Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Photos from Cal Poly Cubesat Developers Workshop 2009


I finally got some pictures up for viewing from our Cal Poly Cubesat Workshop trip!  They were hastily gathered but due to our next trip this is it for now.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Coming Soon: Bryan's Cal Poly Adventure

Aloha Friends,

We had an amazing time with Bryan at the Cubesat Developers Conference at Cal Poly last weekend.  We're still unpacking and uploading photos and trying to find time to get it all written down here while it is fresh.  Don't know how we'll find the time because Bryan is still trying to catch up on missed assignments and tests and has 2 days of SAT testing this week and then we are off to New Mexico for the next adventure (Shhh... sorry, can't talk about that until we get clearance... really!)

As soon as we can get everything organized and loaded up, we'll share about all the tremendous people Bryan met and opportunities he's been offered.  I am so proud of Bryan and I have no doubt this last weekend will be an important factor as he considers his future career path!

Aloha For Now,

Bryan's Dad

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Bryan's Cubesat Presentation (Revised)

Bryan re-shot his presentation with better audio now.


Sunday, April 12, 2009

Bryan's Cubesat Awards

We are so proud of Bryan!  He did very well at the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair, winning 7 awards!  Thanks to all of you who supported him with encouragement, prayers, cash, equipment and advice.  You share in his success!

AWARDED:
Air Force Association - 1st place (field of aerospace sciences), $250 + certificate
Armed Forces Communication/Electronics Assoc. Hawaii - 1st place, $200 + certificate
College of Engineering, UH Manoa - Junior Award, $100 + certificate
Emergency Amateur Radio Club - 1st place, $125
Engineers & Architects of Hawaii - 1st place, $75 (bond) + certificate
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers - 1st place, $100 (+ teacher award $100)
NASA - Certificate of Outstanding Achievement (creative scientific endeavor in aerospace research) - certificate + packet of goodies

Bryan's Cubesat Presentation

Bryan gives the presentation he gave at the science fair, minus the demo and the Q&A time.


Thursday, April 9, 2009

State Science Fair

On Monday I went to go set up and sign in for the 52nd Hawaii state science fair.  I went right after school set up my board and did some paper work.

 Then on Tuesday I went for the judging.  I had to leave the house at 6:00 am in order to get there on time.  My friend from Hanalani had also made it to state.  When I got there I saw my friend form 6th grade there.  He was three projects down from me.  I was judged by eleven judges.  Two were with the official science fair judges and the rest were agency and company judges.  Hanalani took a field trip to there, but had too leave soon after they arrived because they technically were not supposed to be there during judging.  I left at about 2:00 p.m.

On Wednesday was the award ceremony.  My grandparents and even Dr. Wayne Shiroma were there.  We had to sit a listen to names being called out for four hours.  I ended up winning awards from seven different agencies!  This made all of the work put into it worth it.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Coming Soon: Great News

We have great news to share but honestly we are exhausted tonight so it will have to wait.  I also want Bryan to write about it from his perspective, so hopefully this weekend we'll have a nice blog report for all of you.

Aloha for now!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Off to go to Science Fair


Bryan and Emily have left for "Judgement Day" at the Hawaii State Science Fair!  He looks sharp and is a little nervous.  I know he'll do a great job!  He has his Cubesat all charged up as well as all the little bits and gear that travel with it.  Goodluck Bryan!  

Thursday, April 2, 2009

USA demonstrates ability to shoot down a satellite

Last night the U.S. shot down a defunct spy satellite with a ship-based missile.

Video of that event including the "hit".

One way to avoid the risk of being shotdown is to use many smaller networked sattellites that are cheap and easily made and launched, like Cubesats.