When I first got to work on this paper, I was quite literally peeling my jaw off the floor... basically the accuracy of measurements being performed here, is like nothing ever seen before...
Read on ...
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMX61WWVUG_index_0.html
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Phobos Grunt
There's a lot being said about this mission online, mostly supportive of the ROSCOSMOS team, who, given the budgetary constraints faced by almost everyone globally, have attempted, what seemed to be the impossible. Using largely untested equipment, move a multi-tonne satellite, one of the largest ever, in to an orbit around the Martian moon Phobos, land a sample collection probe, and get that back to Earth. The failure, after what seemed like a perfect launch to get from low Earth orbit (at time of writing), is indicative of the level of risk they faced.
Does this mean the end of ROSCOCMOS with regards to deep space missions. The great galactic ghoul does seem to be attracted to Russian missions when it comes to Mars (but then look at the amazing success of their Venus missions), with so far 18/18 missions all failing in one way or another, but one has to admire the fact that they are trying something so audacious and complex, in these chastened times (unless you're a bank, in which case, what's chastened?), and even if it does fail, at the cost of <$170 million, according to estimates, it's a relatively small price compared to other missions.
The story is unfolding still, maybe they will recover it, maybe it will splash down in to the sea in the next 4 weeks...but, maybe humankind will take some inspiration from the effort being put in to doing something, not because it is easy...but because it is hard.
Does this mean the end of ROSCOCMOS with regards to deep space missions. The great galactic ghoul does seem to be attracted to Russian missions when it comes to Mars (but then look at the amazing success of their Venus missions), with so far 18/18 missions all failing in one way or another, but one has to admire the fact that they are trying something so audacious and complex, in these chastened times (unless you're a bank, in which case, what's chastened?), and even if it does fail, at the cost of <$170 million, according to estimates, it's a relatively small price compared to other missions.
The story is unfolding still, maybe they will recover it, maybe it will splash down in to the sea in the next 4 weeks...but, maybe humankind will take some inspiration from the effort being put in to doing something, not because it is easy...but because it is hard.
Friday, 4 November 2011
Mars 500 - The aftermath
What struck me at the end of the Mars500 mission was just how happy/together the crew looked. It's an incredible experiment for sure, locking 6 people (all male?...is this realistic?) into something which looked like a Swedish Sauna for 520 days, simulating docking, landing, orbits etc...but the three critical human (never mind the technical) factors which make it real still need to be tested
They being
1: The psychological effects of knowing that you're millions of miles away with absolutely no chance of a rescue should something go wrong. Mars500 crew knew they were in a hangar, and could step out at any minute...so that element still needs to be tested...how? It's a good question, but probably the only way is to just do it, much like the Apollo program just "did it" to test systems. The effects of being removed from your family I think are also compounded by real distance.
2: Weightlessness and the effects on the body for 520 days - We've come close with ISS and MIR over the years, but this is still a step above that, and again, you're compounding the medical effects with a lack of a suitable radiation shield which the Earth provides.
3. The post mission effect. Trivial compared to the other two, but someone will be the first/second etc person to set foot on Mars. Look what that did to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Being able to manage that in the 60s without the massively increased media (good and bad) was tough enough...doing it in the digital age...ratchet that up a notch or six..
Congratulations though to a team who've proved many of the elements for long duration missions can be achieved, it's a small step for man, and a giant leap towards Mars
They being
1: The psychological effects of knowing that you're millions of miles away with absolutely no chance of a rescue should something go wrong. Mars500 crew knew they were in a hangar, and could step out at any minute...so that element still needs to be tested...how? It's a good question, but probably the only way is to just do it, much like the Apollo program just "did it" to test systems. The effects of being removed from your family I think are also compounded by real distance.
2: Weightlessness and the effects on the body for 520 days - We've come close with ISS and MIR over the years, but this is still a step above that, and again, you're compounding the medical effects with a lack of a suitable radiation shield which the Earth provides.
3. The post mission effect. Trivial compared to the other two, but someone will be the first/second etc person to set foot on Mars. Look what that did to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Being able to manage that in the 60s without the massively increased media (good and bad) was tough enough...doing it in the digital age...ratchet that up a notch or six..
Congratulations though to a team who've proved many of the elements for long duration missions can be achieved, it's a small step for man, and a giant leap towards Mars
Thursday, 3 November 2011
MARS500 - The Opening - Live
Watch the Mars500 mission live via the ESA webstream here
Watch live streaming video from eurospaceagency at livestream.com
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
BBC News - Again
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15542745
Looks like after asteroids, we now seem to be doing well on comets!
Looks like after asteroids, we now seem to be doing well on comets!
Almost There
Saving the James Webb is a long and winding process. Multiple senate/sub committee votes to pass/go through before the scope is in fact "saved" though it's looking likely to get its funding. The question though remains...what impact will a funded JWST have on other NASA science missions? The JWST is a hugely risky project for sure, a real "it has to work first time or nothing" job, but...if it does work, the results will be quite astonishing.
BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. Senate has just passed the CJS bill with full funding for JWST: http://1.usa.gov/san4qt. Previously, a Senate subcommittee voted for full funding ($529 million), but it had yet to pass a full vote in the Senate. That happened today. A MASSIVE thank you to U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski for championing this bill in the Senate. | Next Up: The House and Senate will reconcile their bills to produce a final figure for JWST in FY2012.
BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. Senate has just passed the CJS bill with full funding for JWST: http://1.usa.gov/san4qt. Previously, a Senate subcommittee voted for full funding ($529 million), but it had yet to pass a full vote in the Senate. That happened today. A MASSIVE thank you to U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski for championing this bill in the Senate. | Next Up: The House and Senate will reconcile their bills to produce a final figure for JWST in FY2012.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)