16942738
submission
teeks99 writes:
The latest version of Ubuntu — 10.10 called Maverick Meerkat has been released. This release contains new improvements like an update Ubuntu One online service (with music streaming), Shotwell instead of F-Spot, the new Unity interface (for netbooks), and an upgrade to just about every piece of existing software. The announcement e-mail (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2010-October/000139.html) has more details.
9214166
submission
teeks99 writes:
There's a lot of articles out there today about the changes to the NASA budget, but this is the only one that gets a lot of the details. From what I'm seeing it looks great...cutting off the big, expensive, over-budget stuff and allowing a whole bunch of important and revolutionary programs to get going.
— Commercial space transportation
— Keeping the ISS running (now that we've finally got it up and running)
— Working on orbital propellant storage (so someday we _can_ go off to the far flung places)
— Automated rendezvous and docking (allowing multiple, smaller launches, which then form into one large spacecraft in orbit)
I'm excited :-)
8008272
submission
teeks99 writes:
Even NASA could benefit from the "Launch Often" idea that is often refered to in the software development community. However, in NASA's case the "Launch" is a bit more literal. Edward Lu, writing in the New York Times, points out that by lowering the conquenseques of launch failure, and making frequent launches available to engineers, NASA could open up a new wave of innovation in space exploration. If there were weekly launches of a rocket, there would be many oppertunities for new ideas to be tried out in communications, remote sensing, orbital debris mitigation, robotic exploration, and even in developing technology for human spaceflight. Another benefit would be that the rockets would be well understood, which would improve reliability.
