Picture-a black hole

The International Space Station

The International space station. A beautiful, spectacular and a fantasy of many sci-fi fans that came to life. The International space station cost 150 billion pounds and currently orbits in low Earth Orbit. It was announced by Ronald Reagan in 1998 in order to improve relations between the Russian government and the US. It started with two modules, from America and Russia docking, which some said was the bonds between these once sworn enemies being strengthened.

Soon the world joined in, Japan added a research module called Kibo. Russia and the US added 12 more modules and the final being constructed in 2010 to be used as an observatory.

The International Space Station has been manned for 13 years becoming the longest continuous prescence of Humans in space. It currently houses 6 crew members. The latest commander is Koichi Wakata the first Japanese commander of the ISS and again marks the strengthening of bonds between two once sworn
enemies.

The ISS is being funded until 2024 but will be functional until 2028 before being deorbited.

That's it for today, a long post, I hope you enjoyed and remember to vote on the poll on which subject to do next!

Picture- The ISS

A 150 billion pounds project which brought the sci-fi
ideas of a space station to fruition!

Sputnik

So I haven't posted in a while and I think it's about time that I do again. So what is Sputnik? Sputnik is the first man made object ever sent to space. This kicked off the space race between Russia and the USA but that is for another day. Sputnik as you saw on the picture is a Russian satellite. It had a metal ball and then 4 radio antenna's protruding out of it. Launched in 1957 this "cute" satellite was only 58 cm (22 inches) in diameter. It was used to broadcast from space as amateur and professional broadcasters listening in from across the world. The signals lasted for 22 days before it burnt up in re-entry after 3 months in low earth elliptical orbit.

A picture of Sputnik in orbit

The probe was launched by a general rocket propulsion system before being detached, as said before, in low Earth orbit.

So that's it for today, I will post the picture of the day. The satellite topic is nearly over, I'd say about four or five satellites (possibly more) I will also put a poll up for people to pick what topic next. There will be three options- The space race, Apollo missions or Particles in space ( if particles wins make sure to check the particle series I did previously. So I will post tomorrow and remember to comment on any mistakes or suggestions.

Picture-Another clue!

The Christmas bauble of space!
Not really, its just a
clue to the next
post

The James Webb Telescope

The James Webb telescope (named after the former NASA administrator) is a space telescope to be launched in 2018. It will replace the Hubble telescope.

The James Webb telescope has cutting edge technology equipped and a space dock to hold shipments of supplies or astronauts. It mainly uses infrared and with this technology it will be able to see forming stars look into the early universe. At the moment, NASA in running the project but other companies such as the
European space agency are also contributing. It was announced in 2008 and when launched, will be operated by huge numbers of astronomers.

That is it for today. Remember to check out the Youtube channel:http://www.youtube.com/user/videogamethemetunes

Picture-Space debris

A concern for many Astronomers and Environmentalists

Hubble telescope

Now the Hubble telescope is a brilliant telescope that has provided the most beautiful pictures, including the picture on the home page.  It was launched into low orbit by a space shuttle in 1990, however it was supposed to be launched in 1983 but could not find enough funding and there were some technology malfunctions. It will be in service until 2018 where the James Webb telescope will replace it.

The Hubble space telescope

The Hubble telescope has been fundamental to Astrophysics like helping Astronomers to work out the universe is expanding and more recently, dark energy. Its light spectrum goes from near Infrared to visible to near ultraviolet. During its lifetime, it has had many parts fixed, replaced and added. It had also had many small spacecrafts dock at it as well. Overall, it has cost a whopping 2.5 billion dollars to build and maintain. It is the second most expensive object to be put in space, the first being the international space station which  costs a huge amount of 150 billion dollars!

Well this is it for today. I hope you enjoyed it and check back tomorrow. Also check out the Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/videogamethemetunes

Picture-A clue!

Just a clue for the next post!

Voyager 2

Sorry I've been away... no excuses. Anyway I'm back and be sure to check out the new universe daily youtube channel. I will post the URL at the end.

Voyager 2 was an unmanned spacecraft that was sent into space in 1977. Its mission was to study the outer solar system and then interstellar space. It carries a gold disc should it ever be found by intelligent life and it contains photos of Earth and its lifeforms and a medley of the Earth containing many natural noises such as a whale song, a crying baby etc. Voyager 2 is now moving at 15,428 km/s. It was disbanded in 1989, however it still sends transmissions and scientists still locate where about it is.

Ok guys that is it for today. The youtube channel url is https://www.youtube.com/user/videogamethemetunes

Picture-Martian rock

Pioneer 10 and 11

Pioneer 10 was launched in 1972 to go to Jupiter, while pioneer 11 was launched a year later in the same direction. They were both launched from a Atlas/centaur/TE364-4 launch vehicle.

Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to take pictures of Jupiter, along with other measurements such as magnetic field and radiation. It travels at 82,000 miles per hour. It was also the first spacecraft to go through the asteroid belt, which back then was an incredible achievement. Pioneer 10 was ended in 1997, but it surpassed Pluto's orbit, which means it could be outside the solar system!

Not much is known about pioneer 11, which is unfortunate, but it was shut down in 1995 when it broke.

picture-All the galaxy clusters

Voyager 1

This year, Voyager 1 was the first man-made space craft to exit the solar system after 36 years of travelling at sixty five thousand kilometers per second!. It was launched in September 1977 and has taken photographs of the outer planets, many of which we see today. These include, the first photo of Neptune and Uranus.

Voyager 1 is equipped with a gold plate, with a phonograph, explaining the diversity of life on Earth.

This is the new topic-satellites and voyagers. Check in tomorrow for pioneer 10 and 11. Also string theory will come later on, its just really hard to get a grasp of.

Picture-Orion Constellation

blue and red stars are orion

Theory-nothing exists

This is not really to do with space, but it can tie into it. The theory states that nothing exists (also know as solipsism), and everything is an illusion, apart from you and your mind. A famous philosopher, Rene Descartes said "I think, therefore I am" which meant he existed. The external world, others, even if it does exist, cannot be known. Which could mean, this blog is an illusion, and the universe, but you are you.

O.K. This is getting too deep, if it went any deeper, we'd hit the core! I might not post tomorrow, but it depends on the circumstances. See you!

Picture-The sky in 4 billion years

When Andromeda collides with us, we'll see this!

Theory- Multi-verse theory

Brian and Stewie in a disney
universe

This is my favourite theory. You might have seen this in Family Guy, but it actually is a real theory!

It states that there are infinite universes other than the one we live in. It also says that everyone is different in the tiniest way to the largest way possible, for example, the world could be made out of chocolate or pizza (big) or my computer screen is one inch wider (small).

Another small post! The smaller than usual posts are just a build up to string theory... the theory of modern physics, it will be in two parts and may take a while to be posted, so while you wait, put in suggestions for other theories.

Picture-Hubble deep field

Universe daily's cover photo. Each light is a galaxy!

Theory- life on Europa?

Again this will be quite shorter than the other posts because its quite short, however I might go on about the possibility that there was life on mars, so without further-a-do, lets go.

Jupiter's moon, Europa

Europa is one of Jupiter's moons. It is thought there is a ocean underneath its icy surface heated by volcanoes underwater. This was thought when sulphur traces were found on it's moon. Europa also emitted infrared signal which could mean that frozen bacteria is on its surface, many scientists believe this is why Europa has a red tinge in it's surface.

Mars has been thought to have once had life on it, furthermore some scientists claim life came from Mars to Earth. Past rovers on Mars have discovered smoothed down rock, meaning water eroded away to make a river bed. Mars also has ice caps just like Earth, astronomers think that if they drill down into ice, they may find preserved bacteria!

That's today's theory, post suggestions on the one for tomorrow. See you!