Kentucky Space Blog

And if planes could only be used once?

Speaking at a National Press Club luncheon on Sept. 29 last year, SpaceX CEO/CTO Elon Musk talked about the current model for spaceflight, pointing out in this clip that as an economic and business proposition, it's awful. What if an airliner could only be used once?

Saying his company had spec'd a multi-stage, fully reusable rocket, he announced at the press luncheon that SpaceX will try to build it. If successful, it would exponentially lower the capital costs per launch.

See his entire presentation here.

Wayne

Jan 26, 2012

Finnish student CubeSat video

AMSAT-UK posted this video of a Finnish CubeSat that shows antenna deployment and visualizes the science payload. "Aalto-1" will incluce VHF-UHF and S-band transmitters, with up to 8 watts of power via its solar panels, according to the piece. As for the science:

The main payload of the satellite is a novel tiny Fabry-Perot imaging spectrometer, developed by VTT, Finland. The primary scientific goal of the mission is to demonstrate the feasibility of MEMS Fabry-Perot spectrometers for space applications. This miniature technology can be used in nanosatellites for large a variety of remote sensing applications in the future.

Wayne

Jan 25, 2012

SpaceX docking with ISS "no earlier" than late March

The first flight attempt by SpaceX to dock with the International Space Station will now occur "no earlier" than late March, according to Space.com. The planned flight, delayed twice as the company works on its craft, will take place under a new initiative to have the private sector deliver supplies to the International Space Station, and will be second such flight under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract the company has with NASA. SpaceX tested its Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon capsule in December, 2010, completing a couple orbits around the Earth before safely splashing down in the Pacific. That ride to orbit can be watched in this onboard mission video.

Wayne

Jan 23, 2012

Video: How the CXBN will Capture X-Ray Photons

In this video Director of Ground Operations for Kentucky Space, Dr. Ben Malphrus, describes the device on board the Cosmic X-Ray Background Satellite, or CXBN, that will register X-ray photons. The CXBN will refine two existing measurements of relic X-rays from the Big Bang, and is currently slated for an August launch.

Dr. Malphrus is the Director of the Space Science Center at Morehead State University, where the two-unit CubeSat was built.

Wayne

Jan 17, 2012

Picture this: Dropzone!, the school science fundraiser

Check out this image from a Dropzone! flight last Friday.

One of sixteen available slots for purchase on every high altitude balloon flight, Dropzone! offers local supporters a way to connect with the science happening in their schools, and get something truly unique in return - the image of their choice pictured at the edge of space. By participating in the program, science educators can also raise much needed funds for labs supplies and books!

If this sounds interesting to you, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at Kentucky Space for more information.

Wayne

Jan 12, 2012