Japanese company “Sapporo Breweries” has produced “space beer“. Sapporo Holdings is one of Japan’s largest makers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including beer.

The beer is made from barley grown in space. The barley was grown on the International Space Station as part of a five-month experiment carried out by Sapporo, the Russian Academy of Science and Okayama University. The main objective of this experiment was to reveal if the station could provide itself with food.

Cosmonaut Boris Morukov, who spent 11 days in space himself, says barley joins wheat, lettuce and peas as space station produce, noting potatoes may take root in future studies, although not to make an equally famous Russian beverage. “I think we would try to grow potatoes as food, not for vodka production,” Morukov joked.

Actually there is no great difference in taste between barley grown on Earth and space seeds. In 2006 Sapporo had no plans to sell beer and one hundred bottles of space beer made treasured unique gifts. In 2009 the unusual beer was produced in limited quantities. They produced 1500 bottles of space drink. Today it can be bought only through the internet. The cost of one package which consists of six bottles is 110$. Sales earnings will go to charity organizations.

At the moment we carry on negotiations with Interorbital Systems (IOS) on the subject of sending of our picture catalogue into space. Interorbital Systems (IOS), a rocket and spacecraft manufacturing company is ready to send our photo catalogue to the orbit in December of 2010.

Planet Earth has entered the age of the Personal Satellite with the introduction of Interorbital’s TubeSat Personal Satellite (PS) Kit. It offers plenty of room for most experiments or applications. TubeSats are placed into self-decaying orbits 310 kilometers (192 miles) above the Earth’s surface. After operating for a few months (the exact length of time on orbit is dependent on solar activity), they will safely re-enter the atmosphere and burn-up. TubeSats are designed to be orbit-friendly. The launch is expected to begin in December of 2010.

We decided to cooperate with this company as the TubeSat also allows adding not only the photo catalogue but our own experiment to the basic TubeSat Kit. Examples of add-on experiments or applications include the following:

• Earth-from-space video imaging.
• Earth magnetic field measurement.
• Satellite orientation detection (horizon sensor, gyros, accelerometers, etc.).
• Orbital environment measurements (temperature, pressure, radiation, etc.).
• On-orbit hardware and software component testing (microprocessors, etc.).
• Tracking migratory animals from orbit.
• Testing satellite stabilization methods.
• Biological experiments.

Interorbital Systems (IOS), a rocket and spacecraft manufacturing company, was founded in 1996. The company has been engaged primarily in research and development since its formation, although it has performed numerous outside aerospace contracts. These projects include Dick Rutan’s Global Hilton Balloon Project; the South Texas Spaceport Feasibility Study and Analysis; special rocket visual and sound effects work for French Television, Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures. IOS has provided these organizations with aerospace hardware, study data, market information, and hardware demonstrations.

Interorbital Systems (IOS) is located at the Mojave Airport and Spaceport in Mojave, California The company carries out its operations at facilities consisting of a 6,000-square-foot office and manufacturing center, and two private rocket engine test sites.

Virgin Galactic has released the final design of the launch system that will take fare-paying passengers into space.  It is based on the X-Prize-winning SpaceShipOne concept – a rocket ship that is lifted initially by a carrier plane before blasting skywards. The Virgin system is essentially a refinement, but has been increased in size to take eight people at a time on a sub-orbital trip, starting in 2010.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said the space tourism business had huge potential. “I think it’s very important that we make a genuine commercial success of this project,” he told a news conference in New York. “If we do, I believe we’ll unlock a wall of private sector money into both space launch systems and space technology. This could rival the scale of investment in the mobile phone and internet technologies after they were unlocked from their military origins and thrown open to the private sector.”

The ‘experience’

Virgin Galactic has contracted the innovative aerospace designer Burt Rutan to build its spaceliners, who has constructed the carrier – White Knight Two (WK2) and SpaceShipTwo (SS2). Both vehicles are being constructed at Mr Rutan’s Scaled Composites factory in California.

The rocket spaceliner will carry two pilot astronauts and six ticketed passengers. They will fly initially from a new facility called Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert. The space journeys will last about two-and-a-half hours from beginning to end.  Passengers on SS2 will climb to an altitude of 110km, from where they will get to experience weightlessness for a few minutes, and see the curvature of the Earth and the black of space.

The first SpaceShipTwo test flights are expected to start in 2010, with full-fledged space launches to its maximum altitude by or in 2011. The 300 paid passengers have already put down the $200,000 ticket or placed a deposit, according to the company.

SpaceShipTwo’s debut marks the first public appearance of a commercial passenger spacecraft. SS2 has been under construction for two years. On board, there will be room for six passengers and two pilots. Daily space flights for SS2 are set to begin in New Mexico from Spaceport America following the completion of test programming and US government licensing. SS2 will be carried by WhiteKnightTwo mothership, a four-engine jet-powered aircraft unveiled last year that features twin fuselages mounted on either side of a huge wing. SS2 will be mounted in the center. SpaceShipTwo will be released at an altitude of 15,240 meters (50,000 feet.) A rocket motor burning solid propellant with nitrous oxide then will boost SpaceShipTwo onto a steep trajectory to an altitude of more than 100 km (62 miles.)

The Sun is an important & most permanent object in our solar system. Sun is the largest planet known to scientist in outer space and contains about 98% of the whole solar system mass. Just imagine and compare: in order to fit across the Sun’s disk with Earths, you will need 109 Earth planets. The Sun’s interior could contain nearly 1.3 million of Earth planets. The photosphere’s temperature is 6,000°C (11,000°F). The photosphere is the Sun’s outer visible layer. The layer has a spotty appearance according to the turbulent eruptions of energy at its surface.

Solar energy is created deep within the core of the Sun. The temperature (15,000,000° C; 27,000,000° F) and pressure (340 billion times Earth’s air pressure at sea level) is so immense that constant nuclear reactions occur. Reactions lead up to four protons or hydrogen nuclei to fuse together to form one alpha particle or helium nucleus. The alpha particle is about 7% less king-sized than the four protons. The difference in mass is extruded as energy and is brought to the surface of the Sun, through the convection process. On the Sun surface it is produced as light with heat. It takes millions of years for the energy which is generated in the core of the Sun to reach the surface. Every moment 700 million tons of hydrogen is transformed into helium ashes. During this process 5 million tons of pure energy is discharged; therefore in future the Sun becomes lighter.

Copyright: NASA Copyright Free Policy

The photosphere is situated under the chromosphere. Solar energy passes through The photosphere just form the center of the Sun. Faculae and flares appear in the chromosphere. Bright hydrogen clouds of faculae form above area where sunspots are about to form. Flares are bright filaments of hot gas which emerges from sunspot regions. Sunspots are dark depressions on the photosphere with a typical temperature of 4,000°C (7,000°F).

The outer part of the Sun’s atmosphere is the corona. Prominences appear in this region, which are huge clouds of glowing gas that appear from the upper chromosphere. The outer region of the corona goes far into space & contains particles which travel slowly away from the Sun. The corona can only be seen during total solar eclipses.

The Sun has been active for 4.6 billion years and has enough fuel to go on for billions of years. In an unpredictable number of years the Sun will start growing in outer space & will swallow the Earth because it will start to fuse helium into heavier elements. It may take a trillion years to cool off completely.

Selecting a gift for men is sometimes an extremely difficult process, especially when He “has everything”. But at the same time it is very amusing. Millions of wives, girl-friends, sisters, daughters and grand-daughters spend days, months, weeks and even months shopping for a unique gift for him & looking for something special  .

Christmas is coming. In December for millions of women these are the hottest and the maddest questions:

- Will this or that product satisfy Him?
- Will I buy the thing He needs most of all?
- Will he keep it for good memory or throw it away in a couple of days???

Lots of people think that the best gift  is something useful, something that has practical application. At the same time it must be original, interesting & unusual, causing a storm of emotions even from courageous and quiet men. You will hardly find a man who will stay indifferent if he gets a real man’s gift.

What to choose for Him?

A well approved solution is to buy a gift for His hobby. For example some men and guys are interested in shooting, therefore arbalests & breadboard models of ancient and modern weapon will be an excellent gift for them.

Men are fond of art: Renaissance, Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism, Hyperrealism, Modern, Post-modern and etc.  Some modern art objects have acceptable prices and are real masterpieces of art.  An interior item will be a wonderful gift for men.

Young men take a great interest in computers, portable devices and etc. Unusual electronic portable device  is a cool gift idea for guys. Just have a look in the internet and you will get a wide selection of mobile and portable devices.

As for traditional man’s gifts, sets for smoking, board games, perfune, beer mugs are available everywhere. Just do a search on Google for “gifts for men” and you will come up with 34,100,000 pages. Most of these pages are not relevant but first pages have really good ideas.

But most of these presents are so drippy. Nothing extraordinary. Do you agree?

Where is the  storm of emotions?

Don’t worry. I will willingly share a cool gift idea. To give presents means to please.  A real gift is a pleasure. Men are fed up with those banal blatant purses, perfume, cups & etc. The soul wants something unusual & unpredictable. Surprise Him having presented an extraordinary Space Gift. Present him a spce travel – send his photo into space with one of space expeditions.  Show him your love and care! He will appreciate you enthusiasm!

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ – the central figure of Christianity, which views him as the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, and within which most denominations recognize him as the Son of God and as God incarnate.  Christian views of Jesus center on the belief that Jesus is divine, is the Messiah whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament, and that he was resurrected after his crucifixion. The date of commemoration is not known to be Jesus’ actual birthday, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either a historical Roman festival or the winter solstice. Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.

Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined (with slight variations) as the period from Christmas Day to the evening of 5 January, the day before Epiphany, a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Epiphany falls on January 6 in the modern Gregorian Calendar followed by most Western churches. Many of the Eastern Churches use the traditional Julian Calendar, where Epiphany occurs on the Gregorian Calendar’s January 19. Western Christians commemorate the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the child Jesus on this day. Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. It is also called Theophany, especially by Eastern Christians.

Christmastide is a period commonly known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, as referred to in the Christmas carol of the same name, or Yuletide, as in “Deck the Halls”. In the Church of England, however, Christmastide includes Epiphany and ends at Candlemas in early February, which celebrates the Presentation of Jesus Christ at the Temple. In the Roman Catholic Church, since Vatican II the Christmas season runs a shorter period, from Christmas Eve evening to the Sunday after Epiphany, the commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord, after which Ordinary Time begins. In some countries, by superstition it has become bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night. However, until recently, in Christian countries the Christmas season lasted until February 2, variously called Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This was in keeping with the traditional liturgical significance of Forty Days, which has been downplayed in the liturgical calendar of many denominations since the reforms in the wake of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s.

Although traditionally a Christian holiday, Christmas is widely celebrated by many non-Christians and some of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving tradition, Christmas carols, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, and garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in North America and Ireland) is a popular mythological figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.

Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.

Source: NASA

We have to discover a variety of scientific data the moon holds. In order to understand the evolution of Earth and other planets we must investigate it.

The moon looks very tranquil and peaceful in the night sky. We can hardly imagine that this planet is an active space body. Millions of Earth habitants don’t know that the moon gets LCROSS-sized exposures at least once a week.  More than 50 exposures once a year! Note an interesting fact – the moon experiences thousands of moonquakes each year and leaves out energy by heat flow, electromagnetic conducting power and tides from Earth and the Sun.

LCROSS is premium and exceptional compared to the natural barrage of material exposing the moon. It is developed to have exact information where and when it will expose the Cabeus crater near the moon’s south pole.

Very few facts are known about the constantly shadowed regions of the lunar surface. Scientists may get rather unexpected results from their investigations. The crater is very deep (nearly 2 miles). Probably it is one of the coldest places in our solar system. Scientists consider that it has been void of sunlight for millions of years and is an optimal location for water existence on the moon. Who knows, maybe not only water exists in the crater.

Lots of NASA scientists, engineers and astronomers are working hard and constantly to advance space investigation and knowledge of our solar system. Teams of scientist and astronomers have a lot of work ahead. They are going to observe the exposures, gather images, identify the approximate quantity of water, study the lunar surface soil and dust. Scientists’ mission promotes participatory investigation from professional and amateur astronomy community, students and all the public in general.

Nearly twenty-five Earth-based observatories have been aimed at the Cabeus crater to witness the moment the moon dust rises and is suspended in the sunlight to determine if has contained water vapor.

How can we come up with as a decent surprise? Or an unusual gift? Or a story that will shake up someone’s brain and bring in a rush of adrenaline? With the abundance of choices today sometimes it seems like there is not so many options left. After conquering the cyberspace, seems like the old expression “the sky is the limit” is not relevant anymore. Is the Sky still the limit?…

Not so long ago the world smiled at the news about a new trick to boost the sales of digital technology.

An original size model of a corkwood chair was taken up 98.268 feet on an air-balloon and there it collapsed into little pieces. What an excellent way to advertise new  laptops and LCD tv-sets!

At first glance there is nothing extraordinary. Everyone can do it, no? Have you ever tried sending a teddy bear or a toy aircraft to the stratosphere? However the trick is that not only the chair had to “fly” towards the unknown, but also be filmed with high resolution video camera from most advantageous positions.

The creators just couldn’t do without aeronautics experts. “The Rise” took 83 minutes, while the way back was much speedier – only 24 minutes. And the temperature on the way went down to -130°F, which is absolutely incredible for a flying chair to actually “survive” this low. A special light frame construction made it possible to follow the Federal Aviation Agency regulation which allows the whole device to weigh no more than 4.14 pounds. 8 compact video cameras with resolution of 1920 x 1080 px were placed on this construction to film the chair. Also 4 independent gps systems were placed “on board”, they sent signals with balloon coordinates to the surface every 15 sec.

The chair is not just ANY object to send into space. In a way it is symbolic, because ironically the chair has become almost an indispensable attribute of every day life for millions and millions of people all over the world. Whether you are sitting at work in front of the computer or at home in front of the tv, a chair is always with you, or better to say u-n-d-e-r you. So, if a chair can “rise above”, so can you? Go into space or fly to the moon, explore the surface and look for life in the craters of other planets…

Those who are interested in space travel we can give you a chance to realize their dream. Our website offers you very unusual gift ideas on our website. Rise above the Earth and enjoy the season!

These days it has been announced officially that there is water on the moon. Since man first touched the moon, scientists have considered that the lunar surface is dry. They thought the moon was drier than any desert on Earth. In September NASA scientists discovered water on the moon although in very small quantities. These days it has been proved with the help of special equipment. One ton of a top layer of the lunar surface contains nearly 32 ounces of water. Recent investigations which have been carried out with the help of three different spacecrafts have proved scientists’ assumptions.

Space companies engaged in space investigation from the USA, Japan and Russia are going to develop their own bases on the lunar surface. NASA hopes that water will help to stay on the Moon for a long period of time.

The preliminary data which has been received with the help of new lunar vehicle developed by NASA LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite) reveal water presence in a crater.  The crater is not very far from the South Pole of the Moon.  It is constantly situated in shade; therefore it is impossible to define the presence of frozen water far off there. LCROSS was placed in crater Cabeus in October. After the sling landing, a funnel was created as a result of the vehicle blow. Particles of lunar ground have risen which hid a firm lunar surface billions of years.  Scientists consider that the discovery opens a new chapter in moon exploration. If we understand the Moon better, we will expand also the general knowledge of Solar System.

Notice that scientists have argued for years whether there is hydrogen on the moon or not.  Nobody could predict its quantity. Recently considerable volumes of hydrogen have been discovered on the moon poles. Taking into consideration that there is frozen water in a subpolar crater, NASA comes to assumption that water can be widely extended on the moon.  Scientists think that water in the form of ice has presented on the moon for billions of years. Having studied its chemical compound it would be possible to discover new facts about evolution of the Moon and Solar System. Besides, it is possible to state with confidence that lunar water will be very helpful to astronauts who will constantly stay at moon bases in future.

Since LCROSS has hit about the lunar surface, scientists have received a large volume of data. However researchers have given particular attention to the data received from spectrometers. Spectrometers will reflect most exact data on presence of water and its approximate quantity. Thus, scientists have incontestable data which prove water presence on the moon.  Concentration and analysis of lunar water is the next task. Today scientists state for sure that there is water in crater Cabeus. Today scientists conduct additional researches connected with the received data.

Today millions of people dream of getting launched outside the Earth gravity. Modern technologies are advancing fast but as of today they make it possible only for 12 people to get access into open space a year. And for the rest the dream remains just a dream. Intospace.org inspires people and involves the world’s public in space exploration with the help of our project.

Galactic Spanish company promises to complete the first space hotel construction project by 2012. Architects of the Galactic Suite Space Resort Hotel notify that 8 weeks of preflight training & 3 days of rest at the orbit will cost 3 million euro for those who wish.

Guests will see the sunrise 15 times per day & each 80 minutes turn around the Earth. Guests’ suit will have special Velcro so that at will all guests could move about the room as if there is even no any weightlessness, remembering herewith one great difference that the floor & the ceiling are equal. Experts consider that this project is perspective and in 15 years people won’t be surprised by the idea that their grandchildren could go on space travel for a weekend.

Galactic Suite Space Resort will present a module which will fly round at the height of 450 km at a lick of 30 thousand km/hour and accommodating 4 guests & 2 professional astronauts. The flight to the hotel will take a day & a half. More than 40 people have already booked tickets.
Project cost is near 3 bln $.

Austria has already begun to sell space tickets. It will be possible to buy a space permit in the chain of Penny supermarkets. Each ticket will cost 210 thousand euro in all. “Rocket Plane Global” also decided to go in for space tourism and is going to launch 1st space vessel at the end of 2011 from the spaceport situated in Oklahoma, USA.

Already in the middle of this century newlyweds could spend honeymoon at the luxurious hotel in space. According to experts’ opinion development of space tourism is in progress & it will have a mushroom growth. Newlyweds will be delivered to the hotel by space vessel accommodating nearly 850 passengers & a day in such a hotel will cost about 10 thousand $. Herewith, as specialists suspect, space voyage won’t take much time since aviation of the future will have the speed that is 5 times faster than the velocity of sound, permitting to carry from Europe to Australia only in 3 hours.

Unfortunately because of the crisis it is not clear yet if the project will be implemented by 2012. The project is very expensive. That’s why it makes sense to wait with unbelievable investments for those who wish to get into space. The best thing to do is to send your own photos into space and realize a long life dream of millions. For some people it will be an unusual Christmas gift, for others it can the best way to promote a website.