Projects complete!

Its been awhile since the last entry but it has also been a pretty busy two weeks. Our respective teams (Brian in Space Traffic Management and myself in On-Orbit Servicing) met over a period of two weeks to research, talk to experts, gather ideas, and write our perspective for a 100-page report that is being published. Like any international body, things dont really run smoothly nor are expedient. So, the last few days have been writing and editing sprees until 7 or 8 in the morning! Only one deliverable remains, the presentation, on Thursday before the closing ceremonies. The projects are likely to gain attention on the international level. Already, some have had media spotlight (Lunar Archive on National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/08/070814-lunar-ark.html), or will be briefed at conferences around the World (Space Traffic Management's legal framework for managing debris and spacecraft in orbit to be presented at several locations). I'll try to get the cover art put up here when I get all the project papers.

There have been no strange foods Ive discovered this week...Im even embarrassed to say that the class ordered pizza and McDonalds delivered while we worked!

Here is a photo of our rocket launch contest a couple weeks ago, set off in the soccer field of the university. There were limits on flight time and height and each rocket contained an egg that had to be safely recovered with its parachute. You can see the huge economics and management building behind the field. We had most of our lectures in this impressive building.



That's it! We'll do one more entry and then call it a summer!

New Things Part 1

I was hoping to start this on a week-by-week basis but better late than never!

Weirdest thing I ate this week: turtle. Yes, you heard me. It was delicious. I'd do it again. I swear. Survival of the fittest.



Surreal moment of the week: Happened actually last week...sitting in a baozi shop in a small resort beach town while studying satellite communications links. That was weird when I realized it.

Inspiring moment of the week: There were a lot of them. But I felt very involved in the Space and Education workshop we had, discussing how to educate our populous on science and space matters. Its all about the jobs at the end of the rainbow. You cant expect students to take science and engineering needed for space jobs if there are no jobs waiting for them. There are, however, plenty of jobs in business nowadays and guess what...those degrees are popular right now. The K-12 years get a lot of attention when it comes to space education. Most of the government funded space education efforts are concentrated on them. The thing is, what about their parents? What about the populous that votes and can influence policy makers to increase spending in technologies and space pursuits? How can we educate them?

Culture shock of the week. Old women ramming into me with their shopping carts at Walmart to get ahead in line. And the turtle.

Sleep debt for the week: only 4 hours.

Professional Visits

One of the many highlights at ISU are the professional visits. Just check out some of the places weve been to!

Civil Aviation Data Communication Research Center.
Here we were briefed on how sat comms are used in China's Air traffic Control and Management system.


BUAA Department of Geographical Information Systems (sorry, no pics)
Here we were shown some of the research on-going at the University in GIS software

Inmarsat Telemetry, Tracking, and Control Site
This site was dedicated to the TT&C of Inmarsat satellites in geo-stationary orbit




CRESDA- (China-Brazilian Earth Resources Satellite)
Phenomenal visit: We visited their brand new facility for data download and processing of imagery.


China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) (sorry, no pics)
Another special visit. We were briefed on the Chinese launch systems and got to view the assembly facility. Afterwards, we went to the Space Museum.

Astronaut Research and Training Center & China Academy of Space Technology (sorry, no pics). Saw the facilities where the Chinese astronauts train.

Mission Control Center
Large mission control center, sat in the gallery overlooking the facility.

Feng Yun Center (Geostationary remote sensing satellite weather system). Was briefed on the meteorological satellite system Feng Yun in the actual control room.



The visits showed the great hospitality given to us. I am still gathering photos and will post them here as soon as I get them!!