Category Archives: Space participation

Mars Society seeks volunteers for one year Mars base simulation in arctic

The Mars Society seeks volunteers for a one year trip to a Mars base – simulated on an arctic island:

Call for Volunteers: Mars Arctic 365 Mission – The Mars Society
One-Year Mars Mission Simulation at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station:

The Mars Society is seeking six volunteers to participate as members of the crew of the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) during an extended simulation of human Mars exploration operations on Devon Island in northern Canada (August 2014 through July 2015).

As currently planned, the crew will consist of four individuals chosen primarily for their skills as field scientists in areas including geology, geochemistry, microbiology, biochemistry and paleontology. Two additional crew members will be chosen primarily for their skills in engineering areas. The ability of crew members to support both roles is considered a strong plus.

For 12 months, these six crew members will conduct a sustained program of field exploration on Devon Island, 900 miles from the North Pole, while operating under many of the same constraints that will be faced by explorers on an actual human Mars mission. For example, no one will be able to go outside without wearing a spacesuit simulator. The crew will be responsible for all of its own field work, lab work, reportage, repair of equipment and chores of daily life. They will work in telescience collaboration with a Remote Science Team, a Mission Support Group and an Engineering Support Team located in the continental United States. In addition to the six person Mars exploration crew, one field support person will also participate in the expedition in and out of simulation role. This person should have excellent field mechanic and wilderness skills.

Both volunteer investigators who bring with them a proposed program of research of their own compatible with the objectives of the Flashline Station (see below) and those simply wishing to participate as members of the crew supporting the investigations of others will be considered. Volunteers may submit applications as individuals, couples or both. Applications will be considered from anyone in good physical condition between 22 and 60 years of age without regard to race, creed, color, gender, or nationality. Scientific, engineering, practical mechanical, arctic, wilderness, first aid, medical, and literary skills are all considered a plus. Applicants should have either a four-year college degree or equivalent experience.

Applicants will need to pass a physical exam and must be cleared by their personal physician to participate. Applicants must be non-smokers and should state what, if any, food allergies and/or dietary restrictions they may have. Dedication to the cause of human Mars exploration is an absolute must, as conditions are likely to be very difficult and the job will be very trying.

To read the full announcement, please click here.

Kickstarter for PocketQuebes – pocket sized satellites

The Glasgow based PocketQube Shop  has opened a Kickstarter campaign to fund their PocketQubes sats: Want to build a satellite but don’t have a NASA sized budget? by PocketQube Shop — Kickstarter

PocketQubes are tiny satellites which are small enough to fit in your Pocket. They are 5cm cubes and you can stack them up to create larger satellites, for example 1.5 PocketQubes or 1.5p and 2.5p. Why go small? They are cheapest fully functional class of satellite to launch.

The standard was proposed by Professor Bob Twiggs, creator of the revolutionary Cubesat form factor and voted as one of 10 space professionals “That made a Difference in Space” (The other two selected from the United States were Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and the US President, Barack Obama).

At the end of November the first 4 PocketQubes will be launched into Orbit from Russia! There will be more going next year.

This Kickstarter is focused upon structures, the building blocks of any satellite. We want to enable as many teams as possible to start designing, building and launching their own satellite today!!

That is why we are offering you a chance to support the NewSpace revolution, with T-Shirts3D Printed Models and Aluminium Structures for your first satellite project!

 

 

Copenhagen Suborbitals: CS wins FAI Breitling Milestone Trophy

Congratulations to the Copenhagen Suborbitals team on winning the Milestone Trophy in the FAI-Breitling Awards for 2013: FAI Breitling Award Goes to Copenhagen Suborbitals – Wired Science.

The jury gave this statement for the decision:

“Copenhagen Suborbitals have achieved an outstanding performance and contribution to astronautics by designing, building and launching the world’s first amateur built full size rocket with full computer control and steering – based completely upon amateurs and donations.

The results has been achieved from nothing – and this has demanded the highest level of vision, patience, and creativity, organizational and technical skills in different areas from computer programming to economics and funding.

The way of thinking, working and the way of sharing information in aeronautics has never been seen before, and can change the way we interact with others and the way we travel in space.”

A report on a trip to the Adult Space Academy at Space Camp USA

The author of this article gives an entertaining account of participating in the Adult Space Academy program at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama: From ‘moonwalking’ to landing a space shuttle, the Adult Space Academy in Huntsville, Ala., gives the starry-eyed a taste of what it’s like to train as an astronaut. – latimes.com.

The new SEDS NOVA on line magazine

SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) have revamped their NOVA newsletter into an on line resource: NOVA | The Official Publication of SEDS-USA

Fellow explorers,

We at SEDS-USA are thrilled to relaunch the NOVA as an online publication. Historically, the NOVA has functioned as a newsletter among SEDS chapters since 1996. The publication has evolved through various forms into a bi-annual magazine.

This year, we are changing things up and establishing the NOVA as an online platform for student space articles and related artistic pieces. We want to open the SEDS community to showcase work by space enthusiasts from across the globe. Feel free to explore the new site and check out our archived publications!

Ad Astra,
Ekaterina Khvostova
Editor in Chief of NOVA