The former Munich Advanced Structural Deployment Experiment, now called FOCUS ( a First in Orbit Curing experiment by University Students ) has been officially approved for the REXUS programme of the German Aerospace Center DLR. FOCUS will demonstrate the possibility to manufacture large space structure by means of in orbit curing, and will be launched on a Orion sounding rocket in March 2011.
More information can be found on the project’s website
JAXA’s next solar sailing experiment is due to launch as a piggyback with Venus Climate Orbiter.
Hubble used it’s new Widefield Camera 3 to update “the most important picture ever taken”
See www.nasa.gov/hubble for detailed information
The Munich Advanced Structure Deployment EXperiment has been approved by DLR authorities to compete for a place in it’s REXUS programme. MASDEX investigates the deployment of large structures by a novel approach, which is based on in-orbit curing of the matrix resin of composite structures. A successful selection by the REXUS board would provide the MASDEX team with additional financing and the possibility to launch a demonstrator on a Orion sounding rocket for micro gravity testing.
Supported by a recent large donation, Planetary Society is picking up new speed for launching it’s LightSail 1 spacecraft. With hardware acquired from Nasa’s discontinued NanoSail program, PS plans to launch soon, the very first demonstrator of sailing on the wind from the sun.
Find more information at the Planetary Society’s website
