Footage of the inside of the LOX tank on a SpaceX F9

So while I was watching the recent Falcon 9 (CRS-4) launch by SpaceX (video embed below),

I saw this image but did not know what it was:

This happens at 24mins in the above video (or T+9:15)

Nerdist says it's actually the insides of the LOX tank. SpaceX has outdone my expectations - attaching a camera inside the cryogenic fuel tank at hardcore pressures and temperatures below −182.96 °C or 90K.

More videos of things like the capture by ISS and berthing of the mission can be found on the livestream event page (also the first link in this post). The only thing we didn't see this mission? The reusability videos of the 1st stage booster soft-landing on water like in previous launches.

Again, another job well done by SpaceX. (We still have Dragon capsule recovery, to go though).

Nvidia launches GTX 980, GTX 970

http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/maxwell-architecture-gtx-980-970



Wonder if the "Advanced Maxwell Architecture" is different to my 750 Ti's Maxwell Architecture meaning I won't get the same driver functionality nearer to its end of life .. =(
My 8400 GS is now stuck on Nvidia's 340.x Binary driver.

Ah well, with Star Citizen supporting Linux, and probably going the OGL route for that through CryEngine's Linux builds, there'll be no need for DX 12 (which nVidia promised for current cards anyway). MS is also now on board Khronos, if only for the WebGL part (since IE sucks in that department).

Also, with Khronos asking for OGL Next (or nicknamed 5.0) comments/proposals when they announced OGL 4.5, I'll be waiting until OGL 5.0 hardware comes out for my next graphics purchase. I'm glad I moved away from notebook gaming though - that was breaking the bank for less than half the performance (for similar model names' mobile versions).

SpaceX and Boeing win the Commercial Crew contracts as expected

The spacecraft will be SpaceX's Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 flying on the companies' own launch vehicles Falcon 9 and Atlas V (by ULA - with Lockheed) respectively. 

Sierra Nevada's mini-shuttle atop an Atlas V proposal did not win, but they want to continue to develop it, even without the NASA contract. 

USAtoday.com link:

Worth up to $6.8 billion combined, the contracts include at least one crewed test flight to the station, then two to six operational flights of four-person crews.

"Today we're one step closer to launching our astronauts from U.S. soil on American spacecraft and ending the nation's sole reliance on Russia by 2017."

NASA awarded Boeing significantly more money, up to $4.2 billion compared to $2.6 billion for SpaceX. That apparently reflects the higher cost of Boeing's proposal, as NASA said the proposals covered the same amount of work.

The savings in launch costs already seen in SpaceX even without the reusable program's cost reductions seems to have been translated into commercial crew costs as well.

"Boeing has been part of every American human space flight program, and we're honored that NASA has chosen us to continue that legacy," said John Elbon, Boeing vice president and general manager for Space Exploration, in a statement.
Added SpaceX CEO Elon Musk: "SpaceX is deeply honored by the trust NASA has placed in us. We welcome today's decision and the mission it advances with gratitude and seriousness of purpose."

NASA would not say how many proposals it received or discuss their details, saying it was still debriefing the companies.
The agency would not confirm if the new commercial spacecraft offer a significantly better value per seat than the $70 million NASA is paying for Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

 In a surprise to many, Boeing has partnered with Blue Origin, the startup founded by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, to develop an engine that could potentially replace the Atlas V's Russian-made main engine, whose continued availability is considered a risk.

Video of announcement:

Information on the spacecraft:

I've already posted about the Dragon one here before (video of reveal with both physical mockup, animations of launch cycle included and Elon Musk - it's really cool!). 

Space.com link - includes videos of both launch vehicle and spacecraft's launch cycle as well as interior/layouts.