Collage Delle Ultime Foto Dalla Sonda Cassini, Negli Ultimi Passaggi Ravvicinati Prima Del Fatidico Grand

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, illustrated in the Houston Post, July 21, 1969.

Quanti di voi sapevano che, sulla parte anteriore della coscia destra della tuta EMU degli astronauti delle missioni Apollo, ci fosse una specie di finestrella pensata appositamente per praticare iniezioni d’emergenza?

Si chiamava Biomedical Injection Patch ed era un disco di silicone attraverso il quale l’astronauta poteva iniettarsi farmaci in emergenza tramite delle siringhe automatiche a penna: il setto di silicone (non visibile nel riquadro perché nascosto da uno strato di tessuto) permetteva di non depressurizzare la tuta perché subito dopo la puntura ritorna elasticamente alla forma iniziale. Il funzionamento è simile a quello degli attuali port-a-cath utilizzati nella chemioterapia, dispositivi che hanno cominciato a diffondersi nei primi anni ’80 e che non mi stupirebbe scoprire che si ispirano a quelli progettati dalla NASA.

Nel kit, vi erano adrenalina e antivertiginosi (e qualcuno sostiene che vi era anche del cianuro, per eutanasie d'emergenza, nel caso qualcosa fosse andato storto).

Image Credits: NASA, Paul Calle Sources: Chi ha paura del buio? https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/A14ShepardFlownSuit.html https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20130011327.pdf http://history.nasa.gov/SP-368/s6ch6.htm

“If we adopt the same collaborative mindset and practices that got to the moon and back, and that built the International Space Station, we can alleviate poverty—and do much more.”

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Ron Garan, The Orbital Perspective: Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles

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Graphic - Jeremy Geddes

https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/toolbox/multiwavelength2.html

November 5, 2007 – The Space Shuttle Discovery floats high above our lovely Earth, observed from the International Space Station.

(NASA)

The art of Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986)

Solar System: Things to Know This Week

10 Tools for the Armchair Astronaut, or  How to Explore the Solar System from Home

At this very moment, spacecraft are surveying the solar system, from Mars, to Saturn, to Pluto and beyond. Now you can ride along to see the latest discoveries from deep space. For this week’s edition of 10 Things, we’ve assembled a toolkit of 10 essential resources for the desktop astronaut.  

1. It’s Like Facebook, but for Planets

Or is it more of a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Solar System? Whatever one calls it, our planets page offers quick rundowns, as well as in-depth guides, for all the major bodies in the solar system. Explore from the sun all the way to the Oort Cloud.

+ Peruse the planets + See how objects in the solar system stack up against each other

2. Keep Your Eyes on This One

If you still haven’t tried Eyes on the Solar System, you’re missing out. This free, downloadable simulation app lets you tour the planets and track the past, current and future positions of spacecraft–all in 3D. Eyes on the Solar System uses real NASA data to help you take a virtual flight across both space and time.

+ Prepare for departure

3. Dateline: Deep Space

With so much exploration underway, discoveries and new insights into the solar system come at a pace that borders on bewildering. NASA is rewriting the textbooks, literally, on a regular basis. Relax, though: there are several easy ways to stay up to date with what’s happening in space.

+ See the latest headlines + Stay connected on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram + Find more top NASA social media accounts

4. Space? There’s an App for That

NASA offers phone and tablet apps for star gazing, pictures, news, 3D tours, satellite tracking, live NASA TV and many other kinds of info.

+ Start downloading + See other cool apps

5. A (Very) Long Distance Call

We’re in constant communication with spacecraft all over the solar system. The Deep Space Network is a global network of giant antenna dishes that makes it possible. With this online app, you can learn how it works – and even see which spacecraft are phoning home right now.

+ Deep Space Network (DSN) Now

6. Collect ‘Em All

Spacecraft 3D is an augmented reality (AR) application that lets you learn about and interact with a variety of spacecraft that are used to explore our solar system, study Earth and observe the universe. Print out the AR target and your camera will do the rest, making the spacecraft appear in 3D right in front of you. Learn more about these robotic explorers as they pop up on your desk, in your hand, or on your dog’s head.

+ Download Spacecraft 3D + See more cool 3-D resources from NASA

7. Ever Wanted to Drive a Mars Rover?

This site will give you a 3D look at the Mars Curiosity rover, along with some of the terrain it has explored. It will even let you take the controls.

+ Experience Curiosity

8. More E-Ticket Attractions

But wait, there’s more. NASA offers a variety of other fascinating (and free) online experiences, all based on actual data from real missions. Here are a few to explore:

+ Mars Trek + Vesta Trek + Moon Trek

9. The Universe Is Our Classroom

Studying the solar system makes for a compelling route into learning and teaching science, engineering and math. We have some great places to start.

+ Find resources for teachers + Build your own solar system with your classroom

10. Bring It on Home

After you’ve toured the far reaches of the solar system, you can always come home again. When you have spent time studying the harsh conditions on our neighboring planets, the charms of a unique paradise come into sharp focus, the place we call Earth.

+ Watch a real-time video feed from Earth orbit + See a daily global view of our planet from a million miles away + Hold the earth in your hands with the Earth Now mobile app

Discover more lists of 10 things to know about our solar system HERE.

Follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com