Ken Murphy / 2:45 am December 30th, 2008

Jefferis, David
“Exploring Our Solar System: The Moon - Earth’s Neighbor”
Crabtree Publishing
2008
ISBN: 0-778-73747-0
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 1:30 am December 24th, 2008

The NASA Academy is a phenomenal program created by Dr. Gerald Soffen in 1993 to emulate the ISU model and help train promising up-and-coming scientists for future leadership at NASA. Participants work in the labs side-by-side with NASA PIs on all kinds of wild projects. At Goddard these were usually DDF projects, meaning they were way out on the bleeding edge of research. I worked Program Support and ISU Liaison for the 2002 Goddard Academy, but essentially went through the program myself, except that my project was reviewing a decade’s worth of DDF projects for the Technology Transfer Office. I got to see write-ups of the early days of LIDAR, and expeditions to potential crater locations in South America. Our Academy visited HQ, Wallops, Langley, KSC, & JSC, even Congressional hearings, taking behind-the-scenes tours to find out about the myriad things that NASA does, and the complexity of trying to manage it.

If you are a promising scientist or engineer (about grad school level) make sure to apply for a truly unique summer experience! If you know of any budding young scientists or engineers, let them know about the Academy so they can have the opportunity to try to add it to their resume!

[Full Disclosure: I’m an honorary member of the NASA Academy Alumni Association (since I was technically staff, not RA)]

Ken Murphy / 5:46 pm December 21st, 2008

For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;

Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;
from ‘Locksley Hall’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson

These words kept winging through my head as I read “Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel” by Giovanni Vulpetti, Les Johnson and Gregory Matloff. Published in 2008 by Praxis Publishing, it weighs in at 243 pages with the glossary. A fair number of errors scattered throughout, the kinds of errors you find when someone is not writing in their native tongue. (you should see my written French - deplorable)

The book starts at the beginning of humanity’s efforts to fly farther and higher than ever before, with the story of Icarus and Daedelus, and their primitively engineered Bronze Age efforts at flight. We forward to the classical age, when scholars like Pythagoras began the historical data gathering of motions of the Moon and planets, which may have inspired Lucian of Samasota’s “True Histories”, his story of a trip to the Moon and his witness of a titanic battle in the heavens. The authors also note Hero of Alexandria, whose aeolipile is a direct ancestor of the modern rocket, Chinese advances carried to the Occident by Marco Polo, British Naval ‘rocket ships’ that rampaged around Europe and the U.S. Eastern seaboard in the early 1800s. Various fantastickal writers are noted before we reach the end of the 1800s and Tsiolkovsky’s advances in working out the rocket equation and the many people who worked around the world to help make rockets a reality in the first half of the 1900s.

Chapter two delves into the physics of rockets and rocket travel. Nothing too deep, about high school level. Various types of rocket motors that turn the math into reality are considered, from chemical solids and liquids to nuclear. The next chapter looks at the myriad problems and limitations of the different rocket motors and some nuclear options. Next considered are some non-rocket in-space maneuvering techniques, from planetary gravity-assists to Mag-Sails to Interstellar Ramjets.

The book then takes a step back to look at one of the older technologies of humanity, that of using sails with our watercraft. Looking at some physics and history, we then wander into whether the Solar wind could be used to similar purpose. We get an introduction to some of the amazing properties of light, and it’s noted that Tsiolkovsky wrote on the subject of using Solar light pressure to propel a thin sheet at high speeds.

Next up is Section II, Space Missions by Sail. Here we look at the principles of how space sailing works, and the systems that would make up a sailcraft, including the ever important payload. There’s a rather lopsided comparison of rockets and sails, with simplicity the ultimate reason that Solar sails should be considered for application and use in space. Some different mission scenarios are considered, and the section closes with some more speculative applications, such as laser and microwave sailing.

Section III focuses on the Construction of Sailcraft. The elements of design are considered, and the different types of materials that might be used, including real world examples that were developed in the 1990s and into the 2000s. Maneuvering and attitude control are considered. There are descriptions of a number of projects that were undertaken to prove out the concept, including ODISSEE, COSMOS-1, and Russian Solar mirrors, and some emergent technologies are considered. The section wraps up with a look at what might lie ahead in the next 25, 50 and 100 years.

Section IV jumps into the Technical Aspects, and this is where the book jumps to the college level as the formulae start coming fast and furious. A thorough look is taken at light and its sources in space, giving consideration to such things as the affect of reflected light from Earth on Solar sail ops in LEO. Chapter 16 looks at how to model the thrust from Electromagnetic Radiation Pressure, while 17 looks at the orbits that would be traced by Solar sails. Finally, the space environmental effects are considered in how they would affect the sail itself, and some mitigating strategies.

So, Solar Sails is definitely a comprehensive treatment of the topic. There were a number of intriguing ideas, and I was most struck by the idea of a pole sitter spacecraft that basically orbits above a planet’s pole. This would have huge implications for a Lunar communications infrastructure that is trying to keep the farside of the Moon quiet for science purposes.

While reading the chapter on trajectories, I couldn’t help but note the similarity of many of the trajectories to those of spacecraft that make use of weak-stability boundary trajectories as outlined by Belbruno, Koon, Lo, Ross, and others. I can’t help but wonder if there might be some way for the two to be linked to greater effect.

The only complaint I would really have with the work is the distracting nature of the editing errors which pop up here and there. I’m actually a bit surprised that Springer and Praxis would let so many sneak through the editing process, as they are well-known for their higher level space books. It’s going to cost them a bit in the rating.

I’m particularly fond of the idea of Solar sails as a longer-term transport solution in space. I think it’s most immediate application will be the delivery of scientific packages to various targets of interest around the Solar system. A day when merchant fleets are delivering the wealth of our Solar system to Earth on argosies of magic sails seems a ways off, but I hope I’m mistaken. The open and close of Pierre Boulle’s novel “Planet of the Apes” takes place aboard a Solar sail yacht, evoking images of wealthy Earthlings cruising through our Solar system on sails of light.

I’ll give Solar Sails an L-4 rating.

Ken Murphy / 4:22 pm December 21st, 2008

is brought to you this week by Next Big Future. This week’s Carnival of Space features over two dozen articles, including a number of Moon-related posts. My top pick would have to be the Kaguya update from Emily over at the Planetary Society.

Ken Murphy / 7:47 pm December 20th, 2008

Once again the NSS of North Texas Santa Space Toy Drive was a great success!

This was our fourth year working on this project, and it’s an idea that I hope will spread. The essence of it is that our NSS chapter collects space-themed toys, and donates them en masse to the local Santa’s Helpers toy drive. This year we collected 80 space toys to donate, with the help of the local Dallas Mars Society this time around.

There were books, there were games, there were craft items, there were puzzles, all kinds of space goodness, even a telescope. I think I’d most want to get the Astronaut Snoopy, so I did get one for the Lunar Library, but went ahead and took the aviator helmet off mine, as I want mine to be a Full Moon Snoopy.

I noted in the Lunar Library entry for the Space Camp Barbies that I would be donating two of the three to the toy drive based on recommendations in comments. There weren’t any comments, and one friend noted that if I kept any one other than Barbie in the Library, then I would have to change the name of the entry to Space Camp Nikki or Space Camp Teresa, which no one would ever Google. So I kept Barbie, and Nikki and Teresa went with their first day issue certificates to find new friends in the metroplex. Another chapter member donated a Space Camp Barbie, so we were able to offer up the full set. I created a special NSS-NT Limited Limited Edition set by adding a copy of the Barbie book “Shooting for the Stars” to each one, and inside each book was an Anousheh Ansari astronaut trading card autographed by Anousheh herself. Now that’s the stuff dreams are made of, and I think I can reasonably expect that at least one of the three recipients of the dolls will be impacted in a not insignificant way. I also gave another half dozen or so copies of the book to the toy drive.

The local Dallas Mars Society contributed in a big way, donating a number of Lego Mars Mission sets, as well as a copy of the Mars 2020 game. I’m glad they’re helping out with this, as it helps to magnify (I hope) the impact. I think it also goes to show that space-related organizations can play just fine with one another, despite what some may think or say in the blogosphere. Maybe next year I can talk the Dallas Area Rocket Society into donating some model rockets…

Since the NSS-NT web server is down, I’ve got to point folks to the Yahoo! Group that we set up, North Texas Space. It has a nice calendar function that we use to send out notices of upcoming space events in the metroplex, from telescope building classes in Fort Worth to rocket launches in Frisco. It also has a nice Links section, covering all kinds of space destinations north and east of Waco. Thing is, you have to be a registered member of the group to get to all of the good stuff, which discourages a lot of folks. Still, if you’re in the D/FW area and interested in space it’s worth signing up for.

So why wasn’t it an Epic Succeed? Because we still haven’t managed to get on TV with our boxes of space goodies. That is one of our goals with the Toy Drive, because it would be big exposure for the chapter, much bigger than random appearances at local museums and planetariums. I try to play it up in hopes of attracting the cameras, driving up to the drop-off point in my VW Beetle and dropping the top so that the volunteers can lift the boxes out of the passenger and back seats. I also do some primitive space-y art on the sides of the boxes noting that these toys are courtesy of the NSS of North Texas (and Dallas Mars Society) Santa Space Toy Drive. Stuff like Santa dropping down the chimney of a Martian greenhouse, or Santa flying to the Moon in his special space sleigh.

I would encourage all space-interested readers to please consider donating a space toy to a local community toy drive, and suggest that all space-themed organizations consider adopting a similar project to help encourage space interest in our communities. This would serve two ends:

1) When people are buying real-space toys, companies will make more real space toys. When more real space toys are available on the market, previously unmet consumer demand will be able to manifest itself in more space toy purchases. This encourages the creation of still more space-related toys, creating even more awareness of real-space (as opposed to fantasy space like Star Trek or Star Wars) activities, and imaginative creation of space adventures.

2) It would make more people aware of the activities of the various citizen space organizations, and show how they’re involved in their communities where NASA can’t be. Even when you game all of the membership numbers to the maximum extent possible, it’s still not terribly impressive vis-a-vis other large civic organizations. Showing that these organizations are concerned about the communities in which they are found is one way to grow those numbers.

Wishing everyone a season of peace, and prosperity in the New Year,

Ken

Ken Murphy / 1:08 am December 16th, 2008

Larsen, Tracy
“Inspiration·Innovation·Discovery: Peanuts® Celebrate’s NASA’s 50 Years”
Hallmark Keepsake
2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 12:49 am December 16th, 2008

goes inverted in the Antipodean Edition. Putting yet another unique twist on the Carnival, Astroblogger gives us the usual roundup of space articles, from the near Earth to the farthest reaches of the infinite void. Colony Worlds has a really good article this week, which may be why it’s the #1 Space blog at Blogged.com, and OotC is only #5.

One of the first lessons at ISU was that there is no ‘up’ or ‘down’ in space. Well, there can be, depending on the frame of reference, but antipodean tricks are all in the mind.

Enjoy!

Ken Murphy / 4:14 am December 12th, 2008

I sooooo want to do this! I even said so over a year ago when Popular Science did an article on this topic. If this is suborbital space tourism then sign me up!

(h/t to Hobbyspace)

Ken Murphy / 3:21 am December 12th, 2008

Proser, Chip
“Tranquility Dome - Pilot”
MoonColony.tv
12/12/2008

“Tranquility Dome” is an animated web series about a detective on the moon. A new, high frontier has opened up with migration via space elevator to new lunar colonies at the lunar poles and in the maria or seas. This frontier economy is rejuvenating earth by taking its excess population and developing new industries in Lunar Solar Power, Helium 3 fusion power, Lunar Oxygen Fueling stations, Lunar Tourism, and as a stepping stone to Space Colonies, Mars and beyond.”

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 1:26 pm December 8th, 2008

is rockin’ over at Space Disco. This week’s Carnival of Space features a new twist - a video round-up of the blogs. Be sure to crank up the volume and dance away!

Ken Murphy / 3:49 am December 8th, 2008

Attention all readers - I have just been informed that my web host will be doing an upgrade on my server box.

This will be Tuesday, December 9th at 11:00 pm MST, for, it is estimated, 1-2 hours.

I’m happy to report that the website will be unavailable at that time and it won’t actually be my fault.

Thank you for your patience

Ken

Ken Murphy / 7:05 pm December 7th, 2008

Astronomy Vol. 36 #12
Kalmbach Publishing Co.
12/2008
ISSN 0091-6358
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 6:59 pm December 7th, 2008

Via Satellite Magazine Vol. 13 #12
Access Intelligence, LLC
12/2008
ISSN: 1041-0643
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 6:55 pm December 7th, 2008

Zamm, Alex. Illus. by Jason Badower, Annette Kwok, & Randy Gentile
“Zero G” Book Three
SpaceDog Entertainment/Image Comics
12/2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Ken Murphy / 6:11 am December 6th, 2008

“Star Tiles”
Fat Dragon Games
2008
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: A nice addition for those doing science fiction role-playing. I may have to do a Moon-based RPG scenario for an upcoming Con. Now if only I could find some decent astronaut-y type miniatures instead of all the war-mecha stuff…

Ken Murphy / 5:15 am December 6th, 2008

National Space Society/Hadley Rille Books
“Return to Luna”: A Short Story Science Fiction Contest
2000-6000 words
Deadline: 06/15/08
Contest Details
Publisher’s Web Site

Librarian’s Note: Now available!
Best of the Moon 2008 - Moon Fiction

Ken Murphy / 5:14 am December 6th, 2008

Chick-fil-a Restaurants
Space Station toys
2008
Atlanta Journal-Constitution article
Wired blogs geekdad Review
CollectSpace Review

Librarian’s Note: I don’t know how I missed these, but I just picked up a full set today, well after the promotion period is over. Each of the four pieces contains a set of cards relevant to the piece: Space Shuttle, Living in Space, Constellation Program and Space Telescopes. Kudos to Chick-fil-a (a favorite of mine since the early 80s) for having this kind of space toys in their Kids Meals.

Ken Murphy / 4:34 am December 4th, 2008

Wingo, Dennis & Keith Cowing
Moon Views - Providing Imagery and Data For Lunar Exploration
MoonViews LLC
2008
Publisher’s Web Site
Space.com article: Old Moon Images Get Modern Makeover

Best of the Moon 2008 - Selenography

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 4:34 am December 2nd, 2008

Wherein your friendly Lunar Librarian looks at the best additions to the Lunar Library for 2008 and chooses the best of the best in each category.

This year the catch phrase is “value”. In a tight economy every ounce of value needs to be squeezed out of each dollar spent. One of the metrics we’ll be using this year is the MSRP compared with the number of pages (with some qualitative fudging for font size, line spacing, margins, &c.) or the number of minutes of video.

There were a lot of additions to the Lunar Library over the course of 2008 as it struggled with its sophomore slump[1], magnified by increased content responsibilities here at the parent OotC website. This was further impacted by your friendly Lunar Librarian taking the keys to the entire website[2] just in time for software upgrades and miscellaneous website issues to make things go kablooie. Still, I’ve soldiered through like I always do, and here we are at our third annual Best of the Moon. Like usual, we’re going to go through some of the miscellaneous categories before arriving at our Moon, so let’s get started.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 2:00 am December 2nd, 2008

Wave Pictures
“Fly Me to the Moon”
Summit Entertainment
12/2008
Universe Today Review
The Space Review Review
CinemaBlend.com Review

Librarian’s Note: I’m a bit ambivalent about this one. It’s probably just dandy for its intended audience of 3-5 year olds, but beyond that it lacks heft, as can be noted in the reviews. I was a bit put off by the fact that the characters’ teeth and tongues didn’t seem to be anchored to anything in the head, and in some shots the heads could be seen to be empty wireframes.