Comments on: Yuri’s Night in Boulder http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:57:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Phil Smith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82657 Phil Smith Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:13:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82657 Phil, It was great to have you join us at the celebration. My only regret was not getting a chance to meet you. There will be other opportunities, in any case. I think the event went very well, actually. But just wait until next year! Best, Phil Smith Director of Communications Secure World Foundation Phil,

It was great to have you join us at the celebration. My only regret was not getting a chance to meet you. There will be other opportunities, in any case.

I think the event went very well, actually. But just wait until next year!

Best,

Phil Smith
Director of Communications
Secure World Foundation

]]> By: Top Ten Animals in Space | Orbiting Frog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82656 Top Ten Animals in Space | Orbiting Frog Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:05:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82656 [...] died during the flight. The Soviets flew 10 more dogs on that programme until April 12, 1961 when Yuri Gagarin became the first man in [...] [...] died during the flight. The Soviets flew 10 more dogs on that programme until April 12, 1961 when Yuri Gagarin became the first man in [...]

]]> By: Reed http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82655 Reed Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:35:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82655 PS: you can get a rather poor PDF scan of "Challenge to Apollo" on the NASA NTRs server: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20000088626_2000122281.pdf The PDF is legal, but I'd strongly suggest getting the real book if you can find/afford it. PS: you can get a rather poor PDF scan of “Challenge to Apollo” on the NASA NTRs server:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20000088626_2000122281.pdf

The PDF is legal, but I’d strongly suggest getting the real book if you can find/afford it.

]]> By: Reed http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82654 Reed Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:10:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82654 @PsyberDave The "lost cosmonauts" theory was vaguely plausible before the USSR collapsed (they did lie and cover up plenty of real incidents), but with the evidence that has become public since then it is completely unsupportable. Even before that, Jim Oberg did a pretty good debunking: http://www.jamesoberg.com/usd10.html The real history of the soviet program had plenty of interesting incidents. I suggest Asif A Siddiqis excellent Challenge to Apollo as a starting points. Obergs books also come highly recommended. @PsyberDave
The “lost cosmonauts” theory was vaguely plausible before the USSR collapsed (they did lie and cover up plenty of real incidents), but with the evidence that has become public since then it is completely unsupportable.

Even before that, Jim Oberg did a pretty good debunking: http://www.jamesoberg.com/usd10.html

The real history of the soviet program had plenty of interesting incidents. I suggest Asif A Siddiqis excellent Challenge to Apollo as a starting points. Obergs books also come highly recommended.

]]> By: Brian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82653 Brian Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:23:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82653 @tracer To answer your question, Secure World uses more of a Google-style approach to things as opposed to Microsoft. Their main focus is on keeping space free from conflict (as in no shooting wars) and sustainable for future generations to use and explore. http://secureworldfoundation.org I've been working for them as a consultant for the last 6 months after getting out of the USAF and they are respected by both the left and right as straight shooters. @tracer

To answer your question, Secure World uses more of a Google-style approach to things as opposed to Microsoft. Their main focus is on keeping space free from conflict (as in no shooting wars) and sustainable for future generations to use and explore.

http://secureworldfoundation.org

I’ve been working for them as a consultant for the last 6 months after getting out of the USAF and they are respected by both the left and right as straight shooters.

]]> By: quasidog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82652 quasidog Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:03:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82652 I am amazed that guy with the Sputnik helmet did not poke out someone's eye with those backward thrusting, eye level, antennae. Fool. I am amazed that guy with the Sputnik helmet did not poke out someone’s eye with those backward thrusting, eye level, antennae. Fool.

]]> By: Wayne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82651 Wayne Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:24:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82651 @ John B. Sandlin, *Flips calendar to April 2009* Hm, looks like April 12, 2009 is Easter Sunday. That should make for some interesting parties. @ John B. Sandlin,

*Flips calendar to April 2009*

Hm, looks like April 12, 2009 is Easter Sunday. That should make for some interesting parties.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82650 Barton Paul Levenson Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:17:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82650 Robert Heinlein reported that on a trip to the USSR in 1960, a bunch of cadets (a stage above Young Pioneers, I forget the exact term for them) told him about how the USSR had put a man into orbit. People were talking about it all over. Then, a day or two later, nobody said anything about it and you couldn't get them to talk about it. Yuri went up in 1961, if I remember correctly. Now, this doesn't prove a fatal early space mission. It might just be that someone started a rumor and Heinlein happened to hear it when it was still propagating. But it's certianly <i>compatible with</i> a fatal early space mission. Robert Heinlein reported that on a trip to the USSR in 1960, a bunch of cadets (a stage above Young Pioneers, I forget the exact term for them) told him about how the USSR had put a man into orbit. People were talking about it all over. Then, a day or two later, nobody said anything about it and you couldn’t get them to talk about it. Yuri went up in 1961, if I remember correctly.

Now, this doesn’t prove a fatal early space mission. It might just be that someone started a rumor and Heinlein happened to hear it when it was still propagating. But it’s certianly compatible with a fatal early space mission.

]]> By: John B. Sandlin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82649 John B. Sandlin Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:58:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82649 I forgot all about Yuri's night until Friday. So Friday I did a quick google and found our local event (San Antonio). We had a great time. We didn't have vodka or anything like that (I understand Austin probably did). We did have Pizza. Mmmmm, pepperoni... I digress... Anyway, mark it on your calendars now! (Um. You might not have your 2009 calendar yet, so might be a futile suggestion). Start planning now! Any reason to party is a good reason - this is a great reason. [soapbox] Also, consider looking into your local National Space Society, or one of the other major science support groups. Support science. Get involved. [/soapbox] I digressed again, didn't I. John B. Sandlin I forgot all about Yuri’s night until Friday. So Friday I did a quick google and found our local event (San Antonio). We had a great time. We didn’t have vodka or anything like that (I understand Austin probably did). We did have Pizza. Mmmmm, pepperoni… I digress…

Anyway, mark it on your calendars now! (Um. You might not have your 2009 calendar yet, so might be a futile suggestion). Start planning now! Any reason to party is a good reason – this is a great reason.

[soapbox]
Also, consider looking into your local National Space Society, or one of the other major science support groups. Support science. Get involved.
[/soapbox]

I digressed again, didn’t I.

John B. Sandlin

]]> By: KaiYves http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82648 KaiYves Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:00:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82648 We celebrated virually on MuseBlog, and in the real world, I called a radio station to recommend "Rocket Man". Sadly, the host didn't get my call. We celebrated virually on MuseBlog, and in the real world, I called a radio station to recommend “Rocket Man”. Sadly, the host didn’t get my call.

]]> By: MedTek(sandra) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82647 MedTek(sandra) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:36:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82647 I owe you a story about pass-making cosmonauts. I owe you a story about pass-making cosmonauts.

]]> By: Kitty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82646 Kitty Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:05:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82646 I lived on North 9th street. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/geo/showMap.php?attractionNo=12959 I lived on North 9th street.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/geo/showMap.php?attractionNo=12959

]]> By: Kitty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82645 Kitty Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:02:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82645 Where I lived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin there was a little plaque in the sidewalk. It said that a piece of Sputnik had fallen there! The local museum had a replica bit that NASA had given them. I thought the plaque should have said something like "If you had been standing on this spot on April blah blah blah....you would be dead". Where I lived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin there was a little plaque in the sidewalk. It said that a piece of Sputnik had fallen there! The local museum had a replica bit that NASA had given them. I thought the plaque should have said something like “If you had been standing on this spot on April blah blah blah….you would be dead”.

]]> By: Keith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82644 Keith Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:22:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82644 I'm not Phil but I have done some research into Phantom Cosmonauts and they seem to be an urban legend, one part wishful thinking (it's a dramatic story that sounds good and plausible) and the fact that Russian Archivists can't or won't release the material from that time period that would corroborate the story one way or the other. The Mythbusters would call it Plausible, but inconclusive. If anyone has other info, of course, I'd love to hear it! I’m not Phil but I have done some research into Phantom Cosmonauts and they seem to be an urban legend, one part wishful thinking (it’s a dramatic story that sounds good and plausible) and the fact that Russian Archivists can’t or won’t release the material from that time period that would corroborate the story one way or the other. The Mythbusters would call it Plausible, but inconclusive.

If anyone has other info, of course, I’d love to hear it!

]]> By: MedTek(sandra) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82643 MedTek(sandra) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:50:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82643 Gosh Phil, can we clink glasses to Yuri and Al on Thursday? (Al was a friend, and one of my favourite people) Gosh Phil, can we clink glasses to Yuri and Al on Thursday? (Al was a friend, and one of my favourite people)

]]> By: tracer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82642 tracer Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:08:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82642 I can't tell whether that "Secure World Foundation" is a good thing (e.g. stronger encryption algorithms), or a bad thing (e.g. big-brother-like surveillance for "terrorists"). I can’t tell whether that “Secure World Foundation” is a good thing (e.g. stronger encryption algorithms), or a bad thing (e.g. big-brother-like surveillance for “terrorists”).

]]> By: angrynight http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82641 angrynight Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:47:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82641 Why do I always find out about this stuff one day too late? Why do I always find out about this stuff one day too late?

]]> By: PsyberDave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82640 PsyberDave Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:39:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82640 Wikipedia notes that some have proposed that Yuri was the first person to "successfully" enter space and return, but there were other cosmonauts before him that came back dead or in some similar condition. Those missions, as the thought goes, were state secrets and thus have been excluded from historical narrative. Wikipedia further notes the lack of substantiation of these ideas, which could be the real reason we don't talk about others in space before Yuri. Phil, do you have a blog entry or two that you'd like to make on this topic? It seems like a good Bad Astronomy subject. Wikipedia notes that some have proposed that Yuri was the first person to “successfully” enter space and return, but there were other cosmonauts before him that came back dead or in some similar condition. Those missions, as the thought goes, were state secrets and thus have been excluded from historical narrative. Wikipedia further notes the lack of substantiation of these ideas, which could be the real reason we don’t talk about others in space before Yuri.

Phil, do you have a blog entry or two that you’d like to make on this topic? It seems like a good Bad Astronomy subject.

]]> By: Gnat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82639 Gnat Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:08:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82639 I soooo wish I had known about this! I feel a little left out, actually... I soooo wish I had known about this! I feel a little left out, actually…

]]> By: Quiet_Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/comment-page-1/#comment-82638 Quiet_Desperation Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:56:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/yuris-night-in-boulder/#comment-82638 Bah! Blooody Russkies. (kicks pebble) Bah! Blooody Russkies. (kicks pebble)

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