Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week

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

1. Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, 2-3:30 PM PDT (5-6:30 PM EDT, 4-5:30 PM CDT): No show today as I am at the AIAA SPACE 2013 Conference in San Diego.

2. Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 7-8:30 PM PDT (10-11:30 PM EDT, 9-10:30 PM CDT): No show today as I am at the AIAA Space 2013 Conference in San Diego.

3. Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, 9:30-11 AM PDT (11:30- 1 PM CDT, 12:30PM-2:00 PM EDT): Taped interviews from AIAA Space 2013. When you see the program on the archives for the website and blog, the program is ready for your play and enjoyment.

4. Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, 12-1:30 PM PDT (3-4:30 PM EDT, 2-3:30 PM CDT). Brian Weeden of the Secure World Foundation is with us regarding his recent Space Review article re the Space Fence. See www.thespacereview.com/article/2357/1.

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.

General, SpaceCasts

Space on the John Batchelor Show

Bob Zimmerman recently reported on space news on the John Batchelor radio program:

  • Wed 9/4/13 Hr 3 JBS:
    • Indian GSLV development problems
    • Re-nationalization of the Russian space industry
    • Hurricane shortage this summer
  • Fri 9/6/13 Hr 4 JBS:
    • Losing contact with Deep Impact probe
    • ATK’s five segment booster for SLS has fuel debonding problem
    • Spacesuit problems on ISS
    • Launches coming up for Orbital Sciences and SpaceX
    • Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo

On the latest episode of the Batchelor show’s weekly Hotel Mars segment with David Livingson, they talked with Pablo de Leon about the water leak problem with the  NASA spacesuit on the ISS:  The John Batchelor Show Hotel Mars, Wednesday, 9-4-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog

 

Asteroids & Comets, In Space Infrastructure, Space Policy

FISO: Small Bodies Assessment Group’s low assessment of the asteroid retrieval mission

The latest presentation to the Future In-Space Operations (FISO) study group is now posted in the FISO Working Group Presentations Archive. Both slides (pdf) and audio (mp3) are available for the talk, “SBAG Findings on ARM – Is There a Role for NEOs in Human Exploration?”, Mark Sykes, Planetary Science Institute – Sept.4.13

Mark V. Sykes of the Planetary Science Institute reports on the negative review of NASA’s proposed Asteroid Retrieval/Redirect Mission (ARM) by the  Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG).

A sampling of his slides: Sykes_Summary_500x364

Sykes_Summary_ARM_HSF_500x296

Sykes_Summary_Objectives_500x366

Future space, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Architects design underground Mars settlement

3 Comments

Dmitry Zhuikov, Arina Ageeva, and Krassimir Krastev of the Russian ZA Architects group lay out an interesting plan for a Mars Colony that starts with robots digging large chambers in basalt bedrock.

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Their guidelines:

Purpose of the project – is in research of the possibility to build permanent settlements on Mars, using robotics and local materials to reduce the price and risks.

resources available on mars
1.The surface of Mars is primarily composed of basalt
2. The Phoenix lander directly sampled water ice in Martian soil
[3.] Some martian soil appropriate for groving certain agricultures e.g. Asparagus
Basalt is good material to make a protectional cave on, to produce insulation, and basalt roving, which is stronger than steel.
Possibility of food production will make Martian settlements independent of expensive deliveries from the Earth.


[Colonization] stages

1. Rocket with digging robots are sent to the Mars
2. Robots drop-off on the surface
3. Robots analyze basalt columns on strength value, then each chooses a weakest pillar that equidistant from the others – it is a start position
4. Robots drill basalt, moving down and increasing diameter of withdrawn rock with each step, until it reaches strong pillars that remain
as columns
5. Chaff set aside to form network of the rampants, in order to protect skylight holes from the wind and dust
6. After caves are ready human [expedition] rush to the Mars
7. Astronauts finish the construction and arrange technical facilities as water, oxygen, basalt processing line, etc.
8. Using generated basalt roving, robots weave spatial spider-like web, that will be used as spaces and construction to hold domestic and technical facilities

They include more info and images…

Science and Technology

Sci-Tech: Martin Jetpack update

I recently posted about the new version of the Martin Jetpack (more specifically, a dual ducted fan personal vertical takeoff and landing vehicle). AvWeek writes about it in their latest issue: Jetpack Moves a Step Closer to Reality – Aviation Week

homep12[1]

Here is a new post on the Martin Jetpack blog:

Friday, September 6, 2013:

Progress update on P12

We have had a huge amount of international interest from media, potential investors, purchasers and distributors since we released images of our new prototype P12.

So where are we at with the P12 jetpack now?

We have flown the P12 manned to prove the capability and we are now back into a remote flying phase as we expand the flight envelope to Technical Product Specification 1.   Manned test flights will take place again later in the year as part of the full test schedule.  Previous prototypes have flown manned so this is not a big step for us although the performance of P12 is considerably greater than any other prototype and it will be the basis for our pre-production model.

We have received authorisation from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority for us to conduct manned flight tests on P12 with the jetpack currently being classified as a Class 1 microlight aircraft.

As part of our testing programme we are making some modifications to the jetpack’s V4 engine. We are currently developing the engine to extend the Time Between Overhaul (TBO).  This development work is focusing on the bottom end of the engine and improving the crankshaft design, including going to a single piece crank.  There are also other areas where we are looking to make small improvements, which will make the engine more durable and decrease the maintenance requirements.  We hope to have the engine fitted to P12 by the end of the year.

Everyone can participate in space