SpaceX Dragon

The private corporation Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, sent its cargo ship, titled Dragon, to the International Space Station three days ago. It connected to the Station early this morning to mark the craft's second voyage. Dragon's connection to the Station on May 25 marked the first commercial vehicle to ever connect to the International Space Station. This action marks a huge accomplishment, because the only way we will extend our space exploration will be through commercial "spacelines." I am excited to see what SpaceX has planned for the future, whether it be for the sake of tourism or exploration.

SpaceX Dragon: The one thing that hasn't changed is the increasing awesomeness in the names of these rockets.

They are currently working on the Falcon Heavy rocket, which rivals the Saturn V rocket in power and thrust, meaning we will definitely have the opportunity to make it to the moon again or farther. I like that the space program is separating itself from the government and the financial reliance that came with it. This means that we can actually get things done when we want to. However, a sense of nationalism is not completely absent from the space field. According to a Chicago Tribune article, NASA is working with multiple commercial companies to design space taxis and eliminate Russia's monopoly on transporting astronauts to and from the station by 2017. It seems that some remnants and bitterness from the space race still exist.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-usa-space-spacexbre8990tk-20121010,0,2770771.story

http://www.spacex.com/company.php

"Just a Matter of Time..."

A recent article I read on CNN.com discusses the increasing threat of cyber attacks over smart phones, but it also questions the lack of any major attempts and a massive attack across the board. According to the article, the lack of this type of attack equates to the fact that much of the money is still in PC hacking, and the variety of operating available in smart phones makes it difficult to perform multiple hacks. However, a shift is occurring in the amount of financial transactions that occur through smartphones, and the fact that most phones don't use antivirus software makes these exchanges even more dangerous.

I'm not going to pretend I know really anything about computer hacking other than the fact that some people have the ability to monitor your device and gain access to bank accounts and other sources of personal information. The reason this article brought attention to me is that I recently learned of a new smart phone app through my bank - Coastal Federal Credit Union - that allows you to simply take a photograph and take that to the bank to use as a valid check. I was initially wary of this technology and the article confirms my suspicions. I doubt I will use this app anytime in the near future, but I know my family members already have. The fact that a hacker could gain access to information on smart phones without much antivirus resistance makes all of these new, "convenient" technologies dangerous in my mind.

CNN article

 

A version of the checking app

One giant humiliation for mankind

As I scrolled through headlines on my smart phone, I noticed one about a new development from the Mars rover, Curiosity. Much to my dismay, this news was that hip hop artist Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas fame had successfully broadcast his new single "Reach for the Stars" from the Curiosity rover. This is exciting news in the fact that it was the first song broadcast from the surface of another planet. However, my disappointment lies in the song choice and the overall content of the lyrics. Will.i.am, a self proclaimed science enthusiast attempted to tailor his lyrics to the topic of space exploration, but he created nothing more than a worthless pop tune that will fade into oblivion after a few months of radio airplay. To me, this is a great opportunity missed to present an example of mankind's capacity for incredible music composition. Such a monumental broadcast should have been served by a piece that is much more timeless, and one that requires no lyrics to express the emotion of it. What better piece to express the cathartic experience of the successful landing than Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra," made famous by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The space man himself: Will.i.am

On the other hand, this broadcast presents an interesting idea to me. In today's pop culture, bad music is constantly being churned out, inexplicably receiving radio air time for a couple months or weeks, then fading into musical irrelevancy, like I predict Will.i.am's single will. In order to properly see a pop song off and ensure that we never have to suffer through it again, once a song falls off the charts, NASA can purchase the rights and broadcast it from space, where no one will ever hear it.

With the recent death of Neil Armstrong, I just hope that the lines, "And I know that Mars might be far, but baby it ain't really that far. So let's reach for the stars" will never go down in history with the same respect and regard as the quote, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."