Innovations: Web Articles
Air Force space plane shooting for April 2010 launch | Spaceflight Now
"The U.S. Air Force has released new images of its experimental new X-37B space plane as the secretive mission's launch date next April (2010) draws near. An Air Force spokesperson said the unmanned spaceship is scheduled for launch April 19 on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The winged X-37B (no crew), also named the Orbital Test Vehicle, is managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office under the direct supervision of the secretary of the Air Force and the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics."
NASA, GM believes Robonaut2 will work alongside humans | R&D Mag
"Engineers and scientists from NASA and GM worked together through a Space Act Agreement at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to build a new humanoid robot capable of working side by side with people. Using leading edge control, sensor and vision technologies, future robots could assist astronauts during hazardous space missions and help GM build safer cars and plants.
The two organizations, with the help of engineers from Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, developed and built the next iteration of Robonaut. Robonaut 2, or R2, is a faster, more dexterous and more technologically advanced robot. This new generation robot can use its hands to do work beyond the scope of prior humanoid machines. R2 can work safely alongside people, a necessity both on Earth and in space."
Private space stations edge closer to reality - Space.com/msnbc.com
"With two prototype modules for a commercial space station already circling the Earth, Bigelow Aerospace is gearing up for a full-scale assault on space.
For the upstart firm, it's about volume — and not entirely in the sense of quantity or number of items sold. The company's expandable module designs are designed to offer low-cost commercial volume in space — for rent or lease — not only to private-sector interests, but also to national space agencies."
This is a recent update on Robert Bigelow's strategy for commercial space habitat applications. It confirms earlier speculations about his development of human life support systems and living accommodations. Jobs for a couple of ex-astronauts are open.
OnSpace: The Importance of Failure | Aviation Week
"Last night I spoke at a really good workshop hosted by the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University. The subject was small satellites, and Kirk Woellert, under the able guidance of Dr. Scott Pace, pulled together a high-energy group of speakers to go off on a very high energy topic: small satellites, CubeSats and how they are changing us, and we are changing NASA and the space program. "
"The speakers highlighted how important is failure to any reseach program. NASA spends years designing every tiny aspect of research hardware to assure no failure in equipment or result. But taking risk in a research program means allowing failure. And failure is good if there is the chance for repeating the experiment, trying something new, trying again, until you get it right."
Cockroaches offer inspiration for running robots | R&D Mag
"The sight of a cockroach scurrying for cover may be nauseating, but the insect is also a biological and engineering marvel, and is providing researchers at Oregon State Univ. with what they call “bioinspiration” in a quest to build the world’s first legged robot that is capable of running effortlessly over rough terrain."
"The latest findings—just published in the professional journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics—outline how animals use their legs to manage energy storage and expenditure, and why this is so important for running stability. The work is being supported by the National Science Foundation." The authors note the potential applications of this research to space exploration and we note that space commerce will likely be partnered with NASA in such an endeavor.
Surprise! - A NASA Overhaul Needed | Houston Chronicle
"NASA's brightest potential future is one where it serves as an enabler, standards-setter and coordinating body for the more entrepreneurial activity needed to bring the cost of spaceflight down. Still needed is a “Moore's Law of Space Travel” in which a clear trend for capability in spaceflight at constant cost may be projected out. The big idea here is to work toward a balance between agile, entrepreneurial models found in the technology sector with the requirements of NASA's future programs. This will mean a gross revision of how the agency does its business. As NASA transitions to a new, younger workforce in the next decade, let us hope it begins rewriting its rules to inspire these individuals to achieve the sort of successes the X Prize winners are achieving at a fraction of the cost of those working in government."
Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Program (CRuSR) - Request for Info
"In this Request for Information (RFI), the NASA Ames CRuSR Office is requesting technical and programmatic input to improve the government's understanding of flight opportunities to aid potential science investigators in scoping and designing possible future suborbital investigations. Responses to this RFI are welcome from all interested parties, especially potential providers of suborbital spaceflight services. Suborbital spaceflight service providers should consider accommodation of flight experiments that address any of the science disciplines listed herein."
Innovation More Important for Future than in Past; U.S. Education is Lagging
"A recent survey found 78 percent of Americans believe innovation will be more important to the U.S. economy in the next thirty years than the previous thirty years. While the importance of innovation is recognized, 81 percent of Americans believe the quality of K-12 math and science education lags behind other countries. The survey of 1,200 U.S. respondents, commissioned by the Intel Corporation and Newsweek magazine, found that 33 percent of Americans said the U.S. will be the global leader in technology innovation during the next 30 years, while 30 percent said Japan, and 22 percent said China." The NASA CRuSR Program provides a great opportunity for innovation of all kinds, including student-driven suborbital research projects.
Robot Armada Could Explore New Worlds | R&D Mag
"An armada of robots may one day fly above the mountain tops of Saturn's moon Titan, cross its vast dunes and sail in its liquid lakes. Wolfgang Fink, visiting associate in physics at the California Institute of Technology, says we are on the brink of a great paradigm shift in planetary exploration, and the next round of robotic explorers will be nothing like what we see today."
Space-Age Safety: How GPS Satellites Could Help Prevent Auto Accidents | GPS Daily
"Researchers have found potential for a GPS satellite to act as an early warning system that detects when a vehicle is about to lose control and communicate with the vehicle's stability control systems and other safety features to prevent a rollover or other serious accident." Ford Motor Company's investment in university R&D is paying off.