The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Ridgewood NJ, In a groundbreaking achievement for private space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander successfully touched down on the moon’s near side on Sunday, carrying NASA-funded experiments that will help pave the way for future astronaut missions.
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Ridgewood NJ, we’re all familiar with the various ways to cast a ballot—mail, absentee, or in-person at a polling station. But what about those voters who are a bit further from home… like in outer space? Yes, NASA astronauts actually have the opportunity to vote while orbiting Earth, thanks to an extraordinary system NASA has in place.
Continue reading Do Astronauts Actually Vote from Space? Yes, They Do!
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Ridgewood NJ, the full moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon, coinciding with a supermoon for an extra bright and beautiful display in the night sky. According to NASA, the moon will reach its peak fullness on this morning, October 17, 2024, at 7:26 a.m. EDT. However, you’ll be able to enjoy its glow for several days, from Wednesday evening through Friday morning.
Continue reading October’s Hunter’s Moon: A Stunning Supermoon to Light Up the Sky
file photo Movie 2001 Space Odyssey
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Ridgewood NJ, yesterday, NASA successfully launched its Europa Clipper spacecraft as part of a $5.2 billion mission aimed at detecting conditions for life on Europa, one of Jupiter’s 95 moons. This ambitious mission marks NASA’s first return to Jupiter since 2011 and is the result of a long-term partnership with SpaceX.
photo courtesy of NASA
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Ridgewood Nj, get ready for a cosmic treat that happens only once in a lifetime—well, more like once in 80,000 lifetimes! A comet discovered just last year is set to make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday, October 12th. Known as Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), this ancient celestial body last flew past our planet during the Stone Age and won’t return for another 80,000 years. So, if you’re a stargazer, this is one show you don’t want to miss.
Continue reading A Rare Sight: Comet Last Seen in the Stone Age to Fly By Earth Tonight
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Ridgewood NJ, on August 21, NASA announced a significant shift in its plans for the return of astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS). Due to ongoing concerns over Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the space agency has decided to extend the stay of the two crew members currently aboard and bring them home using a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead.
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Ridgewood NJ, with clearer skies on the horizon, 2024 promises to be an excellent year to catch the annual Perseid meteor shower, peaking from Sunday through Tuesday (Aug. 11-13).
Continue reading Perseid Meteor Shower, Peaking from Sunday through Tuesday
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Ridgewood NJ, NASA is preparing contingency plans for Boeing’s Starliner astronauts to potentially return from the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2025. This announcement marks the latest setback in Boeing’s troubled journey to launch its inaugural crewed mission to space.
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Ridgewood NJ, residents in North Jersey were alarmed on Tuesday morning when they felt their homes shaking, prompting many to speculate on social media about the possibility of an earthquake similar to the one that rattled the area in April. However, by the end of the day, NASA offered a different explanation.
Continue reading Meteor Causes Shaking in North Jersey Homes, NASA Confirms
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Ridgewood NJ, two astronauts who have been stuck in space weeks longer than planned remain optimistic about their safe return to Earth despite the ongoing issues with Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams expressed confidence during their first news conference from orbit on Wednesday.
Their predicament began last month when helium leaks and thruster failures were discovered on the new Starliner capsule. Despite these challenges, Williams stated, “I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem.”
Continue reading Lost in Space: Astronauts Optimistic About Safe Return Despite Starliner Issues
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NASA officials announced on Friday that the return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has been delayed indefinitely as engineers review data from its recent flight to the International Space Station (ISS). During the mission, the spacecraft experienced several issues, including small helium leaks and problems with five of its 28 thrusters when docking with the station in early June.
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Ridgewood NJ, in the realm of space exploration, the journey to uncover the mysteries of our universe often begins with a single idea, a spark of curiosity that propels us forward into the unknown. For Bergen Tech senior Thomas Liu, from Ridgewood that journey has culminated in a remarkable achievement: being named the national high school division winner of NASA’s Power to Explore Challenge.
Continue reading Unveiling the Universe: Bergen Tech Senior Wins NASA’s Power to Explore Challenge
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Ridgewood NJ, For the first time since 2020, NASA is accepting applications for new astronauts.
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Ridgewood NJ, on February 22nd, Odysseus achieved a successful landing on the Moon, marking a significant milestone as the first private lunar lander and the first from the United States since 1972. Developed by Intuitive Machines, the lander now sits approximately 300 kilometers from the lunar south pole, an area believed to potentially harbor ice deposits. Prior to landing, Odysseus encountered a malfunction necessitating a software patch, which was successfully implemented just hours before touchdown. It is slated to collect valuable data for up to seven days, until nightfall descends upon the landing site.
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Ridgewood NJ, Fed Chair Jerome Powell may still be navigating a soft landing, but over on the moon, it’s already a reality.
