Category Archives: Space

Space habitats

From Cosmos magazine:

Australian-led scientists have designed a new space habitat that might one day allow astronauts on the Moon or Mars to be 90 to 95 per cent self-sufficient.

The development of such as system could save billions of dollars in shuttle trips to re-supply lunar or space colonies and brings closer the vision of a human habitat on Mars.

The technology could also have applications on Earth to develop more sustainable farming techniques and improve recycling processes.

The astronauts — the current design is for 12 people living within the system for three years — would subsist on a largely vegetarian diet as they would be able to grow things like peanuts, wheat and tomatoes. Algae would help provide oxygen, although 100% self-sufficiency is impossible due to micro leaks and such.

It will be at least 20 if not 30 years before this technology is realised, but will be key to the settlement of the moon, Mars and elsewhere.

Space money

Foreign exchange firm Travelex has introduced a currency for interstellar commerce.

From the press release:

It is the first currency of its kind in the universe and has been developed in partnership with a team of scientists from the National Space Centre and the University of Leicester.

They clearly have the inside track if they can be so sure it’s the “first of its kind in the universe”, but it’s fun all the same. 🙂

The Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination (QUID — slang for money in Britain and Ireland) is made from plastic and has no sharp edges, which would be lethal in a zero-g environment. Each features the solar system: eight planets around a central sun (poor Pluto; I and more than one million other have not forgotten you).

Here they be:

One quid is worth €8.68, $12.50 or £6.25, with the different colours having different values. The company is planning ahead for when space tourism is commonplace — it has applied to set up the first bureau de change on the moon.

Links o' the day

O’Dea denies offering to fight in pub row. Said offer was allegedly declined because of the minister’s short stature. The latest screw-up from Wonder Willie the Great Defence Minister, his most prominent being posing with a pistol. (Irish Examiner)

Toy manufacture in China. The hands that make the dolls you pay too much for. (Mazm, via Crooked Timber)

13 scifi mental illnesses. I think I suffer from vacuuphobia. I’m not the only one… am I? (SciFiChick.com)

Group renames asteroid for George Takei. Sulu is an asteroid! (MSNBC)

Mary-Kate Olsen is seven lattes tall. She does not look well. (UnaRocks)

Last survivor of the War of Independence dies at 105. I hope I don’t get fired for linking to this. (The Irish Times)

Single case could reignite ebola epidemic in DRCongo: WHO. We never seem to catch a break. (AFP)