Passkale - Untitled

bryn_north

Probably one of the better looking volcanoes I’ve had the privilege of setting my eyes on 🌋.

@naudewashere

stoked on the conditions that morning!

The making of the Mainframe Kid.

Connor Krukosky, aka The Mainframe Kid, got his first IBM computer when he was just 18 months old. At age 18, he bought, disassembled and rebuilt a 13-year-old, 1,500-pound IBM z890 mainframe computer. Now, he works at IBM.

Hear his story->

An Addition to our Space Rock Collection

On October 20th, our OSIRIS-REx mission will make its first attempt to collect and retrieve a sample of asteroid Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid. On sample collection day, Bennu will be over 200 million miles away from Earth.  

Asteroids are the building blocks of our solar system. A sample of this ancient material can tell us about the history of our planet and the origins of life. Science results published from the mission on October 8th confirm that Bennu contains carbon in a form often found in biology or in compounds associated with biology.

To collect a sample, OSIRIS-REx will attempt a method NASA has never used before – called Touch-And-Go (TAG).  First, the spacecraft extends its robotic sampling arm, the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) – from its folded storage position. The spacecraft’s two solar panels then move into a “Y-wing” configuration over the spacecraft’s body, which positions them safely up and away from the asteroid’s surface during touch down. This configuration also places the spacecraft’s center of gravity directly over the TAGSAM collector head, which is the only part of the spacecraft that will contact Bennu’s surface.

Finding a safe sample collection site on Bennu’s rocky landscape was a challenge. During the sampling event, the spacecraft, which is the size of a large van, will attempt to touch down in an area that is only the size of a few parking spaces, and just a few steps away from enormous boulders.

The spacecraft will only make contact with Bennu for a matter of seconds - just long enough to blow nitrogen gas onto the surface to roil up dust and small pebbles, which will then be captured for a return to Earth.

We need to conduct a few tests before we can confirm we collected a large enough sample (about 2 oz). First, OSIRIS-REx will take images of the collector head to see if it contains rocks and dust. Second, the spacecraft will spin with the TAGSAM extended to determine the mass of collected material. If these measures show a successful collection, we will stow the sample for return to Earth. If sufficient sample has not been collected, the spacecraft has onboard nitrogen charges for two more attempts. The next TAG attempt would be made no earlier than January 2021.

Despite the many challenges, the OSIRIS-REx team is ready. They’ve practiced and prepared for this moment.

Join in with #ToBennuAndBack and tune in on October 20th.

Learn more about the OSIRIS-REx countdown to TAG HERE.

Learn more about the OSIRIS-REx mission HERE, or follow the mission on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

I just watched the 4 clearly visible planets march across the sky with the moon in the center, so here’s a short guide to the night sky as the last 3 move across.

mammenxTime lapse of the milky way rolling across the night sky, flanked by the planets Jupiter, Saturn & Mars. Taken from Diskit Ladakh, this place truly has some fantastic unobstructed views of the night sky

A.R.E-Augmented Reality Exhibition from Vetro Editions on Vimeo.

Curated by Generative Hut, a collaborative platform dedicated to bringing together generative artists from around the world and Vetro Editions, acclaimed independent publishing house, A.R.E features the very best of Generative Art – art created through the use of a computer or other autonomous systems.

Featuring artworks from 31 international generative artists, A.R.E is like no other art book. It takes you through a unique immersive art experience by inviting you to discover the artworks in augmented reality. Each page includes a hidden key which unlocks a digital animation using a free app – bringing the pieces of art to life. This interactive feature allows you to explore the artworks as they were designed to be viewed by the artists. By merging the physical and digital worlds, the book opens up new ways of experiencing art from anywhere.

A.R.E - Augmented Reality Exhibition 80 pages + cover, Swiss bound, softcover. with a free app to access Augmented Reality English, 20 x 25 cm Price: 42€ + shipping worldwide Early bird discount 36€ + shipping worldwide Publication date: September 2021

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9-hAJ8IrmU)

Seven whistleblowers have been prosecuted for leaking information to publishers since 2017. We’ve mined the court filings in the cases filed by Trump’s Justice Department to identify the methods used to unmask these alleged sources.

Illustration: Owen Freeman for The Intercept