Lunar News Network

NASA Spin-Offs

The Political Action For Space blog notes a new feature on the NASA website which highlights all the spin-off benefits that we have earned over the years by funding NASA. So, the next time someone asks what we get out of funding space exploration, you will have a ready answer.

Gravity Pills?

The Colony Worlds blog notes advances in treating the physiological effects of low-gravity environments (New Drug May Help Counter Muscle Loss From Micro Gravity). This is important, since prolonged exposure to low-gravity environments has a detrimental effect on bones and muscles and will therefore be a medical issue for the lunar colonists, as they will have to acclimate to 1/6 of Earth's gravity.

Space Democrats

Space Democrats is a discussion forum with the stated mission of "defining, advocating and enacting a progressive U.S. space policy." HT: Cosmic Log

Orbit vs. Ocean

Over at Tech_Space, Angela Gunn has some Deep thoughts on exploration and suggests that instead of looking up for exploration targets, we should look down to the watery depths. Angela, luv ya, but I'm not persuaded.

Political Action for Space

I'd like to welcome Political Action for Space to the blogroll. I'm impressed with the efforts of this blogger to cover the intersection of presidential electioneering and space exploration issues. The blog offers helpful links to allow you to quickly contact your favorite candidates, as well as links to current legislation of interest to the space exploration community. It's one-stop-shopping for the politically minded space advocate. In the latest post, he notes that Barack Obama has repeated his plans to cut NASA funding. Well, that's one way to lose my vote.

Best of the Moon 2007

Thank you to Ken who pointed me to Out of the Cradle's look back at the Best of the Moon 2007:

While the mainstream is focused on continuing to look backwards at Apollo, with several documentaries and a number of books now gracing the shelves of major bookstores, out in the margins, on the creative fringe, there are appearing any number of new and different ways of looking at our Moon, and many of the winners this year reflect the need for forward-looking thinking. So without further ado lets get some of the miscellaneous categories in the Lunar Library out of the way before getting to the main event - the Best of the Moon 2007.

Carnival of Space

Henry Cate has posted a Carnival of Space with a wide assortment of links related to space exploration and settlement. HT: MarsBlog

Lunar Library

One of the nice things about running a website like this is the community that develops among the space exploration community. The administrator of the Out of the Cradle website contacted me about his new Lunar Library and I recommend it to you as a resource for all things lunar:

Out of the Cradle is proud to introduce its newest feature, the Lunar Library v2.0! This unique resource provides a wealth of information for those interested in learning more about our neighbor in space. From the issues facing Moonbases, to the science of the soil, to the role of the Moon in our culture and history and more.

Ken, best of luck with this, it looks like a great resource.

Science Blogs

Spring fever and an academic conference have taken a toll on my blogging, as you may have noticed, but I do hope to get back to it now, at least an occasional post now and then as time permits. Here is a link that reflects my interest in education and science. LiveScience has created LiveScienceBlogs, which they hope will be an informative and interactive way for members to tell them what they think as well as to participate in the quest for knowledge. They have one blog category devoted to space and astronomy and they plan to invite guest bloggers from the scientific community to participate in all the blogs. It should be a good source for science news and commentary.

Titan Calling

The Huygens probe has fallen into Titan's murky atmosphere and landed safely and is expected to transmit the first images from the surface soon (Reuters - European Space Probe Calls Home from Titan). For up to the minute info, see the ESS website, the NASA Cassini-Huygens site, and don't forget the usual suspects in the blogging world, including Brent Rasmussen over at Unscrewing The Inscrutable, who is offering frequent updates starting 3 - 4 AM EST Friday.