Philosophy
December 13th, 2013
NASA
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is speeding quickly toward the first flyby of Pluto and its moons – nearing the destination on a voyage that has already captured the imaginations of millions and shown what perseverance and creativity can do.
The real spacecraft – developed at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland – is about the size and shape of a grand piano. But you might be able to own a smaller version, thanks to an effort to create a Lego model of the spacecraft.
CUUSOO SYSTEM...
New Horizons, the first NASA New Frontiers mission, is designed to make the first reconnaissance of Pluto, its moon, Charon, and other icy, rocky mini-worlds in the distant Kuiper Belt. In 2011, TIME magazine senior editor Jeffrey Kluger wrote in an article that "Of all the ships in NASA's active fleet, it is the Pluto probe — dubbed New Horizons — that is the least well-known but perhaps most ambitious." Launched on 2006 January 19 and at present en route to reach Pluto-Charon in 2015, New Horizons can tell us much about the origins and outer frontier of our solar system. The spacecraft is about 6 ft (2 m) on a side and 2 ft (60 cm) tall, about the size and shape of a grand piano.
The model is scaled to the diameter of the 10-stud dish element representing the high-gain radio antenna. By fortunate coincidence the shape of the "slope 53" brick elements made possible an excellent match to the wedge shape of the spacecraft main body. The entire suite of science payload instruments is represented on the model: Ralph, Alice, REX, LORRI, SWAP, PEPSSI, and SDC.
- New Horizons Getting Closer--5au Or About 14 Months To Pluto
"On the Path to Pluto, 5 AU and Closing" October 25th, 2013 NASA Pluto isn’t quite the next exit on New Horizons’ voyage through the outer solar system, but the destination is definitely getting closer. Today the NASA spacecraft speeds to within...
- Thus Spake New Horizons
"The Sounds of New Horizons" October 21st, 2013 NASA What does New Horizons say when it calls home? Nothing, without the help of software that transforms zeros and ones from New Horizons’ computers into images, instrument readings, or useful information...
- Oh Crap, But Don't Panic...new Horizons May Have To Dodge Some Debris Near Pluto
NASA October 16, 2012 NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is now almost seven years into its 9½-year journey across the solar system to explore Pluto and its system of moons. Just over two years from now, in January 2015, New Horizons will begin encounter...
- Fifth Moon Of Pluto
This is significant for I envision New Horizons' dangers dodging small objects and curtailing a long journey. "NASA Hubble Discovers Fifth Moon of Pluto" July 11th, 2012 NASA A team of astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reporting...
- #4 For Pluto...new Moon “s/2011 P1” Or “p4”
"Fourth Moon Adds to Pluto's Appeal" July 20th, 2011 New Horizons NASA On the anniversary of the first landing of men on our moon, New Horizons mission team scientists have announced the discovery of a fourth moon around Pluto – adding to the...
Philosophy
Lego's New Horizons
"A Model Spacecraft"
December 13th, 2013
NASA
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is speeding quickly toward the first flyby of Pluto and its moons – nearing the destination on a voyage that has already captured the imaginations of millions and shown what perseverance and creativity can do.
The real spacecraft – developed at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland – is about the size and shape of a grand piano. But you might be able to own a smaller version, thanks to an effort to create a Lego model of the spacecraft.
CUUSOO SYSTEM...
New Horizons, the first NASA New Frontiers mission, is designed to make the first reconnaissance of Pluto, its moon, Charon, and other icy, rocky mini-worlds in the distant Kuiper Belt. In 2011, TIME magazine senior editor Jeffrey Kluger wrote in an article that "Of all the ships in NASA's active fleet, it is the Pluto probe — dubbed New Horizons — that is the least well-known but perhaps most ambitious." Launched on 2006 January 19 and at present en route to reach Pluto-Charon in 2015, New Horizons can tell us much about the origins and outer frontier of our solar system. The spacecraft is about 6 ft (2 m) on a side and 2 ft (60 cm) tall, about the size and shape of a grand piano.
The model is scaled to the diameter of the 10-stud dish element representing the high-gain radio antenna. By fortunate coincidence the shape of the "slope 53" brick elements made possible an excellent match to the wedge shape of the spacecraft main body. The entire suite of science payload instruments is represented on the model: Ralph, Alice, REX, LORRI, SWAP, PEPSSI, and SDC.
- New Horizons Getting Closer--5au Or About 14 Months To Pluto
"On the Path to Pluto, 5 AU and Closing" October 25th, 2013 NASA Pluto isn’t quite the next exit on New Horizons’ voyage through the outer solar system, but the destination is definitely getting closer. Today the NASA spacecraft speeds to within...
- Thus Spake New Horizons
"The Sounds of New Horizons" October 21st, 2013 NASA What does New Horizons say when it calls home? Nothing, without the help of software that transforms zeros and ones from New Horizons’ computers into images, instrument readings, or useful information...
- Oh Crap, But Don't Panic...new Horizons May Have To Dodge Some Debris Near Pluto
NASA October 16, 2012 NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is now almost seven years into its 9½-year journey across the solar system to explore Pluto and its system of moons. Just over two years from now, in January 2015, New Horizons will begin encounter...
- Fifth Moon Of Pluto
This is significant for I envision New Horizons' dangers dodging small objects and curtailing a long journey. "NASA Hubble Discovers Fifth Moon of Pluto" July 11th, 2012 NASA A team of astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reporting...
- #4 For Pluto...new Moon “s/2011 P1” Or “p4”
"Fourth Moon Adds to Pluto's Appeal" July 20th, 2011 New Horizons NASA On the anniversary of the first landing of men on our moon, New Horizons mission team scientists have announced the discovery of a fourth moon around Pluto – adding to the...