Post A0xQsOSjPAlP46Rbdo by cypnk@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by cypnk@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #A0UTBdqJiHQXFMDvNo by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T21:23:32Z
3 likes, 2 repeats
Accidentally started a space program
(DIR) Post #A0UTBe34wpdRswC7H6 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T21:26:38Z
3 likes, 2 repeats
Need 1.2 billion to build and launch hundreds of drone satellites that go to asteroids to mine and refine ore. Then shuttle the ore via ion thrusters to space 3D printers at Earth's Lagrange Point 4, which then use solar heaters to build space habitat componentsSo like, Kickstarter or something?
(DIR) Post #A0UTBeKRuFWukoJzLk by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T22:04:41Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
FYI For anyone starting their own space program (he mentions casually) there's a thing called ITAR registration, which is pretty much mandatory for anything space or rocket related "International Traffic in Arms Regulations" is basically a set of rules in the U.S. saying you can't do business with anyone on the govt naughty listBut you have to register for this, which costs $2250 ($2750 renewal) every year, which is currently reduced to $500 because of COVID until 2021Skipping = Jail+fine
(DIR) Post #A0UTBeUNJLTBFaxuoy by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-22T12:19:28Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Texas Instruments makes a nice D-type 16-bit flip flop with 3 states: 74LVTH16374Put 4 of these together with a few capacitors and other helper components and you've got a 64 bit register appropriate for RISC-V CPU built from scratchAlso the 16374 has an operating temp range of -40C - 85C. Storage, -65C - 150C. Quite manageable with active controls
(DIR) Post #A0UTBeiYScoPxZbEvI by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-22T12:22:08Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
What you lose in space and power consumption, you gain with parts availability and development costIt's not exactly radiation hardened, but a computer built with coarse electronics, even CMOS, is less susceptible in low Earth orbitBesides RADHARD components tend to be much slower than contemporary consumer chips anyway. Might as well go bigger to make things easier and cheaper to buildLaunch costs will tumble even more
(DIR) Post #A0UTBf2lFUyWyF3NQ0 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-22T12:23:05Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Yes, this too is part of the DIY space program
(DIR) Post #A0UTBfKUBb9ZrDLX2u by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T02:08:53Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Looking at the precautions for potting compound made me realize how incredibly toxic some of this stuff is. Especially the chemicals used in aerospace for high/low temperature toleranceSome of this stuff will make your eyebrows fall out with one whiffAll of them need a respirator, long sleeves, and thick gloves to handle safety
(DIR) Post #A0UTBfb9BeTsgt8q12 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T14:49:31Z
2 likes, 1 repeats
The Curiosity rover has 2 radiation hardened computers (primary + backup) clocked at a maximum 200MHz. The CPU alone costs $200K, without the mainboard and other support hardwarePlan is to make my own radiation "tolerant" CPU with similar specs, but in RISC-V RV64, in my living room for the same price as a PizzaHut dinner for 2Piece of cake
(DIR) Post #A0UTBg2RYAJc3XudYu by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T14:52:50Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Found my starting point. The registers can be built with a bunch of these D-type 3 state flip flops:74ALVCH16821PDF Datasheet https://assets.nexperia.com/documents/data-sheet/74ALVCH16821.pdf
(DIR) Post #A0UTBgVrmlqpWng8QK by penguin42@mastodon.org.uk
2020-10-24T15:11:04Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk Why go with something that big rather than common 8 bit packages?
(DIR) Post #A0UTlZKnx63hgocDaa by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T15:17:37Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@penguin42 Mostly the fun of doing it from scratch. But also because "coarse" electronics like discrete components are less susceptible to radiation, because the internals are more widely spread out
(DIR) Post #A0UULhguMOhy22BV20 by penguin42@mastodon.org.uk
2020-10-24T15:24:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk No, I mean why use a 20 bit D-type device rather than more common 8-bit 74 chips that have existed for decades.
(DIR) Post #A0UV5K5qQd0GAJbLWa by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T15:32:23Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@penguin42 Oh, that's for error detection on 64bit operation with fewer components. The end goal is a 64bit RISC-V that implements all the integers operations at a minimum 4 flip flops at 20bits each give me ample parity for 64bits
(DIR) Post #A0okbGmHZXcymfc4Ei by Nikolai_Kingsley@dobbs.town
2020-11-03T09:13:47Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk > So like, Kickstarter or something?onlyfans 😁
(DIR) Post #A0okbGyKqjGjO3Fh1U by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T09:39:56Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@Nikolai_Kingsley "Click here to join in on hot aerospace action"
(DIR) Post #A0okbHJFay00Qv2Oci by jens@social.finkhaeuser.de
2020-11-03T09:42:16Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk @Nikolai_Kingsley You had me at drones. /me rips off his shirt
(DIR) Post #A0okbHfaFvrbYBUEQy by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T09:59:37Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@jens @Nikolai_Kingsley My dream one day is an Open Source OnlyFans clone with peer-to-peer storage and relay from Mars...soon
(DIR) Post #A0okbHwxDLl4Q3c6Vc by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-03T10:00:27.776548Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk @jens @Nikolai_Kingsley What Could Possibly Go Right?
(DIR) Post #A0pZlkcyXcJdv60zhY by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-25T01:21:41Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
According to my rough calculations, I need an O'Neil Cylinder built in Earth's Larange point 5, with a diameter no less than 1.14km and length no less than 7.61km, to support a renewable forest for firewood for a single a wood stove in a single orbitSeasons like winter can be simulated with solar shading and moisture pumped through a central line of needle spray nozzles. The Coriolis effect on falling snow and rain would be remarkableMaintaining this wouldn't require much processing power
(DIR) Post #A0pZlksvaJ4miZTjZA by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-26T11:16:36Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
Finding bucket seats good enough (and cheap enough) to withstand a launch into orbit and reentry is a challenge
(DIR) Post #A0pZll8sczpvW2wTQm by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-01T15:58:49Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
This can probably be built in a weekend with a bit of spare stainless steel, some pipes, and maybe a gasket or two How hard can it be
(DIR) Post #A0pZllWdCgpqhi3RS4 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-01T16:12:33Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
Borrowing some ideas
(DIR) Post #A0pZlm5j6CuMSYTT9c by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T09:09:15Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
TIL This is the "noise" captured by Voyager 1 in the interstellar medium. I can't be entirely sure there are no space whalesWonder how practical it would be to build something approaching the Voyager probes' durability in my living roomhttp://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/voyager/v1pws_interstellar_epo.html
(DIR) Post #A0pZlmLg8tfVG1wD1E by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T19:02:51Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
There's technically no rule against using bamboo inside a spacecraft, aside from weight considerations (and possible sensitivity to temperature fluctuations)The only hazard is possibly flammability, but that has countermeasures
(DIR) Post #A0pZlmfsvlpcGhOLVw by penguin42@mastodon.org.uk
2020-11-03T19:33:47Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk what about out-gassing?
(DIR) Post #A0paLN8BNXEXTHb5tI by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T19:40:15Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@penguin42 At ambient pressure, this shouldn't be an issue, but baked bamboo doesn't really outgass any more than other types of plastic sent up there
(DIR) Post #A0pcm0AD4uvRxzN584 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T19:14:31Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
A DIY space program needs lots of antennasIt's possible to build a fairly adequate parabolic dish (beam waveguide type so the base is stationary) with EMT electrical conduit. The dish just needs to support itself and EMT conduit is fairly easy to bend to the correct shape and is robust enough to survive outdoors even under heavy snow
(DIR) Post #A0pcm1Ksij3XbNN7Oy by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T20:07:23Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
I can totally build this with electrical conduit
(DIR) Post #A0pcnHI4t19xNGeyrQ by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-03T20:07:44.379040Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk for a moment I thought this was a test fusion reactor design
(DIR) Post #A0pcx8lzPR8DqyLzoO by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T20:09:18Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@Ted I can probably build one of those with the left over bits of a microwave
(DIR) Post #A0pcyCX2v2OVnjrzgO by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-03T20:09:42.842259Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk please no massive danger to yourself
(DIR) Post #A0x0h9XvvOnsoHrBmC by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T19:34:41Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
There's a lot of "X has more processing power than the Apollo lander" and similar phrasing and that's usually not a good comparisonSpacecraft hardware is highly specialized and extremely capable in the narrow field in which they're usedFrom a biological perspective, it would be like comparing brain size and neuron count. Behavior is a lot more accurate indicator of intelligence and capabilityI can't even guess how smart an octopus is, but we don't typically use their size to compare
(DIR) Post #A0x0h9oavS8BdxeUkK by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T19:38:35Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
And speaking of space hardware, being resilient is often more important than just capability and speedIn fact, most space-rated hardware is going to be slower than their consumer counterparts, but that's OK because the software is highly optimized to run on itThe trick to getting the DIY space program operational on that front is making sure the hardware is resilient and the programming optimized and actually fits the purpose more than increasing raw speed
(DIR) Post #A0x0hA4twpAuSXHWAC by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T20:32:37Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
Every space program needs a rover
(DIR) Post #A0x0hANgoyChOo4WRs by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T20:36:29Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
This is by far one of the better animations of a rocker bogie that I've seen in a good while. It moves the middle suspension bar to the rear, which frees up the middle for actual storage, power etc...Via:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49AJeDyDjmISee also:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocker-bogie
(DIR) Post #A0x0hAgTh7EUL4rWjY by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T21:02:01Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
This is by far the simplest practical breakdown of the rocker bogie mechanism that's easy to understand. It's one thing to read papers with angle calculations, pressure delta etc... but another to actually see just the moving componentsI think this platform would work quite nicely for the simplest practical rover https://wpirover.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/rocker-differencing-kinematic-suspension/
(DIR) Post #A0x0hBBfp8BbtpSRMG by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T21:05:58Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
And then there's this guy who built an entire rocker bogie car for his kidhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_6e71BJOzM
(DIR) Post #A0x0hBLxCuPSPiGeNk by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-06T09:21:35Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
There's a lot of reading involved when it comes to starting your own space program :blobsweats: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=pt14.1.21
(DIR) Post #A0x0hBek53RFLz3efQ by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-06T19:25:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Personal hygiene is important under the DIY space program. Of course, a spinning habitat would make things a lot simpler, but in the meantime, we'll probably go with the no-rinse shampoo toohttps://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/jp76rj/washing_hairs_in_space/
(DIR) Post #A0x0hBuh7kCO9SWOX2 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-06T21:40:39Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I was looking at the engine detail of the Redstone rocket engine, the heart of the PGM-11 missile. It occurs to me that this particular geometry lends itself quite well to the expander cycleThis particular engine had a turbopump powered by decomposed high-test peroxideIn theory, H2O2 is a pretty neat way to power a turbopump (also used by Copenhagen Suborbitals is using it for their engines) and as a monopropellant for RCS thrusters, but it's kind of a pain to handle and store safely
(DIR) Post #A0x0hC4cWq8eeFAK0G by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T09:31:33Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Fiber optic cables don't seem to fare well without special shielding and different methods of construction in a high radiation environment. While they're resistant to transient EM spikes, they do tend to break down and attenuate more of the laser light over longer distancesThis is a bit of a dilemma. Either go with copper lines for signaling and sensors and risk spikes and have them acting as antennas in a EM field, or go with fiber. Alternatively, I may have to make my own
(DIR) Post #A0x0hCMLSwJhXDSTdA by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T09:31:52Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Also, I may have accidentally landed myself on some kind of list by searching for "radiation sources" too many times
(DIR) Post #A0xQ6nzfB4foLg9jlo by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T12:48:07Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
I'm both heartened and terrified that some of you are genuinely interested in this backwater space program Please be patient about the first several (dozen?) explosions
(DIR) Post #A0xQ6o8sco2uoGT68W by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T14:19:31Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Speaking of explosions...The number of accidents in rocketry is too damn high!Some of that is the inherent danger of the fuel + oxidizer and the complicated plumbing involved. I have neither the intelligence or patience to grasp all of that mess so if I build a rocket, it will probably use the expander cycleThe plumbing is *far* less complex with fewer moving parts. Which means fewer places for things to go wrong and fewer areas of concern to monitor (less work for the computer)
(DIR) Post #A0xQ7tOoZ5bPP5RGm8 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T14:21:08Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
I know the new hotness is Methane right now, but I'd go with Dimethyl Ether as the fuel instead. It's very cheap and can be made from biofuel (possibly on Mars via a different process as well)As the oxidizer, I'd use Nitrous Oxide. Laughing gas, basically. It's also very cheap and made by the millions of tons. Best of all, it can be decomposed into a very hot gas at 577 CDimethyl Ether auto ignites at only 350 C so there's the startup process solved. No need for pyros, sparks, etc...
(DIR) Post #A0xQAexogyCpVA88Zc by craigmaloney@octodon.social
2020-10-21T21:28:34Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk need some stretch goals as well.
(DIR) Post #A0xQAiBOivqtU9VWeu by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T21:34:38Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@craigmaloney Fully Automated Rustic Space Cyberpunk
(DIR) Post #A0xQBNwHTWiQzQl2vY by benhamill@eldritch.cafe
2020-10-21T21:35:25Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@craigmaloney @cypnkBacker Level 3: Cadet 1st Class$50.0The first human to board the completed habitat will read your name from a list in the central public area.
(DIR) Post #A0xQBQEmvghy7PQr3I by detondev@social.linux.pizza
2020-10-21T21:35:23Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@craigmaloney @cypnk every backer who gives more than $1,000 gets an exclusive* small-scale replica** of the drones :P
(DIR) Post #A0xQBUnJzEhyFfcUQy by benhamill@eldritch.cafe
2020-10-21T21:35:53Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@craigmaloney @cypnk Stretch Goal 5: Breathable atmosphere inside the habitat.
(DIR) Post #A0xQBvrVLn66CSmiCe by zem@conesphere.social
2020-10-21T21:48:36Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnksounds like what is "space gateway foundation" is planning or so.
(DIR) Post #A0xQE040hR9joJcVSy by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:24:35.799953Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@benhamill @craigmaloney @cypnk Stretch Goal 6: Carbon Dioxide Scrubbing
(DIR) Post #A0xQF9L9hA3cs3BhY0 by groff@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T21:39:26Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk I'm in for a t-shirt.
(DIR) Post #A0xQFDxEXWtRBJ2ASG by detondev@social.linux.pizza
2020-10-21T21:47:39Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@groff @cypnk Can I submit a design? _______ _______ / `-' \ /__| exploiting |__\ | where | | no human | | has | | exploited | | before | |____________|
(DIR) Post #A0xQJRxIQUcRlN4uvY by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:25:34.991488Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@detondev @groff @cypnk You're nearly there for space wageslavery:`exploiting humans where no humans have been exploited before`
(DIR) Post #A0xQKp6RqjRfqN0vUe by das_aug@chaos.social
2020-10-21T22:10:41Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk this is the reason why in the Euro space business, "no us parts inside!" is a mark of prestige. Because, last time I was aware of the issues, for the purpose of space hardware, the end user country is legally the country containing the space-port from which the rocket launched. Given that very often, plans change and one might switch from Kourou to Baikonur, just not having to deal with itar is a big plus
(DIR) Post #A0xQKpygb4pYYaOF28 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T22:13:12Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@das_aug Yeah, they're avoiding headaches before they become migrainesSadly, I have no such luck since I'm in the U.S. Even if I never export a single component, I have to register :(
(DIR) Post #A0xQKzfuXjkodFgO9o by zem@conesphere.social
2020-10-21T22:10:51Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk That sort of drone building seems incredibly useful. In general you need a hand full of replicating drones in a suitcase with some software on them. When you are stranded on a planet, you basically you press a knob and it starts building itself into a fueled and ready to launch space ship using local materials and energy.
(DIR) Post #A0xQLj0M0ZqRDgaqlk by fleeky@prsm.space
2020-10-21T22:22:09Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk more explanation needed..
(DIR) Post #A0xQLjEBBAu5uZ3tJo by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-21T22:38:36Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@fleeky So basically, I thought we need like a bunch of low cost satellites to be sent to asteroids. Like the Philae lander, but do more useful stuff like mining instead of bouncing once or twice and shutting down without sunlight Problem is I don't really know anything about orbital mechanics. Or spacecraft in actual space, but I figured I can sort it out in a weekend. That was a year ago
(DIR) Post #A0xQV9whDBW1NkNgmm by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:27:40.786167Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk it's amazing to consider how far certain technologies will have improved...by the time the top-end rover makes it to its destination.It's a constant arms race that you're always going to lose super hard...
(DIR) Post #A0xQWcLz4rDhmEu9hI by szbalint@x0r.be
2020-10-24T14:53:47Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk the thing is the gap is bound to increase over time, as we continue to miniaturizealso a factor in storage, not just cpus, bitflips are getting so increasingly common that I wouldn't run a datacenter without error correction/parity bits all the way down.It's getting ridiculous
(DIR) Post #A0xQXVxoJv9qFU1dnE by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T14:55:27Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@Jo Uh... I'm guessing that was probably a nincompoopWe're a good decade away from even approaching "consumer" satellites
(DIR) Post #A0xQYN2wxXlCslpzf6 by moritzheiber@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T15:04:15Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk This is the most ridiculous yet intriguing toot I've read in a while 😆
(DIR) Post #A0xQZYze1l5ODwrOme by deejoe@mastodon.technology
2020-10-24T15:16:56Z
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@cypnk oh, is that all
(DIR) Post #A0xQZfHadx0PjLIoaW by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T15:20:35Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@deejoe I may have to throw in the cost of a Starbucks macchiato for the temperature regulator and a few other bits and bobs
(DIR) Post #A0xQa1FYyASLrQWVU0 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T14:58:58Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@szbalint There's such a huge divide between expectation and reality. I only partly blame operators. Vendors really need to be taken down a notch for under-delivering on integrity
(DIR) Post #A0xQa2xCdOxT93ws8u by eqe@aleph.land
2020-10-24T15:20:46Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk @szbalint ok, so, a question... Is there a way to build an ALU with ECC? This would be a circuit that implements add, multiply, subtract, etc with the guarantee that if one of the gates malfunctions and flips a bit, the result would be detectably wrong.Ideally with sufficiently large hamming distance that the correct answer can be figured out from the "check bits", similar to how for RAM, SECDED ecc is more powerful than single-bit parity. There's a straightforward 2x overhead version where you have 2 ALUs and compare after each operation but I have an inkling that there should be an algebraic transformation from an architecture definition like RISC-V to a circuit (in the "circuit satisfiability" sense from computational complexity theory) that can be turned into a definition for a fpga or asic.
(DIR) Post #A0xQaZm0c2c0vtxtmC by jauntywunderkind420@cybre.space
2020-10-24T15:27:12Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk i wonder what the spend looks like on satellites for processing power. histograms spend broken down by processing chips, power conversion/switching chips, adcs & dac chips, power source, batteries, oh pretty plz someone.how rad hard do satellites need to be? is the moon any "easier" than mars? i feel like the hard part of rad hard is usually that you have to soak rads over lots & lots of time, maybe, that if you only had to do the job for 5 months you could plan for the damage & build rad hard hush, but this is theorycraft/wild-conjecture.
(DIR) Post #A0xQbBvCmIXzFQYmO0 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T15:27:38Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@eqe @szbalint There is, but the trick is to "burn" CPU cycles. And it's not quite to correct errors, but retransmit and recalculate on error detection The trick is similar to the way the Space Shuttle Orbiter's engine control computers worked. The ALU does its thing 3 or more odd numbered times that passed Hamming(63,57) and then pass on the results. At a minimum, that's 5 cycles which can easily bring down a multi GHz processor into the MHz rangeMarketing would have a fit
(DIR) Post #A0xQdIXf8QYMMLYKNU by thegibson@hackers.town
2020-10-24T14:54:50Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@szbalint @cypnk and it's been getting worse slowly... but for 20 years.
(DIR) Post #A0xQdJqqGbUOQ7X9ua by vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de
2020-10-24T15:34:08Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@TheGibson @szbalint @cypnk in that time we have traded robustness and reliability for features, todays systems (using custom hardware and software dedicated to one job) are barely trustworthy enough to run a radio station 24/7 let alone spacecraft...
(DIR) Post #A0xQdfadRXb5qE7Whk by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-24T15:36:51Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@jauntywunderkind420 In a weird way, Mars is easier than the Moon. Once you get past high Earth orbit, you're really at the mercy of both Solar and cosmic radiation. On Mars, the bigger issue is cosmic rays because the very thin atmosphere does reduce it a bitAnything in deep space is constantly bombarded and error correcting software is really the only way to reduce issues. The radiation hardening is really only to prevent the components from totally failing
(DIR) Post #A0xQitsZk8Slbh0QeO by wauz@mastodon.social
2020-10-26T11:19:40Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnkIf you once reached escape speed and escaped, why to want to come back?To THIS planet? Giddy up!
(DIR) Post #A0xQjVnEmQlvC8nhbc by fleeky@prsm.space
2020-10-26T13:58:48Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk wait wait , is there not radiation shielding you can use around a more traditional terestrial piece of hardware ?
(DIR) Post #A0xQl9lJf5qFRigblw by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:30:35.416528Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@wauz @cypnk "you've made it this far...why not continue indefinitely?"
(DIR) Post #A0xQlwb45zkyu7Gc64 by fleeky@prsm.space
2020-10-26T14:07:48Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/universe/can-we-protect-a-spacecraft-from-radiation-by-creating-an-artificial-magnetic-field-around-it.htmlthere saying 500w-5kw of power to make a magnetic field strong enough to deflect space radiation .. doesnt seem so energy intensive, spend more of your weight budget on solar panels ?
(DIR) Post #A0xQmlmrlsV3fUBG4W by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-10-26T14:57:47Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@fleeky This is interesting in theory and for actual colonization it may be the way to go. But my DIY space program is about keeping things dirt cheap and super simpleBasically, the same approach as the nuclear waste temporary storage pools in power plants would work, Water is an excellent (and totally passive) radiation shield so wrap the craft's living quarters in water tanks. If the power fails, you still have your shield since you need your water anyway
(DIR) Post #A0xQoLgtldxLJM8sNM by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:31:09.832387Z
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@cypnk @fleeky but water is dense and pretty much noncompressible...
(DIR) Post #A0xQpcWgexjDoYyKvY by djsundog@toot-lab.reclaim.technology
2020-11-01T16:10:47Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk definitely two gaskets. take my word for it.
(DIR) Post #A0xQrOuEGpv69QpgtU by CobaltVelvet@octodon.social
2020-11-01T16:12:42Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@djsundog @cypnk they always mention the materials but never the tools. you need a good power drill and two kinds of screwdrivers at least
(DIR) Post #A0xQrgKjTYDmCYMb44 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-01T16:13:59Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@CobaltVelvet @djsundog Luckily got that covered! Got a very nice pair of an impact driver and drill from eBay. Fella who sold it only used it twice and it looks like only a couple of cats chewed through the charger's cable
(DIR) Post #A0xQsLgRjix4Rlq16O by tsturm@toot.site
2020-11-01T16:24:05Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk I like that you are tackling the very small and the very big challenges in your space program simultaneously. 😁
(DIR) Post #A0xQsOSjPAlP46Rbdo by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-01T16:25:34Z
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@tsturm Wouldn't be a Rustic Cyberpunk Space Program without the big and small of it all
(DIR) Post #A0xQuYvlSHbk6x3gUy by diode@cybre.space
2020-11-01T16:52:32Z
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@cypnk y'ever turned stainless?
(DIR) Post #A0xQuZ7ojTFUiKhJHk by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-01T17:20:09Z
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@diode Imma get a wood turning lathe. Should be drop in easy peasy
(DIR) Post #A0xQuZKvwhjzN0pmjI by diode@cybre.space
2020-11-01T18:24:26Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk heheh. i'm sure it'll work out just fine.that said, if you whittle a rocket bell out with hand gravers, i'll be supremely impressed.
(DIR) Post #A0xQyfVgw1GhfvoxlI by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:33:01.935196Z
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@cypnk @Nikolai_Kingsley make you finish at escape velocity
(DIR) Post #A0xQzLjzvDfSeSpytM by das_aug@chaos.social
2020-10-21T22:17:32Z
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@cypnk biggest fuckup is when parts become retroactively itar listed after you bought them. Happened to us once, major head-ache!
(DIR) Post #A0xQzM0IwaiBT2T0JE by Nikolai_Kingsley@dobbs.town
2020-11-03T09:15:38Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@das_aug @cypnk > when parts become retroactively itar listed after you bought them. that's starting to sound less like regulation and more like standover tactics.
(DIR) Post #A0xR0tdbNbaq4QaEFc by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:33:24.080934Z
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@cypnk @Nikolai_Kingsley @jens now I see the thread. LOL
(DIR) Post #A0xR6RdqNiBYynLHO4 by Ted@landofkittens.social
2020-11-07T14:34:26.278891Z
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@cypnk @penguin42 not only will it burn up in the atmosphere upon violent re-entry…it’s also biodegradable!
(DIR) Post #A0xR7yZXQqBlOx3gMi by Tay0@fosstodon.org
2020-11-03T20:18:53Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk Reasonably priced, easy to bend and work with, strong as metal yet lightweight. Great stuff. Many sources of jigs, bending apparatuses(I like apparati!), and ideas out there on the interwebs. One of my favorite materials for building #3Dprinter frames.
(DIR) Post #A0xR8BvzkesOqMfIfo by phooky@octodon.social
2020-11-03T20:20:21Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk "IF IN DOUBT, ASK" should be printed on everything
(DIR) Post #A0xR8Nwn5Wdw6J86a0 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-03T20:26:08Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@Tay0 Yes indeed! It's kinda amazing how good it is for building basic tent structures and greenhouses too
(DIR) Post #A0xSJNDaEtkeykmuTw by Tay0@fosstodon.org
2020-11-05T19:47:04Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk At $25 apiece, the RPI compute module would be great. You could have them running in pairs, each pair doing a very specific task. The small size, low weight and interoperability would make them ideal with a few spares onboard in case of failure. In places where you need the GPIO, the standard RPI would work equally well.
(DIR) Post #A0xSKdXT2q0Ft0gtIu by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-05T19:57:13Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@Tay0 For something in LEO, I can imagine it being a perfect fit for E.G. a cubesat. Very little power and the new RPI 4 Model B has good imaging capability as wellBut it wouldn't be "DIY" if I don't solder the registers and build a CPU myself ;)
(DIR) Post #A0zgr6UYijwgcjcria by realcaseyrollins@counter.fedi.live
2020-11-08T16:40:22.111934Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk CTRL + ALT + DELETE
(DIR) Post #A10Fzgoh2xTBzlsBnM by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T14:26:47Z
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No nonsense that can fail explosively. Just a tiny electric pump to get the N2O going over the catalyst, which is more than hot enough to ignite the mixtureAlso, the expander cycle limits the maximum size of an engine, which means you have to build more smaller ones anyway. While that's extra work, you get spares if one or two shutdown mid-flightAnd expanders don't have complicated turbopumps which need high temp/high speed moving parts and seals so they're cheaper to build
(DIR) Post #A10FzhCRceT7BQz9oe by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T14:43:28Z
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Hmm...An expander cycle rocket engine with a radiation resistant computer and sensors will probably cost more than the $2.41 I found in my couch this morning I'm gonna need to engineer this to within an inch of its life
(DIR) Post #A10FziI9Yud4ZQfELw by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T15:20:50Z
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Going with Dimethyl Ether and Nitrous Oxide as fuel and oxidizer also because they can be kept liquid at similar temps-141 C To −24 C for Dimethyl Ether and −90.86 C to −88.48 C for Nitrous Oxide. Which means, they can share a bulkhead in the tanksThis significantly cuts complexity and reduces weightAlso, both have enough expansion at warmer temperatures that I can use "Autogenous pressurization". Same as SpaceX's Starship (though mine will probably be made of glue and aluminum foil)
(DIR) Post #A10FzjimFPWJ0I80US by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-07T16:25:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Hypgergolic propellant as praxis
(DIR) Post #A10Fzjz5GmZ1orl1uK by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T16:13:26Z
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ProTip: The oils on your skin can be just as bad as battery acid depending on the material you're touching. Especially if you can't clean it ever again and will remain in operation for years or decades Also, welding gloves are better than oven mitts for everything you'd need ovens mitts
(DIR) Post #A10FzkMTrnHMzQhiNM by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T19:51:08Z
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Technically, there's no rule that you can't use a turbo charger used for a typical small block V8 in a rocket engine as a turbocharger (with a few modifications)As long as it doesn't blow up immediately, it should workThis plan is flawless and brilliant
(DIR) Post #A10FzkcQuU2VmuASEy by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T19:52:02Z
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My kitchen is too small to build a rocket engine :(
(DIR) Post #A10FzkzTWoTGwMwr9k by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T23:10:57Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Apparently a turbocharger from a V8 isn't actually designed to funnel liquid propellant at -89 C at turbopump tolerance. Or survive reentry down from orbital speeds (because reusable rockets or GTFO)My plan to use a rice cooker to make homemade high-temp composites is probably gonna have issues tooI hope lockdowns lift a bit so I can go trash diving. I'm sure someone's thrown out an orbital grade turbopump somewhere
(DIR) Post #A10FzlkGiptxHUqE5o by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T23:13:33Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
ProTop: Always separate utensils used in your rocketry experiments separate from your food cooking stuff Graphite tastes terrible and epoxy is toxic
(DIR) Post #A10GH13N3nMXgJ04mW by p@lol.dydx.moe
2020-11-08T23:17:12.319918Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
do you know "Nile Red" on youtube?@cypnk
(DIR) Post #A10HCEqGT12Qx69hwG by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T23:26:36Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@p I do indeed! In fact, I used his tutorial on making benzene for some ideas. Also the one on fuming nitric acid (before I went with a different propellant for safety reasons)
(DIR) Post #A10QIyqbES0oxbbNce by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-08T23:28:47Z
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I think I'll also be using stainless steel for my rockets so there's basically no difference between me and SpaceX
(DIR) Post #A10QIzb2Rn9vHdKT0S by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-09T00:53:03Z
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Oh wow. Titanium is kinda expensive. Like much more than I thought it was. Well, it's probably OK to use plain ol' steel as long as it doesn't reach softening/melting temperatures
(DIR) Post #A10QJ0oBwNH52iUU9A by fleeky@prsm.space
2020-11-09T01:05:41Z
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@cypnk what about what electron does , 3d printing rocket engines and such? i believe they have two robo arms that spot weld it all up ,, i imagine there is a secondary refinement with some other tooling .. but idk :) what would be cool about that is you could crowd source a lot of the designs and maybe figure out the best rocket engines evarrr
(DIR) Post #A10QJ1ZL74zLOwY8dU by jordan31@fosstodon.org
2020-11-09T01:09:34Z
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@fleekyBuild a steel cone. Sit it on top a nuclear bomb.It will go somewhere...@cypnk
(DIR) Post #A10QrQI3hrYZv1rxKq by fleeky@prsm.space
2020-11-09T01:15:49Z
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@jordan31 @cypnk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_salt-water_rocket
(DIR) Post #A10ReO5yehpZIjZB0S by jordan31@fosstodon.org
2020-11-09T01:24:39Z
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@cypnkThere are a few places available in Huntsville AL to build and test your rockets. Matter of fact there is a old rocket stand just outside the city in the middle of a field. Bunch of stuff left over from the Apollo missions there. You could even steal one of the original V2 bombs to reverse engineer, its just sitting on the side of a intersection.
(DIR) Post #A10WGWRITtgM03yhAO by bstacey@icosahedron.website
2020-11-09T02:16:21Z
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@jordan31 @cypnk South Memorial Parkway, near the old Airport Road, if I recall correctly.
(DIR) Post #A10c3Wss7F3NL840Ke by jordan31@fosstodon.org
2020-11-09T03:21:16Z
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@bstacey @cypnk I was thinking memorial as well but its been years since I been that way. Of course the closer to NASA you could just steal one of the actual Saturn 5 rockets among other stuff.If you interested I know where a couple of old Abraham tanks and howitzers are near blount haha.
(DIR) Post #A122Pb3M18gPvuRcuG by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-09T09:46:50Z
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2 girls 1 cup
(DIR) Post #A122PbHBBjk4cmufSK by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-09T09:51:16Z
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Although there are significant drawbacks with a multi-nozzle rocket engine design, I think for small scale development, the benefits outweigh them. Biggest benefit being combustion stability, which is greater in smaller combustion chambers (see Apollo's F1 issues). The biggest drawback is the additional manufacturer of nozzles and chambers, but once you get the design finalized, they're relatively straightforward to do repeatedly
(DIR) Post #A122PbUIOyEZHT38ts by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-09T19:31:56Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
So far, I've been unsuccessful in finding an appropriate spacesuit design that I can make with my own sewing machine and materials from the craft store. Probably will have to settle for a pressure suit made of heat resistant material for now, until I get better at itI'd like to investigate non-pressurized suits, particularly compression types which use "lines of non-extension". The materials will still be expensive, but at least this will be old research
(DIR) Post #A13kcEyM0wV8MBuB8q by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-10T14:14:56Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Today in gloriously-impractical-yet-want, here's an actual core memory unit including the Gerber files for the circuit board and schematichttp://mikesmods.com/mm-wp/?p=556Spacecraft don't use these anymore since there are better options, but part of me feels like there's still some value in hereI also wonder if it's feasible to have core memory backed SRAMSo the system reads/writes to SRAM in normal use, as a fast buffer, while it slowly updates the core memoryMight just be crazy enough to work
(DIR) Post #A13kcFKgfuMjTSM0x6 by profoundlynerdy@mastodon.technology
2020-11-10T14:18:19Z
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@cypnk Wow! That's pretty cool. I've actually thought about how to make modern core memory and this looks excellent.The #CollapseOS crowd will probably want to know about this, maybe even #osnews.
(DIR) Post #A13kcFetSmWqU7o9Ro by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-10T14:19:10Z
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@profoundlynerdy Indeed. No matter what, we've been making tiny iron rings for centuries, so worst case scenario, there's room to store at least a few kilobits with some effort
(DIR) Post #A13kcFuUWn0PGV6blA by profoundlynerdy@mastodon.technology
2020-11-10T14:30:21Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk Right. That's an 8×8 matrix. Assuming no bits are reserved for parity: 1024 of those will get you 64kB of RAM. That is plenty of RAM re-start the information age. Relatively fast (10's of MHz) CPU's can be made with scavenged TTL logic chips.Punched tape as ROM can bootstrap an OS, phonograph cylinders can store a few hundred kB of program data. Long range communication is possible over #shortwave.#retrocomputing
(DIR) Post #A15dZfIZMpzfm36b6u by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-11T13:29:09Z
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I thought I was being very clever when I thought of combining PCBs with core memoryBasically, you include an iron coated ring in one of the inner layers (or maybe several rings) while a via through the middle takes care of the connections to sense and address leadsWell, someone already thought of it beforeBack in 1961 But it does mean this may be a feasible way to create modern core memory without resorting to fiddling with tiny ferrites. Maybe even mass-produce it by iron-plating rings
(DIR) Post #A15dZfbMEz1SiJtbOa by fluffy@social.handholding.io
2020-11-11T13:31:49.773282Z
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@cypnk it seems sometimes like everything worth thinking up was thought up in the sixtiesmust have been a hell of a time to be alive
(DIR) Post #A15eC5TaUI9Ly0a1zM by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-11T13:35:54Z
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@fluffy Before the Internet, people actually had to work hard to send messages of discouragement. Of course, encouragement was harder too, but that also meant fewer distractions overall
(DIR) Post #A15eC5pv9G0x5H1rnc by fluffy@social.handholding.io
2020-11-11T13:38:47.652607Z
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@cypnk lol weird flex but okay :fluffyblobcatlul:
(DIR) Post #A1p3if5C3MuvUeH2xs by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-11T13:51:17Z
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If we take "ring" or "ferrite" to just mean "iron loop", then printed core memory may actually be fairly straightforward (hah!)The iron loop can actually be printed as two iron-plated half loops on either surface of a 4 layer, double-sided PCB, with vias through the middle and on each half end of the loop to the one the opposite side4 layers is also ample to handle addressing, sense, and inhibit linesCoincidentally, 4 layers are the cheapest multi layer PCB type available from most vendors
(DIR) Post #A1p3ifKn7NOUH1ZVHE by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-16T01:22:36Z
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I think this is a Crew Return Vehicle concept. There's a lot of space dedicated to provisions and maybe experiments, but not a lot for fuel. I'm guessing there's just enough for a bit of maneuvering and a deorbit burn and nothing elseBut that also makes it a feasible build of an orbital spacecraft for a DIY space program that's a bit more exciting than a simple capsule. Geometrically, it's actually an elongated capsule than a "spaceplane", unlike the ShuttleAnd you can mount it atop a rocket
(DIR) Post #A1p3ifa2ChaT2Ihg2K by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-16T14:22:19Z
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Oh that's actually not a Crew Return Vehicle, but a full on space shuttle replacement concept by Lockheed. And it's a lot bigger on the inside than the concepts imply. Which means, it's probably not going to be built any time soon (if at all)The problem with larger Shuttle* concepts is that they're always going to be semi-reusable as long as rockets are involvedIronically, the SpaceX Starship is probably the way to go as it's the least "plane-like" of all the reusable systems
(DIR) Post #A1p3ifjxbnWjX5LbVY by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-11-16T22:59:39Z
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This is a pretty nice video of on building a solar cooker with a parabolic reflector. The form is actually made of concrete so you can make many reflectors repeatably with very good accuracyIf I'm building my own radio observatory, I'd probably also use this technique to build hundreds of parabolic dish antennashttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q_VzJ3P4wc
(DIR) Post #A1p3ifxmmOaODxoe3c by cypnk@mastodon.social
2020-12-03T11:21:01Z
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Going back to the idea of DIY core memory, I came across this page many moons ago, but lost it. Sadly, the original page is gone, but luckily the Internet Archive has a snapshotIt's a very good primer on the operation of core memory and has a set of demo circuits to operate a small grid of cores (expandable to as many as is practical)https://web.archive.org/web/20061205234134/http://cs.ubc.ca/~hilpert/e/coremem/index.html
(DIR) Post #A2Jsf6kLN3KCyQH2Dw by cjd@mastodon.social
2020-11-09T19:39:24Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@cypnk You in 6 years with that "what did I get myself into" look
(DIR) Post #A2t9wmlbeV8o8WRzUW by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-02T08:38:11Z
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This is an interesting preview of an orbital space station structure (the basics of assembly) from The Gateway FoundationTheir goal is to send an assembly robot with the raw material to build a rotating habitat in space. They'll start with the skeleton structure and the rest can be brought up with subsequent launcheshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85MItNr0rBk
(DIR) Post #A2t9wmzmnmU2qV5Jaq by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-04T08:31:35Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Large scale production of chemicals still require very expensive permits. I know it's to ensure that a large chunk of a neighborhood suddenly doesn't become uninhabitable, but I can't help but feel some of it is just run-of-the-mill bureaucracyThe good news is that I won't need an alcohol permit if I don't produce ethanol Bad news is that storing several tons of Nitrous Oxide(oxidizer) and Dimethyl Ether(fuel) is a pain and I still need permits Er... and I need to get said chemicals first
(DIR) Post #A2t9xeQCAK6GXkqecC by fluffy@social.handholding.io
2021-01-04T08:47:42.830060Z
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@cypnk whatcha making
(DIR) Post #A2tQE8zBtTwrEm6Twm by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-04T08:36:42Z
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Hmm...The asteroid belt is actually farther away from Earth than I remembered 🤔
(DIR) Post #A2tQE9Gupa7u7kOdZg by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-04T11:47:55Z
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Gravity is so weirdEvery object, not acted upon by a force, is still a traveling in a straight line from an object's own perspective. No matter how curved it looks to an outside observerEven when it's about to hit something
(DIR) Post #A2tQE9fNMdgzLbqAhU by valerauko@pawoo.net
2021-01-04T11:49:57Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cypnk is it meaningful to talk about "not acted upon by a force" in reality though?
(DIR) Post #A2tQWDOmE5to8SgjK4 by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-04T11:53:12Z
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@valerauko Until English can approach the precision of mathematics, it's a good enough description
(DIR) Post #A2u46u9id85DNj8Al6 by dustin@linernotes.club
2021-01-04T14:26:19Z
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@cypnk yeaaah you’re gonna not want to do this in a residential neighborhood...probably not in a commercial zone either.
(DIR) Post #A2u46upu6HpLUYrrVo by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-04T19:13:35Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@dustin I'm gonna need to rent a desert
(DIR) Post #A347ijDvR4P3RzI6uu by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-04T13:26:20Z
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OK, I've had my fill of math for the rest of the decadeNow I actually have to figure out orbital mechanics to the point of being able to model it in the Doom engine, running on a laptop I found on the street back in 2007Should be good enough to get a spacecraft to the nearest asteroid if I wrap it in some aluminum foil and Silly Putty to protect it from the radiation
(DIR) Post #A347ijUESRRmGYv8Km by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-08T05:35:00Z
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This is a concept to incrementally append modules to the ISS with the intention of private use (likely "space hotel", but that idea has its own issues)The idea itself seems interesting and I think it might be viable now that bigger payloads will soon be possible without the Space Shuttle thanks to SpaceXThis is an animation from a company called Axiom Space
(DIR) Post #A347iji3d2VQxROAsq by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-09T15:43:16Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
I was looking at the A6/7 Redstone rocket engine and, while the design is decades old, it's one of the simpler variations that can be copiedProbably explains why Copenhagen Suborbitals use it as a reference for their own designsAlso, since the original engine used alcohol + liquid oxygen, it's a tad safer to operate than toxic hypergoic substances. The bigger danger was the high-test hydrogen peroxide used to drive the turbopump
(DIR) Post #A536MCdaCxgwcp2FOK by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-09T16:01:31Z
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After the high-test peroxide decomposed into a hot gas (H2O and O2), it gets sent through the turbopump turbine and vented out through a giant exhaust (foreground red pipe)The bulge in the middle is a heat exchangerBut since even the hot gases are cooler than combustion products, I'm wondering if another model can be built which uses film cooling on the interior of the nozzle extension like the process of the original F1 used in the Saturn VThis does add more weight though
(DIR) Post #A536MDBy97CILT7hzM by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-09T16:03:37Z
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The A7 engine used in the Mercury rockets did attach the turbine exhaust to the bell to reduce vibration. It's not too much of a stretch to turn that into a manifold around the bell and into a film cooling curtain
(DIR) Post #A536MDjI9Dqu0oiJvc by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-14T01:47:24Z
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Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design14 Stood out to me:"(Edison's Law) "Better" is the enemy of "good"."Also 17:"The fact that an analysis appears in print has no relationship to the likelihood of its being correct."https://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/akins_laws.html
(DIR) Post #A536MECMP96XSyJXEm by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-01-16T22:10:30Z
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On the ground, the biggest limitation on radio dish size is gravity and I'm not entirely convinced if a dish is the right approach for all signal typesFor a narrow beamwidth, I don't think you can beat a parabolic reflector, but for wide field scanning (maybe searching for near-Earth asteroids by radar?) I'd go with an orbital curtain arrayIt's possible to launch a lightweight folded curtain array antenna into orbit, which can unfold into something roughly the size of a football pitch
(DIR) Post #A536MEeihhn0svaBRQ by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-02-24T13:27:09Z
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Motto of asteroid mining prospectors:"There's gold in them rocks and I aim to get at it"Haven't solved the pelletizing problem: I.E. Turning raw asteroid material into floatable chunks, which can be nudged into a usable orbit via ion thrustersThe issue is the limited gravity which lets the back thrust or impact of any lander into a vicious debris cloud. We saw this when Hyabusa2 collected samples on RyuguSlow settle + melting/compacting into a 3D printer like extrusion may be an option
(DIR) Post #A536MF6N2tuKGgWGXY by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-03-09T23:19:25Z
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First robotic mission to Mars from the DIY space program will test the feasibility of growing genetically enhanced timber bamboo, cork oak, and some high resin plant typesThe goal is to eventually use bamboo to build composites using the resin from the other plants. The cork can double as an insulation source and reentry heat shield material (when impregnated with resin)Then, self-sustaining factories. My budget is $23 dollarsThis is an excellent plan with no flaws whatsoever
(DIR) Post #A536MFVtW0K9XqSeK8 by waweic@chaos.social
2021-03-09T23:28:11Z
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@cypnk Did your ventures in high finance prove successful?
(DIR) Post #A536MFxXrCRSvbOjQG by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-03-09T23:38:36Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@waweic Indeed! My investment in the stock market gained 6 centsI'm still debating how to spend this bounty
(DIR) Post #A5EYIQ2R9oVaBX2p8a by cypnk@mastodon.social
2021-03-15T12:13:38Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
I think I need a less complex design for full-flow staged combustion than the Space Shuttle main engine This is quite a bit difficult to do on a kitchen table with scrap metal and tin snips