Space News thread

[harrybarracuda]

Reading more about this, it seems to be more of a protectionism issue.

The FCC claims that because the satellites are physically very small, that they are difficult to track. That's bollox, because even smaller satellites (PocketQubes) are regularly given the OK for launch, and they are just 5 x 5 x 5 cm. As stated in another post, I am designing and building a PocketQube satellite on my kitchen table here in Myanmar.

Secondly, the FCC claim that the satellites might crash into other satellites. Hmm, there are thousands of other bits of space debris floating around, and no-one seems to be concerned too much. Furthermore, these 4 small satellites were launched into a LEO - low earth orbit, and without on-board propulsion etc, they will re-enter the earth's atmosphere and burn up within a few months of launch.

I would have though it makes sense that anything being launched into space needs to be coordinated so that it is no likely to be in the path of anything else.

There is nothing I've read that says this was done.

If you're saying that it's ok for any tom dick or harry to launch something into space without consulting anyone, I'd have to disagree.

Having said that it sounds like another baldy orange cunto administrative mess.

The FCC's denial of Swarm's application due to space debris concerns raises further questions. Officially, no federal agency has this regulatory authority, a person familiar with similar disputes told CNBC. The FCC assumed the responsibility to govern launches in this way, but the most recent meeting of the National Space Council may mean that regulatory authority is now in the hands of the Department of Commerce instead. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced he intends to make the department a "one stop shop" for regulatory approval in the commercial space industry.

[Simon43]

I would have though it makes sense that anything being launched into space needs to be coordinated so that it is no likely to be in the path of anything else.

Agreed, but coordination can only go so far - there is still an unknown factor.

In the design of my PocketQube satellite, I have to coordinate transmitter operating frequencies with international organisations, to avoid mutual interference.

But when the rocket that will carry my satellite (and probably quite a few others) is launched, and these satellites subsequently deployed into a low earth orbit, the actual orbit that the satellite will adopt is unknown. After deployment, I have to wait from data back from Norad in the USA, whose radar will track my little satellite, (and t'others), and will tell me what it's orbit is. Then I can direct my antennas and hope to receive the satellite beacon.

[Takeovers]

Regulations are being reconsidered with the aim to make things easier for companies, especially small companies which is a good thing. But regulations are not yet changed. The process has begun.

Capable sats keep getting smaller. But I think cube sats are a pest. Potentially thousands of them, uncontrolled because they have no propulsion are a problem. They should be allowed but only in very low orbits, below ~300km altitude where they deorbit quickly through residual atmosphere. Everything higher than that needs to be thoroughly regulated. But sats, even small sats are not the biggest risk. Big risk is the debris of dead sats that sometimes desintegrate into debris clouds long after their active life because of poor safing and passivating procedures. This is quite common with obsolete military sats, particularly US Airforce sats, but not only them.

[Simon43]

They should be allowed but only in very low orbits, below ~300km altitude where they deorbit quickly through residual atmosphere.

I agree. My PocketQube satellite will (fingers crossed), enter a LEO and disintegrate as it re-enters the earth's atmosphere a few months later.

To be honest, I'm building it more for the fun of demonstrating what a clever technical sod I am, as well as boxing the Myanmar government in a corner where they must support my efforts.

Why must they support me?

Because the payload of my satellite is a pre-recorded WAV file of various different amateur radio digital modulation mode signals, using eg RTTY, PSK31, MFSK etc,, as well as an audio music file.

This WAV file will be transmitted whenever a ground user sends a tone signal to my satellite. Then they can receive the data signal and see which modulation mode provides the best S/N signal to noise ratio etc.

One of those digital signals transmits an image, which happens to be an image of the Myanmar flag.

The audio signal plays back the Myanmar National Anthem.

So, all very patriotic and lots of back-slapping for the Myanmar government etc.

But if they aren't interested to support me, then I'll just advise them that I'll change the WAV file to play the Lao National Anthem (and Lao flag image), or Cambodian NA and flag image..... and I'll hop on a plane to speak with the government guys in Vientiane or Phnom-Penh

The government already knows that I'm currently designing this micro-satellite and collecting components for the build, but no knock on the door yet!

Nothing like living dangerously....

[Takeovers]

My PocketQube satellite will (fingers crossed), enter a LEO and disintegrate as it re-enters the earth's atmosphere a few months later.

I would like to know a little more on your project. Good luck with it. Will it be a 1U formfactor or a little bigger? Will you use a smartphone as the basic electronics unit? That has become a trend. Anything for stabilization? A tether may do that.

Any idea already how to launch it?

[Simon43]

PocketQube is smaller than the Cubesats. Nominal dimensions are 5 x 5 x 5 cm, about the size of a rubic's cube.

As for the design/components, it will have solar panels + charge controllers + lithium ion battery for the power side, a simple payload that replays WAV format data files on power-up from a micro TF memory card, a morse code beacon transmitter (100 watts on 437 MHz), a separate 500 watt FM transceiver to replay the WAV files and to receive uplinked DTMF control signals, and a simple control chip circuit to react to the received control signals.

There is no micro-processor, mainly because previous Cubesat projects sometimes have suffered from 'overkill', and sensitive microprocessor chips have locked up etc after launch, and so the project aims have not been met.

Since I'm an RF and satellite design guy, it's not too hard for me to do the system design and then integrate the whole lot, using a nifty RF transceiver module from China and a flight-proven beacon transmitter from the USA.

Oh, the antenna uses a few retractable metal tape measures...

No stabilisation in this first model. This is more of a 'I can fcuking do it' initial project. If it all works, then I want to move onto a stabilised platform, which will then justify putting a camera on board.

In any case, as I document my build on YouTube, and notify the powers that be in Myanmar, I expect the interest in my efforts will grow. (I did have a drink with a senior government chap last Friday who was amazed when I showed him my cardboard model of my satellite - he was scribbling notes furiously in his little black book...)

As far as components are concerned, I have almost sourced everything - it's amazing what Lazada and DX.com sell nowadays....

As for the launch, this is handled by a Scottish company called Alba Orbital. The launch platform is typically either Russian or Indian. (That's where I do need financial support, about $20,000 to be precise!)

[Takeovers]

Oh, the antenna uses a few retractable metal tape measures.

That's a nifty concept.

[Simon43]

Oh, the antenna uses a few retractable metal tape measures.
That's a nifty concept.

It's actually quite a common and simple way to make a UHF antenna for a Cubesat, see these images:

https://www.google.com.mm/search?q=c...w=1123&bih=615

The tape can be rolled up for launch, and then easily deployed after launch without needing any mechanism to unwind the antenna. Just release the constraint and the antenna should pop out.

Since my satellite is very small, I wanted to find a tape measure that was smaller width than the type found in hardware stores. Lazada came up trumps at only 187 baht with this keychain metal tape measure:

[BaitongBoy]

Interesting stuff...Cheers...

[Simon43]

One very important part of satellite design is to make sure all the different budgets work out OK:

- Weight budget: There is a maximum specified weight for the satellite. Will the total weight of all the components exceed that value?

- Mechanical budget: There is a maximum size limit for all 3 axes. Will my components fit within that limit?

- Electrical budget: Defined by the power that the solar panels can generate and the characteristics of the lithium ion battery. Can my battery supply the total current demanded by my circuits? Can the solar panels supply enough current to recharge that battery?

- RF budget: The complex equation that defines the signal loss between the satellite and a receiver on earth (and vice-versa). Many parameters, such as free space path loss can't be altered. The power of the transmitters and gain of the antennas can be tweaked, to ensure that the satellite receiver will actually 'hear' my uplink control signals, and that listeners on the ground can actually receive the beacon and payload data signals.

Right now:
- Weight budget: No idea, but should be fine when I total all the weights because I'm using SMD control and payload circuits ==> very small physical size and weight.

- Mechanical budget: All fine as individual components, but I need to check that they can all fit OK inside the 5 x 5 x 5 cm cube. Should be OK because of the SMD boards.

- Electrical budget: Not yet checked and measured. I'm using low voltage, low current components and modules. I need to do a mock-up with my solar panels to measure how much current for recharging the batteries is available. Then I can choose the largest battery that fits in with the weight and mechanical budget.

- RF budget: I've done the equations and all looks OK for the comms modules that I've chosen.

Oh, I forgot the thermal budget. with all the electronics in situ, will too much heat be generated such that there's an early failure due to excessive temperature etc?

[harrybarracuda]

Why China's Tiangong-1 space station could crash almost anywhere

Tiangong-1 is likely out of control and headed for a collision with our atmosphere, and perhaps with Earth itself. Figuring out where it'll land is a nearly impossible task.


By Eric Mack
MARCH 12, 2018 10:15 AM PDT

China's first space station, Tiangong-1, is believed to be in the midst of an uncontrolled slow-motion fall back to Earth that'll end in a blaze of glory, likely in early April. And that's about all we have to go on, because attempting to predict exactly where and when this is all going down is exceedingly difficult.

What we do know is that the oversized hunk of space junk, also known as "Heavenly Palace," will streak across the sky as it collides with the atmosphere and burns up, a sight that may or may not be followed by several crashes or splashes somewhere across a very wide swath of middle latitudes stretching from the northern US to southern Australia.

"At most, we would be able to narrow the reentry location to two or three orbit revolutions. That means that reentry would occur somewhere along a path that extends two to three times around the planet -- a very long path indeed," Bill Ailor, principal engineer for the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS), said in an email.

The problem is that predictions of possible reentry times are based on radar observations that Ailor says are typically not made frequently enough to formulate solid predictions.

"We'll know it's reentered either when someone sees the bright and spectacular breakup event or it no longer appears to observers (radar or otherwise) when expected."

Once those visible streaks in the sky are seen, it'll let us know what region of the globe may be hit with the few, if any, surviving hunks of debris that make it all the way to the surface. But it will still be basically impossible to pinpoint a possible impact zone.

"Typically, the portion with the visible 'streaks' in the sky will last from several seconds to perhaps a minute. But this occurs at a very high altitude, and the pieces will then take several more minutes to fall to Earth," said Ted Muelhaupt, associate principal director of CORDS' systems analysis and simulation subdivision.

In 2013, a meteor collided with the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia, and sent out a shock wave that blew out windows on the ground below. However, the small chunk that made it to the surface wound up at the bottom of a frozen lake 43 miles (70 km) away.

"Keep in mind that objects in orbit, even a decaying orbit, are moving very fast," Muelhaupt said. "Even a one-minute error in the prediction or the reentry time will move the location of the event 280 miles (448 km). The reentry event itself takes several minutes."

In other words, it's incredibly difficult to predict anything about the last moments of Tiangong-1 with much specificity. We do know, though, that it's very, very unlikely its debris will damage anyone or anything on Earth. There's only been one reported case of someone being hit by space junk, and no injuries were reported from that incident.

"Most reentries pass without notice. If a reentry occurs over a populated area with clear skies and darkness, the reentry might be observed," Muelhaupt said.

We'll nevertheless be keeping an eye on the sky as April and Tiangong-1 approach.

https://www.cnet.com/news/why-chines...nywhere-earth/

[BaitongBoy]

How long has it been up there?...

[Takeovers]

How long has it been up there?...

The linked article says

China's first space station launched in 2011

The plan initially was to actively deorbit over an empty stretch of ocean like the South Pacific. But they lost control and now can not make it deorbit in a specific location. Happens frequently with satellites. At least it deorbits and does not stay up long term.

[Luigi]

Putin has announced that he plans to send manned and unmanned missions to Mars as early as 2019. He also plans to send missions to the Moon and deeper into space.


https://futurism.com/putin-russia-mars-2019/

[harrybarracuda]

Putin has announced that he plans to send manned and unmanned missions to Mars as early as 2019. He also plans to send missions to the Moon and deeper into space.


https://futurism.com/putin-russia-mars-2019/

We really are back in the Soviet era!

[Takeovers]

Putin has announced that he plans to send manned and unmanned missions to Mars as early as 2019. He also plans to send missions to the Moon and deeper into space.


https://futurism.com/putin-russia-mars-2019/

This was based on bad translations. He really announced missions to the lunar poles to look for water which is less ludicrous. Missions to Mars would come later.

But given the state of russian space activities they are deteriorating fast. Once NASA stops paying for manned missions to the ISS the downward trend may accelerate to a death spiral. Russia has announced great plans at a frantic rate and they all popped like bubbles. Roscosmos budget has been slashed brutally and does not look set to increase.

For real progress look to China. They are still behind but they are advancing. Faster than many outside observers believe though they are not in a race. They proceed on their own speed.

NASA is increasingly paralyzed by buerocratic red tape and arbitrary demands put forward by Congress. If nothing changes China will overtake them in manned spaceflight within 10-20 years.

Still the USA are likely to stay ahead but not through NASA. It is going to be SpaceX who enable going to the moon and to Mars.

[Takeovers]

A short video of a small experimental rocket of a private chinese firm, Linkspace. It does not look like much and it isn't. But it is a first step on the long road to reusable rockets. If things go well, in 10-15 years they may be where SpaceX is now. A sign that some people start to take seriously what SpaceX is doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc4l9mQ8HXk&feature=youtu.be

There were previous short videos where the rocket was hanging from a crane for safekeeping. This is a flight without that safety.

[david44]

Space X sole ruse is exact mensuration for the Rod of God, the rest is mere window dressing. USA has a generation to crush China or peacefully relinquish it's hegemony, it'll need wise counsel, first class diplomacy and a bit of luck to retire gracefully like the British out but not humiliated.

[David48atTD]

Airbus have a plan to hunt down space junk with a high-tech harpoon



They have been used to hunt down whales and now there are plans to use harpoons to hunt down space junk orbiting the Earth.

Key points:

• Around 20,000 items of 10cm or larger pieces of debris being tracked
• Latest harpoon developed with capability to capture some of the biggest pieces
• Growing number of satellites launched up into space everyday a "big issue"

The Defence and Space division of the European aerospace company Airbus has been working on the concept for a number of years
in response to the growing problem of space debris.



Currently there are about 20,000 pieces of debris, sized 10 centimetres or larger, being tracked.
Alastair Wayman, an advanced project systems engineer with Airbus, helped develop the high-tech harpoon and said it would prove
"really effective at capturing space debris".



Space junk map:- Computer generated image of objects in Earth orbit that are currently being tracked.
Approximately 95 per cent of the objects in the illustration are debris (not functional satellites).

"There's kind of two challenges to space debris, one is capturing it and one is then actually bringing it down once you've
captured it," he said.

"And the harpoon is a really nice way to capture it.
It really simplifies that because all we have to do is stand away from the target by a reasonable distance and fire at it.

"We don't have to go up to it and actually get in contact with it at all."

[David48atTD]

Kessler Syndrome


Hole in NASA Solarmax equipment caused by space junk.


A concept, known as the Kessler Syndrome, describes the nightmare scenario that would develop if a cascading series
of such collisions in the near-Earth orbit destroyed every satellite above Earth, causing havoc to global communications and travel.

Mr Wayman said the growing number of satellites being launched up into space everyday was a big issue.

"The problem is that as they stop working, ... they become a risk of colliding into each other," he said.

"And when they do that they create huge amounts of space debris that then collide into more space debris,
and it's a big snowballing problem.

Both stories from here

[Takeovers]

Tiangong 1, Chinas first space station is close to deorbit.



It's orbit altitude goes down and the rate is increasing as it comes closer into denser atmosphere. Presently it is expected to deorbit April 3 +/- 4 days. As the high atmosphere is variable the time can not be determined more precisely. Which also means they have no means to determine where it will come down. Even hours before deorbit it still can come down almost anywhere on earth.

[Takeovers]

The latest rocket booster leaving the factory in Hawthorne, California. A video on Instagram as observed by a car driver. Worth watching just for the comments of the woman making the video.

Edit: The way she says Elon Musk is a ...... BEAST indicates she is imagining that booster as a giant dick.

She does not know what exactly it is. I am not blaming her. Note that this is the corner at their factory, where they have set up the first ever rocket booster that landed after flight as a monument. You see it clearly in the video.


https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/

[Luigi]

^^ so it has pretty much become nothing more than a Thai lottery number predicting machine.

[Luigi]

This is a pretty cool tracker for Tiangong 1, to see where it is, and where it's going.

SATVIEW - TIANGONG 1 - Norad 37820U - Tracking satellites and Spacejunk in Real time

Time to Reenter: 7 days 20 Hours 50 mins 33 secs.


And the same for the ISS.

SATVIEW - Int. Space Station - Norad 25544U - Tracking satellites and Spacejunk in Real time

[harrybarracuda]

This is a pretty cool tracker for Tiangong 1, to see where it is, and where it's going.

SATVIEW - TIANGONG 1 - Norad 37820U - Tracking satellites and Spacejunk in Real time

Time to Reenter: 7 days 20 Hours 50 mins 33 secs.


And the same for the ISS.

SATVIEW - Int. Space Station - Norad 25544U - Tracking satellites and Spacejunk in Real time

There is a smartphone app for tracking the ISS down to the second, which will point it out to you, so you can watch it sail past.

Very cool.