Abe's Journal

Space Conferences in Conclusion

2008-11-19T07:22:31Z

These conferences have been quite an experience.

The last panel is tomorrow morning. We get home tomorrow evening.

Sadly, I probably won't get a chance to update until after MFF. Pictures and such will come around then as well.

Students for Exploration and Development of Space Conferences...

2008-11-13T09:01:44Z

I'm about done packing and taking care of other errands.

We fly out in the morning and I won't return until the following Thursday.

I'd think I'd normally be excited about getting out of town for a while, but I'm really feeling ambivalent about it. Academic matters have a way of numbing you to everything in your surroundings aside from your homework and exam grades.

Ah well. Houston or bust.

I'll take pictures and stuff. Stay classy.

abehusky @ 2008-11-11T23:45:00

2008-11-12T05:46:07Z

Election '08 Wrap-Up

2008-11-05T08:14:16Z

Wow. To think all this started with a speech in front of the Old State Capitol building of my hometown 21 months ago. It's nuts.

I spent the night watching the coverage in a local bar, surrounded by good friends, good music and beer. I can't think of a better way to celebrate.

Kudos to America.

abehusky @ 2008-11-04T01:39:00

2008-11-04T07:38:10Z

Help put this election where it belongs...in the grave.

Go vote plz.

The first of a likely 'many'...

2008-10-27T21:52:57Z

The article speaks for itself.

In a way, it's almost reassuring. A large number of Americans (minorities especially) are well-aware of how backwards people in this country can be. Seeing all this undercover racism finally being brought out into the light just confirms what we knew all along.

I guess I have my strong points...

2008-10-23T22:24:35Z

We recently got done with research papers/presentations in my senior design course. Our topic could be anything or anyone related to space sciences.

Being an astronomy-nut, I went the awesome route and chose to present the theory of dark matter. :D

Well, if there's one thing I've found I'm good at in engineering, it's conveying information to other people. I scored an A- on my research paper, along with an A+ on my verbal presentation, tying for the highest grade in the class.

Today was a well-needed ego boost. :)

Obama and NASA

2008-10-14T01:06:48Z

For those unaware, the Constellation program is to be replacing the Space Shuttle program within the next few years.

A few months back, Obama had stated that he planned on delaying the Constellation program and cutting their funding in order to put more money into education.

However, he seems to have recently changed his mind, stating:

"I know it's still being reported that we were talking about delaying some aspects of the Constellation program to pay for our early education program. I told my staff we're going to find an entirely different offset, because we've got to make sure that the money that's going into NASA for basic research and development continues to go there. That has been a top priority for us."

...If he wins, I just hope he follows through. The moon and eventually Mars are far off enough as is and I'd really like to play a role in it.

abehusky @ 2008-10-13T00:51:00

2008-10-13T05:54:11Z

I've just been told by a furry that zero divided by zero is evidently one.

...Excuse me while I cry myself to sleep.

Aerospace Stuff

2008-10-10T03:33:13Z

- Attending NASA's Future Forum in Chicago, IL all day tomorrow. Once it's over, other students and myself are presenting our research done over the summer and people are given the chance to ask us questions. Hopefully I can get some networking/connections out of it.

- Had a pre-screening interview with United Space Alliance this morning. The job options sound really exciting. These are the people that control pretty anything that has to do with the International Space Station and work very closely with NASA.

- Also have a phone interview coming up with Analytical Graphics Inc.

- I'm also still considering applying to grad schools as a backup. Mainly looking at University of Texas and Virginia Tech at the moment...

Sleep time.

Song Meme (vol. 2)

2008-10-05T06:39:27Z

This meme is pretty old and I did it a while ago, but I'm in the mood for being distracted, so humor me. :P

"Step 1: Put music playlist on random. Step 2: Post a couple lyrics from the first 20 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song. Step 3: Post and let everyone you know guess what song and artist the lines come from Step 4: Strike out the songs when someone guesses correctly. Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!"

~~1) "Don't worry...about a thing...'cause every little thing...is gonna be alright..."~~ crocodile Bob Marley: Three Little Birds

2) "Take your head around the world...and see what you get...from your mind...write your soul down word for word...and see who's your friend...and who is kind..."

~~3) "Time...only time...can only take me away from you...and why should you try...time never cares just what we do..."~~ victusdraconis Trans-Siberian Orchestra - After The Fall

4) "You hand out...as you find out...what's gone wrong...do they want out?"

5) "The age will say 'This poet lies'...Heaven never touched earthly face...The age will say 'This night was ours'..."

~~6) "Like angels in flight...far in the distance...is my wish under moonlight..."~~ shadowtxhorse Enya - On My Way Home

~~7) "It's a complicated web...that you weave inside my head...so much pleasure with such pain...how we always...always stay the same..."~~ scani Santana, featuring Michelle Branch & The Wreckers - I'm Feeling You

8) "You have friends who can do no wrong...that's what you believe...but who's gonna be there when you fall? ...to build you up when you're feeling small?..."

9) "When the snows come rolling through...you're rolling too with some new lover...will you think of times you've told me...that you knew the reason..."

10) "It takes joyful sound...to make the world go round...come with your heart and soul...come and rock your bone..."

11) "That's why I'm wondering why you had to tell me...what's going on, in your head what's wrong... Come around another time where you don't have to run..."

12) "You belong to the gang...and you say you can't break away...but I'm here with my hands on my heart..."

13) "I think I'll up to the north...I'm gonna go somewhere I've never been before...I got so much I wanna do... Well that's all fine but...who's gonna love you? Who you gonna let love you?"

~~14) "And I'm here...to remind you...of the mess you left when you went away... It's not fair...to deny me...of the cross I bear that you gave to me..."~~ crocodile Alanis Morissette - You Outta Know

~~15) "The wild dogs cry out in the night...as they grow restless longing for some solitary company... I know that I must do what's right...sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the serengeti..."~~ crocodile Toto - Africa

16) "The sun won't rise behind you anymore... Neglected, disconnected... You seem to need their power even more... One time more, to die for..."

17) "Hey, Angela I know...where you're coming from...'cause I've been there before I know...that it ain't no fun..."

~~18) "Snowy night...where it's warm here by the fire... Here with you, I have all that I desire... It's been a long year, but somehow we got by..."~~ scotty_kaetif N'Sync - All I Want Is You This Christmas

19) "When my mother and father...gave me their problems...I accepted them all... Nothing ever expected...I was rejected, but I came back for more..."

20) "Oh, oh, I say, one good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain... Hit me with music... Hit me with music now..."

===

Some all pretty obvious...though a few are pretty obscure.

~ Have fun!

abehusky @ 2008-10-02T09:01:00

2008-10-02T14:02:40Z

Vote.

Meme Bandwagon...

2008-09-19T04:32:51Z

(stolen from pretty much everyone)

• Take a picture of yourself right now.
• Don't change your clothes. Don't fix your hair.
• Post that picture with no editing.
• Post these instructions with your picture.

...Word.

Dammit.

2008-09-13T04:02:57Z

I finally set aside a weekend to go grocery shopping, get random things for my apartment and get some work done and what happens?

...I get fucking sick with a fever. I'm not pleased at all.

I put in 7 hours at the cafe tonight, but near the end, I was too exhausted and aching. I called the owner and had him finish closing for me.

So for now...I'm gonna get to some dishes I should have cleaned days ago, then sleep for a pretty damn long time.

abehusky @ 2008-09-02T18:08:00

2008-09-02T23:10:38Z

...is it Fall yet? :/

U of Illinois' Chancellor's Statement on Fraternity/Sorority Life

2008-09-01T23:03:50Z

I came home today to find a bold, yet eloquent e-mail by our university's Chancellor in regards to Greek life on our campus:

Aside: I emphasize our. I'm not out to badmouth all Greek organizations, but they seem to do a lot more harm than good on my campus.

------------

Dear Students,

Many of you may be aware of an event known as Rush. It is my objective to
warn you of the potential downsides of Greek organizations. I advise you to
not succumb to the aggressive recruitment tactics used by these
organizations. It has been my concern over the years, that the Greek culture
of alcoholism and lack of respect for the community degrades campus life.
These organizations present themselves as prestigious, yet are
discriminatory, serve to perpetuate social inequality, especially with
respect to the opposite gender, and promote a lack of diversity. Many
students have expressed concerns with regards to safety on campus,
particularly due to Greek culture and behavior. It is my hope that a
student's experience on campus strengthens one's individuality, but the Greek
system emphasizes the group above all, without cause or reason. This is
detrimental to the purpose of universities.

I hope that you will consider wisely.

GDI Chancellor Richard Herman

------------

This e-mail was sent out to every person affiliated with the University. I'm hoping it causes an uproar within our Greek system. If it does, I see things going one of two ways:

1) Maybe people in positions of Greek leadership will take a hint and make some sort of an attempt to clean up their reputations.

2) People affiliated with our Greek system will get upset and continue parading around campus as the self-absorbed, ignorant, oft-drunken assholes that they are and further push their efforts in retaining that label.

Whatever happens, it needed to be said. I look forward to the campus' response.

(EDIT: It turns out it was all a hoax. However, I'm still hoping some sort of dialogue can from this. Regardless of the nature of the message, it doesn't change the fact that these statements aren't entirely false.

abehusky @ 2008-08-29T23:31:00

2008-08-30T04:35:12Z

Choosing Palin was a good political ploy.

I'm praying to God it doesn't follow through.

Aerospace Design...

2008-08-27T03:19:26Z

Today was the first day of aerospace systems design. Right off the bat, we're introduced with our design topic...

We have to design a vehicle that can transport cargo and crew from and to the International Space Station. We're competing with other design teams across the country and the winning team gets chosen to present their design to NASA.

The various design areas are as follows:
- Structural anaylsis
- Propulsion
- Launch Vehicle
- Communications
- Flight Mechanics
- Orbital Mechanics
- Life Support Systems
- Thermal Protection Systems
- Ground Tracking/Guidance Control
- Cost Efficiency

...never have I been so freaked out yet so excited about a class in my life.

Joseph Biden...

2008-08-23T07:46:49Z

...I've never heard of the guy until a few moments ago, but his track record looks pretty decent. :)

abehusky @ 2008-08-22T22:21:00

2008-08-23T03:27:00Z

I gave my presentation on my summer research this morning. Considering this was my first real technical talk, I think I performed fairly well.

Classes start Monday. Students have begun piling back into campus. I'm missing the way campus looked over the summer already.

Prologue: Fall '08 Semester

2008-08-21T17:43:00Z

Classes start on Monday, so it's about time for my usual class rundown:

AE 402 - Orbital Mechanics:
Analysis of orbits in an inverse-square gravitational field; elementary rocket dynamics, impulsive orbit transfer and rendezvous, and Lambert's Theorem with applications; patched-conic trajectories, planetary gravity-assist maneuvers, and linearized orbit theory with application to simplified analytical models; perturbations.

This is my aerospace-based elective for the semester. I've seen most of this stuff in the past, I assume we're just going into more details. I'm expecting this class to be my easiest.

AE 433 - Aerospace Propulsion:
Fundamentals of rocket and airbreathing jet propulsion devices; prediction of thrust, combustion reactions, specific fuel consumption, and operating performance; ramjets; turbojets; turbofans; turboprops; aerothermodynamics of inlets, combustors, and nozzles; compressors, turbines; component matching.

Not really familiar with this stuff, but I'm really hoping this class goes well. Fluid mechanics seem to be my strong point.

AE 440 - Aerospace Systems Design I
Introduction to the design of aerospace flight systems. Principles of systems engineering as they apply to the design process; general design methodology; application of these concepts to the initial sizing of both aircraft and spacecraft systems. Involves intensive technical writing.

Finally, a class that sounds practical. :D

AE 460 - Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab:
Examines theory and application of experimental techniques in aerospace engineering with emphasis on fluid dynamic, aerodynamic, thermal, combustion, and propulsion phenomena.

My research this summer is based on experimental fluid dynamics, so hopefully this will be a breeze...the aerodynamic part of it anyway.

AE 470 - Aerospace Numerical Methods:
Introduction to numerical methods used in aerospace engineering. Finite difference method; Variational principles and Rayleigh-Ritz method; finite element method; applications from simple structural mechanics and aerodynamics problems encountered in aerospace engineering.

It's known to be a pretty difficult course, though a pretty useful one. We'll see how it goes.

End of an Era

2008-08-05T23:59:22Z

The past few days have been internet-less and full of cleaning, packing, more cleaning and more packing. My last roommate moved out two days ago. I moved the last of my stuff into temporary storage yesterday. It's weird looking at a barren apartment, completely void of all our possessions after seeing it cluttered for two years.

I'll miss that place.

Regardless, a new year begins. I move into my new single apartment in two weeks and I'm looking forward to it a lot.

Cleaning...

2008-08-02T02:53:51Z

Cleaning!

A welcome surprise...

2008-07-29T03:12:57Z

Bad News: I won't be picking up additional hours at the cafe after my summer research is over.

Good News: My research adviser talked with the graduate student I'm working with...they offered me the opportunity to continue doing research with them through the school year.

I haven't given a definite answer yet, but considering the better money and the possibility of my name in a published paper... it would look pretty good on a resume when applying for jobs soon... ;)

Motivations...

2008-07-26T08:44:18Z

The entire concept of humans regularly traveling through space fascinates me.

I'd love to help us set up a base on the moon.
I'd love to have some role in getting the first human being(s) to Mars (if I wasn't among them myself).
I'd love to have some role in kicking off the space tourism industry. (I'm not going to hold my breath on this one, however, considering the state of our economy.)

These aspirations sometimes seem far-fetched to me, but they drive me forward regardless. I want to see human settlements beyond that of just earth before I die.