Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

You can be pretty sure anything pointing out was first tested pointing IN.

If you ever see the Hubble's mirror manufacturing plant, it was not made for a single unit.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Regarding sensors..there's these things called microchannel plates. A flat plate of glass with millions of small holes going through it.
When a photon hits a photocathode it produces an electron which then flies through the hole and creates an avalanche of many millions more of electrons. One in, millions out. You have then, in this process, amplified the signal from the one photon and can then image faint astronomical, or planetary, features.
One of my previous jobs was selling these mcp's, including sales to NASA and the JUNO project and the MAVEN mission to Mars.

The same principal is used to manufacture night vision goggles for example.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

That is pretty bloody impressive. Really bloody impressive, in fact.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Really? I don't think you can.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Sultan, I think we need to throw out an invite to Hotscot for our upcoming Chernobyl visit. *On top* of the amazing conversation topics, I think his knowledge would prove invaluable.

- Back on topic, back in my school days, Helen Sharman (first British astronaut and woman to enter MIR) visited our school when I was about 8. She was a true inspiration, and after constant 'nagging' my parents took me to Kennedy space center (and I got to see Atlantis lift off). Unfortunately that's where my space career dreams ended, as I went down a more realistic career route.

One of the first thing I actually did job hunting was check out NASA's career site (mainly out of curiosity more than anything), but they only take USC's... SpaceX allows GC holders under ITAR... now if only Elon needed my skill set...

I did read in the early days of SpaceX, he interviewed personally the first 200ish staff... I think that would have been an experience in itself!

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Chernobyl?
Let me know and I'll arrange a visit to CERN, or Brookhaven National Lab, or Berkeley National Lab, or Lawrence Livermore etc... Particle accelerators and synchrotrons is where I roll:)

Here's a little nugget about some of the research I'm involved in at Brookhaven in Long Island.
Some of the experiments are sooo sensitive that they're being perturbed by the lapping of the waves against the shores of Long Island. Of course they can do some nifty programming to negate that effect...

Incidentally this guy does his regular test flights over ma hoose.

http://www.gps4us.com/uu_uploads/SpaceShipTwo.jpg

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Ever go to Fermilab? It's about 50 miles or so from my gaff, one of our satellite offices is right by it, too. Chicago being so prominent in early nuclear physics research, I suppose it makes sense that it's in the area.

I love stuff like this.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Yes indeed.
Damned elusive neutrinos.

But I mainly go to Argonne National Lab.

The big ring is for accelerating electrons which then produce X-rays. That's why many of the labs are big circles.
Regularly around the ring are 'hutches' where each group sets up their experiments researching materials/pharma/organics etc..
On the outside perimeter of the ring you can see their 'wedge-like' office buildings.

http://ciera.northwestern.edu/JPG/argonne.jpg

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Nice one. I didn't even bring up that you mentioned CERN in your last post as well. Have you been to the LHC? I'm getting jealous now :D

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

In the early days of it's operations - I sent a media request to see if they would accept visitors to the site. I didn't expect a response, but they replied back within the hour saying to let them know when I'm in the area!

I never had the time to take them up with the offer though :(

Geek out to this Sultan ;) -

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Just before LHC I worked on the Aleph Experiment on the team that built those petal shaped detectors in the centre. Gold wire and gas filled proportional counters that measure the amount of energy deposited by exotic particles. (Goddamn they were heavy, being filled with epoxy to maintain their 'structural integrity'.)

Working in these places is like a cross between Star Trek and James Bond.

https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/f...?itok=mDdFLgS7

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

I love it that organizations like that are willing to let people come and see what they do, because they understand how important it is that everybody is allowed to be a part of their research (or words to that effect).

Can't watch the vid now, I'll try to remember when I get home.

That's cool.

This could have been me if I'd stayed in uni :lol:. Actually, solar system physics/planetary science was my thing, I'd most likely have done my postgrad in that area if I'd managed to finish my BSc.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

I need to start work..but to leave you with this.
A scene from Star Trek Into Darkness at the Warp Core.

This is actually in the National Ignition Facility, for fusion research, at Lawerence Livermore Lab.
(192 laser beams with a 2 foot cross section to fuse a pellet of deuterium.)

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/ar...e-warpcore.jpg

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Brilliant.

Re: Spaceships and astronomy
 

Guy on the right looks like he's wearing airline slippers.

Sorry, wish I could contribute more :o