Comments on: PhoneSat — NASA’s smartphone nanosatellite http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite Accelerating Intelligence Sun, 19 May 2013 16:37:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Dan http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-54098 Dan Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:45:39 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-54098 These nano sats have huge potential. Think about it. You could launch some with hi def cameras put them in LEO and you would have a constellation that could only have been dreamed about only a few decades ago. With launches getting cheaper it is only a matter of time until were seeing more if these in actual use. Maybe this time Faster, Better and Cheaper is actually possible. These nano sats have huge potential. Think about it. You could launch some with hi def cameras put them in LEO and you would have a constellation that could only have been dreamed about only a few decades ago. With launches getting cheaper it is only a matter of time until were seeing more if these in actual use. Maybe this time Faster, Better and Cheaper is actually possible.

]]> By: A4i http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30221 A4i Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:54:39 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30221 Google lunched few balloons last year. Before that there was DIY project on youtube with the same mission. That smartphone satellite thing is extremely potential combo. Someone should build DIY kit and Android app for space research. Kudos for NASA. Google lunched few balloons last year. Before that there was DIY project on youtube with the same mission. That smartphone satellite thing is extremely potential combo. Someone should build DIY kit and Android app for space research. Kudos for NASA.

]]> By: Bri http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30129 Bri Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:07:59 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30129 Space elevator are a long way off. How fast do you want the elevator to go? Think about it. It's a long way to orbit. What motor powered by what means. They've got a lot of work to do before that becomes a reality, even then it will have many restrictions. Space elevator are a long way off. How fast do you want the elevator to go? Think about it. It’s a long way to orbit. What motor powered by what means. They’ve got a lot of work to do before that becomes a reality, even then it will have many restrictions.

]]> By: Bri http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30127 Bri Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:01:07 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30127 The G forces of rail guns are tremendous. That's why I said it would have to be hardened. They also work better on small objects, that's why I suggested them for these micro satellites. We fly planes around with those funky looking flying saucer shaped communication dishes on top. It presents a moving target. A satellite would be an easy target for a high tech opponent. Those Hubble pointed at earth satellites are strictly for spying. They can only resolve one target at a time. The pictures of Bin ladens compound were from lesser versions of that idea. The Hubble one can resolve the few photons that make it through clouds, or read a match book cover. They never release pictures from them. They are classified. It would tip off an opponent as to our capabilities. The G forces of rail guns are tremendous. That’s why I said it would have to be hardened. They also work better on small objects, that’s why I suggested them for these micro satellites. We fly planes around with those funky looking flying saucer shaped communication dishes on top. It presents a moving target. A satellite would be an easy target for a high tech opponent. Those Hubble pointed at earth satellites are strictly for spying. They can only resolve one target at a time. The pictures of Bin ladens compound were from lesser versions of that idea. The Hubble one can resolve the few photons that make it through clouds, or read a match book cover. They never release pictures from them. They are classified. It would tip off an opponent as to our capabilities.

]]> By: Timothy http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30080 Timothy Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:01:10 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30080 How about a prototype space elevator, just strong enough to place a small payload into orbit? Once that works, you use it to haul up additional materials to make it stronger and thicker. The magnetorquer coils jumped out at me too--very clever concept, and cool name. How about a prototype space elevator, just strong enough to place a small payload into orbit? Once that works, you use it to haul up additional materials to make it stronger and thicker.

The magnetorquer coils jumped out at me too–very clever concept, and cool name.

]]> By: Thomas Jensen http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30077 Thomas Jensen Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:23:27 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30077 Railgun launching will only work with the most durable, tough satellites, unless the railgun is very long and can gradually build up speed over a long distance like a rocket. Forget something small enough to be used by troops in the field. Spying on enemy troops from orbit also requires a large satellite with a large telescope, since it's going to be at least 200km away from its target. That is why spy satellites are very large. They are actually more or less the same size as the Hubble Space Telescope and operate around the same basic principle. The real difference is that while the HST is pointed away from earth, the spy satellite is pointed towards it! A robot drone is much simpler to use and is not only far cheaper than a satellite, but can also be used without much advanced technology at all. A laptop PC, a radio control and a few other things and you're in business. A 3 feet wide drone flying at an altitude of about 1000 meters is going to be extremely difficult to shoot down, if you can see it at all! No need for satellites. Railgun launching will only work with the most durable, tough satellites, unless the railgun is very long and can gradually build up speed over a long distance like a rocket. Forget something small enough to be used by troops in the field.
Spying on enemy troops from orbit also requires a large satellite with a large telescope, since it’s going to be at least 200km away from its target. That is why spy satellites are very large. They are actually more or less the same size as the Hubble Space Telescope and operate around the same basic principle. The real difference is that while the HST is pointed away from earth, the spy satellite is pointed towards it!
A robot drone is much simpler to use and is not only far cheaper than a satellite, but can also be used without much advanced technology at all. A laptop PC, a radio control and a few other things and you’re in business. A 3 feet wide drone flying at an altitude of about 1000 meters is going to be extremely difficult to shoot down, if you can see it at all! No need for satellites.

]]> By: Thomas Jensen http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30073 Thomas Jensen Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:15:18 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30073 Reaction wheels or gyroscopes used to control satellite orientation without burning rocket fuel is nothing new. They are used on the Hubble Space Telescope, which is designed in the late 1970'ies - early 80'ies. Reaction wheels or gyroscopes used to control satellite orientation without burning rocket fuel is nothing new. They are used on the Hubble Space Telescope, which is designed in the late 1970′ies – early 80′ies.

]]> By: Gorden Russell http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30032 Gorden Russell Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:51:15 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30032 I just thought of something. With small sats launched by rail, soldiers in the field will be able to call up sats to watch the enemy while they are in a firefight. I just thought of something. With small sats launched by rail, soldiers in the field will be able to call up sats to watch the enemy while they are in a firefight.

]]> By: Gorden Russell http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-30031 Gorden Russell Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:49:24 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-30031 Sure, railgun launching has to be the next big step...and did you grok upon the magnetorquer coils? What a great idea, keeping the satellite oriented without using rocket fuel. These guys are great thinkers. Sure, railgun launching has to be the next big step…and did you grok upon the magnetorquer coils? What a great idea, keeping the satellite oriented without using rocket fuel. These guys are great thinkers.

]]> By: Bri http://www.kurzweilai.net/phonesat-nasas-smartphone-nanosatellite/comment-page-1#comment-29992 Bri Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:20:04 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=161299#comment-29992 Reading the headline I thought the satellite was nano sized! This will help with space junk to. Now if they can only harden it, and launch it by electromagnetic rail gun, we'd really be in business. Reading the headline I thought the satellite was nano sized! This will help with space junk to. Now if they can only harden it, and launch it by electromagnetic rail gun, we’d really be in business.

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