So on Kickstarter, there was a interesting project called Kicksat. The idea is to use a cubesat, which is a 10cm cube standardized frame for a “nano-satellite” as a mothership for even smaller “sprite” satellites. These Sprites are about the size of a half-dollar, and stacks of them will be ejected from the Kicksat.
Since the Sprite is so small, the cost of launch is actually affordable at a personal level. So I bought one. Well, how could I not?
We don’t have a launch date yet, but we are confirmed through a NASA program for academic research, so it’s just a question of when now. The Kicksat will hitch a ride on a larger mission, mounted in what would be dead space in the shroud that a larger satellite isn’t taking up. It’s stuffed in a corner basically.
When it gets to low earth orbit (yeah, this is the real deal, not “balloon space”, but actual orbit), it will emit a 5 character string digitally, which will be recorded by data receivers on the ground.
Those Five characters will be “Bryon”. Welcome to space, family o’ mine.
Space Cadet Jay, signing off…
Finally bored through enough wood and concrete doing pathways that I got to installing the actual conduit(soon, actual wires!).
As I predicted, lots faster than the prep work. I did about a quarter of the job in a few hours, in contrast to three weeks of prep, nights and weekends.
Actually looking forward to the rest of it. Well, except for the one path I forgot, but that should go pretty quick.
Well, also the part where I’ll be crawling under the house…
Well heck, having fun for now with my handheld bandsaw slicing conduit like butter. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Finally pulled the trigger and got a 3D printer, last week, so lead time being what it is, we’ve got 7 weeks to go before it gets here (they have to build them first).
Due to the build area size (how big an object it can print) and dual extrusion heads (lots of interesting things one can do), and also the time vs money equation, I went with a Makerbot Replicator.
It was a close call, as I was all lined up for a Makergear Prusa, just as they announced this new beast. Took me a week or two to balance everything and finally come down on the side of the Replicator, although the Prusa was also a good choice.
Also, once you have one 3D printer, it’s entirely possible to build another one ala a “repstrap” process. So if I have to have a prusa later, it’s an option. But I think I’ll be busy enough as it is. I’m making a long list of ideas to explore with it, many things I will be printing for nieces/nephews (or the cousin equivalents, I don’t bother with the distinction these days).
So in the meantime, I’m working very hard to get my studio finished before it gets here (drilling complete, installing some blocking and then on to either concrete drilling or installing conduit).
It’s a good incentive for me to keep going when I’ve got sawdust in my eyes and my headphones just ran out of juice. Threw them on the charger, now for some lunch and back to it!
