Space Forum / Space Flight / November 2004

I'm interested in developing a sun sensor (or maybe a horizon sensor)
for a low-cost, amateur, high altitude project.  However, I'm having
some difficulty determining the best setup for the sun sensor.  The
majority of the sensing will occur over 20km (about 65,000 ft), so the

Another form of fullerene material has been developed:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041022105021.htm
Could graphene sheet-reinforced composites be stronger than
nanotube-reinforced ones? The graphene sheets would have greater

                  space cobwebs
Looks like good news on producing fibers with the
strength of spider silk, in quantity, for
constructing the support member for that elevator to

I read recently that there is a great need for several tons of lunar
regolith simulant. What would be required for someone to supply that
need? How hard is it to make and certify Moon dirt?

ScienceDaily.com has the NASA press release on the US ELCSS water
recovery efforts:
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041114233648.htm>

Hey..  I have a question.
would the use of balloons to lift some sort of delivery vehicle or
rocket into the very upper atmosphere work?  has this ever been attempted?
What got me thinking about this was a show about a US Air Force captain

1) I understand the speed required to gain orbit is most of the energy
expended by a space craft, relatively little is used to actually gain
altitude itself. What I am wondering is the difference in velocity
required between an orbital vessel and one leaving the Earth altogether