September 8, 2015

Farthest Galaxy Detected (Source: CalTech)
A team of Caltech researchers that has spent years searching for the earliest objects in the universe now reports the detection of what may be the most distant galaxy ever found. Adi Zitrin, a NASA Hubble Postdoctoral Scholar in Astronomy, and Richard Ellis describe evidence for a galaxy called EGS8p7 that is more than 13.2 billion years old. The universe itself is about 13.8 billion years old. (9/3)

Space Whisky Tastes Different (Source: Ardbeg)
Scottish distillery Ardbeg flew a vial of unmatured malt and oak barrel shavings to the ISS, where it remained for nearly three years before returning to Earth to be compared with a similar vial left on the Earth. Analysis of the two, including taste tests, showed that the space-aged sample had a significantly different aroma and taste than the terrestrial sample. "The aftertaste is pungent, intense and long," a company white paper notes, "with hints of wood, antiseptic lozenges and rubbery smoke." Further testing is planned, to no one's surprise. (9/7)

NASA Will Launch a 4K TV Channel Later This Year (Source: IT World)
NASA plans to launch a 4K TV channel this fall and has already begun test broadcasts. The new channel, called NASA UHD, will broadcast 24 hours a day and be available free of commercials, according to a promotional video currently being broadcast alongside NASA's existing channels on the AMC-18 satellite. Initial programming will be based around eight different video series: Liftoff, ISS Life, Deep Space, Development, Solar System, Earth View, Mars and NASA Classics. (9/7)

Mission to Mars? Buzz Aldrin, Newt Gingrich Discuss New Era of Space Exploration (Source: CBS)
When Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin first appeared on Face the Nation in 1969, he talked about a mission to Mars as the next great undertaking for U.S. space exploration. Asked on this Sunday's Face the Nation why he thought a Mars mission had taken so long, Aldrin cited "growing public apathy" as well as the enormous cost.

‎There's also politics at play. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich made headlines during the 2012 campaign season when he pledged establish a Moon colony. Looking back now, Speaker Gingrich said that while he got very positive reactions from the crowds, his opponents had "utterly stupid" reactions to his proposed permanent base on the moon. Click here. (9/7)

Japan Offers Small Satellite Opportunities to UN Partners (Source: JAXA)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) agreed to cooperate in providing opportunities to deploy cube satellites (CubeSats) from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station (ISS). The Kibo is equipped with a special airlock system and robotic arm; hence a small satellite can be released to space from it by utilizing the Kibo’s distinct functions. Satellite deployment capability is the Kibo’s unique feature on the ISS.

Small satellites can be manufactured at low cost and by utilizing relatively simple technology; therefore that can be useful for education, communication, disaster mitigation, and human resource development. With the agreement for collaboration this time, we can provide an opportunity for using space and verifying technology there to countries that do not possess the capacity to launch satellites. (9/8)