They built a satellite from wood?

[Bobtail4x4]

someone told me about this today

LignoSat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Barking Mat]

someone told me about this today

LignoSat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That's pretty mental, shame it didn't work.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

That's pretty mental, shame it woodn't work.

 

[Erie Fred]

No, they built a very expensive charcoal briquette....and used the taxpayer's dime to blast it into space.

 

[Farside]

someone told me about this today

LignoSat - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"The satellite was assembled through a traditional Japanese crafts technique without screws or glue. It still has some traditional aluminium structures and electronic components."

Blimey, who knew that the Samurai were into that kind of thing?

 

[Tom O]

So you’re saying that the Japanese had a woody in space!
But I guess I’d be exited too.

 

[waddycall]

Seems like it just failed to establish communication but stayed in one piece so they’re launching another one this year according to that Wikipedia article. Good on em. Why make satellites out of more exotic materials if readily available resources that need very little processing are suitable?

 

[Bouledogue]

Made me think. Does the earth get lighter (and gravity consequently decrease) each time we send up a satellite?

Just looked it up. Apparently, the amount is negligible in comparison with the earth's annual 50,000 tons net weight-loss due to atmospheric escapes of gas (includes off-set for meteorites).

Anyway, enough time-wasting: s'pose I'd better do some work...

 

[Misterg]

Apparently, the amount is negligible [...]

In mass terms it is, but in terms of certain elements it's significant - gold and helium, for example

 

[Bouledogue]

In mass terms it is, but in terms of certain elements it's significant - gold and helium, for example

That is a good point.

 

[badabec]

Made me think. Does the earth get lighter (and gravity consequently decrease) each time we send up a satellite?

Just looked it up. Apparently, the amount is negligible in comparison with the earth's annual 50,000 tons net weight-loss due to atmospheric escapes of gas (includes off-set for meteorites).

Anyway, enough time-wasting: s'pose I'd better do some work...

If every lift in the world went up at the same time, would the earth rotate faster?

 

[indykid]

If every lift in the world went up at the same time, would the earth rotate faster?

Assuming the lifts were loaded and the counterbalances were of lower mass than the cars (mass moved to a greater radius), because of the increase in moment of inertia, conservation of angular momentum would mean the earth would rotate slower

 

[Guineafowl]

Assuming the lifts were loaded and the counterbalances were of lower mass than the cars (mass moved to a greater radius), because of the increase in moment of inertia, conservation of angular momentum would mean the earth would rotate slower

Put another way, for angular momentum L = mvr to be conserved, if r (radius) increases then v (velocity) goes down, m (mass) staying the same.

I think it’s legally compulsory to have a pic of an ice skater spinning slowly leg-out, then faster leg-in.

 

[dobbslc]

Assuming the lifts were loaded and the counterbalances were of lower mass than the cars (mass moved to a greater radius), because of the increase in moment of inertia, conservation of angular momentum would mean the earth would rotate slower

Is there anyway to make this happen only at the weekend?

 

[Tom O]

If every lift in the world went up at the same time, would the earth rotate faster?

Let’s find out North Americans jump as the second hand hits the twelve those across the pond jump on the 30 second mark! Those in the middle watch for Rouge waves.