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Stranger Than Fiction: Volunteers to Simulate 520-Day Mars Trip

TresSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Want to go to Mars without ever leaving Earth? You're in luck! The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for six international volunteers to participate in a simulated voyage to Mars. The catch: you will have to live and work in a sealed facility in Moscow, Russia for 520 days.

The project, which sounds like a perfect premise for a reality show, will investigate the psychological and medical implication of such a long journey. It will include the full round-trip to Mars, and a 30-day stay on the planet. Just think, it takes almost a year to get there, and then you just get to stay for 30 days! Bummer! The hope is that the findings can be used to actually send humans to Mars sometime in the future.

The simulation begins in 2010. Would you ever consider signing up?

Front Page: Solar Eclipse Brings Darkness at Dawn

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:24 -0700

Dawn turned to darkness in Asia today, thanks to the longest total solar eclipse of the century. - AP
Oakland, CA, has become the first US city to pass a tax on medical marijuana. - CNN
Michelle Obama has chopped her hair. The first lady is rocking a new bob. - The Daily Mail
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused in a civil suit of raping a hotel concierge worker. - Washington Post
Tyler Perry announced yesterday that he will treat 65 kids to a trip to Disney World, after they alleged that a suburban swim club shunned them because of their race. - Huffington Post

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Front Page: 40th Anniversary of First Moonwalk

TresSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:43 -0700

Forty years ago today, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. - MSNBC
President Obama plans to spend the rest of the month taking the case for healthcare reform to the American people. - USA Today
A government overseer has concluded that many banks misused bailout money. - Washington Post
An upcoming book about the secret service claims that Jenna and Barbara Bush gave agents a bunch of trouble. - New York Post
Angela's Ashes author Frank McCourt died this weekend at the age of 78. - NY Times

Should NASA Name Space Station Room After Colbert?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:30:55 -0700

I'm no rocket scientist, but I do know that if you start an open naming contest, fans of Stephen Colbert will quickly beam the comedian to first place. That's what happened to NASA when it decided to ask the public for suggestions on what to name a room in the space station, now called Node 3.

"Colbert" won the contest, but NASA still has the option to reject the write in winner. Tonight, a real-life scientist will go on the Colbert Report to share NASA's decision.

What does Stephen think NASA should do? He said: "Certainly I hope NASA does the right thing. Just kidding. I hope they name it after me."

Should Weapons in Space Be Banned?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:30:10 -0800

Marking another sharp break from President Bush, Barack Obama's administration has launched a pledge to seek a worldwide ban on space weapons. Without a ban, technology could be used to interfere with an adversary's commercial or military satellites.

Unlike the Obama administration, Bush implemented a National Space Policy that rejected arm-control deals that might limit the US's ability to shut off space to anyone hostile to American interests. Bush wanted to secure America's space leadership and use space to further national security and US foreign policy objectives. The plan added to international suspicion that the US wanted to militarize space.

While many people would welcome a ban on weapons in space, there's one industry that's not on cloud nine - weapon makers. Lockheed Martin, along with other defense contractors, are watching the issue carefully.

You Asked: Is It Too Late to Mend Our Friendship?

DearSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0800

Dear Sugar,

Last year I went to visit one of my best friends in Chicago. Before I had arrived, she mentioned that she cut her hair really short. A few years ago when I did the same thing, she would tease me about it, so the night I arrived, in joking, I said something about her new "boy" do. I reassured her later that night that I was just teasing, but during my visit I couldn't help but feel that she was distant towards me.
After I left, she stopped returning my phone calls and when I would see her online, she would not respond to my IMs. After about a month, she finally called me to let me know that I had really hurt her feelings. I apologized and I reiterated that I was only joking with her, but I'm not sure I made things better because I pointed out that she had teased me when I had my hair cut that short, too. She reminded me that she's a lot more sensitive than I am and told me I should have known better. I apologized and thought we had worked everything out, but I haven't talked to her in over a year. I left her messages on her birthday, on Christmas, and on New Year's last year, but I haven't heard a peep in response so I decided to give her some space.

I miss her terribly and want nothing more than to have my friend back so should I call her and make another attempt to mend our relationship, or should I just respect her obvious decision not to talk to me and just leave it at that? - Cut Out Constance

To see DearSugar's answer read more.

Dear Cut Out Constance,

It sounds like your friend was incredibly sensitive about her new hair cut and, in my opinion, overreacted. Are you sure there was nothing else bothering her? The fact that she's gone radio silent for over a year makes me think there is something deeper behind her anger towards you. It's pretty clear that she isn't going to make the first move to rekindle this friendship, so if you miss her, I say reach out again - you have nothing to lose.

Since she doesn't seem to answer her phone when you make attempts to call, I'd write her an email or send a card. She's explained that she's more sensitive than you so I advise you to take a tender tone - I might not even talk about the incident at all. What happened is in the past now, so try to focus on the future. Let her know how much you miss her friendship and ask what you can do to make things right in the new year, for a new friendship. Unfortunately, friends grow apart, so once you say your piece, it'll be up to her if she wants to mend things - I hope she does. Good luck!

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Moving to the Moon? Scientists Say Moon Can Hold Water

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:53 -0800

Scientists think the moon's polar craters, which never see sunlight, could contain ice. A lunar water supply means that astronauts would be able to use the moon as a home base for space exploration. The US, EU, Japan, India, and China already have plans for permanent moon bases to be set up around 2025.

If astronauts begin living permanently on the moon, I don't see why nonscientists wouldn't soon pack up and move to outer space shortly after. The moon's only three days away - much shorter than the ship voyage made by Europeans moving to the New World, for example.

Would you move to a settlement on the moon? Would you worry that territory disputes could break out between settlers from different countries?

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Is Space Travel Still Relevant?

Molly — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:30:21 -0800

In the late '50s the space race with Russia was headline news. In 1969, all eyes were glued on Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they became the first men on the moon. Half a century later, space travel has lost some of its clout, but not its intrigue.

Last week India landed its first probe on the moon and earlier this year China made headlines with its first spacewalk. Every time NASA launches a shuttle it's news - which on occasion has led to horrible tragedies - but today much of what the organization does with government money is satellite research on the Earth's environmental status, work on the International Space Station, and aeronautics research and development. Doubtless, there are still lots of kids who want to grow up to be astronauts, but tell us - do you think space travel is still relevant or a waste of the country's money?

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Front Page: India Launches Moon Orbiter, Palin Gives Speech Advocating Women, EU Protests US Death Sentence

CitizenSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:00:27 -0700

India Launches Moon Orbiter:
India has launched its first unmanned spacecraft on a mission to the moon, in an effort to assert its power in space. The mission is set to last two years and will prepare a three-dimensional atlas of the moon as well as survey the lunar surface for usable natural resources like uranium, a coveted fuel for nuclear power plants.

Palin Gives Speech Advocating Women:
At a rally in Nevada yesterday, Sarah Palin gave a speech advocating for women's rights the world over. She said, "there are still places where women are subjugated and persecuted as they were in Afghanistan, places we’re they’re bullied and brutalized and murdered in honor killings. . . if I am elected, these women, too, will have an advocate and a defender in the 47th vice president of the United States. She also gave her first interview to CNN.
EU Protests US Death Sentence:
The European parliament is protesting the execution of a prisoner in the US after seven of the nine key witnesses recanted their testimony against him. The head of the EU parliament says that all executions are a violation of human rights and that the prisoner symbolizes all death row inmates. He says he "will fight against the death penalty under any circumstances everywhere in the world."

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UFOs Fly Onto Internet in UK

LibertySugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:00:33 -0700

In 1991, an airplane, headed for Heathrow, encountered a UFO, according to records of the UK Ministry of Defense. The commercial jet passed a brown missile-shaped object, causing the pilot to shout "Look out!"

Britain's National Archives has put 1,500 pages of UFO-related documents online. A new set of records, including witness accounts and sketches, is the latest installment of the four year program. In total, 160 UFO incidents will be made available to the public.

Another revelation? During the Cold War, a US fighter pilot leaving an English air base was ordered to open fire on a UFO above the North Sea. According to reports, the object gained speed and disappeared. Yesterday, Retired US airman Milton Torres said he was the pilot, and has spent 50 years trying to find out what happened that day.

Do you think governments try to hide evidence of extraterrestrial life from the public?

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