TEMPO³ Blog
Up one levelWelcome
Welcome to the web page devoted to TEMPO! I'm Tom Hill, and I've been selected as the project manager. I look forward to working with a diverse group of people to move humankind closer to its future on Mars.
Crazy Week!
Hi! It's been a crazy week, but we've definitely made some progress. Here's what I've been working on and told about
TEMPO³ Lab Video #1
First attempt at a hockey table demonstration of tether dynamics.
TEMPO³ Lab Video 2 - Fun with Carbon Dioxide
A scale model of TEMPO³ is 'spun up' using a commercially-available carbon dioxide canister. Hilarity ensues.
Multi-Update
It's been over a month since I've updated this web page, but there's been a lot of action in other locations. The TEMPO team has been quite busy.
TEMPO Update 8
The chatroom was active during this video, as we discussed some dynamics of our spin and the effect it would have on our transmitted signals.
TEMPO³ Update 9
Happy New Year! This video update focused on plans for 2009 including some prototype hardware under development, discussion about the upcoming CubeSat conference in April (and the SmallSat conference in August) as well as upcoming public outreach contests.
Happy 200(3)³
A quick summary of what's going on for people who don't want to watch the videos
Been a While
I've been lax on updating this web page, and I apologize. I had a pretty serious family event in early February, and only now am I feeling like I'm getting back in the game. There have been some changes to TEMPO over the last few weeks, and I will be attending the CubeSat conference in April at Cal Poly. More updates to come.
More Humans have Experienced Tether Gravity
In earlier discussions, I was under the impression that the only Gemini flight to do tether gravity experiments was Gemini 11. Turns out another mission did so, and there's a Mars Society connection...Buzz Aldrin flew on Gemini 12 and did a tether experiment.
CubeSat Conference!
CubeSat builders from around the world came together at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo California for the 6th CubeSat conference. As team lead for the TEMPO project, Tom Hill attended the conference representing the Mars Society and gives this report.
TEMPO Balloon Project Approved
The Mars Society will take a first step towards orbit by dropping a prototype of TEMPO³ from a high-altitude balloon.
Funding Approved for TEMPO Balloon Drop
After weighing several options for expenditure levels in support of a TEMPO balloon drop, TEMPO and Mars Society leadership have set a budget for the project, allowing development to begin in earnest.