Conspiracy!

A giant, overstated poster for all the nut jobs who still insist, even after NASA's recent photos of the Apollo landing site, that everything is rigged. Click it for the obscenely large.

Will Repair Small but Critical Shuttle Component for Food

Locally, thousands more will be unemployed very shortly. (I hear Disney's hiring part-time "cast members.") The US Labor Secretary will be down this morning to announce some federal money to help those about to be out of work.

Elaborated on more at Radio Free Babylon.

131 Down - 3 To Go

Space Shuttle Discovery this morning, on mission STS-131, as seen from 70 miles to the west. (Click for very large.)

Horrible Headline Hell

Headline writers at news organizations are apparently a fun lot, occasionally infusing their work with cutesy crap, and too often going for alliteration, which is like the slapstick of prose. Red pen had to come out.

The Meatball and the Worm

For the design freaks out there, there's an interesting piece today in The New York Times Style Magazine by Alice Rawsthorn about NASA's identity crisis.

Although after reading, I'm still not sure why NASA holds on to this hyper-dated logo, or "insignia" as they call it. They sought to modernize it in 1972 as part of the Federal Design Improvement Program, an initiative supported by President Nixon to modernize the use of design by government agencies. After spending a ton of your money coming up with an alternative that works, they brought this thing back in the bad years of NASA (crashes) to remind people of the glory years. It just reminds me of bad design.

Airstream Product Placement

The caption of this official NASA image reads: "Crew members for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission pause by the Astrovan to wave to spectators before their ride to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center."

Yeah. They called it an Astrovan. Doesn't matter. Everyone knows who built this thing.

The script logo above the astronaut on the far right reads very clearly, "Airstream." This image might as well be captioned: "The coolest RV ever invented. So cool, astronauts cruise around in it. Airstream rules. NASA uses Airstream. All other motor-homes, trailers and RVs can kiss our silver, streamlined ass."

See another very cool Airstream here, designed by Design Within Reach.

It's Got a Certain Tang to It

I'm reminded of a couple lines of dialog from the movie The Sandlot.
Phillips: Tomorrow. Noon, at our field. Be there, buffalo-butt breath.
Ham Porter: Count on it, pee-drinking crap-face!

He Lives on the Moon, We May All Be There Soon

In honor of NASA's 50th birthday, and in anticipation of the long-awaited jetpack, enjoy this 1968 commercial for Mattel's Major Matt Mason. Note the intro and outro camera, the black and white kids playing with black and white action figures, as well as the copy and announcer trying to tell a compelling story, sometimes rhyming.

Dreams of Flight

On this, the 50th anniversary of NASA, The New York Times has a cover story this morning about that jetpack I mentioned last week debuting at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI today. Like most jetpacks, this one is severely lacking and severely expensive. Says the inventor,

“If someone says, ‘I’m not going to buy a jetpack until it’s the size of my high school backpack and has a turbine engine in it,’ that’s fine,” he said. “ But they’re not going to be flying a jetpack in their lifetime.”

I guess the inventor has been reading this blog, because I've basically said just that. Color me skeptical and unimpressed, but at $100,000 (and no one has gotten more than five feet off the ground so far) I'm thinkin'.....zzzzzzzzzzz.

Anyway, as I've said before, the jetpack is a symbol, a metaphor, a....something. I'm not really looking for a jetpack. It'd be nice, but the point is broader.

Not a Fan - But Love The Work

I'm on record as being not so fond of NASA, but there' s something about a shuttle launch that makes you go, "Damn! That was awesome!" These photos were taken by a friend who was in Daytona Beach today, a good 80 miles from the launch site. (That's 128 kilometers for you more enlightened, International readers.) Said my Dad, watching from even further away, "It was such a nice day I was able to see the separation from my backyard without binocs." Here's an image of the pair of solid rocket boosters falling into the Atlantic as the shuttle slips the surly bonds of earth.



Previously in NASA
Aerosmith for NASA with bad production
Good for Something After All
NASA Needs a Slogan
Lisa Nowak - The Reason I'm Late from Lunch
In Space, No One Can Hear You Pee
The Games Astronauts Play
Buy an Astronaut a Drink
Rocket to the Moon and Race Right Back
Astronaughties

You're Gonna Wanna Be Paht of This Amazing Journey

Looks like a bunch of highly skilled people in Central Florida will be out of work soon when the Space Shuttle program reaches its end in 2010.

So, with that sad news, let's watch a Wicked Re-TAH-ded* PSA for NASA (obviously produced in-house) featuring Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, urging duh yutes to stay in school and not try to become rock stars. The production on this proves that sometimes even the brightest minds have no business messing with the creative side.



*See comments on previous post.

Previously in NASA
Good for Something After All
NASA Needs a Slogan
Lisa Nowak - The Reason I'm Late from Lunch
In Space, No One Can Hear You Pee
The Games Astronauts Play
Buy an Astronaut a Drink
Rocket to the Moon and Race Right Back
Astronaughties

Previously in PSAs
SoCal Burning
Weekend Water Safety Warning
Fried For a Frisbee
Your Girlfriend Has an STD
When Snowmen Go Bad

Previously in Aerosmith
NASCAR Set to Rock

Things Happening In Space

What a day for the Heavens, with the space shuttle landing and a satellite (allegedly) getting blasted out of the sky. Not to mention a full lunar eclipse, as seen from my backyard in beautiful Florida tonight.

Had a helluva time getting the right shutter speed and aperture. Damn digital photography. Getting in the way of of my old skool skilz.

NASA: Good for Something After All

NASA was looking for a new slogan awhile back. I think I have one for them:

No One Does Pictures of The Moon Like Us.














Tried to get outside in time for the sonic boom and maybe catch a glimpse of the shuttle coming back to earth today. Missed out on both counts.

I'm Easily Amused

I know, I know. Taking pictures while driving is wrong, but I couldn't resist the sequence on my odometer this morning on the way to work. I'm a simpleton. I also smile when I glance at the clock and it's 4:44. A cool number.















I meant to get a shot of the shuttle taking off this morning, but I was in a meeting. Who schedules a meeting when the shuttle is launching?

Here's some older shuttle launch shots from the backyard.

NASA: Space is Fun, Dangerous and Expensive™

And all this science I don't understand.

There's an internal memo that was released by NASA circulating the Internet regarding the space agency's current slogan, "Explore, Discover, Understand." Seems they want something catchier. So far, the suits from DC have come up with "NASA explores for answers that power our future." Mmmm. Just GRABS ya, doesn't it?

A bunch of bloggers have already put on their creative helmets and are trying to help NASA come up with something better. Go there and vote, or submit your own. It ain't an easy assignment. So far, I've come up with "Mars Ain't The Kinda Place to Raise your Kids."

Maybe while you're thinking of a catchy space slogan, you can update that "Atomic Age" logo of theirs, too.

Oh - YOU'RE The Reason for the Gridlock

Had I known today was the start of Lisa Nowak's hearing in downtown Orlando, I'd have stayed put at lunch.











Satellite trucks from every news outlet are tying up traffic as they bring you the sordid details of the soiled diapers. (Someone stop me before I alliterate again. Creative crutch.)

Previously:
In Space, No One Can Hear You Pee
The Games Astronauts Play
Buy an Astronaut a Drink
Rocket to the Moon and Race Right Back
Astronaughties

Buy an Astronaut a Drink

Rocket to the Moon and Race Right Back

...To my holograph room and my new jetpack.

I'm on record as not being a huge fan of NASA, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying a little Friday evening shuttle launch in the backyard now and again. I visited the Space Center once. Pretty dull, to be truthful. But a shuttle launch is something to see, even from 70 miles away.




Previously in NASA related.

Soylent Green is Made Out of People!

They apparently weren't allowed to say "NASA" in this spot - just allude to it with "U.S. Aerospace Research." The name "food stick" is a little creepy and Soylent Green sounding. The model makers must be commended on the lunar lander model and moonscape as the spacecraft only shakes a little as it's lowered on fishing line. Serious sounding voiceover guy apparently borrowed from government-produced educational films. Note the nod to diversity, although the black man is naturally an athlete (and that's his "work".) Also fun: the line "lasting energy to feel alive" goes with Stepford Mom blankly running with her kids.

The Games Astronauts Play