On February 19th 2017, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Flight Center in Florida. The launch took place at approximately 9:40am Eastern Daylight Time, from the historic Launchpad 39A . 39A is the site of the last launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which took place on July 8th 2011. It was also home of the Apollo missions which included the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The Falcon 9 lifted off carrying with it crew supplies, spare parts, and other vehicle parts all totaling 5,500 pounds of cargo intended to resupply the International Space Station. Ten minutes after the second stage boosted the first stage into orbit, the booster stage made its return to earth. Two sonic booms preceded the booster's return for a successful landing at SpaceX's ground based landing area at Cape Canaveral.
The launch, originally scheduled for February 18th, was delayed due to a minor malfunction. It makes the second SpaceX success since the company's triumphant return to space with a launch on January 14th 2017.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Flexible Solar Cells
On February 1st 2017, an Albuquerque, New Mexico company founded by Sandia National Laboratories, announced that they had made a breakthrough in Microsystems Enabled Photo Voltaics or (MEPV). The new product is a flexible solar panel that appears to be a cross between metallic wrapping paper and a reflective sun shield used on automobile windshields. It is just the width of a human hair, and may one day power everything from satellites to consumer devices.
MEPV technology uses micro design and micro fabrication to miniaturize solar cells that are also know as "solar glitter." The solar cells are made from high efficiency silicon just like regular solar panels, but because the cells are so small, they can be interconnected. This makes them capable of bending without breaking. Andy McIlroy, Sandia's chief technology officer said that the lab has signed a license with mPower to market their new creation, which they are calling Dragon SCALES.
MEPV technology uses micro design and micro fabrication to miniaturize solar cells that are also know as "solar glitter." The solar cells are made from high efficiency silicon just like regular solar panels, but because the cells are so small, they can be interconnected. This makes them capable of bending without breaking. Andy McIlroy, Sandia's chief technology officer said that the lab has signed a license with mPower to market their new creation, which they are calling Dragon SCALES.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
The Dawn Of Inkless paper
On February 2nd 2017, scientists at the University of California, Riverside announced that they had developed a light printable paper. The project included researchers from Shandong University in China and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory. The research team says that the paper consists of a new solid state photoreversible color switching system, that uses ultra violet light to produce an ink free rewritable print.
Yadong Yin, Professor of chemistry at the University of California, Riverside says that the process incorporates conventional paper that is coated with low cost, environmentally friendly materials. For the research team's experiment, they used a combination of two nano particle layers. One layer is Prussian Blue pigment and the other is titanium oxide. The two substances can applied to the paper by soaking or spaying them on.
Once applied, the plain unprinted paper turns blue. To make text appear on the page, the paper is exposed to UV light. The light excites the titanium oxide particles which causes a release of electrons that are picked up by the Prussian Blue nano particles. This causes the blue layer to turn to colorless. It's easier to read blue text on a clear background, so the background is what gets printed by light.
After the paper is printed, the text will remain for five days before it fades back to solid blue. The paper can also be erased more quickly by heating it for ten minutes. Dr Yin says that their new paper is cost competitive with conventional paper. He said, "Our immediate next step is to construct a laser printer to work with this rewritable paper, to enable fast printing."
Yadong Yin, Professor of chemistry at the University of California, Riverside says that the process incorporates conventional paper that is coated with low cost, environmentally friendly materials. For the research team's experiment, they used a combination of two nano particle layers. One layer is Prussian Blue pigment and the other is titanium oxide. The two substances can applied to the paper by soaking or spaying them on.
Once applied, the plain unprinted paper turns blue. To make text appear on the page, the paper is exposed to UV light. The light excites the titanium oxide particles which causes a release of electrons that are picked up by the Prussian Blue nano particles. This causes the blue layer to turn to colorless. It's easier to read blue text on a clear background, so the background is what gets printed by light.
After the paper is printed, the text will remain for five days before it fades back to solid blue. The paper can also be erased more quickly by heating it for ten minutes. Dr Yin says that their new paper is cost competitive with conventional paper. He said, "Our immediate next step is to construct a laser printer to work with this rewritable paper, to enable fast printing."
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Scientists Create Knitted Exoskeleton
On January 25th 2017, a team of Swedish researchers at Linkoping University and the University of Boras, announced that they have created an electroactive "textile muscle," system. The researchers say that they have created actuators, or devices, that convert energy into motion, which can be used to turn fabric into artificial musculature. They believe that their technology could one day power a new type of exoskeleton.
The way that the process works, is that a lightweight fabric is first coated with an electroative material, just as though you were dyeing it. When the material is dry, a low voltage current is applied to it. This can be done by using a wearable battery. The current then changes the shape of the fabric, which produces force in a particular direction. This causes the individual threads to change volume, while the weave in the fabric amplifies and directs the movement.
Dr. Edwin Jager, associate professor at the Division of Sensor and Actuator Systems at Linkoping University, who led the research team said, "We envision these actuators to be integrated into items of clothing." He also said that the actuators would need to be attached to the body. He said, "This could be in the form of an elastic sleeve similar to the ones currently used to give support for injured joints."
The research team hopes to make adjustments to the fabric and coating that will enable them to design a soft exoskeleton suit that could be used to assist someone in walking. Dr. Jager said, "It is our dream to create exoskeletons that are similar to items of clothing that you can wear under your normal cloths."
The way that the process works, is that a lightweight fabric is first coated with an electroative material, just as though you were dyeing it. When the material is dry, a low voltage current is applied to it. This can be done by using a wearable battery. The current then changes the shape of the fabric, which produces force in a particular direction. This causes the individual threads to change volume, while the weave in the fabric amplifies and directs the movement.
Dr. Edwin Jager, associate professor at the Division of Sensor and Actuator Systems at Linkoping University, who led the research team said, "We envision these actuators to be integrated into items of clothing." He also said that the actuators would need to be attached to the body. He said, "This could be in the form of an elastic sleeve similar to the ones currently used to give support for injured joints."
The research team hopes to make adjustments to the fabric and coating that will enable them to design a soft exoskeleton suit that could be used to assist someone in walking. Dr. Jager said, "It is our dream to create exoskeletons that are similar to items of clothing that you can wear under your normal cloths."
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Sprint Buys Stake In Tidal
On January 23rd 2017, Sprint, the fourth largest cell phone carrier in the US, announced that it had bought a 33% share of the music streaming service, Tidal. Tidal is the music service that is owned by Rap music mogul Jay Z, along with several other prominent recording artists. Sprint paid Jay Z and his partners $200 million for their stake in the streaming service, and Sprint's CEO, Marcelo Claure will become a member of Tidal's board of directors.
The deal with Tidal will make exclusive content available to Sprint's 45 million retail customers. As part of the deal, Sprint will use $75 million to set up a marketing fund that will assist artists in producing the exclusive content. Tidal artists will be able to share their work with and for their fans. Jay Z bought Tidal in 2015 from Swedish company, Aspiro AB for $56 million. Tidal is estimated to have one million subscriber.
The deal with Tidal will make exclusive content available to Sprint's 45 million retail customers. As part of the deal, Sprint will use $75 million to set up a marketing fund that will assist artists in producing the exclusive content. Tidal artists will be able to share their work with and for their fans. Jay Z bought Tidal in 2015 from Swedish company, Aspiro AB for $56 million. Tidal is estimated to have one million subscriber.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
SpaceX Successfully Returns To Space
On January 14th 2017, SpaceX made a successful return to space flight with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 10 next generation telephone satellites for the Iridium wireless communications company. The launch took place at Vandenberg Air Force base in California. It was the first launch since the loss of a Facebook satellite, which was destroyed when a Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Florida on September 1st, 2016.
The accident in September 2016, caused SpaceX to temporarily ground all mission launches while NASA and several other federal agencies investigated the incident. On January 2nd 2016, the cause of September's explosion was determined to be due to broken carbon fibers in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel or COPV. The COPV in question, led to the upper oxygen tank, which contained super cooled liquid oxygen propellant.
The COPV carried liquid helium, which is used to pressurize the fuel tank. The investigators determined that the COPV had an aluminum liner that buckled. This allowed liquid oxygen to get between the the carbon fibers and the aluminum where it pooled. They believe that the helium from the COPV was so cold that it caused the liquid oxygen to turn into a solid. Then, friction from the ruptured carbon fibers may have provided the spark that caused the explosion.
When the FAA reviewed SpaceX's finding they issued them a license which allowed them to continue with rocket launches. The successful launch on January 14th was followed by a successful landing of the Falcon 9 on the company's drone ship in the Pacific Ocean, which were also two firsts for SpaceX. With those successes and a backlog of customers, SpaceX is looking forward to a busy year in 2017.
The accident in September 2016, caused SpaceX to temporarily ground all mission launches while NASA and several other federal agencies investigated the incident. On January 2nd 2016, the cause of September's explosion was determined to be due to broken carbon fibers in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel or COPV. The COPV in question, led to the upper oxygen tank, which contained super cooled liquid oxygen propellant.
The COPV carried liquid helium, which is used to pressurize the fuel tank. The investigators determined that the COPV had an aluminum liner that buckled. This allowed liquid oxygen to get between the the carbon fibers and the aluminum where it pooled. They believe that the helium from the COPV was so cold that it caused the liquid oxygen to turn into a solid. Then, friction from the ruptured carbon fibers may have provided the spark that caused the explosion.
When the FAA reviewed SpaceX's finding they issued them a license which allowed them to continue with rocket launches. The successful launch on January 14th was followed by a successful landing of the Falcon 9 on the company's drone ship in the Pacific Ocean, which were also two firsts for SpaceX. With those successes and a backlog of customers, SpaceX is looking forward to a busy year in 2017.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
A Factoy In India Turns CO2 Into Baking Soda
On January 4th 2017, Carbonclean, a company in India, announced that it had invented a new technology that can successfully turned Co2 into baking soda. The new technology is being used at the Tuticorin thermal power station on the Bay of Bengal. The new process was created by two young chemists at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur. After finding a lack of financing in India, the two took their idea to the UK.
Aniruddha Sharma, who is the CEO of Carbonclean, now headquartered in London, says that their process is similar to other carbon capture technologies that use a solvent to clean emissions. However, most carbon capture processes use a solvent, usually amine, which is expensive and corrosive. Carbonclean's solvent is made from a new chemical that is cheaper, less corrosive and their machinery is smaller and less expensive to build.
At the Tuticorin facility, the carbon from burning coal is turned into soda ash (Na2Co3) or baking soda. Until now, the debate over carbon capture has essentially centered around capturing emissions and forcing them into underground rocks, which can be costly. Sharma says that with Carbonclean's new technology, Co2 can be captured at less than $30 a ton. That's a price low enough to make converting Co2 into a product, and a wise business decision.
Aniruddha Sharma, who is the CEO of Carbonclean, now headquartered in London, says that their process is similar to other carbon capture technologies that use a solvent to clean emissions. However, most carbon capture processes use a solvent, usually amine, which is expensive and corrosive. Carbonclean's solvent is made from a new chemical that is cheaper, less corrosive and their machinery is smaller and less expensive to build.
At the Tuticorin facility, the carbon from burning coal is turned into soda ash (Na2Co3) or baking soda. Until now, the debate over carbon capture has essentially centered around capturing emissions and forcing them into underground rocks, which can be costly. Sharma says that with Carbonclean's new technology, Co2 can be captured at less than $30 a ton. That's a price low enough to make converting Co2 into a product, and a wise business decision.
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