Since the last post that I wrote during the middle of exam weeks a lot has been going on. Exams went well and results were a pleasant surprise. Holidays then came along, and for the first time in a couple of years I actually found time to relax and chill out in them! What is annoying about the june/july holidays normally is that exams have just finished, and then a week and a bit later results come out. Then before you know it, course selection and timetable signing up is upon you. In between all of that you try and relax. This year I blocked it all out and had a very enjoyable couple of weeks off. The weather wasn’t great up the coast, so little fishing and no surfing happened. Strangely this didn’t worry me though. It was the act of being away from home for a week and just chilling out that really helped me to focus on having a good time.

After that week up the coast, the holidays seemed to be long enough, but blurred slightly. It’s a weird feeling when time just seems to roll along and you do lots of things, but not much registers. It’s not that time passed exceedingly quickly, it was the fact that nothing really of note stuck out (well there was one event ). So the holidays came to a very enjoyable ending (not that I wanted them to end, it was things that happened near the end that were enjoyable). And reluctantly I started my final semester in science at UQ. It was slightly annoying that course choices are kind of crap bad in second semester of 3rd year, but oh well, I still got some that were interesting at least. Having your friends do very similar courses is a massive advantage at uni. Not only can you do group assignments together, but you can also confer within lectures and tutorials etc. If anyone is entering uni and has no one that they know around, just be friendly and reach out, generally you’ll start to find people that have similar interests and it’ll make the experience sooo much easier.

So if you follow me on twitter (twitter.com/nelpix) you may have noticed that I have been going through some interesting times as of late. In my everyday life with uni and photography I am constantly thinking through everything to make sure nothing is missed or completed incorrectly, so when this certain situation started to arise, I had to change tact quite quickly. There is someone that I go to uni with that, to put it in the words of one of my long time friends, “I am courting”. What is interesting for me is that I have never actually had a personal relationship with a female friend. So it was for me an intrepid journey of new experiences. It is a type of situation that requires me to turn off that part of my brain that constantly and overly analyses everything. In everyday life I would consider myself a confident person, but when it comes to certain things like wording of messages and the right thing to say I start to doubt myself. For me this is weird. I don’t mind sticking my neck out for a lot of experiences as the first person, but for this situation where I want something to work, I’m so reluctant to just jump in and be spontaneous. I think the main reason that I feel this way is that it is such a new thing for me. Sure there have been people in the past of the opposite sex that I have liked, but never to the point that I’ve wanted to ask out. For this reason I ask advice of some of my closest friends/relatives. To me it’s all fascinating. It is likely the analytical scientist inside me buzzing with ideas and thoughts about what to do next as so much information on the topic is gained.

It has certainly been a little while in the making, as messages flew back and forth, coffee meet ups were set and then had to be postponed, but eventually it has got to the point where I just need to ask her out. So right now that is what I am working towards. We are good friends, and have been for a year and a bit now, but I want to find out if it can go to the next level. With the variety of ways that people can contact each other nowadays it is so easy to come off too keen; and when you have heaps of spare time it is so hard to just put down the phone, close facebook or any other networking site, and just be patient. Patience is just so important, but then you start to wonder, how long is too long? This is when my brain starts to really act up….

Word choice for me is a big thing. What to say and when to say it. This is a hurdle that I run into as part of this situation as I will over analyse what I plan to say. When I send a message I will always read over it half a dozen times just to make sure that it says what i want it to… Dam it is infuriating! For me it is like a type of OCD. I find the same thing when I am handing in an assignment at uni. I will get to the chute to drop it in, and although I have checked it through quite a few times, I will still flick through it once or twice to make sure that everything is in the right place. That’s just me I suppose. So when it comes to chatting I just need to get the analytical foot out of my mouth and say what comes to my mind. All the time I make sure that I don’t anger people talking to them. I am a listener, and will happily absorb all that someone says and be happy to provide minimal input, that’s just who I am. But in this new type of situation I just think that I become too analytical and worried to a certain extent. See I want this to work, but I want to say the right words to get the ball rolling at the same time. Make that step beyond just good friends

Coffee is on for tomorrow, which is good, but I need to be able to communicate the words that get across the message that I want to try moving to the next level. Arrghhh! To put it bluntly, ask her out face to face. Often I’ll just get caught up in conversation or start talking about something else, and then we’ll have a lecture or something else, and I’ll be left pondering what I could have or said or done. So for tomorrow I want to try putting my thoughts into words. No longer just dancing around the fact, and being just good friends. I want to test the waters and see what happens, either way.

If you’ve read this far, then I have to congratulate you. For me this was kind of a ‘get everything off your chest’ session, and hopefully it provided some insight to people out there as to how the human brain reacts in such a situation.

For those interested, I have been accepted within the pool of applicants for medicine at UQ in 2010, and will receive offers on August 11. I’ll let you all know how I go. Fingers crossed.

I promise to update this very soon, perhaps in regards to this certain situation that I have outlined above, or maybe something entirely different…

Chat with you all soon! Comments welcome

Nelson

Think to yourself, what could be better than the first Transformers movie? hmm A second Transformers movie! And in what seems like fate, it premieres officially next wednesday. Therefore I proposed to a couple of my friends that we see the movie in the afternoon and then relax and enjoy the 2nd origin game at night. Unfortunately most of them will have work (since it is a weekday), which seems to have foiled my plan… blast! No matter though, because we’ll just reschedule and watch it another time I mean honestly, what is more awesome than cars turning into robots, fighting each other, and then turning back into cars and driving off into the distance? Nothing. It is likely a guy thing. In fact I’m sure it is. Plus, from all the previews that I’ve seen, and the fact that I’ve heard the new Linkin Park song made for the movie (it has optimus prime’s voice in it!!), it looks and sounds like an action packed movie. Basically it is the perfect antidote to exams.

So as you can see, I’m thoroughly enjoying the fact that some quite awesome things are aligning for me. There are other things in my life which are also coming together, but that stuff stays with me and not on the internet (ok so maybe on twitter ). My question to you is, has anything in the recent past aligned for you and made that time period even better than you hoped? Whether it be birthdays, special events, or even a special someone? Comment away or get onto twitter and start following me. Chat it up!

Oh and in case I haven’t said it enough in this post “QUEENSLANDER”.

p.s. Get onto following one of my good friends Troy in his enthralling blog at http://troytyped.wordpress.com/. He’s currently in the process of carrying out a very calculated plan to woo a certain girl that he likes. I wish him the best of luck!

Nelson

Pressured

3rd science has some quite interesting and engaging subjects, don’t get me wrong, but it is the fact that you have to know so much that puts a strain on so many. On saturday I had my first exam of the period, Developmental Neurobiology. I went in pretty relaxed and apart from a question or two, came out of it pretty relaxed. That feeling of relaxation after an examination is weird. I studied for a week leading up to that exam, and then it passes almost without a blip on the radar. I’m not one to go back and look at notes to find out where I went wrong, and this certainly wasn’t the case on saturday.

My next exam is on friday and it will be Cardiovascular Science. This will then be followed by Human Reproduction and Fertility on Monday and Psychology of Sport and Exercise on Wednesday. Then I’m done! Although the finish line is just over 1 wee away, it seems way further than that. It is going to be a fun weekend after Cardio as I desperately cram in female reproductive knowledge such as LH, FSH, ovulation, menstruation, fertilisation, progesterone and oestrogen. I really enjoy repro, and there is a lot of knowledge still sticking there from lectures, so that’ll help. It’s probably one of the reasons why I want to go into Obstetrics or OBGYN. The subject is just so interesting.

So that is basically me for the next week or so. After that time it’ll be out with the friends for movies, games and general lazing about. I’ll be up at mooloolaba for a week this holidays as well which will be awesome. The rain that has been around might mean that there are lots of bream in the river. My mooloolaba week every year is like a fishing trip for me. Due to uni I’m unable to get away around Easter to Evans Head for the annual fishing long weekend where I’ve caught everything from mullet and tailor to an octopus. If you ever have the chance to get to Evans Head I’d highly recommend it. It is a small fishing town on the North Coast of NSW, and is great for a couple of days to get away from things. Or you could just go about an hour further north to Byron Bay. I’ve been going there annually since I was 3 y.o and it’s always so relaxing. Just do your own thing and no one cares.

Well I guess I better get back to learning my Cardiovascular Science. Basically it’s drug actions and effects and the development of the the cardiovascular system, as well as what happens in a disease state such as Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). If anyone has any questions pertaining to my study or is just interested in one of the subjects that I’ve eluded to to, drop me a comment and we can have a chat. I love a good science conversation (god I’m a nerd).

In other news, I sent off my medicine application a couple of weeks ago and just got notice that it is in processing. If everything runs smoothly, this means that I will be beginning medicine in 2010. It’s going to be a long and grueling journey ahead of me. Fortunately I will likely have a number of my friends doing the course with me, so that’ll make it more enjoyable.

If you haven’t noticed already, you can follow me on twitter @ twitter.com/nelpix

All the best, and I’ll keep this updated more regular from now on in between study and listening to awesome music. It’s almost relaxing and therapeutic

The minimalistic frontpage of the thesis

First things first: Download the complete thesis (without appendix) from here:Diploma thesis “Digitale geomorphologische Kartographie – Potenziale der Informationstechnologie zur Weiterentwicklung eines geowissenschaftlichen Kartenwerks” by Marc Jansen (German, PDF, roughly 9.9MB, 130 pages).

Of course the URL can be shortened: http://tinyurl.com/da-jansen… this might be easier to remember.

The table of contents reads (again German):

1. Einleitung
   1. Relevanz des Themas
   2. Zentrale Fragestellungen
   3. Ziele der Arbeit
   4. Gliederung der Arbeit
2. Theoretischer Hintergrund
   1. Geomorphologie und geomorphologische Karte
   2. Das geomorphologische System
   3. Kartographie
   4. Entwicklung geowissenschaftlicher Kartenwerke
      1. Bodenkarte und geologische Karte
      2. Geomorphologische Karte
   5. Geographische Informationssysteme
   6. Geodaten und ihr Markt
   7. Informationstechnologie
   8. Zusammenfassung des Kapitels
3. Methodik
   1. Vorgehensweise
   2. Auswahl der Methodik
   3. Experteninterviews
   4. Auswahl der Experten
   5. Datenerhebung
   6. Datentranskription
   7. Datenauswertung und qualitative Inhaltsanalyse
   8. Gütekriterien qualitativer Sozialforschung
   9. Zusammenfassung des Kapitels
4. Ergebnisse
   1. Entwickelte Kategorien
   2. Quantifizierende Materialübersichten
   3. Qualitative Materialauswertung
      1. Grundlagen einer Weiterentwicklung
         • Bedeutung der geomorphologischen Karte
         • Ziel der geomorphologischen Karte
         • Tatsächlicher Nutzerkreis der Karte
      2. Rahmenbedingungen einer Weiterentwicklung
         • Rahmenbedingungen der Geomorphologie
         • Rahmenbedingungen geomorphologischer Kartographie
         • Rahmenbedingungen der Informationstechnologie
         • Sonstige Rahmenbedingungen
      3. Potenziale einer Weiterentwicklung
         • Datenaufnahme und -sammlung
         • Datenhaltung und -verwaltung
         • Datenpräsentation und -darstellung
         • Intersubjektivität und Objektivierung
         • Integration und Effizienz
         • Schnittstellenschaffung
   4. Bewertung der Methodik
   5. Zusammenfassung des Kapitels
5. Diskussion und Ausblick
6. Fazit
7. Zusammenfassung der Arbeit
8. Literaturangaben

I plan to translate the summary to english, so there might come updates for this post.

Alternative download location (for the rather unlikely event of my employer deciding to not host the file anymore) of the complete thesis (without appendix): Diploma thesis “Digitale geomorphologische Kartographie – Potenziale der Informationstechnologie zur Weiterentwicklung eines geowissenschaftlichen Kartenwerks” by Marc Jansen (German, PDF, roughly 9.9MB, 130 pages)

UPDATE 2009-05-25: fixed typos, added tags and categories.
UPDATE 2009-07-03: added alternative download location.

And yet in spite of that,I actually dare to learn Bella`s Lullaby on the piano *tsk,tsk,tsk* You have to listen to it,it`s beautiful.

Bright Lights is on Saturday :]

Your wedding was great,though I must apologise for not looking well enough during both the day and night hahas.

Yeah,so yesterday was my cousin`s wedding…I had to wake up at 6:30 AM just for that.

It was enjoyable,I guess.

Amanda,Celine,Pei and me stuck together as usual.Or maybe I was sticking to them.Sorry if I irritated you all ^^

After that we went to Pavilion and I dragged my dad and sis to Times and stayed there for more than an hour,trying to find an Agatha Christie book (I didn`t, by the way:P).

So in the end I had to settle for Loamhedge by Brian Jacques.

(yes Weng Soon,it`s a Redwall book,and yes,you may borrow it after I finish it)

There`s actually only a 5% chance of you reading this.Oh well:P

After that was the wedding dinner,which was okay too.I have no idea why we took so many trips to the toilet though.

There was one toilet trip that was really funny actually.

Me,Amanda and Celine went to the toilets (only Amanda used the toilet).

So me and Celine hung around outside,singing that song from The Parent Trap:

(L is for the way you look at me)

And we were right up to “Twoooo in love can make it,take my heart but please don`t break it” when the toilet flushed and Amanda ran out of the cubicle section of the restroom all stiff and white, going,

“There`s the last cubicle,it`s locked and I don`t hear anything inside!!”

I don`t know what both of them were thinking,but I was thinking of one Japanese horror/detective movie that we watched together some time ago,where there was a scene of a locked door and behind it this scary mauled body of a schoolgirl(or something) with a pool of blood gushing from her.

And we all ran out squealing.

That was stupid:P

lol,the imagination is not to be taken for granted!

Then there was the champagne.Hahas,Nigel shook it so many times but it wouldn`t open XD

And then they went round the whole ballroom and yam-senged with all the tables,including ours.

Calvin,Wei Ren,Brandon and the rest of the guys were there,which made our table nice and loud when our turn came.

But the table next to ours,which was chock-full of dressed-up (bimbo but not really bimbo,cos they`re really smart,I’ll bet) Australian girls,got all fired up and decided to scream yam-seng louder than our table.

Whatevs.

Me and Celine agreed that they sounded pathetic,but then Kim Karen came up to us and said in this poor-little-you voice,

“Ayooh,your table was not loud enough,lah.That table-”she waved a hand at the Australian girls` table-”was so much louder than youuu.” I was really angry about that,but then I told myself it was just a little thing.

I was justified in the end when in the car on the way back to our house at 12AM my sister told me that the Australian girl`s table from far off had sounded like a whole lot of girls screaming

“yuuuuuuuum sayyyyynnnngggg” (cos of their accents,lol!)

Celine was hounded for the first 30 minutes of the dinner by Minh,who sang that “Celine has a boyyfriend” many times to Celine.

(Note:Minh is 6 years old.)

Celine found a way to shut Minh up so she told Minh she heard that Minh has a boyfriend and his name is Gared (or is it Jared?:P) Goh and Minh got terribly quiet and ran off.

And after that our very own gossip girl Sarah (who`s one year older than Minh) came and reported to us that

apparently;

Jared Goh had admitted to our beautiful Minh that he had a crush on her,and Minh blushed all over her pretty face and admitted she had a crush on him.

Aww.

Ah,the affairs of young lovers XD

So after that Minh never bothered to announce that Celine had a boyfriend.

I call that blackmail,Celine.

I`m still reading Loamhedge,it`s pretty thick and I haven`t finished it yet,but so far so good.

They`re all hilarious and I don`t think it`ll be like The Bellmaker which was so sad I nearly bawled at the end :/

Blah,tuition`s coming up again.

Hopefully it`s the last lesson for the year.

Hurry up,Christmas!

edit:// {1st Dec 08} To my favourite one and only sister…Happy 21st,che:) ILY!

heh I wish it were that easy:P

Toda I watched Phantom of the Opera.I hate that Raoul guy I wish Christine went with the Phantom instead of that…guy with the yucky hairstyle XP LOL I was thinking about the movie so much while I was doing my English corrections that my sentences turned out something like this:

1.Some people are dying *oops* living without …

2.Beavers clean their fear *oops* fur by …

hahas,hilarious.But I was really angry at myself for writing nonsense,especially having to liquid it off after that:D

But I wish Christine went with the Phantom.At the end when she went off with Raoul the Phantom guy went beserk (in a sad way,lol.) which basically proves my point:P

Love,peace and hairgrease;)

Ahh,so boring:D I wish blogging could come more smoothly to me,like making layouts:P

I just can’t blog properly!^^

Anyways,my day started out pretty boring:D

I had a backload of homework that I had very,very lazily left till Suturday and Sunday to do, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do some on Saturday so of course I got double the work to do today,which I am very happy to say,I did everything in church!!!

Wahahaha;) There was one part when Ps. Carey came out and I was like,”Oh no,now I’m going to get scolding,`why you are not helping inside’ etc etc,cham lorh cham lorh” But she didn’t scold me because I was doing work hahas!

*Peace sign peace sign*;D

Another thing is that…

it’s not fair.

Hokkien speakers  have as much rights to speaking their language as Mandarin speakers,right?

I mean,Hokkien people don’t snigger when Mandarin speakers say stuff in Mandarin.

Not that I really care.Hokkien’s a cool language,so much cooler than Mandarin,and I’m glad I know how to speak it and you don’t nyarharhar;D

I don’t know…Mandarin’s just a little too refined for me.

I hope no one gets offended by this,I’m just really irritated when Mandarin people look down on people who speak Hokkien,like me

.-_-

All my friends in tuition class can hide stuff from me because they’re speaking in Mandarin and I can’t understand.

But don’t worry.One day,I’ll learn Mandarin and nothing you say will be hidden from me *evil cackle* I shall no longer be a banana!Yeaaaaa~~

I will discover all of your dark secrets.Pinky finger promise.*smirks*

Better start learning Tamil soon Yean Hui;) Cos nothing you say in Mandarin shall be safe from me!Buahahaha.

Okay,okay.I shall stop my nonsense now:P

Bye,God bless;)

Guess what I was today?I was Supergirl.

Finishing my Maths and English and etc. with lightning speed.

That’s me.For today,I mean.Poor Sunshine Blue’s having procrastination on the other side of the world:D

Speaking of LeBue,she tagged me,again.A loooong tag.Whoopee.

So,sit back and relax while you read this one,cos at the end,nobody gets tagged!

I’m so kind.^ ^

So let’s do this thing.

Starting time : 5:21PM

Name : Angelyn

Sisters : 1

Brothers : 0

Shoe size : I don’t really know.6?
Height : 5’6″ and a half.

Where do you live : Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia!

Favourite drinks : Water,juice.

Favourite breakfast : Cereal and chocolate spread on brown wheat bread:)

Have you ever been on a plane? : Only a billion times in my life.Nah,I’m just kidding.Yes,maybe 3?

Fallen asleep at school : No,how sad.

Broken someone’s heart : More like the other way round.

Fell off your chair : Yeah.

Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call : LOL,never.Unless it was my mum and we were having an emergency.

Saved e-mails : No,never.I just leave ‘em in my inbox to rot

What is your room like : Small,but I try to make the best of it/

What is right besides you : A wall.

What is the last thing you ate : Shepherd’s pie.

Ever had chicken pox : Yes,yay!I’m cheering because I won’t have it again:D

Sore throat : Definitely.I hate it.

Stitches : Thank God,no.It sounds scary.

Broken nose : No.

Do you believe in love at first sight : Yes.That’s happened to me more than once.

Like picnics : Preferably in meadow with privacy.< Bue’s answer.I copied her.:D

Who was/were the last person you danced with : I have never danced with anyone in my whole life.

Last person who made you laugh : My sister.About one hour ago.

Today did you talk to someone you like : I don’t like anyone right now,yippee!

Kissed anyone : I kissed my grandma:D

Get sick : I almost did yesterday.

Talk to an ex : I don’t have an ex.

Miss someone : My sister when she’s away.And Dani & Chelsea.

Eat : Of course,you ding-dong.

Best feeling in the world : Euphoria.

Do you sleep with stuffed animals : Yeah,but not exactly stuffed,more beanie-baby:)

What is under your bed : Another bed.<Copied again,cos it’s true!

Who do you really hate : No one.I dislike lotsa people though:)

What time is it now? : 5:49 PM

Is there a person who is on your mind now : No.

Do you have any siblings : Yes.

Do you want children : Yes.

Do you smile often : I hope so.I smile alot on the computer though.Like this-:D

Do you like your hand-writing : Not really.

Are your toe nails painted : A nice,shocking pink:D

Whose bed other than yours would you rather sleep in : My parents’ bed.

What colour shirt are you wearing now : Green

What were you doing at 7.00pm yesterday : Practicing on my piano.

I cant wait till : Christmas!

When did you cry last : I can’t really remember.

Are you a friendly person : I hope so.

Do you have any pets : I want one.

Where is the person you have feelings for right now ? : In my imagination,lol.

Did the last person you held hands with mean anything to you now : Aww,of course my grandma means something to me!I really did hold her hand on Sunday when we were walking cos she needed my support.

Do you sleep with the TV on? : No.

What are you doing right now?: This tag.

Have you ever crawled through a window? : Yes.

Can you handle the truth? : Ooh,what is it?

Are you forgiving :Nobody’s perfect,but I try.

Are you closer to you mother or father : My mum.

Who was the last person you cried in front of? : My sister.

How many people can you say you’ve really loved? : Four.Pray hard you’re one of them.

Do you eat healthy : I try,I try so hard.Processed food is everywhere.

Do you still have pictures of you and your ex? : I don’t have an ex.

Have you ever cried because of something someone said to you? : Yes.

If you’re having a bad day, who are you most likely to go to?: God,my sister.

Are you loud or quiet most of the time? : Loud at home,quiet outside.

Are you confident?: No,I’m not.

3 Things I was doing 10 years ago :

Kindergarten,exploring life,getting into scrapes.

3 Things on my to-do list today

I don’t want to think about ‘em.

3 Things I would do if I were a billionaire

Spend it.Save it.Give it.

3 bad habits.

Having a bad attitude,laziness,and you-don’t-wanna-know-what-this-is.

3 Places I have lived in

Taman Tun.Petaling Jaya.Melacca.

Jobs I’ve had

None,oh hoho XD

5 People I Tag:
1,2,3,4,5!Yayyy!

Finally,it’s done.*Phew*

I made a nw layout two days ago and I <33 it.Click to see it!

And tell me if you like it.

Peace and lovees.

No,let me just finish reading this book.Just this chapter.Please…

Trust you,Angelyn.This is what happens when you get a new Agatha Christie book…

Angelyn!It’s time to eat lunch!Goodness,I’m hungry…

Wait a sec,just this chapter…

Come on…Shikoku and Honshu are waiting…Iwo Jima…Where have I heard that before…

Tapping fingers on the window…A disfigured face…She was killed during those ten minutes…

Mum’s coming home soon,and she’ll confiscate your book…You don’t want that to happen…

Shut it!I’m in a very interesting part now…

Hokkaido…Where is that…Fifth largest island of Japan…Or fourth…

Angelyn,do you want me to take that book away…I can’t believe it…I’m talking to myself…

Right,now I’m writing the paper,are you happy..Owh man,I’m so sleepy…

Gotta keep my eyes open…

Inhabitants-Inhb-inb-

Why can’t I spell it right…

My eyelids are so heavy…

Poirot…Panthers…Needles…World War II…

Just the last one left.Hokkaido…So cold…

Wake up,wake up,wake up!!

Finally!

Computer time:)

Now,why aren’t I sleepy for that?

The Discovery Channel (which my kids LOVE and we LOVE them watching it!) will show a documentary on Space-Based Solar Power at 10pm on 12 September, 2008. We filmed it in Washington DC at the Space Frontier Foundation’s New$pace 2008 conference (you are a member, aren’t you?). It was so totally cool working with the pros from the Futures Channel who did the filming (they must work closely with the Discovery Channel). It was amazing watching them do their thing.  They turned a small conference room at the hotel into a studio, wired us up, created mood lighting, and all that Hollywood stuff. These guys were entirely professional and WOW, it was entirely motivational being around professional media people who want to tell a story so kids get excited!

So, here is the preview from our most excellent friends at the Futures Channel:

Space-Based Solar Power on the Futures Channel

Make sure you tune-in to the Discovery Channel when it airs. Record it, and share it with all your friends, consistent with the laws in your viewing area*!

Cheers!

Coyote

* We’ve got to be careful with copyright laws…I once got into a kerfuffel because I described a baseball game to a friend of mine without the expressed written permission of the commissioner of major league baseball!

1. How would a company obtain a geostationary parking slot for a SBSP satellite?
2. How would a company obtain a license to broadcast power from space over radio frequencies?

Excellent questions. Here are the answers that I slapped together from the Internet. (Special thanks to Maldivian Digital, and Wikipedia for having some well researched info posted on their sites!) Please check my work and let me know if I’ve embarrassed myself in public (again):

1. How does a company obtain a geostationary parking slot for a SBSP satellite?
   • Parking slots are allotted internationally, by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
   • However, the ITU only allocates orbital slots to countries, and not to private sector companies.
   • Companies must negotiate with countries who hold the rights to orbital slots of interest. They must establish an agreement whereby space-based solar power satellites can thereafter occupy the countries’ allocated orbital slot(s).
   • This is a common and standard practice by companies operating communications satellites in the geostationary belt. Space-based solar power companies will follow these routine and well established procedures to acquire orbital parking slots.
   • When satellites are located close to each other, their up-link and downlink frequencies and polarisations are to be coordinated, so that there is no interference. Sometimes this requires that existing frequencies or polarisations be altered by existing satellites, to accommodate a new entrant.
   • The ITU which allocates the orbital slots (to countries who in turn may grant use of their slots to commercial ventures) requires that all players coordinate their frequencies so that there is no disruption of service. The new entrant is obliged to ensure that their transmissions will not disrupt existing services.
   • Frequency coordination is a technical matter, and not easily resolved, particularly in regions over India, where practically every orbital slot is occupied by one or more satellites.
2. How would a company obtain a license to broadcast power from space over radio frequencies?
   • Space-based solar power companies most likely will broadcast power from space to Earth using radio frequencies in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio bands originally reserved internationally for the use of RF electromagnetic fields for industrial, scientific, and medical purposes other than communications. In general, communications equipment must accept any interference generated by ISM equipment.
   • ISM bands are defined by the ITU-R in 5.138, 5.150, and 5.280 of the Radio Regulations. Individual countries’ use of the bands designated in these sections may differ due to variations in national radio regulations. Because communication devices using the ISM bands must tolerate any interference from ISM equipment, these bands are typically given over to uses intended for unlicensed operation, since unlicensed operation typically needs to be tolerant of interference from other devices anyway. In the United States of America, ISM uses of the ISM bands are governed by Part 18 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, while Part 15 Subpart B contains the rules for unlicensed communication devices, even those that use the ISM frequencies. Thus, designers of equipment for use in the United States in the ISM bands should be familiar with the relevant portions of both Part 18 and Part 15 Subpart B of the FCC Rules.
   • Specifically, space-based solar power companies will broadcast energy from space to Earth at 2.45 GHz, or 5.8 GHz
   • In recent years these bands have also been shared with license-free error-tolerant communications applications such as wireless LANs and cordless phones in the 0.915 GHz, 2.45 GHz, and 5.8 GHz bands. Because licensed devices already are required to be tolerant of ISM emissions in these bands, unlicensed low power uses are generally able to operate in these bands without causing problems for licensed uses.
   • SBSP companies must engage with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to secure general approval for the use of these frequencies.
   • SBSP companies must also engage with customer countries’ agencies responsible for national radio regulations (eg, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US) to obtain approval to use either 2.45 GHz or 5.8 GHz for power broadcasts in their country.
   • If these radio frequencies are unavailable, SBSP companies might pursue power beaming using lasers at 1.0 micron or 0.86 micron wavelengths. This removes the need for any frequency approval, as lasers are not regulated as radio frequencies.
   • SBSP companies must also engage with national aviation agencies (eg, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US) to establish no-fly zones around radio or laser energy corridors between the satellite and its ground-based receivers, as may be required by national or local laws.

There’s a lot that goes into building space-based solar power systems. Let’s get it out on the table so we can take a look at all that goes into it and think together about how to grease the tracks of progress.

Cheers!

Coyote

我的個性傻傻的  長長會忘記要防著人心的險惡
在學校裡  不能相信任何人
在教會裡  能夠相信的人  長長發現原來是很恐怖的 often plotting against your downfall
Society is realistic, and cruel
誰很天真  就會被一刀砍在背上

經過媽媽的mention…..
我突然醒過來了

對阿……..
你跟我說了這麼多的話………
是為了什麼?
你這些話背後的用意是什麼…?
越想下去……… 發現………
怎麼想  都覺得有點奇怪… 莫名其妙

如果真是要害我的話…….
我也只能摸摸鼻子, 候悔I trusted you,把我的難題都告訴了你, and move on
學乖了  下次不會在跟你說任何事情了
還是繼續當我們假假的朋友吧

你跟我有一樣的夢想
你已經達成了你的dream,而我還要在繼續努力
或許…….
你不希望我跟你一樣  追到了夢想
這樣代表,你比我強  我比不上你

Circumstances changes people

小時後  大家都很天真
周圍改變了我們  forced us to become smarter, more craftier

我的天真…….. innocence……..
慢慢的離開了我了…………

Our very good friends at the National Space Society recently published a special report of their acclaimed Ad Astra magazine covering Space-Based Solar Power! It goes into some technical details, but best of all it tells the story about how the Caballeros worked with the National Security Space Office to make the Space-Based Solar Power Study Group report become reality.  It was based on a lot of the work done right here, on this blog!

So for those of you who have been contributing to the discussions here, THIS IS A STORY ABOUT YOU and the good things you’ve been doing here. So, the next time your spouse or significant other complains that you are spending way too much time in the blogosphere…toss him or her a copy of this magazine and say, “I’ve been doing important work to solve the energy crisis!” You’ll be telling the truth!

Kudos to the National Space Society and their Ad Astra team–they are great people to work with and are doing a great job advancing humanities spacefaring prowess. You are a member, aren’t you?

Guy Pignolet from the Sunsat Energy Council gave an interesting presentation about Space Solar Power on 7 February 2008 at a recent LIFT08 Conference.

To see the presentation, click here: Space Solar Power by Guy Pignolet (Moderator- Bruno Guissani)

Enjoy!

Coyote

Our very good friend, Hu Davis, recently circulated some good questions regarding the who, what, when, where, why, and hows of demonstrating space solar power. He poses the questions from the perspectives of two groups; space solar power enthusiasts, and some NASA people who work the International Space Station (ISS). (Please note that like the rest of us, our friends at NASA-ISS are just brainstorming with us to see what help the ISS might be able to lend to advance space solar power concepts–there is no official NASA position or policy on any of this yet.)

Below you will find the questions posed by Hu. Please comment!

From the SBPS crowd:

1. What should be the content, scope and cost of an updated systems study to re-examine the cost effectiveness of a full scale network of 5 to 10 GWe satellites and their necessary space and ground systems? There are many subordinate questions not yet answered, including how to pay for it and who should run it.

2. What should be early, low cost (< $100 Millions total) demonstrations? By whom? When? Source of funds?

3. What should be demonstrated at higher cost, but costing much less (10-20% of that of a full scale prototype)? Sequence? Timing? Cost? Whose money?

4. How should we address the “space infra-structure” matter? When? Who? In what order? Time and costs?

5. What will the full scale prototype be? When can it become operational? Schedule? Cost? Barriers?

From the ISS bunch:

1. What can the ISS support? Power / time? Suspended mass? Torques? Dimensions of test articles? Pointing? RMS usage? EVA? Expected end date of availability? We need an “ISS User’s Guide” for space power development.

Thanks! Coyote

It’s been almost a month since we published the Interim Assessment on the 10th of October in a very public event at the National Press Club in Washington. Then we took a little pause, did a few media interviews, and now we’re ready to get busy again!

You remain the central players in this effort. The Interim Assessment was built on the bedrock of comments provided right here on this website. Quite frankly, by working together in this wide open public forum, we learned more and spent less than any other study on record! More importantly (and to our amazement) we discovered enormous public enthusiasm for space-based solar power!

This enthusiasm even brought 13 national and international organizations together to form the Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE). Their goal is “to ensure that the benefits of renewable clean energy from space solar power are understood and supported by business, governments and the general public.”

So you see, our advocates are lining up. We need to give them something worth advocating for! Let’s make sure we avoid getting caught up in the enthusiasm and continue to provide sound, dispassionate, realistic, and feasible analysis!

Now we need to roll up our sleeves, sharpen our pencils (or click for fresh lead), put on our thinking caps, and get back work!

You’ve had time to read the Interim Assessment and think about it. What are your expectations for the next step? What should the Phase 1 Study look like?

You’ve probably also seen at least some of the the media coverage (for which we are grateful, because it expands our base of participants here!). What are your thoughts about it? What more can we do to expand awareness of our effort? Can we do more? Should we do more???

Let the brainstorming begin!

Coyote

P.S. I have actually been promoted and transferred from Dream Works in the National Security Space Office to the University of Reading in the UK where I am pursuing a PhD in strategic studies under the hand of Professor Colin Gray. (Yes, I have a flat next to an Irish pub! Many locals have been briefed to full understanding of SBSP on bar napkins.) I’m very proud to remain a part of the NSSO’s space-based solar power team and am delighted to continue leading the discussions here, making public presentations, and giving interviews. It is extra work, but like Major General Armor said in the beginning, “Security in the form of clean energy independence is just too important to America, its allies, and the world!”

P.P.S. One news story called us the “Pentagon’s space hippies.” Groovy man!

Click here for the “Interim Assessment!”

From the Foreword of the report itself:

Preventing resource conflicts in the face of increasing global populations and demands in the 21st century is a high priority for the Department of Defense. All solution options to these challenges should be explored, including opportunities from space.

In March 2007, the National Security Space Office’s Advanced Concepts Office presented the idea of space‐based solar power (SBSP) as a potential grand opportunity to address not only energy security, but environmental, economic, intellectual, and space security as well. First proposed in the late 1960’s, the concept was last explored in the NASA’s 1997 “Fresh Look” Study. In the decade since this last study, advances in technology and new challenges to security have warranted a current exploration of the strategic implications of SBSP. For these reasons, my office sponsored a no‐cost Phase 0 Architecture Feasibility Study of SBSP during the Spring and Summer of 2007.

Unlike traditional contracted architecture studies, the attached report was compiled through an innovative and collaborative approach that relied heavily upon voluntary internet discussions by more than 170 academic, scientific, technical, legal, and business experts around the world. I applaud the high quality of work accomplished by the team leaders and all participants who contributed in the last six months. I encourage them to continue their work in earnest as they move beyond this interim report and seek to answer the question of whether SBSP can be developed and deployed within the first half of this century to provide affordable, clean, safe, reliable, sustainable and expandable energy for mankind.

This interim assessment contains significant initial findings and recommendations that should provide pause and consideration for national and international policy makers, business leaders, and citizens alike. It appears that technological challenges are closing rapidly and the business case for creating SBSP is improving with each passing year. Still absent, however, is an appropriate catalyst to stimulate the various interested parties toward actually developing a SBSP capability. I encourage all to read this report and consider the opportunities that SBSP presents as part of a national and international debate for action on how best to preserve security for all.

//signed 9 Oct 07//
JOSEPH D. ROUGE, SES
Acting Director, National Security Space Office

September 15th is here…so where’s the final report from the National Security Space Office that was promised???

There won’t be any. Well, not a final report, and not by close of business today.

On the 6th of September, following the first day of the Space-Based Solar Power Conference held in Breckenridge, Colorado, Mr Joe Rouge, the Deputy Director of the National Security Space Office, issued new orders to the director of the study (me). It was jointly determined between several officials and conferees that space-based solar power merits even closer look in several areas. No findings are yet final. We still have more questions than answers. Therefore the National Security Space Office will issue an interim report in October, and will continue thereafter!

Tentatively, the National Security Space Office may release its interim report at a National Space Society event held at the National Press Club on 10 October, 2007. This has not yet been finalized, but it may be the right type of event to get the word out about the awesome potential of space-based solar power and the challenges that must be overcome to help the commercial sector proceed in this endeavor with a successful business case.

The emphasis throughout this study is that the DoD wants to be a customer of clean energy from space, not a producer.

To foreshadow the interim report, it will likely address the following in some form or fashion:

• The study design: The first-ever DoD led study using the Internet in a wide open public forum to develop a future concept, including:
  • Vision
  • Mission
  • Assumptions
  • Methodology
  • Limitations
• Goals:
  • 10% U.S. electric baseload by 2050
  • Crawl, walk, run approach
• Open Trade Spaces (Requiring greater analysis and testing):
  • Lift: Expendables? Reusable rockets? Spaceplanes? A mix? How many? Launch sites?
  • Energy generation on orbit: Photovoltaics (panels or concentrators?)? Solar dynamic (what type?)?
  • Power transmission to Earth: Microwave? Laser? What frequencies for either?
  • Scalability of small space solar power satellites to large (Kilowatt range to Megawatt range to Gigawatt range): Which technologies are best in each scale? What testing is unique to each scale? What learning is needed?
  • Earth reception: size and types of rectennas? Intellectual properties?
  • Legal issues: Liability? Indemnity? Licensing? Frequency managment?
  • Orbitology: Which orbits are best suited for each scale? What geostationary slots will be required and when? What orbits will be used for assembly and transfer?
  • On orbit assembly: Robotic? Man-robot mix? What orbits will be used for assembly? Assemble low and transfer high? Finally assembly at geo?
  • Orbital transfer: Self-propelled or independent space tugs?
  • Operations: By whom? From where? Telemetry and station keeping? Ground network?
  • Liquification: How? Where? What types of liquids? Distribution?
  • Business case: How does the commercial sector get involved? What will stimulate investment along the critical path?
  • etc
• Findings and Recommendations:
  • Pending (okay, the caballeros know what the findings and recommendations are…but we have to keep you in suspense until we release the interim report, right? Here’s a hint…if you read every word on this website you will know most of what will appear in the report!)

Immediate military tactical and operational needs:

1. Dramatically reduce the energy logistics train to forward operating bases and reduce the need to secure massive energy convoys and stores in:
   1. Disaster relief efforts
   2. Nation building efforts
   3. Combat zones
2. Beam power directly to vehicles in all operating media for the following reasons
   1. Reduce weight of carrying fuel
   2. Increase range and loiter time
   3. Eliminate need for refueling and reduce the need for refueling vehicles
   4. Reduce the need for consuming local energy supplies
   5. Reduce size and signature
3. Use SSP for liquifaction of carbon-neutral fuels for current generation of liquid-fueled systems
   1. Continue to exploit current liquid fuel infrastructure, using carbon neutral fuels
   2. Gain independence from foreign liquid fuel providers

Urgent national security strategic goals:

1. Assist in achieving national energy independence from current liquid fuel providers
   1. Reduce level of national interest in unstable regions
   2. Reduce national dependence on unfriendly foreign governments
   3. Reduce the risk of energy competition wars in the 21st Century
2. Assist allies in achieving their national energy independence
   1. Develop and strengthen broad international partnerships
   2. Participate in international energy consortia and alliances
3. Economic: Become an energy exporter
   1. Increase national ability to influence or avoid geopolitical events
   2. Increase GNP, wealth of the nation, and increase tax revenue
   3. Use energy earnings to pay off national debt
4. Environmental: Dramatically reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere
   1. Prevent food wars which might happen if global warming continues
   2. Enhance soft power and green credibility around the world
   3. Lead the international clean energy movement by example

So you can see, this is a disruptive technology for security operations, but far more importantly, it will redefine geopolitical relationships and removes energy competition as the major driver for wars. Personally, I think war prevention is the highest form of security.

The other key to improving security with this concept is moving it quickly into the commercial sector at the earliest possible time. The DoD merely wants to be a customer of a commercially available product–energy. We do NOT want to trigger false security dilemmas. This will drive multinational partnering and international engagement, which is called for in our National Space Policy. This is one of the key reasons why we initiated this study on the Internet and in the media–to provide openness.

Your comments???

“Because of the enormous cost of addressing global warming, the energy legislation considered by Congress so far will make barely a dent in the problem, while farther-reaching climate proposals stand a remote chance of passage.”

I tend to agree with Mufson.

We must not kid ourselves; nothing is a more farther-reaching climate proposal than space-based solar power. If pursued for that reason alone–especially as a big government program–I believe nothing would come of it. Not to despair. There are many more reasons to develop space-based solar power, and another way of going about it.

We must always keep in mind that space-based solar power systems confer additional independence from foreign energy sources and the entanglements they so often engender. Also, as traditional energy resources become scarcer and competition for them increase, energy provided by space-based solar power systems help reduce the incentives for energy wars.  In addition, eventually we will be able to broadcast power from space to places in dire need of energy such as sites of natural or manmade disasters, war zones, and areas of the world without much infrastructure

Space critics will point out that developing clean energy alternatives such as ground-based solar, wind, and nuclear power can be completed sooner using off-the-shelf technology, and probably deliver energy at a cheaper cost to the consumer.  I’m not going to argue with that.  I hope all nations seriously and aggressively pursue such alternatives!   But another really good reason for pursuing space-based solar power is because doing so advances the art of spacefaring.  The infrastructure required to make space-based solar power a reality–cheaper, reliable, reusable spacelift, on-orbit assembly, operating enormous space structures, etc–are capabilities in the critical technology paths to exploration and the full commercialization of space. Alternatives such as ground-based solar power, wind, and nuclear power are good and necessary, but leave us trapped on Earth.  There is a universe of untapped resources beyond.

We’ve all heard it…”Why go to space when all of our problems are right here on Earth?”  For starters, we want to go to space because the solutions to many of our problems can be found in space; energy, raw resources, and other places to live.  Tapping into the abundant solar energy that is ceaslessly blowing past Earth represents the easiest way to begin solving our problems here on Earth from space…and leaves in place educational, industrial, and commercial infrastructures that will make all future endeavors in space easier.

Our goal is to make space-based solar power affordable by the customer and profitable for the company who trades it.  The National Security Space Office is working with our friends in the Office of Space Commercialization in the Department of Commerce to develop space-based solar power in the commercial sector. We seek to incentivize the pathway for the commercial sector to develop space-based solar power–tapping into an industry of potentially trillions of dollars annually.

We want to leverage off of other space programs already in the pipeline to develop the infrastrucutre we require, and make prudent investments in niche technologies to help close the business case for space-based solar power.  The last thing we want is a large government program that will invariably become a political hot potato(e)! 

Your comments are most welcomed!

But I’ve discovered that Wikipedia can be a wealth of information and misinformation…and the innocent might not know the difference.

Please take a look at Wikipedia’s page titled Space Power Satellite.

Is this information or misinformation? Would this serve as a sufficient primer on the subject of space solar power? What edits can we make to improve this page for everyone’s benefit?

See for yourself the briefing they built that led to the creation of this study:

Space-Based Solar Power: An Opportunity for Strategic Security

Comments?

Coyote

I’m speaking specifically about our ability to feed space-based solar power into electrical power grids on Earth or use it to drive the production of clean liquid fuels. With a desired end state of handing this entire enterprise over to the commercial sector it is clear that we have to create a supportive geopolitical environment and deliver capabilities that will ultimately enable companies to make a healthy profit by delivering energy to consumers at a competitive fair market price. I’m going out on a limb here, but I don’t think this can happen if we strap those companies with the entire research & development cost before they produce their first unit of energy. Please take a chainsaw to the limb if I am off base!

I’ll assert for argument’s sake that governments must accept the investment costs until the time comes that all the requisite technologies and industrial infrastructure is in place to make space-based solar power profitable. My opinion, based on working with governments and industry, is that a direct approach will not work. In other words, making a single large budget item called “space-based solar power” that tries to solve all the problems along the way will not work. An indirect approach is necessary that leverages off of other people’s budget and work in related areas. This keeps the budget much smaller, but keeps the program moving forward. Governments will only accept the cost if there is a long list of spin-off benefits, especially jobs. How am I doing so far?

I suggest a three-phase approach to space-based solar power. First we crawl. We stand up a small but active office to sustain the effort over the long haul. During this phase we continue to study the problem, but formalize and fund the research, leveraging heavily off of related work being done among other programs (an indirect approach). We conduct full-blown architecture and environmental impact studies, seek appropriate partnerships, build political support, but most important of all, we identify all the pieces of technology and other infrastructure elements that must be developed to make this a viable concept, and use our little office to track and propel their progress. We must also review space law, treaties, and customs to determine what changes must be made to normalize human commercial enterprises in space and on the heavenly bodies to facilitate the prudent use of space resources.

Next, we walk. In this phase we stimulate investment in the related technical and infrastructure items (such as lift, photovoltaics, rectenna technology, etc) and advance our spacefaring prowess in those areas. We conduct on-orbit experiments to validate our work and incrementally retire risks. All the while, the office we established in the crawl-phase is working with the think tanks, internationals, private industry, legislative liaisons, and the laboratories to keep everything greased and on track. In this phase we must work aggressively with the global community to establish a favorable legal regime for this and future human commercial activities in space.

Then we run. Well, we start with a jog actually. While jogging we conclude contracts and set up industry for production and operation of the system(s). We’ll need to square away the method of handing this over to the commercial sector. The running starts when we commence launch and on-orbit assembly through checkout, and hand over the keys to this bad boy to some dude or dudette in appropriate business attire.

Viola–space-based solar power becomes reality. Then it’s time for tea and medals.

Coyote

You can read all about how this study came to be by clicking on “About The Study” in the bar above. It lays out what we’re trying to do here. The problem set is H U G E. It is too large for anyone to solve by themselves–especially me, a simple caveman space professional. But we have this little thing called the Internet that can connect us and lets us look at this problem from all sides. We all have talents. Let’s see what we can do together.

When I started this project a couple of months ago I was a skeptic, but I’ve become a cautious optimist. I sent an email to a friend yesterday and summed up my feelings about the project this way:

I can’t think of a better legacy for our generation to leave to posterity than solving Earth’s energy needs once and for all…and opening a wider highway to the heavens at the same time.

I look forward to working with all of you. Game ON!

Coyote