<![CDATA[io9: Exploration]]> http://cache.io9.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/io9.com.png <![CDATA[io9: Exploration]]> http://io9.com/tag/exploration http://io9.com/tag/exploration <![CDATA[10 Real-Life Lost Voyages That Would Make Amazing Science Fiction Novels]]> Many an expedition has gone out into the Great Unknown seeking Adventure. And who knows? They may even have found it. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5878358&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What does it take to become an astronaut?]]> 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 »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5868946&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[A Newly Discovered Planet, in its Explosive Infancy]]> Astronomical artist Ron Miller creates scientifically accurate images of faraway worlds. In a continuing series for io9, he shares with us another image he's created of a newly formed planet that will one day be bigger than any world in our solar system. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5856544&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What would an Earthlike exoplanet look like up close?]]> Once upon a time it was big news when any planet outside our solar system was discovered. Now the search is on to find Earth-like exoplanets... and such planets are being discovered on a regular basis. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5852931&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Uncovering the hidden lake buried two miles beneath Antarctica]]> There are hundreds of subglacial lakes buried deep beneath the Antarctic ice, each one completely isolated from the rest of the world for hundreds of thousands of years. And now, scientists are preparing to find out just what's down there. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5848096&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Must Listen: Neil deGrasse Tyson's inspirational rant on NASA cutbacks]]> Astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson was on Bill Maher last Friday, and he said everything that needs to be said about plans to slash NASA's budget, including doing away with the James Webb Space Telescope. His phenomenal, astounding rant is one of the greatest pieces of truth-telling you'll hear today: More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5829707&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Space exploration is adorable in "Ellie on Planet X"]]> If the Phoenix Mars Lander had been an adorable robotic cat high on the spirit of adventure, she might have resembled Ellie of the webcomic Ellie on Planet X. Ellie tours a distant planet — and beams back charming footage. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5752245&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Shackleton's 100-year-old whiskey unearthed in Anarctica, soon to be drunk]]> Historians brought three bottles of hundred-year-old whiskey back from a cache of supplies left during one of famed explorer Shackleton's expeditions to Antarctica. A whiskey manufacturer vows to open and taste them - for science, of course. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5738365&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New look at Apollo data provides precise readings on the Moon's core]]> A new look at data from seismic experiments left on the Moon by astronauts has given researchers a better understanding of the lunar interior. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5726967&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Keep Warm at the Mountains of Madness with Arctic Mobile Unit]]> Whether you're search for the Antarctic city of the Elder Things or hunting flying reindeer at the North Pole, you'll want to stay cozy in this arctic mobile unit. This modular dwelling will keep you warm in the coldest climates. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5429895&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Titan's Drone Boat Could Be Joined By a Nuclear Hot-Air Balloon]]> It's been reported that a planned mission to Titan will use a robotic boat to explore the liquid-methane seas. But the project will also have eyes in the sky: a hot-air balloon will circumnavigate Titan and observe its multiform topography. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5404166&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[What's the Worst that Could Happen on a Fake Mission to Mars?]]> Following the 105-day simulated mission that ended this summer, the European Space Agency is looking for volunteers to spend 520 days in isolation, simulating a Mars mission. So what could possibly go wrong when you never leave the ground? More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5387778&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[A Nuclear-Powered Boat Could Sail The Great Lakes Of Titan]]> A robot ship could soon be sailing across the massive bodies of liquid that dot the arctic region of Titan, Saturn's moon. Titan has huge lakes, but they're made up of ethane, methane and propane. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5383000&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Definitive Evidence Of An Ancient Lake On Mars]]> Water on ancient Mars may actually have been abundant: Scientists have speculated about ancient rivers and lakes for years. But a team at University of Colorado at Boulder announced this week the first "definitive" evidence of a lake on Mars. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5296986&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[NASA Preps Space Shuttle For Possible Rescue Mission]]> It might take two space shuttles to complete NASA's next mission: making final repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope, and ensuring our supply of space porn. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5210553&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Another Glitch For Space Shuttle Discovery Mission]]> NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery was supposed to launch tonight for a two-week mission, linking up with the International Space Station, but the launch has been delayed due to yet another technical problem. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5168334&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[India’s First Lunar Mission Proves a Smashing Success]]> India has officially landed on the moon. Today, the Indian Space Research Organisation advanced its first deep space mission, Chandrayaan-1, by releasing its Moon Impact Probe, which successfully crash landed near the moon’s south pole and opened an exciting new chapter in Asia’s space exploration. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5087717&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Researchers Probe the Mysteries of Antarctica’s Hidden Mountains]]> Humans may have conquered Everest and K2, but one set of mountains has continued to elude explorers: Antarctica’s Gamburtsevs, the setting for H.P. Lovecraft's famous tale "At the Mountains of Madness." Buried beneath four kilometers of ice, the mountain range has never been seen by human eyes, and its position near the center of the frozen continent has remained a mystery to geologists. Now an international team of researchers will burrow into the ice and finally get a first-hand look at the subglacial peaks. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5064071&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Alternate History of the Discovery of America]]> We all know that Leif Ericson beat Christopher Columbus to the New World, but Chris gets his own holiday because his voyage marks the beginning of Europe's influence in the New World. But what if someone had beaten the Europeans to the punch? What if no culture ever developed the technology or drive to find the continent? What if the Americas’ indigenous peoples formed a federation and dealt with Europe on an equal footing? Fortunately, alternate historians have cooked up plenty of speculative American discovery narratives to keep you busy for Columbus Day. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5062295&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Build Your Home In TunnelSpace!]]> NASA churned out a lot of concept art in the 1970s while the agency was exploring ways to build colonies in space. NASA concept artists created trippy pieces like the Cynlidrical Colony above, and Torodial and Bernal Sphere colonies as well. We'd like to imagine that you could low-grav the whole thing, and just leap from one side of the colony to the other. Of course, it's not quite clear what would happen if you ran into one of those giant window sections. Hopefully they're made out of some synthetic diamond material to keep accidents from happening. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375796&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Please Help Us Send Google To Mars]]> If only today's announcement from Google and Virgin were true. Supposedly Google and Virgin Inc. are teaming up to create Virgle, a scheme to settle Mars by about 2015, possibly because Mars is the last place Google can keep its server farms the right temperature. In this video, Google founders Sergey and Larry ask you to send in your Youtube videos explaining why you should be one of the first Mars settlers. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=374719&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Triumphant Journeys of Martian Robots]]> Since 1960 we've been attempting to explore the red planet, and along the way there have been countless failures and lost spacecraft that attest to just how hard it is to fly those 35 million miles from here to there. However, there have also been success stories, like the twin rovers Opportunity and Spirit, who have both overcome mechanical problems, braved dust storms, and sent back enormous amounts of data. Today, after being threatened with a shutdown due to budget cuts, the Martian rovers got a reprieve. They'll be rolling along for many months to come. To celebrate, check out our list of Martian robots and landers who have already served their robotic duty as our slaves, erm we mean allies, on the red planet. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=372034&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Tomorrow War Looks Good Today]]> One of the best parts of video-game classic Mass Effect was the ability to take your ship to different planets throughout the galaxy, and actually touch down, get out and explore the places. A new game, The Tomorrow War, takes that concept and expands on it exponentially, giving you a virtual sandbox of systems and worlds to explore. Of course, if you have to dole out some Soviet-style ass-kicking in the process, then so be it. At least you'll be tooling around in this cruiser that looks a lot like the U.S.S. Sulaco from Aliens. Check out a full gallery of new images from this game below. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=371981&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New 'Gattaca' DVD Brings High Def to Genetic Fascist Dystopia]]> Andrew Niccol's film Gattaca seems like it's been swept under the carpet and behind the radiator lately, which is surprising given the current obsession with stem cells, in utero fetal testing, and the human genome. In fact, there's a whole generation out there who haven't even seen this film. Breathe easy, because you'll be able to help them see it when a brand-new edition comes to DVD and Blu-ray on March 11th. Can you believe Danny DeVito produced this thing? The new disc features all new interviews with Ethan Hawke and Jude Law and an expose on DNA testing. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=341572&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Can We Study The Polar Icecap Without Wrecking It?]]> Too bad we have to smash the polar ice to understand it. A new ship being built by the European Science Federation will be able to drill through thousands of miles of ocean under the ice and collect core samples from the sea floor. The Aurora Borealis will be the first ship that can break ice in all four directions, and drill down simultaneously. The only challenge: Figuring out who's responsible when the shit hits the polar bear. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=339291&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Mars Astronauts Will Have Smooth Moves]]> 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 »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=321424&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[New Images Show An Ancient Lake Bed On Mars]]> It's easy to believe there was water on Mars when you can see the evidence so vividly. The high-resolution camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (known as HiRISE) has finally started sending color images, and the results are startling. In the image to the left, you can see the dark basaltic sand, and patterns that may have indicated an ancient lake may have dried out there. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=310515&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Space Is More Fun Without Space Travel]]> The end of the Space Age was the best thing that ever happened to science fiction, claims author Gerard J. DeGroot:
When the space age ended, the alien age began. In the early 1990s, the Disney Corporation decided to close down its Mission to Mars ride, itself a direct descendant of the Rocket to the Moon attraction Werner von Braun had helped to design. In its place came Alien Encounter, in which an extraterrestrial stows away on a spaceship. This made things easier for Disney, as one executive admitted: "One way for an attraction to remain timeless is for it to be based in fantasy, rather than reality."
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]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=307365&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No Interstellar Future For You]]> Sure, when the Soviets launched Sputnik, it made us frantic. But then we lost the thrill of the race. Just ask astronomer Stuart Atkinson:
The Space Age is dead, it died of starvation and neglect, somewhere around 1980. Yes, we fed it and gave it money while it was young, and exciting, and sexy, while our love for it was bright and new, but when it got older, and needed more expensive care and more of our time and understanding we guided it to a comfy chair over on the far side of the room, made it a cup of tea, handed it a magazine and left it to look after itself
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