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- Next-Generation Microshutter Array Technology
NASA technologists have hurdled a number of significant challenges in their quest to improve a revolutionary observing technology originally created for the James Webb Space Telescope. This image shows a close-up view of the next-generation microshutter arrays -- designed to accommodate the needs of future observatories -- during the fabrication process. Determined to make the Webb telescope's microshutter technology more broadly available, a team of technologists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center spent the past four years experimenting with techniques to advance this capability. One of the first things the team did was eliminate the magnet that sweeps over the shutter arrays to activate them, replacing it with electrostatic actuation. Just as significant is the voltage needed to actuate the arrays. By last year, the team had achieved a major milestone by activating the shutters with just 30 volts. The team used atomic layer deposition, a state-of-the-art fabrication technology, to fully insulate the tiny space between the electrodes to eliminate potential electrical crosstalk that could interfere with the arrays’ operation. They also applied a very thin anti-stiction coating to prevent the shutters from sticking when opened. > Revolutionary Microshutter Technology Hurdles Significant Challenges Image Credit: NASA/Bill Hrybyk
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Category Archives: Economics
Shutdown / Debt Crisis
So how’s that for a headline? That one get your alarmist hackles up? It should. A friend of mine quoted The Economist this morning and it kind of sent my blood pressure up: The Economist on the government shutdown. Key … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Economics
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Governmental Mismangement
Well the whole Fiscal Cliff issue has been deferred for two months. Then we will see what happens. In the meantime, Roberta X has boiled the entire issue down to a couple of well written paragraphs. The money lines: This … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Economics
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Tort Reform and Other Rantings
A friend of mine threw a link to this article up on Facebook earlier. I started to comment on it, and it rapidly grew into a rant. So, I thought I would clean it up a little and make it … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Economics, Society
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Economics
Some interesting numbers that are pulled together from multiple sources today over at Hot Air. The article supports the position that our “Fiscal Cliff” is not going to be solved by revenue increases. Go read it, and then my comments make sense. … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Politics
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Europe In The News and The Scary Crystal Ball
Well, it appears as if there are some new developments going in on the Continent, that unfortunately appear to be old actions being resurrected for the 21st Century. Let’s take a look at the highlights of recent events: Greece continues to have widespread protests … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Current Events, Economics, History
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Six Minutes of Wisdom
An interesting snippet from Bill Whittle today, that brings us Rudyard Kipling’s wisdom and observations from 100 years ago. Take six minutes to watch.
Posted in Economics, History
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And So It Goes
The death of a brand. I have commented previously, probably multiple times, that unions have outlived their usefulness. There was a dark time in our history where unions were vital to the growth of the economy and industry. Unions were … Continue reading
Economics News
Any interesting analysis on the current economic situation in the US. This one focuses on the velocity of M1 and M2. Break out your econ books, and dust off those facts and terms from where all that knowledge that you … Continue reading
Posted in Economics
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Interesting Happenings in Europe
A couple of interesting things beginning to show up in Europe lately. Item 1: Item 2 maybe more prophetic (whole story here and here): This morning’s Der Spiegel (Germany) has a real doozy worth paying attention to. – The … Continue reading
Posted in Economics
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Focus
Most of our focus recently has been on the US political landscape as we near a critical election. What everyone is missing, perhaps intentionally is the critical events in Europe. Based on today’s election Greece will either adopt severe austerity … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Politics
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