[SpaceProgram] Introduction & Leightweight probes

[Paul Szymkowiak]

Hi Andreas!

On 11 April 2012 04:34, Andreas Sturm <masterstorm123 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello @all,
>
> I'm new to this hackerspace... Hope I post it on the right spot...
>

Your post was fantastic,and directed at the right group :)


>
> I'm a DIY-biologist - especially on bioluminescence, thereafter biodiesel
> and meat produced by plants


I've been working a little on OpenPCR (openpcr.org), mainly as one of the
KickStarter funders, but I have access to two of the original Alpha (Beta?)
release machines. I've been partnering with a local Biotech scientist here
in Australia - Robert Shepherd http://www.robertshepherd.com/ (cc'd above)
- and Robert and I have been taking various opportunities to talk with the
local Australian community about Open-Source Biotech.

I think BioTech solutions will have a big part to play in space research
projects.

As it happens, I've just come from a talk by Mark Stevenson where he
discussed a carbon-neutral oil refinery using a genetically modified
bacteria to process atmospheric CO2.



> - who is also very interested in space exploration. Sadly, there's nothing
> new about that topic. Constellation cancelled...
>
> So I'm thinking and thinkering about ultra-lightweight interstellar probes
> (if they are very very lightweight, they don't need so much ion fuel to
> accelerate!) They may just use a microcontroller (or two for redundancy)
> and a camera. They also would just send one picture a day to save energy. A
> very small plutonium-pellet would power the probe, also keeping the probe
> warm... Some 5-10 watts may do the job... Thus it would be pulsed ion-drive
> -> charge a capacitor for some hours, then power the ione drive for one
> hour.
>

Fantastic project idea!



> And also about Martian probes and habitats, e.g. inflatable ones.
>

.. and more idea goodness :)


>
>
> What's your opinion on lightweight crafts? I think this is the only cheap
> way to go, and nowadays it has to be cheap or it gets cancelled...





> The hundred years starship project is a very great thing. I hope fundings
> will be approved...
>

Agreed. Although our bid to get that funding directly failed, we are
hopeful that we will have opportunities to work with project Icarus (
http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/) and may even be able to receive some
funding support through them.

For now, we're actively pursuing direct funding through other grants and
sponsors to enable an International Hacker Space Program to be supported.

Nice to meet you Andreas, and welcome to the fun :)

Paul

Paul Szymkowiak
HackMelbourne.org <http://hackmelbourne.org/>
gplus.to/paulzee
twitter.com/paulzee
twitter.com/hackmelbourne <http://twitter.com/#!/paulzee>
TimeZone: GMT +10 hours
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