July 4, 2007

Sending a kiss into space

Filed under: Art,Dutch first,Science by Orangemaster @ 11:11 am
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The Delft University of Technology is planning to send a satellite into space with a kiss on the outside of it. The launch of the Delfi-C3 will be the first Dutch artwork to make a journey through space. The plan for the Kiss in Space Search Mission was developed together with artist Niek Verschoor. The human kiss will travel through space at a speed of 27,000 km/h. The satellite will be launched into space in September from the space centre on the island of Sriharikota in India.

(Link: De pers)

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June 27, 2007

The Nuna 4 unveiled today

Filed under: Automobiles,Science,Sustainability by Orangemaster @ 10:12 am
Nuon solar challenge 4

Today in Delft, South Holland (and hopefully with some sun) the unveiling of the Nuna 4 solar-powered car (see the car here) will take place, an event open to all.

The team designed a whole new solar-powered car in order to meet new rules of the World Solar Challenge: less solar cells on the car, the driver needed to be sitting up straight and security measures were tightened. In short, this new car is the first step towards an actual solar-powered car that is more like an ordinary car.

Oh, and the Delft University of Technology is looking for its fourth win in a row.

The Nuna 4 was designed and built by 11 enthousiastic students from the Delft University of Technology, who will be leaving for Australia this summer for the World Solar Challenge, the world championship of solar-powered cars, held from 21 to 28 October.

The unveiling will take place at 16:25 at the field in front of the Delft University of Technology on the Mekelweg for anyone in the neighbourhood.

(Link: TU Delft)

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March 18, 2007

Apollo 11 flag no longer stands on the moon

Filed under: General,History by Branko Collin @ 11:36 am

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When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans to land on the moon, they planted a US flag there; the photo Armstrong took of Aldrin with the flag is so well-known that it has become an icon. In its extensive report on this flag, NASA writes: “it is uncertain if the flag remained standing or was blown over by the engine blast when the ascent module took off”. Last week however, according to news paper BN/De Stem, a visiting Buzz Aldrin told an audience of students from the Delft University of Technology that the flag was no longer standing; when leaving for earth, the astronauts accidentally knocked it over.

Realising how sensitive the US public would be about such a thing, the astronauts decided not to tell upon return.

(Source: BN/De Stem)

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