December 2023 Mechanical Engineering Blog
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December 7, 2023
Lockheed Martin to Develop Nuclear Powered Spacecraft
Lockheed Martin to Develop Nuclear Powered Spacecraft
The U.S Military will award Lockheed Martin an additional $33.7 million to build a nuclear fission spacecraft, thereby making space travel faster, more efficient, and more powerful. The spacecraft will use nuclear fission to power sterling engines that are able to produce electrical power for propulsion and onboard systems. Using nuclear fission rather than more conventional solar arrays eliminates the need for constant sunlight. On top of that Lockheed Martin claims that their nuclear-powered sterling engines can produce anywhere from 6 kWe to 20 kWe of electricity, four times the power produced by solar arrays. The project is called the Joint Emergent Supplying ON-Orbit Nuclear project or JETSON project. Lockheed Martin will be collaborating with other nuclear technology companies including Nuclear Power Corp (SpaceNukes) and BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT). JETSON program manager Barry Miles noted that “Nuclear fission development for space applications is key to introducing technologies that could dramatically change how we move and explore in the vastness of space.” Learn more here.
December 16, 2023
High Tech Space Hotels are in the Works and Could Soon Become Reality
High Tech Space Hotels are in the Works and Could Soon Become Reality
Space Station designer and construction specialist, Above: Space Development (formerly Orbital Assembly) Plans to put a hotel in space that could be operational in about 60 Months. They currently have two space hotels under development Voyager Station and Pioneer Station. Voyager station was initially designated to accommodate 280 guests, however that number was increased to 400. The company also shared designs for the much smaller Pioneer Station, which would only be able to accommodate 28 people at a time but could be completed sooner than Voyager Station. CEO Rhonda Stevenson noted that the duration of potential trips to the hotel could last anywhere from four days to two weeks. She says, “It depends on cost and also the ability to acclimate to a space environment”. The space stations will be designed to generate artificial gravity through rotation. Further, the company plans for the interior spaces of Pioneer Station to function both in zero gravity and partial gravity and that they will be flexible enough to respond to the needs of a variety of guests. Additionally, the company partnered with Dream Big World to bring the first ever space retail store to the space hotels. The company has also partnered with NASA, which will give Above access to testing facilities and other resources. Space hotels is only a small part of Above’s ambitions, as their true goal is to build full intergalactic business parks. Learn more about this topic here.
December 31, 2023
First Ever Fuel-less Electromagnetic Generator Could be the Future of Power
First Ever Fuel-less Electromagnetic Generator Could be the Future of Power
SEMP Research Institute based in South Korea Collaborated with Global Solutions for Project Management to create the world’s first ever AI power generator that runs without fuel. Researchers are calling this invention The AI Smart Electromagnetic Generator (AISEG) and they assert that this novel technology is the future of power. The AISEG operates using a non- rotational power generation system that is based on fundamental electromagnetic principles including Faraday’s and Biot-Savat’s laws. The technology has the potential to revolutionize the energy industry by enabling the generation of constant energy without the need for any kind of fuel. SEMP mentioned that the AI generator is able to produce electricity with remarkable efficiency and consistent output frequency that is stimulated by strong magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are produced through circular winding and AI logic signals. Further, the company noted that the “innovation is scalable and can be used in power plants, a house off-grid, electric vehicles with no need for recharging or refueling, ships, planes, and mobile phones. The sky is the limit.” The technology was recently showcased at the United Nations Climate Change Conference Cop28. Learn more about this topic here.
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