orbit

Music

Altec Lansing Orbit Speaker Drops The Batteries, Grows A USB Tail

10:55PM John Herrman | Some interestingly sideways gadget evolution from Altec Lansing today: The ultraportable Orbit speaker, which originally called for a child’s fistful of batteries, is now powered directly over USB. Which is great, for some people. More »
Science

Korea Reveals its First Orbit-Capable Rocket

8:44PM Kit Eaton | Seems like rockets are in the news a lot recently, and now South Korea has joined in by unveiling its first space launch vehicle, cunningly named the KSLV-1. Looking pretty much like rockets do, it’ll be capable of putting Korea’s first satellite—a “Science and Technology” one—into orbit, and the 7.7m-long upper stage has just been completed by Korea’s own Aerospace Research Institute. Sure, the 25.8m main stage is actually Russian, but it’ll still represent quite an achievement when it goes aloft. Sadly this won’t be until April-June next year due to technical cooperation problems with Russia. [FarEastGizmos] More »
Peripherals

Altec Lansing’s Redesigned Speakers and iPod Docks Get Retro, Manly Look

3:20AM John Mahoney | I must say I’m digging Altec Lansing’s new design approach with their consumer audio gear. In these Expressionist Bass speakers and new inMotion iPod docks, we see A-L ditching white plastic tubes and glossy piano-black slabs in favour of vaguely retro, almost steampunk industrial designs with big screws, black, chrome and brown colour schemes, prominent grilles, and a new logo. Check out a few more retro-fabulous shots and another, bigger inMotion dock post-jump. More »
Science

NASA to Fly You to the Moon for Free, Sinatra Style

12:30PM Jesus Diaz | NASA is opening the door to anyone wanting to go to the moon as part of their next lunar mission—all without requiring years of tests, training, or smoking astroturf. Sadly, only your name will go, which is actually good because the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter—set to select landing and outpost sites for the Constellation program—is not returning. Ever. Just submit your name to the mission site, and it will be added to a chip that will orbit for eternity around the biggest cheese in the Universe, and you will get a certificate from NASA. More »
Science

Europe Kicks Off Saturday Night With A Rocket Launch

11:30AM Gizmodo US Edition | Europeans sure know how to celebrate a Saturday night! While I spent the good part of Happy Hour knocking back shots, our cousins from across the ocean shot a satellite up into space. The Giove-B satellite, a demonstrator that will test key technologies needed in satellite navigation systems, ascended to the heavens at 22:16 GMT. More »
Press

Dead US Spy Satellite Hurtling Towards Earth; Where’s Your Car Parked?

1:57AM Wilson Rothman | An anonymous government official warned that a US intelligence satellite has lost power and could crash to earth sometime in February or March. When pushed on the matter, a National Security Council spokesman said this: “Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation. Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause.” While this is all true and should feel like a relief, I just get a chill through my spine when I hear that the government is looking at “potential options.” [Reuters] More »