Virgin Galactic’s third supersonic flight reaches highest altitude yet

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If youre planning to pay out for a commercial space flight in the coming years, youll be pleased to know that Virgin Galactics test runs are continuing successfully. The company has announced that its SpaceShipTwo aircraft has completed its third rocket-powered test and reached a new high 71,000 feet in the air, to be exact. The SpaceShipTwo also reached a maximum velocity of Mach 1.4 under the stewardship of pilot Dave Mackay and returned safely to Earth.

The aim of this third test flight was to monitor the thermal coating on the tail of SpaceShipTwo as well as the ships reaction control system, which enables the pilot to maneuver the craft out in space (and give you the best views from your seat). Virgin Galactic has always promised to have its first passenger flights running sometime in 2014, and the company is showing no signs of backing down from that deadline.

I couldnt be happier to start the New Year with all the pieces visibly in place for the start of full space flights, said Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson in a press release. 2014 will be the year when we will finally put our beautiful spaceship in her natural environment of space. Today, we had our own Chief Pilot flying another flawless supersonic flight and proving the various systems required to take us safely to space, as well as providing the very best experience while were up there.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides was equally enthusiastic about SpaceShipTwos progress: Todays flight was another resounding success.We focused on gathering more transonic and supersonic data, and our chief pilot, Dave, handled the vehicle beautifully. With each flight test, we are progressively closer to our target of starting commercial service in 2014.

It was just over three years ago that the SpaceShipTwo made its first solo flight. Even if you have the $250,000 necessary to book one of the six seats on the SpaceShipTwo, you might still be waiting a while for your trip beyond the atmosphere: over 600 people have already signed up. Get your name down on the list through this booking page.

DT

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Virgin Galactic’s third supersonic flight reaches highest altitude yet

Govt criticised over red beacons

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SHILLONG: RTI activist Rev K Pyrtuh has slammed the State Government for not respecting the apex court ruling on the use of red beacons. The apex court has banned the use of red beacons after seeing its misuse by the people in power, Pyrtuh said while speaking at the street corner meeting on Lokayukta here on Saturday. He said that the State is experiencing a very dangerous trend with the abuse and misuse of power by the people at the top. This form of corruption is more dangerous since people are taking advantage of the position they are holding, Rev Pyrtuh said. The RTI activist said that the common people welcomed this ruling of the Supreme Court since they saw how these red beacons were misused. We would want the Government to respect and implement the Supreme Court ruling in letter and spirit, he said. Meanwhile, he urged the people to participate in the red beacon campaign launched by the Thma U Rangli (TUR), a group led by social activist Angela Rangad. We urge the citizens to click photographs of vehicles using the red beacon, and file complaints before the police, Pyrtuh appealed. In December last year, the Supreme Court had ruled that only constitutional authorities were entitled to the privilege of using red beacons. Constitutional authorities include the President, Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, governors, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judges and the heads of both houses of Parliament. The court asked the Centre and state governments to furnish the list of authorities, who are entitled to use the red beacon within a period of three months. It said emergency vehicles and police jeeps should be assigned blue beacons. In Meghalaya, even vehicles bearing private registration use the red beacon, the symbol of power, with impunity. Besides blaring sirens, these vehicles with red beacons travel at lightning speed. But no one has an idea whether the actual user of such privileges is entitled to such rights. Rangad said abuse of power and public funds was just another form of corruption. If you see a vehicle with a red beacon going to the market, please click a picture, and release it to the media. Citizens can also directly contact us for any assistance, he said. The social activist said the campaign was only to help implement the Supreme Court ruling. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma did not mince words when he said there were politicians who resort to populist strategies by refusing to occupy bungalows or utilize the red beacon. Different people adopt different approaches to governance. I need not tell my colleagues that we should only replicate somebody elses approach to governance, because I believe not in rhetoric, but in actual demonstration of our commitment and resolve to serve the people and take the state forward, Sangma had said.

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Govt criticised over red beacons

Red Cross volunteer heads to West Virginia

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A volunteer with the Calloway County Chapter of the American Red Cross left Murray Friday on a deployment to assist in efforts to restore drinking water to residents in West Virginia in the wake of a chemical spill.

Calloway County Chapter Director Matt Hamblen confirmed that LeRoy Harris, who lives in Buchanan, Tenn., left Murray with the Calloway chapters emergency response vehicle Friday morning en route to West Virginia.

He does live in Tennessee but hes been with us the last two years so we think hell do his job well, Hamblen said. The main thing were looking at for him is helping out with bulk distribution of water for the people up there, so he is taking our ERV, and we should hear from him (Friday night) and, from there, it will just be a matter of where hes asked to go and help it any way he can.

Hamblen said he was notified that a volunteer from the Calloway chapter was being sought for deployment Thursday evening.

The Associated Press said schools and restaurants closed, grocery stores sold out of bottled water and state legislators who had just started their session canceled the day's business after a chemical spill in the Elk River in Charleston, W.Va., shut down much of the city and surrounding counties even as the extent of the danger remained unclear.

AP said the federal government joined the state early Friday in declaring a disaster, and the West Virginia National Guard planned to distribute bottled drinking water to emergency services agencies in the nine affected counties. In requesting the federal declaration, which makes federal resources available to the state, state officials said about 300,000 people were affected.

AP added that federal authorities are also launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the spill and what caused it, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said in a news release Friday. The spill happened Thursday, causing Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to order customers of West Virginia American Water to not drink, bathe, cook or wash clothes with tap water.

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Red Cross volunteer heads to West Virginia

Red Shirts to counter Bangkok demo

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General Sources - Saturday 11th January, 2014

Seven people were wounded Saturday in Bangkok when shots were fired at a site where a massive protest rally is scheduled to be held Monday, Thai officials say.It was unclear if those hurt were anti-government protesters or security guards with the People's Democratic Reform Committee, which is organizing the rally, the Bangkok Post reported.The protests come in advance of Feb. 2 elections ...

The Independent - Saturday 11th January, 2014

Seven people have been shot and injured today, raising the spectre of more violence in the coming days as anywhere up to 100,000 protesters are expected to descend on the city, united in one aim: forcing out the government. The authorities are planning to deploy more than 14,000 soldiers and police to try and maintain order. One foreign embassy has warned its expatriate citizens to stock up on ...

News.com.au - Saturday 11th January, 2014

ABOUT seven Thai anti-government protesters have been wounded after gunmen opened fire on a rally in Bangkok, intensifying pressure on the caretaker government ahead of a planned city-wide ...

Christian Science Monitor - Saturday 11th January, 2014

Tensions are high as anti-government protests continue, echoing those in 2006. Protesters hope to shut down Bangkok by blocking traffic Monday. Eight people have been killed in the protests over the past two ...

Mail and Guardian - Saturday 11th January, 2014

Seven people were wounded after gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on anti-government protesters in Bangkok early on Saturday, heightening fears of worsening violence when protesters attempt to "shut down" the capital next week in a bid to overthrow the government. The gunmen opened fire on protesters in central Bangkok at around 2am and at least one other attack took place nearby, ...

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Red Shirts to counter Bangkok demo

No. 8 Villanova heads to Big Apple to battle St. John’s

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New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The eighth-ranked Villanova Wildcats go in search of their fourth straight victory to open Big East Conference play, as they do battle with the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon.

Villanova is an astounding 14-1 on the season, and the team has won its first three conference games, the last two in relatively easy fashion. The Seton Hall Pirates were the latest to fall victim to the Wildcats, doing so on Wednesday night in an 83-67 final in Newark, New Jersey. Villanova's only loss of the campaign came against former league rival Syracuse on Dec. 28, and the 'Cats are 3-1 in true road games.

St. John's is hoping to put the brakes on a two-game slide today, as the team has dropped its first two conference games, both on the road, to Xavier (70-60) and Georgetown (77-60). As a result, the Red Storm bring an overall record of 9-5 into this clash, and they will be trying to secure their eighth home win in nine chances this season. SJU is 0-2 against ranked foes this season, dropping decisions to both Wisconsin (86-75) and Syracuse (68-63).

St. John's owns a 59-47 lead in the all-time series with Villanova, but the Wildcats won a pair of meetings last season and have claimed victory in nine of the last 10 overall.

As one might imagine, Villanova is enjoying tremendous success at both ends of the court this season, putting up 81.3 ppg behind typical shooting efforts of .462 overall and .351 from 3-point range, while allowing 65.5 ppg, with foes hitting only 39.1 percent of their total shots, including 34.3 percent of their long-range launches. The Wildcats goad the opposition into more than 16 turnovers per outing, while laying claim to a +5.0 rebounding margin. The team boasts three double-digit scorers in JayVaughn Pinkston (16.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), James Bell (14.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Darrun Hilliard (14.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), with three others (Josh Hart, Ryan Arcidiacono, Dylan Ennis) netting between 8.5 and 9.7 ppg.

Pinkston scored his 1,000th career point in the recent win over Seton Hall, as he finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Hilliard actually led the team with 19 points, thanks to his 4-of-5 effort from beyond the arc, while Arcidiacono drained three treys to tally 14 points, and Hart chipped in with 11 points and five boards coming off the bench. Villanova shot 52.0 percent from the field, knocking down 12-of-23 3-point tries along the way, while also converting 19-of-22 free throws. As for the Pirates, they shot 45.8 percent from the floor, which included nine treys, but committed 16 turnovers.

St. John's got off to a poor start in its recent clash with Georgetown, shooting a mere 21.4 percent from the field in the opening half en route to a 42-16 halftime deficit. Things improved dramatically for the Red Storm after the break (.567 FG percentage, 44 points), but the hole was simply too deep to dig out from and the team suffered a double-digit defeat as a result. Max Hooper and Sir'Dominic Pointer were the only two SJU players to reach double figures in the game, netting 13 and 11 points, respectively. The Hoyas used a 22-10 edge in points from the foul line to aid their overall effort.

D'Angelo Harrison has been the Red Storm's top player this season, and he ranks fourth in the Big East in scoring with an average of 18.5 ppg. He had a disastrous outing against Georgetown, however, going just 1-of-12 from the field to tally a mere four points. JaKarr Sampson (12.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg) is the only other player averaging double digits for St. John's, which averages 73.1 ppg while permitting 66.4 ppg.

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No. 8 Villanova heads to Big Apple to battle St. John's

Red Lake ice fishing: On the move for walleye

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ON UPPER RED LAKE -- We're four miles from shore, past the last cluster of ice houses, at the end of the ice road, approaching a pressure ridge.

But it's not the end of the line for Brad Hawthorne, who's piloting his "Otter Train." The freight cars are three portable ice shelters, and the locomotive is his Polaris 4-wheeler that has tracks instead of wheels.

"Just out there, there should be some dirty water from this pressure ridge," he says over the drone of the motor, not yet squinting into the approaching sunrise. "And we'll be away from all the activity."

The machine surmounts the snowdrifts with ease, and soon we're there: on the edge of a pressure ridge, 100 yards or so away from the nearest sign of human activity.

And, as we'll soon confirm, we're sitting above a pile of walleye.

The lack of features atop this frozen expanse is matched only by the lack of features below the ice.

Upper Red Lake's bottom is primarily a basin, where depth changes of a single foot are noteworthy elements of "structure."

Topside, the only landmarks are groups of ice fishing houses, cul-de-sacs planted off the ice roads that, if not kept plowed amid this year's snow, would surely leave even 4x4 owners marooned. The more you look, the more you see. Perhaps 1,000 houses on this weekend.

And so it is below the ice, where the real landmarks are clusters -- enormous schools sometimes -- of walleye.

The only question is whether the fish will be beneath the houses.

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Red Lake ice fishing: On the move for walleye

I Am Waiting For My Reply From NASA – I Will Share It When They Tell Me I’m Crazy – Video

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I Am Waiting For My Reply From NASA - I Will Share It When They Tell Me I #39;m Crazy
Or that it #39;s an optical illusion. If you are seeing the same patterns, you should ask them as well. The more people that ask this question the more nervous t...

By: Moon Hitsearth

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I Am Waiting For My Reply From NASA - I Will Share It When They Tell Me I'm Crazy - Video

NASA and Smithsonian Host 10 Year Anniversary Events for Mars Rovers – Video

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NASA and Smithsonian Host 10 Year Anniversary Events for Mars Rovers
NASA and the Smithsonian #39;s National Air and Space Museum Media held public events at the museum to commemorate 10 years of roving across Mars. Activities highlighted the images and achievements...

By: NASA

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NASA and Smithsonian Host 10 Year Anniversary Events for Mars Rovers - Video

NASA faces scrutiny over Stennis test stand projects

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HANCOCK COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -

NASA is facing scrutiny over millions of dollars spent on two rocket test stands at Stennis Space Center. A report in Bloomberg news questions money spent to finish the A-3 test stand project, while a report from NASA's own auditor raises concerns about $350 million spent to refurbish the B-2.

NASA will soon finish work on the $350 million A-3 rocket test stand. Trouble is, that stand is no longer needed, since the Obama administration canceled the Constellation program, for which the test stand was built

A Bloomberg news report raises concerns about spending millions to finish what it labels a "useless structure."

NASA released a statement through Stennis, which says in part: "As we prepare for the future exploration in a constrained budget environment, the agency is working to ensure we have the right skills, facilities and equipment to execute our missions, and NASA is taking steps to manage its infrastructure."

Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker helped push through the $57 million needed to finish the A-3.

In a prepared statement he said: "Stennis Space Center is the nation's premier rocket engine testing facility. It is a magnet for public and private research investment because of infrastructure projects like the A-3 test stand. In 2010, I authored an amendment to require the completion of that particular project, ensuring the Stennis facility is prepared for ever-changing technologies and demands."

NASA's Office of Inspector General raises takes issue with spending $352 million to refurbish the B-2 test stand at Stennis in support of the Space Launch System.

The 40 page report says NASA ignored its own rules in choosing Stennis, when cheaper alternatives were available sooner in Alabama and California.

South Mississippi Congressman Steven Palazzo, defends the choice.

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NASA faces scrutiny over Stennis test stand projects

NASA’s CRaTER Radio Brings Listeners The Sounds Space

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January 10, 2014

Image Caption: The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation, or CRaTER, on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has six detectors to monitor the energetic charged particles from galactic cosmic rays and solar events. Image Credit: NASA/GSFC

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

A new NASA-backed Internet radio station from the moon may not have Miley Cyrus on its playlist or give away free concert tickets to the seventh caller, but scientists from the space agency are expecting it to be a hit with astrophysicists.

The CRaTER Live Internet Radio Station takes cosmic radiation data on a live stream from NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and converts it into a constant flow of soothing cosmic music. The station has been programmed to select various instruments and pitches based on radiation levels.

Our minds love music, so this offers a pleasurable way to interface with the data, said project leader Marty Quinn of the University of New Hampshire. It also provides accessibility for people with visual impairments.

The radiation data for the station is collected from LROs Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER). CRaTER monitors the charged particles from galactic cosmic rays and solar events using an array of six detectors.

CRaTER is focused on two primary objectives: determining the interaction of cosmic radiation with a material that is like human tissue, and observing the radiations interaction with the Moon, which scientists use to explore the make-up of dust on the lunar surface.

CRaTER has discovered wide-ranging and fundamental aspects of such radiation, said Nathan Schwadron, the principal investigator for CRaTER. For example, we have discovered that tissue-equivalent plastics and other lightweight materials can provide even more effective protection than standard shielding, such as aluminum.

Each CRaTER detector registers the number of particles it receives every second. Data from these detectors are sent to CRaTER Live Radio, where a computer program translates the numbers into pitches in a four-octave scale. Six pitches are played every second, one for each detector with higher pitches signifying less activity and lower pitches indicating more activity.

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NASA's CRaTER Radio Brings Listeners The Sounds Space

NASA Administrator Bolden and Senator Vitter See Space Launch System Progress in New Orleans

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NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana will visit the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, La., Monday, Jan. 13. They will be updated on construction of the facility that will manufacture the massive core stage of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket and progress on launching it on its targeted first flight test in 2017.

SLS will be the world's largest rocket, and the Michoud Vertical Assembly Center will be home to one of the worlds largest welding tools when the facility is completed in March.

Bolden, Vitter, Michoud Director Roy Malone and SLS Program Manager Todd May will be available to speak with media at 10 a.m. CST.

NASA is developing the SLS and Orion spacecraft to provide an entirely new capability for human exploration. They will expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and enable new missions of exploration in the solar system, including to an asteroid and Mars.

Media who want to attend should contact Chip Howat at carl.j.howat@nasa.gov or 504-214-6745 no later than 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

Journalists must report to 13800 Old Gentilly Road and enter Gate 11, which is located east of Building 101, by 9:30 a.m. Jan. 13 for access to the facility. Official media credentials with photo identification are required for access.

For more information on SLS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/sls

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NASA Administrator Bolden and Senator Vitter See Space Launch System Progress in New Orleans

About Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering | eHow

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Discover the expert in you.

Neal Jansons

A recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Neal Jansons has spent the last two years penning short stories, ghostwriting and game writing for the upcoming browser based MMORPG "Ghostees!" and selling non-fiction and instructional articles to various online markets such as Demand Studios. Currently working on his first novel and an upcoming comic book project, Jansons' next project is a screenplay.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on the "micro" scale, 100 nanometers and less, to build molecular and atomic structures to serve a purpose on the normal scale. Currently limited to the creation of nano-particles and very simple moving structures, nanotechnology is applied in engineering, medicine and computing. Civil engineering applies these technologies to construction and design by attempting to improve the safety and utility of public structures.

Civil engineers deal with designing, building and maintaining the various structures that make civilization function. Roads, bridges, canals, tunnels, traffic systems, public transportation and other structures that operate on a large scale are subject to special considerations that require engineers to account for earthquakes, winds, massive public movement and even military strikes. These special requirements give multiple applications for nanotechnology, from earthquake-resistant building materials to graffiti-resistant subways.

Humans have been using nanotechnology without realizing it for a long time, with processes from metallurgy and chemistry using "nano" scale structures to accomplish their effects. In the early 1900s, Richard Zsigmondy did research on various nano-scale structures; later, physicist Richard Feynman gave a now-famous lecture called "Plenty of Room at the Bottom" that pointed out the various possibilities inherent in the manipulation of matter at the atomic scale. In the 1980s, the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope led to the true beginning of nanotechnology, soon followed by the discoveries of fullerenes and carbon nano-tubes, two nano-particles that formed the basis of the current applications. In 2000, the National Nanotechnology Initiative was founded by the United States government to direct and coordinate nanotechnology research.

Nano-particles are used to strengthen building materials and render them more flexible, thus resistant to shock and impact. Research is attempting to develop other applications.

There are two approaches to nanotechnology; they operate from opposite ends of the problem. Top-down approaches build structures at an easily reachable scale which then build smaller structures. Bottom-up techniques use processes to induce the formation of useful structures at the desired scale--which may, in turn, lead to the formation of other structures at larger scales. In theory, these approaches are scalable and repeatable, meaning they can be applied repeatedly at smaller or bigger scales. But there are limitations due to differing effects of physics at different scales.

The application of a robust nanotechnology to civil engineering is one of the long-term goals of the science. Through the manufacture of self-replicating nanotechnological robots that can in turn manipulate matter at the atomic scale, buildings could be "grown" from a pile of materials, surfaces could clean themselves by recycling dirt, and smog could be converted to oxygen. Bridges and other large structures subject to resonance effects due to winds or earthquakes could alter their own structure intelligently to adapt to shock. Potholes could "heal" themselves.

Using nanotechnology in civil engineering exposes the population at large and the entire environment to nano-particles and, if future development goes as hoped, nano-machines. Worries about the effects of silver nano-particles killing off bacteria necessary to the ecosystem have been put forth to justify regulation.

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About Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering | eHow

Nano Engineering | University of Toronto | Faculty of Applied …

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U.S. News & World Report Ranks U of T Engineering 10th Overall inWorld

Engineering at the University of Toronto once again ranked in 10th place overall among the worlds universities and colleges and 1st in Canada, in a recent ranking by the U.S. News & World Reports inaugural Worlds Best Colleges and Universities of 2008.

In 2008, U of T Engineering also ranked 1st in Canada and 10th overall in the world in the Engineering and IT category of the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, up from 11th in the world in 2007.

Using data from the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, this is the first ranking of the worlds best colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine U.S. News previously produced a U.S. ranking of colleges and universities for the past 25 years.

Visit the U.S. News & World Report website for more information.

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U of T Engineering 10th Among Worlds Universities: 1st in Canada for Engineering and IT

{Excerpt} Engineering at the University of Toronto continues to be a global leader in the prestigious Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings Engineering and IT category. This year, Engineering at U of T ranked 10th overall in the world, up from 11th in 2007, and remains in first place among Canadian universities for a second year in a row.

Better ways to process cells used in cancer screening. Extending the range of diagnostic tools like x-rays. Reducing medical errors. These are the questions that inspire U of Ts three newest Canada Research Chairs (CRCs).

The government announced funding Feb. 23 for these three new chairs.

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Nano Engineering | University of Toronto | Faculty of Applied ...

Engineers create light-activated ‘curtains’ (w/ Video)

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Jan 10, 2014 by Sarah Yang

(Phys.org) Forget remote-controlled curtains. A new development by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, could lead to curtains and other materials that move in response to light, no batteries needed.

A research team led by Ali Javey, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, layered carbon nanotubes atom-thick rolls of carbon onto a plastic polycarbonate membrane to create a material that moves quickly in response to light. Within fractions of a second, the nanotubes absorb light, convert it into heat and transfer the heat to the polycarbonate membrane's surface. The plastic expands in response to the heat, while the nanotube layer does not, causing the two-layered material to bend.

"The advantages of this new class of photo-reactive actuator is that it is very easy to make, and it is very sensitive to low-intensity light," said Javey, who is also a faculty scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. "The light from a flashlight is enough to generate a response."

The researchers described their experiments in a paper published this week in the journal Nature Communications. They were able to tweak the size and chirality referring to the left or right direction of twist of the nanotubes to make the material react to different wavelengths of light. The swaths of material they created, dubbed "smart curtains," could bend or straighten in response to the flick of a light switch.

This video is not supported by your browser at this time.

"We envision these in future smart, energy-efficient buildings," said Javey. "Curtains made of this material could automatically open or close during the day."

Other potential applications include light-driven motors and robotics that move toward or away from light, the researchers said.

Explore further: Technology could bring high-end solar to the masses

More information: "Photoactuators and motors based on carbon nanotubes with selective chirality distributions." Xiaobo Zhang, Zhibin Yu, Chuan Wang, David Zarrouk, Jung-Woo Ted Seo, Jim C. Cheng, Austin D. Buchan, Kuniharu Takei, Yang Zhao, Joel W. Ager, Junjun Zhang, Mark Hettick, Mark C. Hersam, Albert P. Pisano, Ronald S. Fearing, Ali Javey. Nature Communications 5, Article number: 2983 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3983

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Engineers create light-activated 'curtains' (w/ Video)

"Flock" of Nano Satellites to Capture High-Res Views of Whole Earth

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Sea Ice on the Gulf of Bothnia between Sweden & Finland, taken during a trial run in April 2013. Image: 2013 Planet Lans Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The constellation of Earth-imaging satellites launched yesterday28 individual sputniks, called Doves, each about the size of its namesake and weighing in at a svelte five kilogramsis on its way to the International Space Station. If all goes well, by the end of the month Flock 1, as the group is called, will distribute its nanosatellites in Earth orbit, the better to photograph the complete surface of the planet at high resolution 365 days a year. The satellites will provide near-continuous pictures of Earths surface at a resolution of three to five meters per pixel.

Planet Labs, the San Francisco start-up that built Flock 1, is one of a growing group of companies and governments launching very small satellites. As their cost and size have plummeted, partly in response to the availability of standardized off-the-shelf components, nanosatellites such as CubeSat, have opened up unprecedented opportunities in remote sensing. Unlike traditional Earth-imaging satellites, which cost millions to build and launch, each of Planet Labs diminutive sky cameras, which in its predeployed state resembles a childs kaleidoscope, comes in at a fraction of that cost.

Planet Labs plans to be the first to capture high-resolution whole-Earth images nearly continuously. (Full disclosure: one of usBoettigerserves without remuneration as an advisor to Planet Labs.) Test satellites launched in April and November demonstrated that the companys engineers can accurately position the orbiters and capture a continuous stream of images with a resolution of three to five metersfine enough to distinguish individual trees in a rainforest, but not sharp enough to identify a person tending his garden. Whereas most of the nine spectral bands of imagery captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Landsat 8, launched in 2013, for example, are delivered at 30-meter resolution, other commercial providers of remote-sensing images, such as Skybox Imaging and BlackBridge (formerly RapidEye), have the capability to deliver much higher resolutionsas fine as one meter per pixel. These companies even offer features such as high-resolution, real-time video. But these satellites are tasked with photographing specific targets, meaning customers rent the use of a satellite (much as one might hire a photographer) to capture detailed images of very specific patches of the globe. Planet Labs executives say that continuous whole-Earth images would have the potential to serve many purposes simultaneously, from a single set of data. We've become used to having imagery of the entire Earth, says Tim OReilly, of OReilly AlphaTech Ventures, one of Planet Labss investors. What we haven't yet understood is how transformative it will be when that imagery is regularly and frequently updated.

Planet Labs faces some difficult challenges, not least the engineering required to build, launch, power, position and communicate with a constellation of this size. The company will have to store the equivalent of a 10-terapixel image (roughly one million cell phone images) for each complete image of Earth. The company has already engineered much of the software it needs to stitch the massive number of images collected by its orbiters into a single texture applied to a topographic model of Earth. Unlocking the value of this image will require using image recognition, change detection and other technologies to solve problems in data mining and information extraction. The task combines "science, technology expertise and know-how learned at NASA with a bottoms-up maker's mentality, says Juan Carlos Castilla-Rubio, CEO of the Planetary Skin Institute and cochair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Measuring Sustainability 201214.

Although the technology has many commercial applications, it also offers opportunities for humanitarian purposes. The high frequency of imaging will potentially be useful in detecting global changes in crop cover, construction, animal migrations, pest infestations, surface water, natural disasters, refugee camps, sea ice, pollution, traffic patterns.

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"Flock" of Nano Satellites to Capture High-Res Views of Whole Earth