Aerospace

Earth- Rosetta's Slingshot

ESA’s comet chaser Rosetta has swung by Earth for the third and final time, skimming past our planet to pick up a gravitational boost for an epic journey to rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. Rosetta passed over the ocean just South o ...

Article - News Staff - Nov 13 2009 - 10:57am

So awesome... (links)

People want to see awesome stuff. That's the main idea behind this blog, and the interpretation of a recent report on people's decisions to share New York Times articles with friends (via Rycharde Mann). So, without further ado, here is some awes ...

Blog Post - Adam Retchless - Feb 21 2010 - 9:42am

Electrostatic propulsion system concept

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Blog Post - Alex Belov - Mar 29 2010 - 10:43pm

Have You Ever Seen A Galaxy?

Have you ever seen a galaxy? I mean, not a picture of one. The real thing. A picture is a representation of reality, and as such it conveys to our senses only a pale suggestion of the stimulation that experiencing the real thing provides. In a world where ...

Article - Tommaso Dorigo - Mar 15 2010 - 10:28am

What Is The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle?

After a decade of development, the Air Force has launched the the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on an Atlas V expendable launch vehicle, and the Internet is abuzz with speculation about what it means because it is ...

Article - News Staff - Dec 3 2010 - 9:38am

Hubble's 20th: A Taxpayer's Perspective

Hip, hip, hooray. The Hubble has reached its twentieth anniversary* and is  still alive and kicking. Congratulations go to NASA and ESA. And to the Hubble itself. Long live the Hubble! Chances are, that by now you will be able to read more than a few blog ...

Article - Johannes Koelman - Apr 26 2010 - 10:29pm

Arduino Vs BasicX: Crunchy Boring Tech Series #3

So yes, I'm launching a satellite.  And an $8K Personal Satellite needs a brain. But which brain? IOS' kits includes the BasicX processor; for Christmas I received the Arduino kit so beloved by DIY folks. Both are potentially flyable.  Let's ...

Article - Project Calliope - Apr 27 2010 - 6:52am

R.I.P. Phoenix Mars Lander

The Phoenix Mars Lander is dead, says NASA.  Last week, the Mars Odyssey orbiter flew over the Phoenix landing site in final attempts to communicate with the lander but no transmission was detected and since Phoenix also did not communicate during 150 flig ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Apr 17 2011 - 10:10pm

Space Citizen Science: Who Assumes The Risk?

Time for a little space business by a citizen scientist-- an ordinary scienc-y person who just happens to be building a personal satellite in his basement.  I'm at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum today, where scientists and policy makers try to tac ...

Article - Project Calliope - Jun 9 2010 - 8:55am

Autonymous Satellites

Autonomous Satellites How smart does a satellite have to be to function? I'm working on the design of the Project Calliope satellite, and near as I can tell, it doesn't need a brain. All it needs is energy, sensors, the ability to yell or shut up ...

Article - Project Calliope - Jun 15 2010 - 10:14pm