Muncy: We had got to fix ITAR. Needs to be on policy platform of both candidates. Rockets are dual-use, but spacecraft are not.
Quote from: simonbp on 04/15/2012 01:12 amMuncy: We had got to fix ITAR. Needs to be on policy platform of both candidates. Rockets are dual-use, but spacecraft are not.I don't understand this quote - what does "Dual-use" mean in this context?...
{snip}MIRVs don't need ECLSS, on-orbit power, rendezvous & docking systems, etc. It's crazy to treat any of that stuff as ITAR. (Unless you're worried about NK or Iran boarding the ISS).
Quote from: simonbp on 04/13/2012 04:07 amStorable compact RMS for Dragon, etc.This was just a possibility or something a bit more developed?
Storable compact RMS for Dragon, etc.
QuoteGot MSR sticky boom to TRL5, then MSR killed.What's MSR? Does this means StickyBoom is dead?
Got MSR sticky boom to TRL5, then MSR killed.
Quote from: Space Pete on 04/13/2012 11:54 amThanks for these notes Simon.I really like the G-lab concept - using ISS resources (discarded vehicles) to do science that would otherwise have a detrimental effect on other ISS experiments. SSI should talk to the Russians, since they're interested in a man-tended free flyer too.Also, I really like Jon Goff's D2S. I also like the concept, I just wish it was more specific.
Thanks for these notes Simon.I really like the G-lab concept - using ISS resources (discarded vehicles) to do science that would otherwise have a detrimental effect on other ISS experiments. SSI should talk to the Russians, since they're interested in a man-tended free flyer too.Also, I really like Jon Goff's D2S.
Tim Pickens with panel (Masten, Brockert, Breed, Goff, and Clive) "DIY Space Access: Modern Communications, the 'Maker' network, and the Space Community"Pickens showing off his "rocket man cave". Asks panel what's changed since his amateur days. Masten: Wasted a lot of time doing chemical engineering rather than rocket engineering. Linux kernel is the exception to the rule, most open source projects fail. 45th space wing has been frustrating to the point of idiocy, despite not actually using any of their services. They want more safety people than Masten employs.Brockert: The difference between a company and amateur group is project management, forcing people to do the not-so-fun things. But, amateur groups can be much more creative. Amateur groups can also ask for help much, much easier.Breed: Believes a group smaller than 10, maybe smaller than 5, can launch something into orbit. Hybrid professional-amateur groups usually don't work, especially if amateurs in critical path.Goff: If you think a launch license cost is a driving force, you're going to have problems. Bringing adequate resources to the problem is crucial. Trial and error is expensive, so it's worth it to have the experience. Naiveté is a good thing, as it gets you to learn a lot.Clive: There is a lot of duplication of effort, and amateur groups cannot afford this. Breed: Armadillo was able to make the transition because it had a single funding source. Clive: We now have a floor to stand on from suborbital rockets.Masten: Engineering papers are really bad about producing reproducible results/plans. Print something physically and get an ISBN number to get around ITAR.Clive: Makerspace are just space to do stuff, not a team or project.Masten: Linus Torvolds figured out how to herd cats, most people can't do that.
Interesting that Masten believes Open Source projects are like hearding cats. He's probably right. The more people rowing the boat, the more difficult it is to get them all working in the same direction.
The context of the discussion was amateur vs. professional vs. professional with amateur help. Dave Masten's point (and echoed by the other contributers) was more that the latter is most difficult to get to work, but the most rewarding if it does. Masten directly contrasted Linux, which has a pretty good benevolent dictator (because Linus is such a nice guy), with NetBSD, which has a less harmonious benevolent dictator. And Linux is a hybrid project that is GPL open source, but receives most its new code from corporate contributers (and ditto for Apache). Mozilla is a not-for-profit foundation that both employs developers and accepts code from volunteers, so again a hybrid approach.(And I am writing this from Firefox in Gentoo Linux, as always.)
...Masten directly contrasted Linux, which has a pretty good benevolent dictator (because Linus is such a nice guy), with NetBSD, which has a less harmonious benevolent dictator...
Rick Maschek, Sugar Shot To SpaceGoal is build a sugar-powered rocket that eventually reaches space. Many tests, slowly making progress. DoubleShot (aiming for 120,000 ft) has been tested once, and blew up.