Details are sketchy, but it looks like the explosion centered around nitrous oxide storage tanks, leading to two fatalities and four serious injuries. A Scaled Composites truck was sighted near the blast. Scaled, maker of the first private craft to reach space, SpaceShipOne, is based at Mojave, and currently developing a larger spacecraft system for Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company owned by Richard Branson. Nitrous oxide is the liquid component of the rocket propellants used by SpaceShipOne’s hybrid rocket motor.
Two Killed After Nitrous Oxide Tanks Explode At Mojave Airport - News Story - KNBC | Los Angeles
“The Modern Moon: A Personal View” by Charles A. Wood
Published in 2003 by Sky Publishing Corp, it weighs in at 209 pages all in. No errors noted.
This was a recent acquisition to the Lunar Library, the result of a chance encounter at Half-Price Books. Flipping through it, I was immediately impressed with the variety of the information being displayed, and moved it up to the top of my to-read list. I’m glad I did. Mr. Wood has a long and distinguished background in Lunar science, and has contributed to many notable projects over the last several decades. He is best known now for his interview with Out of the Cradle, and also a little something known as the Lunar Photo of the Day (LPOD). He therefore brings a wealth of knowledge to this work, and what a work it is.
READ MORE…
Space Studies Board Committee on the Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences of the National Research Council of the National Academies
The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon
The National Academies Press
2007
ISBN: 0-309-10919-1
On-Line Text (pdf) (Requires Registration)
LPOD Mini-Review
Reynolds, Glenn Harlan
“Future of the Space Business: How Private Rocketeers Got Real”
Popular Mechanics
08/2007
On-Line Text
Librarian’s Note: A great story about the ISDC from the Instapundit
Launch Magazine
MM Publishing Inc.
Jul/Aug 2007
Publisher’s Web Site
Librarian’s Note: This issue features two stories from the 2007 ISDC, including the cover story. Lots of other good stories as well.
Moore, Stuart, illus. by Christopher Schons
“Earthlight”, Vol. 2
TOKYOPOP
07/03/2007
ISBN: 1-598-16706-1
Publisher’s Web Site
Out of the Cradle Review
Best of the Moon 2007 - Manga
Librarian’s Note: The next one in this series is supposed to be out in November, 2008.
READ MORE…
HUGG-A-PLANET® Earth & Moon
XTC Products, Inc.
2006
Publisher’s Web Site
Librarian’s Note: I can’t believe these came out last year and I didn’t see them. I’ve been a fan of these toys since I first saw them in NYC back in the late 90s. My nephews got the full set of Earth political, Earth geographical, Mars to scale and the Hugg-a-USA. I also donated a set of proportional Earth/Mars to the Frontiers of Flight museum for use in the play area, but they keep them under lock and key and use them for their educational programs instead. The political Earth in this set has an inside pocket that velcros closed.
The Moon is done in a combination of grey and a light pastel purple. Generally, the highlands are in purple, mare in grey. The sites of many historical missions are identified, as well as the craters of the Challenger 7. The naming of major features is a bit hit or miss, such as the Montes Cordillera & Montes Ro[o]k, but not the Mare Orientale of which they are a part. Aristarchus and Copernicus are there, but what about Tycho? Identifying the Aitken Basin would have been a good idea as well.
Of massive utility to educators, I’ll give this set a Full Moon.
Best of the Moon 2007 - Fun & Games
Espace Magazine #30
group Tiqap
Juillet/Août 2007
Publisher’s Web Site
Librarian’s Note: Another phenomenal issue. I’m especially happy with the Soyouz poster that came with it. It’s the kind of thing I can use the next time I put together a plastic model of the spacecraft so I can get the details correct.
Update: Clark Lindsey over at Hobbyspace.com has an article in this issue on “Livraison sur Orbite” which looks at the $485Mn “pari” on COTS. A very informative and well-illustrated article, and his French is pretty darn good too!
Weed, Speed
“High Dive”
Popular Science Magazine
07/2007
p. 52
On-line Text
Librarian’s Note: This looks like my kind of extreme vacation. Skydiving from 328,083 feet off a suborbital rocket. Achieving speeds of 2500 mph. WooooHoo! Talk about a 10 minute visceral experience that’s off the scale! I so want to do this!
