Month: April 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VyafBejSiU
Scientists added graphene to a dye-sensitized solar cell, a kind of inexpensive thin-film solar cell, then put them on a flexible, transparent backing of indium tin oxide and plastic. The resulting flexible solar cell demonstrated a solar-to-electric conversion efficiency of up to 6.53 percent, and generated hundreds of microvolts from slightly salty water that was used to simulate rainwater. “Future solar cells may produce electricity in all weather,”
via Graphene Could Help Generate Power From Rain – IEEE Spectrum.
Not All Rockets Are Created Equal
Here is why you should not compare SpaceX’s Falcon9 rocket with Blue Origin’s New Shepard, the F9 vs NS. Rocket Height 135 feet vs 70 feet. Launch Altitude 124 miles vs 62 miles. Speed 9261 kph vs 3700. Thrust 1.5 million vs 100,000 pounds. Lastly, the F9 launches payloads into orbit, while the New Shepard takes people to the edge of space.
Rocket Landing In Ocean Saves Fuel
Great explanation of why landing your rocket on a downstream moving barge on the ocean saves fuel.
Blue Origin just had another amazing launch. Good on them. But they are no SpaceX. BlueOrigin touches space, SpaceX is going to keep you in space. XKCD has a great explanation: https://what-if.xkcd.com/58/