Lunar Rover Prototype in Inaugural Parade

lunarelectricrover NASA’s next generation lunar rover—designed to take 2 astronauts on a two week journey across the moon’s surface—will travel the route of incoming President Obama’s inaugural parade.

The vehicle is a prototype. The new Lunar Electric Rover won’t be ready for years. Unlike the original Apollo-era rovers, the LER will be big—the size of a pickup truck—and will include beds and a toilet.

In any case, I’m sure that NASA really hopes Obama likes the new rover—enough to continue funding the Constellation program and a new moonlanding by 2020.

In the meantime, NASA’s website offers an interactive view of the LER.

Smaller crews for NASA’s new spacecraft?

Reportedly, NASA will be removing 2 seats from the new Orion spacecraft, leaving it with the ability to bring only 4 astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). In short, because the ISS will hold a crew of 6, Orion will be unable to fully rotate a crew. Could still be used for 6 person [...]

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A History of Corned Beef in Space

Gus Grissom was hungry. Unfortunately, the commander of the Gemini 3 spacecraft was not scheduled to eat. In fact, there was little food aboard for this brief test flight. And none of the food was for Gus. His crewmate, John Young, did have food. He was assigned that horrible early space food that you eat [...]

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Emerging spaceports

New Mexico’s “Spaceport America” had a successful launch last week. And now Hawaii is looking to get its own spaceport. Because of the budget crisis, the state’s governor, Linda Lingle, may decide not to release the $500,000 required to get a spaceport license. Or, in order to promote her state in the growing private space [...]

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Lunar Rover Prototype in Inaugural Parade

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Smaller crews for NASA’s new spacecraft?

A History of Corned Beef in Space

Emerging spaceports