JPL Engineer Explains How They Are Testing The Next Generation Of Mars Parachutes In The Video “LDSD:

Life is unfair sometimes. [Via OffTheMarkComic]

The Pillars of Creation and Spotting Comet Lovejoy

This week in space news, a new makeover for one of the Hubble Telescope’s most famous images, and tips on spotting Comet Lovejoy in the night sky.

Sometimes I think we are alone in the universe and sometimes I think we’re not. In either case the idea is quite staggering

Arthur C Clarke (via eearth)

Cometary Globules

Drifting Memories

Orion nebula & The running man nebula, by TimMorrill

Orion nebula & The running man nebula.

Space shuttle launch (no sound).

open parachute during tests for Mars Science Laboratory

Last space shuttle External Tank arrives at California Science Center.

ET-94 paraded its way through the Los Angeles suburbs today, May 21, as it journeyed to its final home at the California Science Center.

The last surviving flight-worthy space shuttle external tank, ET-94 left the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans April 12, where it has been since it was fabricated in the early 2000′s. It traversed the Panama Canal April 25-27, and arrived at Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles last Wednesday, May 19, after a 36-day sea voyage.

Leaving Marina Del Rey at 12:01am PDT with a New Orleans jazz band, the tank encountered more obstacles than expected during its 15.5 mile trek through the city, arriving at the CSC at 7:13pm PDT.

Towed through the streets of Inglewood, the last time space hardware shut down traffic was in October 2012, when space shuttle Endeavour was towed from Los Angeles International Airport to the CSC.

P/c: LA Times, California Science Center.