AMSAT, student and space radio news – April.13.14

Go to AMSAT News for the latest headlines about developments in amateur and student satellites and for updates about amateur radio on the ISS.

ANS 103 Weekly AMSAT Bulletin – April 12, 2014:
* March/April 2014 AMSAT Journal is Ready
* NASA, SpaceX Officials Continue Preparations for 14 April Launch
* KickSat CubeSat to Deploy Smallest Earth-Orbiting Satellites
* AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention – 2nd call for volunteers
* N8PK appears with students in YouTube video
* ISS HamTV moves to 2369 MHz
* FUNcube/AO-73 Transponder plans for the future
* Upcoming AMSAT Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts From All Over

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More AMSAT/student sat news:

Space policy roundup – April.13.14

More space policy/politics related links:

Webcasts:

* Dr. Clay Moltz, Friday, 4-11-14 – Thespaceshow’s Blog – Dr. Moltz talked about his new book, Crowded Orbits: Conflict and Cooperation in Space,

Dr. Moltz told us why he wrote the book which was to address orbital crowding, possible conflict in space and to bring these issues and others to the attention of the general public as space impacts everyone everyday.  A major topic for our discussion was space debris.  Using this field as an example, Dr. Moltz  made a very strong case for rules of the road, space traffic control issues, and responsible behavior by both governments and the private sector.  We talked about entrepreneurs and private groups resisting a more regulated environment and he made the case for the need for cooperation to avoid conflicts.  

 

Sci-Tech: Update on General Fusion

The Canadian General Fusion project, whose investors include Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame,  is aiming to start building a working prototype of their innovative fusion power system this year:

On their website it says,

In the next phase of development, General Fusion will be constructing a full scale prototype system.  The prototype will be designed for single pulse testing, demonstrating full net energy gain on each pulse, a world first.

Here’s a video showing a schematic of their design:

Contests: Name Cassini’s final phase + The 2014 Mars Society poster winner

The Planetary Society opens a new contest to provide a cool name for the orbital gymnastics the Cassini spacecraft will do in the final phase of its mission at Saturn : Help name the last phase of the Cassini mission! – The Planetary Society

The name “proximal orbits” is a Vulcan-sounding phrase, all logic and science. But getting this science is going to take navigational bravery of which Captain Kirk would be proud. To help the public understand just how cool this part of the mission is going to be, the Cassini team is asking the public to learn about Cassini’s final phase and then weigh in on a name for the final phase that has more punch to it. You can either cast a vote for one of the team’s suggestions, or write in your own.

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Meanwhile, the Mars Society selects a winner of its poster contest:

Winner of 2014 Mars Society Poster Contest Announced 

The Mars Society is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2014 Mars Society Poster Contest is Scott Porter, a Ph.D. student studying architecture at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Each participant (12 in total) in this year’s competition was required to submit a poster design that best represented the theme – ‘Blazing the Path to Mars’ – for the 17th Annual International Mars Society Convention, to be held August 7-10 in League City, Texas (just outside Houston).

In addition, the Mars Society would like to express its appreciation to the second and third place winners – Jamie Polancic and Miguel Cooper (respectively). The organization would also like to recognize two additional artists for honorable mention – Katarina Eriksson Marka and Joseph Sweeney.

To view the winning poster as a PDF document, please click here.

Sci-Tech: AT Black Knight Transformer achieves first stable hover

The Black Knight TRANSFORMER is a “transformer” style vehicle from Advanced Tactics, Inc. that combines a roadable truck with a multi-copter suite of rotors to achieve vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and horizontal flight. This week it left the ground and achieved a stable hover: The Advanced Tactics Black Knight Transformer Successfully Completes First Flights – Advanced Tactics, Inc.

fig3-smSnapshot from aerial footage of the aircraft in hover filmed by a quadcopter
drone. The quadcopter weighed approximately one thousandth of the weight 
of the Black Knight Transformer.

The vehicle is concept

was spurred by several things: the growing popularity and acceptance of “multicopter” aircraft, the military’s need for a low-cost platform for casualty evacuation and cargo resupply missions, and our passion for developing game-changing military and civilian vehicle technology. The aircraft is designed specifically for autonomous casualty evacuation and unmanned cargo resupply missions. Its unmanned capabilities keep pilots out of harm’s way during dangerous missions while a pilot-optional capability allows it to be flown like a conventional helicopter. Advanced Tactics began work on the AT Black Knight Transformer in 2010 with funding from the United States Congress. In 2012, Advanced Tactics began work on the AT Panther Transformer, a similar vehicle designed specifically for Special Operations missions. It is a low-cost vehicle that carries two passengers and their gear, is transportable in a CV-22 Osprey cargo hold, and is operable with minimal training. Advanced Tactics is also currently developing a modular, cargo carrying aircraft capable of delivering up to 3,500 lb payloads in a detachable cargo pod. The AT Transformer technology is scalable and reconfigurable.

More pictures:

fig4-smThe Black Knight Transformer during its first flight. Notice the attached
electrical cable under the aircraft, which provided an emergency
shutdown capability in case of a malfunction.

fig6-smThe Black Knight Transformer is larger than a Ford F350 crew cab truck,
shown for scale. The engines are stowed against the side of the vehicle
in driving configuration.[High Resolution]

It can be transformed into multiple configurations:

The AT Transformer design is highly modular for rapid repair and reconfiguration. For instance, each of the propulsion subsystems can be replaced in the field by two people and the mission package can be rapidly reconfigured from casualty evacuation to cargo resupply. Additionally, the modular automobile portion of the vehicle can be removed for additional payload capacity or replaced with a boat hull or an amphibious hull for water operations.

Update May.12.14: Here’s a video of their initial test:

Everyone can participate in space