Really Rocket Science

The Early Space Age – an article published in Fortune Magazine in 1959.
[Fortune Magazine – 06/03/2012]

India’s Navy creates post of assistant chief of naval staff charged with harnessing space-based capabilities.
[The Times of India – 06/03/2012]

Billionaire John Malone’s push to take over Sirius XM Radio creates potential for clash with Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin.
[San Francisco Chronicle – 06/03/2012]

Intelsat 19 fails to deploy one of its two solar arrays.
[Space News – 06/02/2012]

SpaceX’s Dragon splashes down in Pacific after successful re-supply trip to International Space Station.
[SatNews – 06/02/2012]

Dish submits reply comments to FCC on proposed wireless rules.
[EXEC Digital – 06/02/2012]

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company announces successful completion of trials of U.S. DoD compatible Ka-band-capable terminals over the Y1A satellite.
[SatNews – 06/02/2012]

Telesat is awarded contract by Shared Services Canada to facilitate provisioning of X-ban d satellite communications and associated services around the world to SSC partner and client departments.
[SatNews – 06/02/2012]

Inmarsat Government launches new website reflecting image and identity of the business unit that provides global, secure, end-to-end solutions to U.S. government customers.
[SatNews – 06/02/2012]

Capacity on five Eutelsat satellites has been booked for coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012 championship in Poland and the Ukraine.
[Sacramento Bee – 06/01/2012]

Ukrainian Zenit-2SL rocket launches U.S. communications satellite, Intelsat 19, from sea-based launch pad in the Pacific Ocean.
[News Track India – 06/01/2012]

Lockheed Martin is awarded $68 million contract from U.S. Air Force to provide mission readiness, launch, early orbit checkout, and on-orbit operations engineering support for first two GPS-3 satellites.
[Satellite Today – 06/01/2012]

Artemis telecommunications satellite continues to provide services to its users following completion of its official mission, providing communications between ATV shuttle to ISS and the ATV control center,  after almost 11 years in orbit.
[Phys Org – 06/01/2012]

ViaSat pushes to include Loral, parent company of Space Systems Loral (SS/L), into it’s patent lawsuit against SSL, saying the parent company “guides SS/L’s every move.”
[Space News – 06/01/2012]

TCS’ OS-IRIS managed satellite services offering is added to FCSA contract program.
[Market Watch – 05/31/2012]

SpaceX announces first commercial contract for its heavy-lift rocket, still in development, from Intelsat for a future Intelsat satellite launch.
[ABC News – 05/31/2012]

U.S. Air Force and Boeing come to terms on replacing a cost-plus contract for next-generation satellite communications terminals with a fixed-price contract.
[Aviation Week – 05/31/2012]

Liberty Media asks federal regulators to allow it to take over control of Sirius XM Radio.
[Investors.com – 05/31/2012]

NSR’s webinar “The Case for Hosted Payloads” presentation and session recording available for download at NSR website.
[NSR – The Case for Hosted Payloads – 05/30/2012]

CPI International will acquire Codan Satcom.
[Sacramento Bee – 05/30/2012]

Iridium Pilot selected by IMOCA 60′ as satellite communications platform for International Europa and Vendee Globe sailboat race.
[Market Watch – 05/30/2012]

MerlinCryption introduces powerful M2M cryptosystem to overcome security challenges for satellite companiesx and space operators.
[Seattle PI – 05/30/2012]

Kazakhstan reportedly blocks upcoming Russian satellite launches from Baikonur due to dispute over drop zone for rocket debris, but there may be more to this story . . .
[SatNews – 05/29/2012]

GVF VSAT certification training program transitioning to new online learning system using new lesson player software developed by SatProf.
[SatNews – 05/29/2012]

South Korea to launch world’s first satellite for monitoring climate change over Korean Peninsula in 2018.
[SatNews – 05/29/2012]

Chinese Long March 3B rocket successfully delivers Chinese communications satellite to space.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/27/2012]

Affordable satellite bandwidth could change rural access, benefitting, for example, farms and safari lodges.
[BIZ Community – 05/25/2012]

Right behind SpaceX in the commercial race to space are Orbital Sciences, Alliant Techsystems, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp., and Blue Origin.
[R&D Magazine – 05/24/2012]

U.S. Navy will deploy 4G LTE on board combat ships to augment existing satellite systems and enhance non-essential communications for sailors.
[IntoMobile – 05/24/2012]

SpaceX makes history as the first company to send a commercial supply ship toward the International Space Station as the Falcon 9 rocket successfully carries the Dragon capsule into orbit.
[R&D Magazine – 05/22/2012]

Space Systems/Loral delivers powerful multi-mission SES-5 satellite to Baikonur Space Center.
[Market Watch – 05/21/2012]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Great moment in space business: the launch of the Falcon-9 from the Cape. Their press release lead tells it like it is:

Today, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft to orbit in an exciting start to the mission that will make SpaceX the first commercial company in history to attempt to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station — something only a handful of governments have ever accomplished.

At 3:44 a.m. Eastern, the Falcon 9 carrying Dragon launched from SpaceX’s launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Now Dragon heads toward the International Space Station. On that journey it will be subjected to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the station.

Watch the launch videos…

We’re hoping the mission keeps on succeeding!

International Launch Service successfully launches Nimiq 6 satellite aboard Proton for Telesat.
[SatNews – 05/19/2012]

Sea Launch conducts Hardware Acceptance Review of Zenit-2S launch vehicle to be used in support of Intelsat 21 launch.
[SatNews – 05/19/2012]

Russia successfully launches Soyuz surveillance satellite to photograph military installations, troop movements, and other sites of interest worldwide.
[SatNews – 05/19/2012]

Japanese SHIZUKI (Water) rocket successfully launches South Korean satellite and three Japanese satellites.
[SatNews – 05/19/2012]

MMA Design LLC delivers novel CubeSat Solar Array Drive Assembly that is capable of delivering up to 100W of power, increasing orbit average power by more than 300%, and enabling new high performance applications.
[SatNews – 05/19/2012

Viasat enters new agreement with DIRECTV initiating plans to add Exede High-speed internet service to selection of video and broadband bundles for the home.
[SatNews – 05/19/2012]

Space X launch aborted – possible rocket engine valve problem; will be replaced before next attempt.
[msnbc – 05/19/2012]

Arianespace racks up 100th and 101st satellites to be launched as JCSAT-13 and VINASAT-1 are successfully lifted into transfer orbit.
[Space Travel – 05/18/2012]

steroid discovered by Spanish observatory earlier this year will pass inside geosynchronous orbit in February, 2013, possibly disrupting some satellites or even hitting one.
[digital Journal – 05/18/2012]

Dish Network presents case to government seeking approval to repurpose 2GHz satellite spectrum for terrestrial wireless, while requesting relaxation in FCC’s desired rollout schedule.
[Twice – 05/18/2012]

Thuraya partners with GTNT to launch its mobile satellite services across Russia.
[Space Daily – 05/18/2012]

SAIC will help maintain space-based infrared systems and military satellite communications for U.S. Air Force, as well as provide logistics management support for ground-based command and control systems for national defense weapons.
[Executivebiz – 05/18/2012]

German satellite and rocket manufacturer OHB Systems reported dramatic increase in profits and revenue for first quarter, and is in line for 12% increase in full year 2012.
[Satellite Today – 05/18/2012]

European Oil & Gas exploration to move North as warmer winters reduce artic sea ice; how far and how quickly will have affect on satellite communications requirements.
[NSR Report – May 17, 2012]

Gogo, a leader of in-flight connectivity and wireless in-flight solutions, will partner with satellite equipment provider AeroSat to bring Ku-band satellite solution to commercial airlines.
[Market Watch 05/18/2012]

Second AEHF satellite successfully fires main engine three times, maneuvering toward intended operational orbit and avoiding predicament of its predecessor.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/16/2012]

Y1B satellite successfully deployed in-orbit, and begins in-orbit testing.
[ameinfo – 05/16/2012]

Arqiva contracts for additional satellite capacity on EUTELSAT7A to meet growing demand for professional video services across Europe and the Middle East.
[Sacramento Bee – 05/16/2012]

New Northern Sky Research study confirms earlier Euroconsult report that KVH is most widely used Maritime VSAT service.
[Market Watch – 05/16/2012]

Researchers to launch 20 satellites containing world class instruments from University of Oslo to forecast space weather and northern lights activity.
[Space Daily – 05/16/2012]

Streambox announces release of software encoder ideal for HD mobile newsgathering over public internet, 3G/4G LTE, BGAN, and WiFi connections, optimizing transmission using combinations of all paths simultaneously.
[SatNews – 05/16/2012]

Global Telesat is awarded new contract to supply U.S. Navy with mobile satellite equipment.
[Market Watch – 05/15/2012]

Free NSR Webinar in two weeks to offer in-depth discussion of the case for hosted payloads.
[NSR – 05/16/2012]

National Space Society calls on U.S. Congress to ease export control regulations on spacecraft and related items, as urged by U.S. Departments of Defense and State in recent joint report.
[Satellite Today – 05/15/2012]

Newtec’s IP traffic enhancement and shaping technology is implemented in the EURO HAWK Unmanned Areal System joint venture of EADS company Casidian and Northrop Grumman.
[Telecom Lead – 05/15/2012]

NSR report – Global Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Markets – presents complete analysis of satellite manufacturing and launch industry for next 10 – 15 years.
[NSR – 05/14/2012]

LightSquared files bankruptcy after failing to reach agreement with creditors, giving “breathing room to continue working through the regulatory process . . .”
[Bloomberg – 05/14/2012]

Russian Satellite Communications Company and Hughes Network Sytstems sign momorandum of understanding to explore innovative multi-media satellite networks and services in Russia.
[Market Watch – 05/14/2012]

Optimus selects Eutelsat-s KA-SAT to be commercialised under the “Net Sat ON” brand to deliver reliable and competively-price broadband solution to enterprises in Portugal.
[Market Watch – 05/14/2012]

Iridium is authorized to deliver its products and services in Russia.
[Market Watch – 05/14/2012

KVH names Boatracs first Value Added Service Provider for its mini-VSAT broadband service, bringing the broadband maritime service and Boatrac’s market leading software applications to vessels in a single package.
[Market Watch – 05/14/2012]

Yahsat launches broadband service in Nigeria.
[All Africa – 05/14/2012]

NigeriaSat-1 soon to be decommissioned, as NigeriaSat-2 begins operation.
[SatNews – 05/14/2012]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Interesting development involving quantum entanglement and teleportation, via Richard Adhikari at TechNewsWorld…

Scientists in China have transmitted quantum bits, or qubits, over a record distance of 97 km, or roughly 60 miles.

This is more than six times the distance of the previous record of 16 km, set by another team of Chinese researchers in May of 2010, as reported in Nature.com.

The results represent a step toward the establishment of a global quantum network, and the methods used in the experiment could be utilized for satellite-based quantum communications, the scientists said.

“This is just a transmission method, so it could have wide utility, though I expect the cost will initially make it best for huge data streams,” Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, told TechNewsWorld.

This technology “could end up changing much of the world” because it’s both potentially higher bandwidth and lower latency, approaching zero, and these factors “could drive massive computer centralization on a world scale and force a massive shakeout of security , networking and computer companies,” Enderle continued. “Something like this could turn us into a SaaS (Software as a Service) world.”

This will change the satcom business in a big, big way. It’s right there in the abstract:

With the help of quantum entanglement, quantum communication can be achieved between arbitrarily distant places without passing through intermediate locations by quantum teleportation. In the laboratory, quantum teleportation has been demonstrated over short distance by photonic and atomic qubits. Using fiber links, quantum teleportation has been achieved over kilometer distances. Long distance quantum teleportation is of particular interest and has been one of the holy grails of practical quantum communication. Most recently, quantum teleportation over 16 km free-space link was demonstrated. However, a major restriction in this experiment is that the unknown quantum state cannot directly come from outside. Here, based on an ultra-bright multi-photon entanglement source, we demonstrate quantum teleportation, closely following the original scheme, for any unknown state created outside, between two optical free-space links separated by 97 km. Over a 35-53 dB high-loss quantum channel, an average fidelity of 80.4(9) % is achieved for six distinct initial states. Besides being of fundamental interest, our result represents an important step towards a global quantum network. Moreover, the high-frequency and high-accuracy acquiring, pointing and tracking (APT) technique developed in our experiment can be directly utilized for future satellite-based quantum communication.

Download the report (PDF) for yourself and read on.

MEASAT takes Intelsat to court over alleged breach of contract in respect to the Land Launch and Program Management Services for the MEASAT 1R satellite.
[SatNews – 05/14/2012]

Arianespace to launch Vietnam’s second satellite along with Sky Perfect’s JSAT-13 on May 16.
[Satellite Today – 05/14/2012]

SES announces that its German HD+ platform reached more than 2.6 million households at the end of first quarter 2012.
[SatNews – 05/12/2012]

ViviSat, backed by ATK and U.S. Space, shows new video explaining how its Mission Extension Vehicle can extend the life of retiring geosynchronous communications satellites.
[SatNews – 05/12/2012]

ATK has developed Liberty into complete commercial crew transportation system, including spacecraft, abort system, launch vehicle, and ground and mission operations, designed to meet NASA’s human-rating requirements.
[SatNews – 05/12/2012]

While negotiating with Boeing to convert its current contract for new advance satellite terminals from cost plus to fixed price, the Air Force opens up the bidding to other companies.
[Chicago Tribune – 05/11/2012]

Dish launches DVR feature allowing customers to completely avoid commercials, threatening billions of dollars in broadcast-television advertising.
[Wall Street Journal – 05/11/2012]

Eutelsat cuts forecast for full-year revenue, and its stock falls the most since it began trading in Paris in December 2005.
[Bloomberg – 05/11/2012]

Vietnam says it will send its second satellite into orbit on May 16.
[People Daily – 05/11/2012]

Nigeria says it will deploy satellites to trace movement of suspected terrorists and their locations in the country.
[Daily Trust – 05/11/2012]

Iridium unveils worlld’s smallest commercial two-way satellite data transceiver.
[Sat PR News – 05/11/2012]

L-3 to lay off 34 workers in Mason, Ohio, a plant that makes infrared sensors and systems and satellite electronics.
[Dayton Business Journal – 05/11/2012]

MDA may lay off 150 additional employees if Radarsat Constellation Mission doesn’t continue.
[Vancouver Sun – 05/11/2012]

China launches Remote-Sensing Satellite Number 14.
[SatNews – 05/10/2012]

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace agree to jointly market rides on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to Bigelow habitats orbiting Earth.
[SatNews – 05/10/2012]

Globecomm Systems gets contract value upgrade and 12 month extension to existing five year contract to provide complete facility and geographic diversity for voice and data restoration services to Agility Recovery Solutions.
[SatNews – 05/10/2012]

Comtech receives $1.5 million order for Ka-band high-power amplifiers serving the emerging High Throughput Satellite communications market.
[Market Watch – 05/10/2012]

NASA announces the retirement of the TDRS-4 communications satellite.
[redOrbit – 05/09/2012]

ESA declares Envisat environmental satellite, which stopped communicating in April, lost. [Spaceflight Now – 05/09/2011]

Netherlands Defence organisation a step closer to satellite communications independence following May 5 launch of communications satellite from Cape Canaveral.
[Defence Professionals – 05/09/2012]

Eutelsat closes distribution deal with RG Networks, making KA-SAT satellite broadband available across Hungary.
[Sacramento Bee – 05/09/2012]

Astrium gets contract to provide airborne SATCOM systems to Star Satellite Communications Company, a subsidiary of Yahsat.
[SatNews – 05/09/2012]

Norsat revenues up 21% for strong 2012 first quarter.
[Market Watch – 05/09/2012]

Telstra orders $5 million in docking stations and Iridium handsets from Beam Communications of Australia.
[Market Watch – 05/09/2012]

Comtech gets $2.5 million contract from Latin American operator for satellite earth station equipment for the company’s network expansion.
[Market Watch – 05/09/2011]

Scientists offer calculation to correct temperature data taken from NOAA-9 in the 1980′s, bringing it in line with other satellite earth temperature data and models that simulate global warming.
[R&D Magazine – 05/08/2012]

Field testing of Army’s mobile WIN-T C-2 satellite network finally under way in New Mexico after a year’s worth of delays.
[Defense News – 05/08/2012]

Intelsat reports first quarter net loss of $24.4 million, and confirms plans for four satellite launches in second and third quarters of 2012.
[Market Watch – 05/08/2012]

Satcom Direct becomes reseller for TriaGnoSys satellite communications systems.
[Seattle PI – 05/08/2012]

SkyWave Mobile Communicatioins introduces IDP-780 series of terminals with dual mode satellite-cellular capability.
[Market Watch – 05/08/2012]

Dish Network reports several technical glitches on its satellites during the first quarter, including solar array anomalies.
[Fierce Cable – 05/07/2012]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Russian power engineering manufacturer Energomash begins development of new rocket engine to run on novel mixture of acetylene and ammonia and could reduce cost of rocket launches and need for hydrogen
[SatNews – 05/07/2012]

Craftwork launches off-the-shelf software solutions enabling device makers to rapidly develop and launch new SAT>IP devices.
[SatNews – 05/07/2012]

U.S.A.F. launches second AEHF satellite from Cape Canaveral.
[Defence Professionals – 05/06/2012]

DISA says new strategy to build cohesive global network by 2020 could be used to acquire teleport receiving stations and satellite antennas outside the GSA vehicle for acquiring satellite bandwidth.
[NextGov – 05/04/2012]

Inmarsat shareholder protest over executive chairman pay.
[telecompaper – 05/04/2012]

NSR webinar Wednesday May 30, 2012 will offer in=depth discussion of emerging market for Hosted Payloads across all market segments and all regions.
[SatNews – 05/04/2012]

Vizada and Vizada Elite Partner SRH Marine Electronics sign 24 month agreement with Danaos Shipping Co. to equip its fleet of vessels with full broadband communications system using Inmarsat FleetBroadband terminals.
[SatNews – 05/04/2012]

Thrane board accepts sweetened Cobham offer.
[Nicosia Business Review – 05/03/2012]

North Korea’s jamming of GPS signals has serious affects on U.S. Army’s Rifleman Radio.
[NextGov – 05/03/2012]

VT iDirect and Informa Telecoms & Media release survey and white paper demonstrating market value and potential of satellite backhaul when used in conjunction with small cells.
[SatNews – 05/03/2012]

ESA announces its next large science mission will be an explorer (JUICE) that will be sent to explore Jupiter’s icy moons.
[SatNews = 05/03/2012]

South Korean flights affected by GPS jamming signals coming from communist North Korea.
[ABC News – 05/02/2012]

Goddard Space Flight team works on Fast Plasma Instrument that will collect full sky map of data at 30 times per second for the NASA fleet of four identical spacecraft, the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, to launch in 2014.
[R&D Magazine – 05/01/2012]

Orbit Communication Systems gets contract from Scientific Research Institute of the Precision Instruments, a Roscosmos member, to supply several Earth Observation systems for tracking of LEO satellites.
[Globe Newswire – 04/30/2012]

Hoping to prevent bankruptcy, LightSquared’s lenders ask Philip Falcone to step down from LightSquared board seat he took just two months ago.
[Wireless Week – 04/30/2012]

U.S.A.F. begins negotiations with Lockheed Martin in effort to acquire two AEHF satellites below the $3.1 billion limit set by Congress in 2012 Defense Authorization Act.
[Air Force Times – 04/28/2012]

U.K to build $400 million Solar Orbiter which will come closer to sun than any previous satellite, inside Mercury’s orbit, to study solar winds.
[Vancouver Sun – 04/28/2012]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

SES, with leading industry partners, introduces SAT-IP, an IP-based satellite reception technology that converts satellite TV signals to IP for distribution throughout user’s homes for display on any IP-enabled device.
[Market Watch – 04/27/2012]

Telesat profit drops by 14% due to reduced prices charge a DTH customer on one of its satellites.
[Winnipeg Free Press – 04/27/2012]

Astrium activates full in-orbit operations on the first two Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites launched in October 2011.
[Satellite Today – 04/27/2012]

Russian Proton rocket successfully launches Yahsat 1B Ka-band civil/military communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.
[Space.com – 04/26/2012]

Indian rocket successfully launches microwave Radar Imaging Satellite (Risat-1) from spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, joining a select group of nations having this technology.
[NY Daily News – 04/26/2012]

UK industry to build Solar Orbiter satellite.
[BBC News – 04/26/2012]

CASBAA members rally to resist India’s proposed retroactive satellite tax laws. [SatNews – 04/26/2012]

U.S.A.F. terminates Defense Weather Satellite System contractual activities with Northrop Grumman in accordance with 2012 National Defense Authorization Act and FY12 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
[SatNews – 04/26/2012]

Space-based technology that serves GPS-equipped motorists will undergo major test of ability to rapidly pinpoint the location and magnitude of strong earthquakes across the western United States.
[SatNews – 04/26/2012]

Research firm Media Partners Asia expects DTH growth to explode in Asia, growing exponentially from 11% market share today to about 30% in the next decade.
[Satellite Today – 04/26/2012]

GMV is awarded a contract with THAICOM Plc to provide satellite control center for Thaicom 6 satellite.
[Space Ref – 04/26/2012]

NASA seeks proposals to develop solar array systems to enable space electric propulsion systems of the future.
[SolarNovus – 04/26/2012]

SpaceX COTS 2 mission set for May 7th, when the comp-any’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle will propel the Dragon toward the International Space Station.
[SatNews – 04/25/2012]

ViaSat is selected to enable Ka-band broadband satellite services for kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
[Market Watch – 04/25/2012]

SES adds two new local German channels on ASTRA.
[Market Watch – 04/25/2012]

Canadian Department of National Defence General wants satellite coverage over far north to aid communications in Canadian Arctic.
[The Globe and Mail – 04/25/2012]

Astrium Services and Spanish government satellite service operator Hisdesat sign agreement to establish constellation approach for radar satellites TerraSAR-X and PAZ for additional flexibility.
[SatNews – 04/24/2012]

Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association announces that WorkMark has joined the association as Industry Partner Member; they will work together to expand certification and qualifications needed in the consumer satellite industry.
[SatNews – 04/24/2012]

Boatracs and KVH announce strategic partnership to provide end-to-end global broadband solution to maritime market.
[chron – 04/24/2012]

EUMETSAT opens high-tech facility in Germany.
[Satellite Today – 04/24/2012]

New $1 billion + anti-jam communications satellite to provide the president and military leaders a secure and survivable communications link in wartime is mounted atop its Atlas 5 rocket at Cape Canaveral.
[Spaceflight Now – 04/23/2012]

DARPA project advocates replacing conventional spacecraft with free-floating orbit clusters that interact wirelessly, promoting easy re-configuration for changing military needs.
[Nextgov – 04/23/2012]

iDirect’s iDX software earns 2011 Satellite Spotlight Product of the Year award for bringing TDMA and SCPC together on a single platform for the first time ever.
[Market Watch – 04/23/2012]

U.S. military may spend $1 billion during next decade to piggyback its communications equipment onto commercial satellites.
[Washington Post – 04/22/2012]

Medical Robotics Experts Help Advance NASA’s Satellite Surgery Project.
[Tech Briefs – 04/01/2012]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Great idea: convert an old warehouse into a members-only facility for inventors, tinkerers, craftspeople and DIYers. Offer classes and workshops, too. It’s called MakerPlace and it’s pretty cool.

Looking at their equipment list — and the number of rocket scientists living in and around “America’s Finest City” — it should prove to be a successful endeavor. You can get it done here:

4 axis CNC mill
manual mill
metal lathe
pipe notcher
brake (16 gauge)
planishing hammer
English wheel
TIG welder
gas welder
MIG welder
shear (16 gauge)
metal belt sander
horizontal band saw
metal and wood bandsaw
permitted paint booth
wood belt sander
3D printer (abs plastic)
Corner Notcher
Shrinker/ Stretcher
35 Ton Press Brake
Grinder/ Polisher
metal and wood drill presses
shaper
Saw Stop table saw
15″ planer
miter saw
panel saw
cnc router with vacuum table
assorted hand tools
integral sawdust management
VIC Engrave
Corel Software Suite
EagleCAD, Rhino
Fritzing, Alibre
Mach3, V CArve Pro
Cut 3D, SketchUp
Buzz 2 Stitches
Arduino, PCB 123
large format laser cutters
laser engravers
oscilloscopes
function generator
variable power supplies
multi-meters
soldering irons
large format vinyl cutter
industrial sewing machine
6 needle embroidery machine
large format inkjet printer
CNC router
sand blasting cabinet
free wireless internet service
conference room w/projector
4 color silk screen and dryer

Check out their photos.

Stay classy, San Diego!

This Saturday, 28 April 2012, is National Astronomy Day. Get out there and look up!

Depending on where you are, you’ll need to get away from all the “light pollution” that interferes with stargazing. Try the Dark Sky Finder for guidance. And if you want to dig deeper, take a look at the work being done by our paisanos over at Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologia dell’Inquinamento Luminoso (Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute).

Need a telescope? Check out the promotion Celestron is doing with Astronomy magazine…

Astronomy magazine and Celestron are coming to a location near you! Here’s where you can go to win a Celestron telescope and Astronomy magazine prizes…check back regularly for updates (unless otherwise noted, events will be held April 28):

Location: Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Venue: East Kentucky Science Center & Planetarium
Website: bigsandy.kctcs.edu

Location: Schenectady, New York
Venue: Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium
Website: schenectadymuseum.org

Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Venue: Fernbank Science Center
Website: fernbank.edu

Location: Boulder, Colorado
Venue: Sommers-Bausch Observatory & Fiske Planetarium
Event date: May 20, 2012
Website: cosmos.colorado.edu and fiske.colorado.edu

Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Venue: Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum 
Website: www.tellusmuseum.org

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Venue: The Adler Planetarium
Website: www.adlerplanetarium.org/

Location: Dayton, Ohio
Venue: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Website: www.boonshoftmuseum.org

Location: Milford, Michigan
Venue: Kensington Metropark
Website: www.metroparks.com

Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Gene Roddenberry Planetarium
Website: www.episd.org

Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Venue: Lowell Observatory
Website: www.lowell.edu

Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Venue: AstroDay at Prince Kuhlo Plaza
Event Date: May 5, 2012
Website: www.astroday.net

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Venue: Science City at Union Station
Event Date: May 4, 2012
Website: www.sciencecity.com

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Venue: Mueller Planetarium at University of Nebraska State Museum
Website: www.spacelaser.com

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Venue: Sudekum Planetarium at the Adventure Science Center
Event date: June 2, 2012
Website: www.sudekumplanetarium.com

Location: Oakland, California
Venue: Chabot Space & Science Center
Website: www.chabotspace.org/

Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Venue: Arizona Science Center
Event Date: May 5, 2012
Website: azscience.org

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Venue: Carnegie Science Center
Event date: March 31, 2012
Website: www.carnegiesciencecenter.org

Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Venue: St. Louis Science Center
Website: www.slsc.org

Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Venue: Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium
Event Date: June 6, 2012
Website: www.louisville.com/planetarium

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue: Franklin Institute Science Museum
Website: www.fi.edu

Location: Seattle, Washington
Venue: Pacific Science Center
Website: www.pacificsciencecenter.org

Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Venue: Retzer Nature Center
Website: www.waukeshacounty.gov/defaultwc.aspx?id=39577

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Venue: Clark Planetarium
Website: www.clarkplanetarium.org

Location: Portland, Oregon
Venue: Kendall Planetarium
Website: www.omsi.edu/planetarium