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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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15th Sep 2014, 8:50 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,761
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Hobbyists take over the control of a redundant NASA Spacecraft!
Don't know which section to post this in, but I think that with the pace of change in space exploration, a 36 year old redundant NASA spacecraft which flew its last mission 30 years ago probably qualifies as 'Vintage Technology' rather than modern! I've just learnt of a group of US hobbyists using nothing more than a MacBook, a flatscreen monitor rescued from a skip, a few parts bought on eBay and an abandoned McDonald's restaurant as a base, who've taken over the control of a redundant NASA spacecraft launched 36 years ago, which flew its final mission 30 years ago.
There’s a first time for everything – they just asked NASA if they could have it, who apparently didn't want to say 'no'. I guess the group of enthusiasts were somewhat taken aback when NASA said ‘yes, OK, that’s fine’. The hobbyists have put the spacecraft into a new orbit around the sun. (As you do!) http://9to5mac.com/2014/08/11/a-macb...sa-spacecraft/
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David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339. |
15th Sep 2014, 10:06 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,453
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Re: Hobbyists take over the control of a redundant NASA Spacecraft!
More on it here: http://www.latimes.com/science/scien...710-story.html
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16th Sep 2014, 8:43 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,761
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Re: Hobbyists take over the control of a redundant NASA Spacecraft!
Oh well, at least they tried.
Close, but no cigar. ('It's dead Jim'!). Impressive 'crowd-funding' achievement if nothing else. And it's good to note that the 82-yr old former NASA engineer who helped send the satellite into space 36 years ago and charted a complex course that allowed it to become the first spacecraft ever to pass through a comet's tail has still got his mojo, even though the satellite is on its last knockings! When we consider how relatively primitive electronics and computing were back then, compared to today, it was a remarkable achievement that this kit was designed in the mid 70s and launched into space in1978.
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David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339. |
16th Sep 2014, 1:52 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: Hobbyists take over the control of a redundant NASA Spacecraft!
Perhaps they could have a try with Prospero. There was supposed to be an attempt a couple of years ago, but nothing came of it. Telstar is still aloft too.
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16th Sep 2014, 4:11 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
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Re: Hobbyists take over the control of a redundant NASA Spacecraft!
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