On Monday, October 7th, Grasshopper completed its highest leap to date, rising to 744m altitude. The view above is taken from a single camera hexacopter, getting closer to the stage than in any previous flight.
Grasshopper is a 10-story Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) vehicle designed to test the technologies needed to return a rocket back to Earth intact. While most rockets are designed to burn up on atmosphere reentry, SpaceX rockets are being designed not only to withstand reentry, but also to return to the launch pad for a vertical landing. The Grasshopper VTVL vehicle represents a critical step towards this goal.” – SpaceX
Apple iPad Event
Earlier this week many websites, including AllThingsD, announced that Apple will be holding another special event on Tuesday October 22. The event is expected to be primarily about an update to the iPad line which will likely feature a 64-bit processor (A7), Touch ID sensor, and updated camera. Some rumors have mentioned that we could see the bezel of the iPad shrink even more in this next revision and we could possibly see an iPad mini with a retina display.
As of this posting, there are still no official announcements from Apple regarding this event and we also haven’t heard where they are planning to hold the event. As soon as official details begin to roll in we will be pushing out updates.
The Nobel Prize in Physics Goes to Higgs Boson Researchers
The Nobel Prize in physics was given to Higgs Boson researchers Peter Higgs (84) and Francois Englert (80) “for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.”
“The entire Standard Model also rests on the existence of a special kind of particle: the Higgs particle. This particle originates from an invisible field that fills up all space.”
“Even when the universe seems empty this field is there. Without it, we would not exist, because it is from contact with the field that particles acquire mass. The theory proposed by Englert and Higgs describes this process.”
Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition Ready For Pre Order
If your a fan of the original Baldur’s Gate then you will be pleased to know that Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition is now available for pre-order. You can pre-order it today for $24.95 on both Mac and PC. The game will also be available at a later time for iPad and Android Tablets. The game will be released on will be available on November 15th, 2013.
The Enhanced edition will include both the Shadows of Amn and the Throne of Bhaal expansion packs along with better (enhanced) graphics for modern displays including widescreen support, new multiplayer options and new characters as well. You can also download the original Baldur’s Gate : Enhanced Edition, if you haven’t already. This game is one of the great classic RPGs and is well worth playing if you’re into this style of gaming.
Kidnapped. Imprisoned. Tortured. The wizard Irenicus holds you captive in his stronghold, attempting to strip you of the powers that are your birthright.
Can you resist the evil within you, forge a legend of heroic proportions, and ultimately destroy the dark essence that haunts your dreams? Or will you embrace your monstrous nature, carve a swath of destruction across the realms, and ascend to godhood as the new Lord of Murder?”
Features
- The Final Chapter – Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition includes Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the epic conclusion of the Bhaalspawn saga.
- Four New Party Members – Bundled with Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition are four new characters that can join you on your journey.
- The Black Pits 2: Gladiators of Thay – Explore the tactical depth of high-level Dungeons & Dragons combat. Undermine your captors and prey upon their weaknesses while you dodge traps and battle for your life against Demi-Liches, Mind Flayers, and Githyanki.
- Easy Multiplayer – Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition makes it easy to find, list, and join multiplayer games, even while behind a firewall.
- Widescreen and More – Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition features full widescreen support, remastered area artwork from o
Saving the Bridge From Star Trek
Star Trek fans can celebrate as a piece of the Enterprise-D bridge has been saved from almost certain destruction. Houston Huddleston, a fan and founder of the project, has made it a priority to save the bridge from the Enterprise-D as he found it left outside to face the elements for five years.
It’s not the original “on-screen” set from the TV series, as that one was destroyed for the ending of Star Trek: Generations. However, the bridge that is being restored is authentic as it was created in 1997 by the original creators Herman Zimmerman and Michael Okuda for display in London and Germany.
The project goal not only focuses on the restoration of the bridge but also aims at making it even better by adding touch screen computers to replace the original plexiglass computer graphics and making the whole set interactive and educational. In many ways it will feel like your in a live and interactive video game where you get to command the bridge. How awesome would that be!
This whole effort by Houston Huddleston has been given support by many who were involved with Star Trek including William Shatner who was their very first famous supporter. Although the project is well underway and has raised over $80,000, they still need our support and you can easily donate to the project by visiting Newstarship.com and clicking the donate link. On the website you will also find updates on the how the project is doing along with a bunch of cool apparel you can buy to show your support.