A small Swiss satellite could grab a dead compatriot and drag it to a fiery death in the atmosphere as early as 2016
From Engadget: Lehmann Aviation’s LFPV UAV packs GPS, autopilot, 11MP cam, 1080p video, yours for $2,352
Sure, an AR.Drone 2.0 will afford you 720p HD video recording in the skies for just 300 dollars, but how does 1080p with 11 megapixels of sensor sound in comparison? That’s exactly what Lehmann Aviation is offering on its new LFPV civil UAV. This $2,352 (1790€) kit is far less expensive than the company’s $17K LP960 from a few years back, but it certainly isn’t lacking in the drool inducing features department — and yes, it’ll capture straight up photographs, too. Apart from letting you conduct reconnaissance of your local strip mall, the LFPV packs a “live data connection” to keep you informed about its GPS coordinates and altitude, among others things, like how soon you’ll need to recharge. Better yet, it uses the same Ground Control System as Lehmann’s other flyers (perfect for when it’s time to upgrade), offering an 800 x 480 live video stream of your journey and total control of where you’re piloting the aircraft. Best of all, the LFPV even packs autopilot if you need to take a break from the controls . We’d be remiss not to point out Eye3’s $999 bring-your-own-camera hexicopter for those already equipped with a beefy ILC shooter, but if the LFPV is right up (or over) your alley, you’ll find a full press release and video just past the break.
from Engadget
From Engadget: GENIE rocket system does smooth VTOL, lateral flight, cheap trips to Mars
NASA can’t just park up in the middle of space and rely on Robotnaut 2 for its entertainment. Actually, it probably can, but at some point the urge to explore new worlds will become too strong to resist. That’s when it’ll need a suborbital rocket guidance system like the GENIE (“Guidance Embedded Navigator Integration Environment”), which transforms a flood of sensory data into reliable and autonomous maneuvers. Fortunately, the system’s economics make a whole lot more sense than its name, which is why NASA is depending on technology like this to control the next generation of affordable and reusable space craft. The test flight shown after the break can only boost GENIE’s chances: it took a Xombie rocket up to 160 feet and then made it fly laterally for another 160 feet before landing with a degree of swagger that makes the previous flightin 2010 look plain rickety.
Continue reading GENIE rocket system does smooth VTOL, lateral flight, cheap trips to Mars (video)
from Engadget
From Gizmodo: Rocket Science Explained For Non-Rocket Scientists
Minute Physics has a knack for explaining complicated scientific ideas and principles in a way that the average YouTube viewer can comprehend. Even when they tackle rocket science, a term synonymous with complicated physics, math, and equations. More »
from Gizmodo
From NPR News: Boeing Closes $22.4 Billion Deal With Lion Air
Yeah!!!! 😛
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When your products sell for more than $80 million, selling one of them is a big deal. Selling hundreds of them in one deal means they’re probably feeling pretty good over at Boeing right now. The company has finalized a deal to sell 230 jets to Lion Air of Indonesia, with a list price of $22.4 billion.
from NPR News
From Engadget: ESA’s Vega rocket takes flight, delivers low-tonnage objects to high places
On Monday, the European Space Agency (ESA) conducted a successful test of its newest projectile, the Vega rocket. Designed to carry up to nine objects totaling less than 2.5 metric tons (“tonnes,” for those in the know) into orbit, the four-stage vehicle stands 30 meters tall and weighs in at just under 140 metric tons when fully loaded. The rocket aims to solve a key — if slightly humdrum — problem: at present, European researchers send their instrumentation into space on retrofitted Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The Vega platform should provide greater launch flexibility and reduce the delay (which can be months) scientists experience while waiting to hitch a ride on an ICBM. Although still in the testing stage, Monday’s maiden voyage was a promising first step for the new spacecraft. Hit the source for more rocket-related excitement.
from Engadget
From Discover: Q&BA: Why spend money on NASA?
I wholeheartedly agree and endorse this article…
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During last week’s Q&BA live video chat session on Google+, I got the question, “Why spend money on NASA when we need that money here on Earth?”
This is a common question, and very apropos given the terrible budget news we got about NASA earlier today. So I put my answer up on YouTube. We’ll be hearing this argument a lot in the upcoming budget battles, and hopefully this’ll help show why we need to spend money on NASA, even more than we are now.
I have a lot of blog posts dealing with this issue, since it comes up so often. You’ll find all them linked in this blog post: Debating Space. We need to be exploring space, and we need to be investing in our future. Science and exploration are our future.
from Discover