Can we overcome our preconceptions about extraterrestrial life? Kathleen Toerpe thinks the answer is yes, for we're moving from the era of ill-informed jokes about 'little green men' to a widening appreciation of our place in the cosmos. Dr. Toerpe is the Deputy CEO...
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Interstellar Conferences for 2014
2014 isn't nearly as top-heavy with interstellar conferences as the year before, but we do have two to discuss this morning, both of them slated for fall in North America. Looking through the preliminary information, I'm remembering how many good sessions grew out of...
Spacecraft and Their Messages
Just over 8300 people have now signed the petition supporting the New Horizons Message Initiative. The approach of the 10,000 figure reminds me to jog those who haven't to stop by the site to sign the petition. For those not yet aware of the NHMI, the idea is to...
Astrosociology: The Human Dimension of Outer Space
Kathleen Toerpe, PhD, is a social and cultural historian who researches the human dimension of outer space through an emerging field called "astrosociology." She is the Deputy CEO for Public Outreach and Education with the Astrosociology Research Institute, volunteers...
Starship Century, Part Two
Adam Crowl concludes his discussion of the recent Starship Century conference in San Diego. Videos from the session are now becoming available online. by Adam Crowl Lunch at the Starship Century Symposium was provided by UCSD, allowing attendees to remain nearby,...
Wrapping Up the Houston Starship
Because I utterly lack their skills, I have huge admiration for practical-minded people who can organize things well. Eric Davis’ work as track chair for the ‘Time and Distance Solutions’ track in Houston is a case in point. The challenge is in coping with a key fact...
The Psychology of Space Exploration: A Review
By Larry Klaes A new book looking at the inner lives of astronauts is Larry Klaes' subject today. Planning for long-term missions like a manned trip to Mars requires a great deal of work on closed systems, as we've recently discussed. But we also have to consider the...
IceHunters.org: Probing for KBOs
New Horizons' encounter with Pluto/Charon in 2015 is eagerly anticipated, but let's not forget that the spacecraft will be operational afterwards as it moves deeper into the Kuiper Belt. Fuel will be tight, but there should be enough available for one and possibly a...
Reaching Starward: Faces from Earth
by Larry Klaes Faces from Earth is an ambitious plan to send information about our species to the stars. We've done this before, in the form of the plaques mounted on the Pioneer spacecraft and the famous Golden Record of Voyager. What more can we do to ensure that...
Tau Zero Foundation
by Marc G. Millis Marc Millis, former head of NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program and founding architect of the Tau Zero Foundation, now gives us a look at the Foundation's current status and his thoughts on where it's going. To those who have been waiting...