></div><span id="fullpost"><br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-40590940082069880042008-08-15T23:35:00.001+05:302008-08-15T23:35:53.238+05:30Lunar Eclipse WeekendLUNAR ECLIPSE: This Saturday, August 16th, people on every continent *except* North America can see a lunar eclipse. At maximum, around 2110 UT (5:10 pm EDT), more than 81% of the Moon will be inside Earth's shadow, producing a vivid red orb in the night sky visible to the naked eye even from light-polluted cities. The entire eclipse lasts more than 3 hours, so there's plenty of time for gazing, drinking coffee, and taking pictures.<br /><br />North Americans can watch the eclipse via live webcast beginning 3:30 pm EDT on Saturday afternoon. Eclipse-cam links may be found, along with time tables, visibility maps, and eclipse photo galleries, at <a href="http://spaceweather.com/" target="_blank">http://spaceweather.com</a> .<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-83011446341564674292008-04-09T20:09:00.004+05:302008-04-09T21:43:57.796+05:30Reliable and Cheap Shopping Cart Software<span id="fullpost"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="fullpost">If you have a great merchandise and collection of fast selling products, you definitely need a <a href="http://www.ashopcommerce.com/">shopping cart software</a> that is reliable and easy to manage. One of my dad's friend needed a fully automated website through which he could sell his products. After a rigorous search, AshopCommerce was found to be the cheapest and most efficient <a href="http://www.ashopcommerce.com/">ecommerce software</a>.</span><br /><br /><span id="fullpost">AshopCommerce is specially designed not only to provide customizable designs but also search engine optimization for your <a href="http://www.ashopcommerce.com/">shopping cart software</a>. This company is also the winner of my-business awards - 06. AshopCommerce's 10 day trial allows you to test their amazing service without putting in your credit cards details. Yes ! You can try their service free of charge.</span><br /><br /><span id="fullpost">Never before was selling online that easy ! Their software is designed keeping in mind the ease of use and setup. A lot of professional business websites are already using this awesome ecommerce cart service by AshopCommerce.</span> Go for it !<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-88154871646404537242008-04-09T05:48:00.002+05:302008-04-09T06:20:23.787+05:30Get paid to blog @ Smorty !<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">I have personally experienced the service of <a href="http://www.smorty.com">Smorty</a>. Their website's simple and easy steps would like you to sign up under either of the two categories - Bloggers or Advertisers. If you have a personal blog or a company blog with good ranking, it becomes easier for you to grab more and more opportunities in the campaign and earn higher. It’s easy – <a href="http://www.smorty.com">blog for money</a>.<br /><br />Smorty's service is unique and different from others. It pays you on a weekly basis instead of monthly. We just have to express your opinions on various products or services in our posts. The biggest advantage is that this does not distract our users from our website because these posts are informative. Moreover, Smorty allows you to add multiple blogs which makes you flexible in terms of writing the posts over 2 or more blogs. Their easy service lets you earn at home if you are ready to <a href="http://www.smorty.com">blog for money</a>.<br /><br />On the other hand, it is an excellent chance for the advertisers to achieve a high page ranking in search engines like google, msn, altavista etc. Smorty can create a lot of quality inbound links reaching more and more customers. This service is surely better than joining a spamming list and adding your company's website link on such pages. Start to <a href="http://www.smorty.com">blog for money</a> now. This awesome service is just a click away.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-39128955677108722972008-04-04T10:25:00.006+05:302008-04-09T21:49:38.475+05:30Pay less for your domains<div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone is trying to establish their place on the internet. Due to this there is a lot of competition between different companies to provide the domains for cheap price. <a href="http://www.paylessdomains.com.au/">Domain name registration</a> has made been comparatively less by PayLessDomains.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br /><br />They also provide their customers with discount when <a href="http://www.paylessdomains.com.au/">domain name registration</a> is done in bulk or for more than a year. Every domain name registration involves free services like free email hosting, URL forwarding, domain parking, management tools and 24/7 customer support.<br /><br />Paylessdomains is one of the Australia's top site allowing to create your own online store. They are Australia's largest shopping cart provider. Paylessdomains are known for their cheap domain registration, domain transfers, renewals and e-commerce facilities. Registration on their website is totally free of cost. The company's unique features include competitive prices, personalized service and free WHOIS lookup.<br /><br />Never before, <a href="http://www.paylessdomains.com.au/">domain name registration</a> was so easy, fast and cheap. 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It’s the greatest mystery and phenomena on earth.<span style=""> </span>What is lightning? Where does it come from? <span style=""> </span>How is lightning initiated?<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, as fascinated as we are about lightning, we are still unable to answer our own questions. <span style=""> </span>Lightning strikes the Earth as least 4 million times worldwide each day. One strike of lightning is the brightest light we see, the loudest noise we hear, and has as much energy as a nuclear bomb.<span style=""> </span>Despite these facts, we know more about distant cosmos that are millions of light years away, than how lightning propagates 6 miles above our heads.<span style=""> </span>However, we are aware of the fact that lightning does occur inside thunderclouds.<span style=""> </span>What we don’t know is how lightning is initiated.<span style=""> </span>Several ideas and theories have been suggested, including colliding raindrops, localized regions of concentrated charge, and avalanches of high-energy electrons initiated by cosmic rays from outer space. <span style=""> </span>At least for now, no one knows how lightning is triggered. <span style=""> </span>This is why at Florida Tech, with the help of the University of Florida and New Mexico Tech, we’re currently performing experiments and research to answer these questions.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Different Types of Lightning</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><span style=""> </span>In order to better understand lightning, one must know the similarities and difference between the different types of lightning. <span style=""> </span>Although there are nine types of lightning, we’ll take a look at the more common forms of lightning for the sake of convenience and understanding.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">One type of lightning is called cloud discharge.<span style=""> </span>This type of lightning, also called heat lightning, occurs within a thunder cloud, between two thunder clouds, or from a thunder to the air.<span style=""> </span>As scientists, we believe that most cloud discharges take place within an individual cloud. However, we have collected very few data to confirm this belief.<span style=""> </span>Cloud discharges are far more common than cloud-to-ground lightning; 10 or more cloud flashes may occur before the first one that strikes earth.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">Perhaps the most noticeable and fascinating phenomena on earth is cloud-to-ground lightning.<span style=""> </span>This is the archetypical lightning bolt that arcs out of the sky and smites the ground with a great, flickering flash of light.<span style=""> </span>Cloud-to-ground lightning is the sudden release of built-up charge stored in an electric field.<span style=""> </span>However, what triggers this type of lightning remains a mystery. Hence the following form of lightning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">In order to learn what exactly triggers cloud-to-ground lightning, participants of the Florida Tech Lightning Research Team have created triggered lightning.<span style=""> </span>Lightning expert Pierre Hubert writes, “Triggering lightning at will, at a predetermined place and time, is the old Promethean dream which seems more related to legend than to science.”<span style=""> </span>The technique used at Florida Tech has taught scientists much about processes and effects of lightning. <span style=""> </span>We launch rockets using a strong enough propellant to launch them 700 yards into the atmosphere in two seconds. The rockets are attached with long copper wires to conduct electricity (much like what Benjamin Franklin did) to create cloud-to-ground lightning.<span style=""> </span>From 2000 feet up, the wires trigger lightning with a cloud-to-ground distance larger than the Empire State building.<span style=""> </span>When the lightning strikes the ground, it creates over 100 million volts that zap the array of test equipment on the ground.<span style=""> </span>This allows us to study the data collected and form new hypothesizes about Lightning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Benjamin Franklin and a Early Theory of Lightning</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">Now with the idea of the different forms of lightning fresh in our head, let’s take a look at the experiment performed by Benjamin Franklin and the early theories of lightning.<span style=""> </span>Franklin’s kite and key experiment performed in 1752 is arguably the most famous in scientific history.<span style=""> </span>He wanted to prove that lightning was a form of electricity and not a form of punishment given by God.<span style=""> </span>In his experiment, he tied a copper key to the bottom of the string attached to a kite.<span style=""> </span>Then, he flew his kite during a thunder storm.<span style=""> </span>Lightning struck the kite and caused the copper key to create a spark.<span style=""> </span>The spark was generated because electricity has a negative charge and the key has a positive charge.<span style=""> </span>Assuming that enough energy is present, two objects of different charges that interact with each other will create a spark.<span style=""> </span>As a result, lightning is a form of electricity.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">In more modern terms, a spark is generated when positive and negative charges build up enough energy so that they leap through the air to reach other.<span style=""> </span>Take for example, a negatively charged ball and a positively charged rod.<span style=""> </span>When the charge between the ball and the rod become strong enough, a spark is generated and cuts a pathway through the air.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">Early scientists such as Thomas- Francois of France, and George Richmann of Russia, were able to take advantage of the results yielded by Franklin’s famous experiment.<span style=""> </span>They proposed a new theory of how lightning is generated through the process of particle discharge.<span style=""> </span>As ice and water particles within clouds collide with each other, the positively charged particles move to the top of the cloud, and the negatively charged particles move to the bottom of a cloud.<span style=""> </span>When the charge above and the charge become strong enough, the particles leap through the air as a bolt of lightning.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Problems Concerning the Early Theory of Lightning</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">The theory of particle discharge has remained an acceptable explanation for Lightning until recent years.<span style=""> </span>As already noted, there must be enough energy present in order for the different charges to leap through the air and create a spark.<span style=""> </span>This is the problem with the particle discharge theory.<span style=""> </span>After examination of a storm cloud, the strength of the positive and negative charges, and the electric field around them, isn’t enough to create a spark or a bolt of lightning.<span style=""> </span>Dr. Joe Dwyer of Florida Tech has addressed this issue by saying: “The problem is after decades and decades of measurements up in thunderstorms, nobody has ever managed to find an electric field anywhere near that big (to create an electric spark).”<span style=""> </span>If this is the case, where does the extra energy come from needed to create an electric spark or a bolt of lightning?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">A New Theory: Runaway Theory</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">As previously explained, the triggered lightning created at Florida Tech allows physicists to test new hypothesizes.<span style=""> </span>One such theory called runaway breakdown, explains how a thundercloud gains extra energy needed in order to create an electric spark or a lightning bolt.<span style=""> </span>Using the runaway breakdown theory, scientists can make a new model of how lightning is initiated.<span style=""> </span>This model states that the energy inside of a thundercloud, that force of the positive and negative particles, is too weak to generate a spark to initiate lightning.<span style=""> </span>Therefore, the thundercloud must be struck by outside particles.<span style=""> </span>These outside particles are burst of electrons that carry very high energy.<span style=""> </span>With this added energy, a spark can be generated to initiate lightning. Dr. Joe Dwyer describes this process by saying, “You end up with an avalanche of electrons moving near the speed of light.<span style=""> </span>This model will work as long as you have one fast electron to start it off.<span style=""> </span>Similar to the finger that pushes the first domino to get the whole thing started.”<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where on Earth are the Outside Particles?</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">Through the theory of runaway breakdown, we now know that thunderclouds are struck by outside particles to generate the energy needed to initiate lightning.<span style=""> </span>However, what we don’t know is where these outside particles of a thunderstorm come from.<span style=""> </span>This is where things become interesting. Do they come from molecules splitting apart in our atmosphere?<span style=""> </span>Or do they come from free electrons floating around in the air that collide with a thundercloud?<span style=""> </span>Scientist and researches like Dr. Joe Dwyer, believe that these outsides particles don’t come from the clouds above, or anywhere else on earth for that matter; but from cosmic rays.<span style=""> </span>These cosmic rays are tiny, sub-atomic particles that are ejected from dying stars millions of years ago, and billions of years ago.<span style=""> </span>However, the origin of these cosmic rays is just an idea.<span style=""> </span>How do we test such an idea?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Unique Signature</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">We now understand that the idea of lightning is triggered when cosmic rays strike a thundercloud and provides enough energy needed in order to initiate lightning.<span style=""> </span>But how can we prove that cosmic rays, and not some phenomena on earth, provide that energy boost needed to initiate lightning?<span style=""> </span>It turns out that when cosmic rays strike the Earth’s atmosphere, they leave a unique signature in the form of x-rays and gamma rays.<span style=""> </span>Much like how we can test two signatures to find forgery, we can test for the unique signature of x-rays and gamma rays.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><span style=""> </span>At the lightning research center, there are ten sodium iodide detectors strategically positioned so that the triggered lightning will strike them.<span style=""> </span>Once lightning strikes one of these detectors, a crystal inside of it absorbs the x-rays and gamma rays.<span style=""> </span>From there, it’s just a matter of the detector’s instruments measuring the cosmic rays.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Results</span> <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">After the instruments measure the x-rays and gamma rays, the data is transferred to a computer where it can be viewed.<span style=""> </span>After collecting and viewing the first data results a detector, Dr. Dwyer recalled his first thoughts:<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">“I actually didn’t think that we were going to see x-rays.<span style=""> </span>The first plot we brought up, there was a nice, little pulse that looked just like an x-ray (figure 1), right at the time the lightning occurred.<span style=""> </span>Well, that’s interesting.<span style=""> </span>That’s probably just a coincidence. What’s the chance of that?<span style=""> </span>So we looked at the next lightning strike, and there was even a bigger pulse (figure 2) , and the next one (figure 3), and the next one (figure 4).<span style=""> </span>Every one had these pulses that looked exactly like x-rays.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><span style=""><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </o:lock><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style="width: 166.5pt; height: 146.25pt; visibility: visible;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CAndrew%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_image001.png" title=""> </v:imagedata></v:shape></v:path></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><span style=""> </span><span style=""><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="width: 165pt; height: 147.75pt; visibility: visible;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CAndrew%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_image002.png" title=""> </v:imagedata></v:shape></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><span style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTE: Figures and Graphs will be posted as soon as possible</span> <br /></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">The data is plotted on a graph with the time (measured in microseconds) on the x-axis, and the signal strength (measured in volts) on the y-axis. <span style=""> </span>The red line indicates the amount and magnitude of an x-ray.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>If a big negative voltage pulse is shown on the graph, it means that a big burst of electrons were absorbed in the detector.<span style=""> </span>With a big burst of electrons detected, it concludes that cosmic rays are in the form of x-rays and gamma rays from outer space.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">For instance, in figure 1 the red line has a very small pulse.<span style=""> </span>This indicates that this particular lightning strike had a very low level of x-ray emission.<span style=""> </span>Thus, suggesting that x-rays do not coincide with lightning.<span style=""> </span>However, in figure two, the red line slightly dips and then jumps off of the graph.<span style=""> </span>This strongly suggests that x-rays might coincide with lightning.<span style=""> </span>In figures 3 and 4, the red line dips even more and jumps toward the top of the graph.<span style=""> </span>A greater change in magnitude of the red line indicates that there are x-rays present in lightning. <span style=""> </span>The results measured in figures 2,3, and 4, indicate that figure 1 was just a fluke and that x-rays are linked to the triggering of lightning. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><span style=""> </span>To this date, every strike of lightning that has been measured has shown the presence of x-rays.<span style=""> </span>Therefore, proving that the cosmic rays that provide the energy needed to initiate lightning, are in the form of x-rays and gamma rays from dying stars in space.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion</span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">As you can see, our knowledge of distant cosmos, millions of miles away, has certainly helped us answer questions about lightning that propagates 6 miles above our heads.<span style=""> </span>Even though they’re far apart from each other, lightning and space might be related to each other.<span style=""> </span>In fact, Dr. Dwyer said, “These cosmic rays might be the link which will connect a dying star, halfway across the galaxy, with lightning.” </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left"><span style=""> </span>Hopefully, when future generations of humans walk on earth, they’ll ponder about the beauty of lightning like the first humans did.<span style=""> </span>But thanks to Florida Tech, the University of Florida, and New Mexico Tech, they’ll be able to answer the question of how lightning is initiated with one phrase: runaway breakdown.<span style=""> </span><br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 200%;" align="left">Through the Runaway Breakdown theory, we can conclude that lightning isn’t initiated by the particle discharge within a thundercloud or some strange phenomena on earth. Lightning is initiated by cosmic rays from space that strike a thundercloud and provides enough energy to generate an electric spark, which in effect creates a bolt of lightning.<span style=""><br /></span></p><span id="fullpost"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Andrew Colsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10808785830350833775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-80314755901384663492008-03-25T21:30:00.009+05:302008-03-28T08:09:46.459+05:30The Future and Vision for Space ExplorationWhat if we were no longer limited only to what we can lift from Earth's surface? Suppose we could live off of the land in space, what would the advent of this scenario mean for future exploration and use of space? Here, I take an inside approach to the future and vision for space exploration to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond...<br /><br />The human part of the space program has been trapped in stasis for the last 20 years with precious little exploration being accomplished. Worse, we have been locked in low-Earth orbit with no plans to go beyond, even though robotic space exploration passed that horizon years ago. The International Space Station (ISS) could have served as a test bed for farther destination, but didn't largely due to a result of conscious policy decisions. The tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003 only drew attention to the hollowness and lack of direction of our space policy.<br /><br />The President's new vision proposes that the space shuttle be returned to flight to complete the construction of the ISS and then be retired prior to a costly and risky recertification. A new vehicle will be designed and built for human spaceflight, one which can adapt to different kinds of missions going to various destinations. We will conduct robotic exploration of the Moon in preparation for the resumption of human exploration by the middle of the next decade and use the knowledge and capabilities created from these activities to venture beyond, including human missions to Mars.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Missions and the Vision: A Return to the Moon<br /><br /></span><span>The initial steps in our return to the Moon involve a robotic orbiter, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which will be launched in 2008 and will orbit the Moon for at least 2 years. The purpose of this mission is to collect critical information that will pave the way for human return to the Moon. To that end, the LRO will collect detailed data on the Moon's topography in addition to characterizing exotic environments such as the lunar polar regions.<br /><br />The experiments and others will provide key strategic data to help plan for habitation on and use of the Moon. We have reason to believe that water ice deposits may exist in the permanently dark regions near the lunar poles. However, we do not know the physical state of these deposits, nor do we have a good idea of their quantity.<br /><br />Before LRO flies, India plans to send a spacecraft, Chandrayaan-1, to the Moon in early 2008. Mini-SAR (synthetic aperture radar) is an imaging radar experiment that will fly on this spacecraft in order to map the dark regions of both poles of the Moon. Along with other topographic and morphologic data, these missions will allow us to map the ice deposits of the poles, determine their physical setting, and estimate their abundance.<br /><br />Lunar ice is valuable both to human life and to develop spacing-faring infrastructure. Water can be purified and used as an outpost and broken down into its component hydrogen and oxygen and as rocket propellant. The ability to make rocket propellant on the Moon has potential to completely alter the current model of spaceflight.<br /><br />The LRO mission will be followed by other robotic missions to the Moon that can include both orbiters and landers. A series of small spacecraft, or microsats, in lunar orbit can create a communications and navigations infrastructure for the Moon. These microsats can provide continuous communications with areas out of sight from Earth and positional information for both orbital and surface navigation around the Moon. For landers, we can explore the surface using rovers and deliver robotic payloads to begin developing the surface infrastructure near a future outpost. Rovers can access the dark floors of polar craters, gathering detailed information on the ice deposits.<br /><br />In parallel with this program of annual robotic exploration, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, a replacement for the shuttle, will be developed and tested. No later than the year 2020, humans will return to the Moon using the knowledge gained and the equipment placed by the robotic precursors. Returning to use the Moon's resources will enable us to build a space transportation infrastructure in lunar space. Such a system that allows routine access to the Moon and all points in between is a fundamental step forward in creating a true space-faring capability. A system that can routinely land on the Moon, refuel, and return to Earth orbit while bringing with it fuel and consumables produced on the lunar surface will give us the ability to journey to Mars and beyond.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Paving the Way to Human Exploration on Mars<br /><br /></span><span>Although the presidential vision did not set a deadline for the first human mission to Mars, it did affirm the continuation and extension of the existing robotic exploration program. Over the past decade, a robotic exploration strategy has been developed for Mars that emphasizes the characterization and history of water on the planet. A series of orbital and lander missions will offer increasingly sophisticated opportunities to trace the evolution and fate of water in martian geological history. Ground-penetrating radar can map the distribution of ground ice many yards below the surface. Drill holes can allow us access to the subsurface into which sensitive instruments can be lowered to measure and characterize the volatiles present. Spectrometers and other devices can determine surface and subsurface mineralogy, including the state and concentration of water-bearing objects.<br /><br />Long-range rovers, martian aircraft, balloons, and other vehicles can all return critical information on martian history and processes. Beyond the purely scientific areas of interest, we need to collect data on the surface conditions and environment of Mars in addition to possible toxicological hazards of the surface materials before any human landings. As with the robotic mission series that precedes human arrival on the Moon, the martian precursors will map the surface in detail, document landing hazards, measure the chemistry and physical properties of the surface, and determine the nature of potential chemical or biological hazards to human explorers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Andrew Colsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10808785830350833775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-52671909112338426102008-03-10T09:28:00.000+05:302008-03-10T09:29:46.675+05:30Shuttle Launch on TuesdaySTS-123/Endeavour<br />Launch Date: Mar. 11<br />Launch Time: 2:28 a.m. EDT<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-50324273708248888582008-02-20T09:06:00.001+05:302008-02-20T09:07:55.469+05:30Total Lunar EclipseOn Wednesday night, February 20th, the full Moon will turn a delightful shade of red and possibly turquoise, too. It's a total lunar eclipse—the last one until Dec. 2010. Sky watchers in Europe, the Americas, parts of the Middle East and Africa are favored for good views of the two-hour event.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-41864902390792596202008-02-03T02:15:00.000+05:302008-02-03T02:19:54.024+05:30Space Station Drops paper plane to the groundThe Japanese Space Agency intends to launch a paper aeroplane from orbit, and they expect it to reach the ground intact.<br /><br />The plane - about 20 cm in length - weighs less than 30 grams and is folded in the shape of a Space Shuttle. While searing re-entry temperatures can burn up large vehicles, Suzuki believes the small paper aircraft is well-suited for the descent.<br /><br />If it sounds a bit daft; they already tested it at Mach 7!<br /><br />Locating the plane after reentry could be a bit of a challenge. <a href="http://www.discoverychannel.ca/reports/article.aspx?aid=6514">Read more</a> about it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-69982536258466589512008-01-27T22:34:00.000+05:302008-01-27T22:36:24.081+05:30Farreys Home Products<p><span style="color:#666666;">Designing or furnishing your home or office from scratch? Then </span><a href="http://www.farreys.com/index.html"><span style="color:#666666;">Farrey</span></a><span style="color:#666666;"> is for you! 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Avail them today ! Their brands include -Ambience, Crystorama, Fine Art Lamps, Flos, Fontana Arte, Forecast, George Kovacs and many more. You name the brand and its there on the list. Volume purchase discounts are also available! </span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">Farrey promises you a safe online shopping experience. Farreys.com is currently only accepting orders for delivery to the United States and Canada. The vast payment options make the shopping experience easier and secure. They accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express through their online store. Discover the new amazing products at competitive prices only at </span><a href="http://www.farreys.com/bath/index.html"><span style="color:#666666;">Farreys</span></a><span style="color:#666666;"> !</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22666690.post-72536242909361899882008-01-07T20:55:00.000+05:302008-01-07T21:11:21.632+05:30Enjoy Coffee with KrupsYes. <a href="http://wize.com/coffee-makers/brand%21Krups">WIZE</a> is a huge website providing reviews and ratings by various users all around the globe based on their likings and product experience.<br /><br />This section of the website features <a href="http://wize.com/coffee-makers/brand%21Krups">Krups coffee makers</a>. Users have the option to sort the products by relevance, price and wizerank. The different coffe makers include <a href="http://wize.com/coffee-makers/brand%21Krups">FMF5 10-Cup Coffee Maker</a>, 888 Centro, DuoThek 324 20-Cup Coffee Maker etc. and many more.<br /><br />Customers can filter their results by price, type and capacity of the <a href="http://wize.com/coffee-makers/brand%21Krups">coffee maker</a>. Buyers also have the facility of asking questions related to the product and see previous questions asked by other customers. You can also find stuff by searching the brand and compare different products. It seems an excellent place to read about various products and make a good and wise decision before you make a purchase.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Exploreuniverse.com</div>Varun Khetarpalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01850811744100961347noreply@blogger.com1