More Like This Please
More articles like this please! Great read.
Posts by MdB
5 publicly visible posts • joined 14 Dec 2009
16 years and counting: How ESA squeezed oodles of bonus science out of plucky Mars Express probe
Electronic kit low on juice? SPIT ON IT
Earth bombarded by interplanetary SLIME MONSTERS
US rocketeer thunders to 121,000ft
Monday 10th October 2011 12:12 GMT 
GPS Failed....
http://spacefellowship.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=12166&sid=e23119ff984cba6365ca7d36f6403f0a
Here is some more information that was posted to arocket:
"Derek Deville of eAc, SS1, CSXT Go Fast fame reports that his “Qu8k” rocket was launched and successfully recovered with an initial RDAS altitude of 117,000 ft. Rogers Computer simulations estimated 120Kft. Launch vehicle was fully recovered 3 miles from the launch tower with the help of the radio tracker. On board payload included; 4 GPS’s, 3 HD video cameras, Radio Tracker & an ERGO Cosmic Ray Detector (http://www.symbiosis-foundation.org/installation3.html). He reported that 2 of the video cameras melted from the mach 3.5 aero-heating, but the third camera video is absolutely amazing!! He said on the video you can see black sky, curve of the earth, non-inflated parachute tumbling in the near vacuum of space, and the rocket literally stopped vertically at apogee.
Unfortunately none of the 4 GPS’s onboard recorded an altitude over 100,000 Ft. Preliminary reports are that GPS’s were recording data at launch and up to about 20,000 ft where it was lost, then re-acquired tracking at about 40,000ft on the way down under parachute. Derek suspects the high acceleration is the cause of the initial loss. More precise details of his flight will be released at a later date."
Anecdotally, the GPS requirement is the hardest part of the problem! Most GPS units won't allow certain combinations of high acceleration/speed/height as they could then be used for military purposes.
GSHP: The green tech even carbon sceptics will like
Monday 14th December 2009 10:56 GMT
It isn't that expensive...
I have recently installed my own GSHP. It is hardwork but easy for a good DIYer.
Cost of mini digger hire, pipes, coolant, heat pump, underfloor heating pipework and manifold but not installation was £5.3k (£6.5k less £1.2k grant from government).
It runs of a single phase supply (not three phase) and heats a 4 bed house for around £300 to £350 per year and there are no maintenance costs if you can read a gauge once a year to check for leaks.
Yes you do need to install underfloor, it doesn't work well (efficiently) with radiators and yes you do need a very well insulated house to go with it.
We are very happy with out system and believe it was only about £1k more expensive than an oil fired system and will pay back within 2 years.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
