Space ... The Final Frontier

Bismillah,

As technology improves, the more ideas can be made possible for the future. Of course, this one is not a laughing matter because of what ... ?

Because everyone who laughed at someone's idea may not think as far as the idea creator might have. They would probably left by months, years, or even decades! Until someone has proven the idea to become a reality, they would not believe the idea is true.

No one would ever thought human can make space vehicles either manned or unmanned with the capability of reaching the height of thousands of kilometers away or even higher than earth's gravity could attract!

Outer space technology might be attractive but as far as I know for the present technological improvement in my own country ... well, yeah we are still below India who has already owned rockets/launchpad(s). I just wonder when we will have our own space exploration facilities; we have potential natural and human resources anyway though.

Well ... I guess someday our government and/or communities endorse the development of space exploration here


--Dimas

Flight Director

Bismillah,

FD: "Okay guys, we're 15 minutes earlier than scheduled but I want everyone to keep an eye on your own station now, so I'd like to call everyone to set up one at a time ... Booster ... FIDO ... GNC ... EECOM ... EVA ... Eagle ... "

The conversation above might be an example of how a Flight Director or usually called "Flight" by fellow controllers at launch control calls every station prior to space vehicle launch i.e. rocket(s). A Flight Director task is similar to a conductor in an orchestra, where he/she is responsible for the entire flight with supporting teams mentioned in the conversation example above.

Flight orchestrated the entire flight by the time the rocket is still on its launch platform. reaches a point where it should release its payload or enters a desired orbit until the rocket reenters the earth. When a rocket stands on its launch platform about 2-3 minutes before launching countdown all stations should have prepared well for the flight. Every station engineer should monitor each component pertaining to their duty; for example, Booster engineer monitors the rocket propulsion system and recommends appropriate actions in case a problem occurred, GNC or Guidance Navigation Control engineer monitors the rocket spatial orientation, translational+rotational control, and navigation system.

If anything goes wrong during the flight, a Flight Director must respond correctly and take proper actions against it. One of the notable Flight Directors handling problems during flight is Eugene Kranz or known as Gene Kranz who was a Flight Director of Apollo 13; his successful effort to save the crew of Apollo 13 back home is an example of controllers teamwork under his command.

--Dimas

Hello again ... Basic Navigation This Time

Bismillah,

*Fiuuuh ... fiuuuh* I feel like my blog is quite dusty after so long. Well, here I go again blogging. First of all Alhamdulillah I am now pursuing my Ph.D in Aeronautical Engineering qualifying in Flight Navigation System. Well to tell the truth, it isn't an easy task after all and besides Flight Navigation itself is one of the topics in AE which is quite challenging, why? 

Here's why ...

Now imagine yourself being at a location unbeknown to you at all. You have no idea where you are nor where to go. The very best thing you could do is to find tactical marks such as nearby buildings, trees, landmarks, or anything familiar. But if you are totally lost, you might as well look at the sky for celestial marks or in other words locate yourself from known position based on stars. You see ... there's nothing in this earth unuseful, well as for this celestial marks; Allah SWT has already informed us on how celestial navigation works --but of course we have to use our brain to discover the techniques-- 

In Surah An-Nahl ayah 16:

And He created markings (navigation). And by the stars they are guided.

It is evident that Allah SWT created stars with certain shapes for us to navigate and of course to believe that He is The Almighty.

Now let's jump to basic navigation, shall we?

I've already informed you that we can use stars as a reference to locate exact position on where we are. But what I haven't told you is HOW. Okay let's imagine that we're standing on earth; regardless on where we are at this moment. Since the earth itself is a near-round shaped (or in technical language we call it ... quasi-spherical), we consider ourselves being at the center of a sphere, no ... not that we're at THE CENTER OF THE EARTH LITERALLY --because you know, when you're standing at the center of the earth with magma surrounds you ... well, you can see what I mean--

Yes, we're in a three-dimensional system or in other words we're at a spatial frame. Hence, there are three axes; X, Y, and Z. We must remember that we're inside a "sphere" therefore those three axes should be transformed into angles with respect to the center of the earth. 

Alright I'll continue later ... it's time to bring my aircraft into action i.e. flying B-)

to be continued ...

Bismillah,

Well now ... it's been a while since I wrote this blog. There are actually a lot of things in my mind to tell but I got to tell you all viewers that I could write only a few from many things had happened in the past.

First of all, Alhamdulillah ... we're in Ramadhan month of 1431H, it is a month where we as Muslim do fasting. It's not only holding thirst and hunger but even more than that to be honest; such as we are trained to hold our horses, to be sincere, faithful, many more. So to all of my brothers and sisters wherever you are, let's make this Ramadhan meaningful and may Allah SWT Grants us Jannah in return, amin.

That's all I can say at this time, real story coming up next ... after this messages hahahaha

--Dimas