io9: Astronauts

How NASA kept astronauts from swearing on the Moon

Amy Shira Teitel - Vintage Space — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:00:00 PST

In the 1960s, NASA's astronauts were the cool, calm, and collected faces of the space program who represented American values - most were married and had some sort of religious affiliation. NASA's public affair office took great pains to keep its astronauts' images clean, but they were still men who occasionally cursed when faced with a bad situation. As NASA gathered steam and took a firm place in the public eye, the organization had a job covering up some of the less radio- and family-friendly transmissions. More »

What does it take to become an astronaut?

Robert T. Gonzalez — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:51:29 PST

NASA recently began accepting applications for its 21st class of astronauts, and while you can certainly read about what it takes to become one on NASA's website, there's something about hearing it from someone who's actually been through the whole process of becoming an astronaut, and later training as one, that an Astronaut Selection and Training brochure just can't match. More »

Watch NASA's new astronaut recruitment video

Robert T. Gonzalez — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:20:00 PST

Looking for work? Have a math, science, or engineering degree? NASA's posted a job listing you should really have a look at. Oh, and I almost forgot: you should also be open to the idea of space travel. More »

The million dollar space pen hoax

Esther Inglis-Arkell — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:00:00 PDT

There's a famous legend that America spent millions on the development of a 'space pen' that writes upside down, while the Russians used a pencil. Here's the truth behind the legend. More »

First 2 Apollo 18 clips prove that on the Moon, nobody can hear you freak out

Charlie Jane Anders — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:32:06 PDT

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Check out our first real glimpse of Apollo 18, the lunar "found footage" horror movie. It turns out that a weird presence in the deserted lunar landscape is just as unnerving as someone or something creeping around your house. More »

An awesome aurora photographed from the space shuttle Atlantis

Nancy Atkinson - Universe Today — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:30:00 PDT

The STS-135 crew of space shuttle Atlantis and the Expedition 28 crew of the International Space Station were treated with great views of the Aurora Australis. Here's one shot the crews photographed, showing a panoramic view of the station/shuttle complex along with several different astronomical beauties! The aurora shows up brightly, but what else is in the image? Looking closely –and southern hemisphere observers might recognize some objects better - but do you see the globular cluster Omega Centauri, the Coalsack Nebula and the Southern Cross? Anyone see anything else? More »

Why astronauts can't whistle in space

Esther Inglis-Arkell — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:30:00 PDT

Astronauts on a spacewalk cannot whistle. This was discovered on the fly by intrepid astronaut Dan Barry in 1999. Fortunately, it did not affect the mission, but should any astronaut have to call a dog in space, the results would be disastrous. More »

Witness an astronaut's-eye-view of planet Earth

Cyriaque Lamar — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:00:00 PDT

In this astounding video narrated by Dr. Justin Wilkinson of NASA, we see familiar geographical landmarks from across the globe as filmed by astronauts. Even the commonplace looks divine when you're cruising in the orbital firmament. More »

Why we might send humans to the Mars moon Deimos before we go to Mars itself

Alasdair Wilkins — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:59:08 PDT

Our best chance to send humans to Mars will be in the mid-2030s, but the Red Planet might not be our final destination. It might actually be much easier and just as effective to land on Mars's moon tiny Deimos. More »

Watch astronauts land on Mars....in a building in Russia

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:40:45 PST

At 1 PM yesterday in Moscow, three astronauts from the European Space Agency's 520-day simulated trip to Mars finally touched down on a 10 meter by 6 meter recreation of the planet's Gusev Crater. From the ESA: More »

The NASA spaceship that could take humanity into deep space...if we had the money for it

Alasdair Wilkins — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:00:00 PST

This is the concept design for the Nautilus-X, one of NASA's ideas for crewed deep space explorer. This craft would be launched from the International Space Station (or some other orbital platform) and could take six astronauts on long missions ranging anywhere from one to twenty-four months. More »

Two decades of research on space sex

Esther Inglis-Arkell — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:30:00 PST

Space agencies the world over have done rather extensive experiments, to see if outer space is as bad for the lower front qudrant as it is for the rest of the body. It looks like the answer is yes. More »

How would NASA rescue an astronaut who floated away from the International Space Station?

Bjorn Carey - Popular Science — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:00:57 PST

This disaster always seems to happen in movies, but the chances of this occurring in real life are slim. But inquiring minds want to know — what's NASA's protocol for a float-away astronaut? More »

1960s spacesuit designs from Wernher von Braun's science fiction novel

Matt Novak -- Paleo-Future Blog — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 09:05:00 PST

Most of us know Wernher von Braun as the German V-2 pioneer who went from the Nazis to NASA. But did you know he published a scifi novel with detailed spacesuit schematics? Here are some examples. More »

Superhero spacesuits may keep bones strong in space

Lauren Davis — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:20:00 PDT

As space programs turn their attention toward long-term human spaceflight, it's more important than ever to address the physical toll of life in space. These suits could help astronauts retain bone density and look snazzy at the same time. More »

A hurricane as seen from space

Charlie Jane Anders — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:03:50 PDT

It's a planetary disturbance so massive, it looks like the whole atmosphere is churning. This is Hurricane Danielle, photographed by astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock aboard the International Space Station. And click through for his picture of Hurricane Igor. More »

Breathtaking SLR photos show life aboard the ISS

Charlie Jane Anders — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:30:00 PDT

Yes, that's an apple floating in zero gravity. This is just one of a bunch of arresting images that just went online. Nikon sent a high-res SLR camera aboard the International Space Station with NASA's astronauts. More pics below. More »

A lime-green light show 190 miles above the Indian Ocean

Cyriaque Lamar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:40:00 PDT

On May 29, this photo was taken on the International Space Station by a NASA astronaut on Expedition 23. It shows aurora australis, the southern Lights, zigzagging towards the South Pole. More »

An electrician 350 miles above the Earth

Ed Grabianowski — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:40:00 PDT

The Hubble Space Telescope needs repair work just like every other large piece of equipment. But servicing an orbital telescope 350 miles above the Earth is no simple task. Here's a closeup look at how it's done. More »

And now, 1000+ vintage space photos and concept illustrations

Cyriaque Lamar — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:20:16 PDT

Flickr user ParkerNow has alerted us to his massive collection of old-school NASA photos, drawings, and computer graphics. This is the motherlode of space porn. It's not unlike having Buzz Aldrin sing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to you. [Flickr] More »

Volunteer and Participate in Yuri's Night!

Annalee Newitz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:20:00 PDT

Every year the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, plays host to a Yuri's Night festival, which celebrates the journey of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. This year's event, April 9-10, still needs volunteers! More »

Astronaut Illustrated, Spacesuit Edition

Graeme McMillan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:00:19 PST

If we worked in NASA's public relations department, we would've started releasing Philip Bond's wonderful astronaut portraits officially by now. Click through for examples of the former Wired World artist's work; you can find more on his Flickr account. More »

Astronauts Are Tweeting Pictures Of The Earth

Charlie Jane Anders — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:27 PST

This isn't your first close-up of another planet's biosphere... it's actually the Maldives islands on Earth, as viewed from the International Space Station. A couple of ISS astronauts have been twittering amazing pictures of our planet. More »

One Size Will Fit All With New Shrinking Spacesuit

Graeme McMillan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:40:00 PST

No longer will astronauts have to spend hours making sure their spacesuits fit properly for missions. Engineers are working on a suit that'll use pneumatic muscles to seal the suits shut automatically... as well as all manner of other value-adds. More »

Remembering The First Astronauts

Graeme McMillan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:00:58 PDT

A new gallery show by British artist Simon Hollington focuses on the primates sent into space to blaze trails for humanity. Click through for some of his black and white tributes to Earth's first space travelers. More »

School Children Turn Sea Monsters Into Space Candy

Lauren Davis — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:30:00 PDT

Earlier this summer, we warned you about the Echizen jellyfish — creatures that can weigh hundreds of pounds. But a group of high schoolers have found a use for sea monsters: turn them into candy and feed them to astronauts. More »

Should the Space Program Join Forces with Reality TV?

Lauren Davis — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:30:00 PDT

First Virtuality, and now Defying Gravity, predict we'll someday watch the adventures of cloistered astronauts broadcast from space. But why wait? Some suggest the upcoming simulated Mars missions offer the perfect opportunity to introduce the space program to reality television. More »

China Bans Bad Breath from Space

Lauren Davis — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:30:00 PDT

In space, no one can hear you scream... but on the space shuttle, they can certainly smell your breath. That's why China's space program is barring aspiring astronauts with halitosis — just one of 100 new rules for wannabe taikonauts. More »

Will People On Long Space Missions Inevitably Kill Each Other?

Megan Carpentier — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:19:50 PDT

For 105 days, 4 Russians and 2 Europeans holed up in isolation in Moscow, to see if they could survive a mission to Mars without killing one another in frustration, while American scientists watched. Tomorrow, they'll be freed. More »

Will We See A New Age Of Astronaut Glamor?

Charlie Jane Anders — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:16:04 PDT

What would it take to re-energize our excitement about space exploration? Maybe if astronauts start getting treated like movie stars. Here's a step in the right direction: a Louis Vuitton ad featuring Sally Ride, Buzz Aldrin and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell. [WWD via TheFrisky] More »

Insect Astronauts Encounter Strange Creatures And A Disaster

Annalee Newitz — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:30:00 PDT

It is often difficult to study megafauna, especially when you are so small that pretty much every creature is larger than you are. Nevertheless, a band of brave insectoid-suited scientists is studying this alien planet, and now you can see it through their eyes. More »

Celebrate Space Day With The Shuttle Astronauts And An ISS Webcam

AndrewLiptak — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:40:52 PDT

Today is the 12th Annual Space Day, an event that's jointly hosted by NASA and Lockheed Martin, held each year on the first of May. This year's theme is titled : 'Celebrating Human Space Flight: Past, Present and Future'. More »

Sitting In a Tin Can High Above the World

Annalee Newitz — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:30:00 PDT

Over the weekend, space shuttle astronaut Steve Swanson climbed outside the International Space Station to do some repair work and inspections. Here he floats beneath one section of the growing space structure. More »

Absentee Ballots — In Space!

Ed Grabianowski — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:20:00 PST

Think you're facing long lines at your local polling place? At least you aren't casting your vote from over 200 miles above the Earth's surface. Astronauts E. Michael Fincke and Gregory Chamitoff will be voting from the International Space Station today, and their right to do it is the result of a relatively new law. More »

G.I. Joe — Space Oddity

Lynn Peril — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:00:00 PDT

I love the visual and audio reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey in this early 1970s commercial for the new G.I. Joe Talking Astronaut. I’m not sure how many kids watching Saturday morning TV picked up on them, though their parents (who held the purse strings) probably did. Also gotta love the constant reference to "lifelike hair!" More »

Buzz Aldrin Shills for VW, 1972

Lynn Peril — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:20:00 PDT

Watch as astronaut Buzz Aldrin simultaneously introduces and mocks the famously air-cooled Volkswagen’s new onboard computer system—kinda sorta like the one on Apollo 11, blinky lights and all. More »

My God, It's Full Of Future Technology

Graeme McMillan — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:30:00 PDT

Forty years after its premiere, is the movie version of 2001: A Space Odyssey coming true? An article on science website PhysOrg.com claims that Stanley Kubrick's vision of the then-future of space travel and human existence was more prescient than it initially seemed, way back in the swinging '60s. More »

In 1976, A Board Game Tried To Crack The Glass Stratosphere

Lynn Peril — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:40:54 PST

This brightly colored astronaut appeared on the cover of "What Shall I Be? The Exciting Game of Career Girls," a board game from 1976. Astronaut was certainly a step up from some of the traditionally feminine careers presented in an earlier edition of the game (air hostess, for example), and yet there are two big things wrong with this picture. Do you know what they are? More »

Mars Astronauts Will Have Smooth Moves

charliejane — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:00:00 PST

The first astronauts on Mars will most likely wear smoking fetish gear that draws on the designs of MIT professor Dava Newman. Time magazine just named her ultralight BioSuit one of the top 100 inventions of the year. The current generation of spacesuits weighs up to 300 pounds, thanks to gas pressurization, life support and multiple layers of crap. More »

Fashionable Shoes For Space Travel

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:20:46 PDT

An Italian company called Geox is marketing shoes and outerwear that are packed with patented technologies invented for use by astronauts in space. A semi-permeable membrane lines each shoe and jacket. The membrane is riddled with micro-pores big enough to vent sweat, but small enough to prevent water from getting into the shoe. Geox's shoes are popular with celebs like Angelina Jolie and the Pope, and Geox chairman Mario Moretti Polegato enlightens us as to why:

The name 'Geox' [is] from the Greek word geo for 'earth,' and 'x,' the letter symbolizing technology. Wearing these shoes makes you feel you are walking barefoot on earth and without the stink.

The best part? There are thigh-high suede boots fitted out with this space-age micro-pore crap. I hope the boys up in the International Space Station are strutting around in those. More »