Category Archives: Space

in which I get to say ‘spelunking’ and ‘microbots’ and ‘Mars’

Space

Cool (from Space.com):

A Mars-orbiting satellite recently spotted seven dark spots near the planet’s equator that scientists think could be entrances to underground caves.

Cooler:

The researchers hope the discovery will lead to more focused spelunking on Mars.

A project here on Earth aims to refine the visual and infrared techniques  THEMIS used to find the Martian caves and to also develop robots that can one day enter the caverns and explore them.

Awesome:

The researchers are also considering other robotic design possibilities, including the deployment of several miniature robots together into a cave.

“You could throw out an array of microbots in a birdshot approach over an area where you think there is a cave,” Wynne told SPACE.com . The microbots could then use sonar or some other method to confirm the presence of a cave and pinpoint its location.

Wow.  I mean, caves on Mars, detected by microbots scanning for their heat signature.  Just wow.

SpaceNet, the interplanetary supply chain

Science, Space, Technology

I’m sure this will come in handy someday soon.  MIT researchers have created SpaceNet, a software tool for modeling interplanetary supply chains.

“Increasingly, there is a realization that crewed space missions such as the International Space Station or the buildup of a lunar outpost should not be treated as isolated missions, but rather as an integrated supply chain,” said [MIT researcher Olivier L.] de Weck.

While “supply chain” usually refers to the flow of goods and materials in and out of manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and retail stores, de Weck said that a well-designed interplanetary supply chain would operate on much the same principles, with certain complicating factors. Transportation delays could be significant–as much as six to nine months in the case of Mars–and shipping capacity will be very limited.

I can’t wait for the day when I can order spare parts online and have them delivered to my house on Mars.

[via Boing Boing]

Congratulations, SpaceX!

Space, Technology, Uncategorized

SpaceX, which I’ve covered previously, successfully launched its Falcon 1 rocket yesterday.  The launch wasn’t without incident — there was a problem with the second stage after launch, and the first launch attempt was aborted at the last second — but the results were deemed enough to justify launching commercial payloads later this year.

On the latest flight, the second stage did not achieve its full speed, again because of an early shut down of the engine, this time because the vehicle began an unexpected roll.

Mr Musk said he thought this problem should be easy to fix once flight engineers had analysed the data.

“The launch was not perfect, but certainly pretty good,” he added.

“Given that the primary objectives were demonstrating responsive launch and gathering test data in advance of our first operational satellite launch later this year, the outcome was great.”

I personally see this as a huge success, because they were able to launch, reach space, and test their operational capacity.  Besides all that, they were able to make fundamental improvements to their launch platform in a single year, while still targeting that $7-million-per-launch figure.  Congratulations, SpaceX, and we can’t wait for the next stages!

Blue Origin reveals its rocketship

Space, Technology

From MSNBC, via Boing Boing:

After years of working behind closed doors and locked gates, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos has finally lifted the curtain that shrouded Blue Origin, his space tourism venture.

Among the goodies now displayed on Blue Origin’s Web site are photos and videos from the venture’s maiden test flight in November, as seen from the ground as well as a rocket-cam … pictures from the West Texas launch range and Blue Origin’s production facility in a Seattle suburb … and even the Blue Origin coat of arms, emblazoned with the motto “Gradatim Ferociter” (Step by Step, Courageously).

NASA and Google team up

News, Space, Technology

Apparently NASA and Google have solidified a year-old relationship that uses Google technology to index and deliver NASA content.  From Ars Technica:

In the first of many tasks that will be worked on by the new alliance, Google will work with the ARC to make NASA’s information available on the Internet to anyone who wants to see it.

Sounds like a great partnership to me.  Google Maps Mars?  Hubble Image Search?  Maybe even a searchable archive of communications transcripts like the ones Glen worked on?