I recently attended the AIAA/USU conference on Small Satellites, the keynote speaker talked about MEMS. MEMS devices are the future, they are capable of active vortex control on delta wings to performing as near ideal filters to micro gyros. It is only a matter of time before they are as common as the tranister. Those mechanical engineers are a smart bunch.
I maybe totally wrong but here is what I know from my own experiences.
I write some numerical simlulations of heat flow from time to time which are run on a Orgin 2000 array. I write my code normally and then compile it for multiprocessors support. The way this was explained to me seemed to imply that the complier makes the code multiprocessor capabable.
I.E. I don't have to do anything differently I just recompile for multiprocessor. In any case it seems to works.
You seem to forget that NASA has other methods of getting payloads into space. Not every satellite it launches rides up in the shuttle.
NASA's experience with unmanned rockets could put be used to compete with privite companies such as Orbital.
Also NASA does research on earth, things such as high speed transport, active boundary layer control, and advanced propulsion are all done at NASA. The profits from spinoffs of these projects could be considerable.
Considering all of the advances made in engineering and science due to the work done at NASA one would think that Congress would view the money as an investment. Instead Congress has decided to take the short term view once again, this is espeacially troubling considering the budget surplus.
While I personelly am a big supporter of NASA, I just hope that Congress will use the money for something more lasting than a breif tax cut.
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I recently attended the AIAA/USU conference on Small Satellites, the keynote speaker talked about MEMS. MEMS devices are the future, they are capable of active vortex control on delta wings to performing as near ideal filters to micro gyros. It is only a matter of time before they are as common as the tranister. Those mechanical engineers are a smart bunch.
This is a technology to watch.
I maybe totally wrong but here is what I know from my own experiences.
I write some numerical simlulations of heat flow from time to time which are run on a Orgin 2000 array. I write my code normally and then compile it for multiprocessors support. The way this was explained to me seemed to imply that the complier makes the code multiprocessor capabable.
I.E. I don't have to do anything differently I just recompile for multiprocessor. In any case it seems to works.
You seem to forget that NASA has other methods of getting payloads into space. Not every satellite it launches rides up in the shuttle.
NASA's experience with unmanned rockets could put be used to compete with privite companies such as Orbital.
Also NASA does research on earth, things such as high speed transport, active boundary layer control, and advanced propulsion are all done at NASA. The profits from spinoffs of these projects could be considerable.
Considering all of the advances made in engineering and science due to the work done at NASA one would think that Congress would view the money as an investment. Instead Congress has decided to take the short term view once again, this is espeacially troubling considering the budget surplus.
While I personelly am a big supporter of NASA, I just hope that Congress will use the money for something more lasting than a breif tax cut.