Tag Archives: NASA
25 Best Places to Retire – Huntsville, AL (16)
Best if you’re looking for: College town
Median home price: $174,000
Top state income tax: 5%
Space buffs know Huntsville as “The Rocket City” because the Marshall Space Flight Center was the original NASA, and it still plays a major role in civilian and government spacecraft and rocketry.
Architecture aficionados know it for its 19th-century buildings; nature lovers know this northern Alabama city for its parks, botanical gardens, and nature preserves. While this Southern city seems to have something for everyone, so too does the University of Alabama.
Founded in 1993, the school’s lifelong learning program offers dozens of courses each term on topics as diverse as the volunteers who teach them.
via 25 Best Places to Retire – Huntsville, AL (16) – Money Magazine.
UAHuntsville laboratory “one of America’s best”
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – UAHuntsville’s Propulsion Research Center has been featured as one of the top laboratories in the nation by Popular Science magazine.
The magazine’s September issue, in a feature entitled “Labs that Go Boom,” credits the PRC’s rocket building prowess and lauds it for being a home base to some of tomorrow’s great rocket scientists. It featured the PRC as one of 10 laboratories across the U.S. where students do serious research and career training by “blowing stuff up.”
It cited the PRC’s strategic location, just a few miles from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and said “the Propulsion Research Center has been a proving ground for some of the world’s top rocket scientists since its inception in 1991.”
In 2011 Popular Science also named the PRC as the third “Most Awesome Lab” as part of its “Best Places to Pursue Science” feature.
PRC Interim Director Robert Frederick said students will soon begin work on new nuclear propulsion systems that could reach Mars in weeks instead of months.
It listed possible careers for graduates in rocket science, aircraft design and missile systems.
via UAHuntsville laboratory “one of America’s best” by Popular Science | al.com.
Filed under Madison County "in the news"
Curiosity rover replica roams to U.S. Space & Rocket Center
(U.S. Space & Rocket Center)
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — While Curiosity is roaming on Mars millions of miles away, a replica of the rover roamed its way into to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The scale model was moved in early Tuesday morning as a result of President Barack Obama calling the Curiosity team in California to congratulate them on their successful mission.
“We got this from headquarters and we don’t know how long it’s going to stay, but we’re glad to have it,” spokesman Tim Hall said. “Everybody’s talking about Curiosity, the pictures, the look, the feel. Kids love it.”
The rover, officially called Mars Science Laboratory, landed on Mars last Monday without incident after an eight-month trip through space spanning 85 million miles. Curiosity carries the most advanced suite of instruments for scientific studies ever sent to the martian surface. While on Mars, the rover will analyze dozens of soil samples and explore the role of water, atmospheric evolution and climate.
via Curiosity rover replica roams to U.S. Space & Rocket Center | al.com.
Filed under Things to do and see:
Filming for “Space Warriors” movie starts at Space & Rocket Center
Space Warriors Director Sean McNamera (center in black) talks with a crew member during a break in shooting (The Huntsville Times/Dave Dieter) Dave Dieter
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Filming started for the movie “Space Warriors” early today at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and some big names are in the cast.
The official cast announced for the movie includes veteran actor and activist Danny Glover, well known for his roles in “The Color Purple” and the “Lethal Weapon” films;
Josh Lucas, who was in the Academy Award-winner “A Beautiful Mind,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and “American Psycho” and recently in the TV drama, “The Firm;”
Mira Sorvino, winner of an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Mighty Aphrodite” who starred in “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion;”
“Space Warriors” actor Thomas Horn reads a book between takes. (The Huntsville Times/Dave Dieter)
Dermot Mulroney, who was in “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “The Wedding Date” and “The Grey;” and Thomas Horn, who made his acting debut in the Oscar-nominated movie “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.”
“Space Warriors” is about a teenage boy named Jimmy Hawkins, played by Horn, who gets a chance to fulfill his dream of going to Space Camp, along with five other talented youth from around the world. Former astronaut Col. Roy Manley, portrayed by Josh Lucas, guides the team called Space Warriors through all the Space Camp challenges.
Jason Netter, the producer of the movie and owner of Kickstart Entertainment, said the Space Warriors is an underdog team that competes for a trip to the International Space Station and loses to a more seasoned group of Space Campers called the Titans.
The members of the Space Warriors team use their skills to solve a problem on the space station, Netter said, and “end up saving the day.”
In the movie, Jimmy’s father, a former astronaut, is played by Mulroney, and his mother is portrayed by Sorvino.
The movie is being directed by Sean McNamara, the director of “Soul Surfer.” The movie’s executive producers are Spencer Proffer, CEO of Meteor 17, and Trevor Dinkwater, CEO of Arc Entertainment.
via Filming for “Space Warriors” movie starts at U.S. Space & Rocket Center | al.com.
Filed under Madison County "in the news"
