most recent 30 from http://payload42.com 2010-03-12T07:05:13Z http://payload42.com/feeds http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://payload42.com/questions/3/best-aerospace-engineering-and-astronautics-textbooks ParryTheWind 2009-10-19T02:37:48Z 2010-03-12T01:01:45Z

<p>What textbooks are being used these days by aero/astro graduate programs or by practicing aerospace engineers? I'm particularly interested in propulsion and spacecraft design. I'm looking for core texts, the so-called "bibles".</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/73/would-there-be-g-forces-on-a-person-if-the-person-was-floating-in-water David Andersen 2010-02-28T21:51:49Z 2010-03-12T00:50:47Z

<p>With relation to my previos question (see <a href="http://payload42.com/questions/61/speed-needed-to-reach-iss" rel="nofollow">http://payload42.com/questions/61/speed-needed-to-reach-iss</a>) where I suggest using "artillery" to shoot a person into space, I was wondering if it was possible to "neutralize" g-forces by filling the shell with water and placing a person in the water? I cannot get my mind around this problem. I know that having air in the lungs or in other small places would be a problem, but there is supposed to be a liquid that enables one to breed in liquid (this has also been seen in SciFi).</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/52/space-balloon-to-the-edge-of-space Luca Matteis 2009-11-16T22:12:41Z 2010-03-05T09:28:07Z

<p>I would really like to do something like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWATd0LRA%5F4" rel="nofollow">this</a> and be able to send a Balloon into space with a video camera attached to it. I know this is not very expensive, and was wondering if there was any detailed information on the process to obtain such an adventure.</p> <p>Thanks.</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/39/liquids-in-hard-vacuum dariusfunk 2009-10-30T03:09:45Z 2010-02-27T18:25:37Z

<p>Are there any liquids that can exist in hard vacuum, Or does the lack of pressure make all fluids go gaseous?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/59/shuttle-crew-operations-manual-scom yihang 2009-12-19T11:31:18Z 2010-02-26T03:24:30Z

<p>Where can I get the famous Shuttle Crew Operations Manual? It is about 40mb/1100++pages manual for the Space Shuttle. I have tried to google it but cannot find any thing like that. </p> <p>Anyone can provide me with a copy of that manual?</p> <p>Thanks in Advance.. :)</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/45/when-will-we-definitively-know-whether-there-is-life-on-mars ~endolith 2009-10-31T23:00:15Z 2010-02-22T10:27:29Z

<p>We can measure water, methane, etc. but the outcome is always ambiguous. It might be biological, it might be geological, it might be something else. At what point will we know with certainty that there is life? Are such missions already in the works, or do they have to wait until other missions provide places to search, etc. How long should we expect to wait until we find out?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/70/will-an-object-exiting-the-earths-atmosphere-experience-the-same-thermal-varianc enzo32ferrari 2010-02-05T00:05:35Z 2010-02-19T20:25:51Z

<p>Will An Object Exiting The Earth's Atmosphere Experience The Same Thermal Variances/Friction As An Object Re-Entering?</p> <p>I know that with re-entry, there is very high friction acting upon the object that is re-entering: thus the glow that meteors/space shuttles/alien ships (may) get. But does a craft experience the same friction sensation going from earth into space?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/61/speed-needed-to-reach-iss David Andersen 2009-12-20T10:46:59Z 2010-01-22T07:36:54Z

<p>If one were to shoot a projectile from a high mountain. What speed would be needed in order to reach height of the ISS? I would know how to calculate this, when not counting in friction from air, but that is far from the correct answer. If I get a sensible answer I can explain my idea, which has been though of earlier by a certain Canadian working for Saddam Hussain...</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/20/what-significant-advances-in-rocketry-have-been-made-in-the-past-40-years Adam Hollidge 2009-10-23T15:51:36Z 2010-01-22T04:26:29Z

<p>As we approach the first flight test of the Ares I-X -- a rocket that is, in effect, a space shuttle SRB with a large dummy load -- I wonder how much progress we've made since the Apollo era. Are the primary advances in materials? Engine design? Who is driving these improvements? Or are there no major improvements to speak of?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/57/what-are-the-essential-space-museum-sites-in-america-to-visit Bob 2009-12-05T04:09:52Z 2010-01-05T02:41:33Z

<p>Feel free to sugges sites that are obvious as well as ones that are not.</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/5/building-my-first-telescope-mirror-size-recommendations First Light 2009-10-19T03:01:33Z 2009-12-29T02:16:58Z

<p>Howdy,</p> <p>I'm a soon-to-be amateur telescope maker, and I'd like some advice on mirror sizing.</p> <p>I'm planning a pretty standard Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount. Truss tubes, most likely, so I can fit it in the trunk of my car. I know a larger aperture will give me better light-gathering ability, but until I've proven my dedication to the hobby my significant other's tolerance of it will probably be inversely proportional to telescope size and cost. So, what's the smallest I can get away with and still resolve some planetary detail and pick out a few decent galaxies/nebulae?</p> <p>Many thanks!</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/58/so-what-is-this-spiral-over-norway So 2009-12-10T06:48:00Z 2009-12-29T02:10:44Z

<p>Most likely a hoax I guess... Seems to me to look projected.</p> <p>Lot's of people coming up with wacky ideas like stray ICBMs and unusual northerns lights, but doesn't sound plausible.</p> <p>[<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8404991.stm" rel="nofollow">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8404991.stm</a>][2]</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/50/what-is-the-difference-between-space-physics-and-astrophysics enzo32ferrari 2009-11-16T01:59:17Z 2009-11-21T22:53:43Z

<p>What is the difference between Space Physics and Astrophysics?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/1/what-are-the-key-points-of-the-obama-administrations-space-policy Adam Hollidge 2009-10-17T14:51:23Z 2009-11-20T22:51:20Z

<p>How much overall support are they giving space exploration and space science (including Earth observations from space), and how is that support divvied up? Where does Department of Defense use of space fit in?</p> <p>Obama '08's <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/policy/Space%5FFact%5FSheet%5FFINAL.pdf" rel="nofollow">Space Fact Sheet</a> [PDF] might give us an idea where they started off, but it seems more like a statement from the presidential campaign than an up to date policy document. Which way is the wind blowing these days?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/10/how-is-asteroid-impact-probability-calculated Sea Anemone 2009-10-19T19:11:14Z 2009-11-20T01:43:02Z

<p>Do we know enough about the number of space rocks and comets out there to be able to say with confidence there is X% chance of, say, a 1km diameter asteroid hitting us in the next 100 years? How is X calculated?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/53/how-many-more-launches-do-we-have-of-the-amazing-beast-that-is-the-space-shuttle ParryTheWind 2009-11-18T01:33:15Z 2009-11-19T17:07:34Z

<p>Paul N's topic (which really ought to be a question, right?) made me wonder: How many more launches are there, and what are their missions? Have they been specified yet? It's a real amazing beast, full of contradictions, but it's hard to imagine the shuttle not flying.</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/51/sts-129-atlantis-launched Paul N 2009-11-16T19:42:41Z 2009-11-16T19:42:41Z

<p><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission%5Fpages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/overview.html" rel="nofollow">STS-129</a> is off and away.</p> <p>I've tagged this as community wiki for discussion on the mission.</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/8/what-sorts-of-flight-computers-are-folks-like-armadillo-aerospace-and-masten-usin ParryTheWind 2009-10-19T17:34:15Z 2009-11-06T12:33:17Z

<p>Anybody know what types of computers the Lunar Lander competitors have been using to control their craft? Are these things that anyone can buy off the shelf, plug in to a desktop computer, and start playing around with?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/44/are-space-ramjet-engines-plausible enzo32ferrari 2009-10-31T01:39:40Z 2009-11-02T13:22:48Z

<p>We know that H is the most abundant element in the universe and it's mixed with oxygen to create thrust for the Space Shuttle. Would it be plausible to utilize ramjet-type engines to essentially "ram" hydrogen into a chamber, mix it with oxygen and then ignite it? </p> <p>(An engine would clearly have to have a solid rocket booster to get the "ramming" going) </p> <p>Thank you!</p> <p>-E32F</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/36/falcon-9-first-launch-details-on-the-dragon-model-being-used Geoffrey Carman 2009-10-29T13:24:46Z 2009-10-30T20:36:43Z

<p>Has anyone seen details about the Dragon engineering model that SpaceX intends to use on the first Falcon 9 launch? </p> <p>I am curious if they will include a heat shield and try a controlled reentry. </p> <p>The issue is, if they have no reaction control system, then they probably cannot do a controlled reentry. Same issue if they do not have any of the computers/software on it.</p> <p>Be interesting to see what they intend to launch, in more detail.</p> <p>Here's hoping they can make their window before 2010.</p> <p>Edit: Looks like they will not make it 2009. They seem to be asking for a Feb 2010 launch window now. Oh well. I guess it really is rocket science.</p> <p><a href="http://spacenews.com/launch/requested-falcon-range-date-has-conflict.html" rel="nofollow">http://spacenews.com/launch/requested-falcon-range-date-has-conflict.html</a></p>

http://payload42.com/questions/30/could-a-balloon-carry-a-rocket-to-the-edge-of-space-so-that-it-could-then-launch dacracot 2009-10-26T17:55:20Z 2009-10-30T10:56:01Z

<p>I've watched all the recent videos on YouTube that show a simple balloon/camera combination getting to the edge of space. Why could this same methodology not be used to cheaply get a payload most of the distance and then launch into space from this extreme altitude? I suppose that a balloon would only be able to carry a relatively small payload, but likely enough for a rocket that could then make it outside of earth's gravity, not to achieve orbit, but leave earth behind.</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/22/best-space-science-fiction Reverend Loonie 2009-10-23T17:56:50Z 2009-10-30T03:12:31Z

<p>Okay, it's subjective, and our friendly admin might close it unless we get some good responses, so spill the beans!</p> <p>Any medium: movies, novels, short stories, etc. What are your favorites?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/35/will-triboelectrification-constraints-impact-ares-i-the-same-way-as-ares-i-x ParryTheWind 2009-10-28T14:27:31Z 2009-10-28T14:27:31Z

<p>Right now the Ares I-X test vehicle is on the pad and is likely to have its launch scrubbed for the second time. Will launches of Ares I, the crew-carrying vehicle for NASA's Constellation program, have the same sensitivity to triboelectrification (i.e. static electricity discharges due to passage through high level clouds)?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/29/is-openfoam-cfd-software-suitable-for-modeling-flow-around-launch-vehicles Adam Hollidge 2009-10-25T14:06:55Z 2009-10-25T14:06:55Z

<p>NASA developed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overflow%5F%28software%29" rel="nofollow">Overflow</a> computational fluid dynamics software for modeling the flow of gases around the space shuttle. Is <a href="http://www.opencfd.co.uk/openfoam/index.html#openfoam" rel="nofollow">OpenFOAM</a> a suitable substitute? Can anyone summarize the differences between the packages? How hard is it to obtain Overflow?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/18/what-podcasts-vidcasts-that-are-space-related-are-out-there Geoffrey Carman 2009-10-22T20:39:22Z 2009-10-24T17:19:39Z

<p>I am sitting and listening to Ken Livingston's Space Show, and it is pretty good.</p> <p>What other ones are out there?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/24/property-rights-in-space Horatio Spencer 2009-10-23T18:52:58Z 2009-10-23T20:23:14Z

<p>What is the current state of space law as it pertains to property rights? Is there any international agreement on what should happen if someone tries to, say, claim an asteroid or a plot of land on the moon?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/14/what-pitfalls-does-spacex-face-that-might-be-avoided Geoffrey Carman 2009-10-20T17:22:58Z 2009-10-21T12:26:35Z

<p>Do you think SpaceX will deliver on Falcon 9, Dragon, manned Dragon, etc?</p> <p>Or do you forsee failure in any particular way? What failiures are there to be concerned about?</p> <p>Falcon 1 took three flights to get right, and well done to the SpaceX team. </p> <p>I happen to be a huge fan, and am betting on success, but I am wondering if people see pitfalls for them, that are worth discussing.</p> <p>(Aside from the usual, its rocket science, its hard!) </p> <p>Edit: So I read the FAQ and realize this as originally phrased was subjective, let me rephrase to make it more appropriate.</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/16/what-should-i-look-for-when-buying-a-telescope-made-by-an-individual Adam Hollidge 2009-10-21T11:51:17Z 2009-10-21T11:51:17Z

<p>Someone has offered to sell me a telescope he made a few years ago. It's a Dobsonian mount, truss-tube reflector. The mirror was purchased from a commercial vendor. It looks like a pretty good piece of work, but the guy seems ever so slightly shady. Thoughts?</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/9/whats-the-most-valuable-resource-on-the-moon Reverend Loonie 2009-10-19T18:26:39Z 2009-10-20T17:45:34Z

<p>What is the most valuable lunar resource that could be used in situ on the moon's surface or after being brought back to Earth (taking into account the cost of transport)? Helium-3? Water? Metals? Cheese? </p> <p><b>Clarification:</b> I suppose I'm thinking of "value" in terms of usefulness, i.e. can we make something out of it. I'm not too interested in restocking Fort Knox with moon gold, for instance. </p> <p>Yes, this verges on opinion, but maybe we'll all learn something :)</p>

http://payload42.com/questions/2/what-prizes-are-currently-on-offer-that-incentivize-space-exploration ParryTheWind 2009-10-19T02:23:39Z 2009-10-20T17:11:43Z

<p>I know the <a href="http://www.xprize.org" rel="nofollow">X Prize Foundation</a> manages some prizes, but what are they and has anyone made a serious effort so far to win them? Who funds them? Besides X Prizes, are there any serious purses up for grabs? </p>