I design baby satellites and other space gadgets like electromagnetic structures. I also make the sci-fi webcomic November Shift and am an unabashed coffee junkie. I love Mass Effect. Oh, and I like to skate and shoot things. (Avatar by ~mrgid!)
Sammy, Sunny, and Mexico Ferrera in the back there <3
best part of this is that pothos plants are toxic to cats
rollin’ rollin’ rollin’
A pic of my tame dicesquig and his friends lamenting the scarcity of RP groups before finals
i miss tabletop RP ):
(Pictured: SR-71 on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum)
The Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird (also known as the Habu, after a pit viper found on the island of Okinawa, Japan, where the aircraft were based) is by far the most famous spy plane in the world. Part of the Blackbird family of aircraft, which include the A-12 OXCART, M-21 drone launcher, YF-12 interceptor prototype (which carried the AIM-47 nuclear air-to-air missile, the ancestor of the F-14’s AIM-54 Phoenix, and the famous SR-71, this Mach 3 spyplane from the Skunk Works program has captivated the imagination of countless aviation buffs around the world.
The SR-71’s predecessor, the A-12, first flew at the infamous Groom Lake facility (better known as Area 51) in 1962. A series of overflights of the Soviet Union and Vietnam followed, including the M-21/D-21 project, in which Blackbirds would launch supersonic reconnaissance drones which would overfly the military facilities of North Vietnam. The A-12 evolved into the two-seat SR-71, which served until 1989, then was reactivated in 1993 and served until its final retirement in 1998.
The SR-71 runs on a special type of fuel, JP7, which is carried by specially modified KC-135Q tanker aircraft. An interesting thing is that the Blackbird has parts designed to expand at high speeds and temperatures to fit together; as a result, it leaks fuel continuously on the ground and must be refueled in the air shortly after takeoff. Similarly, the aircraft’s paint, which appears black on the ground, begins to turn a slight bluish color at operating speed and altitude. The SR-71’s top speed has never been specified, but is suspected to be north of Mach 3.3 (2,200 mph at 80,000ft), with some estimates breaking Mach 4. It has a service ceiling of 85,000ft and carries a vast array of cameras and other sensors.
Fun fact: the SR-71 technically should be called the RS-71, and initially was, but lobbying on the part of General Curtis LeMay got the name changed for “Strategic Reconnaissance”.
(via takingbackthestars)
Just the saw the International Space Station swoosh over New York at 9:27p (just as a NASA txt indicated - estimated time was 9:51p) looked like a bolide (fireball), this is the second time I see this in person but it never ceases to be awesome. Keep looking up guys :D
even if we’re shrouded in constant light pollutionProvided pics for visual reference: Mojave desert fireball by Wally Pacholka / Bolide! by Bon Van Guick
Head’s Up: NASA’s Spot The Station program provides email or text updates which alert you when and where the ISS will appear overhead in your local night skies! My little guy has already spotted it, as have I. It’s quite a humbling (albeit brief) experience. Most overhead passes last around 1-5 minutes. Stay curious.
I’m just reblogging this because the stones are GORGEOUS.
Sparkly pretties….
(via soullesshusk)
Space station solar arrays
This close-up picture of a Zvezda Service Module array, reflecting bright rays of the sun, thus creating an artistic scene, was photographed on April 3 by one of the Expedition 35 crew members as part of an External Survey from International Space Station windows that was recently added to the crew’s task list.
Image credit: NASA
Today in 1959: NASA introduced the Project Mercury astronauts to the world. Known as the Mercury Seven or Original Seven, they are (front row, left to right) Walter M. “Wally” Schirra Jr., Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, John H. Glenn Jr., M. Scott Carpenter, (back row) Alan B. Shepard Jr., Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and L. Gordon Cooper, Jr.
Photo credit: NASA
(via sagansense)
