Space scientist Raycho Raychev’s three-year-old start-up, EnduroSat, aims to make miniature satellites available at affordable prices to universities, research institutes and commercial users. “There’s an unprecedented number of applications for our modules — from ship and truck tracking and navigation to astronomy, astrophysics and pharmacology,” he says.
EnduroSat has received seed capital from a venture capital fund, followed by EU funding to provide more than 100 EnduroSat modules and online educational tools to selected European schools.
Its cheapest module, a 10cm-cubed “CubeSat” complete with miniature solar panels and retractable communications antennas, was designed by an in-house team and manufactured locally. EnduroSat satellites sell for €35,000-€65,000, compared to €100m for a conventional 3,000kg satellite.
Closing out a three-day chase from a launch pad in Virginia, Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo freighter arrived Thursday at the International Space Station with nearly 7,400 pounds of equipment, delivering food, a quantum physics experiment, and CubeSats for later deployment in orbit.
During its nearly two-month mission, known as OA-9, the Cygnus spacecraft will slightly raise the altitude of the outpost, making it the first U.S. vehicle to reboost the station’s orbit since the retirement of the space shuttle.
The automated supply ship approached the station from below Thursday, aiming laser ranging sensors to track the craft’s distance and closure rate with the orbiting research lab.
After pausing at pre-planned hold points, the Cygnus spacecraft stopped its approach around 30 feet, or 10 meters, below the space station, and astronaut Scott Tingle took control of the lab’s Canadian-built robotic arm to capture the supply ship at 5:26 a.m. EDT (0926 GMT).
Tingle grasped the spacecraft with the robot arm as the space station sailed 264 miles (425 kilometers) over the southern Indian Ocean.
Tingle handed over control of the robot arm to engineers on the ground, who maneuvered the Cygnus spacecraft into position on the Earth-facing berthing port on the space station’s Unity module. Sixteen bolts closed to firmly attach the cargo freighter to the Unity module at 8:13 a.m. EDT (1213 GMT), clearing the way for pressure leak checks before the station crew opens hatches leading into the supply ship later Thursday.
The astronauts will unpack 7,205 pounds (3,268 kilograms) of provisions, experiments and other hardware loaded inside the Cygnus spacecraft’s Italian-built pressurized compartment, and replace the cargo with trash for disposal at the end of the Cygnus mission.
Another science experiment carried by Cygnus will study the solidification of cement in microgravity.
“We are looking into colonizing space,” said Aleksandra Radlinska, principal investigator for the cement experiment from Penn State University. “We want to go to the moon and deep space beyond, and we will need shelters for the human missions. We will need to protect equipment from radiation effects and impacts that these could experience.”
Concrete could be a “go-to” material to build such shelters, she said.
“In our research, we actually look into how cement reacts with water, and how this very complex process of microstructure formation happens in space,” Radlinska said.
Despite the prolific use of concrete, the process of solidification when mixing cement and water “has been fascinating scientists for the last 50 years,” she said. “And for the last 50 years, despite the current technology and instrumentation that we have, we still don’t understand that process completely.”
The nine CubeSats set for release from the space station are:
- CubeRRT, a 6U CubeSat developed at Ohio State University with NASA funding to test a new signal processor to mitigate radio interference impacting microwave radiometer measurements of soil moisture, atmospheric water vapor, sea surface temperature and winds from orbit.
- EQUiSat, a 1U CubeSat developed by Brown University with NASA support as an educational outreach mission, with a secondary objective of demonstrating a new type of battery in space.
- HaloSat, a 6U CubeSat developed at the University of Iowa in partnership with NASA to detect X-ray gas emissions around the Milky Way galaxy.
- MemSat, a 1U CubeSat developed at Rowan University in partnership with NASA, will test a memristor device that could be flown on future satellites to make them more energy efficient and more resilient to power failures.
- RadSat-g, a 3U CubeSat developed at Montana State University in partnership with NASA, will test a new radiation tolerant computer system.
- RainCube, a 6U CubeSat developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will demonstrate the viability and performance of a new expandable Ka-band precipitation radar that can be packaged into a volume to fit in a nanosatellite.
- TEMPEST-D, a 6U CubeSat developed at Colorado State University in partnership with NASA, is a risk mitigation mission for a planned constellation of Earth observation CubeSats that will track the steps in the formation of clouds, precipitation and storms.
- EnduroSat One, a 1U CubeSat developed in Bulgaria, carries an amateur radio payload.
- Radix, a 6U CubeSat owned by a commercial company known as Analytical Space, will test a laser communications terminal planned for use on a future constellation of orbiting data relay nanosatellites to enable high-speed optical downlinks to Earth.


The Pioneers of Space Exploration
Out of reach for generations and a seemingly impossible dream for millennia, space exploration is now part of our reality thanks to a select few. These brave and courageous individuals are the astronauts and cosmonauts who were the first to take the ultimate leap of faith and journey from Earth to the stars. From Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin to Sunita Williams and Peggy Whitson, let’s explore the fascinating stories and achievements of the brave and daring astronauts who have taken us further into space than ever before.
The success story of Neil Armstrong, the first man to ever set foot on the moon, is one of inspiration and pioneering grit. Born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Neil had a passion for flying from a very early age. As a young boy, he would often make model airplanes and even take his father’s plane for a ride around the farm. This early love for flying set him on the path to become an astronaut.
By the time he was 18, Neil had gained enough training for his pilot’s license, which he received in 1949. After joining the US Navy, he became a decorated pilot, earning two commendations and four air medals for his performance during the Korean War. After his service in the Navy, Neil attended Purdue University, where he studied aeronautical engineering and became a test pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
Neil was selected by NASA to join the second group of astronauts in 1962. This was an incredible feat at the time as there were only nine astronauts at the time. Not long after, Neil was chosen to lead the first mission to the moon as commander of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. On July 20, 1969, Neil made history when he stepped onto the moon’s surface, famously saying, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Neil Armstrong’s accomplishments have had a lasting effect on history. He was awarded many honors, including being named the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His pioneering spirit serves as an inspiring reminder that hard work and dedication pay off, no matter how great the challenge. His story will live on in the annals of history as an embodiment of the spirit of exploration and adventure.
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who made history as the first human being to ever journey into outer space. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on board the Vostok 1 spacecraft. His successful mission earned him worldwide admiration and cemented his name in the annals of history.
Yuri Gagarin was born in 1934 to a peasant family in Klushino, Russia. Though his family was poor, Gagarin was an excellent student and was admitted to a vocational school in Saratov at age 16. After studying aircraft engineering, Gagarin applied to the Soviet Air Force and was accepted in 1957. With his newfound aviation skills, Gagarin went on several successful combat missions as a fighter pilot.
In 1960, Gagarin was selected among a handful of Soviet cosmonauts to become one of the first astronauts in human history. His rigorous training and technical expertise made him the top candidate for the Vostok 1 mission. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin became the first human to successfully journey into outer space, completing one orbit around the Earth before safely returning to its surface.
During his time in space, Gagarin famously uttered the phrase ‘Poyekhali!’ (‘Let’s go!’). Upon his return to Earth, he was met with an outpouring of admiration and adoration from around the world. Gagarin’s successful mission opened up a new era of human space exploration, and solidified his status as a true astronaut hero.
In the years that followed his mission, Gagarin served as an ambassador of Soviet space exploration. He also continued to work as a pilot, with the aim of informing the public about space travel and encouraging more people to explore the stars. Sadly, his life came to an abrupt end in 1968, when he was killed in a plane crash. Nonetheless, Gagarin’s legacy has endured, and his name remains one of the most iconic in the history of human space exploration.
John Glenn is an American astronaut and the first American to orbit the Earth. He is a United States Marine Corps aviator and a former NASA astronaut. Born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio, Glenn was inspired to become an astronaut by the space race. He graduated from Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio in 1942 with a degree in engineering.
After college, Glenn joined the United States Navy and served as a fighter pilot and flight instructor. He then joined the United States Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of Major and eventually became an astronaut in 1959.
In 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. He spent four hours, fifty-nine minutes and 23 seconds in orbit, during which he circled the Earth three times. After his space flight, Glenn was awarded with the map of the world and the title of ‘Friend of the Stars.’
John Glenn went on to receive numerous awards and honours, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He served as a United States Senator for 24 years, retiring in 1999. He also served as a test pilot for the Manned Orbital Laboratory Program, and in 1998, he became the oldest person to venture into space.
Today, John Glenn is a symbol of the power of human ambition, exploration and accomplishment. He has inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams, and his story is a testament to the power of persistence and determination.
Overall, John Glenn is a true American hero and one of the most inspiring space explorers of all time. His story is an inspiration to us all and serves as a reminder of the importance of pushing our limits and striving to explore the unknown.
Women in Space
Women have made remarkable strides in the field of space exploration and astronautics since the launch of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. Throughout the decades, female astronauts have broken multiple records and achieved groundbreaking accomplishments, blazing a path to the stars and inspiring generations of young women to pursue their dreams.
One of the most notable and inspiring women in space exploration is Valentina Tereshkova, the first female to go into space. In 1963, she launched into space aboard the Vostok 6 mission, becoming the first woman in space, and the first woman to ever complete a solo space mission. Tereshkova spent three days in space and orbited the Earth 48 times, demonstrating her courage, grit, and ambition. She was the first of many women astronauts to follow in her footsteps, proving that gender should not be an obstacle in the pursuit of excellence.
In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Ride accomplished many feats throughout her career, including the first space walk by a female astronaut, completing a total of six space missions in her career. Ride’s accomplishments also extended to her work on the ground, where she worked to encourage young people, particularly women, to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Another remarkable astronaut and record holder is Peggy Whitson. In 2008, she became the first female commander of the International Space Station, a feat she would repeat in 2017, making her the first woman to command the space station twice. Whitson also holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (288 days) and the most days in space of any female astronaut (665 days).
The achievements of these women and others have been monumental in the success of human exploration of space. Whether it’s working on the International Space Station or being the first woman on the Moon, female astronauts have demonstrated time and time again that they are capable of overcoming challenges and going above and beyond what was previously thought possible. Today, women continue to make strides in the space exploration field, inspiring the next generation of astronauts to reach for the stars.
Valentina Tereshkova was a trailblazer in the world of space exploration and the first female astronaut. She was born in 1937 in Russia and worked as a textile factory worker and a test kite flyer before becoming a cosmonaut.
In 1962, the Soviet Union’s space program initiated the Vostok 6 mission, the first to send a female cosmonaut into space. Valentina was chosen for this mission and trained for the task with six other female pilots. After months of intense training, she finally launched into space aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft on June 16, 1963. She spent a total of three days in space and orbited the Earth 48 times. During her spaceflight, Valentina performed many scientific experiments and took thousands of pictures of our planet from space which are still studied and used by scientists today.
Valentina’s flight and succeeding missions have paved the way for many other female astronauts to join the ranks of space exploration. Not only did her journey mark the first time a female ventured into space, but it also opened the door for more women to join the space program. There are now over 200 female astronauts around the world and Valentina is credited with inspiring them to pursue their dreams of becoming an astronaut.
Valentina remains a respected figure in the scientific and astronaut community to this day. She has received numerous awards and honors and has been featured in many books and documentaries detailing her astounding journey. Her legacy lives on in the astronauts and scientists following in her footsteps in the world of space exploration.
One of the most iconic figures in the history of space exploration is Dr. Sally Ride. Ride became the first American woman to travel to space in 1983 and made a lasting impact on the field of space exploration.
Ride’s family moved to Los Angeles when she was a young girl. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in astrophysics from Stanford University. She then entered the doctoral program in physics at Stanford and became the first American woman astronaut to go into space.
Ride’s mission on the space shuttle Challenger was the first successful mission after NASA suffered a major accident in 1980. She went on to have a successful career as an astronaut, spending more than 343 hours in space. Ride also served on the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger disaster.
Although Ride retired from NASA in 1987, she still worked as an advocate for space exploration. She founded Sally Ride Science, an organization aimed at inspiring young women to pursue careers in science and technology. Ride also published several books on space exploration and wrote a book about her pioneering mission on the Challenger.
Ride’s legacy lives on. Her life story is an example that anyone can achieve amazing things with hard work, determination, and unwavering faith in their dreams. She was an exceptional role model who continues to inspire generations of young people to pursue a career in space exploration.
Christa McAuliffe was an American teacher, the first private citizen to be sent into space by NASA in 1986. Though tragically dying in the Challenger disaster, her legacy lives on in her pioneering example of a teacher in space. During her time in orbit, she conducted numerous experiments, many of which were designed by students. McAuliffe also served as a strong advocate for the teacher-in-space mission, inspiring countless students to pursue STEM-related fields.
McAuliffe made history after her selection as the first teacher to go into space in the Teacher in Space Program. She was selected from over 11,000 applicants who sought to be the first to boldly go where no teacher had gone before. After intensive training, McAuliffe was given the important mission of launching her student’s science experiments in space, inspiring their curiosity and showing them the potential of education. Her presence also proved to be an important part of the program, as her abilities in science, maths, and writing enabled her to teach her students about the phenomena taking place in space.
Her work in space also left a lasting scientific impact. McAuliffe and her crew conducted numerous experiments, including testing the effects of weightlessness on bees, the behavior of Venusian clouds, the effect of fire in space, the ability of seedlings to adapt to zero gravity, and more. Her work in space was inspirational for the STEM community and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously for her remarkable service.
Though her time in space was short-lived, McAuliffe’s contribution to space exploration and education is still honored today. Her name is associated with several awards celebrating students’ sciences projects and numerous art projects memorializing her. McAuliffe also serves as an inspirational beacon to those pursuing STEM fields. Her pioneering example will always be remembered as one of the greatest astronaut success stories of all time.
In the modern era, we have seen a number of astronauts achieve incredible feats and set historic milestones for space exploration. Today’s astronauts are some of the most daring and hardworking individuals, having taken on challenges that are pushing the boundaries of our technological capabilities and pushing the limits of human endurance.
The most well-known of these modern astronauts is undoubtedly American astronaut Neil Armstrong, who famously stepped foot onto the moon in 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 mission. He was the first human to ever make landfall on the moon, and his words, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’ remain iconic to this day. Armstrong also served as a backup pilot for the Apollo 8 mission, which was the first mission to orbit the moon, and he was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his courage and commitment to space exploration.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield is another astronaut who has achieved great success in modern times. Hadfield spent five months aboard the International Space Station from December 2012 to May 2013, during which time he conducted numerous experiments and participated in spacewalks. He was also the first Canadian to walk in space and famously made history by recording a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” while in orbit.
In 2020, American astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley became the first astronauts to launch into space using a privately owned spacecraft, the SpaceX Crew Dragon. The mission, known as Demo-2, was a resounding success with Behnken and Hurley safely returning to Earth after spending two months aboard the International Space Station.
These modern astronauts have achieved incredible feats, and will likely be remembered for generations to come. Their accomplishments have been inspirational and have encouraged people of all ages to take on challenges and aim high, regardless of the obstacles in their way. We can only imagine what other accomplishments astronauts will achieve in the years ahead.
Sunita Williams is an inspiration to many, having been the longest serving female astronaut. Williams grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, and developed a strong interest in science and athletics at an early age. After graduating from Needham High School, she attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science.
Williams continued to serve in the Navy for years, and was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1998. She completed the two year training program in July 2000. She flew her first mission to space in 2006 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-116 mission. During this mission, she completed three space walks, setting a record for the most space walks completed by a female astronaut.
Williams continued to go on missions to space, and in 2012 she was assigned to Expedition 33 as a Flight Engineer for the International Space Station. During this mission, she broke the record for the longest single space flight by a female astronaut. She returned to Earth in September 2012, having been in space for 195 days.
Williams is also known for promoting STEM education, particularly for girls and women. She has been an advocate for promoting math and science education and is an inspiration to many. She often speaks at schools and events, encouraging students to pursue science and follow their dreams.
In 2020, Williams retired from the Navy, having spent 33 years in service. She is often referred to as a space pioneer and is a source of pride for many. Sunita Williams is indeed a remarkable individual and an example of how hard work and dedication can take you to amazing heights.
One of the most successful and inspiring astronauts of all time is Peggy Whitson. Peggy Whitson is a retired American biochemistry researcher, retired NASA astronaut, and former NASA Chief Astronaut. She has a record-breaking number of spacewalks and holds multiple records in spaceflight. During her health career at NASA, Peggy Whitson completed two expeditions on the International Space Station. Together, these two expeditions amounted to over 10 months of time spent in space.
Peggy Whitson was born in Mt. Ayr, Iowa in 1960. She earned her doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University in 1985 and trained as a research biochemist with the National Research Council while operating as the Chief Investigator of the Biochemistry Research Lab. Peggy Whitson’s research was focused on the study of neurotransmitter transporters in the brain.
In 1993, Peggy Whitson was named an astronaut by NASA. She then spent her next 14 years as an active astronaut, with her first space mission being Expedition 5. During Expedition 5, Peggy Whitson performed two spacewalks, becoming the first female ever to do so. Her first spacewalk was completed in 2002, and her second spacewalk in 2005. On her second spacewalk, Peggy Whitson set the record for the longest self-supported spacewalk for a female astronaut.
In 2008, Peggy Whitson was assigned as the commander of Expedition 16, which was the first long-duration space mission commanded by a female astronaut. During Expedition 16, Peggy Whitson performed two additional spacewalks, making her the first female astronaut to ever do so. She also holds the record for being the first female to ever command the International Space Station.
In 2017, Peggy Whitson set a new record by becoming the astronaut with the most number of cumulative days in space, with a total of 665 days. She holds the record for the most spacewalks of any female astronaut, and the most cumulative spacewalk time of any astronaut.
Peggy Whitson has had an incredible career in space exploration, and is an inspiration to all those who look to the stars.
Kathy Sullivan is a pioneering astronaut and oceanographer who has made significant contributions to space exploration. As the first United States woman to ever walk in space, Sullivan is a true pioneer for others who have followed in her footsteps. She earned her doctorate in Geology from Dalhousie University in 1978, and then worked at the University of Wisconsin in the same field. Her research into the ocean’s role in climate change then won her an appointment with NASA in 1978.
Sullivan was part of the space shuttle crew that set off in October 1998 and made history by installing the first U.S. component on the International Space Station. On October 11, 1984, Sullivan became the first woman to take a space walk. Kathy Sullivan has since become an advocate for space exploration and education, serving as the Chairman of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commission on Ocean Policy and a member of the NASA Advisory Council.
Sullivan has earned numerous honors and awards, including the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Space Flight Medals. In 2019, Sullivan was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, becoming the first woman to achieve this honor. She is a true inspiration for women around the world who have or are pursuing a career in space exploration.
In summary, Kathy Sullivan is a true inspiration for aspiring astronauts. Her pioneering spirit and determination to explore the unknown has inspired countless women across the world to pursue a career in space exploration. With her numerous honors, awards, and induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Sullivan stands as an example of what is possible when one follows their dreams.


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Perseid Meteor Shower Promises To Be The Most Magical Seen Yet
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Remember those fond memories as a kid, staying up late to witness the spectacular?
“Absolutely stunning” – how else does one describe something so magical? Ge ready for something spectacular. The Perseid meteor shower officially started on the 17th of July, but will be peaking around the 11th – 13th of August. Last seen in 1992 and only returning in 2026, so don’t risk missing out!
Witnessed over 2,000 years, the comet which cause the Perseid shower was only discovered in 1862. The comet has been named 109P or “Swift-Tuttle”.
Bursting into light before they vaporize, small particles the size of grains to marbles, made mostly of rocks and dust are shed from the comet. They enter at a speed of up to 100,000 miles per hour and heat up to the point of them literally exploding. Rarely, a particle may reach the Earth, if it manages to hit the ground, it’s considered a meteorite. What is truly amazing is the damage such a tiny particle can leave behind!
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab has predicted up to 150 meteors per hour will be spotted during the Perseid meteor shower’s peak.
The trick is to find the place with the least amount of light pollution, the darker the better. You may even have to travel out into the countryside if you reside in the city. A telescope won’t be necessary – this shower is visible with the naked eye! Aim for just after midnight, this will be the clearest sight possible.
A few facts on the Perseid meteor shower:
- This “beautiful” phenomena is actually the comet’s trash
- The Swift Tuttle’s diameter is about 16 miles
- Repeatedly passing the Earth, it is known as the largest object identified to do so
- People in the 1990’s believed the comet would collide with the Earth and end our world. This theory was speedily debunked.
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Press Release: The Parallax Project
Star Search On-line
Pitt's Digital Research Library offers easy access to Allegheny Observatory's historic information
By Edward Galloway
The University of Pittsburgh Library System's Digital Research Library now provides on-line access to historic star data and calculations compiled and published by Pitt's Allegheny Observatory.
More than five decades of the observatory's research-which represents one of the largest systematic, ground-based studies of star distances ever conducted-is now available at the Parallax Project Web site (http://digital.library.pitt.edu/parallax/).
Public access to the information previously was limited to a number of deteriorating copies of the Publications of the Allegheny Observatory of the University of Pittsburgh, a 10-volume set published between 1910 and 1969, which primarily documents the observations of the Photographic Parallax Program. Frank Schlesinger, director of the observatory from 1905-1920, established the program to measure a star's distance from the sun (i.e., a parallax) using the photographic record of blue and ultraviolet light emitted by the brightest stars visible from Pittsburgh.
Publications also contains reports on the methodologies of astronomical observation, articles about innovative models of calculating star positions, and descriptions of observational instrumentation.
Schlesinger's program helped put Pittsburgh on the map as a center for high-precision astronometry research and warranted the construction of the 30-inch Thaw Refractor telescope. Built in 1912 almost entirely in Pittsburgh by John A. Brashear, the telescope remains the third-largest refractor in the United States. Parallax information gathered from the Thaw refractor continues to be a fundamental basis for modern-day searches for extra-solar planets.
"It is through the statistical investigation of this data, in comparison to those of other observatories, that our understanding of the intrinsic characteristics of the stars was obtained," said George Gatewood, current director of the observatory. "The data is important in the study of the compilation catalogues to which it contributed, to the weighted mean parallax of modern studies of these stars, and to the understanding of the strengths and limitations of the program, which contributed so profoundly to the determination of the scale of the universe."
The digitization of the data has extended the life of the information and made it more widely available to the research community, including professional and amateur astronomers, high school and college students, and historians of science. The pages of the Publications have been converted into scanned images for viewing so that the on-line material replicates the layout and format of the original volumes.
Users of the digital Publications can also search the content of these volumes for such star identifiers as Allegheny Observatory running number, star name, right ascension, declination, and parallax value.
The project also produced two sets of preservation reprints of the Publications to replace the highly acidic and brittle originals.
Back to the Digital Research
Library Home Page


3 edition of Spacetime Curvature Paradox Essay found in the catalog.
Stimulated coherent radiation devices (lasers).
The Indian Rights Association
Techniques in Diagnostic Pathology
Short of War
Treatise on the ear; including its anatomy, physiology and pathology; for which the author obtained a gold medal in the University of Edinburgh
A bonnie Scottish cookbook
CE marking for machinery directive
Parole in Alaska
summary of the law of lien.
way to peace in Indochina.
Graphical analysis of some pseudo-random number generators
Manurvia J. Spake, formerly Manurvia J. Ross. Letter from the Assistant Clerk of the Court of Claims transmitting a copy of the findings filed by the court in the case of Manurvia J. Spake, formerly Manurvia J. Ross, against the United States.
Jewish Army Project.
Spacetime Curvature Paradox Essay 短論時空曲率的詭謎 Cres Huang Inﬁnite Curvature Vectors of Spacetime Paradox ISBN 9 Author: Cres Huang. Introduction (essay number one) by Richard Price presents known facts about relativity, but author uses innovative way to teach us about different types of transformation between reference frames.
With elegance he introduces concept of spacetime diagrams and by: The authors kept emphasising on the same points again and again. It was to make sure that the student cleared up all his misconceptions and learn the true state of spacetime physics as we know.
This book chiefly deals with special relativity, where tidal effects of "gravitation" and curvature of spacetime is dealt briefly in the last chapter/5. Contents: Introduction; Curves; Gauss Curvature; Surfaces in E3; First Fundamental Form; Second Fundamental Form; The Gauss Curvature in Detail; Geodesics; The Curvature Tensor and the Theorema Egregium; Manifolds; Special Relativity: The Geometry of Flat Spacetime; Inertial Frames of Reference.
The Michelson Morley Experiment. The Postulates of Relativity. In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model which fuses the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum. Spacetime diagrams can be used to visualize relativistic effects, such as why different observers perceive where and when events occur differently.
Until the 20th century, it was assumed that the three-dimensional geometry of the. Not quite. Gravity is still causal: all of the aspects of spacetime curvature at a particular event are entirely determined by the configuration of stress-energy in the past light cone of that event.
So the effects of the Sun's gravity on the Earth now are entirely. The truth is, this is a completely and utterly complicated question which we may never know the answer to. Instead, I leave you with this: Holographic theories (AdS/CFT and variations thereupon) suggest that a gravitational system (spacetime + curvature) and a certain non-gravitational quantum theory of fields (spacetime + fields + no curvature) in one dimension fewer have exactly the same.
Modern physics describe gravity as a consequence of the curvature of spacetime dimensions and at singularity the coordinates disappear (Horowitz and Steif ).
Similarly, the Divine. The reason that space-time must be curved in General Relativity follows from a couple of insights and centres on Einstein's self-professed greatest idea.
One of the key requirements for the formulation of General relativity was the principle of e. Callender covers a wide range of facets — clocks, psychological time, entropy, spacetime curvature, the Big Bang, Gödel, endocrinology, and just about everything in between — to deliver a sum total of illumination that will leave you with newfound awe for the intersection of philosophy and science.
THE TIME PARADOX. spacetime curvature Tests confirm that Earth does affect spacetime Twin paradox from EOSC at University of British Columbia. Finally, let us analyze what changes in the description of the submarine paradox when the effects of the tiny spacetime curvature on the Earth surface are taken into account.
It is sufficient in this case to consider a gravitational force law given by (37), instead of Newton's law (9). (N2) The spacelike slice sits in an 4-dimensional spacetime. Let us require that the slice be nicely embedded in the full spacetime; i.e., the extrinsic curvature of the slice Kis small everywhere: K≪ 1 l2 p.
(N3) The 4-curvature curvature of the full spacetime in the neighbourhood of the slice should be small everywhere (4)R≪ 1 l2 p. Spacetime is the union of the three spatial dimensions and the one time dimension into a continuum1. According to general relativity, gravity is the curvature of this spacetime due to the presence of mass.
The greater the present mass the greater the curvature. Einstein's Field Equations: (Spacetime Curvature = Matter Content) The most important of these principles to our discussion is (4).
It states that the shape, and thereby the metric equation, of spacetime is determined by matter content of the spacetime. Simply put, matter warps spacetime.
In general relativity, Einstein generalized Minkowski space-time to include the effects of acceleration. Einstein discovered that the curvature in his 4-dimensional space-time representation was actually the cause of gravity.
The thirteenth edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica included an article by Einstein titled "space-time". First published by Einstein in as a tensor equation, the EFE equate local spacetime curvature (expressed by the Einstein tensor) with the local energy and momentum within that spacetime (expressed by the stress–energy tensor).
The Einstein Field Equations can be written as. An interactive comic you don’t need superpowers to understand. Einstein realized that Massive things like Earth warp spacetime. A freefalling object then follows the straightest possible path in spacetime. So—even though that path doesn’t look straight to us—the object experiences no force.
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum known as concept of space is considered to be of fundamental importance to an understanding.
He studied math and physics at Harvard before getting his Ph.D. in astrophysics at Princeton. He has a strong Kentucky drawl and a special enthusiasm for Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the equations that link space and time and gravity.
He leans forward in his chair and fervently talks about curvature tensors and spacetime. General relativity combines the two major theoretical transitions that we have seen so far. These two transitions are depicted in the table below. The first is represented in the vertical direction by the transition from space to learned from Minkowski that special relativity can be developed as the geometry of a spacetime.
This book provides an original introduction to the geometry of Minkowski space-time. A hundred years after the space-time formulation of special relativity by Hermann Minkowski, it is shown that the kinematical consequences of special relativity are merely a manifestation of space-time In this book, Hawking and Ellis attempt to establish the axiomatic foundation for the geometry of four-dimensional spacetime as described by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity and to derive its physical consequences for singularities, horizons, and causality.
So, to summarize, "spacetime curvature" refers to the curvature of the graph paper, regardless of observer, whereas visible curvature in space is related to the distorted, non-square grid lines drawn on the graph paper, and depends on the choice of observer.
For an object of a given mass, the spacetime curvature increases as its size decreases [Figure from Thorne’s “Black Holes and time warps”] As the radius of the object becomes smaller than a critical value, the spacetime curvature becomes infinite BLACK HOLE. Schwarzschild radius † RS = 2GM c2 =3(M/MSun)kilometers gravitational.
spacetime curvature is affected by gravitational fields It's really the other way around. Spacetime curvature causes gravitational fields (more precisely, it causes particular kinds of "gravitational fields"--other kinds can be produced in flat spacetime by being inside an accerating rocket).
General relativity (GR), also known as the general theory of relativity or (GTR), is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in and the current description of gravitation in modern l relativity generalizes special relativity and refines Newton's law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space.
Quantum Physics Of Time Travel: Relativity, Space Time, Black Holes, Worm Holes, Paradoxes - Kindle edition by Gabriel, Joseph. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Quantum Physics Of Time Travel: Relativity, Space Time, Black Holes, Worm Holes, s: 9. Answer requested by Mike Reed. Curved spacetime isn't a concrete object which can move anything. It is an abstract higher-dimensional co-ordinate system used in mathematical calculations.
It's not something you can go out and find somewhere. According to general relativity, mass and spacetime stand in a relationship of mutual causal interaction: mass curves spacetime, and the curvature of spacetime in turn affects the behaviour of objects with mass (as matter tends, all things being equal, to follow geodesics though spacetime).
Traveling faster than light is an inevitable longing for the human species, which aspires to expand through the cosmos. But in reality, if we think about it, light moves very slowly compared to the immense scales of the universe: Earthlings would have to wait more than four years for a ship travelling at the speed of light to reach the closest stars, years to get to the nearest.
A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes is a popular-science book on cosmology by English physicist Stephen Hawking.
It was first published in Hawking wrote the book for readers without prior knowledge of the universe and people who are just interested in learning something new.
The genius of Heraclitus is his ability to utilize paradox as an instrument to describe truths that language is inadequate to describe. In physics, the black hole information paradox is the guide out of the swamp of black hole ambiguity.
This paradox captures the fundamental conflict between quantum theory and general relativity. Speed Speed is defined as a measure of the distance an object travels in a given length of average speed of an object can be determined from the equation below: Thus, if a car travels meters in 5 seconds its average speed can be calculated as; Average speed = /5 = 20 meters per second Average speed is used to give the speed of an object over a given interval of time, if however.
Dave Goldberg, a Drexel physics professor, correctly interprets the paradox in his book The Universe in the Rearview Mirror (zz1) and addresses a number of points raised in a previous version of this essay, coincidentally including correction of some (non-crucial) claims that I seem to have got wrong (and which I may or may not have excised).
However, current quantum technology might be sufficient to transfer qubits and test entanglement still further out – to geostationary satelli km above the Earth’s equator, and even 10 times further, to the Moon. At these distances, the curvature of spacetime starts to. The scenario you're describing is actually rather nuanced.
The twin paradox is a thought experiment relating specifically to special relativity. Special relativity is "special" because it is only accurate in flat spacetime.
Your scenario involves orbits, which means gravity, which is spacetime curvature. Relativity - Relativity - Curved space-time and geometric gravitation: The singular feature of Einstein’s view of gravity is its geometric nature.
(See also geometry: The real world.) Whereas Newton thought that gravity was a force, Einstein showed that gravity arises from the shape of space-time. While this is difficult to visualize, there is an analogy that provides some insight—although.
spacetime, e.g., information paradox, ﬁrewall; Higher dimensional effects in higher curvature gravity theories; Null surfaces; Alternative gravity theories. – SPM Research Fellow at IUCAA, Pune, India PhD in Physics Worked on both classical and quantum aspects of gravity.
In particular Black. Zeno and the Paradox of Motion. A Very Beautiful Day. Constructing the Principles. Weighty Arguments. Immovable Spacetime. Inertial and Gravitational Separations. Free-Fall Equations. Force, Curvature, and Uncertainty. Conventional Wisdom. The Field of All Fields.
The Inertia of Twins. Without further ado, here are ten of our favorite mind-bending paradox-exploring feature films. Time Crimes This Spanish language gem is one of the most inventive, engaging, and fun science.The zitter electron is a lightlike charged particle with intrinsic spin that maintains it in a helical spacetime path, with curvature and frequency determined by the electron mass.
Thus, electron mass is fully reduced to clock frequency in electron motion. This essay discusses details of the model and its implications. Author Bio.In Padmanabhan's book Gravitation Foundations and Frontiers, the following equation can regarding the extrinsic curvature of a hypersurface can be found in section (see just above equation in that book).


The Roof Top
I love to go out on the rooftop at night
Seeing the moon glowing its beautiful light.
It waxes and wanes in its own special way,
Sometimes you can even see it by day.
Depending on where I stand to see
I peek between the branches of a tree.
Wondering how many feet
The moon would be from the sky to the street.
I wish that I could speak to you,
And ask you why you sometimes look blue,
Don’t you wish that you could play,
Instead of hanging there day after day?


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BY BRUCE BRANUM
The Greenville Standard
Laura Smith Solomans was named earlier this year to the 2019 class of SETI Institute’s NASA Airborne Astronomical Infrared Observatory S.O.F.I.A.
Founded in 1984, SETI is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit scientific research institute which is headquartered in Mountaview, Cali., and a key research contractor to NASA and the Nation Science Foundation.
The SETI Institute partnered with 14 school districts in eight states for the 2019 NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) program.
The AAA program is a professional development opportunity for high school science teachers designed to improve science teaching & learning and increase student STEM engagement.
The SETI Institute is anchored by three centers: the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe (research), the Center for Education and the Center for Outreach.
SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and German Aerospace Center to develop and maintain the world’s largest airborne astronomical observatory where a modified Boeing 747SP airliner carries four to 17 ton telescopes depending on the mission with the potential to unravel fundamental questions about the creation and evolution of the universe, including star and planet formation, and the nature of the Black Hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
Solomans was one of the 28 teachers selected from participating districts and teaches at Columbus High School in Columbus, GA.
She received experience and training in earth science, astrophysics, planetary, and heliophysics science at NASA’s Flight and Research Center in Las Vega, N.V., earlier this summer.
She participated in 10 hour overnight flight missions aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).
Solomans is from Greenville and is a graduate of Auburn University with a Master from Columbus State University.
She is the daughter of the late E.B. and Anne Smith. She is married to Ken Solomons and the mother of Platt and Katherine Anne Solomons.
She is the daughter in law of Kenneth and Catherine Solomons.


America's Astronaut Heroes speak out!
In the clearest sign yet that Obama's plan is to accelerate the decline of America's superpower status, Obama went to the Florida Spacecoast on Thursday to tell NASA employees that he is canceling much of the manned space program including plans to return to the moon. Instead, Obama will shoot for landing on an asteroid. We can only hope he plans to personally undertake the mission.
Obama's action means the U.S. will no longer have the capability to launch men into orbit after the last Space Shuttle launch on September 16, 2010. Instead we will have to depend on the Russians for access to the International Space Station.
The technological advantage that NASA had in the 20th Century and which fueled decades of American economic and technological development will be lost along with 7,000 key jobs in advanced space related fields.
NASA Heroes Speak Out
If you were alive in the 60's and early 70's you likely followed the dazzling heroics of our astronauts who landed on the moon. As a young boy, I went to the homecoming for Neil Armstrong in Wapokoneta, Ohio after he returned from the moon in the Apollo 11 mission where man first walked on the moon. Armstrong,who uttered the now famous line "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind," joined with other Apollo Commanders to condemn Obama's decision:
Open Letter from Apollo Astronauts"Destines our nation to become one of second or even third rate stature." Hasn't that been Obama's plan all along?
...the accompanying decision to cancel the Constellation program, its Ares 1 and Ares V rockets, and the Orion spacecraft, is devastating.
"America’s only path to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station will now be subject to an agreement with Russia to purchase space on their Soyuz (at a price of over 50 million dollars per seat with significant increases expected in the near future) until we have the capacity to provide transportation for ourselves. The availability of a commercial transport to orbit as envisioned in the President’s proposal cannot be predicted with any certainty, but is likely to take substantially longer and be more expensive than we would hope.
"It appears that we will have wasted our current ten plus billion dollar investment in Constellation and, equally importantly, we will have lost the many years required to recreate the equivalent of what we will have discarded.
For The United States, the leading space faring nation for nearly half a century, to be without carriage to low Earth orbit and with no human exploration capability to go beyond Earth orbit for an indeterminate time into the future, destines our nation to become one of second or even third rate stature. While the President's plan envisages humans traveling away from Earth and perhaps toward Mars at some time in the future, the lack of developed rockets and spacecraft will assure that ability will not be available for many years.
Without the skill and experience that actual spacecraft operation provides, the USA is far too likely to be on a long downhill slide to mediocrity. America must decide if it wishes to remain a leader in space. If it does, we should institute a program which will give us the very best chance of achieving that goal.
Commander, Apollo 11
Commander, Apollo 13
Commander, Apollo 17
How long before this flag is replaced by a Russian or Chinese flag?


Consider the vastness of the universe. Our galaxy is one of about a million galaxies in the range of our most powerful telescopes. If we could travel at the speed of light, 186,000 miles a second, it would take 100,000 years to go across our galaxy. In our galaxy it is estimated that there are 100 billion stars. Our sun is just one of them. Traveling in an orbit 155 miles a second, our sun would take 200 million years to complete a revolution around our galaxy.
whom then will you compare Me, or who is My equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who
created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all
by name; because He is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is
missing." (Isaiah 40:25-26 NRSV)
wonder the Psalmist writes, "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and
the firmament proclaims His handiwork."
(Psalm 19:1 NRSV)
the wonders of earth itself. It spins on its axis without slowing up -- giving
us day and night. It is tilted, so that we have the different seasons. It is
just the right distance from the sun, so that we do not freeze or burn up. The
earth contains all the natural resources necessary to sustain life. There are
countless scientific testimonials to the orderliness of the world that prove an
incredibly powerful Being created the universe.
New York Gospel Ministries
NOTE: In connection with today's quote, I
am offering one of my photographic images -- "Door County Sunset - Psalm
19" -- on a Limited


Reading time ( words)
To showcase its continuous innovation in PWB manufacturing, meant to prepare for and support future space program advancements, Pioneer Circuits, Inc. announces its attendance at the 34th Space Symposium at booth 1437.
“Our industry is projecting rapid and expansive growth in the upcoming year,” said Robert Lee, CEO of Pioneer Circuits, Inc. “Even now, we are experiencing a reinvigorated space race that includes sending astronauts to the moon and to Mars… What we build is absolutely significant and requires an unmatched level of quality and workmanship… This is why we need to put forth our very best into our products and services.”
The Space Symposium has brought together space leaders from around the world to discuss, address and dream about the future of space for over 30 years. This year’s Space Symposium will be held at the Broadmoor Hotel’s Ball Aerospace Center at 1 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. The event starts Monday, April 16th and ends Thursday, April 19th. For information on registering for the event, visit: https://www.spacesymposium.org/register/register-now.
With many emerging technologies within the Space Sector, it is important for all related industries to continue to develop its technology to keep up with the sector’s changing needs. The Space Symposium gives innovators of the Space Industry a place to meet with suppliers and other partners in order to broaden their knowledge of what is possible and bring this knowledge together for continued advancements for space.
About Pioneer Circuits, Inc.
Pioneer Circuits professionally delivers advanced, high-reliability flex and rigid-flex printed circuit boards and printed circuit board assemblies. Founded in 1981, we are a small-business with a big history of innovation. We work with customers such as NASA/JPL to co-engineer new technologies for the Deep Space, Satellite, Avionic, and Military sectors. Pioneer Circuits has a long history of manufacturing advanced PWB’s for space and continues its Research and Development with space to find new materials and capabilities for future space applications. For more information, click here.


Mars TV is an ad break on a future television network where companies compete to advertise products and jobs to the people of Earth and Colonies around the solar system.
This video was created through a partnership between Joe, Marlon, and Zane. We wanted to use the assignment as a way to explore various aesthetics and concepts, we thought the perfect way to do this was through an ad break on a future Martian television channel. The bulk of the video is about two Martian colonies competing to get people to move and live there. The assessment is meant to be framed around a utopic vision of the future, where technology is helping humanity progress and solve real world problems faced now. Ours is very much in favour of this vision, but has undertones of a dystopic capitalist vision of the future as well. This underlying thematic current runs through all the ads we have created.
Working on this project allowed us to further develop our skills within After Effects, Premiere, and various other editing software. We discovered new ways to apply the various effects at our disposable. We were heavily inspired by films like Total Recall, The Running Man, and Robocop. These films are all depictions of uber-capitalist futures (well they were depictions of the future, The Running Man is based in 2017) where corporations advertise through propaganda and deception. The process of creating these advertisements allowed us to think more critically about the future and the direction we may be heading in, colonisation of the solar system does present a wide array of solutions to problems we currently face on Earth, like overpopulation, poverty, world hunger, and the rampant greed of industry. Yet this possible utopic vision still carries with it Problems and ramifications we may not be consciously thinking of currently. As a group we believe that the next few decades will be pivotal in deciding the course humanity takes in the next few centuries.


Run 3 is the most recent running game that will take you on an incredible cosmic voyage with millions of galaxies, planets, and stars. The objective of this game is to guide the little gray alien down a tunnel while he runs, jumps, skates, and avoids holes and obstacles. Find the safest way by moving along the walls and see how long you can last.
@santathunderous is following people.
@santathunderous is not following any people, yet.
@santathunderous is not followed by any people, yet.


Celestial Falcon, with accompanying monkeys, representing the adoration
of Ra at his rising in the east.
the papyrus of Hunefer, Theban Book of the Dead. Early nineteenth
Encounter with Pythagoras
by Ann Hallatt
Closing my eyes, I lie down on the crusty, real, physical, Black
Rock Playa, once-moist lake now crumbling, dried by the summer sun.
I dream that I have joined Pythagoras in Egypt, where shores along
the Nile move from flood waters to the dryness of the sun drenched
soil just as the playa becomes solid for the season of the sun.
Sitting in a temple beneath a huge stone carving, he tells me:
The Natural Phenomena, especially the phenomena of the astronomical
world, may be expressed in mathematical formulas. Numbers are not
only the symbols of reality, they are the very substance of real
things. One is the point. Two is the line. Three is the surface,
and four, the solid. Ten is the perfect number, because it is the
sum of one, two, three and four—the point, the line, the surface,
and the solid.
Arrangement of the qualities of odd or even as opposites are found
everywhere in nature. The union of them constitutes the harmony
of the real world. There are ten heavenly bodies—the heaven
of the fixed stars, the five planets, the sun, the moon, the earth,
and the counter-earth (a body under the earth, moving parallel with
it, invisible to us). All these move in the Harmony of the Spheres.
The five planets, the sun, the moon, and the earth with its counter-earth,
moving from west to east at rates of speed proportionate to the
distance of each from the central fire, produce eight tones. These
four tones create an octave, thus forming a harmony known as Musica
Mundana or Music of the Spheres, the sound of which is so exquisite
and omnipresent that it governs all temporal cycles, such as seasons,
biological cycles, and all the rhythms of nature.
(More about the details of this musical system below, under the
description of music.)
stone carvings around us give human face to the power of the heavenly
bodies. The Sun dominates as the Solar Disk, ATEN, who enters the
sacred barque of a million years, and through the twelve daylight
hours visits the twelve provinces of his kingdoms. Aten changes
its name to RA at zenith and ATUM as it descends into darkness.
The night voyager AUF (corpse) sails the 12 hours of darkness through
the 12 provinces of the underworld in another boat, the mesektet
or night-barque. Stars form the crew of the solar barques during
the day, replaced at night by different stars. The invisible part
of the world is filled with mysterious terror and invisible perils,
including monstrous serpents and demons. HORUS, OSIRIS, and ISIS
are present, as are the four female deities with frog heads and
four male deities with snake heads who navigate. At dawn the gods
drag up the barque and KHEPRI rises up once more.
sculpture will be built of wood in a spiraling pattern until all
48 pieces are joined, creating a spiral pathway fixed in time and
space as a reference for contemplating the motion of the sun and
the other heavenly bodies. Each of the 48 tetrahedrons will be larger
then the previous one in all dimensions by two inches, starting
with the struts measuring 24: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38,
40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64,
66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84,86, 88, 90,
92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114,
116, 118, 120. The sculpture is anchored to the playa by 6 screws
2 feet in depth, preventing movement in high winds. The sculpture
will be lit from four directions, powered either with solar panels
or a small generator boxed away from the installation.
holding a sistrum.
of Seti I at Abydos.
"Ra, the sun-god, in the solar barque with the sun. Together
they traverse the heavens on their daily course."
of Ani from the Theban Book of the Dead.
Egyptian-inspired artwork depicting the travel of the Solar Disk
will be the location for a reenactment of the Journey of the Sun
through the Daylight sky into the Nighttime sky, later in the week
(likely Friday evening). Musical accompaniment based on Pythagoras
musical system will accompany the procession/performance. A papyrus
boat mounted on wheels carrying the solar and lunar disks will circle
the spiral sculpture, passing the circular opening, which represents
the great Celestial Falcon whose right eye is the sun and whose
left eye is the moon.
are many levels of interactivity in this project. The sculpture
itself changes as you walk toward and around it. The music of the
spheres will be played live and recorded at the site. The public
will be invited to participate in a procession/performance later
in the week. Fire performance will be featured. A small representation
of the Eye of the Falcon will be gifted to visitors as a souvenir.
on just how strong the sculpture turns out to be, we may be able
to roll it, so that the sculpture changes position from time to
time. The public wil necessarily be involved since it will take
many hands to accomplish this. In any case we plan to roll it to
its final destination: on top of one of the large burn blankets
(the Man or the Temple), where the Celestial Eye itself will be
sent heavenward in the form of smoke.
it Means to Me
invitation to gaze at and ponder the Vaults of Heaven, has led me
to reflect on the recent death of my father, on the last day of
the year 2003, just as I was preparing my annual card gift. This
became the sharing of the experience of accompanying my father into
the underworld. With a photo of him at his solar peak in life, I
included Hymn to Ra from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. The shape
of the sculpture is a celebration of the spiral of Time, Space,
Life, Death, Sound, Silence and The Harmonious Whole.


ARTICLE AD BOX
The global Space economy is $447 billion and India’s share is less than 2%. Officials say that private sector can drive growth.
Top officials of India’s space agency and those from the space sector have said that ISRO’s PSLV rocket will soon be made in an end-to-end manner by Indian industry and that other Indian rockets will also follow the same path. However, a stark revelation was on how India’s share of the $447bn space economy is only around 2percent. With India having brought in reforms in the space sector in 2020, the contribution and participation of the private sector are expected to increase.
Speaking at the Inaugural session of the ‘Building NewSpace in India’ International Space Conference and Exhibition, Dr D Radhakrishnan, CMD, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), pointed out how the Government-owned NSIL would take up space missions on a demand model, as opposed to the earlier supply model. He also added that the commercial viability of every mission would be established beforehand. In a major boost for the Indian private sector, he said that India’s workhorse rocket, the PSLV would be realized(fabricated) end-to-end by Indian industry and that other rockets also were to be fabricated fully by industry.
Mr R Umamaheshwaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO and In-charge (IN-Space Activities) said that despite the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year for the Indian space sector owing to the reforms. “Our Satcom(satellite communication) and remote-sensing policy are in their final stages, the draft policy for space transportation is also in the works” he added.
Hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry with the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) and their affiliates, the three-day virtual Conference will have 8 sessions with over 65 speakers from ISRO, industry and Global Space Agencies focused on specific themes – addressing opportunities for industries, Trends in Satcom, Business models, start-up growth drivers etc. The Conference also has a session dedicated to startups.
Expressing optimism on the scope for private industry in India’s space activities, Mr Rakesh Sasibhushan, Chairman, CII National Committee on Space; and CMD, Antrix Corporation pointed out that, despite the pandemic disruption, the global space sector grew by over 4% to reach $447bn in the year 2020. He added that despite India’s wide-ranging capabilities and activities in space, the country had only captured less than 2% of this huge market. However, he expressed hope regarding the coming times when the private sector could participate in toto in space activities and help the country reap the benefits.


Wednesday, February 26, 2014
On Monday the 24th of February 2014 class seven and some of the wonderful parents of class seven drove to the Carter Observatory. It was a beautifully sunny day. Inside class seven were escorted to a room where they were educated about the solar system in which we reside. Later they were allowed to walk around the gallery; there were many interesting things to see and do, including touching apiece of moon and meteorite and many other interactive activities. After that they saw an audio visual display about the wildest weather in our solar system and saw the stars, constellations and planets in the planetarium. They went home with a dazzled look on their faces and a twinkling in their eyes.
Posted by Julian at 5:52 PM


lets view some random science facts.
- Babies have around 100 more bones than adults. Babies have about 300 bones at birth, with cartilage between many of them.
- The Eiffel Tower can be 15 cm taller during the summer. Large structures are built with expansion joints which allow them some leeway to expand and contract without causing any damage.
- 20% of Earth’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon rainforest covers 5.5 million square kilometres (2.1 million square miles) of Earth.
- A teaspoonful of neutron star would weigh 6 billion tons. Neutron stars contain some of the densest matter in the known universe.
- Hawaii moves 7.5cm closer to Alaska every year.
- If you took out all the empty space in our atoms, the human race could fit in the volume of a sugar cube. Over 99.99999 per cent of atoms are empty space.
- Venus is the only planet in our solar system to spin clockwise.
- If you rub an onion on your foot – within 30 – 60 minutes you will be able to taste it – this is because it travels through the blood stream.
- You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath (if you hold it until you go unconscious, you begin to breath normally as soon as you do.
- On one square inch of human skin there are 20 million microscopic creatures.
- A snail can sleep for 3 – 4 years – during which period it does not need food.
- If you drilled a tunnel straight through the Earth and jumped in, it would take you exactly 42 minutes and 12 seconds to get to the other side
- A medium-sized cumulus cloud weighs about the same as 80 elephants.
- In an average lifetime, human skin completely replaces itself 900 times.
- The strongest creatures on Earth are gonorrhea bacteria. They can pull 100,000 times their own body weight.
- It can take a photon 40,000 years to travel from the core of the sun to its surface, but only 8 minutes to travel the rest of the way to Earth
- The known universe is made up of 50,000,000,000 galaxies. There are between 100,000,000,000 and 1,000,000,000,000 stars in a normal galaxy. In the Milky Way alone there might be as many 100 billion Earth-like planets. Still think we’re alone?
- There is a planet in milkyway galaxy named 55 cancri e which is atleast one third of diamond with a radius twice as earth. It is 40 light years far from here.
(NOTE: All these facts were collected form various sources not self proclaimed)


For anyone who has a camera and telephoto lens this is a great and cheap way to tap into the rather daunting/complicated world of astro photography.
This 'Baader AstroSolar Safety Film' claims to reduce the "intensity of sunlight by 99.999%", which is impressive because the shooting data for the shot above is still 'ISO 100, f8, 1/800th'.......so it just goes to show how insanely bright our sun is!
I bought an A4 sheet of this stuff online for approx £20.
I have no real advice on how to make a mount to attach it to your lens, but with some card, a craft knife and superglue I made the very basic mount you see in the shot below
This film is very flimsy and you can see from the shot of the setup above that my efforts haven't exactly resulted in a ripple free filter, but I genuinely don't think this is much of a problem (image quality wise)
To be honest I haven't really been using this stuff for very long and the results are maybe a little unimpressive?.
I think the main problem is probably because I haven't gotten close enough with my set-up, even with a 500mm + 1.4x teleconverter you can see from the full frame shot below that the size of the sun in the frame is hardly ideal for getting the highest image quality/detail and heavy cropping was used to get the 'frame filling' shot at the beginning of this article.
Here's a 100% crop, you can just see the granular structure of the sun and those 2 dark specks are small sunspots....but again it's not ideal.
Here's possibly an interesting result?, there were some faint clouds in front of the sun, so I deliberatley overexpsed the sun so that the clouds could be seen, this is the raw image so any colour is straight out of the camera and not added during post processing.
Im really happy I bought this 'baader astrosolar safety film' because it really does get some interesting (and otherwise impossible) results...but to be honest I have seen far better results from other people, so I guess a telescope would be a far better option than 'just' a telephoto lens.
Also from my shots above the sun isn't really showing much interesting activity.
I think that huge/numerous sunspots, or an eclipse, or solar flares would make for a far more interesting photograph, over time I hope to capture these.
Like I said above - if you have a camera plus telephoto lens and you want to get into astro photography, then this stuff is a great (and relatively very cheap) way to start!.


weißt du was? ich dich auch. sehr.
"Most things about me are hard to explain, I guess, like how I’m mostly delusional and live in a half-imaginary world but am also a realist to the core. I’m just a bunch of contradictions most of the time and I don’t like it, but I also do."
What it would look like if the Orion Nebula was a distance of 4 light years away.
"I said I would go to hell for you, but I didn’t expect you to leave me there."
The Harvest Moon is seen rising in the sky above the domes of the Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia on Sept. 8, 2014, marking the third and final “supermoon” of 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a “perigee moon,” occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
"People think of education as something they can finish."
Source For more facts follow Ultrafacts
EVERY TIME SOMEONE BRINGS UP THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA I GET SO ANGRY.
Because it got burned. All of that knowledge, lost forever.
The library was destroyed over 1000’s of years ago. The library consisted of thousands of scrolls and books about mathematics, engineering, physiology, geography, blueprints, medicine, plays, & important scriptures. Thinkers from all over the Mediterranean used to come to Alexandria to study.Most of the major work of civilization up until that point was lost. If the library still survived till this day, society may have been more advanced and we would sure know more about the ancient world.


Possibly the cutest skort of all time! This baby features the sweetest celestial pattern with the sun, moon, and stars all over. The front has an asymmetrical fit with a little gold button at the waist and the shorts in the back are the perfect length and fit. This is such a dreamy piece! Pair with a little white blouse and some gold or silver earrings to complete the look.
- Fits 25”-26”
- For reference, our model, Twee, is 5'8”, size small, and her measurements are 34" - 25" - 36"
- Era: 90’s vintage


Geophysicists from China, the U.S. and Japan showed that the core of the moon should be surrounded by a liquid layer. The authors came to this conclusion after receiving the result of a computer simulation. The study has been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
The liquid layer is a thin viscous medium between the asthenosphere – the lower mantle of the Earth’s satellite – and its core, which surrounds the nucleus unequally. With it is associated the attenuation of the seismic waves as it has been shown by the computer simulation results.
Аccording to the experts the reason for the appearing of this thin liquid layer is the friction in the bowels of the satellite due to its gravitational interaction with the Earth.
The usual scheme of the structure of the moon suggests that in the center of the moon is a nucleus which is surrounded by a thick layer of mantle closed on the top with a crust.
Scientists now need to check the validity of their theory. If they prove that it is true, the following question remains open: why the liquid layer did not harden for those 4.5 billion years, when supposedly the Earth-Moon system has been formed? It is possible that the physicists will need to change their point of view about the origin of the Earth’s moon.


Last Updated on August 15, 2019 by Michael
August 5th was the birthday of a person who will be remembered centuries after the memories of pop stars and sports figures have faded: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, who died in 2012.
While his achievements are honored around the world, the best place to remember him is at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in his hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio. It’s easy to spot: just look for the large white globe built to resemble the moon standing out amid the silos and red barns dotting the rolling Ohio farmland.
Other than permitting the use of his name and attending the grand opening in 1972, the reclusive Armstrong was not involved with the museum, but fortunately his parents were more inclined; they provided a trove of materials from Armstrong’s youth and early flying career that are on display.
A vintage yellow Aeronca Champion, the actual plane in which the 15-year-old Armstrong learned to fly, soars overhead. The quote next to his high school yearbook photo says much about the man, “He thinks, he acts, ’tis done.”
Even the sure-handed Larissa couldn’t dock the Gemini capsule.
Visitors can practice landing the lunar module or docking the Gemini spaceship as Armstrong did. We each tried it several times and all we can say is, it’s a good thing nobody was relying on us to make it safely back to Earth.
As only mothers can, Mrs. Armstrong’s scrapbooks of her son’s achievements show that even as he became world-famous she diligently cut and pasted stories about him. While newspapers all over the world blared in extra-large typeface “MAN WALKS ON MOON!” the Wapakoneta Daily News stated simply “Neil steps on the moon.” Local boy makes good indeed.
The museum also honors other Ohio astronauts including John Glenn, Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell and Challenger astronaut Judith Resnik.
While you’re in the area, historic downtown Wapakoneta is worth a visit, particularly to view the Western-themed 1904 Wapa Theatre and drive by Neil Armstrong’s boyhood home.
Visiting the Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Address: 500 Apollo Drive, Wapakoneta, Ohio
Website: For further information go to the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
Time to allow: About one to two hours.
Who should go? Lovers of space travel, astronauts and aviation history.
Is it worth it? If you’re really into the space program it’s hard to miss a museum that highlights artifacts related to the first man to walk on the moon.


This area features an overview of some of our engineers' experience. Additional links on this page provide additional detail on our extensive Mars experience and non space related experience.
Deployment of RCA Satcom K-2
communications satellite during Space
Shuttle mission STS 61-B
Rocketstar Robotics のエンジニア達は、20年前から人工衛星任務のラインナップのためのアクチュエーターとメカニズムのデザインについて役立っています。 Some highlights include release and deployment mechanisms for:
- Satcom K1-K4
- Radarsat 1
- Radarsat 2
- Telstar 4
- Advanced Communications Technology Satellite
Rocketstar Robotics' engineers were also instrumental in the design of antenna pointing mechanisms for:
- Orbview 3
- Orbview 4
- Sirius Satellite Radio
- Advanced EHF
Our engineer's solar array drive experience includes:
- Satcom K1-K4
- Direct Broadcast Satellite
The International Space Station
Our experience with manned missions includes actuators and mechanisms design for the International Space Station and nearly every payload actuator for the largest deployable structure ever flown in space on the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Our engineers are familiar with the special requirements imposed by manned missions.
Mars Exploration Rover featuring dozen's of
mechanisms designed be engineers currently
at Rocketstar Robotics (more)
Our engineers’ experience with designing actuators, gearboxes and deployment mechanisms for Mars Missions is unparalleled with over 50 mechanisms alone on the Mars Exploration Rover program including; actuators for azimuth, deployment, elevation, and camera pointing mechanisms for the Pancam mast assembly as well as transmissions for the wheels, steering, suspension, wheel deployment, solar array deployment, antenna pointing, airbag retraction and sampling systems. In addition to MER, they have also been responsible for the design of mission critical mechanisms for Mars Observer, Mars Pathfinder, and Mars Volatiles and Climate Surveyor. Click here for more about our engineers' Mars experience.
Genesis Solar Sampling Mission
Our experience does not just stop there. Rocketstar Robotics’ engineers have also contributed to deep space missions such as scan mirror components for Stardust and the main sampling system mechanism for Genesis.
Our engineers have also been entrusted with the design of many 'mission critical' non space related mechanisms and actuators as well. Click here to learn more.
Clearly our engineers’ have our customers’ trust when it comes to mission critical mechanisms.


A couple of days ago, the world’s most advanced weather satellite, the JSC-built Suomi-VX, boosted into orbit to begin a new era of meteorological exploration. Equipped with a laser-guided imager, the world’s first-ever water-vapor satellite, and a day-night sensor, the new SPCentral has the tools to measure every aspect of our planet from space.
With the retirement of the Space Shuttle this year and the emergence of the private sector, there was no long-cherished dream of taking a stroll on the Moon with a selection of artists and filmmakers looking to capitalize on the new found popularity of outer space.
While all eyes were on the Moon, there was another satellite in orbit taking pictures of our planet that deserve our attention—the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced Earth observation satellite, the SoLiDAR, built by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The SoLiDAR mission’s primary goal is to map the Earth’s surface in 3D using a technique called laser-induced demodulation (LIDAR). In layman’s terms, that’s like flying over a mountain range and being able to see the topography of the entire planet in detail from space. While this may sound impossible, it’s actually been done before. And you can put a LIDAR instrument on the Moon to do it, too.
The major difference with SoLiDAR is that it collects all that data and transmits it back to Earth—no stops at the moon. This is accomplished using the Laser Communications System (LCS) between the satellite and ground stations on Earth. This is actually a critical element of the system. Without it, the whole thing becomes useless. It would be like trying to watch a TV broadcast from the Moon—if you can’t see the antenna, then it’s no good.
The Laser Communications System (LCS)
The laser communications system (LCS) is really two things: the laser and the transceiver. The laser is extremely important because it allows for the transmission of high-quality data over large distances. The transceiver, which is carried onboard the satellite, is responsible for taking the data from the laser and transmitting it to other locations on Earth for further processing. This is where things get interesting. While the laser and transceiver are the only things that matter from a technical standpoint, it’s the data that gets transmitted using them that makes the difference. This data can be used to generate 3D models of cities and continents complete with accurate topographic features. The resolution of these models can be up to 100 meters, which is considered extremely high for this type of application.
The usefulness of such an unprecedented level of detail in mapping the Earth cannot be overstated. Imagine being able to see the exact topography of any location on the planet in 3D from space. This could open up a whole new world of possibilities in just about any field of study—from natural resources to geography, meteorology, or astronomy. It’s hard to overstate the importance of this technology—it holds the promise of revolutionizing how we look at our planet from space.
The SoLiDAR Instrument Package
SoLiDAR is equipped with two powerful instrument suites—the laser altimeter and the hyperspectral imager. The former measures the height of the Earth’s surface with great precision using a laser ranging and measuring instrument called the Altimeter. It’s actually a derivative of the technology developed for the U.S. Army’s YALO targeting system and the ESA’s Copernicus satellite, which was responsible for the first-ever 3D mapping of the Earth from space. The Altimeter has a resolution of 4.5 centimeters in the horizontal plane and 3.5 millimeters in the vertical.
The hyperspectral imager takes the form of a traditional satellite imager with a variety of scientific instruments including visible light and infrared cameras, along with a 3D LIDAR scanner. The resulting images are classified with confidence levels determined by the spectra of the light detected.
The combination of the Altimeter and hyperspectral imager form the backbone of the SoLiDAR mission. While the world’s first laser-induced 3D map of the Earth was generated by the combination of these two instruments, subsequent missions to map the surface will include more sophisticated instruments which harness the power of these two technologies. Having more advanced sensors onboard is crucial to making this type of information available to decision makers on the ground—whether that’s natural resources, environmental, or economic development organizations.
How Does It Compare to the Other Satellites?
While all eyes were on the Moon, the story of the other Earth satellites has been going on beneath our very noses. The United State’s most advanced Earth observation satellite, the SoLiDAR, was successfully launched into orbit last month.
A derivative of the YALO targeting system, the Altimeter uses a laser to detect the distance to the ground surface and a micro-seismic transducer to pinpoint locations of high geophysical activity, such as volcanoes and earthquakes. This technology was originally developed for the U.S. Army’s YALO system and first flown in space in 2011 on the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite.
Key Differences Between SoLiDAR and other Satellites
While all satellites suffer from some degree of inaccuracy due to the effect of rounding errors and uncertainties associated with the measurements, the SoLiDAR team was able to significantly reduce these errors by using a more accurate atomic clock, more precise software for image analysis, and better design.
What’s more, SoLiDAR’s design enables it to capture images of the entire Earth every two weeks—a task which would normally require multiple missions. This is made possible by a phenomenon known as drift—the gradual change in the position of a celestial body as it orbits another (due to a combination of factors including tidal forces and atmospheric drag).
What’s Next for SoLiDAR?
With the successful completion of the SoLiDAR mission, the next step for DARPA and its colleagues at JPL is to begin working on improvements to the instrument and laser for the next generation of Earth observation satellites. This is made easier by the fact that most of the technology developed for YALO and Copernicus has been made freely available as open source software—a testament to the value of publicly funded research and development.
With an accuracy of better than 1 cm in the horizontal plane and 0.01 meters in the vertical, the SoLiDAR laser altimeter can measure changes in vegetation density with great precision—making it ideal for monitoring changes in the world’s forests and identifying which tree species are responding to climate change. Identifying and verifying the causes of environmental fluctuations in these locations is crucial to understanding global ecological dynamics.
The hyperspectral imager can identify and quantify the chemical composition of material on the ground—such as vegetation and soil—using both visible and infrared light, providing valuable information about the state of our planet’s natural resources. This makes it ideal for monitoring and tracking changes in the world’s largest lakes, oceans, and rivers as well as identifying deforestation along coastlines and in the mountainsides.
DARPA, JPL, and its partners are working together to bring this groundbreaking technology to the public as the Revolutionizing Remote Sensing Technology (RRST) program—an open-source endeavor which will enable the next generation of Earth observation satellites.