Slashdot Mirror

SEWilco writes: "This AP story points out major problems with the X-33 prototype shuttle. It's out of money and the composite hydrogen tank came apart in a test. The aerospike engine test seems to be doing nicely, but it needs a ship attached. Congress is considering NASA's Space Launch Initiative Program, which apparently includes more X-33 funding along with considering other technologies. The Delta Clipper is my favorite, although the ET Scenario engine-only-return design is interesting."

TOTKChief writes "Normally, a Shuttle launch isn't all that interesting, right? Well, the STS-106 (ISS 2A.2b) mission was interesting because it used a very small launch window in order to save fuel, which is a good thing. SpaceRef has good coverage of STS-106 up and running, including some of the on-board science -- most notably a neat protein crystal growth experiment that was worked on by a good friend of mine. NASA needs to get cracking, though, because an ambitious launch schedule awaits."

TOTKChief writes "Normally, a Shuttle launch isn't all that interesting, right? Well, the STS-106 (ISS 2A.2b) mission was interesting because it used a very small launch window in order to save fuel, which is a good thing. SpaceRef has good coverage of STS-106 up and running, including some of the on-board science -- most notably a neat protein crystal growth experiment that was worked on by a good friend of mine. NASA needs to get cracking, though, because an ambitious launch schedule awaits."

bcrafts writes "The ecological conditions in which microbes were found by researchers near the Antarctic underground freshwater Lake Vostok, have sparked more discussion inside of NASA, on a CNN report, other scientific groups,as well as other online sites about possible life on Jupiter's moon, Europa. "

Tom Rothamel writes, based on a story at FloridaToday.com, "Mir will be abandoned later today, ending a streak of permanent human habitation of space that began on September 6, 1989. There's a chance that one more crew will be sent before earth reclaims it sometime next year." I always hoped we (humans) would launch a better orbiting habitat by the time Mir became unliveable, but we didn't. Sad.

Tom Rothamel writes, based on a story at FloridaToday.com, "Mir will be abandoned later today, ending a streak of permanent human habitation of space that began on September 6, 1989. There's a chance that one more crew will be sent before earth reclaims it sometime next year." I always hoped we (humans) would launch a better orbiting habitat by the time Mir became unliveable, but we didn't. Sad.

Tom Rothamel writes "The Ikonos 1 satellite was lost on launch. Seeing that its mission was essentially to sell spy satellite photography, I'm not sure that's a bad thing. " It was interesting idea-selling satellite photos to private companies and such. Man-we could have had a great picture done of Geek Complex³. Snif.

Kris Kersey wrote in to mention that CompHardware.Com and running the Linux Hardware Database. Roast Beef wrote in to comment that AntiOnline's new AntiCode looks Strangely Familiar. Richard Finney sent us a nice picture of IO Transitioning Jupiter that has officially met Rob's First Law of Art (all art is better once it becomes my background image). Next up, a trio of Star Wars related stories: PhoneMonkey wrote in with proof that everyone has Star Wars fever over at The Onion. Danse writes wrote in to send us The Phantom Menace Revealed from the Brunching Shuttlecocks. Lars Westergren sent us Mr Cranky's top 10 reasons why you should be worried about the new "Star Wars" movie. [null] created the terribly flawed Slashdot Quota (he gives more points to quickee submittors than feature & book review writers, plus failed to give a million bonus points to anyone named CmdrTaco). An anonymous reader linked us to a suspended Linux server. Link wrote in to send us a little web slideshow that I can't explain, but its so odd that I had to share it. The Dude wrote in to tell us about the ideal use for that VAX 11/780 that you lying around. And finally for the paranoid, Cabby sent us a website which (I kid you not) is Everything Women need to know about Y2k. Sit in slack jawed amazement.