The Last Day Every Human Was On Earth

October 30th! This date generally slides right by most people, when in fact it is one of the most amazing dates in the history of humanity.

It was, among other things, the day Orson Welles caused panic with his "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast (1938), the day Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off for STS-61-A, its final successful mission (1985) and sadly, still reigns as "Devil's Night" in some places each year.

In the year 2000, it was also the LAST DAY EVERY HUMAN WAS ON EARTH!

ISS Expedition 1
Sergei Krikalev, William Shepherd & Yuri Gidzenko

On October 31st, one NASA astronaut and two Roskosmos cosmonauts launched in the Soyuz TM-31 to the International Space Station for Expedition 1, giving the ISS it's very first resident crew.

During their time on the ISS, Shepherd, Gidzenko and Krikalev inhabited and unpacked the critical equipment for the Zvezda, Zarya and Unity modules, established initial communications with Mission Control centers in Houston and Korolev, hosted three Shuttle crews and with them, installed the Destiny scientific research module.


Since that time, there have always been at least two Homo sapiens in low Earth orbit. Many don't recognize the day for what it is... perhaps only future generations will appreciate that this mission marked the beginning of humanity's permanent colonization of space.

A securely enduring position in space is a fragile accomplishment, both practically and financially. Space station Mir was in orbit for 15 years, but often unmanned for periods of time. Russia's Mir was occupied without breaks between 1989 and 1999, and toward the end of 2010, the ISS finally broke this record with more than a decade of continuous habitation.


A gap between old and new hardware is always a future possibility, but today we have a greater chance of many nations or even private enterprises achieving a presence in space for overlaps. One day, we may even look back through multiple stations, yearning wistfully for a time when it wasn’t so darned crowded in our sky.

So, remember October 2000! Someday, your great-great-grandchildren may want to know what you were doing the day our species established a permanent off-Earth presence. Fingers crossed!

NPP Launch

Ever followed a rocket launch with 0% chance of weather violation?? Me neither. So who's getting up in the wee small hours to see the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 2:48am PT?

The NPP is a collaborative effort between NASA and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and serves as the first Earth-observing satellite of the NPOESS, or National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System.

Is that enough acronyms for ya?


The spacecraft was designed for a 5-year orbital life, in which it will monitor the Earth's weather, atmosphere, oceans, land and near-space environment.

The NPP will launch into orbit on Delta II, from Space Launch Complex 2W (VAFB). Delta 2 rockets have sent 49 NASA payloads into orbit, and environmental satellite NPP, which is about the size of an SUV, will be number 50!

There are 5 key instruments on board:


The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) will create temperature and moisture profiles for weather forecasting models.

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) will monitor atmospheric pressure patterns, hoping to improve weather forecasts.

The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) is just what is sounds like and will map and profile ozone fluctuations.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) will collect visible and infrared views of Earth's surface processes, such as wildfires, land changes, oceanic properties, and ice movement.

The Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) will measure reflected solar radiation, emitted terrestrial radiation, and total radiation.


Follow status updates at Spaceflight Now, or watch NASA Television, and hey, killing time during launch coverage is a perfect opportunity to print out the PDF and build the NPP Satellite Paper Model Kit!

Cosmic Road Warrior

I loathe clutter. I am the complete opposite of a pack rat (is there a word for that?) in that I love to get rid of things. Sometimes people come into my house and think no one actually lives there. I think part of that development was growing up in a house full of knick-knacky things everywhere, and part is that I would simply rather collect "experiences" than "stuff."

For example, everywhere I go, I tend to seek out the local Hard Rock Cafe to see memorabilia from the music world. The food blows, but hey look, Bobby Darin's necktie! Roy Orbison's sunglasses! I love that. I also love collecting state lines, in terms of crossing them... though I've almost got that activity wrapped up.

However, in the vein of Experience Collection, I have a new hero at SPACEYCHICK.com.


I seek out space hardware and history and rockets and novelties everywhere I go, and these days it's tough to find a city where I haven't cruised a science museum -- but her collection is stunning!

Check out the Spacey Chick website to see Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Shuttle, Space Centers, space monuments, etc... as well as many astronaut "signings."

If you're interested in finding out where all these items reside for public display, it's a fantastic guide, because she also lists each museum, city and state. Truly an amazing scrapbook of museum mileage!

Pennan Brae Apollo 17

Bold, beautiful, and stellar! Moody, romantic... and delightfully lunar. It's the new song "Lonely Heart" from Pennan Brae's 3rd Album Early Rise.

For those of you out of the musical loop, Pennan Brae is a singer-songwriter from Vancouver, British Columbia, whose music has enjoyed radio play across Canada, Australia and the US.

His newest video includes awesome Saturn V footage, genuine Apollo capsule close-ups, old films of Mission Control, and the singer himself in a classic snoopy hat and 70s space suit, cavorting on the moon with a chained Space-Race Princess... wait, what?

Well, according to his YouTube Channel, the Apollo 17 music video for "Lonely Heartbeat" is:

Set during man's last visit to the moon on December 11th, 1972 with Apollo 17, where Pennan pilots the Saturn V Rocket to rescue Agent Stardust from the hairy grasp of Comrade Kalashnikov. It's a Cold War Lunar Battle -- USSR vs. USA; hammer & sickle versus the stars & stripes. Directed by Tim Cash of Far From Earth Films & shot in Oregon, the piece features Nicole Mintiens & Chris Buffalo Folsom.


Definitely unique, and reminiscent of the 1980s classic era of music video, which is what I liked best about it. That and the beautifully enchanting lyrics:

As days shorten to night
We squeeze hold each other tight
Autumn breeze picks up speed
Firefly does its dance
To this thing we call romance

Waves to shore slowly lap
In our black and white photograph
As night gives way to dawn
This path we’ll continue on
Our vibe certified priceless
Ringing true from East to West...

Nice. :)