Category Archives: Space Systems

DIY space, Space participation, Space Systems

ISEE-3 project update and plans

Dennis Wingo gives an update on the ISEE-3 reboot satellite  project, including what it accomplished and what they hope to do next : ISEE-3 Post Lunar Flyby Status and Modification of Mission Goals –  denniswingo

Mission Status

Communication with the ISEE-3 satellite was successfully re-established with the goal of commanding the satellite to change its trajectory with the goal of putting it into a libration point orbit that would allow it to resume its original mission goals of collecting data for solar physics research. The trajectory change goal unfortunately could not be completed due to the failure of the onboard thrusters. This failure was apparently the result of the loss of nitrogen pressurant in the Hydrazine fuel system.

This inability to change the spacecraft’s orbit rules out the original reboot mission goals which would have provided long-term data collection from the satellite instrumentation package using modest antennas. After the orbit change attempt, the ISEE-3 Reboot Team powered on the instrumentation package and began data collection from the instruments to assess their current physical status and usefulness for any ongoing scientific mission.

We are now redefining our mission goals to obtain the maximum scientific usefulness of ISEE-3 in its new interplanetary orbit. Figure 1 shows the flyby orbit and the long-term sun centered (heliocentric) orbit.

He reviews the trajectory of the spacecraft in the coming years, the health of the spacecraft, and what sort of science might be done with it, particularly with public citizen science involvement.

What’s Next

So expect to see more from us in the very near future. After the rush of the flyby we took a bit of a break but we are moving forward with the new “ISEE-3 Interplanetary Citizen Science Mission”. As soon as we have the real time display systems and reliable ground station communications support we will start putting more data out to be seen. We cannot sufficiently express our appreciation to the ground stations that have helped us make this a reality. Arecibo, our national treasure, in Puerto Rico. The Bochum Radio Observatory in Germany, our reliable friends and the ground station that first got us interested in ISEE-3. Morehead state in Kentucky has provided crucial support for transmitting to the bird of late. And the SETI Institute has been listening in as well. We are working to increase this list, but without these folks and their dishes, this would not have happened…

More at

Activism, Future space, Space Systems

Space elevator conference reviews + Japanese tether climber competition

In its latest newsletter, the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) reviews their recent conference and sets the theme of next year’s event : ISEC Newsletter August 2014.

Here is another overview of the conference: 2014 ISEC Space Elevator Conference Wrapup – The Space Elevator Blog

The Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA) attended the conference and reported on a recent tether climber contest that they sponsored: SPEC 2014 – The Space Elevator Blog

 This year for instance, they had a 1,200 m long tether held up by balloons.  Climbers are powered by batteries and scores are awarded based on speed, payload, etc.

The participants have been all Japanese so far but the JSEA wants to bring in other teams to make it an international competition.

Pluto and beyond, Space Science, Space Systems

New Horizons Pluto mission panels on NASA TV

There will be two live programs today on NASA TV dealing with the New Horizons  mission to Pluto:

NASA TV to Air Events That Highlight Pluto-Bound Spacecraft 

Media and the public are invited to attend two events Monday, Aug. 25 from 1-3 p.m. EDT to learn more about the agency’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and its historic connection to the Voyager spacecraft’s visit to Neptune in 1989.

The events, which will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website, will take place in the Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW in Washington.

New Horizons will conduct a six -month-long study of Pluto and its five moons, including a close approach in July 2015.

• The 1-2 p.m. event will feature a panel discussion with:
o Jim Green, director, NASA’s Planetary Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington
o Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
o Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado

• The 2-3 p.m. event will include several New Horizons science team members giving personal accounts of their work during the Voyager Neptune encounter and their new assignments on the Pluto mission. Panel participants include:

o Moderator: David Grinspoon, Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona
o Fran Bagenal, University of Colorado, Boulder
o Bonnie Buratti, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
o Jeffrey Moore, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
o John Spencer, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado

Media and the public can also ask questions via social media using #askNASA.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information, visit: www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For more information on New Horizons on the Internet, visit: www.nasa.gov/newhorizons

[ Update: Panel videos can be seen here.]

Future space, Space Systems

Space elevator conference

The ISEC 2014 Space Elevator Conference has been underway this weekend at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Several of the presentations are described in the The Space Elevator Blog. For example:

  • Loop Technology –  “Keith [Loftstrom] posited a Ground station 8 degrees south of the equator, claiming that a) this would allow the tether to be ’tilted’ allowing things to be oriented off of the tether, b) it keeps the tether out of the way of things in orbit around the equator and c) that if the tether breaks, the mass above the break will be flung out into space along the imaginary equator line, thus missing other tethers that may be constructed.”
  • The Space Elevator in the Earth’s Atmosphere – “Dr. John Knapman give a presentation on how we deal with the Tether and the Climber within earth’s atmosphere.  Even though the distance of this portion of the trip is tiny compared to the total trip (~50km vs 100,000km), there are many “special” hazards which must be dealt with.  This consists of weather; wind, rain and lightning.”
  • 2014 ISEC Space Elevator Conference – Day 2  – ” [Dr. Bryan Laubscher] gave us an update on [Odysseus Technologies Inc]’s continuing efforts to build longer, stronger nanotubes.  He discussed the patents that OTI has made, both in terms of taking existing ‘forests’ of nanotubes, drawing off threads and strengthening those threads and also in growing stronger nanotubes themselves.  His presentation elicited many questions and a whole lot of discussion. “

Space reporter Leonard David is also at the meeting: What’s Up with Space Elevators? – LeonardDavid.com.

Activism, Events, Space Systems

2014 Space Elevator Conference – Aug.22-24, Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA

An announcement from the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) about the upcoming Space Elevator Conference:

The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) is proud
to announce the 2014 Space Elevator Conference!
This annual event will be held at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington
from Friday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 24th.

Seattle, WA, August 18th, 2014 – Come experience learning, brainstorming, and international collaboration in an atmosphere of history, invention, and discovery! In addition to the 3-day conference, a Family Science Fest will be held on Saturday, August 23rd.

3-Day Technical Conference

ISEC is very pleased to announce that long-time science journalist Leonard David will give the Keynote address at this year’s conference. We are very excited to have Mr. David with us this year and we’re sure that his insights will be fascinating.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Space Elevator Architectures and Roadmaps.” Papers will be presented on this topic and other space-elevator related topics. There will be mini-workshops on Research Activities and Global Cooperation, Marine Node Design Concepts, and Space Elevator Architectures and Roadmaps as well as the ever popular Shotgun Science Session where all conference attendees can present their ideas in five minutes or less.

Family Science Fest

The Family Science Fest on Saturday, August 23rd will also be held at the Museum of Flight. This event is open to the public (no registration required) and is included in the museum admission price. The Family Science Fest includes Space Elevator 101 and 201 presentations, a youth robotics competition, exhibits from science organizations and clubs, and much more.

More details of the conference program and the Family Science Fest events are posted at spaceelevatorconference.org, including information on registration for the technical conference and lodging. Registration for the technical conference closes August 15th.

The Space Elevator is one of the most magnificent Engineering projects ever conceived. It promises abundant access to space and a multitude of benefits for humanity. Come to the conference and hear presentations and join discussions with people who are working to make space elevators a reality!

About The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC): The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) is composed of individuals and organizations from around the world who share a vision of humanity in space. Our Vision is a world with inexpensive, safe, routine, and efficient access to space for the benefit of all mankind. Our Mission is to promote the development, construction and operation of a Space Elevator (SE) Infrastructure as a revolutionary and efficient way to space for all humanity.

To learn more about ISEC, please visit our website at www.isec.org.