ESA handed out contracts last week, with the usual suspects scooping up awards aimed at lunar exploration and beyond. The Register spoke to David Parker, ESA’s director of Human and Robotic Exploration, about the Moon, Mars and when Tim Peake would fly again.
NASA has hired Nokia to build a 4G network on the Moon, paying the telecoms manufacturer $14.1m to set up a communications system that will give astronauts voice, data, triangulation, and video-on-demand.
something is funny that the moon is going to be getting publicly funded ( and actually functional ) internet infrastructure before the us itself does.
actually… i wonder what kind of rates astronauts get. some sort of family plan? unlimited speeds for the first few gigs? and is it all considered roaming?
From the Nasa´s site:
Eyes on the Solar System lets you explore the planets, their moons, asteroids, comets and the spacecraft exploring them from 1950 to 2050. Ride with the Curiosity Rover as it lands on Mars or fly by Pluto with the New Horizons spacecraft all from the comfort of your home computer.
Using real trajectory data you can recreate famous moments in solar system exploration, or preview exciting adventures yet to come. Fly with the Voyager spacecraft on their grand voyage, orbit Mars with MAVEN, fly by a comet with Deep Impact or Stardust, and observe our home planet alongside the spacecraft that keep track of Earth’s climate.
Want a quick dose of exciting exploration? Try the ‘Simple’ mode of Eyes on the Solar System to explore exciting destinations and missions and learn about the people involved in making it all happen. Interested in more details? Eyes on the Solar System has modules that focus on specific places or missions. Recreate the New Horizons flyby of Pluto or learn about the Dawn spacecraft as it orbits Ceres.
All these experiences are available on a Mac or PC by downloading NASA’s Eyes.
You can also use it as a virtual orrery on your web browser, with real time data:
oh god… it’s finally hatching isn’t it?
Lego models of Voyager and other probes.
Interstellar overweight baggage.
Boooooom.
Dogs in Space 2120
Gluttony…
Next stop Moon.
