Space Station Sunday: Racing The Sunshine, Skirting A Storm

Good afternoon, space fans!  Here's all the latest from just outside the atmosphere.

This week, the second of three October spacewalks (a.k.a. EVAs - extravehicular activities) was carried out by NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Reid Wiseman.  NASA reported that the six-hour, 34-minute spacewalk was successful, with the astronauts replacing a failed power regulator while in the shadow of the Earth.  It was critical that their mission be carried out in shadow, as the station's solar panels would otherwise be generating electricity, which would not prove to be a "bright side" for the astronauts working with the new power regulator.

According to the Telegraph UK, the power failed on Wiseman's PGT (pistol grip tool) while he was working with the bolt-on generator, forcing him to use a rachet wrench.  Wiseman had to "apply a little muscle", as live NASA TV broadcaster Rob Navias remarked, but thanks to Wiseman's efforts the mission was concluded successfully with less than two minutes to spare.  The astronauts also made strides in adapting the station's exterior for the arrival of future crew vehicles and cargo craft, as well as installing a replacement exterior video camera.

On a spacewalk, it is much more difficult for the camera to capture your "good side."
(Image courtesy nasa.gov.)

The numerous spacewalks, though they have included routine repairs, are not indicative of any major issues regarding the ISS's components.  Quite the opposite, in fact...earlier this year it was announced that the ISS will remain operational until 2024.  As reported by the Washington Post, the head of NASA’s human spaceflight program, William H. Gerstenmaier, said that “we see no technical show stoppers” with the ISS's machinery, which will remain spaceworthy even up through 2028.

Unlike earth-bound ships, the ISS doesn't have to worry about deterioration due to crazy (if conventional) weather patterns.  It sure does get a good look at them, though.  This week, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst captured an image of Hurricane Gonzalo that appeared tumultuous from the top.  It wasn't quite as creepy as last week's images of Supertyphoon Vongfong, but provided a unique meteorological perspective nonetheless.

Check out more of Gerst's ISS imagery on his Twitter, @Astro_Alex.
(Image courtesy nasa.gov.)

Gerst's tracking of Gonzalo was not just in the name of art - the storm's behavior did affect the ISS's science operations for the week.  The Bermuda-based Gonzalo proved to be problematic for the launch of new unmanned shipment of cargo bound for the ISS from Wallops Island in Virginia.  According to floridatoday.com, the launch of an Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo craft has been pushed back from later this week until after October 27th.

The hurricane will not affect the return of the SpaceX Dragon capsule, which is currently being packed with almost 3,000 pounds of scientific experiments and other cargo from the ISS.  One experiment, the Commerical Protein Crystal Growth HM, could lend interesting insights as to how cells recognize and react with each other regarding immune responses.  The unmanned Dragon, the only craft currently capable of safely transporting such a payload back to Earth, will leave the ISS on Tuesday morning and splash down in the Pacific Ocean some six hours later.

Meanwhile, Russia's first female cosmonaut, Yelena Serova, has been busy during her first few weeks on the space station.  On her blog for Roscosmos (Russia's space agency), Serova explained, “I’m getting used to living in microgravity conditions. I exercise regularly, and conduct scientific experiments as well...Last week I’ve spent much time on doing exercises regarding reacting in emergency situations like fire or depressurization, for example.”

The science experiments she spoke of, according to Spaceflight Insider, are diverse.  The Kardiovektor experiment, for example, examines how prolonged spaceflight affects the right and left ventricles of the human heart in regards to circulation capability.  Another experiment of this nature examines spaceflight's effects on calcium and bone density.  This week, Serova also performed a life-support system check on the Russian service module Zvezda, and completed an equipment check on the Otklik experiment, which uses piezoelectric sensors to analyze the impact of space debris on the exterior of the station.

Flight Engineer Serova, pictured, studied the laws of physics even during her downtime while on Earth.
(Image courtesy scmp.com.)

Next week:  news on the third October spacewalk, this time featuring 100% more cosmonauts!  Watch this space!

Grumpy Cat Hates Telling You About The Weather Via Your Smartphone. And Everything Else.

You can set your phone or computer's desktop to an image of a funny feline.  Chances are you've seen a few amusing animal videos or GIFs as well during the course of your existence - maybe a lot, if you work in an office and get bored frequently.  So it comes as no surprise that now even the most mundane search of your day - that of meteorological news - can also be customized with a cat.  And who better than the internet's most famous one?

According to thedailybeast.com, the free Weatherkitty or Weatherpuppy app for your phone can feature up-to-date weather information superimposed on pictures of various furry friends, though the species options are currently limited to cats and dogs.  Your own pet can feature, or you can upgrade for $1.99 to be graced daily with the sourpuss hilarity of Grumpy Cat, scowling and serenading you with stats on snow or sunshine.

Bonus: reflections on your own mortality!
(Image courtesy 929nin.com.)

This isn't merely another meme.  The information included in the Weatherkitty or Weatherpuppy app includes a daily forecast with weather changes broken down by the hour, a weekly prediction of upcoming elemental events, wind speed, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, visibility, and highs and lows.  It's comprehensive.  Plus cats.

Developers Suraj Hemnani and Shiv Takhar are glad their app has made people's days a little brighter, even if it's dark out.  Hemnani explained, “We are social beings and we spend so much time alone, always working. So, we appreciate the company of dogs and cats very much—they have a way of bringing us back to the present moment and relaxing us.”

Grumpy Cat would perhaps be disappointed to learn he's considered "relaxing"...better put him to work as your own personal weather reporter.  Who else is better to tell you that it's raining out than a cat who'll be happy to tell you something worse?

Correct yet again, Grumpy Cat.  Well, at least its sunny out.
(Image courtesy blogs.miaminewtimes.com.) 

Devices Slinging Slices: Fresh 90-Second Pizza Vending Machines Firing Up Soon

In today's immediate-gratification culture, it often seems like a race to obtain everything we "need" as quickly as possible.  Things that used to be worth a wait might now sometimes be sidelined for instantaneous happiness, no matter how fleeting that exchanged-for sensation may ultimately be.  However, some innovations have been made that allow for speedy and significant satiation.  One device that may achieve this is the Pizzabox.

According to cnet.com, the Pizzabox is a new type of vending machine that serves up a fresh 10" pie in only 90 seconds.  Their proprietary 800-degree oven (NOT a microwave) bakes the pies from non-frozen scratch, yielding crispy crusts and stretchably melty cheese.  Optional pepperoni, as well as seasonings like red pepper and oregano, plus utensils and wet-naps are included.  Full pies cost a cool $5.  According to businessinsider.com, a sausage-and-egg "breakfast pizza" is an option to start your day (or conclude your night of partying.)  No word yet on whether you can live dangerously and add pineapple, anchovies, or other roommate-repelling toppings.

Should the electronic chef get something wrong with your order, you can video-chat live with customer service operatives directly through an onboard screen in the Pizzabox machine.  Like many device and services that modern technology tries to tout, the pizza machine of the future wants you to be happy.

Not having to deal with any weird humans makes the pizza-procuring experience even better.
(Image courtesy cellartours.com.)

The Pizzabox was created by parent company The Box Brands, whose brainchild Burritobox is a similar device specializing in Mexican fare.  While already making the rounds of various conferences for demonstrations, Pizzabox is likely to be released for the masses in 2015.  Prospective initial locations include airports, and colleges like the University of Southern California (machine-made munchies, dude!)  The Box Brands' founder Denis Koci said, "We are initially launching it as the first-ever drive-through pizza experience."

Will it outdo the elderly Italian dudes down your street? Probably not. Will it provide a satisfying snack on the go? Likely way better than soggy fries and tragic fast-food burgers. For fast-paced food-fuel that almost seems like a real meal, the Pizzabox could be a slice of instant gratification that will have you sending your regards to the robot chef.

The only thing it doesn't do is dope dough-tossing tricks.
(Image courtesy hozpitality.com.)

Sick Tech: New "EbolApp" Tracks The Outbreak Via Your Smartphone

Even during a season when scary stories are the norm, the ever-expanding evil of the Ebola virus seems superlatively spooky.  With new cases escalating both in Africa and various places in the Western world, it seems that the contagion could soon be worthy of worry.  Worst of all, it might even be poised to affect chocolate prices worldwide (THE HORROR!)  So what can you do to make sure you steer clear of this vicious virus?

Thanks to suitapps.com, there is now an Ebola-tracking app that can keep you aware of any outbreaks around you.  The EbolApp features an interactive map indicating the known Ebola cases around the world, as well as realtime updates and notifications when a new case is confirmed.  Various news updates concerning the virus are also offered.

We're not saying to freak out.  Just be careful if you're living or working in an area that might harbor contaminants.  No one wants to become a REAL plague victim for Halloween.

Let's not have this become the hot new winter fashion trend.  Use EbolApp to stay away from the sickness.
(Image courtesy wunc.org.)

Bring The Undead (And Your Halloween Party) To Life With These App-Animated Creepy-Cool Costumes

Do you need a Halloween costume that's crazy-creepy, but you can't spend a lot of money?  Do you need an outfit to set you apart amidst the hoards of zombies, ghouls, and sexy this-and-thats?  Or do you just need a last-minute costume that doesn't require too much makeup, but also isn't simply a sheet thrown over your head?  This Halloween, Digital Dudz may be able to help you out.

As reported by gizmodo.com, the premise is simple: download an app onto your smartphone and insert the phone into one of Digital Dudz's masks.  Instantly, you're outfitted as a cyclops with an eerie giant eyeball that stares around, a clown whose mouth bursts with maggots, a cyborg assassin scoping targets out with a laser eyeball, a diver drowning in his own deep-sea suit, or a variety of other options.  The vivid imagery imparted by the apps make the masks seem startlingly realistic and solidly unsettling.

The e-eyeball scares with a stare.  It twitches, too.
(Image courtesy morphsuits.com.)

For those who are more of the casual type, Digital Dudz also makes t-shirts that turn your phone into part of the fun.  You could sport an exposed beating heart, power up your chest's arc reactor as Ironman, or set the aforementioned eerie eyeball to twitch in the sockets of a devilish doll or Frankenstein's face.

Digital Dudz's masks are priced from $45-$60 and include their free imagery apps.  Both the masks and t-shirts are capable of carrying a wide array of digital devices, which can be easily extracted in case you need to quickly call the police after causing a few heart attacks with your awesome costume.  Check out all their creepy coolness (as well as some truly hilarious morphsuits) in their seasonal video below.  Then get out there and treat folks to some terrific tricks!

PS - Don't forget to check back during Christmas, for Digital Dudz's flaming yule log or snowglobe-enabled shirts!

'Bots And Bottles: Robo-Bartender "Monsieur" Could Be Worth A Shot

You step into your favorite local watering hole, nodding at the regulars.  You sit down on your usual stool and are greeted by a nondescript black box with a screen interface and a small compartment on the bottom that holds a cup.  The screen depicts a cozy candle-lit pub in rural Ireland.  You're actually in New York, but that doesn't matter.  You swipe the screen and suddenly you're in Costa Rica at a beach bar.  Another swipe, you're in Finland in an ice cave, where vodka bottles are frozen into the bar.  Another swipe and you're in a Kentucky honky-tonk.

You tap the screen, selecting from scrolling menus with options of shots, cocktails, martinis, drinks neat or on the rocks.  Various flavor profiles like "bitter", "sour", "tropical" and "refreshing" are also there to choose from.  Touching the button for "bourbon" then another for "highball", the machine starts to buzz and fizz, and in an instant, your beverage sits before you.  You take a sip, smiling as the day's worries slough off like a file deleted and a recycling bin emptied.  You raise your glass in toast to the robot bartender, offering thanks.  You haven't had to talk to anyone until this point, when you chose to.

"Excellent as always, Monsieur."

If this seems weird to you, congratulations, you're another citizen who isn't ready for robots to take over commonplace human jobs.  However, the mixological option has now been made manifest by Monsieur, a new startup robotic project that replaces your friendly neighborhood shot-slinger with an impartial and boringly accurate robot.

According to techcrunch.com, Monsieur is the boozy brainchild of two Georgia scientist/engineers who were fed up with long waits for drinks at popular bars, and decided that manufacturing a saucy service wench (or, if you prefer, seasoned sommelier) was a viable alternative.  The Monsieur is capable of serving a variety of mixed or straight drinks, tracking your intake, cutting you off, and basically doing everything short of throwing you out of the bar when you've started slapping it trying to break into its Jagermeister stash.  

Another feature of the Monsieur is remote ordering (via your phone), so you can have that next round of Kamikaze shots ready and waiting for you at the bar while you divebomb your way across the dancefloor.  Or if you're sitting pretty someplace super fancy, your own private Monsieur could be your bottle service valet for the evening.  Perhaps if you find yourself overseas in a foreign land, you can scroll through the hotel bar's Monsieur in your desired language and be sure you haven't ordered the local camel-milk White Russian-Province.

"We swear it's not made with too much antifreeze, comrade...drink up!"
(Image courtesy gct.com.)

With 1,000 units on track to ship, Monsieur is no longer a garage project (even though it literally was created in co-inventor Barry Givens' parents' garage.)  You could be spotting these 'bots in all sorts of locations soon (pro tip: there is a setting that adjusts the pour on your drink from regular to "boss.")   No word on whether they have a "wildly inappropriate dirty jokes" or "wingman to help me meet that hottie down the bar" feature available yet.  

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name...and of course Monsieur will.  It's in his programming.  He'll listen to everything you have to cry about, although he won't really have any wise life advice to offer you in return.  But for those who just want booze at the touch of a button, Monsieur will be honored to serve you.

Remember, you cannot hit on it, literally or figuratively, to try to score a heavier pour.
(Image courtesy kickstarter.com.)

A Museum In Your Monitor: Immerse Yourself In Art In New Virtual-Reality Gallery

Do you like museums, but live in the middle of nowhere?  Do you long to gaze upon the world's artistic treasures, but are daunted at the thought of walking through miles of gallery halls just to spot one specialty?  Now, thanks to virtual reality, some of the finest art and artifacts are available for your perusal, in 3D, from the privacy of your own computer screen.

According to factor-tech.com, the University of Sheffield in England has created the "Computer Love 2.0" program to make art enthusiasm available everywhere.  Navigated with an Oculus Rift system or simply a mouse and keyboard, the Computer Love 2.0 program takes the viewer through virtual versions of Sheffield's National Fairground Archive, the Turner Museum of Glass, and the Alfred Denny Museum.

If you don't trust yourself around the artifacts (pictured) in the real-life Turner Museum of Glass, perhaps visiting the virtual version is smarter.
(Image courtesy bbc.co.uk.) 

The galleries are not limited exclusively to artwork.  Many of the installments in these particular institutions involve animal elements, such as an eagle skull or guillemot eggs.  Dr. Steve Maddock, a member of the university's Computer Science department and one of the program's creators, explained, “Hopefully our art gallery – which explores the relationship between science and art by ‘displaying’ things like our half-specimens as artworks – will pique the interest of visitors and encourage them to make the trip to see the full collections in real life."  

With virtual reality poised to make a major impact on how we see and interpret new things to learn, this could be an important first step in sharing culture worldwide. Could the Met or the Louvre soon follow suit? Will Banksy start writing grafitti electronically? And what happens when someone creates a piece of art that REQUIRES the digital 3D format?  Someday soon, we'll see...in elegantly rendered 3D.

Now you can take a field trip anytime!
(Image courtesy sheffield.ac.uk.)