Sunday, September 20, 2015

Deep Space Here We Come, The Martian, and Kepler Space Telescope

Deep Space Here We Come: Last week Jeff Bezos and his company Blue Origin announced they want millions of humans living in space and he is going to do his best — and spend whatever it takes — to make that happen. NASA recently awarded two contracts to Deep Space Industries Inc. to accelerate the agency’s plans to partner with private industry on asteroid prospecting and harvesting. Elon Musk with SpaceX and Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic are incredible deep space visionaries. 

It’s incredible how in one generation we will have the money and people to make this work. We’ll see it on our life time, even if we witness only the beginning stages. And there are no shortage of best sellers and highly anticipated movies to wet our appetites for exploring that final frontier. 

The Martian: When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. 

With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission. Starring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott, The Martian hits the big screens October 2nd.

Glad to see the list of upcoming Sci-fi flicks including Star Wars, The Passengers, Star Trek Beyond and Independence Day Resurgence among others will keep science fiction junkies happy well into 2016. 

Did You Know: Mars exists within our Sun’s habitable zone, or the Goldilocks Zone, although it is slightly towards its outer edge. This is a region around a star that that has the right conditions to find liquid water and possibly a breathable atmosphere on a planet's surface. 

Fun Facts: The Kepler Space Telescope has confirmed more than 1,000 alien planets since its launch in March 2009 and spotted thousands of candidates which scientists expect to confirm a high percentage as planets. In April 2014 it identified the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star. While planets have previously been found in the habitable zone, they are all at least 40 percent larger in size than Earth and understanding their makeup is challenging. 

Salem’s Daughters Blog Tour: I’ll be doing the Salem's Daughters Blog Tour during October and the first half of November and you’re all invited! Black tie and glass slippers not required. 

 I’ll announce the All-Star lineup next week. Although the official release of Salem’s Daughters is Thursday October 1st, I won’t kick off festivities until Monday the 5th. 

Question: Do you plan to see The Martian? Would you take a commercial trip into outer space (assuming you had money to burn and buy a ticket). 

32 comments:

  1. Most definitely I would take a trip into space. Sadly I a) don't have the money and b) am beyond the age they would probably allow. I would like to see The Martian, I will have to see if a friend will go with me.

    Good luck with your book.

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    1. Jo, I still do movie marathons. I'll see three as long as the fam is into it.

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  2. I will be seeing The Martian when it comes out.
    There are some other companies competing with Amazon's drones, but don't remember who. Will be interesting to see if Amazon goes into space.

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  3. Independence Day Resurgence?? Will Smith? and the old crew?
    Looking forward to The Martian. We read the book, looking forward to the film.

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    1. Susan, I can only hope the second installment is much better than the first. So much potential here.

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  4. I'm too much of a scaredy-cat to take a trip to outer space, I think! XD

    And oh, how exciting about the blog tour! Looking forward to that on the 5th... :)

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    1. Heather, thanks for your support! Me, I'll take that trip with the fam. I'd better start saving now.

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  5. Not sure I'd fly in space yet, but it would be cool to see.

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  6. The question is, can we ever hope to reach any of those earth-like planets?

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  7. I do want to see the Martian; Matt Damon is a favorite actor of mine. I don't think I will travel to outer space, even if given the opportunity to do so. Approaching my 60s in a couple of years, I think I'll spend the rest of my days firmly planted on planet earth :)

    betty

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    1. Betty, I'd do it regardless of my age, although I would think a health clearance from a doctor would be required.

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  8. I just made a face because it seems like he could be putting all that effort toward something like feeding the hungry or making a difference on OUR planet. Like Bill Gates does. Do we really need to inhabit another planet? If we run out of resources on our planet, I could see it...but I don't think that will happen during our lifetime!

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    1. Stephanie, a lot of people make have similar concerns. But there is a payback that exceeds the costs. And space travel will be done by for-profit companies so somewhere down the line they'll have to make it economical and profitable.

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  9. Hi Stephen - I don't think I want to go into space .. though I'd like a quick ride up there!! I won't be seeing the Martian - but am looking forward to your tour and hosting you anon ... cheers Hilary

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  10. Send millions of people to live in space? I think this might be a good solution to the "refugee" problem in Europe.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Genius!!! This could also solve prison overcrowding.

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  11. I would absolutely go into outer space if the option was available. I read The Martian and it was great. Don't know if the movie can come close but I'll probably see it. More excited about the next Star Trek.

    Susan Says

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  12. The Martian sounds great. I'm still hoping to read the book before the movie comes out!

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  13. Can you imagine being stranded (LEFT BEHIND!) on another planet??? I think I'd be done for, even if I had the skill set to survive. Absolutely terrified. I mean, I freaked when I was left at the mall as a teenager. Eek!

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    1. SA, that would be terrifying. But the fight for survival would kick in and you'd be surprised at what you could do.

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  14. I think I'm a bit of an earth-dweller myself. No space trips for me. :D

    Man, it'd suck to be Matt Damon, trapped on Mars. At least the list of movies looks good!

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  15. My husband would go in a heartbeat. Me? I'd rather explore the bottom of the ocean or isolated islands or strange caverns in the arctic. There's enough adventure here for me. (Plus I get motion sickness and the g-force alone from take off...eek.)

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    1. Crystal, the ocean would be fun to explore. Especially the Great Barrier Reef.

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  16. Looking forward to seeing The Martian. And Salem's Daughters looks Amazing!!! Wishing you great success!!!!!

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  17. Astronaut movies scare me. There's something about them that give me the willies. Maybe it's the deep space thing, or all of the things that can go wrong, or even aliens but it's not often that I choose to watch an astronaut movie. The Martian looks good though. I may watch it.

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  18. Sending people into space actually seems a logical thing to me. We are abusing this world and while we may have a few hundred years left here, we probably ought to start looking at other places if our species is going to survive. I wouldn't want to go unless my primary loved ones were going, too.

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  19. I just saw something about proof of Mars having flowing water. I'll have to read it. It'll be interesting to see if colonizing space becomes a reality.

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  20. I enjoy Matt, so, yes. I plan to see it. I'm sure it's not too far into the future when the Martians will be us! Better become used to the idea that the little green men are exactly what we'll have with us on that planet, but maybe a few Matt Damons won't be bad.

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  21. I'm not sure I'd take a trip out to space just yet. If I had the money to burn, I'd sure consider it.

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  22. It's all rather incredible, I'm thinking. Enjoyed seeing your post over at Alex's place. Have a great week!

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  23. I've always suspected Mars could be our next world.

    Shhhh, don't tell the cats I have fish!

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