Written by Laura on Sep 26th, 2008 | Filed under:
General
A space rocket is essentially a large bomb, and those in the shuttle attached to it must pray constantly that the designers have got their bomb design just right. This is the situation faced by the brave astronauts that will be flying in the Orbit shuttle attached to the Ares I rocket. This combination forms part of the Constellation program, and launch is hoped to be in 2015 (last month it was 2013, but there have been some issues).
Getting the design right is one of NASA’s main priorities and it takes a huge amount of time. Ares’s initial designs have undergone – and passed – initial testing by the 1,100 strong team of specialists at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Far from being the final word on the safety of the Ares rocket, these initial runs are just the starting point for what is an almost endless series of iterative changes.
The nature of the Ares rocket means that it is largely untested before it shoots off into the cold, dark space carrying its precious cargo. These tests are lengthy, tiresome and very, very expensive. The lives that depend on it, though, will be hoping and praying that no stone is left unturned.
Written by Laura on Sep 15th, 2008 | Filed under:
General
Smoking Salvia is definitely an interesting experience. I really enjoyed it; my friend didn’t care for it much. It’s safe to say that the actual smoking itself and the trip and feelings that it induces are not for everyone. This is a subjective drug that is different things to different people.
Well known effects of salvia divinorum include very strong hallucinations and uncontrollable giggling. In this sense it is very much like Marijuana. Except the effects of this legal drug are not limited to this.
Users of salvia have also reported regression into their earlier lives, with childhood memories becoming a very vivid almost real experience. The outer body experiences have a huge effect on some people – again some really enjoy it while it scares the beejeebus out of others.
Personally I felt like I was falling off the floor. Sideways. Sideways gravity is enough to really mess with your head but it is also one of those things that can make you feel liberated and at one with the world. Apparently.
What is for sure is that you won’t know exactly how it is going to affect you until you try it. For now smoking salvia is legal in most US states, so why not give it a whirl while you still can!
