Messenger probe set to orbit Mercury
After years of travel, the probe Messenger finally goes into orbit around Mercury tonight.
Tag: engineering
Satellite Builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat
Sour grapes: Satellite builders express contempt for MDA’s refueling plans for Intelsat orbiting satellites.
No surprise here. If Intelsat can extend the life of its satellites, than it won’t have to buy them as often from these builders, something the builders clearly don’t want.
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule
Three astronauts return safely to Earth in Soyuz capsule.
The strange tale of the Lebanese space race
The strange tale of the Lebanese space program.
The strange link between samurai swords and Japan’s nuclear reactors
The strange link between samurai swords and Japan’s nuclear reactors.
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about
The X-37B – what its first two flights have been about.
Time to stop nuke hysteria
Time to stop the nuke hysteria. Key quote:
It’s not bad enough that thousands of people may be dead from Japan’s earthquake and devastating tsunami. No, the media is instead obsessing over a nuclear reactor that has killed no one and probably never will.
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites
Intelsat signs MDA to perform in-space refueling of its communications satellites.
The concept of refueling geosynchronous satellites has been lurking about the aerospace industry for years. According to this deal, we should see an actual mission in about five years.
Russia Delays Launch of Soyuz Capsule to Space Station
Soyuz TMA-M ballistic return possible
The return of a crew from ISS on Wednesday via a new upgraded Soyuz capsule might have problems.
A detailed explanation of what has happened at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
Check out this detailed engineering explanation of what has happened, is happening, and will happen at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. Key quote:
The point is that the nuclear fuel has now been cooled down. Because the chain reaction has been stopped a long time ago, there is only very little residual heat being produced now. The large amount of cooling water that has been used is sufficient to take up that heat. Because it is a lot of water, the core does not produce sufficient heat any more to produce any significant pressure. Also, boric acid has been added to the seawater. Boric acid is “liquid control rod”. Whatever decay is still going on, the Boron will capture the neutrons and further speed up the cooling down of the core.
Sergei Korolev: the rocket genius behind Yuri Gagarin
Sergei Korolev: the rocket genius behind Yuri Gagarin.