(Via Vincent Founier & Ariane stock photography)

This is not a UFO, but it is part of a space bound vehicle. It is a fuel storage system for the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher rocket, aka- Automated Transfer Vehicle, a resupply spacecraft for the International Space Station. The "cryogenic stage" pod contains 132.27 metric tons of liquid oxygen and 25.84 metric tons of liquid hydrogen. After the fuel is spent, the pod is designed to re-enter the atmosphere for an oceanic splashdown.

(Via Arianespace)

The Ariane 5 rocket can carry 20 tonnes of equipment into low earth orbit. Additionally, it can boost 10 tonnes into geostationary orbit (36,000 km).

The next Ariane 5 launch (the 5th of 2011) will take 2 satellites into orbit. One is the Arab Satellite Communication Organization's "Arabsat 5C" communication satellite (weighing in at 4.6 tonnes). The second is the North America servicing SES-2 communication satellite delivering "advanced digital media" to the USA and Caribbean. The U.S. Airforce is also tacking on an experimental wide-field-of-view infrared missile tracking system on the SES-2. (Watch the latest fall season TV or shoot down missiles? I am in for both.)

Eavesdropper

Serious threat of space debris on the space station
In the past three years the International Space Station (ISS) had to change its orbit five time to avoid orbiting "junk" from ripping right through the station vital and fragile shell. In fact on June 28th astronauts took shelter in a heavily fortified section of the space station as a object was detected only fourteen hours before an expected impact. Although it passed one thousand feet from the outside of the station, the countless objects remain a continuous threat.

Russia has blown up many off their satellites which happen to fall within the ISS orbit band, placing thousands of objects in direct line for impact. In 2007 China demonstrated their capabilities to destroy satellites with the take down of one of their own. Thousands of additional objects have been added to the frey. In 2009 an American and a Russian satellite collided producing thousands more for the orbiting path. In other words, the ISS is under constant danger.

With an estimated 1 in 8 chance of an impact, the ISS may end up becoming a short lived destination for space travelers. There are some thin kevlar based protective shields placed over critical components, they will not be able to protect against larger objects. Perhaps collecting space garbage is imperative.

Http://www.element14.com/community/message/19899#19899

Though it may all come too late. The ISS is scheduled to be abandoned in 2020.

Eavesdropper

At the IEEE Symposium in Chicago this week, Nasa physicist John J. Chapman suggested that boron could be used as an "aneutronic" fuel, a fusion power source where neutrons carry no more than 1% of the total released energy (Wiki). What he implied was a new type of fusion thruster.

Using an off the shelf laser directed on to a thick metal foil, the energy is used to accelerate protons. The then rush of electrons leaved behind an overly positive charge. Which creates an imbalance with the protons left behind, resulting in a micro explosion. The explosion will send protons from the metal sheet to a second sheet made up of thin sliced Boron-11.

When the protons interact with the Boron-11, carbon nuclei are formed, but then decays to Helium-4 & beryllium nucleuses. All this would then decay to a pair of alpha particles, which is two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus (alpha particles are incredibly dangerous to living cells). Each reaction creates 3 alpha particle, and according to Chapman the process is "very efficient." Electromagnetic force would then channel the alpha particles and all matter they touch through a nozzle. Chapman believe that this fusion thruster would be more efficient that current ion propulsion, but does not see his idea emerging for at least another 10 years.

Where would be we if we all did not speculate from time to time?

Eavesdropper