The Space Elevator Reference

SESI 2007 - Conference Wrap-up

Ted over at the Space Elevator Blog has a wrap-up of the Second International Conference and Exposition on Science, Engineering, and Habitation in Space, and the Second Biennial Space Elevator Workshop.

Hoytether Launch Rescheduled to April 17

The 1 km long Hoytether is now scheduled to launch on April 17 on a Dnepr rocket as a secondary payload.

Hoytether Launch on Dnepr Rocket Delayed

The 1 km long Hoytether which was to have launched today on a Dnepr rocket has been delayed due to problems with the launch vehicle. The launch is now rescheduled for no earlier than mid-April.

Space Exploration 2007 and Second Biennial Space Elevator Workshop Underway

The Space Exploration 2007 and Second Biennial Space Elevator Workshop is now underway in Albuquerque. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend but both Brad Edwards and Bryan Laubscher are there and in fact Bryan gave the keynote this morning. Ted Semon of the Space Elevator Blog is there reporting on the conference as is Patrick Boake who is reporting for the Space Elevator Journal.

It should be a great conference and we'll bring you news as it happens.

Say Yes2 Another Tether Launch - This Time a 30 KM Long Tether

So after posting the the story on tomorrow's launch of Tether Unlimited's MAST Experiment a couple of days ago, which we promoted on NASA Watch, we were subsequently contacted by Second Young Engineers' Satellite (YES2) team about their upcoming tether launch. And what an exciting project it is. The Yes2 team is sponsored by ESA and the satellite is expected to launch in early May after its final review. They sent us a press release with the latest news including this description of the experiment:

"One of the most important aspects of this innovative mission is the deployment of a 30 km long tether to deploy the Fotino mini-satellite and re-entry capsule. . Not only will this be the longest artificial structure ever deployed in space, but it will also be the first time that a tether has been used to return a payload from space. The flight is intended to demonstrate how such a tether can be used to change a satellite's orbit without attitude control systems or rocket engines."

Now for the video ...

YES2 presentation by Ape (in Italian - nice view of spacecraft) - YES2 presented by Fernando Apesteguía before the thermo-vacuum test in ESTEC.

1 KM Long Hoytether Set for March 27 Launch

I got this tidbit from Clark Lindsey of HobbySpace who is at the Space Access 2007 conference. Tethers Unlimited will launch the MAST Experiment March 27 on a Dnepr rocket. The Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) will be the secondary payload. The MAST experiment consists of three staked picosatellites. Once on orbit, the picosatellites will separate and deploy a 1,000 meter (1 KM) long Hoytether™ structure.

Three days after launch communications should be established and checks will begin of the picosatellites. Seven days after launch the picosatellites will begin to separate.

The middle picosatellites, called "Gadget", will very slowly crawl up and down the tether pictures for analysis will help determine how quickly a tether experiences damage due to impacts by micrometeoroids and orbital debris, as well as erosion by atomic oxygen and UV light.

The total cost of the MAST program is under $1 million and was partially funded by NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer contract as well as internal funding.

Nanotechnology in Aerospace - Space Elevator Section Included

Nanoforum, a pan-European nanotechnology network funded by the European Union, has just released it's Ninth Nanoforum Report on Nanotechnology in Aerospace. This 151 page report is available for download after you register (free) on the site.

While the report is geared primarily for the European market those interested current trends in nanomaterials and nanotechnologies will find the report full of useful information with references to ongoing projects outside of Europe as well including a section on the Space Elevator and the Centennial Challenges.

The report excludes military R&D applications and is targeted at audiences who are "non-experts of an academic level with a general interest in the potential of nanotechnology for aerospace applications, and experts involved in setting the strategic R&D agenda in this field".

There are eight chapters with an extensive reference section. The chapters are:

1. Executive summary and introduction
2. Nanomaterials in Aerospace
3. Review of state of the art technology and future trends in Aeronautics
4. Review of state of the art technology and future trends in Spacecraft
5. Summary of Needs in Aerospace Research
6. Economic Aspects
7. Environment, Health and Safety Aspects
8. Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects
References.