Model now available at SpaceX store

The Falcon 9 model that has been available at Amazon is now also available at the SpaceX store.

click to link

…so is this really cool Rocket pen

click to link

 

Build your own paper Falcon 9 and link to Amazon model listing

or a Paper Dragon Model

 

Space Colony dreams

Cutaway view, exposing the interior. Art work: Rick Guidice :NASA

Back in the 1970s artist and visionaries pictured great Space settlements. These settlements were like miniature worlds offering a home away from home and permanent residence for Space adventurer.

“We have plumbed the atmosphere to its height and the oceans to their depths. Unless we are willing to settle down into a world that is our prison, we must be ready to move beyond Earth, and I think we are ready. We have the technological capacity to do so; all that we need is the will. I think it is quite possible, starting now, to build settlements in space, to build worlds miniature in comparison to the Earth but large in comparison to anything we have done so far. These worlds, in orbit around the Earth, would be capable of holding tens of thousands of human beings.” -Issac Asimov

The success of the Apollo program filled Americans with space dreams and possibilities of future Space Settlements. It was a magical time for the space enthusiast however the dreams remained dreams. Here is a great peak at those ideas through the artist and scientist of that time.

Space Colony Art from the 1970s

Also look here for a great collection of links on Space Colonies and Settlements at NASA

Space Colonies at OrbitalVector

Wikipedia on Space Colonization

Great Sci Fi on Space Colonies

 

Rocketry Links Friday

Malfunctioning Fin caused X-51a crash

SpaceX Dragon Splashdown

“SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is expected to complete the CRS-1 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station on Sunday, October 28…..MORE HERE

New SpacePort in Florida?

 

…and for some Vintage fun

1960′s Rocket Toy in Cheerios

 

A non-lethal missile that knocks out computer and electrical systems

image credit: Boeing

This is a new interesting job for missile technology.

Link to Video

No warhead….can knock out computer and electrical systems………and can do this on several targets on one flight.

Sci Fi? No Boeings CHAMP (Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile Project) missile has successfully done just that.

Using High Power Microwaves this missile can disable computers and electrical systems during fly over.

“This technology marks a new era in modern-day warfare,” said Keith Coleman, CHAMP program manager for Boeing Phantom Works. “In the near future, this technology may be used to render an enemy’s electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft arrive” – Boeing

READ the Entire story here at Boeing

 

Blue Origin has successful Pad Escape Test

“KENT, Wash. – Blue Origin conducted a successful Pad Escape test last week at its West Texas launch site, firing its pusher escape motor and launching a full-scale suborbital Crew Capsule from a launch vehicle simulator. The Crew Capsule traveled to an altitude of 2,307 feet under active thrust vector control before descending safely by parachute to a soft landing 1,630 feet downrange.” -Blue Origin

Pad Escape Test – Photo Credit: Blue Origin

Watch Video Here

 

Expedition 33 crew and Soyuz TMA-06M Photos

Rollout – click to enlarge – photo credit:NASA

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click to enlarge – photo credit : NASA

Expedition 33 crew – Photo Credit:NASA

Takeoff! – Photo credit:NASA

Photo Credit:NASA

 

What would it take to actually skydive from Space?

Yesterday’s jump by Felix Baumgartner was an incredible feat. He jumped from approximately 24 miles up. Space starts at the Karman Line or about 62 miles in altitude. So the jump was not even half way to space or to quote Neil deGrasse Tyson’s tweet from yesterday – “A corresponding fall to a schoolroom globe begins 1 millimeter above its surface. I’m just saying”

What would it take to survive a real jump from space?

There are several requirements for actual space diving. The space suit like Felix’s would have to protect the diver from temperature, no atmosphere, pressures etc. There would need to be some means of heat protection from the reentry phase. If the astronaut was diving from orbit then the friction of orbital speeds would require some sort of heat shield protection.
G-forces would be tremendous on such a diver.

In the 1960′s, under contract from NASA, General Electric proposed the following method called “Operation MOOSE” Orginally MOOSE was the acronym for “Man out of Space; Easiest” but was later changed to “Manned Orbital Operations Safety Equipment”.

MOOSE was strapped to the astronaut’s back and was the size of a small suitcase.
Dimensions were:
0.87 m length
1.8 m diameter
215 kg weight

This proposed method worked in these steps.

• Astronaut pushes himself away from disabled craft. The MOOSE device is attached to his back and a parachute to his chest.
• The astronaut pulls a ripcord that starts the MOOSE device inflation of the heat shield and foam activation. The foam fills around the back of the astronauts body and in the heat shield creating a form fit the encapsulates the back of the astronaut.
• the astronaut uses gas jets to orient for the de-orbit burn
• solid fuel rockets on the astronauts chest retro fire de-orbiting the astronaut
• after his ballistic reentry the astronaut would eventually pull his parachute rip cord at about 30000 feet
• the suit includes survival gear and in case of water landing the foam and remaining heat shield act as a raft

I can’t even imagine the ballistic reentry part. Imagine being encapsulated by flame as your ablative heat shield burns away.

The plan was designed originally for the X-20 Dyna Soar however the plan was abandoned after Dyna Soar was canceled.

But to peak your interest in the future who can remember space diving from Star Trek?

Star Trek Space Diving

 

The Evolution of the Model Rocketry Starter Kit

Just started a new gallery page of Starter kits from the past.

Click the image to Enter

 

Merlin 1D-Vac to Australian Hypersonics – A few Monday Quick Links

SpaceX merchandise now available

Shop the SpaceX store

SpaceX’s new engine firing  - Merlin 1D-Vac designated for the Falcon Heavy

Rockwell International’s Space Plan from 1989 (PDF) - 2012 International Moonbase

Australian successful Hypersonic test

Orbital has commenced Antares launch vehicle operations at the liquid-fuel launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in Virginia.

Orbital Antares heads to launchpad -image credit: NASA Wallops

 

SpaceX and NASA Target Oct.7th for resupply mission

FROM NASA PRESS RELEASE:

“NASA managers, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) officials and
international partner representatives Thursday announced Sunday, Oct. 7, as the
target launch date for the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the
International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)
contract.

International Space Station Program managers confirmed the
status and readiness of the Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon cargo spacecraft for
the SpaceX CRS-1 mission, as well as the space station’s readiness to receive
Dragon.

Launch is scheduled for 8:34 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex
40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. A back up launch opportunity
is available on Oct. 8.

Media accreditation to view the launch now is
open. International media without U.S. citizenship must apply for credentials to
cover the prelaunch and launch activities by Wednesday, Sept 26. For U.S. media,
the deadline to apply is Wednesday, Oct. 3. “

READ MORE HERE

Build your own Dragon

 

OpenRocket 12.09 released

Hey guys – there is a new OpenRocket available!

 

http://openrocket.sourceforge.net/

Hi,
After way too long time, the next version of OpenRocket (12.09) is
finally released.  This contains a huge number of improvements from a
large range of contributors.  The biggest improvements is initial 3D
support (thanks to Bill Kuker) and component presets (thanks to Kevin
Ruland and Doug Pedrick).  Other new features include:

- Custom expressions in simulations
- Printing for centering ring and clustered centering ring components
- Support simple arithmetic in dimension entry
- Support deploying recovery device at stage separation
- Support for fractional inches (1/64) for unit length
- Added preference for windspeed units separately
- Added “most recently used files” in File Menu
- Improved printed accuracy in fin marking guide
- Calibration rulers added to printed templates
- Translations in Czech and Polish, numerous updates

A corresponding release for Android will follow shortly.

Cheers,
   Sampo N.

 

Teams successful Carmack Prize attempt

on board camera from flight

UPDATE 2: Prize is confirmed. Photo from “Winning the Carmack Prize”. Team site here.

UPDATE: Even though all requirements are met according to the rules the final word will have to come from John Carmack

Team of rocketeers have now had a successful Carmack Prize attempt.

Team: Ken Biba, Casey Barker, Erik Ebert, Becky Green, Jim Green, David Raimondi, Tom Rouse and Steve Wigfield

Altitude:104,659 feet

Avionics: (Raven+RDAS, Beeline GPS (70cm APRS), GoPro2 + WiFi BacPac)in booster and sustainer

Payload:Smartphone+sensors (APRS telemetry)

Motors: AeroTech N1000W staged to a AeroTech M685W

Launched from: Black Rock, NV

Date: September 11, 2012

Recovery: within 6 hours of launch

THE VIDEO

Carmack Prize

The Rules:

1. The prize is $5000 USD, and has been augmented with a further $5000-$5500 by the people listed at the end of this page. The collection of the prize from each benefactor is up to the prize winner.
2. The launch attempt must be registered by a post to aRocket at least 30 days prior to the attempt, with the following information:
   • A reasonable description of the vehicle
   • The launch location
   • The launch date
3. The rocket must gain 100,000 feet from launch altitude using rocket propulsion.
4. The rocket must record a GPS serial log of the flight with at least one report above 100,000ft plus the launch altitude.
5. The rocket must be recovered essentially intact, the recovery system having functioned.
6. The rocket must be recovered within 24 hours of launch.
7. A report on the vehicle and operations must be made available on the web for posterity, with a level of quality suitable for publishing in a magazine. The report’s author retains copyright.
8. Good video of at least the launch must be shared. Ideally video is captured of the entire flight to recovery, but this is not required.
9. If multiple stages are used, they must all be recovered successfully.
10. Armadillo Aerospace is disqualified from the competition.
11. The competition is judged by John Carmack.

 

Masten Xaero vehicle lost in fiery explosion

Masten Xaero

Yesterday during flight testing of Xaero vehicle at higher altitudes the craft started to oscillate during landing final approach and crashed to the ground in a fiery explosion.

official word from Masten:

“Today, Masten Space Systems conducted a flight test of Xaero to 1 km altitude with the intention of testing flight controls at higher ascent and descent velocities. Our test objectives were met and initial results show the vehicle performed better than expected at altitude. However, the vehicle was lost during final approach to landing, and the initial cause appears to be a throttle valve failure. The most important thing is that our team is safe and with the data from this test, we expect to be flying again soon!

Thanks for your support!”

 

We Choose to go to the Moon

This week is the 50th anniversary of this great speech.

September 12 1962 – Rice University

Speech that set the goal for the Apollo program

 

Friday Links and News

Live Stream From the Space Station on September 13th:

On Thursday, September 13 watch the live stream from the International Space Station and join host, Bill Nye the Science Guy, as he chats to NASA astronaut, Sunita Williams, to find out the results of the winning experiments. The experiments are the winners of Youtube’s Space Lab competition.

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Dream Chaser – image source:NASA

Ars Technica article on Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser
50 years to orbit: Dream Chaser’s crazy Cold War backstory

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From the Atlantic:
Behold, the Toothbrush That Just Saved the International Space Station

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ATK test updated GEM-60 strap on solid booster for Delta IV