Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Launch-Abort Motor For NASA: The Next Generation
NASA is testing the launch-abort motor for the new Constellation program. The test took place November 20th in Promontory, Utah. The launch-abort motor fired for just over five seconds (see video below). More than a half-million pounds of thrust were produced almost immediately upon ignition.
(NASA tests 'ejection seat' motor video)
A flight test for Constellation is planned for next spring at White Sands, NM. That test will use a fully integrated launch-abort system with a full-size model of the Orion crew capsule.
As far as I know, one of the first suggestions that space craft might need ejection seats is Murray Leinster in Space Tug, a 1953 novel.
"Look, Joe! We checked everything last night. We checked it again this morning. I even caught Mike polishing the ejection seats, because there wasn't anything else to make sure of!"Joe managed a smile. The ejection seats were assuredly the most unlikely of all devices to be useful today. They were supposedly life-saving devices. If the ship came a cropper on take-off, the four of them were supposed to use ejection-seats like those supplied to jet pilots. They would be thrown clear...
(Read more about Leinster's )
Ejector seats for aircraft were first used in Germany in the late 1930's; they were perfected in WWII. The only ejector seats designed and used in spacecraft were installed in the Soviet Vostok craft, and in the American Gemini craft.
From NASA Testing Ejection Seat and NASA Tests Escape Motor for New Moonship.
Note to readers: It occurs to me that this my 2,000th article for Science Fiction in the News. My initial intent was to have a site with a glossary of science-fictional inventions and ideas. After a few weeks, I read about something that made me think "I've seen this before - in sf. Perhaps I'll write an article or two."
I appreciate everyone's interest and comments. I particularly appreciate those who have contributed ideas for stories and technovelgy items. Thanks to Moira, Winchell, Fred, Yossi, MrX_TLO, BajaB, Adi, Carl, Zac, Eric, Vik, CyberStrike, Jonathan, Amy, Odon, Your Obedient Serpent, Jason, Kaj, Chris, Jerry, Ray, Robert, Erik, Nicholas, Eric, Conor, John, Andy, Tarik, Simon, Rob, Icecycle, Ashley, Bob, Mike, Elim, Tuey, Diego, Masa, Armchair Anarchist, Jeff, The Sabre Runner, Trevor, Mark, Edward, Paul, Pete, Tim, Jez, R. Probert, Xenophile, Sam, Agiani, Matt, Steve, William, Lou, Gil, Justin, Jim, Greg, asmohr, Daz, Bill, Larry, Walt, Yoon, Alex, Moomintroll, Randy, Nebula Nox, Pipedreamergrey and Miez, Dominic, Misja, Sky, Blue Monkey, Stan, Edo, Dave, Victor, AJ, Dan, RandomAction, Athelind, Jack, Joanne98, Regine, Joel, Flaminio, Jeremy, Trey, S. Jones, Alan W., reg, Bob F., KafirCake, Akira, Joel and the many readers who have contributed anonymously or who I forgot.
End note.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 11/22/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Space Tech ")
NASA Tests Prototype Europa Lander
Why have legs if they don't walk around? Just asking.
NASA's Psyche Mission To Metal Asteroid Launches Thursday!
'We can even fuel the space ships and mine the Asteroid Belt for rare metals...'
Space Weather To Universe Weather
'It radiates outward in a cone which, by the time it has reached our section of space, is many lightyears across.' - Poul Anderson, 1953.
That's MOXIE! Terraforming Mars Baby Steps
'Drake was the young spatial engineer he employed to terraform the little rock.' - Jack Williamson, 1931.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Wearable Energy Harvester
'... he had tightened the chest to gain maximum pumping action from the motion of breathing.'
Drones Participate In Buddhist Rites
'...a prayer wheel swung into view and began spinning at a furious pace.'
Anna Indiana AI Singer-Songwriter
'She is a personality-construct, a congeries of software agents'
Video Manicuring ala Schismatrix
'The program raced up the screen one scan line at a time'
'Feel the AGI' OpenAI Leader Now OpenWorship
'And are all the people willing to be governed by a machine?'
NASA Tests Prototype Europa Lander
Why have legs if they don't walk around?
Tailsitter Drone Aircraft For SAR
'...it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair.'
Forward CarePod The AI Doctor's Office
'It's an old model,' Rawlins said. 'I'm not sure what to do.'
Mika The Robot-Boss
'the robot-boss was busy at the lip of the new lode instructing and egging the men on to greater speed...'
Yamaha Motoroid 2 No Handlebars Self-Balancing Motorcycle
'He rode the bike with an intense lack of physical grace...'
San Francisco Autobus
'THE autobus turned silently down the wide street...'
Should Your Car Decide If You Can Drive?
'Okay. Maybe the car was right...'
Lucid Dreams On Demand From Prophetic and Card79
'the peeper did not operate by virtue of its machinery alone, but by the reaction of the brain and the body of its user...'
Honda UNI-ONE Hands-Free Wheelchair Follows 100 Year-Old Design
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed...'
EBS-260 Handjet Free Hand Dot Matrix Printer
'McKie held a chalf-memory stick over the dusted surface.'
Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin
'...tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.'
