[[ b.r.e.t.o.r.i.u.m ]]

Robert A. Heinlein Centennial 07/07/07

bret — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:07:32 +0000

This weekend is the Heinlein Centennial, commemorating what would have been his 100th birthday.

Robert A. Heinlein’s wikipedia entry.
List of works by Robert Heinlein.

Robert and Virginia on the set of Destination Moon

The Potential for Fungal Life in the Asteroid Belt

bret — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:51:41 +0000

Something I push on now and then is the literal interpretation of the 1950’s “Life in Outer Space” Here I’d like to talk about recent findings about (dark, dusty) fungus, and correlate them to the specific albedos (measurment of shiny or dull) of asteroids.

Certain asteroids are very dark and dusty. Certain fungi that greatly enjoy high levels of radiation are very dark and dusty. Given that the high melanin levels make the fungus even darker, I think we could soon stop saying “soot” and start saying “life”.

>> Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi

>> Asteroid albedos: graphs of data (from IRAS)

Be sure to note the density of ~3AU that is beneath .2e (!)

I would like to further add: the second graph, starting just over 2 astronomical units, and going to just past 3, could be indicative of preferential advantage gaining activity based on asteroid composition, factors such as pH or specific mineral content. I’m not saying predation, just preferencial activity.

>> Dawn mission homepage at Nasa.gov

PixelNation4 at the Huret & Spector Gallery - Updates!

bret — Thu, 10 May 2007 19:02:58 +0000

Project X - Inverse Game Design

Follow this link to view my work appearing in PixelNation4

A few new pics…

bret — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:33:59 +0000

I have added two images to the photography section.

Another Ice Season Ends…

bret — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:32:47 +0000

The end came quickly for our ice-covered body last week. One rainstorm later and we’re back to raucous waves and starting a healthy Spring Turnover.

Speaking of which, the underwater ice probe/camera/etc tests have come to a halt for the year, or at least until perhaps December. I will post the footage here when I get some time to compress what I’ve taken so far.

One step closer to 24/7 access to our lakeside biome. Interfaces between different environments always make for the most interesting observations - they are where most of life’s activity takes place, where there is most advantage to be gained. Where water, land and air meet is chock full of diversity!

Piece of Discovery’s external tank at ET separation, or ?

bret — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 02:11:37 +0000

Not sure what this was that came off Discovery’s external tank during external tank separation, and the strut seems to block the view. Sorry for the moire pattern, I am pulling this off screen to save time, may get a better d/l from the source later -this was fastest.

Here is the clip

Anousheh Ansari, Space Explorer, Blogs from Earth Orbit

bret — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 13:46:43 +0000

a safe return: 29 September 2006: the crew takes Ð¥Ð»ÐµÐ± Ð¸ ÑÐ¾Ð»ÑŒ.

Anousheh Ansari is a successful Iranian-born American entrepreneur whose family provided the backing for the Ansari X-Prize. Anousheh is currently on-orbit in the International Space Station, and maintaining a blog with a slogan that states “Imagine. Inspire. Be The Change.” What a great opportunity to share between communities of interest in this person’s adventure, while bringing together politically diverse people.

My understanding is that she is also making contact to amateur HAMs around the globe. ~~I will update with that info shortly.~~

The downlink is 145.800 Mhz, and her call sign is RS0ISS
The uplink is 437.800 Mhz

More info is available at:

ARRL website “Success Tips for Using the ISS Voice Repeater
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2004/10/06/1/?nc=1

http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm
http://www.issfanclub.com/node/5440

A sound file on her pass over Iran is also available:
http://home.twin.at/swl-chmy/Downloads/Frau_Ansari_via_RS0ISS.wav

Things that go beep in the night.

bret — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:48:49 +0000

It’s starting to get cold. Time to start DXing again!The cool night air reduces moisture. This helps with optical astronomy as well.What is DXing? Simply put, DXing is the reception of distant transmissions. It comes from the radio broadcast abbreviations for transmit, tx and receive, rx. For me, it is about receiving space-based transmissions from manned and unmanned vehicles, in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or beyond.

Is There Anybody Out There?
DXing is a relatively inexpensive hobby, that I find fascinating. An antenna of the right configuration and a radio scanner is all you need to get started. Below I have added links to a bunch of resources related to DX, including the Amateur Deep Space Network - a great group that is very informative.
I joined last year, and have learned a great deal, even just sitting and listening. To the group I mean.

Aurora Borealis, Lakeville MA

bret — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:43:35 +0000

Aurora Borealis on October 31st, 2003

bret — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 01:52:06 +0000

SOFTWARE UPDATE - This server software ~~is about to be~~ was swapped out with something less processor intensive. I have completed the install 8/1 and anticipate having the configuration done in the next day or so. THANKS for your patience!

Actually legible in browsers that recognize the PNG format, such as Mozilla and Safari. announcement: The “Intel Optimizers” have struck again. LingoSpaceExplorer has a bug on WinXP in browsers, but will run in Director. Project X RPG has its normal amount of personality, with full feature in the download version, and many capacities in the online version. (12/13/05)This site is almost completely up again, while I build out other components, pieces and parts. After a brief hiatus I am working on Inverse Game Design and Project X again, and look forward to a posting in the new year. I will be re-adding the photography page without Coppermine CMS as well since it has quirked itself out of utility. ~Bret