KenMankoff

Mars in Moscow

If you would like to go to Mars, or help others go to Mars, the European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for volunteers to spend 500 days in a simulated spacecraft in Moscow. You will get to travel to Mars, spend 30 days doing surface operations once there, and then return.

I would apply, but having just started graduate school I have other commitments for the next 1.4 years. Also, while it seems I can leave my wife for a few months for Antarctica, I would not want to leave her to spend 1.4 years in Moscow.

For details, read up on the recently completed 105 day mission simulation.

Mars Simulation Isolation Facility. Courtesy ESA

Astronaut Rejection Part II of II

Yesterday I received my second astronaut rejection letter. The first was a few months ago from ESA and this one was from NASA. I am not surprised but still sad. The nine new astronauts (called AsCans as they are Astronaut Candidates until their first flight) selected by NASA are introduced here.

In related news, as of July 1st I am officially a PhD. student at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Eight New Astronauts

The European Space Agency (ESA) has just announced and introduced their six new astronauts. The biographies testify to an impressive lot. I think even if I had completed my PhD when I was trying out for these slots, it does not look like I had much of a chance. Four of the six are pilots: one fighter, two test, and one commercial.

Canada CSA also recently announced their two new astronauts (one fighter pilot, one doctor + astrophysicist).

Within a few months Japan (JAXA) and the U.S. (NASA) will announce their new astronaut corps too.

Looks like I have some studying to do in order to prepare for the next round in about a decade.

P.S. Tim, keep up the good work so I can just buy me a ticket if it comes down to that. I’d really prefer orbital to suborbital.

Automatic undocking from the ISS

At the end of its six-month mission, Jules Verne ATV undocked from the International Space Station on 5 September 2008 at 21:29 UT.

It has now embarked on the last leg of its journey which will end with a controlled destructive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on 29 September. If you happen to be flying to NZ or AU from the US you have a chance to see the fireball. Click the image for a video simulation of the re-entry.

Astronaut Rejection Part I of II

I previously wrote about applying to NASA to be a astronaut. I haven’t heard back from them yet, but I’m highly confident about what the reply will say.

I didn’t mention it here but I also applied to ESA. I got accepted (OMG!!), went to DLR in Hamburg, Germany for the first round of psychological testing, and even qualified for the second round in Cologne. But that is as far as I made it…

The NASA selection process is fairly secretive. I haven’t found much about it online. ESA is too, and I cannot discuss any details as I signed an NDA, but they still post a lot online. At the ESA Astronaut Selection Site you can view the full schedule, learn about what they are looking for, and even take a bunch of tests that are similar to what I took as part of the Psych I evaluation.

Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. I guess I won’t be an astronaut… for now. I haven’t given up hope entirely yet. I know what I need to do to strengthen my application for the next time I can apply. Hopefully it is within a decade or I might not pass the age limit requirements. And of course, I’m still counting on Tim…