101.9 Blake FM » space

You Can Name a Planet in Outrageous Contest

Drew Weisholtz — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:39:27 +0000

Earth, Mars, Neptune – how hard can it possibly be to name a planet? Now’s your chance to find out. A company called Uwingu which aims to raise funds for space exploration is holding a contest to name a planet that currently goes by the rather sci-fi-sounding moniker Alpha Centauri Bb. Because Alpha Centauri Bb, [...]

Real Life Sci-Fi: Meteor Explodes Over Russia, Hundreds Injured

Mike Sampson — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:50:34 +0000

You've seen it a hundred times in countless sci-fi movies: an object from space comes hurtling towards Earth leaving a trail of thick smoke behind it as curious onlookers turn their heads to the sky, mouths agape. Only this time, it's real.

Over 500 people were injured in Chelyabinsk, Russia last night when a meteor came blazing into the atmosphere, exploded and sent fireballs raining down as citizens caught all the action on camera.

This Giant Asteroid Is Barely Going to Miss Earth on Friday

Chris Chaberski — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:33:42 +0000

Seventeen-thousand miles might not sound particularly close at first listen, but when it comes to a gigantic rock the size of half a football field, it’s a bit scarier. On Friday, an asteroid labeled 2012 DA14 will pass by Earth at a distance of about 17,150 miles. This is the closest that an asteroid of [...]

Hear the First Song Ever Recorded On the International Space Station

Tom Blunt — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 13:02:58 +0000

Even scientists have soul! Take a listen to ‘Jewel in the Night,’ by Colonel Chris Hadfield. Here’s the link for your listening pleasure. It so happens that several of the astronauts on the International Space Station are musicians, which means that the future could be full of similar transmissions from space. Even stranger: singer Sarah [...]

Breaking News – Man Parachutes From Edge of Space

Tom Blunt — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:13:27 +0000

Today a base-jumper named Felix Baumgartner attempted a record-breaking high altitude jump from the place where the Earth’s atmosphere ends and space begins. The historic leap from twenty-three miles above the earth did not go exactly as planned. Baumgartner didn’t quite break the record for the longest freefall: he was forced to pull the ripcord [...]

Man Jumps Out Of Space Capsule 13 Miles Above Earth

Joe Student — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:32 +0000

Last week, Red Bull-sponsored astronaut Felix Baumgartner jumped out of a space capsule 13 miles above the earth over Roswell, New Mexico and lived. Watch the video to see details of this amazing feat: The jump from 71,581 feet was a test for Baumgartner, 42, who wants to break the 51 year-old record of 102,000 [...]

Would You Fly to Space If You Had the Chance? — Survey of the Day

Jeremy Taylor — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:42:41 +0000

Last month Virgin Galactic announced it would begin offering commercial space flights later this year. The two-and-a-half hour trip just cracks the space barrier and offers about five minutes of weightlessness. It also comes with a fairly prohibitive price tag of $200,000 a pop. But let’s say money was no object. Would you want to be among the [...]

NASA Wants to Hire You — No, Seriously

Shauna Wright — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:52 +0000

Lots of little kids dream about becoming astronauts — and for some lucky grown-ups, those dreams could become a reality. NASA recently concluded an open call for civilians to apply for a spot in the next astronaut class. The competition will be fierce. Only about a dozen candidates will be chosen from the 5,700 people who [...]

Breathtaking View of the Auroras From Space [VIDEO]

Dylan Schenker — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:12:24 +0000

This breathtaking new video from the International Space Station offers a rarely seen view of the Auroras from space.

The Southern and Northern Lights are one of the most beautiful natural phenomenon in the world. So you can imagine how amazing they look while floating above the Earth. You gotta see this footage after the jump.