Comments on: In Microgravity, a CD Player Becomes a Gyroscope

By: iggy

iggy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:22:28 +0000

What a great way to describe a "space clamp" - something which holds an object oriented in a certain direction while floating in microgravity. This is how spacecraft can point in one direction. Example: suppose you want an orbiting satellite (such as GPS) to always point down toward Earth. Spin the onboard gyroscopes. Voila! A "space clamp" to hold the thing pointing in one direction. You need an actual spinning disk to do this, by the way. Hardwired items such as memory sticks won't work...

By: Mathme

Mathme — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:26:14 +0000

There are some brilliant comments about how this is "great research" and our "tax dollars hard at work." I would like to point out that, yes, astronauts can only do one thing all day. This 5 minute video did, in fact, consume an entire day's worth of work and nothing else was accomplished. I'm sure you spend every waking second working. This video will probably be used in elementary schools all around the country and probably even in middle school science classes. This is a free video that can be used to demonstrate some interesting physics concepts using everyday materials that the students will be able to relate to. It's a great teaching tool and was probably put together after they finished the serious work.

By: omechengineeru

omechengineeru — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:08:57 +0000

Its called science and just because you don't understand the usefulness of these goofy little experiments doesn't mean they don't have significance to us engineers. The space program is prob one of the most important things humans have ever done.

By: Zaphod

Zaphod — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:54:11 +0000

Our tax dollars hard at work. End the space program now. Privatize it and really kick start the economy.

By: astro

astro — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:56:38 +0000

MP3 players for astronauts

By: ted

ted — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:31:13 +0000

I have no idea what he was getting at. It's like coming in at the middle of a movie or lecture.

I could understand if they were using CDs as a recording medium for some of their work, but I think MP3 players would be just as simple.

By: Smartinp

Smartinp — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:53:32 +0000

Mammy? I want to be a scientist

By: BikerRay

BikerRay — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:45:02 +0000

stephen - I wondered that. Hasn't NASA heard of mp3 players? At a fraction of the weight.

By: free games for kids

free games for kids — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:14:36 +0000

The future of space-flight anti-oscillating meal trays is today! No more messy spills!

By: Flux

Flux — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:09:57 +0000

This looks like serious research.
...
...
*sigh*

By: stephen

stephen — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:00:36 +0000

Why do they have CD players in the first place?

By: Kalel

Kalel — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:55:42 +0000

Would this still work with Heavy Metal?

By: Bret Hammond

Bret Hammond — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:19:15 +0000

Batman's a scientist

By: nance

nance — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:44:39 +0000

This video proves that astronauts are the biggest nerds ever. I love it.

By: seb

seb — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:51:45 +0000

Pretty awesome.

By: seekshelter

seekshelter — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:08:52 +0000

..this guy moves like a demonstrator for the shopping channel...