A SmallSat/MicroSat Drama Unfolding Above The Earth

It seems there’s a potential setback for the Maker satellite movement above our heads: the Kicksat cube satellite is experiencing difficulties. According to a May 3 update on Kicksat’s website, the Kicksat’s watchdog timer experienced a hard reset. The watchdog timer is a sort of failsafe all satellites have on-board. It’s meant to protect the spacecraft […]

For the Space Career Job Hunters Out There…

My latest Clearancejobs.com article is related to space just because I know there are others like me out there, looking for, and applying to, jobs on many different company job application portals for work. I use a password manager to help me keep things straight and ordered for all of the job application portals I apply to. […]

Why Space Matters: HEO Satellite Operations, Part 2–Those Pesky Overcharges

Satellite highly elliptical orbits (HEOs) are interesting orbits for space operators in any kind of mission, especially considering the challenges inherent in using such orbits. OK–so that statement’s a little nerdy, but if you’re reading this blog, there’s an inner nerd in you just waiting to be outed. In the last lesson, you were, perhaps […]

DIY Space: ISEE-3, Near-Space Balloon Cam, and Denver Mini-Maker Faire

This weekend is the Denver Mini-Maker Faire in Denver at the National Western Complex. No, it probably won’t be as big as the one in San Mateo, California (pictures of some of last year’s San Mateo shenanigans below). But it is a start, and hopefully it will get bigger and more interesting. I’m hoping it […]

Low-cost Mars Probe Hack: Jugaad To Be Kidding Me

Americans pride themselves on entrepreneurship, independence, ingenuity, and can-do traits. And there’s historical and current evidence of those traits to support that pride. The Indians, however, seem to be quickly adopting these “American” traits, but at less expense. Or maybe the traits have always been present in India, but something was suppressing them for a long […]