Here are some pictures from the recent Maker Faire event in San Mateo, California:
Update: More picts: The 2013 Bay Area Maker Faire in Pictures – Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories
Update 2: Here is an article about the space related activities and exhibits at the event: NASA and private groups bring space exploration to Maker Faire – Oakland NASA/Examiner.com
now has a concept design for their manned suborbital space vehicle, which they call the HEAT-1600/Tycho Deep Space: HEAT 1600 Concept Development – The Manifestation of Dreams and Ambitions (for Download) – Wired Science/Wired.com
“The first visualization of the HEAT-1600/TDSII rocket – 20 meters high. Image: Kristian von Bengtson. Concept: Peter Madsen / Kristian von Bengtson”
They make available the design drawings:
Nothing is secret at Copenhagen Suborbitals – so please go ahead – download the entire rocket here (Solidworks 2013, IGES and STP, 13MB total)
They are also making progress towards a flight test of their Sapphire rocket with using active guide jet vane rudders. Assembly pictures: 11-05-13 Sapphire Assembly – Copenhagen Suborbitals – Picasa Web Albums
The Mars One project to develop a settlement on the Red Planet was the topic of conversation on the Space Show yesterday with Bas Lansdorp, the project’s leader: Bas Lansdorp of Mars One, Friday, 5-10-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog.
The Mars One organization released this announcement on Tuesday:
Mars One has received applications from over 120 countries. Most applications come from USA (17324), followed by China (10241), United Kingdom (3581), Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Argentina and India.
Bas Lansdorp, Mars One Co-Founder and CEO said: “With seventy-eight thousand applications in two weeks, this is turning out to be the most desired job in history. These numbers put us right on track for our goal of half a million applicants.”
“Mars One is a mission representing all humanity and its true spirit will be justified only if people from the entire world are represented. I’m proud that this is exactly what we see happening,” he said.
As part of the application every applicant is required to explain his/her motivation behind their decision go to Mars in an one minute video. Many applicants are choosing to publish this video on the Mars One website. These are openly accessible on applicants.mars-one.com.
“Applicants we have received come from a very wide range of personalities, professions and ages. This is significant because what we are looking for is not restricted to a particular background. From Round 1 we will take forward the most committed, creative, resilient and motivated applicants,” said Dr. Norbert Kraft, Mars One Chief Medical Officer.
Mars One will continue to receive online applications until August 31st 2013. From all the applicants in Round 1, regional reviewers will select around 50-100 candidates for Round 2 in each of the 300 geographic regions in the world that Mars One has identified.
Four rounds make the selection process, which will come to an end in 2015; Mars One will then employ 28-40 candidates, who will train for around 7 years. Finally an audience vote will elect one of groups in training to be the envoys of humanity to Mars.
About Mars One:
The Mars One Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that will send humans to Mars in 2023 to establish the first permanent settlement outside Earth. Before the first settlers land on Mars a self-sustaining habitat will be set up with help of rovers and more settlers will follow every two years. We have designed a realistic plan by using only existing technology available through the private space industry. The first footprint on Mars will fascinate and inspire generations; it is this public interest that will help finance this human mission to Mars. Mars One is supported by space exploration experts from all over the world.
Kristian von Bengtson of Copenhagen Suborbitals reports on their wind tunnel tests of the scale model of the Tycho capsule II with the launch escape system attached: Finally – the Astronaut Won’t Die Getting Saved – Wired Science/Wired.com