I mention in my previous article about the launch of Skylab 3 that I would hunt for videos related to the mission. Well, sure enough, I quickly found a solid one – Skylab, A Scientific Harvest is a 1974 produced NASA Film on the two month long Skylab 3 mission. The video goes into light …
Continue reading Skylab, A Scientific Harvest – 1974 NASA Film
60 Years Ago: The Birth Of NASA
If there’s one thing anyone could gather from the bulk of my space related posts (both the positive ones and the not so positive ones) it’s this: I freaking love NASA. It’s funny then that it would come as a surprise to me today to see that today, July 29th, marks NASA’s 60th birthday. While …
Continue reading 60 Years Ago: The Birth Of NASA
R.I.P. Xadara Hit Counter – April 2016 To July 29th, 2018
I’ve been on the internet for a long time. Well, not that long, but long enough to remember when people had web pages and not whole sites. Not often, anyway, did an individual have their own complex site. I remember when message boards were something special, IM chats were actually fun, and most importantly (for …
Continue reading R.I.P. Xadara Hit Counter – April 2016 To July 29th, 2018
Google Chrome, SSL, WordPress, and Hostgator – Or, How To Waste An Evening Accomplishing Nothing
I consider myself a moderately tech savvy person. I’m not some kind of expert, but I manage to keep this website up and running. I understand in general what’s going on, the logic of a PHP database and other things, at least far enough to keep things functioning here. So, when I got the news …
Continue reading Google Chrome, SSL, WordPress, and Hostgator – Or, How To Waste An Evening Accomplishing Nothing
45 Years Ago: The Launch Of Skylab 3
On July 28th, 1973, a Saturn 1B rocket launched from Launch Complex 39-B at Kennedy Space Center carrying astronauts Alan Bean, Owen Garriott, and Jack Lousma into orbit for the Skylab 3 mission. This mission was, as you would expect, a direct follow up to the 28 day Skylab 2 mission. Skylab 3 would remain …
Continue reading 45 Years Ago: The Launch Of Skylab 3
A Quick Shot Of Blogging Optimism
Well, the past few days have shown activity on this site that hasn’t been seen in quite a while – at least, not since the 45th anniversary of the launch and first crewed mission of Skylab, and before that it had been late last year when Xadara had been this active. After taking yet another …
Continue reading A Quick Shot Of Blogging Optimism
The Final Flight Of The Ariane 5 ES – Galileo Satellites 23-26 On VA244
This morning marked the final launch of the “Evolution Storable” or ES variant of the amazing Ariane 5 rocket. Without going into great detail on the history of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle and its variants, the “ES” variant combines an improved core stage of the still-flying ECA variant with the older storable propellant second …
Continue reading The Final Flight Of The Ariane 5 ES – Galileo Satellites 23-26 On VA244
YouTube Is *Still* Showing Me Channels I’ve Unsubscribed From In My Subscription Feed
In an article I wrote back in April, titled “I’m Quite Certain YouTube Is Re-Subbing Me To Channels I’ve Unsubscribed To!” I discussed that YouTube was showing in my subscription feed channels which I was certain I’ve unsubscribed to. Well, it’s still happening. I’m not just sure it’s happening this time, I *know* it is …
Continue reading YouTube Is *Still* Showing Me Channels I’ve Unsubscribed From In My Subscription Feed
An Unexpected Entry Into The World Of The Macintosh – Part 1
As far as modern computer usage goes, I’ve always been a Windows guy. Granted, I’ve spent quite a bit of time messing with Linux, and have had dedicated Linux machines from time to time (as secondary machines, anyway) but not since high school have I actually really spent any time with Apple Macintosh machines. Through …
Continue reading An Unexpected Entry Into The World Of The Macintosh – Part 1
An Echidna In Space!
Okay, so it’s not really an Echidna and it’s not really in space, but this was something that was worth covering. What’s actually going on is Horus 49 – the launch of a high altitude balloon by the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group Inc. (AREG) for some radio experimentation. Pretty straightforward stuff, but this flight carried …
Continue reading An Echidna In Space!
New Shepard Test Flight 9
On July 18th 2018 aerospace company Blue Origin conducted the 9th test flight of their New Shepard launch vehicle. New Shepard is a booster intended for commercial suborbital missions for both scientific research and space tourism, and holds the much-ignored distinction of being the first booster to reach space and safely land vertically, predating a …
Continue reading New Shepard Test Flight 9
The Launch And Docking Of Progress MS-09
The Russian cargo vehicle Progress MS-09 launched on July 9th 2018 carrying approximately 2400 kilograms of supplies for the International Space Station. A pretty typical resupply mission save for two interesting facts: 1: This mission was launched at such a time that it could dock faster than any previous mission to the ISS, spending a …
Continue reading The Launch And Docking Of Progress MS-09
49 Years Ago: The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
Today marks 49 years since the first crewed landing on the Moon – the mission of Apollo 11. For fans of space stuff, today is kind of the top day in the history of things, much like October 4th and April 12th. These are days we celebrate for their importance to humanity – the days …
Continue reading 49 Years Ago: The Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
Angry Video Game Nerd Episode 38 / 39: An Angry Nerd Christmas Carol – Episode Review
It’s time for the 2007 Christmas Episodes – An Angry Nerd Christmas Carol! This was a pair of episodes released in December 2007 which follow the classic holiday story of “A Christmas Carol” but with the Nerd replacing Scrooge. Christmas is still key, of course, but the idea here is how it relates to the …
Continue reading Angry Video Game Nerd Episode 38 / 39: An Angry Nerd Christmas Carol – Episode Review
The Computer Chronicles – Super Computers (1984)
Here we have a slightly different episode of The Computer Chronicles. While normally the show takes a look at the more personal end of the computer revolution – how individuals and small businesses use various machines, sometimes breaking into big business where it seems relevant, the show tends to not focus on the upper end …
Continue reading The Computer Chronicles – Super Computers (1984)