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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 09:12:39 AM

Title: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 09:12:39 AM
That's one small step for Lego ...  ;)

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1120808--toronto-teens-send-lego-man-on-a-balloon-odyssey-24-kilometres-high?bn=1
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Grey Fox on January 26, 2012, 09:19:14 AM
See? Private Space Exploration is possible without spending millions.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 09:46:47 AM
Pretty simple in concept, yet quite amazing that it all went to plan. great job.  :)
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Monoriu on January 26, 2012, 10:22:41 AM
When I read the thread title, the first thought that came to my mind was "what a waste of money."

I still hold this opinion after reading the article  :ph34r:
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 10:25:35 AM
Given that these kids will likely get scholarships to the university of their choice, probably not a bad investment.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:30:20 AM
Yeah, they spent $400 and got major publicity. Sounds like money well spent from their POV.  ;)
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Monoriu on January 26, 2012, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 10:25:35 AM
Given that these kids will likely get scholarships to the university of their choice, probably not a bad investment.

I would never imagine that students get scholarships for this kind of thing. 
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:33:57 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on January 26, 2012, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 10:25:35 AM
Given that these kids will likely get scholarships to the university of their choice, probably not a bad investment.

I would never imagine that students get scholarships for this kind of thing.

They probably wouldn't, but it would certainly help their chances of admission. Something to put on the resume. "I want to go into aerospace - and my extracurricular activities include my own unmanned space launch ... "
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:34:37 AM
Too bad the balloon wasn't shot down and the teens arrested by Delta Force and thrown in gitmo.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Grey Fox on January 26, 2012, 10:34:43 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on January 26, 2012, 10:22:41 AM
When I read the thread title, the first thought that came to my mind was "what a waste of money."

I still hold this opinion after reading the article  :ph34r:

You're one to talk about wasting money.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:35:35 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:34:37 AM
Too bad the balloon wasn't shot down and the teens arrested by Delta Force and thrown in gitmo.

Allegedly, they were worried about that.  :lol:
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Monoriu on January 26, 2012, 10:37:16 AM
Quote from: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:33:57 AM


They probably wouldn't, but it would certainly help their chances of admission. Something to put on the resume. "I want to go into aerospace - and my extracurricular activities include my own unmanned space launch ... "

The idea that students prepare resumes for university admission is alien to me as well.  I certainly didn't prepare one. 
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:38:08 AM
Quote from: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:35:35 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:34:37 AM
Too bad the balloon wasn't shot down and the teens arrested by Delta Force and thrown in gitmo.

Allegedly, they were worried about that.  :lol:

I should read these articles.  :D
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:43:24 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:38:08 AM
Quote from: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:35:35 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:34:37 AM
Too bad the balloon wasn't shot down and the teens arrested by Delta Force and thrown in gitmo.

Allegedly, they were worried about that.  :lol:

I should read these articles.  :D

Guy named Muhammed has gotta worry ...  ;)

QuoteThe pair discovered a website that calculates a weather balloon's estimated landing spot based on input launch coordinates, prevailing winds, and balloon specs — different weather balloons are designed to burst at different altitudes.

The site kept spitting out Rochester, N.Y., as their balloon's final landing spot. Muhammad and Ho didn't like their chances with U.S. Homeland Security.

But one Saturday morning, Ho tried again, and saw the balloon would land near Peterborough.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 12:01:57 PM
Quote from: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 10:35:35 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 10:34:37 AM
Too bad the balloon wasn't shot down and the teens arrested by Delta Force and thrown in gitmo.

Allegedly, they were worried about that.  :lol:

yes, they were. They did computer simulations to see where it would lend, and were concerned at one time that it would land near New York State somewhere.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Zanza on January 26, 2012, 01:04:51 PM
I thought space is defined as 100 km height above ground?
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 01:14:58 PM
Quote from: Zanza on January 26, 2012, 01:04:51 PM
I thought space is defined as 100 km height above ground?

Different folks use different definitions (100 K is one). All of 'em are higher than 24 K, though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_space#Boundary

You can't actually get into "space" using a balloon alone, because a balloon requires at least some atmosphere for lift ...
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: derspiess on January 26, 2012, 01:37:20 PM
QuoteThen they inflated the balloon, let it go, and watched their Lego man lift off.

At seven kilometres, the balloon passed cellphone-tower range, and the GPS signal cut out. So they went home and made dumplings.

:huh:

This is why nerds get picked on.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 01:58:06 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 26, 2012, 01:37:20 PM
QuoteThen they inflated the balloon, let it go, and watched their Lego man lift off.

At seven kilometres, the balloon passed cellphone-tower range, and the GPS signal cut out. So they went home and made dumplings.

:huh:

This is why nerds get picked on.

You know that that's a euphamism. They weren't going to tell the newspaper that they went home and had a circle jerk to Princess Leia in her RotJ outfit now, were they?
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Ed Anger on January 26, 2012, 02:02:17 PM
Mohammad went home to pack a rental truck with some more fertilizer.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Maximus on January 26, 2012, 02:02:33 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 26, 2012, 01:37:20 PM
QuoteThen they inflated the balloon, let it go, and watched their Lego man lift off.

At seven kilometres, the balloon passed cellphone-tower range, and the GPS signal cut out. So they went home and made dumplings.

:huh:

This is why nerds get picked on.

No, this is why nerds get picked on.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Siege on January 26, 2012, 08:18:25 PM
Quote from: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 09:12:39 AM
That's one small step for Lego ...  ;)

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1120808--toronto-teens-send-lego-man-on-a-balloon-odyssey-24-kilometres-high?bn=1

A halfbreed chink and a paki?
Is this what Canada have to offer?

Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: crazy canuck on January 26, 2012, 08:23:37 PM
Quote from: Siege on January 26, 2012, 08:18:25 PM
Quote from: Malthus on January 26, 2012, 09:12:39 AM
That's one small step for Lego ...  ;)

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1120808--toronto-teens-send-lego-man-on-a-balloon-odyssey-24-kilometres-high?bn=1

A halfbreed chink and a paki?
Is this what Canada have to offer?

We pride ourselves in keeping the good ones and keeping you out.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: PDH on January 29, 2012, 11:55:29 AM
All of this was made possible because of the University of Wyoming. I am so proud.
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: garbon on January 29, 2012, 04:17:25 PM
Quote from: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 01:58:06 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 26, 2012, 01:37:20 PM
QuoteThen they inflated the balloon, let it go, and watched their Lego man lift off.

At seven kilometres, the balloon passed cellphone-tower range, and the GPS signal cut out. So they went home and made dumplings.

:huh:

This is why nerds get picked on.

You know that that's a euphamism. They weren't going to tell the newspaper that they went home and had a circle jerk to Princess Leia in her RotJ outfit now, were they?

Would it have been okay if they told the press that they went home and googled Sasha Grey?
Title: Re: The Canadian Space Program
Post by: Josephus on January 29, 2012, 05:53:05 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 29, 2012, 04:17:25 PM
Quote from: Josephus on January 26, 2012, 01:58:06 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 26, 2012, 01:37:20 PM
QuoteThen they inflated the balloon, let it go, and watched their Lego man lift off.

At seven kilometres, the balloon passed cellphone-tower range, and the GPS signal cut out. So they went home and made dumplings.

:huh:

This is why nerds get picked on.

You know that that's a euphamism. They weren't going to tell the newspaper that they went home and had a circle jerk to Princess Leia in her RotJ outfit now, were they?

Would it have been okay if they told the press that they went home and googled Sasha Grey?

Googling Sasha Grey would have resulted in them coming here.  :secret: