This morning’s sucky NASA LCROSS non-explosion had me thinking hard about how awesome all things associated with space travel are. Here is my running list of . . .
SPACE TRAVEL AWESOMENESS
1). BUY A SPACE SUIT – You can actually BUY equipment and suits used by Soviet cosmonauts on space missions: autographed underwear worn by cosmonaut Alexander Poleschu, autographed space suit gloves, some personal effects taken by cosmonauts into space, an actual Soyuz Rocket launch key, a hammer used on the MIR Space Station (and another), and even an unused space suit human waste receptacle bag.
2). LUNAR CRASH – The amazing final minute of video footage taken by Japan’s JAXA SELENE/Kaguya lunar probe as it crash-landed on the Moon. Also, beautiful low-orbit video footage from the probe.
3). PHOBOS 2 – Beautiful color images of Mars and its moon Phobos taken by the Soviet Phobos 2 probe – the final (successful) mission of the Soviet Union space program.
4). SPACE ODDITY – Ziggy Stardust’s song “Space Oddity” covered by Ween, Seu Jorge, or the Langley Schools Music Project (a personal favorite).
5). ASTRONAUT WRISTWATCH – The Omega Speedmaster Professional – the first wristwatch worn on the Moon and the only item of early astronaut equipment that could be purchased by the public. How to make your own NASA-style velcro strap (PDF) for your Speedmaster (or whathaveyou).
6). WATCH ASTRONAUTS – Live Space Station video on NASA TV.
7). COSMONAUT WRISTWATCHES – A gallery of wristwatches worn by Soviet cosmonauts through the ages (Yuri Gagarin wore a general issue Shturmanski watch). You can buy the modern Poljot Shturmanski “Gagarn” commemorative chronograph.
8). SPACE SHIP ONE – SpaceShipOne’s “X-Prize” first contest flight, and its second flight, and Virgin Galactic’s “SpaceShip 2″ concept video. And the U.S. patent of SpaceShipOne.
9). FIRST PHOTOS ON THE MOON – The first images taken on the Moon, by the Soviet Luna and Zond probes.
10). LAND ON THE MOON YOURSELF – Play the oldschool “Lunar Lander” game or play an impressive modern version of “Lunar Lander” that incorporates Google Moon and real sound effects from the Apollo 11 mission.
11). RUSSIAN SPACE MUSEUM – EnglishRussia’s wonderful gallery of the Russian Space Museum (including the taxidermied remains of cosmonaut dogs Belka and Strelka).
12). SPACE PROGRAM ART – Artist Tom Sachs’ exhibit “Space Program,” including a hilarious exhibit video by the Neistat Bros, and a NASA Astronaut Knife designed by Sachs.
13). LANDING ON VENUS – Amazing digitally enhanced images of the surface of the planet Venus taken by the Soviet Venera probes.
14). LANDING ON SATURN’S MOON TITAN – Composite video of the landing of the European Space Agency’s 2005 Huygens probe landing on Saturn’s moon Titan; fisheye composite video of the landing with probe system data, and a video reconstruction of the landing site.
15). LE VOYAGE DANS LA LUNE – Georges Méliès’ 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans la Lune “The Voyage to the Moon” [part 1 and part 2], one of the first science fiction films ever made.
