2009
SEND
YOUR DRAWING INTO SPACE!
December 22, 2009 - RAMNICU - VALCEA
If you are agend 3-10, send us a scaned copy of your drawing or painting
on the topic “The Space Flight,” and we will send it into
space. All drawings and paintings will be copied on a Blu-Ray disc which
will be placed onboard of ELL avionics capsule to be sent into space
on Mission 4 spaceflight.
Send your drawing to painting@arcaspace.com. Don't forget to sign your
painting and to specify your country of origin.
The paintings will be featured daily on this webpage as we receive them.
December
16, 2009 - BUCHAREST
The Cariere Magazine published an article about Dumitru Popescu.
December
15, 2009 - RAMNICU-VALCEA
ARCA organized at "George Tarnea" primary school from Babeni,
a painting workshop on "First romanian rocket in space", addressed
to the students of I-IV classes. Pictures from the workshop here.
You
can see the student's drawings here.
December
10, 2009 - RAMNICU-VALCEA
ARCA will organize on December 12, at George Tarnea primary school,
a painting workshop on "First romanian rocket in space", addressed to
the students of I-IV classes.
December
04, 2009 - BUCHAREST
"SPACE TOURISTS" is the new film of Christian Frei (OSCAR nominee),
with Dumitru Popescu and Anouseh Ansari. The World Premiere was at the
Zurich Film Festival, in October 2, 2009.
December
01, 2009 - RAMNICU-VALCEA
Mission 3 video images from Realitatea TV
November
30, 2009 - RAMNICU-VALCEA
After ARCA’s launch attempt of Helen rocket, we received several
questions. We listed a short FAQ and their answers here.
November
18, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The Helen rocket will be launched in the spring of 2010.
November
17, 2009 - CONSTANTA
On November 14th 2009, ARCA team attempted to launch the Helen space
rocket from the Black Sea. Pictures
here.
- 06:40 Venus ship met the NSSL 281 Constanta command ship at the launch
point
- 07:10 two Bombard boats were lowered from Venus ship, down to the
sea surface
- 07:15 the balloon water sphere was lowered from the stern of the NSSL
281 Constanta ship and was taken by the Bombard2 boat
- 07:20 the fast boat RHIB Fulgerul2 joined the ships group
- 07:45 the solar balloon was released to the sea surface from NSSL
281 Constanta
- 08:25 the Helen rocket stages, together with ELL capsule were lowered
on the sea surface and taken by Fulgerul2 and Bombard1
- 09:30 the rocket stages fueling and pressurization started
- 10:40 the balloon inflating operation was started through the first
inflation arm.
- 11:10 the first problem was identified above the water sphere attachment
point. Arms two, three and four wrapped themselves around the balloon.
- 11:30 the first arm was uncoupled from the Venus ship fans.
- 11:50 Arm two coupling to Venus ship fan was attempted. Coupling succeeded
but it still was wrapped around the balloon. The arm was uncoupled and
its release was attempted by Bombard 2 craft.
- 12:50 the release was unsuccessful and the decision was taken to seal
and cut the arm.
- 13:40 Arm three was also unusable being wrapped around the balloon
and the decision was taken to seal and cut the arm.
- 14:30 Arm four was released from the balloon
- 14:40 the balloon inflation from Venus craft was resumed
- 15:15 the rocket self-destruct system was manually uncoupled by Bombard2.
It was reset and then recouped.
- 15:30 the sun was near the horizon, and balloon heating was no longer
possible
- 15:40 Dumitru Popescu took the decision to cancel the mission
- 15:50 ARCA, Bombard 1 and Bombard2 teams were transferred to NSSL
281 Constanta ship for gear exchange
- 16:30 ARCA teams were lowered again to Bombard 1 and Bombard 2 boats
in order to deactivate the rocket stages and to recover the solar balloon
- 19:00 Bombard 1 and 2 were loaded on to Venus ship
- 19:30 Venus left the group and headed toward Constanta harbor
- 23:00 the solar balloon was loaded on to the stern of NSSL 281 Constanta
- 01:30 the rocket stages were loaded on to the stern of NSSL 281 Constanta
- 05.00 NSSL 281 Constanta ship reached Constanta harbor
November
14, 2009 - CONSTANTA
ARCA has postponed the launch of Helen rocket.
The cause was determined by very powerful water currents which twisted
the balloon, stopping the inflating process. ARCA team with the help
of military divers restored the balloon in correct position and the
inflating operation was resumed.
This action has had a length over time, in which it was lost the solar
radiation intensity required for heating the air inside.
We will keep you updated with more news.
November
14, 2009 - CONSTANTA
ARCA's Helen rocket launch rescheduled. We will update you here with
any news in the following hours.
November
14, 2009 - BLACK SEA
Helen launches today.
November
13, 2009 - CONSTANTA
Helen rocket launch is rescheduled for Saturday, November 14 because
of wind speed degree.
November
12, 2009 - CONSTANTA
ARCA ready to launch Helen rocket, first romanian space vehicle
Friday, November 12th , ARCA will launch Helen rocket, first Romanian
space vehicle. The launch will take place on the Black Sea shore, with
the Navy’s support. The test flight will begin around 10 a.m. Launch
procedures will last around three hours. The Helen Rocket will be launched
from the world largest solar balloon and will use an innovative stabilization
system. The mission is a highly level degree complexity and it will
be transmitted live by Realitatea TV via webcast.
November
8, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The Helen rocket launch is rescheduled for November 13-14, 2009, because
of unfavorable meteorological conditions. In this period of the year,
over the Black Sea, the weather is extremely dynamic and the meteorological
predictions are not able to offer sufficient long term precision, as
for a stable period of the year.
November
6, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The Helen rocket launch is scheduled for November 10, 2009 from the
Black Sea.
October
31, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The Helen rocket stages and the solar balloon were loaded on board of
NSSL 281 Constanta. It is for the first time when ARCA is presenting
the launch system. More pictures here.
October
29, 2009 - CONSTANTA
Tomorrow at 11.00 AM, the Helen rocket will be placed on board of NSSL
281 Constanta.
Thirty journalists will participate at the event.
October
28, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The Helen rocket launch is delayed because of weather condition on the
Black Sea. No launch attempt between October 29 - November 1st.
October
26, 2009 - BUCHAREST
BRD - Groupe Société Générale is supporting
ARCA in the Google Lunar X Prize Competition.
October
23, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The first launch attempt of Helen vehicle will take place starting with
October 29 from the Black Sea, depending on weather. The requested conditions:
cloud coverage max. 20% and sea level wind speed max. 5 m/s.
October
23, 2009 - CONSTANTA
Dumitru Popescu presented Mission 3 program on board of F221 Navy Frigate.
October
22, 2009 - BUCHAREST
ARCA was featured on WKS (World Kids Stories) E-Book no 3.
We wish to thanks to Mr. Calin Rudeanu, the educative project coordinator,
teacher at Veniamin Costachi College from Neamt.
October
18, 2009 - BUCHAREST
Dumitru Popescu presented ARCA's projects at TED x Bucharest. From:
realitatea.net
October
17, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The Mission 3 equipment was unloaded to the Constanta Naval Base.
October
16, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The ARCA Team and Romanian Navy discussed the detailed procedures for
the Helen launch.
October
14, 2009 - CONSTANTA
The ARCA team and the journalists have met in Ramnicu Valcea and
Bucuresti. Tonight the team will arrive in Constanta.
October
13, 2009 - RAMNICU - VALCEA
ARCA team is on it's way to the Constanta Harbour
October
01, 2009 - CONSTANTA
ARCA team visited the Constanta, Venus and Fulgerul ships prior to equipments
arrival on board. These ships will be used for the launch of Mission
3.
September
28, 2009 - CRAIOVA
Dumitru Popescu presented Mission 3 flight during the Aviation Testing
Capabilities Conference, at Flight Research Center in Craiova. More
pictures here.
September
23, 2009 - CONSTANTA
Romanian Navy's 283 logistical ship will participate to the launch and
recovery of Helen rocket from the Black Sea
September
14, 2009 - RAMNICU-VALCEA
A group of young modelers visited ARCA to see the Helen's carrier balloon
during the final phase of construction.
September
9, 2009 - BUCURESTI
ARCA press conference about Mission 3 launch at the Residence Hotel
in Bucharest.
The Ressidence Hotel is supporting ARCA Team and Mission 3 flight.
Helen
will be using a gravitational stability method in vertical flight without
aerodynamic surfaces or jet commands, by towing the component stages
and payload. The towing can be made by cable, or rigid-articulated system.
In order to have a stabilized rocket in vertical flight, in gravitational
field, this method is using a towed mass in the same direction with
the thrust. This mass consists in the next rocket stages and payload.
The stability effect depends of several elements: the mass of the stabilized
body, the mass of the towed mass and the length between the centers
of gravity of the stabilized body and the stabilizer body.
This method can be applied in the extra atmospheric space on vertical
ascendant or descendent trajectory under the influence of gravitational
field.
The name of this method will be Popescu-Diaconu, after the name of the
individuals that designed it. This method will be used for the first
time on the Mission 3 flight of the Helen vehicle for the Google Lunar
X Prize.
September
8, 2009 - BUCHAREST
More details about the Helen launch on ARCA's press conference at Residence
Hotel, 33 Alexandru Constantinescu Street, 1st District, Bucharest,
Romania on 09.09.09 at 10:00 am.
September
4, 2009 - BUCHAREST
ARCA, ROMATSA
(Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration) and ROAF
(Romanian Air Force) representatives have met to discuss the Mission
3 launch details.
September
3, 2009 - BUCHAREST
The Industrial Mecano Company is supporting ARCA and Mission 3 with
materials for the solar ballon construction.
August
21, 2009 - FRANCE
The
Proximeety Company is supporting ARCA's Mission 3.
PROXIMEETY is an internet dating network, devoted to serious and
general public introductions with a view to finding love, but also
simply to chat amongst friends. These services are available in many
countries :
- France : http://www.proximeety.com
- UK : http://www.proximeety.co.uk
- Greece : http://www.proximeety.gr
- Spain : http://www.proximeety.es
- Romania : http://www.proximeety.ro
For
more details you can visit the website :www.proximeety.com
August
18, 2009 - BUCHAREST
MB Dragan, publicity and PR company is supporting ARCA and Mission3.
August
12, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
The Niros Company is supporting ARCA's Mission 3 with pneumatic equipment.
August
05, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
There has been a meeting between Romanian SF writer Ion Hobana and ARCA
representatives. They discussed about ARCA’s activity and the
upcoming Mission 3 Flight. Mr. Hobana appreciated the team’s achievements
and opportunities were indentified for a future colaboration.
August
04, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
The Electromaster Company is supporting ARCA's Mission 3 with electronic
equipment for control and command.
July
31, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
Selcom satellite telecommunication company is supporting ARCA's Mission
3 flight.
July
30, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
ARCA is featured on MSNBC article about Google Lunar X Prize:
July
20, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
First Moon landing 40th anniversary.
Apollo
11 crew: Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, Michael Collins.
July
20, 2009 - RAMNICU VALCEA
The new Helen vehicle will fly on Mission3. The vehicle has three stages:
Demonstrator2,2B and 2C. Demonstrator2
and 2B were created between 2003-2004
during the Ansari X Prize Competition. Demonstrator2C is a new rocket
created in 2009. The ELL avionics payload will
be transported on this flight by the Helen vehicle, while the Stabilo
vehicle will be used for future manned flights. Helen will be transported
at 14000m with a solar balloon. At this
altitude the first stage will start and after 3 minutes the third stage,
and the payload will reach space. Beside the ELL avionics test, the
Helen vehicle will test an innovative flight stability system for the
Moon landing sequence of the ELL module. The ELL avionics module will
be recovered with parachutes. The Mission3 will take place in late August,
early September.
July 1, 2009
- Bucharest
Dumitru Popescu, ARCA Team Leader will speak at TED Bucharest conference
on October 16, 2009.
June
18, 2009 - SPACE.COM
News article posted on web site Space.com about ARCA
March
22, 2009 – RM. VALCEA
STABILO engine tests. Video and pictures below.
... 
... 
... 
March
6, 2009 - RM. VALCEA
The propulsion tests for STABILO and ELE's lunar injection stage are
underway. Hybrid and monopropellant engines are tested.
February
6, 2009 – BUCHAREST
Romanian inventor Justin Capra is Honorific President of ARCA.
He
is an important Romanian inventor in the field of aviation, rocket propulsion
and automobiles.
More
News from 2010 2008 2007
2006 2005
2004 2003
2002 |
