Russian space designer Boris Chertok dies at 99
R.I.P.: Russian space engineer Boris Chertok has died at 99.
R.I.P.: Russian space engineer Boris Chertok has died at 99.
Tag: engineering
Russian space designer Boris Chertok dies at 99
Scientists have built the world’s smallest steam engine, only a few thousandths of a millimeter wide.
Scientists have built the world’s smallest steam engine, only a few thousandths of a millimeter wide.
Scientists have built the world’s smallest steam engine, only a few thousandths of a millimeter wide.
Rutan, Allen, Musk, Griffin team up to develop an air-launch rocket system to fire hardware and humans into orbit.
Superstars of space: Rutan, Allen, Musk, and Griffin have teamed up to develop an air-launch rocket system to fire hardware and humans into orbit.
Their concept calls for Rutan, a noted aircraft designer, to create a carrier jet with a 385-foot wingspan and six engines to ferry a liquid-fueled, 120-foot-long rocket built by SpaceX and outfitted with five main engines to altitude where the winged booster will be released for launch into orbit.
Superstars of space: Rutan, Allen, Musk, and Griffin have teamed up to develop an air-launch rocket system to fire hardware and humans into orbit.
Their concept calls for Rutan, a noted aircraft designer, to create a carrier jet with a 385-foot wingspan and six engines to ferry a liquid-fueled, 120-foot-long rocket built by SpaceX and outfitted with five main engines to altitude where the winged booster will be released for launch into orbit.
The European Space Agency will make two more attempts to contact Phobos-Grunt
The European Space Agency will make two more attempts to contact Phobos-Grunt.
The European Space Agency will make two more attempts to contact Phobos-Grunt.
Southwest orders 208 Boeing 737s valued at $19 billion
Some good news: Southwest Airlines has ordered 208 of Boeing’s 737, a deal valued at $19 billion. Plus this:
Last month, Boeing said Indonesia’s Lion Air committed to pay $21.7 billion for 230 Boeing 737s. Lion Air also has options for 150 more planes, valued at $14 billion, bringing the deal’s total potential value to $35 billion. But the Lion Air deal is not a certainty; it still has to complete the order. Also in November, Emirates Airlines ordered $18 billion worth of 777s.
Maybe Boeing should pump some of those profits into building the CST-100 manned space capsule and thus win more profits in the space tourism industry.
Some good news: Southwest Airlines has ordered 208 of Boeing’s 737, a deal valued at $19 billion. Plus this:
Last month, Boeing said Indonesia’s Lion Air committed to pay $21.7 billion for 230 Boeing 737s. Lion Air also has options for 150 more planes, valued at $14 billion, bringing the deal’s total potential value to $35 billion. But the Lion Air deal is not a certainty; it still has to complete the order. Also in November, Emirates Airlines ordered $18 billion worth of 777s.
Maybe Boeing should pump some of those profits into building the CST-100 manned space capsule and thus win more profits in the space tourism industry.
Dawn has now lowered its orbit to 130 miles above the asteroid Vesta
Dawn has now lowered its orbit to an average elevation of 130 miles above the asteroid Vesta.
Expect lots of close-up images in the weeks to come.
Dawn has now lowered its orbit to an average elevation of 130 miles above the asteroid Vesta.
Expect lots of close-up images in the weeks to come.
Orbital Sciences has renamed its Taurus II rocket the Antares rocket
Orbital Sciences has renamed its Taurus II rocket the Antares rocket.
To clear up any marketplace confusion and provide clear differentiation between this new launch vehicle and our Taurus XL rocket. Antares is significantly different – it serves the medium-class space launch market and its liquid fuel first stage technology is major departure from previous Orbital space launch vehicles. In addition, a project of this scale and significance deserves its own name like Orbital’s Pegasus®, Taurus® and Minotaur rocket programs that have come before it.
I think they have also realized they needed to distinguish Antares from the Taurus XL rocket’s recent problems, failing twice to put NASA climate satellites into orbit.
Orbital Sciences has renamed its Taurus II rocket the Antares rocket.
To clear up any marketplace confusion and provide clear differentiation between this new launch vehicle and our Taurus XL rocket. Antares is significantly different – it serves the medium-class space launch market and its liquid fuel first stage technology is major departure from previous Orbital space launch vehicles. In addition, a project of this scale and significance deserves its own name like Orbital’s Pegasus®, Taurus® and Minotaur rocket programs that have come before it.
I think they have also realized they needed to distinguish Antares from the Taurus XL rocket’s recent problems, failing twice to put NASA climate satellites into orbit.
Mining the Moon for fun and profit
LightSquared actually disrupted 75% of the GPS receivers used during government testing
Actually, those tests weren’t so good after all: LightSquared’s broadband system actually disrupted 75% of the GPS receivers used during government testing.
Morrissey also notes these disturbing facts, considering the Obama administration’s strong support for Lightsquared:
- The CEO of LightSquared has been a big Democratic Party contributor.
- Barack Obama was an early investor in LightSquared.
- The Obama administration has put pressure on military officials to change their opposition to Lightsquared.
Actually, those tests weren’t so good after all: LightSquared’s broadband system actually disrupted 75% of the GPS receivers used during government testing.
Morrissey also notes these disturbing facts, considering the Obama administration’s strong support for Lightsquared:
- The CEO of LightSquared has been a big Democratic Party contributor.
- Barack Obama was an early investor in LightSquared.
- The Obama administration has put pressure on military officials to change their opposition to Lightsquared.
The Air Forces has awarded contracts to Andrews Space, Boeing and Lockheed Martin to develop a reusable first stage booster
The Air Forces has awarded contracts to Andrews Space, Boeing and Lockheed Martin to develop a reusable first stage booster.
The Air Forces has awarded contracts to Andrews Space, Boeing and Lockheed Martin to develop a reusable first stage booster.
Your orbital trip on a Boeing spaceship
Your orbital trip on a Boeing spaceship.
Your orbital trip on a Boeing spaceship.
NASA has announced a February 7 launch date for SpaceX’s next test flight of Falcon 9 and Dragon
NASA has announced a February 7 launch date for SpaceX’s next test flight of Falcon 9 and Dragon to ISS.
They also have approved allowing Dragon to do a test berth with ISS on this flight, assuming the first test approach goes well.
NASA has announced a February 7 launch date for SpaceX’s next test flight of Falcon 9 and Dragon to ISS.
They also have approved allowing Dragon to do a test berth with ISS on this flight, assuming the first test approach goes well.
Phobos-Grunt now predicted to fall back to Earth in early January
Phobos-Grunt is now predicted to fall back to Earth in early January.
Phobos-Grunt is now predicted to fall back to Earth in early January.
6 Insane Early Drafts of Iconic Buildings
LightSquared touts new tests prove its internet service will not interfere with GPS
In a press event today, LightSquared announced that just-completed tests prove that its internet service will not interfere with GPS.
According to the company, the three private companies — Javad GNSS, PCTel and Partron — that make GPS equipment have been testing interference solutions and those tests have gone well. “Preliminary results show that GPS devices tested in the lab easily surpass performance standards thanks to these newly developed solutions,” Ahuja said. “We are confident that this independent testing will mirror testing being done by the federal government.”
Here’s another perspective:
Jim Kirkland, vice president of Trimble and a founding member of The Coalition to Save Our GPS, is trying to slow LightSquared’s momentum. “It is obviously extremely premature to claim at this point that these latest tests demonstrate that LightSquared’s proposed repurposing of the mobile satellite band for terrestrial operations is ‘compatible’ with high-precision GPS,” Kirkland says in a statement. “Even if new equipment solutions are fully tested and verified, these existing high-precision receivers will have to be retrofitted or replaced. LightSquared still refuses to accept the financial responsibility for addressing interference to existing devices, and so has not offered a comprehensive solution in any way, shape, or form.”
In a press event today, LightSquared announced that just-completed tests prove that its internet service will not interfere with GPS.
According to the company, the three private companies — Javad GNSS, PCTel and Partron — that make GPS equipment have been testing interference solutions and those tests have gone well. “Preliminary results show that GPS devices tested in the lab easily surpass performance standards thanks to these newly developed solutions,” Ahuja said. “We are confident that this independent testing will mirror testing being done by the federal government.”
Here’s another perspective:
Jim Kirkland, vice president of Trimble and a founding member of The Coalition to Save Our GPS, is trying to slow LightSquared’s momentum. “It is obviously extremely premature to claim at this point that these latest tests demonstrate that LightSquared’s proposed repurposing of the mobile satellite band for terrestrial operations is ‘compatible’ with high-precision GPS,” Kirkland says in a statement. “Even if new equipment solutions are fully tested and verified, these existing high-precision receivers will have to be retrofitted or replaced. LightSquared still refuses to accept the financial responsibility for addressing interference to existing devices, and so has not offered a comprehensive solution in any way, shape, or form.”
Hole for rent
NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools in ISS
NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools on ISS.
NASA looks to 3D printing to create spare parts and tools on ISS.
The first female astronaut from Russia in decades might fly to ISS in 2013
The first female astronaut from Russia in decades might fly a six month mission to ISS in 2013.
The first female astronaut from Russia in decades might fly a six month mission to ISS in 2013.
Names of China’s second class of astronauts revealed by stamp collectible
The names of China’s second class of astronauts, kept secret by the government there, has been revealed by a stamp collectible.
The names of China’s second class of astronauts, kept secret by the government there, has been revealed by a stamp collectible.
An experiment designed to mimic the dynamo at the Earth’s core is about to be turned on.
Mad scientists at their best! An experiment designed to mimic the dynamo at the Earth’s core is about to be turned on.
Ten years in the making, the US$2-million project is nearly ready for its inaugural run. Early next year, the sphere will begin whirling around while loaded with 13,000 kilograms of molten sodium heated to around 105 °C. Researchers hope that the churning, electrically conducting fluid will generate a self-sustaining electromagnetic field that can be poked, prodded and coaxed for clues about Earth’s dynamo, which is generated by the movement of liquid iron in the outer core. If it works, it will be the first time that an experiment that mirrors the configuration of Earth’s interior has managed to recreate such a phenomenon.
This is a really very cool experiment, as we really do not have a good understanding of how planetary magnetic fields are produced.
Mad scientists at their best! An experiment designed to mimic the dynamo at the Earth’s core is about to be turned on.
Ten years in the making, the US$2-million project is nearly ready for its inaugural run. Early next year, the sphere will begin whirling around while loaded with 13,000 kilograms of molten sodium heated to around 105 °C. Researchers hope that the churning, electrically conducting fluid will generate a self-sustaining electromagnetic field that can be poked, prodded and coaxed for clues about Earth’s dynamo, which is generated by the movement of liquid iron in the outer core. If it works, it will be the first time that an experiment that mirrors the configuration of Earth’s interior has managed to recreate such a phenomenon.
This is a really very cool experiment, as we really do not have a good understanding of how planetary magnetic fields are produced.
Phobos-Grunt now appears to be breaking up
Doomed: Phobos-Grunt now appears to be breaking up.
Doomed: Phobos-Grunt now appears to be breaking up.
Cannonball fired in Mythbusters stunt goes through nearby home
Oops! A cannonball fired during a Mythbusters stunt went off course, bouncing through two walls of a nearby home and then crashing through the window of a minivan.
Oops! A cannonball fired during a Mythbusters stunt went off course, bouncing through two walls of a nearby home and then crashing through the window of a minivan.
Will it blend? – cyalume sticks
The Hubble Space Telescope has now been used as a reference in more than 10,000 science papers
And the winner is: The Hubble Space Telescope has now been used as a reference in more than 10,000 peer-reviewed science papers.
And the winner is: The Hubble Space Telescope has now been used as a reference in more than 10,000 peer-reviewed science papers.
The next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon has slipped again
The next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon has slipped again.
This article notes how an ISS status report that had indicated approval for a merger of the next two Falcon 9 test flights was premature.
The next test flight of Falcon 9/Dragon has slipped again.
This article notes how an ISS status report that had indicated approval for a merger of the next two Falcon 9 test flights was premature.
Strange streets
German bomb experts successfully defuse WW II bomb after evacuating 45,000
German bomb experts have successfully defused a World War II bomb after evacuating 45,000.
“I did my job, that was all,” lead defusing expert Horst Lenz told local daily Rhein Zeitung.
German bomb experts have successfully defused a World War II bomb after evacuating 45,000.
“I did my job, that was all,” lead defusing expert Horst Lenz told local daily Rhein Zeitung.
The X-37B: what is it for?
X-37B has successfully passed the 270 day milestone in its now extended mission.
Lots of people have speculated about the military’s plans for the X-37B. I think the Air Force is actually telling us in this quote:
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Electric car company shuts down
For once, the taxpayer doesn’t get screwed: The electric car company Aptera has shut down due to lack of interest from investors and the lack of a loan from the government.
The California company was counting on a federal loan – and private investments to match the loan – so that it could start producing its very first electric vehicle. Aptera said it was close to securing a $150 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, but it couldn’t line up the private dollars necessary to complete the loan application process.
For once, the taxpayer doesn’t get screwed: The electric car company Aptera has shut down due to lack of interest from investors and the lack of a loan from the government.
The California company was counting on a federal loan – and private investments to match the loan – so that it could start producing its very first electric vehicle. Aptera said it was close to securing a $150 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, but it couldn’t line up the private dollars necessary to complete the loan application process.
Uganda’s suborbital spaceplane, under construction in the backyard of the designer’s mother
Uganda’s space program: the construction of its first aircraft — in the backyard of the designer’s mother’s home — to be followed by a space shuttle! With pictures and video.
At first glance this looks absurd and a pipe dream. However, stranger things have happened. I wish them all the success in the world.
Uganda’s space program: the construction of its first aircraft — in the backyard of the designer’s mother’s home — to be followed by a space shuttle! With pictures and video.
At first glance this looks absurd and a pipe dream. However, stranger things have happened. I wish them all the success in the world.