Monthly Archives: July 2013

Rockets, Solar Sci-Fi, Space books

The Rocket Company: Chapters 11-14

In the continuing serialization of the updated version of the book The Rocket Company by Patrick J. G. Stiennon and David M. Hoerr, with illustrations by Doug Birkholz.  This week you can obtain the following chapters of the book:

Download these within the next week. Only four chapters will be available at any one time.

See also the electronic version of the updated book is available at  The Rocket Company eBook by Patrick Stiennon, David Hoerr, Peter Diamandis, Doug Birkhol: Kindle Store/Amazon.com.

Education, General, SpaceCasts

Virtual SpaceTV 3D – July 2013

Here is the latest episode in our series of Virtual SpaceTV 3D shows with Amanda Bush . The programs are created by BINARY SPACE (www.binary-space.com) with story content from HobbySpace.com.

In this show, Amanda talks about the following :

01:08 – 03:28 Kickstarting a Space Telescope to Orbit (Planetary Resources, Inc.)
03:29 – 05:16 Connecting the other 3 Billion (O3b Networks)
05:17 – 07:49 A Launch for Students, Researchers and Memories (UP Aerospace, Spaceport America, Armadillo Aerospace, SpaceX and Grasshopper)

Activism, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week

Here’s a listing of the programs on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, July 8, 2013, 2-3:30 PM PDT (5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): We welcome back STEVE WOLFE regarding his new book, The Obligation ( http://theobligationbook.com).

2. Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 7-8:30 PM PDT (10-11:30 PM EDT, 9-10:30 PM CDT): We welcome BRUCE DAMER to discuss the first Human NEO mission study and design program.

3. Friday, July 12, 2013, 9:30-11 AM PDT (11:30- 1 PM CDT, 12:30PM-2:00 PM EDT): ED WRIGHT returns regarding the latest Space Hackers Workshop in Dallas and much more for Citizens In Space.

4. WEBINAR, SPECIAL TIME: Sunday, July 14, 2013, 1-3 PM PDT (4-6 PM EDT, 3-5 PM CDT). This is a special Space Show webinar on Space Education outreach to students & adults, what works and what does not work. Our guests are DR. JOHN JURIST, LYNNE ZIELINSKI, BARBARA DAVID AND CHRISTINE NOBBE. You can hear this webinar as a traditional audio Space Show as you would any program. To view the webinar, please use our special UStream Space Show channel, www.ustream.tv/channel/the-space-show. Please see the website newsletter for our guest bios for this special webinar, www.thespaceshow.com/newsletterfinal.htm.

See also:
/– The Space Show on Vimeo – webinar videos
/– The Space Show’s Blog – summaries of interviews.
/– The Space Show Classroom Blog – tutorial programs

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

Space Policy

Space policy roundup – July.8.13 [Update 2]

Various space policy related items:

Update: More items:

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD), ranking member of the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee,  gave a speech on NASA policy. Here’s a sampling of tweeter posts:

  • Jeff Foust (jeff_foust) on Twitter
    • Edwards reiterating previous concerns about need for balanced portfolio and adequate funding for NASA.
    • Edwards: time to commit to goal of a human mission to Mars, something the public will support.
    • Edwards is pushing for a human mission to Mars by 2030, significantly more aggressive than Obama Administration’s current goals.
    • Edwards: neither the President nor Congress should determine what the interim destinations should be towards Mars; that’s up to NASA.
    • Edwards: will release version of 2013 NASA authorization act later today to outline this approach to going to Mars.
    • Asked Edwards if she feared NASA policy was becoming more partisan; she said she though “sadly” it already had in recent years.
    • After her talk, she said she’s had some discussions with the Senate on the general outlines of an authorization bill.
  • Marcia Smith (SpcPlcyOnline) on Twitter
    • Edwards: how do we “hook” the next generation on space exploration? NASA should remain a multi-mission agency.
    • Edwards: need balanced, adequately funded NASA portfolio. Achieveable timelines with safety as priority.
    • Edwards: have to match the enthusiasm that was demostrated by the huge number of astronaut applicants.
    • Edwards: need “21st century space innovation agenda” – get used to hearing that phrase.
    • Edwards wants to get to Mars by 2030. Lists new space techs that are needed, including nuclear propulsion. “We have a lot of work to do.”
    • Edwards keeps saying “manned” mission. How anachronistic. She needs to get up to date. It’s a HUMAN mission to Mars.
    • Edwards wants to set NASA vision and roadmap in 2013 NASA auth act that she plans to release 2day.
    • Not sure what the pt of this really is. Mars as ultimate dest for human spflt is already well accepted. Issue is intermediate steps.

Maria Smith later posted this on her blog: Edwards To Release Democratic Version of 2013 NASA Authotization Bill Today – Spacepolicyonline.com

A paper on space policies around the world:

Update 2: Edwards releases the House Democrats proposed NASA Authorization bill : Democratic 2013 NASA Authorization Bill Calls for $18.1 Billion, Commitment to Human Landing on Mars – spacepolicyonline.com

DIY space, Rockets, Space Systems

Copenhagen Suborbitals: Test of launch escape system motor

Copenhagen Suborbitals posted this video of

a double test of the Launch Escape System rocket motor. It uses a solid propellant known as “Galcit 61 C” and produced 5,6 kN thrust for 0.6 sec. Its a 1/3 version of the “real” LES SRM to be used for a improwed LES system.

ISP was 195 sec, chamber pressure 120 bars, propellant mass 1,56 kg.

http://youtu.be/TZZ3Dzpead8