From above – asteroids on the frontier

April 23, 2012 in Extreme with 0 Comments

In this artist's concept, an astronaut perform...

In this artist's concept, an astronaut performs a tethering maneuver at an asteroid. The Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) is close by, with the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) docked to a habitat in the background. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I read with interest today news of investment in and the upcoming launch of Planetary Resources.  The new space start up from X-Prize founder and fellow International Space University alum Peter Diamandis and Eric Anderson to as they put in in their press release:

“[...] the company will overlay two critical sectors – space exploration and natural resources – to add trillions of dollars to the global GDP. This innovative start-up will create a new industry and a new definition of ‘natural resources”

As I’ve written in previous posts on Zero gravity adventures and the Space Shuttle’s retirement interest in the next frontier of space for explorers and travellers alike has never been higher.  Its on many people’s bucket list if it becomes accessible (and in the interim space experience activities will have to do).

For now Asteroids are really on the frontier – will they become the Wild Wild West of space exploration where mining and exploration combine again to open up new frontiers that then evolve into development and destinations for the masses?

Asteroid Belt

Asteroid Belt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lets see what those first steps might look like when we get to hear a bit more about Planetary Resources plans in the next few days.

And if we get to one day see asteroids and other planets from above – the beauty will be worth the wait.

 

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Titanic’s 100 Year Anniversary

April 15, 2012 in Above or Below, Exploring Away with 0 Comments

Nature of the Titanic's damage wrought by the ...

Nature of the Titanic's damage wrought by the iceberg. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As I sit at my laptop its just passed 11:40pm; the time 100 years ago (well close to as its the 15th here in Melbourne, while its the 14th in the Atlantic where Titanic sunk)  that the great liner titanic on its maiden voyage hit an iceberg on its journey from England to New York.

There have been plenty of events around the world to mark the occasion and in a previous post I discussed options for seeing the Titanic up close – from below in the lead up to the anniversary .   For many the reruns on TV of the Titanic movie, news James Cameron’s recent submersible down to the wreckage or going out to see the

Cover of "Ghosts of the Abyss"

Cover of Ghosts of the Abyss

IMAX movie Ghosts of  the Abyss might have to suffice.

All of which make me want to get up close and see the site where Titanic sunk.  Given the number of c events, cruises and renewed interest in the story I’m expecting this year we’ll be hearing much more about the titanic.

The legend of Titanic always makes me think of adventure and exploration as well as great loss and poor planning and the inescapable power of nature that lurks around every corner. We all have our Titanic fix one way or another – whats yours?

 

 

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Coaching your kids – my 7 year old daughters new basketball team.

July 31, 2011 in Inspiration with 0 Comments

I love sport, playing, watching (on TV or live) and now with three kids, coaching.

I don’t mind what sports my kids play, I just want them to have fun and enjoy playing.  I’ve been trying and exploring new sports all my life from tennis and basketball growing up to trying kitesurfing, petanque and sailing in recent years and watching everything from curling (that favourite winter olympic sport) to Gaelic football (well what wouldn’t appeal in a mix of Australian Rules football and soccer/football).  I’d like to think my kids will enjoy trying new things, working out new sports, making team mates and having fun.

My 7 year old daughter, the oldest of my kids, has recently decided she wanted to Continue Reading…

London for the Olympics – would have been fun but….

July 19, 2011 in Sport with 2 Comments

I only got tickets to one event in the ballot which I’ll now be passing on to friends as I no longer live in London and making a trip half way around the world for 5 now seems a bit ridiculous .  Having bid for over 10 events from high demand sports like athletics and swimming through to lower demand ones like volleyball and waterpolo on a range of days I was surprised when I only got one set of tickets to women’s springboard diving and nothing else.  Like many who had gone into the ballot I was surprised at the outcome.

No matter, having been to Olympics in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004), I resigned myself to the fact I’d enjoyed previous games and perhaps some lucky locals would have got the tickets.

Today though reading this article it reminded me that maybe only locals, olympic officals, media, sponsors and the athletes themselves will be going. Getting to the Olympics has become progressively more expensive, time consuming and complicated to organise, and many are discounting the idea of going without even trying.  Coupled with this the potential that travellers avoid London (and the UK) in the lead up to the games is also a reality (the displacement factor).

I would love to go to the Olympics in London 2012 and have enjoyed my three prior Olympic trips but this time around unless I come into some tickets magically (LOCOG any spare tickets perhaps?) I think I will also have to give it a miss and join the billions who will only watch it on TV.  Of course I’ll miss the atmosphere, melting pot of fellow travelers and the chance to see beach volleyball at Horses Guard Parade but looking forward perhaps Rio in 2016 is in my future.

Why we love airplanes, airshows and all things flying? Our afternoon at RAAF museum Point Cook.

February 20, 2011 in Family, Inspiration with 1 Comment

The same reason why many of us harbour the desire to have the secret ability to fly. 

Its Freedom, Speed, Diving,… 

and there we were listening to Darcy O’Connor, a retired Air Force pilot now flying Airbus jets for Jetstar, one of

Mustang at Point Cook

Mustang from RAAF Museum air display

Australia’s budget airlines. But on weekends he still gets a buzz talking to groups of kids and adults and putting on a short display of aerobatics at the RAAF Air Force base at Point Cook, just outside of Melbourne – the longest continuous operational Air Force base anywhere in the world.

The plane being put through its paces today was a Mustang, built at Fisherman’s Bend in Australia in the 1950’s as the only place outside of the USA licensed for production.  With a huge 12 cylinder Merlin engine, this plane had speed and endurance and as it completed loops and high speed rolls above us as a dad I couldn’t help wish that I had learnt how to fly as a kid. As Darcy returned to the ground in the Mustang my 7 year old daughter asked “Dad, when can I learn to fly”

Flying

Mustang in flight

I imagine amongst the group there to watch the display this weekend, it was a common thought for kids and adults alike. 

The air displays are a regular (and clearly popular) attraction at Point Cook with displays at 1pm each Tuesday, Thursday and Sundaythroughout the year with regular aircraft featured including the Winjeel, Harvard, CT4A, Sopwith Pup replica, Tiger Moth and Mustang. In addition visiting aircraft such as the DC3, Bird Dog or even a modern PC-9 can sometimes be seen. 

RAAF museum

RAAF Museum - military transport display

The adjacent museum capped of the display with some history of the RAAF and several hangars of aircraft. Next door was a hangar showing how restoration of these historic aircraft takes place. 

Flying boat at RAAF Museum

And if you really want more then airshows featuring military, commercial and historic aircraft and aerobatics and regular events at cities around the worlld including world famousFarnborough show in England or the Paris (Le Bourget) show in France.  The USA also has a long season of shows including for example Miramar Airshow in October or Aviation Nationat Nellis AFB every November.  In Australia try catching the Avalon airshow held every 2 years and just down the road from Point Cook towards Geelong.

The RAAF Museum is a 25-minute drive south-west from Melbourne. Air displays and museum entry is free and the museum is open Tuesday to Friday: 10am–3pm;  Weekends and Public Holidays: 10am–5pm. 

If you want to extend your day the point cook area just next to the Air Force base is the Point Cook Coastal Park, with walking trails and great views across Port Phillip Bay back to Melbourne as well as a wetland area teeming with bird life.  Not far away is Weribee park and the open plains zoo.

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