VIP |
Subscribe to become a VIP member of SST!
· Request More Often
· Unshared Requests
· Request Countdown Timer
· Request Ready Indicator
· Your Request History
· Access To The VIP Forum
· Add More Favorites
:: Click Here To Upgrade ::
:: Give VIP as a Gift ::
|
|
View previous topic ::
View next topic
|
Author |
Message |
stefan_nl
Lieutenant
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Member#: 11136
Posts: 248
Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted:
Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:49 am Post subject: |
|
If you want to know the current location of the ISS or a shuttle in orbit,
or you want to know at what time you can actually see them pass by this site is all you need.
http://www.heavens-above.com/
This site has also information on Iridium flares events. _________________ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Flying: The knack of throwing yourself at the ground and miss.
24SeVeN.FM Gadgets |
|
|
TheSnowLeopard
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: Mar 18, 2006
Member#: 13799
Posts: 347
Location: Sydney, Australia
|
Posted:
Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject: |
|
Space news:
* Astronomers discover a puffy planet
Gaspar Bakos wrote: |
"This planet is about one-quarter the density of water," Bakos said. "In other words, it's lighter than a giant ball of cork! Just like Saturn, it would float in a bathtub if you could find a tub big enough to hold it, but it would float almost three times higher. |
* IAU renames dwarf planet Eris
Quote: |
True to its name, the dwarf planet Eris has stirred up a great deal of trouble among the international astronomical community, most recently last month when the question of its proper designation led to a raucous meeting of the IAU in Prague. At the end of the conference, IAU members voted to demote Pluto to dwarf-planet status, leaving the solar system with eight planets. |
* Pluto has been assigned the number 1340340 in the catalogue of minor planets. _________________ "After dark all cats are leopards." - Native American Proverb |
|
|
Albi
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: Mar 21, 2004
Member#: 5692
Posts: 340
Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted:
Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject: |
|
This here is the official logo of a project in which I'm involved in for my MSc. thesis project. Why do you have to post it in this thread you wonder? Well, this project involves building a satellite with a team of students and with support of the industry. In this post I’ll try and break the project down for you a bit
The satellite
The satellite is called Delfi-C3 and is a nano-satellite. This doesn’t mean nano-meter scale, because micro-satellites can still be as big as your washing machine. Nano-satellites are satellites that weigh under 10 kilograms. Ours will weigh 3 kilogram max, so it’s nano.
The satellite is based on the cubesat standard, which is a standard for nano-satellites. Nano-satellites start at 10x10x10 centimeres but Delfi-C3 is 10x10x30, a.k.a. a 3-unit. It will be based on a structure that we bought from a company in the USA.
This a picture of the bare structure as it is currently in our clean-room. At the top you see 3 3-units and at the bottom a 1-unit which we use for demonstration purposes but which could actually be launched! We will use one of the closed 3-units.
Now that you have an idea what the size of the satellite is, I will present what it should be doing up there.
The mission and the payloads
There is a substantial number of cubesats under development by universities in Europe. Some of them only do it for educational purposes but ours actually has a mission, in addition to the educational purposes.
First, our satellite will be testing a new type of solar cells. These cells are not really that efficient in terms of energy conversion, but they weigh considerably less than normal cells. Since launch costs are linked to mass and not necessarily to volume, you can make large solar cells that are still light.
This is a rendering of what one of the four solar panels will look like. At the top (right) you can see the experimental solar cells in a special frame. Below it are the regular cells that will provide power to the satellite. This payload is provided by a company named Dutch Space.
Second, our satellite will be testing a sun sensor. Sun sensors are used to determine the attitude of the satellite by measuring the angle with the sun. This sun sensor is special because it has a wireless connection to the computer system. It also provides its own power, so there are no power or data wires connecting it to the rest of the satellite. This makes it a sort of ‘plug and play’.
In the picture you see one of the sun sensors housings. The solar cell for power is on the left and the aperture for the sun sensor on the right. This payload is provided by a Dutch research institute called TNO.
Our third payload is an advanced radio-transceiver. Since the design is still in the early stages we will only test its power-amplifier. This payload is provided by the faculty of electrical engineering of the university.
My job
Now for some info about my job in the project. When I joined, my job was to develop all the software for the computer system. Since that system changed quite a bit through time, my current responsibility is the software for the central computer and control of the data bus of the satellite.
This is what the computer board looks like. It was part of the structure we bought and we decided to use it. You can see holes for a remove-before-flight pin that will disable the satellite when building or testing, power connector and yes, that's a USB connector (the manual says we can use it in space if the wire is long enough )
The launch
A couple of weeks ago the launch contract was signed
We are scheduled for launch on the 30th of June 2007, 10:30 local time in India
This means that we will have to finish the satellite before the end of March 2007. Then it will be shipped for final testing at the site of the launch provider. We're starting to feel the heat
If all goes well, the satellite will look this (something we will actually never get to see...)
More info
For more info and details you can check our website or contact me personally by pm or e-mail. I will be happy to answers questions or discuss things
Official project website - http://www.delfic3.nl/
Countdown timers - http://www.delfic3.nl/countdown/
My e-mail - gerard [at] delfic3.nl
---
*hopes he's an SST space cadet now*
Last edited by Albi on Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:40 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
maddy
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: Jun 25, 2003
Member#: 2207
Posts: 452
Location: Houston, TX
|
|
|
Twopop
Rear Admiral (Ambassador)
Joined: Jul 21, 2004
Member#: 7382
Posts: 2673
Location: Oregon
|
Posted:
Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:23 am Post subject: |
|
Albi wrote: |
This here is the official logo of a project in which I'm involved in for my MSc. |
Wow, Albi. Can't thank you enough for all the interesting pictures on this fascinating project! I learned a lot reading your descriptions, and will be anxiously following your progress.
maddy wrote: |
I visited Johnson Space Center many many many times. Even got to go onboard the Enterprise once |
Maddy, you lucky, lucky, lucky girl. I am so envious! |
|
|
j2brown
Commodore
Joined: Feb 22, 2002
Member#: 9
Posts: 3188
Location: Sterling, VA
|
|
|
SpaceC06
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined: Jun 28, 2005
Member#: 10704
Posts: 52
Location: Wild West...aka NM
|
Posted:
Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
Just a quick note for you all. There was a large solar eruption yesterday. This is good and bad. Of course bad for telecommunications and other similar things which are easily effected by high energy particles, but good for those who have a desire to see auroral activity. If you are in the north you might have a chance to see some activity in the next few days. You can check out this website for a forecast: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/weather/aurora/
Also, tonight is the peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower. If you have clear skies I suggest go checking them out. Expect 1 to 2 per minute which is generally a good rate More info at http://www.spaceweather.com/
Thats my two cents _________________ "That's nice, but how does it all relate to Newtons Laws?"
The distance doesn't matter; only the first step is difficult.
--Mme. du Deffand |
|
|
SpaceC06
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined: Jun 28, 2005
Member#: 10704
Posts: 52
Location: Wild West...aka NM
|
Posted:
Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject: |
|
OMG! I almost forgot the other important stuff you guys! This week is a busy week for launches...
Dec 14th @ 1930-0100 GMT is the Delta II Rocket carrying NRO L-21 launching from Vandenberg AFB, CA.
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/
Dec 15th @ 1200-1500 GMT is the Minotaur Rocket carrying TacSat 2 (I believe) launching from Wallop Island, VA.
http://www.wff.nasa.gov/
and last but not least this week is
Dec 16th @ 0632-0644 GMT is the H2-A Japenese Rocket carrying ETS 8 launching from Tanegashima, Japan.
http://www.nasda.go.jp/projects/mission-in-progress_e.html
I didn't want more launches to slip by Asri
You can always use http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html for up to date information! _________________ "That's nice, but how does it all relate to Newtons Laws?"
The distance doesn't matter; only the first step is difficult.
--Mme. du Deffand |
|
|
Techo
Lieutenant
Joined: Feb 12, 2004
Member#: 5054
Posts: 182
|
|
|
SpaceC06
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined: Jun 28, 2005
Member#: 10704
Posts: 52
Location: Wild West...aka NM
|
Posted:
Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject: |
|
More Launches just in time for Christmas
Dec. 25 Proton launching Glonass at 2018 GMT from Kazakhstan
Dec. 27 Soyuz launching CoRoT at 1423GMT from Kazakhstan _________________ "That's nice, but how does it all relate to Newtons Laws?"
The distance doesn't matter; only the first step is difficult.
--Mme. du Deffand |
|
|
stefan_nl
Lieutenant
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Member#: 11136
Posts: 248
Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted:
Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:40 am Post subject: Top 10 Astronomy images of 2006 |
|
The 'Bad Astronomy Blog' has a top 10 astronomy images of 2006.
Especially the image of the ISS and the space shuttle in front of the sun is very nice. _________________ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Flying: The knack of throwing yourself at the ground and miss.
24SeVeN.FM Gadgets |
|
|
Caliburn
Guest
|
Posted:
Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
As always optical pictures :-)
Pfft we had some awesome milestones in Radioastronomy, but nooooooo optical astronomy is more 'beautiful'. |
|
|
stefan_nl
Lieutenant
Joined: Aug 07, 2005
Member#: 11136
Posts: 248
Location: The Netherlands
|
Posted:
Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:16 am Post subject: |
|
Caliburn wrote: |
Pfft we had some awesome milestones in Radioastronomy, but nooooooo optical astronomy is more 'beautiful'. |
Could you elaborate on those 'awesome milestones in Radioastronomy'?
Some of us don't know what they miss. _________________ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Flying: The knack of throwing yourself at the ground and miss.
24SeVeN.FM Gadgets |
|
|
alien_avatar
Captain
Joined: Oct 28, 2006
Member#: 16007
Posts: 1342
Location: Berlin
|
Posted:
Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:07 am Post subject: |
|
Caliburn wrote: |
Pfft we had some awesome milestones in Radioastronomy, but nooooooo optical astronomy is more 'beautiful'. |
Well... it is!
I just wanted to say that I really like this topic. Unfortunately I have little knowledge and less comprehension of the subject matter. I compensate with lots of ignorant enthusiasm though. _________________ "Welcome to the paranoia club; cheapest fees in the universe and membership lasts forever."
- Peter F. Hamilton, The Evolutionary Void |
|
|
SpaceC06
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined: Jun 28, 2005
Member#: 10704
Posts: 52
Location: Wild West...aka NM
|
Posted:
Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:31 am Post subject: |
|
alien_avatar wrote: |
Caliburn wrote: |
Pfft we had some awesome milestones in Radioastronomy, but nooooooo optical astronomy is more 'beautiful'. |
Well... it is!
I just wanted to say that I really like this topic. Unfortunately I have little knowledge and less comprehension of the subject matter. I compensate with lots of ignorant enthusiasm though. |
We love ingorant enthusiasm It is all it takes to become addicted to the subject matter
Cal please share with us! I find I know little about radioastronomy, although I live extremely close to the Very Large Array, so enlighten us |
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|