The Apollo 11 Moon Landing Party At The Ontario Science Centre
Last weekend, I attended a celebration of the 50 year anniversary of the first moon landing, the Apollo 11 mission. This party was held at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto. I took notes, of course. (grins) And I thought maybe you might be interested in some of my highlights.
Dr. Robert Thirsk, Canadian Astronaut
Dr. Robert Thirsk, a Canadian Astronaut who was part of the STS-78, and Soyuz TMA-15 (Expedition 20/21) missions, who had flown on the space shuttle Columbia and also spent 6 months on board the International Space Station, shared his experiences in space.
He stressed that accomplishments in space have benefited us here on Earth. The technology used for the Canadarm, for example, form the basis for robotics being utilized today for neurosurgery. This science is saving lives.
Astronauts are expected to perform at a high level but they’re also expected to have fun. Being in space should be a joy. It is a special experience. Yet there are important tasks to accomplish.
He says his body’s reaction to takeoffs took some getting accustomed to. There’s a rush of bodily fluids rising up in his body. He could feel his intestines lift.
It takes 2 to 3 days to adjust to being in space. After 3 to 5 days, he felt like he was born there. Once he returned to space, there was another 2 to 3 day adjustment period. He couldn’t get out of his seat by himself when they landed on Earth. He had to be assisted.
Dr. Robert Thirsk spoke about how watching the Apollo 11 Moon Landing made him want to become an astronaut. However, there were no Canadian astronauts at the time. They were all Americans or Russians. So he didn’t think that was possible for him. I thought it was interesting how this lack of representation impacted him.
He is excited about the future of space exploration. He’s certain we’ll visit an asteroid in 10 years or less and we’ll be walking on Mars in 15 to 20 years. Those Mars astronauts are alive today, which is a fascinating fact. If you’re a teacher, you could be teaching the first being who steps on Mars.
Dr. Robert Thirsk talked about how being an astronaut is a lifelong role. He’ll be a spokesperson for the space program for life. It will always be part of him.
Cailin Gallinger, Planetary Geophysicist
Cailin Gallinger, a planetary geophysicist and a member of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s (LRO) Diviner instrument science team, relayed some interesting facts about the moon.
The same side of the moon always faces us (which is why folks talk about the dark side of the moon). The moon is moving farther and farther away from Earth. It is also shrinking as it emits heat.
That’s one of the reasons why eclipses are so special. Many years ago, the moon would have appeared much larger than the sun. Many years from now, the moon won’t cover our view of the sun. It is only during this special slice of time that the moon perfectly covers the sun during an eclipse.
The surface of the moon can be either extremely hot or extremely cold, depending on what we perceive here on Earth as its fullness (the amount of its illuminated surface). Below the moon’s surface, the temperature is moderate, however. This makes me suspect that any future settlements on the moon will be situated at least partially below the surface.
One of the missions of LRO was to search for water. Water can be used for rocket fuel. They did detect water in the South Pole of the Moon. Cailin Gallinger believes that will be the site for a future permanent base on the Moon.
Wilfred Buck, Science Facilitator For The Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre
Wilfred Buck, Science Facilitator for the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, talked about First Nations’ contributions to astronomy.
He stressed that every group of people on Earth has names for the stars and an interest in science. They experimented, tested theories, used science in everyday life and it factors in their beliefs about themselves.
The Cree, for example, believe themselves to be star people, spirits learning to be human. Their origin stories are very similar to wormhole theory (based on the theory of relativity). They believe their people traveled through holes in space to reach Earth.
One of the Crees’ constellations, that of a bear, is also rooted in a story about how the bear went around the Earth four times, picking up the momentum necessary to fly into the sky. That’s the slingshot effect, something astronauts use today.
Wilfred Buck shared that members of the First Nations were extremely interested in the Apollo 11 moon landing. The astronauts landed on terrain that was special to his people. They weren’t surprised that water was eventually found there. Their stories foretold there would be.
***
Subscribe To My Monthly Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Doc’s Orders
She wants both sides of her cyborg—the medic AND the beast.
A fully functional cyborg is balanced. His machine half and his organic half work together to produce the perfect warrior.
Doc isn’t fully functional.
The G Model operates at the two extremes. When his machine is in complete control, he’s the logic-driven medic, saving lifespans. Once his organics take charge, he becomes the savage beast…and beings die.
Both sides of Doc want to be the first to claim his female.
Allinen is one of the few beings in her small settlement who wasn’t born with a fated mate. Determined to belong somewhere, she has crafted a plan to leave the planet.
That plan doesn’t involve a huge stormy-eyed male who alternates between cool seduction and out-of-control ravishment. Doc isn’t her fated mate. Allinen knows that. But his dual nature and forbidden embraces tempt her to forget forever and indulge in more immediate delights.
Neither side of Doc views their relationship as being temporary. Her conflicted cyborg is prepared to battle her family, her planet and death itself to keep her.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Docs-Orders-Cyborg-Space-Exploration-ebook/dp/B07RML2WG1
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Docs-Orders-Cyborg-Space-Exploration-ebook/dp/B07RML2WG1
Apple/iTunes:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/docs-orders/id1463105812
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/docs-orders-cynthia-sax/1131529760
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/doc-s-orders
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/938342
Topics: SciFi News | Comments Off on The Apollo 11 Moon Landing Party At The Ontario Science Centre
SciFi Saturday News – Hacking DNA, Stormtroopers, and Solar Winds
Here is the round up of the SciFi stories that inspired me this week
Hacking DNA and Deep Space Travel
Are you writing a shifters in space SciFi romance and you want a reason for them existing?
Amor Menezes, an aerospace engineer and synthetic biology researcher, shares
“For resource utilization, it’s obvious that on a long-duration space mission you’ll want to take advantage of every material at your disposal. We think that engineered organisms could certainly help us repurpose materials we’re currently wasting, like the one kilogram of carbon dioxide that astronauts exhale each day.”
Solar Winds
Want to talk about solar winds in your SciFi romance (sexy – grins)?
“Waves of plasma from the sun known as solar wind have been found to affect the levels of water on the moon as well as other lunar features, according to new a research conducted by scientists in Sweden.”
Star Wars’ Finn
I loved this interview with John Boyega, the actor who plays Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I feel his excitement. As a cyborg writer, I also loved his insights on playing a Stormtrooper.
“It was so intriguing about the role. I think for me, wearing the helmet and being part of the Stormtroopers felt so strange. Like, so this is what it feels like to just be one of the many. And to look the same, and to have to do the same thing. To be under the same orders. This is what it feels like. And I was actually quite shocked as to how much Finn’s journey is investigating [that idea]. He’s a fun character, he has a very complicated history, but we get to experience the individuality of Stormtroopers, and it’s never been done before.”
What has inspired you this week?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Vapor is the most advanced cyborg the Humanoid Alliance has ever developed. He’s a finely honed weapon, a warrior without parallel, half man and half machine. No lock can contain him. No being can stop him. Whatever he wants, he takes.
He wants Mira Breazeal, the Designer’s daughter.
She’s his one temptation, his sexy target. Vapor shouldn’t crave her caresses, steal her kisses, make her scream with ecstasy. The cyborgs want her dead and they would question his loyalty if he didn’t kill her. The humans would shoot him on sight if he dared to touch her.
Their love is forbidden. Their desire could be lethal. One human and one cyborg will risk everything for a moment of passion.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Vapor-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B015UN87JC/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breathing-Vapor-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B015UN87JC/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breathingvapor-1897324-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breathing-vapor-cynthia-sax/1122718203
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/breathing-vapor
Topics: SciFi News | Comments Off on SciFi Saturday News – Hacking DNA, Stormtroopers, and Solar Winds
SciFi Saturday News – Star Wars Posters, New Star Trek Show, Terraforming Mars and Close Calls In Space
Here is the round up of the SciFi stories that inspired me this week
Star Wars Posters And A Fun Q&A With JJ Abrams
Famous folks bombarded Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens’s director JJ Abrams with questions in an amusing Q&A.
Even George Lucas participated.
“”JJ, what happened to Darth Vader’s grandchildren?” Lucas asked.
“Oh, George, this is great. You tell me man, you made all this sh** up.””
Close Calls In Space
Do you need an exciting plot twist in your new SciFi novel?
There’s a great new series called Secret Space Escapes, which highlights near misses on space missions.
Astronaut Jerry Linenger shares
“Whenever you’re operating on the edge of human ability, you’re going to have close calls. We’ve had quite a few. But because we usually come out of them successfully people say that it’s fine when it’s actually quite hairy.”
Terraforming Mars
Thinking about setting a story on Mars?
Mars’ atmosphere will make terraforming (turning Mars into an Earth-like planet) even more difficult.
Bruce Jakosky, principal investigator of NASA’s MAVEN mission, shares
“It’s [atmospheric CO2] not there. It’s been removed from the solar system entirely, so it’s not possible to bring it back.”
New Star Trek Show
As of this date, we know very little except there will be a new Star Trek show in 2017.
io9 had some fun musing about what they’d like to see.
Inspiring Photos
Wired shared some truly inspiring photos from The NASA Photo Archives.
Including this photo of dust surrounding V838 Monocerotis, a red supergiant.
What inspired you this week?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Vapor is the most advanced cyborg the Humanoid Alliance has ever developed. He’s a finely honed weapon, a warrior without parallel, half man and half machine. No lock can contain him. No being can stop him. Whatever he wants, he takes.
He wants Mira Breazeal, the Designer’s daughter.
She’s his one temptation, his sexy target. Vapor shouldn’t crave her caresses, steal her kisses, make her scream with ecstasy. The cyborgs want her dead and they would question his loyalty if he didn’t kill her. The humans would shoot him on sight if he dared to touch her.
Their love is forbidden. Their desire could be lethal. One human and one cyborg will risk everything for a moment of passion.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Vapor-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B015UN87JC/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breathing-Vapor-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B015UN87JC/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breathingvapor-1897324-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breathing-vapor-cynthia-sax/1122718203
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/breathing-vapor
Topics: SciFi News | Comments Off on SciFi Saturday News – Star Wars Posters, New Star Trek Show, Terraforming Mars and Close Calls In Space
SciFi Saturday News – Planetary Protection Officers, Sending Humans To Mars and Inspiring Space Photos
Are you looking for inspiration for your next SciFi romance story? These are the news stories that inspired me this week.
Sending Humans To Mars
“In another step toward humanity’s journey to Mars, NASA on Thursday released a detailed outline of its plan to get to the red planet. Although the space agency did not announce a firm date for a manned mission, humans might be living and working in “Earth independent” habitats on Mars as early as the 2030s — if all goes according to plan.”
NASA’s Planetary Protection Officer
If you want a super cool career for your about-to-meet-a-hunky-alien heroine, how about making her NASA’s planetary protection officer?
“The whole job description sounds a bit like Sci-Fi: One lone woman, with a mission to protect the universe… from Earth. Meet Catharine A. Conley, NASA’s planetary protection officer.
Space is a hazardous place, hostile to life, but Conley has been charged with protecting it from us, or at least what we might send out into it. That’s just what NASA’s planetary protection officer does, and it’s far more about science than science fiction.”
3D Printers And Replicators
I use machines similar to Star Trek replicators in some of my SciFi romance novels. These machines create objects from base inputs. Hmmm… doesn’t that sound a lot like a 3D printer?
Yes, it does. And people are working on applying 3D printers to space travel issues.
Toronto doctor Julielynn Wong shares
“We can’t take all the surgical supplies we want with us on a Mars mission. So the idea was, hey, why don’t I look at the medical inventory for space missions and see what’s 3D printable — just try to convert everything from hardware into something that’s virtual? Using 3D printers for space medicine is transformative.”
Some Awesome Space Photos
What inspired you in the SciFi world this week?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646
Topics: SciFi News | Comments Off on SciFi Saturday News – Planetary Protection Officers, Sending Humans To Mars and Inspiring Space Photos
SciFi Saturday News – Water On Mars, Realism In SciFi Movies And Star Wars Rumors Confirmed
I’m always looking for ideas for my next SciFi romance. Here are some of the inspiring real world stories I’ve seen this week.
Water On Mars
The big news was, of course, the photos of water on Mars.
“Dark, narrow, 100 metre-long streaks on Mars, believed to have been formed by flowing water, are seen in an image produced by NASA.”
The images in this article are sure to inspire you.
Ridley Scott And Realism In SciFi Movies
I love this interview with Ridley Scott
“The fantasy of space, which is now also a reality, is a marvelous platform and a form of theatre. Honestly, almost anything goes. But, if anything goes whether you do a play, a book or a film, you’ve got to actually make your own rule book and stick within the confines of the rules you make. So, if I’m doing space fantasy like Alien or Prometheus, I’ve got to draw up the sidelines of the rule book and stick within them. It’s still a fantasy because it’s never going to happen. (The Martian) is a lot easier because, actually, you can lean very heavily on the science in the book. This was a much more realistic movie.”
Possible NASA Projects For Launch In 2020
Want to tie your SciFi Romance into existing NASA projects? They’ve announced possible projects for launch in 2020.
“Among those selected for this stage of funding are the Near Earth Object Camera (NEOCam), which promises to discover “ten times more near-Earth objects” than have been discovered so far, and “Lucy,” which aims to scout Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids to learn more about the birth of our solar system.”
Admiral Ackbar Returning In Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The rumors that Admiral Ackbar, the fishlike character from the original Star Wars, is returning to The Force Awakens are confirmed. Tim Rose, the actor, is also raving about the movie.
“…if you were a fan of the original three, you’re going to absolutely love this one to bits.”
Star Trek Beyond Filming
Star Trek Beyond has started filming in Dubai. Why Dubai?
“I am always good for discovering new places and this is such a stunning city.” “I woke up this morning, opened up the blinds and looked out. It looks like whatever tomorrow will be. It’s future-land!”
Which SciFi stories are inspiring you?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646
Topics: SciFi News | 2 Comments »
