piisfish 140 #1 December 2, 2011 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9573163.stm and not only is he building a space shuttle, he also plans to build a wind tunnel to simulate 0G to train the 1st Ugandan astronautQuoteI've got a jet engine on order so I'm planning to build a tunnel, put the engine at one end and when I throw a guy in, he'll float QuoteUgandan man wants to build space shuttle from scratch Here's another entry for the DIY African aircraft files. In Kampala, Uganda, Chris Nsamba — freelance aeronautics engineer and founder of the African Space Research Program — is building an airplane in his backyard. Once he's done with this project, Nsamba will move on to constructing a homemade space shuttle. In an interview with the BBC, Nsamba was optimistic that he'd be able to complete the shuttle in four to six years. Notes the Beeb: Uganda is not known to be a big player in space exploration. In fact, Chris will need to certify the would-be cosmonauts himself as there's no-one else in the country able or qualified to do so. He's even having to do the training himself. His course draws heavily on his background as a student of astronomy - he's been teaching them how to calculate the distance between planets for example, telling them what the Karman line is, and educating them about the dangers of re-entry. A lack of local facilities is hampering the project and I asked Chris how he plans to simulate zero gravity, for example, in Kampala. "Easy" he said. "I've got a jet engine on order so I'm planning to build a tunnel, put the engine at one end and when I throw a guy in he'll float in a similar way to how he would in space." scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #2 December 2, 2011 OTHER cool african stuff scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #3 December 2, 2011 The test. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-_dsNTZch0 Yes it's the rear wheels thats the problem, not that people could walk along side it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #4 December 2, 2011 Props for trying, but dude! If the welding can't even keep the wheel struts together, I wouldn't want to be the first person testing how the wings are attached! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #5 December 2, 2011 Thats why he is oging to study landing-gears now. When he figured out how to make that part work he finds his next weak link. In a few years he will either be dead or he has studied every part of a real airplane Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
