This video looks like something from a 1950’s sci-fi TV show but is actually made from images of the Comet ISON from the Deep Impact probe: NASA’s Deep Impact Spacecraft Eyes Comet ISON – NASA .
This series of images of comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) was taken by the Medium-Resolution Imager of NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft over a 36-hour period on Jan. 17 and 18, 2013. At the time, the spacecraft was 493 million miles (793 million kilometers) from the comet.
Paul Breed was recently out testing a new rocket system
Paul Breed’s experimental guidance project. Three Cesaroni K-motors were set in gimbals for vertical stabilization guidance control. Control ended when motor burn out complete. Test conducted at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry test site in the Mojave Desert on February 2, 2013
Michael Lane of the Liftport Group spoke on the Space Show on Monday about their Lunar Elevator project: Michael Laine, Monday, 2-4-13 – Thespaceshow’s Blog.
This video shows how a lunar elevator could be deployed:
A team at the University of Texas has won first place in the latest round of the University Nanosat Program (UNP) sponsored by the US Air Force: The University of Texas at Austin Wins First Place in National Nanosatellite Competition – Univ. of Texas News
The same team won in 2005 with the two FASTRAC Satellites, which were launched in 2010.
More about the competition can be found at University Nanosatellite Program – Wikipedia.
From the UT announcement:
A panel of expert judges selected winners in two categories: ARMADILLO was selected as the first-place winner in the CubeSat class; and The Georgia Institute of Technology won in the Nanosatellite class. CubeSats are miniature handheld satellites that are generally built using off-the-shelf electronics components, making them very cost-effective. The ARMADILLO satellite’s dimensions are 10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm.
The Cockrell School of Engineering’s team consists of more than 50 graduate and undergraduate students who worked for two years on the ARMADILLO (Atmosphere Related Measurements and Detection of submILLimeter Objects) mission. The competition took place at the Air Force Research Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., on Jan. 11.
Once in orbit, ARMADILLO will measure space debris, which will allow scientists to characterize that debris and better understand the sources and life cycles of space pollution. Space debris is a hazard for operational spacecraft. Today, ground-based radar can only detect and track space objects larger than 10 centimeters.
Lightsey said developing small, inexpensive satellites such as ARMADILLO marks a big step in the advancement of space exploration.
“We’re making these small satellites with much more advanced technology and capability than has ever been done before,” Lightsey said. “By decreasing the size of the satellite, it will also be possible for groups of satellites to work cooperatively and perform operations simultaneously, such as building structures in space and taking measurements collectively.”
Here’s an announcement about an event on Google+ on Wednesday, February 6, 6:00 PM PST: New Visions for Space – Google+
“New Visions for Space” will feature young voices from NASA Academy, Yuri’s Night, AIAA Young Professionals Committee, The Moon Society and others to talk about how exciting all of the new developments in space are, and how all of us are making a real difference in our space future. Guests include:The BIL Conference – Carter Gibson (Moderator)
The Moon Society – Ken Murphy (Organizer)
Liftport – Michael Laine (Co-Organizer)
Yuri’s Night – Brice Russ
Starstryder – Pamela Gay
SEDS – Michael Zwach
NASA Academy – Will Pomerantz
ISU-USA – Laura Burns
AIAA YPC – Alison LauderbachPlease tune in on Wednesday, and be sure to let all of your friends know on Facebook, Twitter and other social media! Let’s show the world how awesome space is!