local heavy metal

[jay]

Working on a Lunar Pathfinder proposal, on comms and mission ops... the adapter ring that attaches the payload to the top of the rocket is an ESPA (ELV secondary payload adapter). Which we're going to use as the frame of our secondary payload, sticking engines in it. Of course, as in other things, as the secondary we would defer to the primary's needs...

In the US, ESPAs are made by one niche company, CSA Engineering. Which happens to be located here in Mountain View, near Costco... who knew? Some nondescript 2-story warehouse building, among dozens there near US 101.

Comments

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

ESPA (ELV secondary payload adapter)

So it's an acronym inside an acronym? And people think there's a lot of wacky computer acronyms!

Of course, as in other things, as the secondary we would defer to the primary's needs...

Heh :-)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was wondering about the acronym layers, too...

Coolness!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

LOL... yes. ELV = expendable launch vehicle, typically either a Delta or Atlas.

Drive-by question (instead of using email :-)

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Any comment on this story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/02/AR2006020202721_pf.html

?

Re: Drive-by question (instead of using email :-)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

He's a former ethics lawyer in the office of the White House General Counsel, under this administration. That, um, speaks volumes.

Re: Drive-by question (instead of using email :-)

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Ah!