Follow the Australian Telecommunications scene NEWSLETTER- FREE TRIAL

Science

NASA reports rocket explosion on Wallops Island

by William Atkins

Saturday, 23 August 2008

Page 3 of 3

Also onboard was the Sub-Orbital Aerodynamic Re-entry Experiments VI (SOAREX-VI).

Featured Whitepaper

5 Best Practices for Smartphone Support

Science Discussions

Developed by the NASA Ames Research Center, it was an experiment to validate a new reentry vehicle shape, called the Slotted Compression RAMP (SCRAMP), a more efficient way to send humans and cargo through atmospheres. SCRAMP is shaped like a "blunt-nosed cylinder mounted on a ring." [NASA]

Before the flight, Marc Murbach, principal investigator for SOAREX-VI, stated, "The SCRAMP design offers a super-stable re-entry system -- sort of like a big hypersonic badminton birdie that rights itself nose-forward after tumbling. The slot between the cylinder and the circular heat shield also enhances drag and stability." [NASA]

An atmospheric density calibration probe was also a part of the SOAREX-VI payload.

In addition to these two experiments, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory had onboard a receiver and transmitter (nicknamed "Melonsat") that was being used to test for ocean recoveries with respect to an automatic identification system (AIS). Its "melon" shape gave it its nickname.

Tags See All Tags

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to post your comment!

<< First page < 1 2 3 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

< Next story in category		Previous story in the category >

	Visitors last 30 days	694,279
	Subscribers	15,210

Featured Whitepaper

Science Discussions

Tags See All Tags

Sponsored Releases

Latest jobs

Featured Whitepapers

Today on iTWire

Sustainability

Science

About iTWire

iTWire and you

	5 Best Practices for Smartphone Support Worldwide shipments of smartphones reached a high of nearly 40 million units in the third quarter of 2008, helping to grow the category by 28% from the same quarter last year.
	Legacy Tools: Not For Today’s Helpdesk Why applications like RDP, VPNs and VNC may be costing you time, money and end-user satisfaction.