Top 12 Space Events in 2012
Posted by Jesse Clark in Space News on January 15, 2012
Here is video post from our interns Brett and Brandon as they highlight their 12 most anticipated space events for 2012.
A Collection of Rockets
Posted by Jesse Clark in Space News on November 10, 2011
Derek Nye once again goes into depth to cover a space topic of current interest, using a clear style accessible to everyone. This time he takes on nothing less than the future of space exploration itself in his article A Collection of Rockets:
Most new rocket engines being built by SpaceX, Armadillo Aerospace, XCOR, and other commercial space companies are liquid rocket engines. So what is a liquid rocket engine? First off, let’s explain how every rocket works. Every rocket works by taking some source of fuel and a concentrated oxygen source, mixing the two, and then igniting them in a combustion chamber. By doing this, you create a stream of high pressure, high velocity gas. Then, the gas is turned supersonic as it is passed through a precisely shaped nozzle. This generates the thrust for the rocket, as this mass of gas is expelled at high speed out of the nozzle. Your sources of fuel and oxygen can be in solid form, liquid form, or a mixture of the two (hybrid). …
Read the rest (and Derek’s other articles) over at D Minus Zero.
Better Paths to a New Frontier
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Space News on August 5, 2011
Derek Nye once again goes into depth to cover a space topic of current interest, using a clear style accessible to everyone. This time he takes on nothing less than the future of space exploration itself in his article Better Paths to a New Frontier:
Space is limitless in the number of destinations we can pursue. From moons, and planets, to solar systems, and galaxies, we are only at the beginning of what space can offer us. Although we can agree that certain destinations are much more favorable than others, we cannot always agree on the path we will take to get to these destinations, and in what order we wish to pursue them. …
In this post, I will introduce (or re-introduce in some cases) you to some of the better plans we should pursue on our path towards greater space exploration. I will also address the current plan being developed regarding the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System in some detail. …
Read the rest (and Derek’s other articles) over at D Minus Zero.
Thoughts on NASA Commercial Crew
Posted by Chris Radcliff in Space News on November 18, 2010
Molly McCormick, newspace biomechanical engineer and friend of SD Space, was recently given the task of reviewing NASA’s latest requirements for the Commercial Crew & Cargo Program. She posted her initial thoughts on Twitter, and I just had to share them here:
Having grokked NASA’s ISS Crew Transportation and Services Requirements document, CCT-REQ-1130, for several days, I now have some thoughts:
(This might be a good time to state that all opinions are my own and do not reflect anybody else’s in any way.)
1. It may actually make writing CCDev2 proposals easier; proposals=”what you’ll do/how you’ll do it” & they’re detailing “what you’ll do.”
Corollary: It will therefore have a homogenizing effect on all CCDev2 proposals, so NASA can’t distinguish btw diverse approaches as well.
2. Many of the performance requirements are actually quite reasonable, and even provide great experiential knowledge to leverage. BUT…
3. The testing requirements for verifying performance range from “nitpicky” to “onerous,” and even, in a couple instances, “offensive.”
I can respect nitpicky; that’s another word for thorough and I’m nitpicky myself. It will inflate cost, though. Substantially.
It’s not like NewSpace can’t/won’t meet the req’s; it just costs more/takes longer this way.
Cost more/take longer than it has to, but still cheaper/faster than NASA. :)
What are your thoughts?
Presentation: Humans to Mars – How We’ll Get There
Posted by Gerry Williams in Astronomy, Calendar, Education, Events, Mars Society, Science, Space News on September 29, 2010
Fri, Oct 1, 2010
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Presentation:
Humans to Mars – How We’ll Get There
It has been 38 years since we last stepped foot on the Moon, and Mars is beckoning to us. Plans are bring laid right now to return to the moon and go on to set foot on the Red Planet. Take a look at all the current plans for exploring and eventually colonizing Mars.
With Gerry Williams and The Mars Society-San Diego, at 3:00pm in the Eaton Room at the Town & Country Resort Hotel at 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego CA 92108.
This is a presentation of the CONJECTURE SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION. For more information, please visit:
http://2010.conjecture.org/
