Technology: News
(Satnews Publishers) University Cubesats to be Launched by NASA in November '10
"A tiny communications satellite designed and built by University of Colorado at Boulder undergraduates has been selected as one of three university research satellites to be launched into orbit in November as part of a NASA space education initiative. The three Cubesats were built by CU-Boulder, Montana State University and Kentucky Space, which is a consortium of state universities. The satellites are being flown as part of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellite, or ELaNA, mission."
"The goal of the mission is to improve communications systems in tiny satellites through on-orbit testing of a high data-rate system that will allow scientists and engineers to downlink large quantities of information."
(Press Release) Orbitec to provide environmental control and life support for Bigelow's Sundancer
"ORBITEC’s Human Support Systems and Instrumentation Division continues its relationship with Bigelow Aerospace to develop and integrate ORBITEC'S cost-effective environmental control and life support systems, subsystems, and components for Sundancer and commercial space travel and habitation.
Robert Bigelow, President and owner of Bigelow Aerospace stated that “We have had a long standing beneficial relationship with ORBITEC. Their capabilities and commercial business practice mesh well with our company.” Mr. Bigelow also states “My expectation for ORBITEC to provide safe and reliable solutions, to build and deliver on time, and to collaboratively work with my team to provide cost effective product is the reason I have them on the Bigelow team.”
The future of solar belongs to plastic? - University of Alberta
“The University of Alberta and the National Research Council’s National Institute (NINT) for Nanotechnology have engineered an approach that is leading to improved performance of plastic solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells). The development of inexpensive, mass-produced plastic solar panels is a goal of intense interest for many of the world’s scientists and engineers because of the high cost and shortage of the ultra-high purity silicon and other materials normally required.” Advanced technology development of cheaper, more efficient solar cells for Earth applications may well drive new expanded applications in space.