Minutes of February 10 Oklahoma Space Alliance Meeting
Oklahoma Space Alliance met February 10, 2024, at the Cyber Hall and Gaming Lounge at Norman Computers in Norman, Oklahoma. Attending Adam Hemphill, Dave Sheely, Tim Scott, and Syd Henderson. OSA President Adam Hemphill presided over the meeting He presented an Update put together by Clifford McMurray discussing links to material covered in the meeting and this is online at https://osa.nss.org/Update2402.pdf so I’ll cover the details that aren’t covered there.
NASA did a report on Space-Based Solar Power that was a bit pessimistic. Cost was estimated at $0.60 per kilowatt hour which is much more than solar and hydroelectric power ($.02 and .05 per kilowatt-hour, respectively). Note that launch costs (a good part of the expense) are dependent on our not improving on SpaceX’s current launch cost. [Launch costs were seventy percent of the estimated costs. It also didn’t take into account using electric propulsion. Still, a lot of improvement has to be done to make it competitive.]
SLIM was SUPPOSED to rotate to land on its side. It looked to me like it rotated a bit too much but is still operational [and woke up after lunar night].
Northrop Grumman is coming up with more capable space serving satellites. Looked at their patebt application.
SpaceX’s Moon plans are so ambitious that Blue Moon may succeed with a simpler profile.
The Artemis 2 delay is partly due to extra erosion on its heat shields and partly due to components of the life-support systems.
Tracking capability has to be able to grow exponentially [to keep up with increase in space debris and small satellites].
January 25 is annual Remembrance Day for astronauts who died in the space program.
Axion 3 arrived at the ISS on January 20.
The deadline for Oklahoma Space Alliance’s annual chapter report to the ISS is March 1.
We have $823.48 in the checking account and $267 in cash for a total of $1010.48.
Contact person for Oklahoma Space Alliance is Claire McMurray.
PO Box 1003
Norman, OK 73070
Webmaster is Syd Henderson.
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