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Welcome to The Genre Traveler! Please sign up using the form to the right so that you'll get all the latest updates to the site. You also might want to sign up for the RSS feed, which you can do via email or your favorite RSS Reader. I'm talking about the movie, not the end of the world, of course. According to a recent press release, "a team of scientists and engineers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) are conducting research that could one day save humanity from asteroids threatening Earth."

They are working on methods of deflecting asteroids that might endanger Earth with lasers. The head researcher, Dr. Richard Fork of UAH Laser Science and Engineering Group, said that someday it could be possible to put a laser in space or on the moon for looking at asteroid properties and perhaps alter their trajectories away from Earth.

The work is funded by the U.S. Army and involves a local company that employs several of Fork's former students. The research does not concern characterizing or deflecting asteroids, but Fork sees a connection. "My vision is that this system is the progenitor of the laser that could characterize and deflect asteroids,” he said.

If you have kids who are interested in space exploration, then you might be interested in KB Toys’ new promotion in conjunction with Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

KB Toys, the United States’ largest mall-based specialty toy retailer, has partnered with KSC Visitor Complex to provide KB Toys customers with educational activities, as well as an opportunity to visit the Center.

With each purchase at KB Toys, patrons get a free co-branded activity book that includes fun learning activities, a KB Toys coupon and an opportunity to enter to win a two-night trip for four to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This special trip also includes a meet and greet with a real astronaut.

“Children share a level of enthusiasm about space and learning that is unparalleled,” said Debbie Blizzard, manager of Alliance Marketing for KSC Visitor Center, in a press release. “The opportunity to reach them with these educational activities at such a young age helps further KSCVC’s mission in telling the NASA story and providing inspiration to this new generation of space explorers.”

If you haven’t been to KSC, it is worth the trip for space or NASA fans. I still wear the space shuttle earrings I got there a few years back, and I had a great time exploring the exhibits and taking the facility tour.

The promotion lasts until Aug. 28 and the winner will be chosen on Sept. 29, 2006. For more information, visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com/promotionalPartners/KBToys.asp.

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A few years ago, I lived in Tampa, Fla. One day, I was returning to my apartment after throwing out the trash when I heard a loud “Boom!” I looked up and in the distance I saw the thick, billowy trail of the space shuttle blasting into space. That was really cool.

At 3:48pm on Saturday, July 1, during the Independence Day weekend, the space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to launch, and it is expected to bring in the crowds. According to Florida Today, shuttle launches can draw 150,000 viewers. And, since this is the first shuttle flight in nearly a year, it could attract even more.

The catch is, this is already a heavy tourist weekend, especially with the launch coinciding with the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race in relatively nearby Daytona Beach.

"Our property is already sold out for the first week of July,” Rick Hutcherson, director of sales and marketing for Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort told Florida Today, “and looking strong for the rest of the month." He added, "Any time we have a launch, we do well. But this launch will fall on our biggest holiday of the year."

Interestingly enough, shuttle launches draw an international crowd. "The shuttle launch brings international recognition to our area," Danielle Courtenay, vice president of public relations for the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau told Florida Today. Among international visitors, most are expected to hail from the United Kingdom.

"We just had a visit to the United Kingdom, and the people are very excited about the space program," Rob Varley, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism told Florida Today.

However, as my anecdote above illustrates, you don’t have to go to the Space Coast to see at least part of a shuttle launch. If seeing the shuttle on the ground with the flames and steam billowing about it is not so important, and you just want to see the shuttle as it makes its way into orbit, you can catch some of that action from across the state.

For more information:
Florida Today: Launch adds to holiday tourism boom
Space.com: STS-121 Crew To Fly July 1
Orlando Sentinel: Shuttle Discovery to launch July 1

Contest Can Encourage their Interest in Space.

ZG Aerospace, a company dedicated to making space exploration available for all, is offering students in grades K-12 the opportunity to send a school science project into space. Entries for the 'Space Project Contest' must be received by June 15, 2006.

The top 3 entrants will have their project flown into space when the first-ever commercial rocket is launched at the new Southwest Regional Spaceport in New Mexico, which is targeted for July. “We hope to provide a unique educational experience for science classrooms across America,” said Tom Gonser, ZG Aerospace co-founder, “and will be looking for entries with a good story and scientific creativity.”

The student projects will be flown aboard the ZGS-1 along with a variety of already registered personal consumer items, including business cards, photographs, wedding rings and even ashes.

“We hope that providing access to space for kids onboard our flights will encourage their interest in space exploration and the future development of space travel,” said Gonser. “With this launch, the growth of space tourism and commercial access to space becomes mainstream.”

All project entries must be received by June 15, 2006 and meet ‘Mission Parameters,’ as outlined at www.zgspace.com/MainSite/K12_contest.htm. Some example projects include testing for cosmic radiation, effects of g-forces on objects, and many others. Once back from space, projects will be returned to the school with a Certified Space Seal to authenticate space travel, and be entered in the International Space Registry.

The ZGS-1 will blast into space on a high performance sub-orbital rocket developed by UP Aerospace, Inc. (www.upaerospace.com), the world’s only private company with a fleet of space-flying rockets. The rocket will reach space in 90 seconds, and will remain weightless for several minutes. The ZGS-1 payload will be recovered on the White Sands Missile Range.

This week, May 1-7, is International Astronomy Week and tomorrow, May 6, 2006, is International Astronomy Day. Events to celebrate the occasion are happening throughout the world.

For a list of events in the U.S. sponsored by Astronomy Magazine and Meade 4M, go to www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=ps&id=80.

For a list of events by U.S. state and by country, visit The Astronomical League's Event page at www.astroleague.org/al/astroday/adactiv06.html.

For a list of events in Canada, visit the Canadian Astronomy Education page at www.cascaeducation.ca/files/genastro_astroday.html.

These pages also include links to background information, free downloadable handouts and calendars, activities for kids and more.

So, look to the stars, peruse the planets and have a great time in the universe!