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Showing posts from May, 2011

Break up NASA?

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The only scientist to ever to step foot on another world has made the bold suggestion that NASA should be dismantled.  In its place, Dr. Harrison "Jack" Schmitt has proposed the creation of a new agency called the National Space Exploration Administration (NSEA), which would focus solely on the exploration of deep space.  NASA's research and development activities would be peeled off and given to NOAA , NSF , and NACA , the latter of which would be revived to handle aeronautical research.  Dr. Schmitt offered the following mission for the new NSEA: "Provide the People of the United States of America, as national security and economic interests demand, with the necessary infrastructure, entrepreneurial partnerships, and human and robotic operational capability to settle the Moon, utilize lunar resources, scientifically explore and settle Mars and other deep space destinations, and, if necessary, divert significant Earth-impacting objects." I admit that this

Jetman crosses the Grand Canyon

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Every since he developed his personal jet pack and made headlines crossing the English Channel , the "Jetman" Yvess Rossy has captured my attention. Over the decades, many have tried to create jet packs to fulfill our collective desire for personal flight freedom, but the Jetman has come closest to making that dream happen. Rossy made worldwide headlines again this week by successfully completing a spellbinding 8-minute flight 200 feet above the Grand Canyon at speeds up to 190 miles per hour. Check out the video courtesy the AOPA below.  You can read more about his canyon-crossing crusade from the AOPA , Popular Science and the Washington Post .