Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
SuitSat Casual Day Satellite Update
SuitSat, a Russian Orlan spacesuit, will be tossed overboard from the International Space Station, becoming a satellite of the Earth. The intent of the experiment is to see if old spacesuits can be turned into useful satellites.
(Earth's Newest Satellite)
Described as a "Russian brainstorm" by NASA's Frank Bauer, the SuitSat will have three batteries, a radio transmitter and internal sensors to measure temperature and battery power. It will transmit its condition to the ground.
Update: 28-Jan-2006: The SuitSat is shown below being readied for its mission. On February 3rd, commander Bill McArthur and flight engineer Valery Tokarev will step outside the ISS for a space walk, deploying the SuitSat.
(Preparing SuitSat)
SuitSat can be heard at 145.990 MHz FM by anyone on the ground (with a good enough antenna); NASA's J-Pass utility will let you know when to expect SuitSat over your town. "This is SuitSat-1, RSORS" should be heard every thirty seconds, along with a prerecorded greeting. Telemetry data are also available. Additional fun features are planned for students and teachers; see the SuitSat site for details
With its temperature controls turned off to conserve power, arms and legs akimbo and spinning out of control, the SuitSat will be deployed on February 3rd. It is expected to remain in orbit for approximately six weeks before burning up in the atmosphere.
I can't help but think of the last time a similar situation came up, it was in 1968 in the film 2001:A Space Odyssey. Hapless astronaut Frank Poole's ill-considered remarks within range of HAL-9000's visual sensors doomed him to a similar fate.
(New jovian moon Poole chased by pod)
As far as I know, the first reference to a "space-suit" is E.E. "Doc" Smith's 1928 novel Skylark of Space:
DuQuesne reported briefly to the two girls. All three put on space-suits and crowded into the tiny airlock. The lock was pumped down.
Find out more about SuitSat at NASA and the SuitSat site.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 1/27/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Space Tech ")
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.' -
Solitary Black Hole Wanders In Space
'...the Hole is something like a vortex or a whirlpool?' - Frank K. Kelly, 1935.
Spaceplane From Virgin Atlantic
'ZARNAK, YOU'RE TO COMMAND A SCOUTING EXPEDITION --- FIND OUT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT!'
Taikonauts Exercise In China's Tiangong Space Station
'Joe got out the gravity-simulator harnesses...' - Murray Leinster, 1953.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Russians Create Robot Tank Platoons
'The remotely-operated robot tank is an old idea...'
3D-Printed Exoskeleton Learns From Your Hand
'...small electric motors at the principal joints worked the prosthetic framework by means of steel cables...'
Smartwatch Powered By Slime Mold
'Living protoplasm incorporated into the Ampek F-a2 recording system...'
Unmanned Boats Attack At Sea
'The autofreighter smashed into the boat...'
Carpentopod Walking Table
'Twoflower's Luggage, which was currently ambling along on its little legs...'
Iron Drone Raider Counter-UAV Operations
'You've got an aggressive machine up in the air now.'
SpaceX Rocket Shuttle Point-To-Point On Earth
'He came to as the ship went into free flight, arching in a high parabola over the plains...'
Quaise Uses Beams Of Energy To Dig Geothermal Wells
'The peculiar quality of this light, which gave it its great preeminence over all other penetrating rays...'
Robots Repair And Modify Themselves
'The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it...'
Waymo And Tesla 'Autonomous Cabs' Are Piloted By Remote Drivers
‘Where to, sport?’ the starter at cab relay asked.
Robot Janitors Get To Work
'A few mechanical cleaning devices crept here and there...'
Robots Learn To Install Charged Batteries Into Themselves
This is nothing new for science fiction fans!
Robot Rabbits Entice Pythons
'That little robot rabbit knew what it was talking about...'
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
