Category:
Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy

If the Man in the Moon Were a Coon



Yes, this once met with mainstream approval as harmless entertainment.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 28, 2016 - Comments (7)
Category: Music, Racism, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Stereotypes and Cliches, 1900s

Space Tourism Posters

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NASA is giving away space tourism posters. NASA had the posters designed, presumably to encourage continued interest in the space program. Whatever the purpose, the posters are very cool. Check them all out at the link.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 15, 2016 - Comments (8)
Category: Art, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Graphics

Opel Rocket Vehicles

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Original pic here.

Opel-RAK were a series of rocket vehicles produced by Fritz von Opel, of the Opel car company, in association with others, including Max Valier and Friedrich Wilhelm Sander largely as publicity stunts.

The Lippisch Ente a rocket-powered glider was produced on June 11, 1928, piloted by Fritz Stamer, but is not usually considered part of the series.

Opel RAK.1 - a rocket car that achieved 75 km/h (47 mph) on March 15, 1928[2]
Opel RAK.2 - rocket car May 23, 1928 reached a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) driven by 24 solid-fuel rockets[2]
Opel RAK.3 rocket train (quoted speed is variously 254 or 290 km/h. See: [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]) On the second run the train jumps the track and is destroyed.
Opel Rak IV rocket train, destroyed when a solid rocket explodes on the track, exploding all the other rockets. Railway authorities prohibit further runs.[3]
Opel RAK.1 rocket glider September 30, 1929


Some stock footage of some of the rocket vehicles was incorporated into this early SF film.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 25, 2016 - Comments (4)
Category: Flight, Movies, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Technology, Science Fiction, 1920s, Europe, Cars

NASA Presents:  Space Food!

Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 22, 2015 - Comments (5)
Category: Food, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, 1960s

Extraterrestrial Real Estate

In my latest about.com article, I explore some of the characters who have claimed to own the sun, moon, stars, and planets (and are often willing to sell plots of land on them, for a nominal price).

Posted By: Alex - Tue Jun 23, 2015 - Comments (2)
Category: Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy

Lesbian Space Gals of 1973

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"We read PLAYBOY and PLAYGIRL magazines," laughed Capt. Evelyn Jean Parks....."

Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 17, 2015 - Comments (5)
Category: Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, 1970s, LGBT, Women

The Martian Writing of Hélène Smith

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A self-styled medium, Ms Smith was not content to talk to distant or dead Earth people only, but also had a hotline to Mars. Here is her portrait of a typical Martian, and their language.

Wikipedia entry here.

Long article here.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 18, 2014 - Comments (9)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Delusions, Fantasies and Other Tricks of the Imagination, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Superstition, Nineteenth Century

Porta-Potty Rocket

The Throne Thrusters is a group of Michigan-based rocket enthusiasts who have decided to attach high-powered rockets to a porta-potty and blast it thousands of feet into the air.
They're doing this in order to increase awareness of rocketry as a hobby, as well as to prove that it's possible to turn a porta-potty into a rocket. Launch is set for Nov. 22.

Check out their Facebook page for more details. [via Online Athens]

Posted By: Alex - Mon Nov 10, 2014 - Comments (10)
Category: Bathrooms, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy

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Who We Are
Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

Paul Di Filippo
Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

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