An unmanned cargo capability based on VASIMR propulsion offers significant cost savings to NASA and commercial lunar exploration programs. VASIMR can deliver... more

An unmanned cargo capability based on VASIMR propulsion offers significant cost savings to NASA and commercial lunar exploration programs. VASIMR can deliver twice as much payload to the lunar surface, compared to chemical propulsion, if used as a 'tug boat' between Low Earth Orbit and Low Lunar Orbit. At the present, chemical propulsion always has to be used to climb out of Earth's atmosphere and into a Low Earth Orbit, in addition to the final lunar landing descent. Beyond VX-200 (VASIMR Experimental, 200 kW) and VF-200 (VASIMR Flight, 200 kW) demonstrations, the Ad Astra Rocket Company plans to fill a developing high power transportation niche near Earth for orbit maintenance of large space structures for commerce and tourism and satellite repositioning, retrieval and re supply. Longer term applications for which VASIMR may be ideally suited include: the delivery of large payloads to the lunar surface, recovery of space resources from asteroids and comets and propelling cargo and human missions to Mars and beyond. More at: www.AdAstraRocket.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR less

Dr. Don Pettit performs a number of microgravity experiments while onboard the International Space Station. This is a compilation of the experiments performed for the Saturday Morning Science program.

Dr. Don Pettit performs a number of microgravity experiments while onboard the International Space Station. This is a compilation of the experiments performed for the Saturday Morning Science program. less

In this pre-lecture Q&A Dr. Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt shares his thoughts on the future of space travel, what his family thought of his profession as an... more

In this pre-lecture Q&A Dr. Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt shares his thoughts on the future of space travel, what his family thought of his profession as an astronaut, and his experiences from Apollo 17. Return to the Moon: What it was like and will be like! -Dr. Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt A view of Apollo 17 in the context of what is left to learn and accomplish on the Moon with an eye to science, settlement, and providing energy for the Earth. At the Space Center Lecture Series on March 13,2008 Dr. Schmitt shared his experience with the Apollo 17 mission, lunar resource utilization, and his thoughts on the future of lunar science and exploration. The Apollo 17 mission was the last of the great campaigns to the moon and included the longest lunar surface interval of any mission in history. Don't miss Jack's exciting tales of past lunar exploration and future plans to Return to the Moon. The Space Center Lecture Series was co-founded and is co-hosted by Dr. Benjamin Longmier and Mr. Gary Kitmacher. For t-shirts, donations, photos, and downloadable video and lecture slides please visit: www.SpaceCenterLectureSeries.com less

Return to the Moon: What it was like and will be like! -Dr. Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt A view of Apollo 17 in the context of what is left to learn and... more

Return to the Moon: What it was like and will be like! -Dr. Harrison 'Jack' Schmitt A view of Apollo 17 in the context of what is left to learn and accomplish on the Moon with an eye to science, settlement, and providing energy for the Earth. At the Space Center Lecture Series on March 13,2008 Dr. Schmitt shared his experience with the Apollo 17 mission, lunar resource utilization, and his thoughts on the future of lunar science and exploration. The Apollo 17 mission was the last of the great campaigns to the moon and included the longest lunar surface interval of any mission in history. Don't miss Jack's exciting tales of past lunar exploration and future plans to Return to the Moon. The Space Center Lecture Series was co-founded and is co-hosted by Dr. Benjamin Longmier and Mr. Gary Kitmacher. For t-shirts, donations, photos, and downloadable video and lecture slides please visit: www.SpaceCenterLectureSeries.com less

Breathing Xenon: Xenon is the heaviest non-radioactive noble gas (5x density of air) and is used for ion thrusters, general anesthetic, and various types of... more

Breathing Xenon: Xenon is the heaviest non-radioactive noble gas (5x density of air) and is used for ion thrusters, general anesthetic, and various types of lighting sources. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenon Xenon's anesthetic effect is 1.5 times more potent than N2O. Please do not breath Xenon without proper medical supervision and supplemental oxygen. "The anesthetic effect of inert gas xenon (Xe) was discovered more than 50 years ago. The main causes limiting its clinical application are high price, low availability (in nature the gas is present in scarce amounts), and absence of preclinical trials sufficient for norm-setting documents and further solutions allowing clinical trials of Xe." http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/20050515/criticare10.shtml "These are the heaviest of the inert gases, and have some peculiarities. Xenon is, amazingly, an anaesthetic, in spite of the fact that it is inert. This is not completely explained, but is supposed to be associated with the strange behavior of xenon and water. 46 water molecules can hydrogen-bond themselves into a complex molecule with icosahedral symmetry that forms eight "cages" of the right size to accommodate xenon atoms, stabilized by dispersion forces between the xenon and the water. This 8Xe•46H2O is called a clathrate, from the Greek for a cage. Eight methane molecules can take the place of eight xenon atoms, to form an ice-like methane hydrate that can block pipe lines even at temperatures well above 0°C. Possibly the xenon encourages the formation of such clathrates in the brain, and the other smaller cages that are formed can clathrate ions important in brain function. For more information on gas hydrates, see Hydrates. " http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/helium.htm less

Soldering iron and water in microgravity onboard the International Space Station. (April 12, 2003) -- Expedition Six NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit... more

Soldering iron and water in microgravity onboard the International Space Station. (April 12, 2003) -- Expedition Six NASA ISS Science Officer Don Pettit performs a water surface tension experiment with a soldering iron, producing convection patterns. This is another installment of Pettit's ongoing series of Saturday Morning Science. less

Jack Schmitt gets called 'Twinkletoes' by Houston Mission Control. Jack has some trouble as he tries to pick up a lunar rock sample bag and stand up at the same time. The Apollo EVA suits had a weight of 60lbs on the Moon and were a little top heavy.

Jack Schmitt gets called 'Twinkletoes' by Houston Mission Control. Jack has some trouble as he tries to pick up a lunar rock sample bag and stand up at the same time. The Apollo EVA suits had a weight of 60lbs on the Moon and were a little top heavy. less

Jack Schmitt and Gene Cernan sing on the lunar surface. "I was strolling on the Moon one day, in the very merry month of May..December" This was filmed in December 1972.

Jack Schmitt and Gene Cernan sing on the lunar surface. "I was strolling on the Moon one day, in the very merry month of May..December" This was filmed in December 1972. less

Jack Schmitt kicks a rock downhill on the lunar surface during Apollo 17. The goal was the get at some fresh lunar soil underneath the rock.

Jack Schmitt kicks a rock downhill on the lunar surface during Apollo 17. The goal was the get at some fresh lunar soil underneath the rock. less

While trying to take a core sample of the Moon, Jack Schmitt stumbles, falls, and sprays lunar dust. In his defense, the lunar EVA suits made balancing quite a challenge in the 1/6g environment.

While trying to take a core sample of the Moon, Jack Schmitt stumbles, falls, and sprays lunar dust. In his defense, the lunar EVA suits made balancing quite a challenge in the 1/6g environment. less

Jack Schmitt falls while trying to pick up a lunar collection kit. In his defense, the lunar EVA suit was top heavy and it was quite difficult to bend down to pick something up from the ground. (Imagine being inside of a puffed up balloon at 4psi and trying to move at all!)

Jack Schmitt falls while trying to pick up a lunar collection kit. In his defense, the lunar EVA suit was top heavy and it was quite difficult to bend down to pick something up from the ground. (Imagine being inside of a puffed up balloon at 4psi and trying to move at all!) less

Jack Schmitt throws his geology hammer in the 1/6 lunar gravity before they get back inside the lunar lander. Hammer can be seen going nearly strait up above... more

Jack Schmitt throws his geology hammer in the 1/6 lunar gravity before they get back inside the lunar lander. Hammer can be seen going nearly strait up above Jack and then falls off to the left and descends behind the LM. The rover is parked at the VIP site behind the lunar module. Jack emerges as a small figure, 145 meters away, to the right of the lunar module. He pleads with Gene to let him throw his geology hammer. The commander concedes his permission and warns him not to hit the lunar module or the ALSEP. Jack flings it into the air and careful observation of the clip reveals the spinning hammer in flight, barely visible against the mountain in the background, and then against the black sky. Jack is thrilled with the long flight of the hammer and walks back to the lunar module. less

Gene Cernan bunny hops down a slope on the lunar surface during Apollo 17. Gene claimed that this was the fasted way to move around on slopes. You can hear hear Jack Schmitt saying that he doesn't like the hoping method.

Gene Cernan bunny hops down a slope on the lunar surface during Apollo 17. Gene claimed that this was the fasted way to move around on slopes. You can hear hear Jack Schmitt saying that he doesn't like the hoping method. less

Gene Cernan fixes a rear fender on the lunar rover during Apollo 17. Apparently, good ol' duct tape was the procedure for fixing such a problem. Without the... more

Gene Cernan fixes a rear fender on the lunar rover during Apollo 17. Apparently, good ol' duct tape was the procedure for fixing such a problem. Without the fender Jack Schmitt was sprayed with dust. Gene works to repair the rover's broken fender while Jack reaches the ALSEP site. The clip opens to show Gene tearing off a strip of duct tape from a roll and applying it to the fender. Jack asks Bob Parker if they can see him and Bob says "No," but a voice from the back room in Houston points out that he has just appeared at the left of the picture as a white spot in the distance. The EVA controller advises the flight director that Gene is now twenty minutes behind in his timeline. The camera leaves Gene at the rover and zooms to find Jack resting and evaluating his chosen ALSEP site area, the experiments package beside him on the ground. He discusses the site with the capcom, who informs him he is ten minutes behind in his time line. He picks up the ALSEP, moves it a few meters to his left, discusses experiment placement requirements with Bob, and the back room Experiments team reacts to his questions and remarks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape Picture of the final product http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Duct_tape_apollo17.jpg less

Final landing approach to the Valley of Taurus Littrow on Apollo 17. Piloted by Gene Cernan, Jack Schmitt helps call out altitudes and approach speeds. I've been told that it is somewhat like landing a helicopter.

Final landing approach to the Valley of Taurus Littrow on Apollo 17. Piloted by Gene Cernan, Jack Schmitt helps call out altitudes and approach speeds. I've been told that it is somewhat like landing a helicopter. less

Gene Cernan running on the Moon during an Apollo 17 EVA. Filmed by Jack Schmitt. Notice the long strides and hops that are possible in the lunar 1/6 g!

Gene Cernan running on the Moon during an Apollo 17 EVA. Filmed by Jack Schmitt. Notice the long strides and hops that are possible in the lunar 1/6 g! less

President Richard Nixon calling Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil and Buzz, on the lunar surface. Quite a long distance call!

President Richard Nixon calling Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil and Buzz, on the lunar surface. Quite a long distance call! less

Saturday Morning Science

Saturday Morning Science less

Saturday Morning Science

Saturday Morning Science less

Saturday Morning Science

Saturday Morning Science less