The latest episode of This Week @NASA covers Saturday’s space walk by two astronauts on the ISS to fix a coolant leak and several other topics including:
Humans 2 Mars, 40th Anniversary of Skylab, Marshburn “Testifies” From Space, Next ISS Crew Focused on Launch, Curiosity Rover Update, Landsat’s Vegas Time-Lapse, Fruit Flies Improving Flight, Student Launch Projects and more!
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 Google Earth Engine displays a range of satellite imagery including zoomable time-lapse views of particular areas over a 40 year time span: A picture of Earth through time – Official Google Blog
Here are some examples:
An update from Joe Latrell of Photos To Space, a HobbySpace sponsor:
Strasburg firm brings Space access to the public
[Strasburg, PA – May 10th, 2013] Surrounded by tranquil fields, the idyllic town of Strasburg, PA seems an unlikely place for a Space company. Tucked into a tiny corner just off the downtown square sits the headquarters for a company that wants to make Space ‘available’ to anyone.
“Currently our primary products are digital photo packages,” says Joe Latrell, the company’s CEO. “We send images, videos and an assortment of small items both to near-space and on suborbital flights. We want 2013 to be the year of personal space.”
“This is a great way to get students and teachers involved in space travel,” continues Latrell. “What better way to start a child exploring real world math and science than to participate in a real space mission? What a great introduction to STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) courses.”
Photos To Space partners with existing launch firms for the actual flights. While the company does launch small vehicles for testing flight hardware at a nearby local farm, they don’t launch space-bound rockets from Pennsylvania. Says Latrell, “We work with several companies to handle the actual launch duties. They get to do the really cool part of the mission while we handle the customer support end of things.”
Two different launches are rapidly approaching. The first is a near-space launch to 20 miles occurring at the end of May. The second is a sub-orbital flight launching out of Spaceport America in NM in late June or early July. Additional flights are planned throughout the remaining year.
“It’s an inexpensive and fun way to get involved in Space. Where else can you get directly involved in Space for less?” he asks. Prices for the company’s offerings start at $1.49 for a near-space flight.
For more information about Photos To Space’s various opportunities visit their website at http://www.photostospace.com.
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About Photos To Space
Based in Lancaster County, PA, Photos To Space was created with the goal of getting people involved and interested in space and to provide opportunities for the general public to take part in space travel. Through its website, www.photostospace.com., customers can participate directly in incredible Space adventures.