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#29151 Re: Human missions » Gravity - Gravity » 2004-11-29 06:08:02
Mars Gravity Biosatellite would carry 15 mice into space, spin them up to create artificial gravity. To generate artificial gravity for the animals on board, the satellite will spin rapidly, making roughly one rotation every two seconds (34 revolutions per minute). This inward acceleration will simulate the force of gravity on the Martian surface - roughly one-third that of Earth.
How does a revolution every 2 seconds compare to the earths 1 for 24 hrs.?
But here was also another of those think tank items Weighty Implications: NASA Funds Controversial Gravity Shield or anti gravity.
NASA awarded a $600,000 contract last year to Superconductive Components Inc. in Columbus, Ohio to build the device.
So where is this project on the scope of being accomplished and to say nothing about the funds?
#29152 Re: Human missions » solar sail - solar sail » 2004-11-24 14:37:28
Update on launch date, set for Cosmos 1 solar sail mission for launch starting on March 1, 2005. The launch window will be open from that date through April 7 at the determination of the Russian Navy, for it is they who will send this unique satellite into Earth orbit atop a Volna rocket from a submarine in the Barents Sea near the Arctic Circle.
#29153 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » America's Space Prize! $50mil... - Funded by Bigelow. » 2004-11-24 14:29:57
Bigelow Space Module Flight Gets Government Okay
The U.S. Government has given payload approval to Bigelow Aerospace permitting the entrepreneurial firm to launch its inflatable space module technology.
Bigelow Aerospace of North Las Vegas, Nevada has blueprinted a step-by-step program to explore the use of inflatable Earth orbiting modules. Those modules would not only support made-in-microgravity product development, but serve as the technology foundation for eventual space tourist housing and use of similar structures on the Moon and Mars.
#29154 Re: Human missions » A "Quick & Dirty" Manned Mars Mission - How Would We Do It? » 2004-11-24 11:19:08
Well here is the link to the Astonautix site
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/ares.htm
A SDV using modified existing hardware.
Current External tanks 40million probably another 10 once modified but maybe 500million to come up with the modifications
I think SRB 30million which would be twice the thrust of the Asrm unit
Upper stage I will not even venture but it should be less than 100million possibly a stretched section from the Atlas5 or deltaIV systems modified maybe 500million to develop
These are all just guesses on my part.
I think the Ariane V would be also a good starting point.
http://www.arianespace.com/site/index2.html
Long and short of it thou is we still have nothing for the crew only cargo, supplies, fuel and water.
#29155 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer - wise telescope » 2004-11-24 06:32:10
Space lab to build telescope to map universe
More than two decades after scientists last created a comprehensive map of the universe, researchers at Utah's Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) are part of a $208 million NASA mission to repeat the feat with updated technology.
This telescope will have 12 months of orbiting over the north and south poles about 800 miles into space.
The the basic reconnaissance of the universe in mid-infrared wavelengths, providing a vast storehouse of knowledge that will endure for decades will be its main objective.
This catalog of data will also provide NASA's future James Webb Telescope with a comprehensive list of targets.
Sky's the limit for USU project — an orbiting NASA telescope
The overall cost of the project is $208 million, with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory receiving $40 million over three years to build the instrument.
#29156 Re: Human missions » A "Quick & Dirty" Manned Mars Mission - How Would We Do It? » 2004-11-24 05:43:13
NASA must be held strictly accountable on how it spends the funds, to prevent a repeat of the mismanagement that has plagued such programs as the International Space Station and caused huge cost overruns.
That's why Congress has put the agency on a short leash, which is were it should stay because of the complexity of the moon-Mars goal and its poor track record the past 30 years in meeting budget projections and schedules on major projects.
Over coming a few Hurdles one by one proving themselves first by the robotic Hubble repairs followed and by deal with rising costs to make safely fixes on the aging shuttles.
Congress also has correctly demanded that an independent committee oversee development of the CEV a new spaceship under the exploration plan.
#29157 Re: Human missions » Return to flight slipping » 2004-11-24 05:33:30
Well here is one of those enhancements for the point of monitoring hits on launch by possible foam debri. Invocon Inc. developed the sensors that will detect any debris strikes along the wings during future shuttle missions and transmit the data to both the astronauts aboard and Mission Control at Houston's Johnson Space Center.
Company builds sensors necessary for shuttle's return-to-flight
Without the sensors a small company is putting together for NASA's shuttle fleet, the orbiters wouldn't be able to return to space, a NASA spokesman said Tuesday as he toured the company's lab just north of Houston.
O'Keefe sees tough cuts to keep NASA on budget
Returning the grounded shuttle fleet to space already has caused an estimated $760 million in cost overruns, and close to $300 million in extra funds will be needed this year to initiate a repair mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope. In addition, lawmakers have designated dozens of pet science projects in their home districts that NASA will be obligated to pay for under an "earmarking" provision that will cost the agency another $400 million.
O'Keefe dismissed a published report that 100 shuttle program jobs will soon be cut at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and possibly others at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
O'Keefe will be reporting back to Congress in two months, he must deliver a clearly layed out set of plans for the agency's priorities in this order:
•Returning shuttles to flight.
•Completing construction of the international space station.
•Building the next generation of spacecraft.
•Developing a nuclear power generation system to fuel new spaceships and provide electricity wherever human and robotic explorers travel.
#29158 Re: Human missions » The need for a Moon direct *2* - ...continue here. » 2004-11-23 20:34:58
Well here is just what you are proposing but for the moon.
A trip around the moon? It could happen
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A LUNAR SHUTTLE TRANSPORT VEHICLE
Just doing a search on Russian translunar mission vehicle concept.
Edit: poll data
What do you think of adapting the Soyuz for around-the-moon missions? * 250 responses
It will never fly because it's too risky.
4%
Technically possible, but impossibly expensive.
28%
It just might work.
61%
None of the answers above reflect my opinion.
7%
#29159 Re: Human missions » A "Quick & Dirty" Manned Mars Mission - How Would We Do It? » 2004-11-23 20:11:33
Well here is just what you are proposing but for the moon.
A trip around the moon? It could happen
#29160 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Space Elevators and Pipelines » 2004-11-23 19:48:24
Make chambers at given intervals of height, which open and close to allow for movement due to pressure changes, one could also heat the air that is in the lower chambers to increase the released vented pressure build up to the next one. Kind of like the panama canal lockes.
#29161 Re: Human missions » The need for a Moon direct *2* - ...continue here. » 2004-11-23 19:36:44
That is also followed by many other forms of manufacturing, assembly of anything to name a few. Where business looks at the profit margin only to say that fixed amount are all that can be reduced which happens to be labor wages, Materials to engage in the business and others. Most do not try to change the effiency of a plant, or to reduce the error introduce by the human factor.
#29162 Re: Human missions » A "Quick & Dirty" Manned Mars Mission - How Would We Do It? » 2004-11-23 19:28:50
That would probably also mean an in orbit of cludged together pieces. That were never meant to be put together in the first place.
examples
Manned capsules available other than a soyuz the only other is a chinese look a like. Duration not available with out additional modules from probably newly design Iss modules to act as command module and living quarters. Booster to power it to mars would be expanded pieces of the russians progress or soyuz, Atlas and Delta modular pieces restack to get them to orbit.
As you can see we have nothing except pieces..
#29163 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Space Elevators and Pipelines » 2004-11-23 13:28:06
Well this would put a hold on the elevator, Scientists Discover Air Is Heavier Than We Thought
The new determination of argon content was motivated by numerous mass measurements which stubbornly failed to agree with the accepted formula for air density. The new results should lead to improved coherence among high precision mass measurements
#29164 Re: Space Policy » Bush Sets Wrong Goal? » 2004-11-23 13:13:12
Space Exploration and a Tale of Two Presidents Bush or so it would seem.
I think he has been trying to finish up what daddy had started more than anything with regards to putting Nasa on the right path. Of couse the article includes that magical word Trillion for estimate but we all know thats false.
#29165 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Space Elevators and Pipelines » 2004-11-23 12:49:08
A little something to test space knowledge with.
Fact vs. Fiction: 10 Questions to Test Your Space IQ
#29166 Re: Human missions » The need for a Moon direct *2* - ...continue here. » 2004-11-23 12:34:41
NASA moves ahead on Bush's plan to return to moon, Mars
The United States is also seeking foreign partners for the hugely expensive project, hoping to save money and avoid wasteful duplication.
Space officials from 17 countries, including China, Russia, Japan and much of Europe, participated in a planning workshop in Washington last week. Representatives from each nation said they intend to participate in at least the planning phase.
The NASA paper proposed a series of unmanned missions to the moon between 2008 and 2011 to collect data and pick a landing site. Between 2011 and 2015, robots would prepare the site for a permanent manned base between 2015 and 2020.
It suggested the lunar south pole would be the best target for the first human outpost. Two previous U.S. spacecraft have spotted what appears to be frozen water in the polar region. The water could be used for drinking and also split into hydrogen and oxygen to make fuel for future trips.
#29167 Re: Planetary transportation » Running on Compressed Air? » 2004-11-23 12:20:25
NASA Concludes First International Workshop in Support of U.S. 'Vision'
#29169 Re: Space Policy » Space fairing Nations - The ever changing view » 2004-11-23 11:40:35
India to launch lunar exploration vehicle Chandrayan-I in 2007-08
Jim Benson of SpaceDev Company, USA stressed on the advantages of small low cost space missions involving minimum risk to perform astronomical studies from the surface of the moon using the International Lunar Observatory.
#29170 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Deep Impact Crashing mission - Comet Tempel 1 target » 2004-11-23 11:31:53
#29171 Re: Human missions » The need for a Moon direct *2* - ...continue here. » 2004-11-23 11:18:25
Budget ax falls on lunar probe
Congress cut all but $10 million from the planned Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, which was to map the moon and attempt to find water ice that could be critical to human missions. Fearing NASA would cut science programs to fund human exploration, the Congress demanded 25 percent of the instruments on the lunar satellite to be aimed at pure science, not future operations.
#29172 Re: Human missions » Return to flight slipping » 2004-11-23 11:14:45
Like the dim of a distant drum the return to flight progresses forward for its eventual launch next year.
Boosters ready for assembly
While others are looking to the budget not creating job loss for those on the shuttle team.
NASA will phase out 100 shuttle jobs at KSC thou Cuts will not compromise flight safety, officials say.
NASA is preparing to eliminate 100 contractor processing jobs at Kennedy Space Center starting Dec. 1 under a 2005 operating plan approved by the shuttle program's manager last week.
Most of the job cuts will be done through attrition, retirement and leaving vacant positions unfilled. Few, if any, current employees are expected to be laid off.
The draw back to this is that the Budget ax falls on lunar probe
Congress cut all but $10 million from the planned Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, which was to map the moon and attempt to find water ice that could be critical to human missions. Fearing NASA would cut science programs to fund human exploration, the Congress demanded 25 percent of the instruments on the lunar satellite to be aimed at pure science, not future operations.
#29173 Re: Human missions » The need for a Moon direct *2* - ...continue here. » 2004-11-23 10:26:04
A report released Monday by the American Physical Society (APS) criticized NASA's Vision for Space Exploration, saying that the plan will drain money from more promising research efforts. The report concluded that while human exploration is worthwhile, and manned missions to Mars would produce more science than robotic missions, the cost for such missions would be so high as to make them uncompelling on scientific grounds alone. The report also complained that the total cost of the exploration program remains unknown, and that shifts in NASA funding have jeopardized a number of science missions. The report concluded that human exploration should occur as part of a balanced program, and that robotic missions can do much of the desired science at a fraction of the cost. The report was released just after Congress approved a $16.2-billion NASA budget for 2005 that effectively fully funds the exploration program, although the exact distribution of funding may depend on the cost of shuttle return-to-flight efforts.
#29174 Re: Planetary transportation » Running on Compressed Air? » 2004-11-23 10:02:13
I agree do not go for the all enclosed unit, for most of its use they are in an out to often to do the scientific research and exploration of the surface for an enclosed unit to make sense.
#29175 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Space Elevators and Pipelines » 2004-11-23 09:31:50
The only draw back I can see is that the walls of the tube would needs to be thicker where the atmosphere is thinner in order to keep it from collapsing and secondarily the tremendous amount of weight for the whole tube baring down on the lower end of it would be another issue due to length of it.