Efforts to resurrect the broken reaction wheels on the Kepler space observatory have failed. The spacecraft can still do useful science but not exoplanet transit searches, which requires the extremely stable and precise pointing capabilities provided by 3 working reaction wheels.
Space policy roundup – Aug.16.13
A selection of recent space policy related links:
- Orion program problems:
- Leading the end of one space era, and the beginning of another – washingtonpost.com – interview with NASA administrator Charles Bolden
- Failure to Launch: Military Space Programs in Search of New Direction – Blog
- Episode 525: Six Degrees of Space Station – Talking Space
- Florida to Secret Military Space Project: Land Here! – Discovery News
- Human space flight mission off ISRO priority list – The Hindu
- OHB Expects To Know About Galileo Delivery Dates by Late September – SpaceNews.com
Curiosity films Phobos moon passing in front of Deimos
Using its Mast camera, the Curiosity rover observes the Martian moon Phobos eclipse the other moon Deimos: NASA Rover Gets Movie as a Mars Moon Passes Another – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Kerbal Space Program conquers JPL
I previously posted on the Kerbal Space Program, a game which has a whimsical interface but uses realistic physics for its rockets and orbital mechanics: Kerbal Space Program – a game to create your own space program – Space-for-All.
This article describes the game and why it “is getting more and more attention recently from the space geek community”, including places like JPL and SpaceX: Kerbal Space Program: The Spaceflight Simulator that Conquered JPL: Program is Praised for its Orbital Mechanics and Newtonian Dynamics – Moonandback
Here’s a video tutorial on the game:
Video: Advice on selecting a telescope
The Slashdot technology forum site posted this two part introduction to telescopes for amateur astronomy:
Bruce Berger is an IT guy, but he’s also an amateur astronomer who takes at least one aspect of astronomy more seriously than most sky-watchers. Not content with what he could buy when he first wanted a telescope of his own, Berger set out to make one — it turned out so well, he says he’ll never part with it, and he’s made several others since, and taught many other people to do the same. In this pursuit, he’s also been a long-time member of the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston, including a stint as the group’s president. (Berger’s custom license plate reads “SCPMKR.”)
In the video Berger discusses what to look for in telescopes.
Amateur Astronomer Bruce Berger Talks About Meteors and Telescopes (Video) – Slashdot
In the next video, Berger continues with advice
on telescope selection and purchasing. He mentions Orion, a telescope vendor he seems to respect, along with other sources for both new and used equipment. Which should you buy (or build): A reflector or a refractor telescope? Bruce talks about how you should make your selection based on what you want to view, your skill level, and how much time and/or money you have available.
Amateur Astronomer Bruce Berger Talks About Telescopes, Part II (Video) – Slashdot