• Technology

    What Comes After Hubble?

    By Rebecca Boyle Posted on 5.7.2009 22 Comments

    As NASA prepares for the launch of the last Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission next week, astronomers are already anticipating the construction and 2013 launch of the beloved observatory's successor. In the coming weeks, engineers will wrap up testing the segments of the primary mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's newest space-bound observatory. Like astronomer Allan Sandage, it will pick up where Hubble left off -- by studying the redshifted galaxies speeding away from us, in an attempt to understand the nature of the accelerating universe and its origins.

    5.13.2009 at 09:53am - Comment by ldkinfo

    L.David Korkia Is Gold being used because of its metamaterial characterstics with respect to light ? The European Space Agency is getting ready to launch a space telescope that uses silicon carbide. Is the difference in meta-material use due to the size of the telecope lens since the ESA mirror will only be 2 meters wide ?

  • Technology

    Taking Out the Space Trash

    By Posted on 6.30.2008 9 Comments

    Along with satellites and space stations, Earth is surrounded by tens of millions of pieces of floating space debris. Like any landfill, the trash is diverse, ranging from dead satellites to castaway rocket parts to flecks of paint. On average, over the past 40 years, one piece of space junk has fallen to Earth every day.

    4.15.2009 at 09:37am - Comment by ldkinfo

    Some Soviet satellites used nuclear fuel to provide power for their satellites. One in particular returned to Earth spreading radioactive debris across Canada. A safer alternative might be to attach robot boosters to these and other satellites to boost them into deep space or the sun. Some old satellites might be able to be used to act like Shephard moons to catch debris as they travel around the planet. Debris colliding from behind might cause too much damage, but if a satellite were to "catch up" with the debris, velocities might be low enough to allow the debris to imbed itself without causing serious damage. Future specially designed "shephard satellites" could use large panels in place of solar arrays to capture debris. Starting in a high orbit, orbital decay could be used to reduce altitude while debris is being collected. Once fully loaded the satellite could then be sent into deep space. L.David Korkia

  • The Environment

    The Cost of Gases

    By Molika Ashford Posted on 9.30.2008 6 Comments

    Plans for cap-and-trade, carbon taxes, and other financial tools to curb global warming may float in and out of the national forum. But on a more local level, a price has already been placed on greenhouse gas emissions; it's $3.07 per ton.

    3.6.2009 at 01:42pm - Comment by ldkinfo

    L.David Korkia An experimental coal plant is getting ready to start up in Matton,Ill. Built by FutureGen it will provide 275 Megawatts to 150,000 homes. To remove carbon dioxide from the environment, it will be liquidfied, then pumped deep underground. Why can't a closed loop be used that will use some of the liquid carbon dioxide to power generators. By running parallel pipes down, liquid carbon dioxide could expand after being heated by the earth. Under pressure the gaseous carbon dioxide would return to the surface, and used to turn turbines, the same way wind power is used. After use, the gas could be mixed with new carbon dioxide gas prior to liquidification. The recycled gas would cool the new gas reducing the energy required to turn it into a liquid, then pumped back into the earth where the process would be repeated. As more gas is stored, more generators could be added. This principle could be even more efficient in areas where geological formations produce more heat.

  • The Environment

    A New Dawn for Solar Energy

    By Posted on 8.1.2008 28 Comments

    It doesn’t take a stellar imagination to figure out the main downside of solar power. For years, the question of how to store the energy generated when the sun is shining for use at night has prevented solar power from becoming a viable alternative energy source. However, a new breakthrough may have overcome that storage problem, opening the door for solar energy on a grand scale.

    1.7.2009 at 06:37pm - Comment by ldkinfo

    In an earlier post, i suggested the possibility of building a Hybrid solar wind turbine. This would incorporate solar cells into the blades of a wind turbine. This would allow its use in areas where either technology might not suffice alone. I would like to expand on this concept to include the pylon supporting the turbine. L.David Korkia

  • The Environment

    Powered by Sun, Wind and Sea

    By Corey Binns Posted on 12.23.2008 Comments

    These three projects will harness natural resources to powerful effect.

    Offshore Wind

    Hull, Massachusetts This resort town, population 11,000, plans to moor four 260-foot-tall turbines a mile and a half offshore, at a total cost of $40 million. Along with Hull's two existing onshore turbines, wind power could generate 14 megawatts, enough to supply energy to the entire community.

    1.7.2009 at 01:10pm - Comment by ldkinfo

    Recent developments allow for the manufacture of more flexible solar cells. My question is why can't these or other types of solar cells be built into the blades of wind turbines. This would allow their use in locations where wind or solar power alone might not be enough. L.David Korkia

  • Science

    Blacker Than Black Nanotubes are the New Black

    By Posted on 2.20.2008 1 Comments

    We told you about a new ultra-black material back in January and guess who was the first group to come knocking on the researchers' door?

    12.29.2008 at 08:17pm - Comment by ldkinfo

    Reading the article about the next stealth bomber raises some questions to. One concerns using a wolfpack formation for greater defense. I assume that the military has already done studies on reducing or eliminating the turbulence that results from the plane as its flying air being drawn into the engines and exhausted. First question is what happens when the turbulence from several stealth aircraft flying close together commingles? Will this set up turbulent airflow patterns that can be seen on Doppler Radar, even if you can't see the planes themselves. Next question is how did they determine what the Radar signature of a mosquito looks like? The mosquito analogy suggests that a Radar signature exists, but how many mosquitoes fly over 600 mph. It seems that if you have software that keeps track of a signature's velocity, this would give its true identity, even if it appears like a mosquito or a bird. Last question. There is mentioned the possibility that the new bomber will be unmanned, but this might cause a stir of Capitol hill if used to carry nukes. But aren't ICBMs unmanned ? What logic are they using to differentiate the two. Both can crash or blow up. But at least you can call the bomber back.



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