So far away but still so close to home

It has been a week of opposite yet simultaneous perspectives, I travelled far away but stayed close to home, examined both distant futures and immediate issues and felt somewhat of a stranger in my new home.

Before all of that, I need to mention a note that has been waiting in my blog line for three blogs, the relation between the future of the international space station (ISS) and the future of space exploration. We have discussed this issue several times during the program and I'm not very happy with the bottom line.
There is no doubt that the ISS is the single most complex piece of engineering of human history, it has a price tag of over 100 Billion US$ and is a true testament of international collaboration, some might say it even has a role in the diplomatic approach of current conflict resolving. However, the conclusion regarding the ISS that I'm not to happy about is that in order for new space exploration to progress the ISS has to end its mission. This is due to the fact that funding the ISS operations takes a big part of the member nations' space budget, and this budget portion together with the "illusion" of space exploration that the ISS provides serves as a new exploration inhibitor. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a big ISS fan and think that the concept of a "constant human presence in space" is really important. The ISS also provides a great platform for space experiments and measurements (in physics, chemistry, biology, medicine) and experiments done on the ISS do provide new data about all fields of research. Yet, think what motivation would policy makes have for new human space explorations if there was no anchor for human space flight, we might have been on Mars by now. The sad part for me is that in the current financial geopolitical world state it is an either or question, and I have already discussed the difference in resources given to terrestrial man made problems over celestial curiosity. At the moment the accepted mission end for the ISS is around 2020, the american political world would like to use this already (mostly) paid for asset and extend its mission to 2024 (and some NASA charts even mention 2028), this desire has yet to have been seriously answered by the other member states. But one thing is clear, the ISS will end its life in the future and there is now serious discussion regarding ISS2 or an International Lunar\Martian Base. It is important to mention (as I already have in the past) that space exploration pathways have been thought of and that work is being done for future space exploration.

A great map of the our solar system manned, robotic and orbital space exploration missions (url) 

On another note, I left Earth for 3.5 hours this week! In our Space Sciences Department we preformed a short Mars analogue mission, my 6 member (3I) crew was simulating a manned mission on its way to Mars operating a rover on the red planet's surface. We first had to plan our mission - we picked areas of interest near the rover's landing site, we then configured the rover and its instruments to the assigned tasks and lastly allocated a mission for every crew member, I got to drive the rover! After the planning, the briefing and the training we set out to perform our mission. The mission went quiet smoothly, we visited our first site and took some measurements, we then continued to the adjacent main sites that were pointed out as possible habitats for the crew. In order of doing the tests we had to wiggle this 200kg rover into a small canyon and then point the instruments to get the data we wanted. As we were leaving towards the first site for more tests our rover met a simulated sandstorm that jammed some of its instruments, but nonetheless we managed to make our way back to the first site and find out some more interesting things about it. We then continued to a hill nearby for a panoramic view of the area and made it just in time before mission end. The analogue mission performed at the Canadian Space Agency Mars terrain yard. It was planned by the department chair Dr. Geoffrey Steeves together with a team of engineers from company named Neptec that does space grade robotics and cameras and a team of geologists from the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration at the University of Western Ontario. From I've been told the mission took a long time to plan but the its visionaries are very happy with its results.

Mars rover mission teams with the supporting crew, mission planners, and of course the rover (photo by Shripathi Hadigal) 

Other departmental activities done this week included an astrophotography workshop (which will be followed by an astro-photo processing workshop) and a Sun gazing event. Both were led by retired physics professor and amateur astrophotographer John McDonald.

Sun gazing at the Canadian Space Agency

Image of the Sun with sun-spots and solar flares take with my cellphone and a filtered telescope

Pete Worden came to speak to us this week. I had the pleasure of speaking with him on three different occasions, and got new inputs and ideas with each event. Pete is a retired US Air Force general, a professor of astronomy and now the head of NASA Ames in Silicon Valley. During the lecture he gave the whole program he discussed future space exploration, the challenges is holds and the current programs being developed. Pete is actually (unlike other spacies) in favour of the asteroid redirect mission because of its feasibility with current (and near future) technologies and the added value of learning how to change an asteroid's trajectory in case of future threats. When discussing Mars exploration Pete mentioned a material called Perchlorate which is toxic and abundant on the Martian terrain. In a Mars mission this material would cover the astronauts' suits and require a very a comprehensive decontamination process. Because of the Martian perchlorate Pete believes that resuming manned surface missions should be done elsewhere. At the Q&A section of the lecture I asked him how he as a NASA administrator gets more funding for all these great plans, his answer gave me a new perspective. He said he does want more government money for space exploration, he (and many others) said that at the moment private companies manage to spend a substantial amount of money less then NASA does reaching the same results, and he believes that the space exploration community should be lead by private initiatives. While saying that he also point out that his Silicon Valley neighbours might be a good place to start.
When Pete came to speak with my team project (TP) group he discussed the search for extraterrestrial life. He believes that some type of extraterrestrial life form will be found within the next 20 to 30 years. This will obviously change our civilization forever.
When I met up with him for the third time he was just finishing a conversation with another SSP14 participant, Thomas Folliard, regarding synthetic biology. They both believe that the future of engineering in general and specifically space exploration is going to include biological machines (small and big) that are programmed by synthesizing DNA sequences. Just think about it, instead of building a satellite on Earth you could grow it in a lab in orbit. After all the bio excitement I had a chance to speak with Pete about some opportunities at Ames. But more importantly, I thanked him for having the center participate in the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade this year. His reply was great and he was happy to hear it had an impact, he also said that a lot of his workers are gay and it was important to make sure they get their NASA family support.

Pete and Dan Cohen, notice that Pete is a SpaceIL fan

Not much exoplanet work has been done this week (don't worry, we have three full weeks after the end of the department activities) but I have stated to think about exoplanet databases and data analysing and have listed some questions in the subject of the exo-database. Hopefully by next week I'll be able to discuss it in more detail.

We also had an international, all woman, astronaut panel this week. The panel included Julie Payette (Canada), Wang Yaping (China), Soyeon Yi (South Korea) and Shannon Walker (USA) and was moderated by Janet Petro from NASA. It was an interesting event, each astronaut spoke a bit about her life experiences that got her to space and then the Q&A portion was held. I don't mean to sound like a grumpy cat, but some of the personal presentations and the first questions asked were a bit childish in my opinion, they dealt with women in mostly male environments, but did it from a "cute" point of view rather than an equality one. As I was expressing my grumpy-catness my friend Dan asked how I would act if it was a first gay astronaut on stage, I have admit, it got me thinking and I do not know my answer.

Ask an astronaut via social media at the astronaut panel

I left to Mars this week, but also went back home every few minutes. While I am busy with the insane things happening  here at the program Israel is busy with it own craziness. While I was leaning how to drive the rover, Yotam was running with Laika to the stairwell to make sure that a rogue rocket does not meet them. He would then text that everything is all right and I would then spend the next three hours checking my phone every five minutes to any reports on other attacks. For some reason it is very easy to be brave when you're close to the line of fire, but much more likely to worry over everything when you're really far away.

This last weekend was also the traditional ISU alumni weekend, it means that alums (mostly locals) arrive for the weekend, attend some joint lectures and events and basically try to relive their SSP experience. It felt to me a bit like a bunch of strangers came to my new home, were somewhat rude and indifferent to me, made a mess, wasted some important weekend time and then left. But that's just grumpy old me. One of the events of the traditional alumni weekend is the traditional space masquerade. Me and a Polish physicist friend named Michal decided to continue the line of thought we started with Scott Madry and go as GPS, Gay Positioning System. It was a nice play on words, and the reaction from the other folks was great, usually a confused face that was changed to a laughing one after explaining the acronym. Sadly we didn't even make it to the costume contest finals, but it's better not to discuss the politics of it.

GPS - Gay Positioning System

In our new discoveries section I would like to discuss the major change that our Milkyway galaxy went trough in the past twenty years. In the past the galaxy was thought to be a spiral galaxy, but due to the amount of dust that lays between our solar system and the center of our galaxy it has been very difficult to look at the center and examine its exact shape. New space exploration missions have been able to look inwards into the Milkyway and astronomers have now concluded that we actually live in a barred spiral galaxy with two main spiral arms.

Our place in the Milkyway (from url)

Life, The Universe and Personal Aspirations

The SSP core lectures are over. I still don't know how I feel about it. On the one hand, they started getting very specific and somewhat repetitive. On the other hand, going to a classroom and being able to absorb more and more space related knowledge is great.
Well, core lectures are over, I've summarized the material, done my final essay exam and now I'm ready for the next stage. We are heading to a two week intensive department activity section. The team project (TP) will still be addressed, but most of the time each SSP participant will be in one of seven departments the program offers. My department is Space Sciences, it was a very close second choice, but as time progresses I'm happier to have been assigned to it. The department activities have already started with discussions ranging from the smallest particles to some of the most peculiar objects out there. And next week is full with various exploratory activities.

The last day of core lectures included three great lectures, the final one was a quick summary of the journey we have taken, it was rightfully named by its lecturer and program director Dr. David Kendall - WHY? The other two lectures are my bread and butter. The first was named "Cosmology: Origin and Fate of the Universe", and was given to us by Prof. Giovanni Fazio. In it he discussed the beautiful way in which the universe is aligned, he elaborated about current state of the universe, its early years and its possible futures. Prof. Fazio also explained that we only know (and barely understand) about five percent of the matter in the universe, so there's a lot of work for anyone interested of being an astrophysicist\cosmologist (this definitely makes me consider a change in field).

Discussing Cosmic Inflation

The second lecture, Astrobiology, was given by Dr. Alain Berinstain. In it he stated the two elements required for life as we know it - liquid water and a source of energy. He mentioned the examples of extraordinary lifeforms on Earth and the resourcefulness of lifeforms in extreme environments. Towards the end of the lecture we discussed finding life elsewhere and Europa came up again as Dr. Berinstian said that life evidence has to be found on Europa, after all it probably has liquid water and an energy source. And if life evidence ins't found where liquid water and energy are abundant then maybe we are alone, and there's nobody out there. On the other hand, we hardly discuss life that might not need liquid water, but another substance, this life would probably be so different than us (even in temperature and pressure requirements). My conclusion on the two requirements for life question (are there only two) is that we should visit Europa's surface and ASAP (as was done with Titan).
I want to mention another issue on the subject of life, after the Drake Equation Fermi's Paradox asks "where is everybody?". And there are several possible answers, most of them in the realm between science and philosophy, some of them with alarming conclusions for mankind, and I hope I'd be able to learn more about them in the future (book recommendations are welcomed).

Two thing I should add before the third part of "Life, The Universe and Personal Aspirations" -

I want to recommend a fellow bloger - Cait Percy is a England based Physics (newly) graduate, she is a SSP14 participant and on the Exoplanet TP with me. I've only had the chance to skim through her blog, but would like to recommend it to anyone looking for another perspective on this summer - 

http://caitpercy.wordpress.com/ 

The other matter is that I want to correct some phrasing issue from former blogs - When referring to star calcification the proper wording is #-type star and not #-class. Or as Prof. Jaymie Matthews said it "M-class is take of from Star Trek"...

So where do I fit in all of it? and where am I going?
These questions have passed through my mind many many times since I've come here. At times I feel very small and incompetent next to some of the giants that roam the history of human space exploration. At other times I am overwhelmed with my ideas and desires to do it all and be involved in everything.
I think I should start with the end goal (and just say it) - I want to be an astronaut! I want to be in the forefront of space exploration. And now, after listening to so many of them here I want it even more than before. I would also like to create cutting edge technologies for 'Life, The Universe and Everything' exploration and I'd like to be a part of this amazing community of people whose sole purpose is to better understand our universe for the good of mankind. Except for that, I really do want to do it all, I want to go on an analogue mission, I want to monitor the skies regularly, I want my computer to help in data processing, I want to join work groups discussion space issues, I really do want to do it all.
Now let's address my wishes. First, I think I apply to be an astronaut, I'll try to discuss the issue with the Israeli Space Agency, and see what their planing for the next Israeli astronaut. I really hope that this time the chosen person will be from the world of scientific research or engineering, such a choice will definitely make its mark on Israeli youth. And maybe if I'm chosen I could be an Israeli second, but a first for another community. In regards to the second goal, working on space exploration technologies, it is obvious to me that I must pursue completing my education, and I have some time until I finish my PhD. But meanwhile I can still make connections and collaborations in and outside Israel, which will also help my understanding of where I want to be. And maybe these connections might help me achieve my prime goal. The third issue seems easiest, but it's actually the most difficult, how do I make the right choice in the vast multiverse of prospectives and opportunities? I know I'll do some, but how to I manage it so the main goals are still met while added value is won? I really don't know right now, and would be happy for advise. Especially on an offer made (kinda) in regards to the The Space Generation Advisory Council, at the moment Israel is not active in this space related student and young professional organization and I'm considering getting into it and creating a network that would support activity in Israel and the up and coming conference in Jerusalem in September 2015 (just before IAC15).

A special happy birthday to the Crab Nebula! It was formed in a supernova on the 4th of July 1054 (at least in our perspective). The explosion the was observed by Chinese astronomers for almost two years in the night sky (in the beginning also during day time). In the center of the nebula there is a rapidly spinning neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetism radiation that to an Earth observer seems like super timely pulses. These stars are actually referred as Pulsars.

Crab Nebula

One last thing, I'm pretty new here in the blogosphere, any input, reference, proposition or free advertising would be much appreciated. Especially ones that could help achieve my goals.

To sum-up this blog I'd like to present what happens when trying to take a picture with a good friend and an adored professor -

Exam Answers (for somewhat serious space readers)

Well. The Exam ended about two hours ago, it went well, I think.
Attached here are my exam questions and answers, we had to pick two out of three questions for a total mark of 50 points (he other 50 points come from 4 quizzes held during the core lecture section). Again, this is more of a documentation tool rather then a blog entry, I really hope to spend a few good hours bloging some ideas tomorrow.

Question 1 
Discuss the issues associated with a oneway human Mars mission. (a) How would you design this mission? (b) How would you select the crew? (c) What are the ethical issues? (d) How will you pay for this? and (e) What are the legal and policy issues? (Each is worth 5 points).

Question 2
You and some of your classmates at ISU SSP 14 decide to start a suborbital commercial spaceflight company. Discuss five (5) important issues that you must address in your business plan (each is worth 5 points).
Answer 2
When writing a business plan for a suborbital spaceflight company the important issues that must be addressed include (1) the services that the company will provide, (2) the time frame to become operational, (3) the project’s budget, (4) the technologies that will be used and (5) the project’s overall feasibility.
As we've been told many times during this SSP the only part of a business plan that will be read and examined is the executive summary. And, in my opinion, the first thing that this executive summary should address is what are we planning to do. The summary needs to start with a brief explanation of what services this new project supplies (transport/tourism/science/dual-use), to whom the services are supplied (private people/companies/governments), where they are supplied (globally/locally, where) and in what time intervals (frequency, duration and preparation time). When presenting the services, the business plan should also present what similar (Virgin/Zero2Inf/...) services are provided and prove that the new project will be able to compete with/complement them.
A project schedule estimation should be presented, when will the design and engineering start and finish, when will the testing begin and be completed, when will the project be operational, when will the investment be returned and profit will be made.
The project’s budget is also required, its funding sources the overall estimated cost and the cost for each phase should be discussed. Possible funding options that can be addressed are government support, space angels and competitions or even crowd-sourcing.
The business plan should include the type of technologies that are planned to be used in the project. It should mention if they are existing technologies or novel ideas that need to be developed. Intellectual properties issues (existing and future) are needed to be discussed. Any legal restrictions on the technologies should also be addressed (dual-use\environmental).
The project overall feasibility is also an important part. Although it could sometimes inhibit potential partners/investors, it will identify the weak links in the project chain and address how these issue will be prevented or solved. A discussion on the risks will also present the project proposers as reasonable dreamers and not a bunch of phoney futurists (which weren't educated by Jim Dator).
I must mention that after writing this business plan plan, I see that it is a generic plan for any type of space, technological or novel business idea. Which makes sense, because just like our TPs the ‘how’ (to present) is more or less always the same, just the ‘what’ (is presented) changes.

Question 3
You are working in a New Space company planning to send a robotic mission to the Moon for assessing the feasibility of mining in-situ resources. Discuss: (a) the technical; (b) legal; (c) financial; (d) scientific; and (e) ethical aspects of this project (each is worth 5 points).
Answer 3
When planning a robotic moon mining feasibility mission you should address all project aspects.
The scientific aspects should address the science that is known about the moon mission and what scientific questions the mission requests to answer. A work area should be decided (dark side or facing Earth, in\out creator shade, what materials are in the area) and mission’s environment should be presented (radiation, regolith, topography). The research gathering methods should be designed together with the engineering (remote sensing\drilling\explosions) as well as the research processing methods (mainly onboard robot or back to Earth specimens).
The scientific aspect will provide guidelines for the technological issues of the project. The main design questions that must be answered are type of power source (affected by location of mission and duration of the mission), number and type spacecraft(+robot) stages (one way trip or round trip), type of tools that will be used (for science gathering and technology demonstrating), spacecraft(+robot) required robustness (derived from mission duration, mission environment, redundancy (more than on robot\spacecraft)).
The answers to the science and technological questions will be the basis of the a financial plan. A feasibility mission is not profitable by nature and the first financing issue will be “who’s paying?”. Companies that have an interest in Moon resources might not haste to fund such a high risk-high cost-low profit mission and would seek for financial aid from governments. This project might also be suggested, performed and/or funded by space agencies to present the financial opportunities in Moon mining. Other financial issue are the cost estimates of the project and the possible spinoffs that might be created as business opportunities (maybe even covering some of the costs).
The first legal issue that might arise is the legality of Moon manipulating (mining), on Earth commercial mining is a local scale environmental changer (shaving mountains and producing many tons of waste). If such methods are used on the Moon the legal rights to do so should be addressed. This is also an ethical issue, why does a (usually) commercial Earth interest have the right to alter other environments. Multiple claims for a certain resource on the Moon might lead to legal and political dispute, this, again has ethical aspects that address a possible conflict in space (by robots?!?! scary… Jim Dator is probably there right now with two machine guns). Another legal issue is the legal rights on the new science found in the mission and its accessibility to the whole scientific and mining communities (public knowledge vs. commercial IP). The legality and (in some sense) ethics that deal with Moon mining are addressed by COPOUS’s Moon treaty, it requests that outer-Earth resources would be used wisely for the good of all mankind and without terrestrial political conflicts. The treaty has only been ratified by a small number of countries, none of which are major space players.

Core Lecture notes (for serious space readers)

My lecture notes!
As mentioned, the SSP has three segments - Core lectures, departmental activities and team project. The core lecture segment is finalized with a two hour written essay exam. For the exam I decide to write one sentence about each lecture, sometimes I managed, sometimes not so much. And then was given the wonderful idea to type the notes in my blog (thanks for the extra work Christina). I'm doing it mostly for the continues and logical documentation of my experience, but everyone is welcome to them.
I must mentions that some of the notes are copied directly from the lecture presentation (each lecturer in mentioned before the note) and some are my own understanding and added knowledge. The description of the departments (I'm in SCI) is taken from the SSP14 handbook (one sentence from the department explanation). The notes are organized under the departments with my own interpretation.

I must emphasize that these are my notes and they are meant to stimulate my mind with the concepts, so some times they might not seem logical or organized.

Hopefully a real blog will be published during the weekend.

ISU Departments
Space Applications (SCI) -
Exploring space technologies and their scientific benefits and societal applications.
Space Engineering (ENG) -
Understanding each level of system design, integration and testing as complexity increases from components to subsystems to spacecraft to space mission.
Human Performance in Space (HPS) -
Addressing the biological, physiological and medical changes that are unique to human spaceflight.
Space Humanities (HUM) -
Seeking to explore the cultural motivation for space activities.
Space Management and Business (MGB) -
Understanding how space technologies and ideas can be transformed into viable companies.
Space Policy, Economics and Law (PEL) -
Discussing the way decisions are made in the political arena, space agencies and space companies.
Space Sciences (SCI) -
Introducing the principles, concepts, tools and techniques necessary to investigate and understand the environment.

My notes

Rationale for Space
Lec 1. - Jim Dator - Dreams, Rockets, Revelries & Jobs -
Three reasons for space - The industrial revolution, rockery and competitive national prestige.
Lec 2. - Bob Thirsk - What has Space Brought Us? -
SCI (space sciences), ENG (engineering solutions), APP (used applications), HUM (goals & dreams), MGB (commercial space services), HPS (medical sciences and solutions), PEL (tool for policies).
Lec 3. - John Logsdon - Why are We in Space? -
Government rationales - Security, prestige, science+technology.
Commercial rationales - Cheaper/better than terrestrial.
Lec 8. - Jim Dator - Futures Studies and Space Futures -
Futures inverted pyramid - Futurist, planner, administrator.
Four types of futures - Grow, collapse, discipline, transform.
Lec 16. - Jim Dator - Cultural Rationales -
All rationales for space activities are cultural rationales.
Lec 20. - John Logsdon - The Evolution of Space Activities -
Competition was, and perhaps still is, a major influence for large space programs. But, co-operations may be the only way to achieve major space goals in the future.
Lec 24. - Patrick Cohendet - Economic Rationales for Space -
Private motivation = Markets, Public motivation = Public goods.

Space Policy and Law
Lec 4. - Lucy Stojak - Legal Underpinnings of Space Activities -
International law is relevant to states, national law is relevant to people, companies and space agencies. International laws and treaties are used as guidelines for national laws (at least in principle).
Lec 19. - David Kendal & Lucy Stojak - To ensure that all humanity can continue using outer space for peaceful purposes. Major issues are space weather (uncontrollable and at the moment unpredictable) and space debris (which have no legal definition).
Lec 23. - John Logsdon - Government Space Activities -
The space club is made of countries that have a collective space capability to develop, launch and control satellites. Space agency activities may include - Work with other government bodies to mange space budget, policy and activity, advocate space, make sure space activity is consistent with national policy and law, international collaboration, space education, conduct space research, development and testing, as well as space missions.
Lec 25. - Stojak + Patrick Cohendet - Technology Transfer and Export Control -
Four types of tech transfers - Pre-productive tech within organization, creative tech within organization, pre-productive tech between organizations, creative tech between organizations. When moving tech to other organizations some IP and ITAR issues might arise. Why export control? - National security, prevent proliferation, restrict export to adversaries\rogue countries, traceability.  
Lec 29. - John Logsdon - International Cooperation in Space -
Benefits - Increased payoff, sharing cost, needed access, helping international status and relationships.
Risks - Dependencies, increase overall cost, complex, security risk.  

Space Businesses
Lec 13. - Chris Sallaberger - Management of Space Projects -
The coordination of resources to achieve a goal within a time frame. When planing a project it's important to remember the operations stage.
Lec 15. - Peeters & Sallaberger - Financial Issues & Techniques -
Money now is better than money later (discount). Investors during project life - Founders -> Angles/venture capitalists -& private equity/common stock.
Lec 34. - Chris Sallaberger - Business Structures and Panning -
Corperations are the most common model. A business plan is very important for any idea and only the summary will be read and evaluated.
Lec 35. - Chris Stott - Entrepreneurial Space -
Entrepreneurs are (calculated) risk takers - before you "start-up" - stop, think, listen then ACT.
Lec 45. - Ken Davidian - Analysing Commercial Space -
There is a broad spectrum of dependence of space companies on government. New companies may try to replace old ones or open new markets.
Lec 51. - Gary Martin - New Space -
Space activities (mostly commercial) that are not lead by conventional space operators - agencies\military.
Lec 54. - Gary Martin - Disruptive Technologies -
Disruptive technology is mostly not refined compared to exciting tech but its potential helps it advance util it replaces the old. Will usually not be addressed by exciting market players.

Space and Humans
Lec 5. - Gilles Clément - Human Performance in Space -
Human spaceflight in LEO is more or less understood and sorted, human spaceflight to farther destinations is not there yet.
Lec 22. - Gilles Clément - Life Support Systems
Major life support systems functions - Atmosphere control, temperature control, water and food management, waste management, crew safety. Considerations when designing mission LSS (open/closed loop) are mission duration and equipment mass.
Lec 33. - Gilles Clément - Human Adaptation and countermeasures -
Weightlessness affects muscles and bones. Countermeasures include exercise, food complements and gravity simulation means.
Lec 39. - Gilles Clément - Neuroscience in Space -
Weightlessness affects instincts, but is mostly manageable.
Lec 47. - Gilles Clément - Space Psychology -
Isolation, confinement, the micro-g and a versatile (3Is) crew all require a crew selection that would allow for the space mission to be successful.
Lec 48. - John Connolly - Space Habitability -
When designing a space habitat the human crew should be in the center of the design and all other design aspects should be extrapolated from it.
Lec 50. - Gilles Clément - The Heart in Space -
Three main stages for the heart in spaceflight - Launch, orbit and after landing. The heart pushes fluids towards the head, so pressure is higher and permanent eye damage might occur.
Lec 53. - Gilles Clément - Space Medicine -
Care chain - Prevent -> Diagnose -> Treat -> Stabilize -> Transport -> Dedicated care medical facility.

Space Engineering
Lec 6. - Tarik Kaya - Orbital Mechanics -
Newton's laws + Kepler's laws = Satellites don'y fly, they fall with style.
Lec 14. - Tarik Kaya - Orbital Applications -
Special orbits - Sun-Sync, Molniya/Tundra, Geo. For Geo orbits - station keeping, for other orbits - orbit control.
Lec 30. - Alex Ellery - Space Robotics -
Space robotics is a tool to reduce barriers to spaceflight (price. safety, complexity(~)). "Where robots have trod, humans will follow".
Lec 31. - Tarik Kaya - Space Propulsion -
A rocket - a momentum exchange device. Without rockets there will be no spaceflight.
Lec 32. - Andrew Aldrin - Commercial Launch -
Heavy launcher business has a few players (1-2 for big countries), and they have/had some government support. SpaceX might change the market (if successful).
Lec 37. - Tarik Kaya - Spacecraft Configuration -
Space mission elements - crew, ground, launch, space segment, orbit. Spacecraft includes payload, bus and adapter. Many configurations can achieve same results. Mass and power budgets are important.
Lec 38. - Angie Buckley - Attitude & Orbit Determination & Control -
Most satellites needs to be controlled both in attitude and orbit.
Lec 40. - Tarik Kaya - Spacecraft Power and Thermal Control -
The sun radiates about 1370 Watts of power to a satellites, the Earth adds about 240 Watts. This power is used for energy and heating but is also bad for low temp operating systems.
Lec 43. - Angie Buckley - Spacecraft Structure & Testing -
Spacecraft structures must provide strength, stiffness and stability.
Lec 44. - John Connolly - Space Systems Engineering -
Mission statements are qualitative, they lead to mission objectives and requirements which must be measurable (quantitative).
Lec 46. - John Connolly - Space Mission Design -
A well defined mission statement could lead to many different mission designs that meet the same goals. Mass, cost and risk are very important factors in the design.

Space Applications
Lec 7. - Scott Madry - Intro to Space Applications -
Three main uses for space - Telecom, PNT and remote sensing. All are 'dual use' applications.
Lec 10. - Scott Madry - Intro to Rmote Sensing -
Remote sensing is more of public good (+ dual use) than a commercial business (even for commercial satellites the biggest costumer is government - 82%).
Lec 11. - Su-Yin Tan - Digital Image Processing -
Input -> Processing -> Display -> Analysis -> Output and applications.
Lec 12. - Scott Madry - Future of Remote Sensing -
"From photons to electrons to neurons to actions". We need collaboration in remote sensing. The future holds better tech, on demand launch/view (dual use) and integrated multilayered systems.
Lec 41. - Scott Madry - Intro to Space Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) -
A valued service for everyone on the planet with special applications in research, search and rescue, timing for computer systems...
Lec 42. - Scott Madry - Current and Future Trends of PNT -
Many nations have or are achieving this ability for dual-use and government reasons.
Lec 49. - Joseph Pelton - Space Telecommunications -
Geo telecom sats are basically really tall relay antennas.
Lec 52. - Joseph Pelton - Commercial Satellite Communication -
Biggest space industry, three types of services - Fixed, mobile and broadband. Spectrum allocation is a major issue.

Space Sciences
Lec 9. - David Kenall - The Electromagnetic Spectrum -
The spectrum is really broad, we now how to use a lot of it both passively and actively, but we're running out of spectrum to broadcast in to.
Lec 17. - Jim Green - The Sun -
Our Sun is a second generation star, it has several layers ans a 22 (2*11) year cycle due to difference between the layers rotations, this leads to solar activity, The Sun interacts with the planets, type of interactions depends on planet's atmosphere and magnetosphere (or lack of).
Lec 18. - Jeff Hoffman - The Space Environment -
Two types of radiation on Earth - Cosmic rays and solar wind, they are inverted in relation (when reaching the Earth) because the solar activity (radiation and magnetic) pushes the cosmic rays (mostly in active solar periods). Both have a bad influence on satellites, but cosmic rays are more energetic. The Earth's magnetosphere protects us and the LEO environment (to some extant), it also forms the Van-Allen belts.
Lec 21. - Jeff Hoffman - Microgravity -
Best wording is weightlessness. ISS and predecessors perform micro-g experiments in chemistry, physics and physiology\biology.
Lec 26. - Jim Green - Life Cycle of Stars -
Nebula -> Star in cluster -> closed/open cluster -> red giant/red supergiant -> planetary nebula\supernova -> white dwarf\neutron star\black hole -> brown dwarf\cooled neutron star\black hole.
The heaviest elements (heavier than Fe) are made in supernovae and massive supernovae.
Lec 27. - Jim Green - Solar Systems -
There are more planets then stars and the planet types are on a contentious spectrum. Every solar system has a habitable zone with regards to temperature. The problem with M-type systems (75+% of stars) is that the habitable zone is so close that there's a lot of radiation from the star and most likely the planet is in tidal look.
Lec 28. - Wendell Mandell - The Moon and Mars -
The Moon and Mars are examples to what would have happened to the Earth if it had no atmosphere and no liquid core which provides a magnetosphere. Venus is an example for what would have happened to the Earth if it had too much of an atmosphere. And Mercury is an example of what would have happened to the Earth if it was in a tidal lock.
Lec 36. - Marcus Dejmek - Space Station Research -
Five members in ISS (US, Russia, Europe, Japan, Canada). It has a political purpose in collaboration. Research on weightlessness, human physiology, the Earth and Space.
Lec 55. - Giovanni Fazio - Origin and Future of the Universe -
The universe is homogeneous and isotropic, it is expanding due to powers we don't quite understand - dark energy and dark matter which are not the same.
Lec 56. - Alain Berinstain - Astrobiology -
Life as we know it needs liquid water and a source of energy.

Good Luck on the Exam!

Getting personal...

It has been a while.
I only now noticed that my last blog was posted almost two weeks ago. Well, sorry for that.

I can describe the last two weeks as 'did a lot, but nothing was done'. Lecture material got more specific, for better and worse, the team project group (TP) met and discussed things, but it felt a bit like marching in the same spot, and many social event were held, but no new soul mates were found, although good friends which are always welcome were made.
The problem with neglecting your blog is that you want to discuss everything but can't find where to start. So here it is, in a not-chronological, not-rated by importance manner.

We had our Israeli culture night this week, or may I refer to it as - Israeli themed Friday night party! And it was fun. We made a nice presentation about Israel (as the humble author I can say it had the right mix of serious and funny), we also made some good food and a great atmosphere.

 

In preparation for the culture night we decided to mention Ilan Ramon (and STS 107) who should have celebrated his 60th birthday two weeks ago. As we were building the presentation Dan, another Israeli participant, and I talked about Ilan Ramon as an Israeli symbol. Dan volunteers at SpaceIL, and he mentioned that in some of the educational outreach lectures he made around Israel the children's view of a part of Ilan Ramon's national legacy is a view of defeatism. Ilan Ramon is a national hero (as he also was during his life) and he was sent to preform a national mission. This mission failed. And ever since, the great state of Israel has not pursued that mission again. This contradicts the Israeli ethos of being able to do everything, everywhere and at any time. Obviously, there are many reasons why the next Israeli astronaut hasn't been lunched (or even chosen) yet, but there are discussions now on this matter. The point I actually wanted to make has to do with the contrast between the type of nation Israel claims to be (inwards and outwards) and the type of nation it is, but enough with terrestrial politics.

The Exoplanet TP got a bit lost in the last two weeks. After being inspired by so many great speakers and experts there was a drift towards deciding on a science-engineering mission and getting our work started on it. The group did not discuss our audience, project objectives or type of end product, 'just let us build some imaginary mission and that's it'. It even came to a vote deciding on the science question and engineering solution, with no broad research done. Thankfully, some of the participants and the TP chair managed to redirect the discussion to 'how to do the project' rather than 'what is the solution'. We are supposed to meet today, and hopefully a proper path will be set.

As the core lecture section of the program is about to end, some of our lecturers are saying their goodbyes before heading back to home towns and work places. One of these lecturers is Prof. Scott Madry from the University of North Carolina. Scott's area of interest is remote sensing and I had a joke circulating in my mind for the past week. So after gathering some courage and friends for moral support I went to Scott and said - 'as a gay person, I would like to ask you if you consider gay-dar as remote sensing?', he obviously laughed, then said - 'well that could be a good market for space'. We continued the conversation and at some point I thought about 'the first gay satellite', I'm not sure what exactly such a satellite could do, and if it is proper for the gay community to put itself in a field of nations, but it would be nice to have the rainbow flag orbiting space and making sure it is a tolerating and accepting place. Maybe I should check with Grindr about making a business pitch on the subject.
Later in the conversation I asked Scott about something that bothered a bunch of us for a while. I asked him 'why doesn't the ISU discuss military space?'. We did mention dual-use when talking about satellite applications (Scott did) and national space programs and budgets, but no single lecture was given under the title 'Military Space'. Which is weird because it is a major locomotive for space and for some nations (mentioned above) is the primary space industry. Scott's answer was 'you should have met Todd'. Todd Hawley was one of the three founders of ISU (back in 1988), and according to Scott he was a visionary and a driving force of ISU and the Space Studies Program (SSP). Scott then mentioned 'Todd was gay', he then said that Todd died from AIDS in 1995 after a very short but fruitful life (Before founding ISU Todd also founded Student for Exploration and Development of Space together with the two other ISU founders Peter Diamandis and Bob Richards). Scott then closed this circle while explaining how different were the times 20 years ago, and how Todd stood up, faced his fellow peers and explained who he was without apologizing. After that Scott returned to answer the military question, he explained that Todd grow up with the military and in his mind space military was the Anti-ISU, not International, not Intercultural and not Interdisciplinary (the 3Is). And in some kind of memorial and legacy ISU does not 'waste' time with it. It is mentioned when the contexts arise, but it isn't addressed as a topic on its own. I'm not sure I agree with this mindset, but, in the world of legitimate reasons this is quite a good and honourable one.
During our conversation Scott mentioned several times that we should have been able to meet Todd and then referred us to youtube. After watching this 10 minute film, I agree that it is a shame Todd isn't here -

As if this blog wasn't personal and emotional enough, I want to mention Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Shaar & Naftali Fraenkel, who's bodies were found yesterday at the end of a 18 day search after they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Many other kids from both sides have paid the price of ancestral crimes and I really hope that they and the boy Muhammad Durin that was killed in a protest last week are the last in a very long list of unnecessary victims. This makes me think that probably Todd was right about the military.