Friday, November 29, 2013

Planetlabs Shows what Small Spacecraft can do

Planet Labs Shows what Small Spacecraft can do
Planetlabs, 29 November 2013
Planet Labs

Planet Labs provides universal access to information about the changing planet. We will operate the world’s largest fleet of Earth imaging satellites to frequently image the entire planet and provide open access to that information.

Check out their fleet of 28 small imaging satellites
Here's one with solar panels extended

Monday, November 18, 2013

Silicon Valley Goes to Space

Silicon Valley Goes to Space
KQED, 18 November 2013
http://blogs.kqed.org/science/video/silicon-valley-goes-to-space/

But now, in the age of cutbacks and federal furloughs, NASA is turning to the private sector to more cheaply get to Low Earth Orbit, a region roughly 100 to 600 miles above earth where the International Space Station is located. From space tourism to plans to mine the moon, dozens of for-profit companies, many with the business models, characters and the high-tech, risk-taking culture of Silicon Valley, are reshaping American space exploration.