February 2016
Nuclear Flashlamps in Space
... puny compared to a star Both the Sun and the nuclear explosion emit radiation over a broad wavelength band, as well as particle radiation. Unlike the Sun, it is conceivable to engineer the radiation output from a nuclear explosion to make...
March 2016
Why We Need Space Artists
On the BBC six o’clock news of 15 July 2015, as a result of the first New Horizons images, several paintings of Pluto were shown (some by myself) with the statement, ‘There is no longer any need for artists’ impressions.’ This comment was of course ...
August 2016
Are the days of innovation in global space over - or just beginning?
... astronaut Chris Hadfield strums his guitar in the ISS Cupola in 2012. Hadfield, a long-time member of an astronaut band called Max Q, re-popularised David Bowie’s space musings for another new generation whilst in orbit. Canadian astronaut...
September 2016
Small launcher market survey
... boosters with lift performance between 1000 and 2500 kg versus the existing seven small launchers in that band. These trends seem to indicate that interest is for dedicated launch for the direct injection of single or very...
November 2016
Rosetta - an eventful cruise phase
... the eclipse would start, out of sight. The relief was equally huge when, at 03:28 as planned, we saw Rosetta’s S-band radio carrier reappearing on the other side of the planet. The eclipse finished at 03:40 and 10 minutes later the...
April 2017
Urgent action needed to keep satellites safe in orbit
... by students or the public [24]. Definition of the GEO protected region as per IADC guideline 3.3.2 [2]. This defines a toroid-like band that encircles Earth. Active Debris Removal (ADR) will need to be accomplished at some point because even under...
