http://www.jpaerospace.com/

Hi JPowell,
I've done a lot of boat building and so know a bit about moulds, etc. My suggestion is don't fill the gaps in your mould. Why don't you get hold of some very thin ply and glue it across the ribs? You could even vacuum bag it if you felt like it. You'd need to cut several sections to get around the bend but this would provide a very smooth finished surface and you'd then need to spend next to no time filling and sanding.
Just a thought. Might be too late for this latest one but I'm sure you'll have other ones to build.

I think that the thing that frustrates a lot of us is not knowing what progress is being made out there, having regular information gives us something to talk about and maybe make suggestions that you can use or adapt.

And if all we can do is give some encouragement, well everyone needs a pat on the back every so often.

The update log is great, keep up the good work.

Rob at outofthecradle.net just posted an interview he did with yours truly.

http://www.outofthecradle.net/

For those following the ring saga, IT'S DONE! I'll try and get the pics up tonight on the JPA website.

www.jpaerospace.com

JP

Part two of the interview was posted today.

http://www.outofthecradle.net/

JP

Another iffy video hopefully saved by the music.

I took all the pictures, (104) from constructing the big ring and ran them together in 40 seconds. The results are fun, (if you're a space hardware junkie). The ring just magicly assembles.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

The video can be found on the Update Log page and the video page on the JPA website.

JP
www.jpaerospace.com

I didn't like the anti-Griffin talk on the forums there.

Not one bit.

????? I thought I was fairly friendly to the administrator, (Griffin).

publiusr, It are opinions, and I must state that you have been very unfriendly to Rocketplane or SpaceX before as well...

@jpowell, nice interview and movie (or pictures, depends how we define it ), including the background music

OK now I'm curious. I don't recall ever even mentioning any other group let alone making negative comments. Where are thou these dasterdly commentaries....

JP

I edited my post, I was reffering to publiusr.

That's all right. I just wish Griffin had more support.

I just finished and posted the lastest video on the JP Aerospace website.
This one is scenes from launch to bushs (landing) of a flight last year.

www.jpaerospace.com

I can't wait till the spring to get out of the shop, away from the computer and start flying.

Till then, enjoy the movie!

JP

Hi JP,
I love the concept drawings of the development path DSS's. It's very exciting.

It's a shame there's probably huge funding required to get even to block one stage.

I also assume there's a development path in parallel with the ascender? So I'm imagining it will be a long time till we see an ascender ferrying anyone to the DSS.

It must be painful for you to have these plans in place, but progressing so slowly, it certainly is for us

Hello, Pete,

what do you think about the Ascenders photos are to be seen of at the homepage? They seem to be able to carry people up to any DSS.

jpoweel, am I right? By the way - could you rgearding the ATO imagine to sned a small ATO-version to a small Near Earth Object to do a sample return mission or even to catch the whole object? It would have to be not taller and heavier than a man. Such a project might perhaps attrct the attention and interest of organizations interested in that topic and being able to fund your project(s).



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

The drawings look nice! As for the ATO, I don't think a small ATO would work at all. Even a weather balloon with a cargo of nothing would have to be huge to get up to 60km on buoyancy alone. And then you still need to carry the magical drive that will get it up into space, and the ion drive that will move it up into a stable orbit from there. Or however it's supposed to work.

Big stuff is the name of the game. However, once you have the really big DSS, making a really big ATO should be easier.