Godzilla Gets Own Constellation

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The King of the Monsters was honored by NASA and astronomy researchers with a constellation name. NHK reported:

An international team of researchers has given the name Godzilla to one of what it calls the modern constellations. The monster is among the most popular film characters created in Japan. 

The team, made up of US space agency NASA and worldwide astronomy researchers, announced 21 new gamma-ray "constellations" to mark the 10th year of operations of its Fermi satellite for astronomical observation.

The constellation was named "Godzilla" due to the "monster's trademark heat ray bears a resemblance to gamma-ray jets associated with black holes and neutron stars."

To read more, go here.

UFO approaches International Space Station

Scott Waring who edits UFO Sightings Daily has made the following discovery that he announced on 12 August 2013. He had been affiliated with the military while he was in the States. He now lives in Taiwan.

I have now uncovered photos as of 12 August 2013 that were taken during the STS-122 mission back in February of 2008. This is an alien orb and similar orbs have been seen around the shuttle Atlantis before and broadcasted on live CNN around the world a few years ago. Notice the mist around this orb. If this was the moon it would be in total focus like the Earth, but you need to click on the large photo to see this fact.

On Sept 20, 2006 the world had a treat...CNN announced live that the Shuttle Atlantis would be delayed for its landing due to a UFO following it...Unidentified Flying Object, which does not necessarily mean alien object. When CNN showed the live feed from the shuttle... the world saw not one, but 5-7 grey metallic orbs floating around behind and around the shuttle. I will put the video below for those who have never seen it before.

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Fully restored Star Trek Galileo Spaceship to call Space Center Houston home July 31

Space Center Houston will publicly unveil Galileo, the newly restored spaceship prop featured in the 1967 Star Trek episode “The Galileo Seven” after a yearlong restoration project lead by Adam Schnieder, a die-hard Star Trek fan and memorabilia collector. The life-size spaceship will be on permanent display inside Space Center Houston’s Zero-G Diner and will be one of only a few exhibitions in the world where visitors can see iconic sci-fi history that has influenced generations of innovators.

“Science fiction, especially a series like Star Trek, has inspired many astronauts and engineers,” said Richard Allen, president and CEO of Space Center Houston. “This exciting new addition to our collection connects and aligns with our ongoing mission to motivate, stimulate and inspire young minds to consider careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).”

Actors from the Star Trek television series, made possible by Space City Con will be part of the memorable event including original Star Trek cast member Don Marshall who appeared in The Galileo Seven episode as Lt. Boma; Robert Picardo who played The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager; Galvestonian Tracy Scoggins who portrayed a Cardassian scientist in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well as Monica Colby in the popular 1980s drama Dynasty; Denise Crosby who played Security Chief Tasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Gil Gerard, who appeared as a Starfleet Admiral from the new episode Star Trek Phase II and is best known as Captain William Buck Rogers in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century as well as Marshall Teague who played supporting roles in both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.

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Space Shuttle "Endeavour" In Inglewood

Text and Photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, my first view of Endeavour on Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My alarm was set for 2:50 AM, but I woke up about seven minutes before.

I decided to make the trek down to Inglewood, California (about 25 miles away) to view the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Manchester Blvd. as it is being hauled to the California Science Center.

Above, Endeavour is still an impresive sight!  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is scheduled to be at a viewing area at the Forum's parking lot at 8:00 this morning, but I heard one of the police in Inglewood say that it is two hours behind schedule.  Endeavour is supposed to arrive at the California Science Center tonight (good luck!).

Above, the crew section of Endeavour.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I got down to Inglewood and found that it was nowhere near the Forum.  I located it about 2-3 miles west on Manchester.  I found a parking space (surprisingly fast) in front of Inglewood High School.  Endeavour was about three short blocks west.

Above, the starboard wing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After parking, I walked down Manchester and found that a lot of other people had the same idea.  There were several hundred people there, but they were all orderly and were enjoying seeing a spaceship on a city street.  Several news vans were also there covering the event.

Above, hundreds of thermal tiles under the starboard wing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The shuttle was stopped in the street.  I saw it move only once during the time I was there.  On average, according to news reports, it is supposed to move at about two miles per hour.  It may have been stopped as crews were working to get some power lines out of the way.

Above, the tail section and engines.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was able to get right up close to it.  I stood virtually under its starboard side wing tip.  The rocket engines on Endeavour are dummy ones.  The real ones were removed earlier.  It looks space-worthy yet.

Above, Endeavour drew a good crowd at 3:30 in the morning.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is amazing seeing an object about the size of a Boeing 737 being towed through city streets for sixteen miles.  It is truly one of those "once in a lifetime" kind of events.

I'm glad I went!

Endeavor Arrives In Los Angeles Tomorrow

by Armand Vaquer

Photo: Nasa

Tomorrow's the day when space shuttle Endeavor lands at Los Angeles International Airport.

After a tour of the Bay Area and Sacramento, the shuttle will enter Los Angeles airspace at around 10:30 tomorrow morning.

This link will provide the flyover spots of Endeavor (atop a modified Boeing 747) for best viewing.  As it will fly over Griffith Park Observatory and Universal City, I will remain in the Burbank Hills after work with my camera to get an excellent hilltop view.

The Space Shuttle Program: In The Beginning

by Armand Vaquer

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the flying brick Enterprise...

Above, Armand with the shuttle prototype "Enterprise."

The winding down of the U.S. Space Shuttle program caused me to look back at the beginnings of the program back in the 1970s.

I've always been a fan of the U.S. Space Program, beginning with Project Mercury. It has been my contention that the space program is the only worthwhile U.S. government program.

In the beginning, the shuttle program started out at the NASA's Dryden test center at Edwards Air Force Base out in the Mojave Desert.

In 1977, a friend of mine, Mitch Geriminsky was in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Edwards. Talk about being at the right place and at the right time! One weekend, I paid a visit and Mitch took me over to the space shuttle facilities at Edwards.

Luckily for me, I had my camera with me when we visited the shuttle facilities. The photographs are in black & white as I had a black & white darkroom at home where I developed and printed photographs.

First off, we viewed the modified Boeing 747 used to piggy-back the shuttle prototype, Enterprise.

Above, the modified Boeing 747. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Enterprise was so-named as fans of Star Trek petitioned NASA to name it after the television show's starship. Actually, they should have waited a bit so that a space-worthy shuttle would carry the Enterprise name. The prototype was never intended for space flights and it was just used for gliding tests. The 747 would carry it aloft and release it and it would glide for landings on Rogers Dry Lake.

Above, shuttle prototype "Enterprise." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first space-worthy shuttle, Columbia, was under construction. Its maiden flight was in 1981.

After viewing the 747, we went over to the main shuttle hangar and went inside. There, in the hangar, was Enterprise.

Above, Mitch and Armand with "Enterprise."

It was fascinating to see up close the Enterprise and the 747. I was able to attend two shuttle landings when the shuttles became operational: Columbia in July 1982 and Endeavour in May 1992.

Are There Trees On Mars? Scientists Say Its An Illusion

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Fox News

Some really weird things have been seen in photos from Mars over the last few years. Everything from logs, to bunnies, to Sasquatch seem to be popping up in photos taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The latest oddity, a new photo just released by NASA seems to show 'trees' growing near the planet's polar region.

NASA scientists are quick to say 'hold on folks', stating that what is actually being seen here is some sort of an optical illusion. The objects that look very much like some sort of plant life are actually actually dark streaks of collapsed material running down sand dunes due to carbon dioxide frost evaporation.

"The Martian 'trees' are actually dark basaltic sand pushed to the surface of sand dunes by sun-heated solid carbon dioxide ice, or dry ice, sublimating directly into vapor", explains Candy Hansen, a member of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) team at the University of Arizona.

"What we think is happening is that the dark sand is sliding down the bright frosted portion of the dune," Hansen told SPACE.com.

They, 'think', but they aren't sure. So these could be 'tress' or 'plants' then.......?

"The streaks in the new image look as if they are rising up from the sand dunes, but that's an illusion, Hansen said. "You're looking at the slip face of the dune, and where the sand comes to a stop, it forms a sort of scallop-shaped edge at the bottom."

Reportedly each of these dark sand streaks can measure up to 164 feet in length.

Streaks on sand dunes? Well, if that's true, then that is one hell of an optical illusion.

Sure looks like the stuff is growing out of the sand, not running down it.

Then again, what do I know? I'm not a NASA scientist.

Unless, of course, they don't want us to know that there is life on Mars, possibly hostile life-forms........preparing for an invasion!

Aw.....that's just silly.........ha ha ha ha......ha......ha.......ulp.

See Also: Russia Is Planning To Build A Spaceship To Prevent Asteroid 'Apophis' From Hitting Earth / 40 Years Since Apollo 8 / Does Mars Have Wood? / Nasa Photo Shows Human-like Figure On Mars

Russia Is Planning To Build A Spaceship To Prevent Asteroid 'Apophis' From Hitting Earth

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Associated Press

I was fully prepared to sit down today and write one of my typical articles about monster movies and alternate cinema. That was until I opened up my Yahoo home page and read the headline "Russia may send spacecraft to knock away asteroid". It was at that point that my attention was diverted from my intended subject.

This one is just too good to pass up.

Anatoly Perminov, the head of the Russian space program, told reporters today that his agency is in the early stages of designing a spaceship to be used to alter the course of the 270-meter (885-foot) asteroid "Apophis" to prevent it from hitting the Earth in 2029.

Now, the scenario of an asteroid hitting the Earth has been used in several movies and TV shows over the past few decades including "Deep Impact", "Armageddon", "Meteor" (Okay that one is a bout a meteorite.....same difference), and even in an episode of "The Simpsons."

It seems that sci fi has become science fact.....well as far as the Russians are concerned anyway.

Back when "Apophis" was first discovered back in 2004, scientists had calculated that the chances of the big space rock hitting Earth was 1-in-37. That's a little too close for comfort.

However, those same scientists now believe that the odds of such an impact are now nil, though there are slight chances of a collision in future 'flybys' of "Apophis". Those being 1-in-250,000 in 2036 and 1-in-330,000 in 2068.

The Russians, however, didn't get the memo.

Perminov stated that he had heard from a scientist in Russia who believed that the asteroid was getting closer and would likely hit the Earth, "I don't remember exactly, but it seems to me it could hit the Earth by 2032."

Wait....I have to stop this here. Yes, you read that last part right. The head of the Russian Space Agency thinks that he remembers a scientist saying something about an asteroid hitting the Earth, so he going forward with a project that will likely cost billions to build a spacecraft to divert it.

Okay, as long as we are clear....let's continue.

"People's lives are at stake. We should pay several hundred million dollars and build a system that would allow us to prevent a collision, rather than sit and wait for it to happen and kill hundreds of thousands of people," Perminov added.

Don Yeomans, who heads NASA's Near-Earth Object Program believes that "Apophis" poses no threat to us Earthlings, but likes the Russians enthusiasm, "While Apophis is almost certainly not a problem, I am encouraged that the Russian science community is willing to study the various deflection options that would be available in the event of a future Earth threatening encounter by an asteroid."

Perminov also admitted that there wasn't a specific plan on how to divert an asteroid on the table or what kind of spacecraft would be used, "Calculations show that it's possible to create a special purpose spacecraft within the time we have, which would help avoid the collision, the threat of collision can be averted."

If you may remember, the Russians announced back in 2007 that were planning to build a base on the moon in 2027 and then were planning on a manned mission to Mars in 2035.

You have to really give them credit, there facts may be kinda mixed up, but at least they are trying.

I really haven't heard much from NASA lately.......I think that they are still around......it's hard to tell.....which is really a shame, because there are still some of us that believe that space exploration still has value.

And I don't mean just looking through telescopes and sending out probes.

Am I the only one who thinks that we should have already landed a man on Mars by now?

Of course, it all won't make a difference if we are clocked out by an asteroid in 2029.

See Also: 40 Years Since Apollo 8 / Does Mars Have Wood? / Nasa Photo Shows Human-like Figure On Mars

40 Years Since Apollo 8

Above, the Earth as seen by the Apollo 8 astronauts in moon orbit.

by Armand Vaquer

It is hard to believe that forty years have passed since Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders were the first humans to leave Earth orbit and to travel to the moon in Apollo 8.

Their mission in December 1968 was to test the Apollo spacecraft's systems in achieving moon orbit, which was crucial for a manned moon landing. Originally, they were going to test the Lunar Module (LM) in Earth orbit, but production delays prevented that plan. So NASA sent them to the moon instead. They orbited the moon ten times in 20 hours. The live televised broadcast from the moon was highlighted by Borman's reading from Genesis. The rocket engine that would break Apollo 8 from moon orbit and sending it back to earth was fired on Christmas Day.

1968 was a year of turmoil. It was marked by bitter civil unrest over the Viet Nam War, the assassinations of Sen. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King and the Tet Offensive, which led to President Lyndon Johnson to not seek re-election. The Apollo 8 mission was the only inspiring event that year.

It is hard to believe that 40 years have passed since Apollo 8.

Does Mars Have Wood?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Discover Magazine

Remember a couple of weeks back when I wrote about a photo that seemed to show a human-like figure on Mars? Well, now the folks that pour over NASA photographs like ravenous dogs looking for signs of life have discovered something else. A piece of wood, or more correctly, something that looks like a piece of wood.

That's right, a log on Mars.

Well.....that's what people want to see. Most experts believe its nothing more than a large rock.

The photo was taken by the Mars Rover back in 2005, and was recently published by NASA. There has been no mention of the object in any public press releases, so obviously scientists thought nothing of the mysterious object in the photos.

In fact, if you look at the larger photo below, you will notice that the rover ran right over the object.

Due to NASA's lack of interest in the potential lumber it would be safe to say that it is probably just a rock, albeit a very interesting looking one.

Or is this another cover-up? ROSWELL!! ROSWELL!

See Also:Nasa Photo Shows Human-like Figure On Mars

Nasa Photo Shows Human-like Figure On Mars

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Rightpundits.com

Is this the photo of a real Martian? Is a Bigfoot? Is it some other form of alien life? Is it a rock? Nobody knows!

According to NASA this photo was taken by the Intrepid Spirit Rover on the edge of Mars’ Gusev crater back in November of 2004. The image appears to show a human-like figure climbing down a rocky slope. NASA, however, hasn't made any comment on the image which was posted on their website Wednesday.

Apparently the British media went nuts when the image became public, suggesting that it was proof of life on Mars. A lot of people have been coming forward with their opinion of just what they think is in the image. Some say it's Bigfoot, some say a Wookiee, others see a naked green woman. I just happen to think it looks like a Tusken Raider.

Whatever it is, it makes for great conversation.

Hey, the next thing you know, Philip Morris will be on TV claiming that he made a "Neanderthal" costume for NASA.

See Also: Another Knucklehead Comes Forward To Claim That He Created Pattersons Bigfoot / Recent Reports Lead To The Possibility Of A Large Bigfoot Population Near Houston BC / Monster Quest Is In Colorado Searching For Bigfoot / The Sci Fi Channel Travels Into The Unknown With Unexplained With George Noory This Month / Recent Bigfoot Sightings In BC Suggest Bear-Like Migration / Bigfoot Prints Found In Siberia / Russian Soldiers Discover A Harry Monster On The Beach / Ufologist Writes Letter To Obama Seeking The Truth / UFOs Blamed For UK Power Outage / Paranormal - Real Life Tales Of The Unexplained / UFOs Once Again Get Fighter Planes Scramblin Over Stephenville / Australian Musician Says Dot In Photo Is A UFO / A Turkish Security Guard Films UFO Multiple Times / UFO Spotted Over Slovenia - Another Photographed Over Dominican Republic / A Man In The UK Fears Alien Abduction After A Month Of Sightings / October 14th Is Here....And Surprise! No Aliens! / Aliens To Show They Are Real In The Skies Over Alabama