Category Archives: Models

A hacker’s guide to climate change

Interesting take on the basics

Posted in Climate, Models | Leave a comment

Gravity Assist Competition

Or The Space Game, by ESA. This is a nice javascript webpage where a probe is shot from Earth to Jupiter with gravity assists at Venus (twice), Earth and Mars. You try to achieve the lowest propulsive delta vee. You … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Astronomy, Depot, Design, Energy, ESA, Homebuilt, industry, Launchers, Lunar, Models, Motivation, Science Links, Spacecraft | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Humans Fast, Machines Slow

Detach a small capsule with the humans that goes directly to the surface (with only days of life support) and leave the untended craft to do multi-pass aerobraking Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Colonization, Depot, engines, ESA, Global, industry, ISRU, JAXA, Lunar, Models, Motivation, NASA, RLV:s, Science Links, Spacecraft, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

RD-180 Engine Diagram

This is a bit different from the NK-33 done previously, but it’s still a full flow oxidizer rich staged combustion lox-kerosene engine. It has no gears and no flexible shaft coupling between the pumps like the NK-33, making it a … Continue reading

Posted in engines, industry, Models, RLV:s | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The US Air Force Tries To Do Reusables

But is not a real RLV program. It’s just a narrow test for one technology. Hence I think naming it Reusable Booster System Pathfinder is misleading. Overspecification They overspecify the problem by requiring a glide landing. Why is it superior … Continue reading

Posted in airplane, Architecture, engines, industry, Models, Motivation, RLV:s | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Long Endurance UAV Design

Karoliina has some thoughts on plane design, looking at High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV:s as inspiration for high L/D craft, to ultimately cruise at fast speed with little power. I disagree somewhat, and I’m sketching out why, below. Probably … Continue reading

Posted in airplane, Models, Motivation, Navelgazing, Science Links, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rocket Was Found Today

Altitude was 2222 m. Apparently the backup timer shot the drag chute out while the rocket was still ascending. The team said they have video and will upload it later, if asked nicely enough. 🙂 Meanwhile, some launch photos. You … Continue reading

Posted in Homebuilt, Humor, Models, Motivation, Suborbital | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Basics of Many Climate Concepts

Robert Grumbine examines them in many of his recent posts. This might be good for engineers and physicists from other fields trying to get the basics.

Posted in Climate, Models, Science Links | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Industrial Climate Software

I just updated the blog title and again just watched the page and the blurb. It’s when we start working together that the real healing takes place, … It’s when we start spilling our sweat, and not our blood. It’s … Continue reading

Posted in airplane, Architecture, Art, Climate, Global, Homebuilt, industry, meta, Models, Motivation, Navelgazing, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Noughties in Retrospect 2000-2010

Perhaps the biggest phenomenon from a western view has been the rise of China as a superpower. Internet services and applications, terrorism and wars in the middle east, oil, global warming politics, are some of the big things as well. … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, Energy, industry, meta, Models, Nature | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments