Already done...
This was one of the first things done when LRO went into orbit around the Moon, see;
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/apollosites.html
300 publicly visible posts • joined 11 Sep 2008
Near misses will be reported as near misses, as they have always been - assuming nobody is embarrased by reporting. Then they will be quietly forgotten - also as they always have been.
I'm a pretty good observer of the sky, night or day, and I've wanted to see a UFO most of my life. So far everything I've seen is natural or has an Earth registration number. Also don't forget that an Unidentified Flying Object is just that, something in the air that you can't identify - doesn't have to be ET you know.
I thought he was being tounge in cheek (read sarcy).
I don't understand why people get so het-up over this "App Store" issue really. It's just the same as any of the game machine manufacturers on the market, they all control their platforms in a similar (if not the same) way. And besides, this Apple control will only last until the EU decides that Apple is onto too much of a good thing and starts throwing it's weight around - something like it did over Microsoft and multimedia players and IE and so on.
For the record my phone is a Nokia.
>Both add nothing to Computer Science or Engineering, its Marketing.
I would suggest that this the case for all computing kit bought by the average home or business user, be it PC/Windows or Mac. Advancing computer science is not what these people want but a reliable work or entertainment experience. The envelope is pushed by the back-room types who experiment. In this category I would count Linux developers most of the time.
Andrew Newstead
As usual we see the traditional split that occurs when Apple products are discussed, the Yeas rejoicing and the Nays slagging off - both without much evidence that their positions are justified.
I think that the merits or otherwise of this device will be decided when people finally get hold of one and play with it and use it. I believe this is how the iPhone took off.
My position? I've learned not to get too excited about any new piece of kit until I've had a chance to use it and I've been around since the Apple 2s and the original DOS PCs.
I note that there is no comment about his school activities. For those who don't know Woz has been very active in providing and teaching about technology in the schools around where he lives, trading on his name to get kit in. As a tech teacher myself I can only approve.
Ok, so Woz enjoys himself. I got no problem with that, he's happy and his heart is in the right place so leave him alone!
Andrew Newstead
Re Mike JVX, you are in error I'm afraid. TSR 2 was designed as a very low level penetration bomber. This can be seen in the very compact wings of the aircraft which where designed to give low wing loading which would smooth out the bumps caused by hi-speed low level flight. Tornado does the same by sweeping it's wings back to produce a short span delta (we also see this with the American B1).
For reference see the Thunder and Lightnings website:
www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk
Andrew Newstead
Don't the IOC, AT & T and Cisco realise how this may backfire?
What if I decided to not take an interest in the games (not difficult in my case, no motorbike racing), not buy the sponsers products (cos I don't like Fanta or Coke), not use AT & T (I'm in England anyway) or not use Cisco products?
In otherwords, they are not important enough to me!
I'm sure I'm not alone. Unfortunately there are lots of other people out there who don't think this way and that confers a level of importance that allows these entities to throw their weight around if they think they are being slighted.
Anyway Reg, keep up the good work because I like seeing apologies that end up saying "sorry, but you're still all wankers anyway".
The comments saying buy a Mac instead of applying this hack are missing a point, this is for a netbook type computer - a product Apple have said they are not interested in (despite any rumours of new kit). It is understandable therefore that there is a lot of interest in this particular hack. If we were talking about hackintosh on a desktop or laptop machine I would agree that buying a Mac (new or second hand) would be the least difficult way to go.
Andrew Newstead
Mac and Windows user - have to be, I teach both!
Just a note, the F35B actually only has one engine. This drives the lift fan in the front of the aircraft through a shaft drive taken off the front of the engine. The exhaust of this main engine also swivels from the straight to pointing downwards. All vertical lift, therefore depends on one engine - just like with the Harrier BTW. Also stability in the hover is handled in exactly the same way as with the Harrier by attitude jets (also called puffers).
BTW the lift fan, shaft and gearbox for this have been developed by RR.
Hope this clears up a few things
Andrew Newstead (ex-RR and still interested!)
VASIMR, an electrically run plasma rocket system that recently demonstrated a full power run on the ground and is scheduled for a space test attached to the ISS. The performance predictions for this engine are remarkable but it does require substantial amounts of electricity to run, more than would practical using solar power for deep space missions - even for Mars. A nuke would be the ideal way to power the drive.
Every time an article appears on an e-car that trumpets 0 emissions we get the same arguments about them not really being 0 emission while the power stations are still burning fossil fuels.
While this is essentially true it should be remembered that the e-car is only a part of the whole picture, generating capacity is undergoing it's own development process. Different parts of the system will arrive at different times and so, yes e-cars are still polluting at the moment but that will not remain true as the rest of the cleaner technologies catch up with the generation side of the equation.
Remember, we are trying to change more than a century's worth of infrastructure and associated vested interests here, that won't happen all at once.
In the general flaming no -one seems to have noticed the comments in Brown's statement that mention the others who suffered like Turing;
"Thousands of people have come together to demand justice for Alan Turing and recognition of the appalling way he was treated. While Turing was dealt with under the law of the time and we can’t put the clock back, his treatment was of course utterly unfair and I am pleased to have the chance to say how deeply sorry I and we all are for what happened to him. Alan and the many thousands of other gay men who were convicted as he was convicted under homophobic laws were treated terribly. Over the years millions more lived in fear of conviction.
I am proud that those days are gone and that in the last 12 years this government has done so much to make life fairer and more equal for our LGBT community. This recognition of Alan’s status as one of Britain’s most famous victims of homophobia is another step towards equality and long overdue."
I feel these two paragraphs put a different spin on things (intentional use of words), turning this into a comment aimed at the LGB community. Perhaps this is an apology the LGB community as a whole, using Turing as a vehicle, why he has chosen to do this at the current time I will leave to other commentators.
For what it's worth I think Turing should be on a bank note and it should be a £10 note as this is the one most of us see coming out of the cash points. That way most of the UK population will become aware of Turing's story.
This could be a possible design.
A three stage system consisting of the following components:
1. A balloon
2. An Instrument module (IM) holding all the telemetry systems and release equipment. Recovered after balloon burst by parachute - technology proven by cheese flight.
3. Glider - held by magnet on IM, released on command from ground or by onboard computer.
By putting all the equipment into the IM we remove the issue of carrying a payload in the paper glider and having to build it strong enough for this. All the electronics such as a computer, video camera and radio tracking all all readily available from the model rocket community (who have been doing this kind of thing for ages).
My vote for name is Black Vulture - for El Reg and a nod to history, the Black Arrow!
"We choose to go to the Moon - not because it is easy but because it is hard..." JFK 1962.
Make us proud Reg!
I was just thinking "Psycho-history"...
We have just started the interegnum before the new (British?) Empire is established, but do we have a Foundation to shorten those dark ages or are we one of the falling civilisations waiting to be stitched up by some one else's Foundation?
Hmmm!
Andrew Newstead
I think Lewis is refering to the fact that the current stealth aircraft (F117, B2) have zig-zag edges along the forward and trailing edges of the u/c doors and weapon bays. This is done because em radiation is scattered off the aircraft away from the tracking radar, hence reducing the radar signature of the aircraft.
A simple trick but took a super computer to work it out.
Oh BTW did you know we brits had a steath aircraft long before the americans? The Avro Vulcan could disapear from radar when turned in certain directions, it's shape was almost perfect for stealth. Mind you you couldn't hide the noise!
Just a note, quite a few nominally land based aircraft have arrestor hooks as an emergancy backup against brake/hydrualic failure. Examples include F16, F117, English Electric Lightning(have actually worked on one of those!). Granted that the one shown on this beastie seems to be quite substantial and more like that of a navy aircraft . I do seem to remember reading that they recover a lot of these UAVs using various kinds of arrestor gear including net barriers.
It does seem that UAVs will be the future of air combat, even BAe are working on this technology.
Minisec - Imperial Earth by Arthur C Clarke - I would suggest that this one has happened, viz PDAs and smartphones.
Execution by organ donation - Known Space series by Larry Niven, esp. "A Gift From Earth" and "The Tales of Gil the ARM".
Not included but I like it - "Think of it as evolution in action" from Oath of Fealty by Niven and Pournell - used when describing some sort of hopeless endevour.
I also like "Stand off and nuke the site from orbit, only way to be sure" from Aliens but it's a bit difficult to use this one in everyday life without falling foul of anti=terrorism laws!
RAF Typhoons, diamond 9 formation, flying left to right. The close up clearly shows the direction of travel (based on the fact that the aircraft are staggered vertically as well as in formation) and the delta planform of the aircraft would explain the shapes easily.
I would say this photo was taken 14th June during the flypast. As for the people watching, well how often do you get a formation of combat jets flying over your high street, it would stop mine!
I would say Mr Pope had severed his links with the MOD a little too early or he would have known about the event...
BTW I've seen many strange flying objects in my time but they have all had terrestial serial numbers on their tails. Shame really, I would like to see a genuine unidentifiable flying object.
Andrew Newstead
I saw this in the august pages of Motor Cycle News last week and they were quite bullish about it. One of the interesting aspects of the bike is that the frame is designed by Lotus and is based on the design they were offering for Super Bike in the nineties. This could be quite credible. The builders were certainly thowing the gauntlet down by stating they were out to win, not demonstrate!
I hope they compete, this is looking quite interesting!
Andrew Newstead
Just a thought, has anyone taken this up with Which/Consumer Association people? This stuff about optin vss optout is what they have been fighting about in the wider (read non-IT) world for years.
These people have had some quite impressive successes over the years in this area.
Andrew Newstead
Fantastic News!
And now we should all pay visits and help swell their coffers. This place is not just another wartime site of interest but actually influenced huge events and helped shaped the world we live in today. I for one would suggest World Heritage Site status for Bletchley!
Andrew Newstead
At the risk of starting something...
Whatever your views about economic migration, Britain and Poland have a special connection that needs saying. Not only did Polish pilots fly for the RAF during WWII but Polish scientists provided the first analysis of the German Enigma code machine and passed this on to the Bletchley Park code breakers to give them a head start on the code breaking. A memorial to the Polish code breakers is at Bletchley, a small thing certainly but important to those of who know.
After the war Poland was badly treated by the carve-up of Europe by the Allied Powers and ended up part of the Soviet block, Many Poles feel this a betrayal on our part and I can't say I blame them.
Many Poles settled in this country after the war and I am pleased to say I know some of them,
I am proud of our links to the Polish people and the fact that we stood together against facism then and now.
Not at all anonymously!
Andrew Newstead
The design of the Eagle spacecraft from Space 1999 does look a plausable way forward in the layout of a new lunar landing spacecraft, especially for a cargo lander where the centrally mounted cargo would be very easily accessable, However there are a few problems that this design has which (so far) has prevented such a design being accepted by NASA and others.
The design layout of the Eagle is described as a "4 poster", that is it has a rectangular planform with a lift engine mounted at each corner. While this is quite sensible from a cargo loading and handling point of view there are concerns regarding what happens if there is an engine failure. In such a case the vehicle would become difficult, if not impossible, to control. Because of this issue all the lander designs that have appeared in connection to Altair have shown centrally mounted engine clusters or single engines in a bid to minimise any engine-out control issues.
Of course, should engine reliability become high enough then an Eagle-like design could well be considered and I would be very glad of this as I too like this design a lot. The only question is, though, where do you put the propellants? In this regard the Eagle always has had a problem in my view but that's another post...
Andrew Newstead
A point that might be missed by a lot of people, the new lunar effort could be considered as part of a new "New Deal" programme to kick start the US economy. One of the methods used to pull the US out of the 30 depression was put money into infrastructure and other government projects (not a popular thing given the trend of US politics to reduce government influence). This funding of such projects helped to get money pumped into the economy and stimulated commerce. Such a plan could easily include a new lunar effort.
Andrew Newstead
Any theoretical science is mostly guesswork - intellegent and educated guesswork for sure but guesswork none the less. The next stage is to perform an experiment to prove or disprove the guesswork, eg the Higgs bosun and the Large Hadron Collider. Life on other worlds falls into this category, guesswork based on informed thinking. We now have to experiment to prove/disprove the guesswork. Part of the experiment has been done, we have proven the existance of other worlds beyond our own solar system, now we have to determine the existance or not of worlds in a region of space that will support life of a type we know. This is science, make a guess then prove or disprove it.
The gaseous H2 is aslo used to keep the LH2 tank pressurised through the powered flight. At launch the tank will be pressurised by the natural boil-off of the fuel and this helps force the LH2 to the pumps for ignition. During flight the tank needs to be kept pressurised to stop the tank being damaged (imploding) as the fuel is sucked out of the tank, hence the feedback of gas to the tank.
The fact of both the missle boats being in the same bit of ocean is not as unrealistic as it seems. It is not unreasonable, given the politics of both Britain and France, that both counties would consider the same targets for their missiles. Given that the missiles of both navies have a similar range then the launch points for these missiles are likely to be in roughly similar places. It is unusual then that we have not had a collision before this one - either that or this is the first one reported.
<rocketscientist>
This is a common misconception due to people not understanding the true nature of "weightlessness" in space or the distinction between mass and weight. An object in orbit is actually falling through space, along with everything inside it. Because everything inside the vehicle is falling at the same rate compared to the vehicle it appears to float around. We see the same thing with skydivers falling together form an aircraft, they appear to float around with respect to each other. Because of this "freefall" it appears that the skydiver's weight has gone away and this is also the effect in orbit or space.
Mass, though does not go away in freefall and as Inertia is actually a function/property of mass, not weight, and this also does not disapear when an object is placed in orbit. As a result the energy involved in the collision of these two objects would be the same regardless where the collision takes place, in orbit or on the ground. In this case it is the velocities of the two objects that is the damaging component, the faster an object goes the more kinetic energy is involved in the collision and these objects had velocities in the miles per second category.
Therefore a big bang is in order!
</rocketscientist>
Kanhef is correct in that astronauts would have to spend a significant period of time in a centrifuge to gain an effect. But this may not be too much of a difficulty as many routine tasks that the astronauts have to work on would actually be easier to perform under gravity. This would suggest that a workshop facility of some kind could be an effective use of such a centrifuge module.
Intersting and possibly an indication of where broadcast media may be going?
There has been much talk made over the last ten or fifteen years about TV (or video) on demand. Up until now it has mainly been talk. Cable TV companies have been offering a limited version and we can see this with Apple's video on iTunes system too. What is more significant about the BBC iPlayer is that in this case the content provider is itself providing the service, and providing it for free.
Granted it is the advent of broadband internet that has made this technology possible, allowing video to be streamed at an acceptable rate for viewing. But what should not be overlooked is that the main requirements for such a thing to succeed you need ease of access and content that people want to access.
The BBC has the latter in spades! And it seems to have delivered on the former too. So much so in fact that Virgin cable TV offer iPlayer as part of their TV packages. The BBC has developed and is further developing the iPlayer system and is licensing it onto other UK broadcasters. Obviously the iPlayer model is succeeding where other approaches to video on demand have not.
So where does this take us?
I have long suggested to my students (and any one who would listen...) that we are seeing a convergance of technologies, internet and broadcast coming together to provide the way in which we access our entertainment. Ok, this is not very original as it has been mooted many times during the period that WWW has been with us, but we are seeing a significant move towards this with the iPlayer (and similar) technologies. Significant enough to raise questions about the funding methods for the BBC (for our non-UK readers the BBC is funded by a license fee payable on ownership of TV sets in the UK, a kind of tax system).
My personal view is that we are now seeing this convergance of media taking place. Whether it will replace the traditional ways for broadcasters? - not yet, too many people still get their service through the TV set and do not have the means to use the on-line services. But give it 20 years or so and I won't at all be suprised to find most people will be using an internet based system to recieve their entertainment rather than traditional broadcast media and will be enjoying the diversity that this will bring.
What?
That's the subject for another post, but I'll give you a clue - Utube...
I support the FAA and the carriers. Their role in protecting the fleet and projecting airpower in far away places is unquestionable (as demonstrated by the USN). I do find that calling into question the future of the RAF is not justifiable.
As was pointed out in Lewis' article airforces around the world do have a fondness for strategic deep bombing. This points (imho) to one real role of the RAF, air defence. Whatever could be said about ground attack and fleet protection, it was the RAF (albeit reluctantly at the time) under Dowding that lead the development of an integrated air defence setup that still can be seen as the "textbook" even today with our newer technologies.
This role has to have an organisation dedicated to it.
Army control of air assets neccessarily would concentrate on air support of the troops. Navy/FAA control over air assets would lead to air power being concentrated where the fleet is located and not neccessarily covering the UK.
Coordinated air defence needs to have a seperate command structure.
Each service has it's own requirements and (importantly) an understanding, gathered over years of experience, of the environment that they function in. This, in my opinion (and not so humble in this case), is the reason why we have to maintain seperate services.
Thank you, thank you thank you for publishing an article that actually explains in quite understandable language what the LHC is all about! I've been getting steadily more p*****d off over the last week at how the media has been treating this subject and missing the point entirely for juicy "end of the world" headlines. Prof Cox summed it up in the Metro beautifully, well done fella! We need more scientists like that...
This article needs to be sent to all the dailies, TV and radio news broadcasters, even Auntie Beebe (who normally has a good go at these things, to give her her due ) to give them an education in science reporting.
Regards
Someone who cares about the public understanding of science