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Author Topic: New Space Engine Could Turn Tiny CubeSats into Interplanetary Explorers  (Read 2385 times)

Offline 1Worldwatcher

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Well, it seems as the 'Down Sizing' of our current space bound vehicle's/Devices are going to get the final go a head for further space exploration. ??? What has taken these guy's so freaking long? they have had these technologies available to them for many years now, and anyone can figure that Mass/Weight & Size displacement is going to make critical thing's only discussed over board room tables as even possible, Just is beyond my comprehension of the 'Whys' that simple understanding's of physics has told us thus  far with in Space travel variables and possibilities.

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Researchers plan to launch a tiny spacecraft to Earth orbit and beyond within the next 18 months, in a key test of new propulsion technology that could help cut the cost of planetary exploration by a factor of 1,000.

The scientists and engineers are developing a new plasma propulsion system designed for ultrasmall CubeSats. If all goes well, they say, it may be possible to launch a life-detection mission to Jupiter's ocean-harboring moon Europa or other intriguing worlds for as little as $1 million in the not-too-distant future.

"We want to enable new missions that right now cost about $1 billion, or maybe $500 million — to go, for example, explore the moons of Jupiter and Saturn," said project leader Ben Longmier, a plasma physicist and assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

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The New Space travel ideas



Still glad they are coming around, and funny how they are going with propulsion systems of the plasma oriented, though they have had them fo rsometime , as I have said?

With Great Respect,
1Worldwatcher
"To know men is too have knowledge, to know self is to have insight."

Offline 1Worldwatcher

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It seems as if there may be the go a head of the use of these Cubesat's that are quite unique too desired fields of research, the tests of these devices has been as recent as June 15TH, 2013 and scheduled for use with in the up and coming year.

Quote
NASA's Kennedy Space Center
A series of tiny satellites equipped with an array of sensors will take a jarring ride above the California desert on a small rocket June 15 and tell designers whether they are on track to launch into orbit next year.
Built by several different organizations, including a university, a NASA field center and a high school, the spacecraft are 4-inch cubes designed to fly on their own eventually, but will remain firmly attached to the rocket during the upcoming mission. Each of the CubeSats, as they are called, is focused on a specific experiment related to spaceflight.
Success at this point could clear the way for more such spacecraft missions that scientists say could have a big impact on how satellites are designed in the future and what kind of stresses they actually face during the climb into space.
The flight also is being watched closely as a model for trying out new or off-the-shelf technologies quickly before putting them in the pipeline for use on NASA's largest launchers.

And cargo deployment is quite efficient as well:

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The new launcher weighs one-third as much as the standard rack that held three CubeSats. With the same size and capacity as the previous design known as a poly-picosat orbital deployer or P-POD, the lower-weight carrier and launcher will give satellite designers about two more pounds to work with.

poly-picosat orbital deployer or P-POD

CubeSat Launch Tests Satellite Innovations

Very interesting breakthroughs for the up and coming space race, but a bit to late for the acclimation of this method , IMOPO... Could have done this years ago. >:(

1WW
"To know men is too have knowledge, to know self is to have insight."

Offline robomont

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agreed.i read something about this months ago.colleges were in on it too.if they can get the cube going fast enough then space trash shouldnt be a problem.but entry into atmosphere of planet may.
ive never been much for rules.
being me has its priviledges.

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Offline 1Worldwatcher

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agreed.i read something about this months ago.colleges were in on it too.if they can get the cube going fast enough then space trash shouldnt be a problem.but entry into atmosphere of planet may.

Not just Space Debris robo, I was thinking along the lines of cost and effect scenario. The reason why the world is going bankrupt is do too poor money management, this most would agree, but when they are contesting that they are now going to use these 'NEW' methods as cost effective and easily maintained and orchestrated, well, that is blatant hog wash of not wanting too admit they had the technology in limbo with bureaucratic BS.

I am glad they have finally come around to using these simplified and cost effective methods, and even more intrigued too see them using such thing's as 'Plasma Drive Systems' that they have had their hands on for sometime now. Just took way, way too long IMPO... >:(

As for the Space debris issue, 'YES' it is going to be a problem eventually, and as far as I am concerned, they should be getting busy building a space debris recycler before the Ruskies get one, there are literally billions of $ just floating around our planet, and we should acquire these resources before they are gone forever by someone or some Gubment that had the insight to do so. ;)

Good points though robo, we must be the vanguard for such technologies, not the problems for which it will eventually be all to apparent when stuff really starts coming back. How does that old saying go "What goes up must come down." Well, I bet that they never considered this to be such a valid case scenario!! LOL

1WW

"To know men is too have knowledge, to know self is to have insight."

 


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