tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175516392024-03-27T02:19:05.687-07:00Fly me to the MoonA personal chronicle on learning Astronomy and spaceflight mechanics through the use of a (free) spaceflight simulator, a couple of astronomy books and the ubiquitous Internet.DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-38382063901450791442008-04-01T09:48:00.001-07:002008-04-01T09:48:14.402-07:00Demo day(s)!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbnj4s814Zkny2wia6__VSwcyajkqj_5IoWSM077Aa5hl1lC2T8OpLeoy_azXZrV4NyIO-uLsoiq9vL-kfbZCAn_pS4mgLknm1Ew0nrVMX-eo-sSttDOOBwvs8KHD1l8FWolU/s1600-h/ATV_Screen_11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbnj4s814Zkny2wia6__VSwcyajkqj_5IoWSM077Aa5hl1lC2T8OpLeoy_azXZrV4NyIO-uLsoiq9vL-kfbZCAn_pS4mgLknm1Ew0nrVMX-eo-sSttDOOBwvs8KHD1l8FWolU/s200/ATV_Screen_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184295693115532162" border="0" /></a>In case you have missed (too bad 'cause there was some magnificient shots in there!) the second day of demo of the<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Transfer_Vehicle">ATV</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_rendezvous">rendezvousing</a> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station">ISS</a>, you can head for <a href="http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/">Space-Multimedia</a> (once again a space geek life-saver!) where the <a href="http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3530&Itemid=1">complete coverage</a>, recorded of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html">NASA TV</a>, is available. If everything goes as planned, the ATV should dock to the station this coming Thursday ... another exciting space event to watch :-) Also, the <a href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/blog/1">ATV blog</a> folks have made available <a href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/post/1/274">a video</a> showing some of yesterday events, built from the telemetry received during the mission. It's worth a look, albeit a bit boring I must said ...<br /><br />On the <a href="http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html">Orbiter</a>'s addon front, I'm sort of back on the drawing block at this time. About a week ago, we decided to once again <span style="font-style: italic;">downgrade</span> our first addon, in order to reduce the scope of it and make our lives a <span style="font-weight: bold;">bit easier</span> and release <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">sooner</span>. This doesn't mean that we are moving aways from our high realism/details goals. Quit the contrary actually, since we are only reducing the <span style="font-style: italic;">addon scope</span>. I know this must sounds a bit cryptic, but things should start to get clearer as we get moving along.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-84869784489914126582008-03-24T10:45:00.001-07:002008-03-24T10:45:59.036-07:00Sea Launching<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydlqOfF2COvzQqORGLemyyebXeu995ZfwbMB1MJKZkxwMcX55yauRV3NSZdr4u7MLIdx3Vtw9WthlYgK84ST4I6YqHCAxURN_ZVNY02HKdPlYrgo8jrNE64sFGpLw80hyape2/s1600-h/SL2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydlqOfF2COvzQqORGLemyyebXeu995ZfwbMB1MJKZkxwMcX55yauRV3NSZdr4u7MLIdx3Vtw9WthlYgK84ST4I6YqHCAxURN_ZVNY02HKdPlYrgo8jrNE64sFGpLw80hyape2/s200/SL2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181343624654037874" border="0" /></a>Just in time for <a href="http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/current_launch.htm">last week launch</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirecTV-11">DirectTV-11</a> satellite, <span style="font-style: italic;">MajorTom</span> and his team <a href="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3277">have released their first version</a> of a long overdue <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Launch">Sea Launch</a> addon for Orbiter. I have been playing a bit with it and enjoying it. The launch platform could use more detailing (it's planned for next release), but the automatic guidance works well in both delivering the payload to a parking orbit then boosting it (thanks to its 3rd stage <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_DM-SL">Block DM-SL</a>) into a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosynchronous">Geosynchronous orbit</a>. Haven't been follow much before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenit_3SL">Zenit-3SL</a> launches, I had in mind that the 3rd stage was used to insert the payload into its definitive orbit, but in fact it is not the case since the payload is inserted into a elliptical orbit with an apogee at Geosynchronous altitude and a low perigee (<200km) . It is then up to the satellite to raise its perigee over the course of several burns.<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-52759419842564896982008-03-17T08:53:00.001-07:002008-03-17T08:52:38.695-07:00From STS to Jupiter 120<div style="text-align: justify;">Once again, the <a href="http://directlauncher.com/">DIRECT 2.0</a> folks have come-up with some great visual to help folks (like myself) better understand what this project means in term of evolution from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_shuttle">Space Shuttle</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Constellation">Constellation</a>. This time, it's not some <a href="http://djvader.blogspot.com/2008/02/direct-to-desktop-background-near-you.html">neafty wallpapers</a>, but a great video taking the current <span style="font-style: italic;">STS stack</span> and modifying it into a <span style="font-style: italic;">Jupiter 120's stack</span>. Check this out:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KuPtOKLCmzo&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KuPtOKLCmzo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Big kudos to <span style="font-style: italic;">extracripsy75</span> for putting the video on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>!</div></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-32274563259204040072008-03-12T09:25:00.001-07:002008-03-12T09:24:19.212-07:00The lure of 3D cockpit #2<div style="text-align: justify;">Few weeks ago, <a href="http://djvader.blogspot.com/2008/02/lure-of-3d-cockpit.html">I was talking</a> in a blog entry on the latest <a href="http://www.acsoft.ch/AMSO/amso.html">AMSO</a> release, of a <span style="font-style: italic;">hybrid concept</span> for the 3D cockpit (I prefer to call them <span style="font-style: italic;">console</span> than <span style="font-style: italic;">cockpit</span>, 'cause they are not necessary <span style="font-style: italic;">cockpit</span>). Since I have finally managed to get the concept advanced enough to have anything to show, here's a screenshot of an <span style="font-style: italic;">hybrid console</span> in action:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2328535767_f55f225aff_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2328535767_a19130628b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>What you are seeing, here is a test panel located in a part of a 3D console. The idea, if you recall, is to render 2D panels on 3D surfaces, and allow the player to interact with them (e.g clicking on a button) directly from the 3D view, while supporting the possibility to open a panel simulatenously in a 2D view (as shown above), where the rendering and interaction capabilities will be better. Needless to said, both the 3D and 2D version of the same panel are linked so that any actions in one is reflected in the other. Since the <span style="font-style: italic;">Windowed </span>version of the panel can be resized, it is then possible to have it only showing a small part of it (e.g the clock), allowing the player to keep an eye on important controls/displays while changing the view mode to external, to another vessel, or more simply looking somewhere else.<br /><br />I have put a lot of hope and efforts into this, I sure hope it's going to turn out as good as it sounded (to me at least) ...<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-23476237617092894662008-03-10T09:23:00.001-07:002008-03-10T09:24:51.469-07:00Was it worth it?<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4xtAaFYC43enzlxYMy23hNVpEy-H759sKEMhod2b6ev20Chu7V60cmN_8VY2icVanoR9AyK92hTbxdeSHnD4abH8g4W7YCby-JQ86Xf29Ysky_grQYWuS8n-4TR_8s0qoQzh/s1600-h/launch_screen_large,0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4xtAaFYC43enzlxYMy23hNVpEy-H759sKEMhod2b6ev20Chu7V60cmN_8VY2icVanoR9AyK92hTbxdeSHnD4abH8g4W7YCby-JQ86Xf29Ysky_grQYWuS8n-4TR_8s0qoQzh/s200/launch_screen_large,0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176137678171415938" border="0" /></a>Right after I closed <span style="font-style: italic;">Windows Media Player</span> Saturday night, following over two hours of streaming, my wife asked me if it watching that launch had been worth missing a party ... I hesitated a moment, then replied that <span style="font-style: italic;">yes</span> it have been worth it. Sure, those darn clounds had not allowed us to follow Ariane 5 in it's climb to orbit for more than a couple of second following launch (27s to be precise), but even with that, the coverage was interesting and overall it was exciting to watch it the launch of the first ATV. Also an Ariane 5 launch is a rather impressive event ... the SRB ignition is, I found, alway mighy impressive ... the shock wave from it is enough to knock the camera. Here's a YouTube video of the (most exciting part) of the launch, in case you missed it:</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/29SiksGeync"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/29SiksGeync" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One thing I do miss, it's on-board cameras. I think I ahve talked about this in a previous blog, but I can help to wish they had some. A view of the ATV floating away from Ariane upper stage will have been pretty darn sweet ...<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-80335128163231767652008-03-06T13:44:00.002-08:002008-03-06T15:27:33.093-08:00ATV fever<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoI27iT2xo7zpCVt2NVICi6EKKXUlL_ybnuzb25hvHZhfV0lSldf0k-2S6VaMv55dsGGxHJpPJMLDMyiQAWH7EnpLSVIcfExjk8rqckkr8DGHa9j6boCSdD4DWlfJIDJmUDTI/s1600-h/eadsatveps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoI27iT2xo7zpCVt2NVICi6EKKXUlL_ybnuzb25hvHZhfV0lSldf0k-2S6VaMv55dsGGxHJpPJMLDMyiQAWH7EnpLSVIcfExjk8rqckkr8DGHa9j6boCSdD4DWlfJIDJmUDTI/s200/eadsatveps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174742703192191618" border="0" /></a>With only a <a href="http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMELIK26DF_index_0.html">couple of days to go before the launch</a> of the first European <span style="font-style: italic;">Automated Transfer Vehicle</span> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_Transfer_Vehicle">ATV</a>) on top of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariane_5">Ariane 5</a> rocket, the excitement in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Space geek community</span> is starting to build-up, with the help of various interesting documents which were recently released, such as a <a href="http://www.astrium.eads.net/static/atv-information-en.pdf">Launch Kit</a> (PDF, 6Mb) from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EADS_Astrium_Space_Transportation">EADS</a>. As usual for an Ariane launch, <a href="http://www.arianespace.com/">Arianespace</a> will be broadcasting the launch, but this time NASA TV will also cover the launch, live! We were suppose to visit some friends Saturday evening, but since the launch was postponned by 24h and is now happening that particular night, I had no choice by to cancel (the invitation, not the launch). Since they know that I'm a big Space geek, I think they <span style="font-style: italic;">understand</span> ... However, my wife isn't too happy about staying home to watch another boring (night) launch on a tiny Window on my computer screen ...<br /><br />To mark the event, ESA have started a few days ago <a href="http://webservices.esa.int/blog/blog/1">a blog</a>, to follow live the first mission of the ATV.<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-3394862384590916202008-03-04T13:38:00.001-08:002008-03-04T13:38:32.065-08:00Conversations With Apollo<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeD4m3zbuhymZGQ6mwdHoWL1XsHpRMi4HMKve0jZPzmJtVnNwcBD0w53jlAihdJHYvicjF9U06bEzzjY0bijjS9VPfhwQFh1CVV_ofLl_A-fPYUgZrSh-768K2GFPmFgZpAsU/s1600-h/Apollo_Direct_Ascent.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeD4m3zbuhymZGQ6mwdHoWL1XsHpRMi4HMKve0jZPzmJtVnNwcBD0w53jlAihdJHYvicjF9U06bEzzjY0bijjS9VPfhwQFh1CVV_ofLl_A-fPYUgZrSh-768K2GFPmFgZpAsU/s200/Apollo_Direct_Ascent.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173931742284881522" border="0" /></a>I'd like to promote a bit something I stumbled (can't recall how now) on last week, a weekley <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting">podcast</a> dedicated to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program">Apollo program</a>, called <a href="http://www.apollotalks.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Conversations with Apollo</span></a>. Most of the episodes (8 in total to this date) features an interview with a person having participated to the project, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_controller#Flight_Director_.28FLIGHT.29">Flight Director</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Gerry Griffin</span>. None of the missions crew have participated yet, I sure hope they will do, eventually ...<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-76887255883693177042008-02-27T12:43:00.001-08:002008-02-27T12:49:28.852-08:00DIRECT to a desktop background near you ...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv4fdS7WmSoO9HCH2oxDHYysiaSq1aHxyf_by8V4cGDrjg7eITod2bJx3fXRdokAlUTjIh1zzNzd1ED-N23Fe2THmxrDVQWol5dBSmTuNUsS5KyGuu5wH-Grd5vbnNoSiWRmZ/s1600-h/Wallpaper_Jupiter-232_Wide_320x200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv4fdS7WmSoO9HCH2oxDHYysiaSq1aHxyf_by8V4cGDrjg7eITod2bJx3fXRdokAlUTjIh1zzNzd1ED-N23Fe2THmxrDVQWol5dBSmTuNUsS5KyGuu5wH-Grd5vbnNoSiWRmZ/s200/Wallpaper_Jupiter-232_Wide_320x200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171758560767089954" border="0" /></a>The good folks over at <a href="http://directlauncher.com/">DIRECT 2.0</a>, have made available for us space geeks (and DIRECT concept supporters) some of their artwork for our enjoyment as wallpapers. Be sure to check <a href="http://www.launchcomplexmodels.com/Direct/wallpapers">these out</a> and spread the word about this alternative to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares_I">Ares</a> if you're asked about that fancy new background now replacing that picture of a top model you were using ;-)<br /><br />Regarding the 3D cockpit thingy I was talking about <a href="http://djvader.blogspot.com/2008/02/lure-of-3d-cockpit.html">10 days or so ago</a>, things are looking good and I should be able to post a screenie of this in a few days hopefully. Since right now I'm experimenting with that in the context of some ground based console, the veil of secrecy shrouding our Orbiter's project won't be lifted ... yet :-P<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-44130269010933865742008-02-26T11:45:00.001-08:002008-02-26T11:47:46.040-08:00Armadillo Aeroscare<div style="text-align: justify;">Not to remove anything from the accomplishment of the legendary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Carmack">John Carmack</a>'s team over at <a href="http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home">Armadillo Aerospace</a>, but their planned suborbital vehicle (called <span style="font-style: italic;">"six pack") </span>looks like it will be the experience of a lifetime for the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">extrem thrill-seeker</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">daredevils</span> out there ... Sure, the view will be terrific from the apogee, but only if you are brave enough to open your eyes! Check this out:</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2008_02_24/6-pack_apogee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2008_02_24/6-pack_apogee.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Ain't that something (<a href="http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id=356">more pictures</a> on the latest update from Mr Carkmack)? 8-)<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-53490006788971913522008-02-25T08:50:00.001-08:002008-02-25T08:53:20.476-08:00In the Shadow of the Moon<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT9Nmze6eonkcqxGslQp9q1XrYcbsDyQn9YQatxT8JN_Qk7JNnyXaKZrxSHrER1vK4MZPyzUEdMNfztte0wFrmLH0yblbb3ihaOX_qj3xbhGe5x_j6u4A1FRuQfn1XZVEVTAm/s1600-h/In_the_shadow_of_the_moon_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT9Nmze6eonkcqxGslQp9q1XrYcbsDyQn9YQatxT8JN_Qk7JNnyXaKZrxSHrER1vK4MZPyzUEdMNfztte0wFrmLH0yblbb3ihaOX_qj3xbhGe5x_j6u4A1FRuQfn1XZVEVTAm/s200/In_the_shadow_of_the_moon_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170947653761735938" border="0" /></a>I finaly managed to watch last night, the recently released DVD of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Shadow_of_the_Moon"><span style="font-style: italic;">In the Shadow of the Moon</span></a>, a documentary on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program">Apollo program</a> which was released in (too few) theatre back in 2007. The film is based on remasterised footages of the missions (some I don't think I have ever seen) with comments from 10 of the 24 Apollo's astronauts, and I founded it quite enjoyable both for the spirit and for the eyes. I was somewhat a bit desapointed that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong">Neil Armstrong</a> declined to be part of it, since he's the <span style="font-style: italic;">iconic figure</span> of the program, but overall I don't think the documentary suffered from not having him on the project.<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>, here's the trailer:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uG4L7PL6Pvs&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uG4L7PL6Pvs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-68862078339224446022008-02-19T15:37:00.001-08:002008-02-19T15:37:07.243-08:00That Space Show<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtefE5VI5p4El8SRjn3PCIkcnYobgl7NkCme2Smexr2jDIqyIwtaO0awk0w7ylSel41U5Osj5HOUhUvlWEcclZRaulE8IjsSqAr13Zy9oJP-nitrZzaLpF_J_PnAXNojEDCEu/s1600-h/1400718903_768b774bb3_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtefE5VI5p4El8SRjn3PCIkcnYobgl7NkCme2Smexr2jDIqyIwtaO0awk0w7ylSel41U5Osj5HOUhUvlWEcclZRaulE8IjsSqAr13Zy9oJP-nitrZzaLpF_J_PnAXNojEDCEu/s200/1400718903_768b774bb3_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168827039429139682" border="0" /></a>I have done a quick search on this blog, and I couldn't beleive that I haven't managed yet to point at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares_I">Ares</a> alternative called <a href="http://directlauncher.com/">Direct 2.0</a>, which I approve off. The Direct 2.0's team have done a excellent job over the years to come-up with documents and even a web <a href="http://launchcomplexmodels.com/Direct/documents/Direct2_AIAA2007_presents.htm">presentation</a> (and an <a href="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2720">Orbiter's addon</a>!) to demonstrate and explain why Direct 2.0 is <span style="font-style: italic;">safer, simpler and sooner</span> than what NASA has been working on. For a quick introduction (and some great contents) check out <a href="http://www.thespaceshow.com/">The Space Show</a> of <a href="http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=893">February 17th</a> since it dedicated to it.<br /><br />Since I'm no <span style="font-style: italic;">rocket engineer</span>, I can't comment much on their proposal aside from saying that it does appears more sounds and in fact much more logical than Ares I&V. Make you wonder why NASA picked-up what it did ...<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-60418374221364789392008-02-18T13:23:00.000-08:002008-02-18T13:22:57.539-08:00The lure of 3D cockpit ...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZqkmsDQh9kcVNlDFnxPSryb4NUqVapqtuLflFt89P9-4luJyRMTSCKGjP0j9D3sb251Vy1UJqcf6HtPSac0vonKO_E9ljYqUNMJvbsuArIxEqBYV9Q-0Xf3P3kh2QrRLU05R/s1600-h/AMSO116-S10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZqkmsDQh9kcVNlDFnxPSryb4NUqVapqtuLflFt89P9-4luJyRMTSCKGjP0j9D3sb251Vy1UJqcf6HtPSac0vonKO_E9ljYqUNMJvbsuArIxEqBYV9Q-0Xf3P3kh2QrRLU05R/s200/AMSO116-S10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168391525450357970" border="0" /></a>Saturday morning, I had the great pleasure to notice on the <a href="http://orbit.m6.net/Forum/default.aspx?g=forum">Orbiter's forum</a> that <a href="http://www.acsoft.ch/AMSO/amso.html">AMSO 1.16</a> had been released by it's author. In case you don't know AMSO, it's the other Apollo simulator for Orbiter, which unlike <a href="http://nassp.sourceforge.net/">NASSP</a> doesn't focus (yet?) on the ultra-realistic simulation of the systems, but provides magnificient graphisms and a great gameplay. One of the pretty neat (and new?) feature of AMSO (among plenty), is a nice looking (but static) <span style="font-style: italic;">Virtual Cockpit</span>. While looking at the Erath from the various vintage points offered by the 5 portholes, it suddently stroke me that maybe we should be using a <span style="font-style: italic;">Virtual Cockpit</span> as well for our projects.<br /><br />Since the inception of our project, back in January 2006, I have always been rather reticent to doing such a <span style="font-style: italic;">virtual cockpit</span>. The main raison for my opposition was the limited <span style="font-style: italic;">resolution</span> of 3D panels and controls, in comparaison to a 2D equivalent. I haven't changed my mind on this, but seen what could be attained with a virtual cockpit, the idea came to me that maybe we could combine both 2D and 3D panels, in a sort of <span style="font-style: italic;">hybrid cockpit</span>, where mouse input on area located in the <span style="font-style: italic;">virtual cockpit</span>, opens floating panels (aka Window) representing the corresponding instruments/panel in a nice flat 2D rendering ... I'll post more on that once we have implemented that concept a bit further.<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-52754364861910338432008-02-11T15:37:00.000-08:002008-02-11T15:39:03.802-08:00Busy day in space ...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HfMYzN-HNKyCUxx65a_46WtcQycd2o9iGy01HQGEdCvuATvs_mPb-7K7G_vfYqbRZlKjT7D0h6ehUbeptRfEJZ1QY6ZafjNKaXHU9ZpeBliQ291AVeQNGl-QjRJu9drCJeXQ/s1600-h/v_thor02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HfMYzN-HNKyCUxx65a_46WtcQycd2o9iGy01HQGEdCvuATvs_mPb-7K7G_vfYqbRZlKjT7D0h6ehUbeptRfEJZ1QY6ZafjNKaXHU9ZpeBliQ291AVeQNGl-QjRJu9drCJeXQ/s200/v_thor02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165867403235269826" border="0" /></a>Yep, with <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_%28ISS_module%29">Columbus</a> been attached to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station">ISS</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_rocket">Proton</a> successful launch, today was a <span style="font-style: italic;">busy</span> day for the <span style="font-style: italic;">space geeks</span>! I had the chance to watch a good part of the EVA and to see, live, the latest module added to the station been moved from the Shuttle cargo bay and positioned on its place on the ISS, it was a nice experience.<br /><br />I was checking-up <a href="http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=102">KSC imagery gallery</a> today, and noticed a couple of picture of the Japanese module <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Experiment_Module">Kibo</a>, to be installed in March. The Japanese contribution to the ISS is going to be installed in three separate flights. I was a bit surprise earlier when seeing these pictures, by the small size of it, but it was only one of the segment of it (the ELM). That's gonna make for some more interesting missions to watch. Things won't be the same anymore once the station is fully assembled and that all there is to see, is crew rotation ... :-\<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-52549022302196677232008-02-06T12:41:00.000-08:002008-02-06T12:41:57.177-08:00Lots of fun<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeHsELGiW5jGUBk36eRKg49K-v7-OphIBWNnZOutjdkkF5B6dsOnFDSCwckci3KuLhddp-CbjnsEtW58YbxYvh3QMZtszv6w-oBp04hSxGgtd3dxefiSMOmZVSqv6qTdg-mOa/s1600-h/p19480ac.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeHsELGiW5jGUBk36eRKg49K-v7-OphIBWNnZOutjdkkF5B6dsOnFDSCwckci3KuLhddp-CbjnsEtW58YbxYvh3QMZtszv6w-oBp04hSxGgtd3dxefiSMOmZVSqv6qTdg-mOa/s200/p19480ac.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163906198335500050" border="0" /></a>Last Saturday night, after an afternoon of <span style="font-style: italic;">hard work</span> on our project, I decided to give a try to the <a href="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=1031">CVEL-Titans</a> Orbiter's addon, which offers a very decent sample of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_%28rocket_family%29">Titan rocket family</a>. Since I have lately grow a certain attraction for the late Titan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_III">III</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_IV">IV</a>, it sounded like a good way of <span style="font-style: italic;">spending</span> some well deserved relaxation time, sending <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_programme">Luna</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> looking</span> probe into LEO :-) There's something about Titan that is appealing, I'm not to sure if it is its modularity, or its <span style="font-style: italic;">cute</span> looks (especially on the late variant of it), but it's a neat vehicle. Since it was used mainly for military payload (except for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_program">Gemini program</a> and some NASA probes), there isn't much available documentation on it. At least not as much as for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V">Saturn launch vehicle</a>.<br /><br />Anyhow, I found the following video on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a>, which have some pretty neat sequences from various Titan launches:</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJokm3-rkRQ&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJokm3-rkRQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-82855112780401614852008-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:002008-01-23T10:00:37.177-08:00NASSP style?<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1KBpmlDYkhnlEuftzfS4V0G0fMyyNd9vMs3FYB_4f8Q6cQPGP4UHbrn5RMS8Ev1qXpbArAIW2HJukmX3MiU7VLlx2MSBnwZpBKQ4fmAETL5bgGVDDxe4aLiEVA1M-_uuqfca/s1600-h/A19780359000d.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1KBpmlDYkhnlEuftzfS4V0G0fMyyNd9vMs3FYB_4f8Q6cQPGP4UHbrn5RMS8Ev1qXpbArAIW2HJukmX3MiU7VLlx2MSBnwZpBKQ4fmAETL5bgGVDDxe4aLiEVA1M-_uuqfca/s200/A19780359000d.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158460486084066162" border="0" /></a>While pondering on what to write in this post, I came to realize that even though I use the expression "<span style="font-style: italic;">NASSP style"</span> quite often in this blog, I may have never really taken the time to explain in a bit more details what exactly I meant by this. I'm not to sure where that expression came from, I believe I may have <span style="font-style: italic;">coined</span> it during a conversation I have with my old partner-in-crime <span style="font-style: italic;">Castorp</span>, back in early 2006.<br /><br /><a href="http://nassp.sourceforge.net/wiki/Main_Page">NASSP</a> is an on-going project to bring a realistic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Apollo">Apollo</a> add-on to <a href="http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html">Orbiter</a>. By realistic, I mean an <span style="font-style: italic;">high-fidelity</span> add-on which not only simulate the various aspect of a mission but also simulate the many systems and sub-systems which compose a launch vehicle and a spacecraft (like the NASSP folks said : <span style="font-style: italic;">"accurate simulation of the internal systems"</span>). Procedures straight from the official Apollo documents can be used in NASSP, with <span style="font-style: italic;">gazillion</span> of switches, knobs and buttons to switch, turn, press. Needless to said, this is a daunting (yet exciting) task, both for the add-on developers and for the users.<br /><br />Been the first add-on (AFAIK) of such level of detailing, NASSP not only defines the genre but also set the bare very high for all of us (wannabe) add-on makers. Thus, when I said that our (still under wrap) add-on will be "<span style="font-style: italic;">NASSP style"</span>, I mean that we are aiming for a similar (likely higher in fact) level of details and realism (oh yeah, we know, it's a bold statement!).<br /><br />Just to give you an idea, here is a list of what we will be simulating on the launch vehicle:<br /><ul><li><span class="postbody"> Propulsion </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Auxiliary fluids system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Propellant system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Hydraulic system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Pneumatic system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Electrical power system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Environment Control system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Flight control system </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Instrumentation </span></li><li><span class="postbody">Interfaces </span></li></ul><span class="postbody">To be honest I should said that for a couple of the above categories, we won't go deeper than having a bunch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box">black boxes</a> inter-acting between each others, since their level of complexity is above what we can </span><span class="postbody">(or care to) </span><span class="postbody">achieve. However in most case, we are hoping to simulate the functioning with a fair (and painful) amount of details (e.g Propulsion system). Since we also have to keep things frame-rate friendly, we'll likely have to cut corners in some cases.</span><br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-86284851295303190752008-01-17T15:36:00.000-08:002008-01-17T15:36:53.023-08:00In the eye of the "storm" ...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5i4MwKHaxn5AOD2w0ocf-mm7hjExAdsydiGU-bifpX3w1bC1oO0_DBLZJxujN3z2OlIUmX_o6qkybjMP0WU0nELRPK103pOrt15IGVX5ToZHgmoINFyMvm6ZQAjir7QiRAY8/s1600-h/P-001-11562.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5i4MwKHaxn5AOD2w0ocf-mm7hjExAdsydiGU-bifpX3w1bC1oO0_DBLZJxujN3z2OlIUmX_o6qkybjMP0WU0nELRPK103pOrt15IGVX5ToZHgmoINFyMvm6ZQAjir7QiRAY8/s200/P-001-11562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156584538858453858" border="0" /></a>Ok, <span style="font-style: italic;">storm</span> is definitly a bit <span style="font-weight: bold;">too strong</span> of a term in the context at hand, but since we have moved on into the <span style="font-style: italic;">development phase</span> this past week-end (at last!), it does feel a bit like it. So far things are going well, <span style="font-style: italic;">Advisers</span> are advising, <span style="font-style: italic;">Researcher</span> is researching, <span style="font-style: italic;">3D artist</span> is meshing and the <span style="font-style: italic;">coder</span> (yours truly) is coding :-) Needless to said, we're a <span style="font-weight: bold;">long looooong loooooooooooog</span> way from the end of this journey, but these are very exciting times!<br /><br />Since we are still observing a self-imposed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_information">information black-out</a>, I can't share much yet, but I think it is safe to said that we are working on a project involving a <span style="font-style: italic;">launch vehicle</span> and a <span style="font-style: italic;">manned spacecraft</span> ... :-P<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-65356518246182364162008-01-11T10:35:00.000-08:002008-01-11T10:35:26.233-08:00The calm before the "storm"<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBu7js6wH9rFhWqmMnoJyohh6uF_NkbO6hFOp6M9II28j99zDnfXPpsCVU2VJt6b3dOe9gG4MpoVCiGBlUZWwVo2EOBXYLVELo0Q5bDZ34GbOIoZfrWawrf3kobVexO5cJxRw/s1600-h/logo_phpBB.gif.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBu7js6wH9rFhWqmMnoJyohh6uF_NkbO6hFOp6M9II28j99zDnfXPpsCVU2VJt6b3dOe9gG4MpoVCiGBlUZWwVo2EOBXYLVELo0Q5bDZ34GbOIoZfrWawrf3kobVexO5cJxRw/s200/logo_phpBB.gif.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154264869971557202" border="0" /></a>Well, actually it's not <span style="font-weight: bold;">that</span> clam really. As we are winding down (a part of) our design effort, there have been a constant <span style="font-style: italic;">feverish</span> activity over the past week, intended on closing the remaining open issues and verifying (as much as we can) the correctness of our intended simulation. I think that I have, in many occasions, <span style="font-style: italic;">vented </span>some (a lot?) about how difficult it is to find <span style="font-style: italic;">engineering </span>details on the Soviet space program. This have resulted in a lot of research work on our part and on a <span style="font-style: italic;">certain</span> amount of frustration. Was the experience worth the trouble? Yes, most definitly. Sure we still have to see if the end result (that <a href="http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html">Orbiter</a>'s addon) will be up-to our expectations, but I really believe that our (the team) understanding and knowledge on rocketry and space vehicle engineering have greatly improved. And, this is an accomplishment I must said (especially for me, a big one!).<br /><br />As dictated by my obsessive mind (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive-compulsive_disorder">OCD</a>?), I have been, as before, fully <span style="font-style: italic;">consumed</span> by this project over the past couple of months. So much so, that in numerous occasions, rocketry had find its way in my dreams ... Last night for example, although it's kind of fuzzy now, I was inspecting a rocket engine (a Russian one I believe), moving around feverishly, following the path of some pneumatic hose or something ... Yep, I'm <span style="font-weight: bold;">that</span> crazy.<br /><br />As we are gearing-up to the start of the implementation phase, my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety">anxiety</a> has been building-up, slowly but surely. Dozen of questions have been circulating in my mind: <span style="font-style: italic;">Have we properly understand the schematics? Did we miss anything? Can we do this? Can I deliver what I said we could do? How bad will the frame rate be? Will our design hold?</span> I do know that this is after all a <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">for fun</span> venture and that if we fail to deliver, only our collective egos will be crushed, but still I can't help the apprehension taking me over ...<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-82203189844866118062008-01-07T11:01:00.000-08:002008-01-10T07:47:08.851-08:00The more the Merrier<div style="text-align: justify;">This past friday, our team grew to the <span style="font-style: italic;">unprecedented </span>heads count of <span style="font-weight: bold;">5</span>, when <span style="font-style: italic;">Nels</span> (a.k.a <span style="font-style: italic;">DrLaufbahn</span>) joined us in the quality of <span style="font-style: italic;">Science Adviser</span> (our second). Since we are very close (days!) to actually starting the development of the addon, as I was mentioning in my previous post, this is pretty good timing and Nels was put to work right away ;-)<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-66398971395239256572008-01-03T14:33:00.000-08:002008-01-03T14:34:48.731-08:00С новым годом!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t3gNIuRxYSZx3LQku5kRiBN9GlbGm1JvEZtLtjSJH5D4gXmfp63gxm8I33RmXJc_zpkpPpMhSZTEoD3tq3z94zF2QCuemMCG2jDVsIAIZ5KP5FzhMVkx7MAqrJgpvrZyEYYk/s1600-h/N1-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t3gNIuRxYSZx3LQku5kRiBN9GlbGm1JvEZtLtjSJH5D4gXmfp63gxm8I33RmXJc_zpkpPpMhSZTEoD3tq3z94zF2QCuemMCG2jDVsIAIZ5KP5FzhMVkx7MAqrJgpvrZyEYYk/s200/N1-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151378415725443906" border="0" /></a>While lurking around the old topics and posts of a Russian web site, I came across a link to an <a href="http://www.starbase1.co.uk/n1/">interesting web site</a> recently started (summer 2007) by <a href="http://www.starbase1.co.uk/index.html">Nick Stevens</a> on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N1_rocket">N-1 booster</a>. Nick have obviously spent a lot of time making 3D models of the rocket, and it looks amazingly good! Since the whole N-1/L-3 concept is what got me started into creating addons for <a href="http://www.orbitersim.com/">Orbiter</a>, this is a subject that is close to my heart, so I was pretty happy to see that I'm not the only geek with a major crush on the N-1 :-)<br /><br />Well, 2008 is here now and thus I wishes you all the best. This year is going to be a very challenging one for our project since we will be starting the actual implementation of the addon in a couple of weeks from now (after a year of R&D and facts finding). An exciting and scary time I must said. Hopefully, once things are rolling, I will be able to share a bit more details on what we have been working on :-)<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-23238437073626708872007-12-24T17:09:00.000-08:002007-12-24T22:47:13.847-08:00Merry Newtonmas!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtf3wflz-Le_apVvweStUNuMyZjOqA_9DzxfmnnEas62V6tvUCPlurs3oW2gc3mxk6boeOp89WyAX5kNqW7Ps47blMVHjH6RmeNL8evf3sblXrgylK56aZr68NgR9j9ZJ4XnW/s1600-h/GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtf3wflz-Le_apVvweStUNuMyZjOqA_9DzxfmnnEas62V6tvUCPlurs3oW2gc3mxk6boeOp89WyAX5kNqW7Ps47blMVHjH6RmeNL8evf3sblXrgylK56aZr68NgR9j9ZJ4XnW/s200/GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147706815687818034" border="0" /></a> Well, it is that time of the year again? Oh yeah it is, so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton"><span style="font-style: italic;">Merry Newtonmas</span></a> folks! May your Apple tree be loaded with some good loots (e.g Space books, Rocket model kits, Space movies ...) :-)<br /><br />While looking for some data on the Oxidizer and Fuel tank of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-IC">S-IC</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V">Saturn V</a> 1st stage) I stumbled onto a rather interesting web site (mind you, it's a <span style="font-style: italic;">Work-In-Progress</span>) by <a href="http://www.ehartwell.com/InfoDabble/Main_Page">Eric Hartwell</a>, the <a href="http://www.ehartwell.com/afj/Main_Page">NOT the official Apollo 17 Flight Journal (yet)</a> which follow the same concept than the well know <a href="http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap15fj/index.htm">Apollo Flight Journal</a>. The last update to that site seems to have been made last April, let's hope Eric will continue his <span style="font-weight: bold;">terrific work</span>.<br /><br />While I'm on the Apollo subject, I also found during my search two interesting videos (YouTubed) on the assembly of the Saturn V rocket. You will find both linked bellow (Part 1 then Part 2):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m06GxCzytyM&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m06GxCzytyM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D8Uf9diyeJc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D8Uf9diyeJc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-32391303681493164672007-12-21T15:45:00.000-08:002007-12-21T15:46:31.574-08:00Pneumaticaly yours ...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5H9JS_NGD_l1bFY6JOoMxb401ZlzFtgqCZ6r0grcYOuVToJ7uYvvDlLzXvQuTNrA34vUJCVqVd9YZFRh8evYOF_FYlhIr_cMNksySudENQI5Zly41dV34KH_BLnx5vlONv82/s1600-h/get-attachment.asp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5H9JS_NGD_l1bFY6JOoMxb401ZlzFtgqCZ6r0grcYOuVToJ7uYvvDlLzXvQuTNrA34vUJCVqVd9YZFRh8evYOF_FYlhIr_cMNksySudENQI5Zly41dV34KH_BLnx5vlONv82/s200/get-attachment.asp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146569126095747874" border="0" /></a>A bit more than <a href="http://djvader.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_archive.html">two years ago</a>, I started this wild pursuit of <span style="font-style: italic;">space knowledge</span> using this very blog as the <span style="font-style: italic;">living journal</span> of my studies. Well ... that's what was suppose to happen. Obviously it didn't work out that way since I was abducted by the <span style="font-style: italic;">Dark Side of the Force</span>, and instead spend my time mainly writing code. Now, the true is that even though I haven't really shared all that I learned here, I have assimilated a certain amount of knowledge related to spacecraft and launch vehicle. Sure, I'm still mostly clueless about spaceflight, but it is still on my radar scope ... once I master the system engineering component of our Orbiter's addon work.<br /><br />Fact is that I'm still rather clueless about a lot of the sub-systems we are hoping to simulate. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic">pneumatic</a> system is a good example of the struggle that our effort is, for <span style="font-style: italic;">science challenged</span> people like myself. So after a bit of headache and lots of discussion on the best way to approach it, we have decided to <span style="font-style: italic;">black box</span> it and in a way that make the usage of pneumatic similar to an electrical power source. Sure it's an over-simplification, but the basic function of the pneumatic system will still simulated and that's what really matter after all.<br /><br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-27827295628301754672007-12-18T13:00:00.000-08:002007-12-18T14:59:38.060-08:00"Man in Space"<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90qMKQwXJP6-iojZ29CRMZRpvpZmsJg6x2USLsaiMpNKOmyeIATlEdtLyWI7FagKR0w3FAXM1c0yc_8s0z2ns4TM4xmR9ZFGEep4wW_idNitN8x0UKVrdLQwFVGjAI9n9SuX3/s1600-h/473px-Wernher_von_Braun(2).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90qMKQwXJP6-iojZ29CRMZRpvpZmsJg6x2USLsaiMpNKOmyeIATlEdtLyWI7FagKR0w3FAXM1c0yc_8s0z2ns4TM4xmR9ZFGEep4wW_idNitN8x0UKVrdLQwFVGjAI9n9SuX3/s200/473px-Wernher_von_Braun(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145405877153299218" border="0" /></a>It have been demonstrated before that not all of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> is filled with mindless (and often stupid) videos. Thanks to the dedication of many, a great deal of interesting (and often never seen before) videos are now available for anyone to see. Take for example the famed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney">Disney</a>'s <span style="font-style: italic;">Man in Space</span> series from the mid 1950 which can now be watched (and not only by kids) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vX6O8paGo">online</a> (in 8 parts) by many of us, space enthusiast which were born (way) too late to watch it LIVE on TV (and in the wrong country for me). It's one heck of a good show, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">definitive must see</span>. In the same category, there is the <span style="font-style: italic;">Man and the Moon</span> serie, also <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_drW76wUuD4&feature=related"><span style="font-style: italic;">YouTubed</span></a> by the very same person.<br /><br />Now, one show I'd like to see is that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Woodpecker">Woody Woodpecker</a>'s NASA cartoon from the early 1960. I'll have to search for it.<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-72363082201609901922007-12-11T10:49:00.000-08:002007-12-11T10:48:10.635-08:00Sexy launch!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dQaatIopgZRB7w7Z9rwNGVWM-Kbt5zYZM1GNA-voEzi-eiRwI_rb3_vZ331deUodxtktqNVpfK8DmNNlZf91kD-nZhpqn8-BAt320spXlj65tbHAQQMJv8jESi_xxve_GGDr/s1600-h/Atlas_V_12_10_07_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dQaatIopgZRB7w7Z9rwNGVWM-Kbt5zYZM1GNA-voEzi-eiRwI_rb3_vZ331deUodxtktqNVpfK8DmNNlZf91kD-nZhpqn8-BAt320spXlj65tbHAQQMJv8jESi_xxve_GGDr/s200/Atlas_V_12_10_07_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142785330041902818" border="0" /></a>I have to said that until yesterday, I never paid much attention to the <a href="http://www.ulalaunch.com/index.html">United Launch Alliance</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_V">Atlas V</a> launches. Which is a bit of a shame since that launch vehicle first stage is powered by a Russian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-180">RD-180</a> engine and also since the launches are really beautiful, especially yesterday launch (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Reconnaissance_Office">NRO L-24</a>). They had some very clear close-up views of the rocket during ascent which were brilliant. No on board camera (so it seems) this time sadly. The video is available for download on the <a href="http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/">NasaSpaceflight.com</a>'s forum (free, but you will have to register to get access to it). I haven't found it anywhere else, but just as a preview, here's a video of the highlights of a previous launch (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Bird">Hotbird-6</a>) from YouTube:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1WNTqRhv0qs&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1WNTqRhv0qs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div><br />Quite neat isn't it? Make sure you do watch yesterday launch! :-)<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-22839425091533028822007-12-04T15:46:00.000-08:002007-12-04T15:46:08.840-08:00Evil is in the details ...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXf42YsCE6YYEDJRAg-6ied7Cblu1E58GZ-u5v50A9iu7Ksz8sshRtgWkTt3OeH0czhK2ajZtA1eJDfAzCNhnRbgE8hSDBeVd_4GK9Ubw_d4gQpOCJo2Zvta3sO059-QW7EOo/s1600-h/rd107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXf42YsCE6YYEDJRAg-6ied7Cblu1E58GZ-u5v50A9iu7Ksz8sshRtgWkTt3OeH0czhK2ajZtA1eJDfAzCNhnRbgE8hSDBeVd_4GK9Ubw_d4gQpOCJo2Zvta3sO059-QW7EOo/s200/rd107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140245857613698770" border="0" /></a>Couple of weeks ago, we decided to shift our focus from the spacecraft we were working on, to the launch vehicle. The main drive for that change was to allow for the development of the ascent guidance and control algorithm to go in parallel of the development of the spacecraft. While a launch vehicle is a very complex object, it is only overall a bit simpler than a manned spacecraft. Thus, we hoping to save time by avoiding the development of the most complex part of the launch vehicle from blocking the rest of the development. Sounds like a good plan ... I wishes I had though about it 9_9<br /><br />Back in January of this year I had started a <span style="font-style: italic;">design document</span> for our launch vehicle addon but didn't go much further than just setting up the very basic contents and layout of it. Since we have shifted to making the launcher before the payload, I resumed this week-end working on it and thus I have dived deep in finding out how a launch vehicle is designed and built. Marvelous yet highly complex contraptions. As common for this <span style="font-style: italic;">type </span>(read country of origin) of addon, we are having an hard time coming up with solid and real data/info, thus I have been spending a lot of time looking at other rocket of the same time period (e.g <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_%28rocket_family%29">Saturn</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_%28rocket%29">Atlas</a> ...). I'll really like to get my hand on some detailed description of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_%28rocket_family%29">Gemini-Titan</a> vehicle, but for some unknown reason (maybe this have to do with the fact that Titan was originally an ICBM?) I'm having an hard time finding anything ... In any case, I have been learning a lot about rocket engine, hydraulic systems and other piece of <span style="font-style: italic;">exotic </span>machineries.<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551639.post-87538317670925518022007-11-27T13:34:00.000-08:002007-11-27T13:34:46.073-08:00Archives gones wild! #6<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIm_kxnpd7wVrIoD4fmuwWi8N74f8IIOuUS3n_ev0dtcTHFtoEUEkwtvnpMsAPGjF0Lz7pd2bGTU-SrfYNsY4nYknpTZUC2V_2GOAeRdweakX0_OkgitinIU2DSacU4JfYsNF/s1600-h/AS07-03-1526_t.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIm_kxnpd7wVrIoD4fmuwWi8N74f8IIOuUS3n_ev0dtcTHFtoEUEkwtvnpMsAPGjF0Lz7pd2bGTU-SrfYNsY4nYknpTZUC2V_2GOAeRdweakX0_OkgitinIU2DSacU4JfYsNF/s200/AS07-03-1526_t.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137585861888415042" border="0" /></a>The <span style="font-style: italic;">good folks</span> over at the <a href="http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_archive.html">Project Apollo Archive</a>, have once again updated their <a href="http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_gallery.html">images gallery</a> by adding some new scans of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_7">Apollo 7</a> film magazines. There's some pretty neat shots of the Saturn's upper stage in orbit, worth checking them out :-) <a href="http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/index.html">Another gallery</a> to check-out once in a while is the one for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISS">ISS</a>, where they have uploaded a rather nice picture taken during the lastest EVA and which shows the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony_module">Harmony module</a> in it's definitive location:<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-16/hires/iss016e012617.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNObcw3RQ1GHttKsoheMTayAGwwDapNtS7cnT8tCFy_R0DcUS4S66_YRINsB5OBuVCjRO9Up_HFVFp18x3nhLQqHbYRqQxFIcxHs_SD8T-lvqX-6B3OJQQZXgNjSYTLBeUnPc/s320/iss016e012617.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137635623379506514" border="0" /></a>On the <span style="font-style: italic;">Orbiter's addon</span> front, I finaly completed Sunday my rework of our <span style="font-style: italic;">attachment handling</span> and resumed working on the <span style="font-style: italic;">flow framework</span>, which I'm hoping to wrap-up <span style="font-style: italic;">soon</span> ...<br /></div>DarthVaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091994918437634460noreply@blogger.com0