Kentucky Space

Prof Twiggs on Nanoracks, other "low cost, advanced" Kentucky research

Speaking at a recent Belgium meeting about the use of cubesat constellations for in-situ measurements in the lower thermosphere and for re-entry research, Morehead State University professor Bob Twiggs took to the time to reference his work in Kentucky and the Nanoracks initiative, according to Hobbyspace.

He explained that, since his retirement from Calpoly (California Polytechnic State University) in San Luis Obispo, he is cooperating with the recently established Space Science Center of Morehead State University, in Kentucky. He is promoting the development of new educational low-cost tools in orbit to put student teams close to the environment of space, to stimulate innovative R & D efforts in universities and institutes with low-cost but advanced technologies. He described the system of nanoracks (with Cubesat-type platforms) onboard the ISS (International Space Station) and the miniaturized 16 PocketQub picosatellites (which consists of 2-cm side cubes of some hundred grams, for a cost of 5000-10.000 dollars).

Wayne

CubeLab, Kentucky Space

Biological past for Mars rock?

Features of Martian meteorite ALH 84001 could be of biological origin, according to NewScientist.

Wayne

Kentucky Space, Space

Chandra Blog hosts latest Carnival of Space

The 130th Carnival of Space is up at Chandra Blog.

Wayne

Everyday technology born from space exploration

NASA has released its annual spin-off report detailing the technological innovations on Earth born as a result of the rigors of space exploration. For example,

The search for life on Mars has inspired NASA scientists to create biosensors based on nanotubes that can detect illness-causing bacteria such as strains of E. coli.

Space.com has more.

Wayne

Plume diving on Enceladus

A spectacular raw image from the November 21 Cassini flyby of Enceladus clearly shows the venting happening from the Saturn moon.

Wayne

Image credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Dime-sized satellite

Check out this list of space-related prizes and competitions at The Launch Pad, particularly the nano-sat proposed for the N-prize.

Spirit closer to an escape?

Spirit may be a closer to escaping its Martian sand trap, according to Emily Lakdawalla. You may follow her at @elakdawalla for the latest.

Wayne

Presenting on space sciences at Kentucky Academy of Science

Kentucky Space was well represented in both the engineering and physics/astronomy sections at the Kentucky Academy of Science recent annual meeting. Those presenting were:

• Beck, Marc B., Graves, D.C., Fite, N. D., Molton, B., Brown, K., Fitzpatrick, J., Malphrus, B. K., Jacobs, Z. for "Kentucky Space High Altitude Balloon Mission to Gather Tropospheric Comet Dust."
• Fite, Nathan D., Malphrus, B. K., Moore, G., Holemans, W., Huang, A., Twiggs, B., Kruth, J., "Atmospheric and Technological Exploration with the POPACS Satellite."
• Twyman Clements (given by Anthony Karam), "AdamaSat: Proving CubeSats Viability in Sub-Orbital Launches" and
• Anthony Karam, "SOCEM: Sub-Orbital CubeSat Experimental Mission"

Anthony Karam won the 1st place award for undergraduate presentations in the engineering section. Congratulations to Anthony and all the students who presented at this important event!

And thanks Dr. Malphrus, for passing along the information.

Wayne

Free Spirit update

The first commands have been sent to the rover. The Planetary Society's Emily Lakdawalla is blogging efforts to free Spirit from the sand trap it encountered several months ago on Mars.

This picture was taken on the day of the first maneuver, Sol 2088, by Spirit's navigation camera.

Wayne

Nanorack pic

Here is a a picture of the Nanorack hardware. As mentioned recently, it will soon undergo tests to clear it for flight to the International Space Station. The system can accommodate 16 "Cubelabs," Cubesat-sized laboratories in which individual microgravity research programs may be carried out.

More information about this breakthrough initiative may be found Kentucky Space, as well as here, at Nanoracks.

Wayne