DailyDirt: Getting To Space Ain't Easy

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Nov 15th 2011 5:00pm — Michael Ho

The failure rate of space programs makes space travel a bit of a risky venture. Sitting on enough explosive materials to escape the Earth's gravity isn't the safest-sounding job, but there are still plenty of willing volunteers to try it. Here are just a few stories on some recent space missions.

The Russian Phobos-Grunt spacecraft isn't going to make it to Mars -- and some waterbears that were along for the ride won't make it back. Over the last year, about 10% of space missions that launched have failed (seven out of about 74). [url]
Iran's space program tried to send a monkey to space, but the monkey didn't survive the trip. Iran's space program will probably get a bit more attention when it succeeds... [url]
Fortunately, the International Space Station will be occupied by astronauts as planned, following a successful launch of a Soyuz re-supply mission. The ISS will resume a full 6-person crew in mid-December. [url]
To discover more links on space exploration, check out what's floating around in StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can also recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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Filed Under: astronauts, exploration, iran, iss, monkey, nasa, russia, soyuz, space, travel, waterbears

6 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2011 @ 5:03pm

Occupy the International Space Station!
#Occupy the ISS, #we are the 0.00009%
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Michael Ho (profile), 15 Nov 2011 @ 6:32pm

Re: Occupy the International Space Station!
LOL. Occupying the ISS is a bit more of a challenge than Wall St...
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2011 @ 7:37pm

Interesting read.

However you seem to have placed it in the wrong blog, as it has absolutely nothing to do with SOPA...
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Atkray (profile), 15 Nov 2011 @ 9:48pm

Re:
Don't worry, your tinfoil hat will protect you from falling waterbears.
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 15 Nov 2011 @ 11:14pm

Airships Into Space
How can you use use low-power, high-specific-thrust engines to get into orbit from within the atmosphere? with the help of balloons, that�s how!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Groove Tiger (profile), 16 Nov 2011 @ 6:30am

Re: Re:
However, you're going to feel a little prick.
[ link to this | view in thread ]