Tuesday, December 21, 2010

New York Times examines Smithsonian's Space Suit collection.





I've always been fascinated by spacesuits. "Have Spacesuit Will Travel," was the first Robert Heinlein book I read and I chose it based solely on the cover. The New York Times has a piece about The Smithsonian Institute's collection of Spacesuits. Some were worn by famous astronauts and some were prototypes that never made it into space. The Smithsonian is putting together a traveling exhibition about the suits.
Sadly it will consist mostly of full-sized images and x-rays of the suits because they are too delicate to travel. Be sure to check out the accompanying image galleries and videos at the link, there's an interactive x-ray on an Apollo suit that is especially good.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/science/21spacesuit.html

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Robots!

This video from Eclectic Method centers on R2D2 but features a lot of famous TV and Movie Robots. How many can you name?

Eclectic Method - Robots from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Make: Online : Handcar Regatta vehicles get the art treatment


Vehicles, artwork and props from last fall's HandCar Regatta are on display at the Sonoma State Art Gallery through April 4th. This year's Regatta will be held Sept. 26 at Santa Rosa's historic Railroad Square.


Make: Online : Handcar Regatta vehicles get the art treatment

Friday, January 15, 2010

Steam powered Biplane from 1933


In 1933 a biplane flew at the Oakland airpont using a 150 hp two cylinder steam engine. Who says airships are the only steampunk form of air transport?