Jalopnik: Spacelopnik

This Swiss Satellite Is Like A Roomba For Space

Patrick Frawley — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Space junk is a serious if little-appreciated problem. Dead satellites, spent booster rockets, and other orbiting technical garbage place active satellites and manned craft in significant peril. In a culturally appropriate effort, the Swiss Space Center is launching the CleanSpace program to tidy up low-earth orbit. More »

Red Bull Set To Break 52-Year-Old Space Jump Record

Peter Orosz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST

When Air Force pilot Joe Kittinger jumped out of a ballon gondola from 102,800 feet in August 1960, he set four aerospace records which stand to this day. Red Bull and a mad Austrian skydiver are about to break them. And Kittinger is on board. More »

How To Fly A Soyuz Space Capsule

Jason Torchinsky — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

Here's the situation: You wake up, dazed, and find yourself floating weightlessly in the cramped confines of a Soyuz orbital module, possibly the victim of a prank by wealthy, well-connected friends — or maybe some espionage plot. Maybe you owe money to some powerful Russians. Who knows — maybe you even planned it. Whatever the reason, you're there, and now you need to take charge of the situation. I'm here to help. Here's how to fly it. More »

Two Teens Sent This Lego Man 15 Miles Into Space For $500

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

As an attempt to bolster the pride of a nation still devastated from the Cola Wars, a pair of 17-year-old Canadian high school students decided to record their launch of a Lego minifig into space. As this video shows, they were successful. All it took was a few months work and about $500. More »

A Secret Trip Inside A Russian Rocket Factory

Peter Orosz — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:30:00 EST

Russian blogger and photographer Lana Sator has taken urban exploring to its rather frightening apogee when she sneaked inside the NPO Energomash factory, which makes liquid-propellant rocket engines near the Khimki Forest outside Moscow, and made her way to the top and the bottom of the abandoned-looking facility. More »

In the future, we will travel through space at 120 mph!

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST

The year 1918 doesn't seem all that far away, all things considered. And yet, futurists of the time thought some day we'd be traveling through space at the "terrific" speed of two miles a minute. That's 120 mph. To the moon in 83 days? Preposterous! More »

The first US–Soviet space rendezvous looked very pretty

Peter Orosz — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EDT

It took 14 years after the start of manned space exploration for an American and a Soviet spaceship to hook up, and this was the Soyuz rocket which delivered the Soviet half of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in 1974. More »

Iran can't even put a monkey in space

Justin Hyde — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EDT

First, Iran elects a president whose sense of style begins and ends at Members Only jackets. Then, some operative tries to hire a washed-out used car dealer to assassinate a Saudi Arabian ambassador in the United States. And now Iran's attempt to put a monkey in space failed. More »

A haunting reminder of the decline of manned space exploration

Peter Orosz — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EDT

With glorious Moon rockets turning into low Earth orbit space trucks turning into one last trail of ionized air, what is there to say about the US manned space program other than Astronaut Suicides, a photographic series by Sara Phillips, Neil Dacosta and Saskia Thomson. In images which alternate between terrible subtlety and shocking violence, they show how far we have come from the glory days of the Mercury Seven. More »

This is proof we landed on the moon

Justin Hyde — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:55:00 EDT

New photos released by NASA today are the sharpest ever taken of the Apollo landing sites on the moon, showing the parked lunar rover and the tracks it made. It even shows the research equipment and the footpaths of Apollo astronauts four decades on. Any doubters left? More »

Spectacular photo of Shuttle's return taken from Space Station

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EDT

This remarkable image of the Space Shuttle Atlantis returning home after its final mission was taken by the crew aboard the International Space Station, proving that sometimes the best view comes from the saps in the nosebleed seats. (Photo Credit: @Nasa_Johnson More »

Yuri Gagarin drove around London in this Rolls with YG 1 plates

Peter Orosz — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EDT

Fifty years ago on this day, three months after he became the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin was welcomed in London for a parade where he was given a Rolls–Royce bearing the plates YG 1 to drive. More »

Behind the scenes of the final Space Shuttle launch

George Hatcher — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EDT

The very last Space Shuttle launch is scheduled for this weekend. To the men and women responsible for watching every detail what seems like a quick deal is more like an eternity. NASA Navigation and Flights Control Engineer George W. Hatcher describes those final moments. — Ed. More »

Meet "Curiosity," NASA's new nuclear-powered Mars rover

Justin Hyde — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EDT

This fall, Nasa will launch its latest Mars rover dubbed "Curiosity" to further the Red Planet exploration done by Spirit and Opportunity. The differences? This one is the size of a compact car, shoots lasers and runs on nuclear power. More »

Fly 131,000 feet over Los Angeles in a styrofoam box

Justin Hyde — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EDT

Colin Rich builds mini-spaceships out of styrofoam, foil, modified off-the-shelf cameras and weather ballons that carry them to the edge of space. For his third craft, the payload included sensors to measure radiation from Fukushima and pollution. It's hipster NASA. More »

This is the new "Space Shuttle"

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:30:00 EDT

With the final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and only one more launch before the program is retired, NASA officially announced the shuttle's replacement today: the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). How uninspiring of a name is that? More »

The two most amazing shots of the shuttle Endeavour

Justin Hyde — Mon, 16 May 2011 13:45:00 EDT

Today's final launch of the space shuttle Endeavour was remarkable for several reasons, a minor one being that NASA launched with low-hanging clouds over Cape Canaveral — leading to a remarkable photo from a Delta airline passenger. More »

Second-to-last Space Shuttle launch in T-9 minutes

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:47:00 EDT

The Space Shuttle Endeavour launches for the last time in what is the second-to-last shuttle mission. We're T-9 minutes as of publishing this, watch it live here. More »

Why America's first astronauts all drove Corvettes

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:15:00 EDT

Alan Shepard showed up to space training in 1959 driving his '57 Chevy Corvette. After becoming the first American in space 50 years ago this very day, GM handed over the keys to a special 1962 Corvette as thanks for his bravery. And thus began a love affair between Astronauts and Corvettes. More »

Distracted driving group fears launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EDT

A company calling itself Advocate Auto Consultants says they're afraid this week's Endeavour space shuttle launch will cause drivers to look away from the road and crash. First, you're morons. Second, Floridians never need an excuse to crash. More »

The Mole and the Car: Automotive dreams from behind the Iron Curtain

Peter Orosz — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EDT

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In 1954, the Czech cartoonist Zdeněk Miler was tasked with creating educational films about the merits of Communist industry. Miler subverted the project to create Krtek (The Mole), and showed children behind the Iron Curtain the wonders of American cars, rockets, and skyscrapers. Not in vain: this Friday, Miler’s creation will ascend to low Earth orbit aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. More »

Space Shuttle Discovery's final ascent in entrancing HD

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST

Space Shuttle mission STS-133's not even back on Earth yet, but our friends at NASA have already edited together this amazing HD video of Discovery's last takeoff and orbit before retirement. It's simply amazing. More »

The Soviet space shuttle's final ride

Justin Hyde — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

For nearly two decades, the Soviet Union attempted to beat the United States in the space race with its own fleet of space shuttles. Here's the story of the final Soviet shuttle's last ride. More »

How the Strongest US Rocket Compares to a Heavy Duty Pickup Truck

Ray Wert — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:30:00 EST

PickupTrucks.com has put together the heaviest comparison of all time, pitting a Delta IV, the ULA's largest rocket, against a Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup. Although the pickup wins the 0-to-60 contest, that's about all it wins. Astounding infoporn below. More »

How To Tow A Top Secret Spy Plane With A Pickup Truck

Ray Wert — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST

You may need a dually to tow a secret X37-B spy plane, but you certainly don't need a diesel engine. Or anything from the past ten years. God, I love heavy duty pickup trucks — tugging spy planes. [PickupTrucks.com] More »

That's a Lot of Rockets

Peter Orosz — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST

This is an illustration from physics professor Peter Alway's 1995 book Rockets of the World. That little black-and-yellow smudge in the second row, that's the V–2. Hit the jump for mega-size. More »

A Space Shuttle Launch In Amazing HD Slow Motion

Matt Hardigree — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST

This video is an amazingly detailed close-up of three Space Shuttle launches tracked by multiple cameras shooting at 60,000 frames-per-second. What we view in a couple of minutes is stretched to 45 minutes of glorious high definition slow motion. More »

Air Force's Unmanned Space Plane Comes Back To Earth

Justin Hyde — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

The U.S. Air Force's X-37b unmanned space shuttle landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California today following 220 days in orbit, touching down in darkness. Its mission? "Experimentation." Next one launches in spring. More »

Space Shuttle Liftoff Is Like The World's Largest Burnout

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST

Atlantis creates an earth-enveloping cloud of smoke unmatched by any hot rod during its November launch last year, as captured by Orlando Sentinel photographer Red Huber for his monthly calendaer wallpaper series. Download the wallpaper-res version here. [via @ToastForBrekkie] More »

America's Largest Rocket Fires World's Largest Spy Satellite Into Orbit

Ray Wert — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

America's biggest unmanned rocket, the Delta 4 Heavy, is shown here roaring into space Sunday. It's carrying a secret spy satellite for the United States into orbit that one official touts as "the world's largest." More »

These Are The Blueprints For The Millennium Falcon

Ray Wert — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST

Not a single Bothan died to get us this blueprint of the Millennium Falcon. Take that Leia. Also, please note that Han lied. Those hidden smuggler compartments? They are totally on the blueprints. OK, sorry, back to the car geekery. More »

NASA Wants A “100-Year Starship”

Wes Siler — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EDT

It may sound like science fiction, but after a loose-lipped scientist revealed a NASA/DARPA program to colonize other planets, NASA has confirmed. Some day, your great grandchildren might be driving cars on Mars. More »

"Sorry About Your Field, Comrade"

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:45:00 EDT

A photo from 2007 showing a cosmonaut enjoying a "relaxing afternoon" in a field next to his Soyuz capsule after missing his planned landing spot by 43 miles. Think you can come up with a better caption? [via EnglishRussia] More »

Richard Branson's Spaceport Is Actually Being Built

Ray Wert — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:30:00 EDT

Later today, flamboyant British multi-millionaire Richard Branson will commemorate the completion of the main runway of Spaceport America, near the town of Las Cruces, New Mexico, where the Virgin Galactic project is based. Here's a look before Branson's big bash. More »

"As A Kid This Was The Only Van We Wanted To Ride In"

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Commenter Rusty Van Horn explaining how the (pictured) 1983 Airstream Excella "Astrovan" is the transportation he coveted when he was younger. We'll take the shuttle too. Photo Credit: Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images More »

Ridin' That Train, High On Refined Petroleum

Ray Wert — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:30:00 EDT

I've always been told not to worry because it's not the size of a rocket that matters. Then I saw this and realized that yes, yes it is what matters. More on my own inadequacy below. More »

Inside The Soviet's Secret Failed Moon Program

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EDT

The Soviet lunar program was covered up, forgotten after failing to put a man on the moon. These rare photos from a lab inside the Moscow Aviation Institute show a junkyard of rarely-seen spacecraft, including a never-to-be-used Russian lunar lander. More »

UFO Sightings Reported Near Nuclear Missile Sites

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:50:00 EDT

Apparently, aliens spied on nuclear missile sites before discovering rural Arizona was way more strange. More »

Yeah, But Will it Out-Accelerate a Saturn V?

Peter Orosz — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EDT

If we were living in the golden age instead of the shoeless age of air travel, airline posters would look like this prop plane passing in front of the Moon. More »

Face to Face With NASA's Lunar Rover Vehicle

Peter Orosz — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EDT

It makes one horsepower. It’s the only car that’s ever been driven beyond Earth. The moon buggy was one of many great moments in Hungarian-American engineering and, for a day, it showed up in Budapest. More »