Project Science Equipment

[dragoon500ly]

It's finally happened! a group of local players have finally decided to run a Science Team....I know, shocked the pants off of me as well! Anyhow here is some equipment that I've been working up to support the Science mission. As always flames, jeers and snarky comments are cheerfully welcomed!

Assay Kit: This is a set of three different sets of scales and weights that can be used to assess the weight of various minerals/metals. Comes complete with a padded fiberglass case. Weight: 15kg.

Calculators: These are a variety of commercially available personal and scientific devices. Weight: 0.1-0.3kg.

Cartography and Mapping Kit: This kit contains a GPS unit, inertial navigation and Loran instruments as well as a sextant, transit, measuring tape, a chronometer and astronomic charts, all necessary for the accurate determination of precise points. Weight: 50kg.

Compass/Caliper/Divider: A set of instruments that have two legs pivoted to each other at the top and are concerned with small-distance measurement or transfer. The compass and divider have straight legs, the caliper has curved legs. Each instrument can be used to draw circles, mark divisions (divide a given distance) or simply mark a distance. Made of stainless steel and marked in English and metric. Each has a 0.5mm lead on one leg and a plastic container with ten spare leads is include. Measures 11cm in length and packed in a small plastic case. Weight: 0.12kg.

[dragoon500ly]

Drafting Equipment: A set of rulers, straight edges, stencils drafting pencils, erasers as well as pads of plain paper and grid paper. Available in a kit for small projects weighing 2kg and a large kit for larger projects weighing 6kg.

Electronic Stethoscope: A sensitive contact mike attached to a digital amplifier, with headphones. It can detect human activity even behind massive walls or underground. Assume that it can hear sounds through 2.74m of loose stone or 0.3m of solid material. It is also used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal rolls to detect or defuse mechanical bombs. 0.18kg.

Expanded Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Independent Field Kit: This kit consists of two complete environment units and a smallish, fully automated “receptor.” Soil, water and other “solid” samples are fed into the receptor, and, within five minutes, an amazing amount of data can be obtained from the sample. When connected to a computer, it will report the presence in the samples of radioactivity and its intensity, any extraordinary chemical contamination and any unusual biological presences. It will also report the relative lethality of radiological or chemical contamination and assign a “best guess” of any biological contamination found.

In depth analysis of chemical or biological specimens by a lab will still be necessary to acquire precise information. This kit is not a magic box. It is an expanded version of the standard issue NBC kit that is keyed to look for particular traces and report on certain anomalies. Without a computer and its database, it will simply provide a readout of certain percentages of various chemical, radiological and biological measurements. Even with the computer, its “guesses” may well be wrong, and they are limited to checks for expected contamination caused by The War. It may indicate that a water sample is clean when in fact, it is contaminated with giardia. This is because it is not looking for this infestation since it is unlikely that this usually non-fatal bacteria would be used as a bio agent. Weight: 20kg.

Geologic Sampling Field Kit: To the casual observer, this kit looks like a glorified rock-hound’s set up. It contains the tools and other paraphernalia needed to acquire mineral samples from their native environment. In addition, it has the necessary instruments for charting slope, dip, strike and the like for geologic formations. This includes a Brunton compass, strike and dip measuring equipment, etc. With this equipment, and the Survey Kit mentioned below, and the proper training, the user will be able to construct a geologic map of the area. Weight: 7kg.

Meteorological Kit, Team: This kit contains a variety of instruments which can be used to determine air, land and water temperatures, determine wind speed and direction, humidity, air pressure, rainfall amounts, and so on. To be used effectively, this kit must be set up somewhere and monitored. Contents include 2 cubic meter helium tank; a helium tank regulator, hose and nozzle; barometer w/case; (12) folding reflectors; (12) red cosmoprene weather o; (6) balls of twine; (2) note pads; canvas hood w/polarized viewing lens; stopwatch; rain gauge; folding yardstick; anemometer; sling psychrometer/thermometer all contained in a hard plastic case. The gear cannot predict the weather, but information collected can be useful in formulating an “educated guess,” especially with the help of a computer. As with everything else, training also helps. The kit is most useful in collecting a database on which later predictions can be based. Weight: 30.kg.

[dragoon500ly]

Microscope: A popular device used by students and educators as well as scientists and medical personnel. It has optical magnification up to 2,000x using near-field scanning and can resolve objects and structures of just 20 nanometers in size. The microscope can connect wirelessly to any computer in order to display the images it captures. Weight: 3.2kg.

Microscope, Pocket: This is a small tube which can magnify images up to 100 times with attached lens covers which are hinged to flip open out of the way. The tube is made of plastic and the lenses are made with coated, hardened glass. The device allows the user to observe microorganisms in water, flaws in forgeries, etc. Weight: 0.08kg.

Morrow Industries Mark II Lightweight Rocket: A trailer borne, two-stage, disposable rocket designed to lift 250kg of payload into low-Earth-orbit. Weight: 1,750 kg; with launcher/trailer, weight: 2,750kg.

Morrow Industries Mark III Lightweight Rocket: A trailer borne; three-stage disposable rocket designed to lift 500kg of payload into low-Earth-orbit. Weight: 2,625kg; with launcher/trailer, weight 4,125kg.

Newtonian Reflector Telescope: Designed for astronomical viewing. It includes a powered mount that can be connected wirelessly to any computer to find stars automatically. The database that comes with the scope includes stellar/planet information. Stars can be viewed through the optical eyepiece, or piped backed wirelessly to the controlling comp. The sensor is light-sensitive and can easily burn out if used in daylight. However, it can resolve stars the eye cannot. Effective magnification on the scope ranges from 30x for wide field viewing up to 200x for close-up views. Weight: 12kg.

Portable Observatory Element, Herschel: The Herschel is a large, folding array telescope. The seven mirror elements are each 50cm across, arranged in a hexagonal shape when the observatory is set up. On its own, the element is a powerful telescope, able to easily resolve objects in low orbit, or peer into the depths of space. Its real power comes when it is linked to other telescopes, creating an optical long-baseline array. Such an array can give detailed views of orbital structures and space craft, image nearby planets, and scan stars for new worlds. Weight: 150kg.

[dragoon500ly]

Radiosonde: A battery-powered telemetry instrument carried into the atmosphere usually by a weather balloon that measures various atmospheric parameters and transmits them by radio to a ground receiver. Modern radiosondes measure or calculate the following variables: altitude, pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind (both wind speed and wind direction), cosmic ray readings at high altitude and geographical position (latitude/longitude). Although modern remote sensing by satellites, aircraft and ground sensors is an increasing source of atmospheric data, none of these systems can match the vertical resolution (30 m or less) and altitude coverage (30 km) of radiosonde observations, so they remain essential to modern meteorology.

A rubber or latex balloon filled with either helium or hydrogen lifts the device up through the atmosphere. The maximum altitude to which the balloon ascends is determined by the diameter and thickness of the balloon. Balloon sizes can range from 100 to 3,000 g. As the balloon ascends through the atmosphere, the pressure decreases, causing the balloon to expand. Eventually, the balloon will expand to the extent that its skin will break, terminating the ascent. An 800 g balloon will burst at about 21 km. After bursting, a small parachute on the radiosonde's support line may slow its descent to Earth, while some rely on the aerodynamic drag of the shredded remains of the balloon, and the very light weight of the package itself. A typical radiosonde flight lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

The modern radiosonde communicates via radio with a computer that stores all the variables in real time. The first radiosondes were observed from the ground with a theodolite, and gave only a wind estimation by the position. Modern radiosondes can use a variety of mechanisms for determining wind speed and direction, such as a radio direction finder or GPS. The weight of a radiosonde is typically 250gm.

Reference Library I: A collection equivalent to an encyclopedia. Also issued as a set of 5-20 books. Weight: 2kg (discs); 5-10kg (books).

Research Library II: A collection of computer disks giving a in-depth knowledge of a specific subject. Also issued as sets of 20-50 books. Weight: 2kg (disks); 15-25kg (books).

Slide Rule: A mechanical analog computer, which is used primarily for multiplication and division, and for functions such as exponents, roots, logarithms, and trigonometry. It is not typically designed for addition or subtraction, which is usually performed using other methods. Maximum accuracy for standard linear slide rules is about three decimal significant digits, while scientific notation is used to keep track of the order of magnitude of results.

Slide rules exist in a diverse range of styles and generally appear in a linear, circular or cylindrical form, with slide rule scales inscribed with standardized graduated markings. Slide rules manufactured for specialized fields such as aviation or finance typically feature additional scales that aid in specialized calculations particular to those fields.

The slide rule is closely related to nomograms used for application-specific computations. Though similar in name and appearance to a standard ruler, the slide rule is not meant to be used for measuring length or drawing straight lines.

At its simplest, each number to be multiplied is represented by a length on a pair of parallel rulers that can slide past each other. As the rulers each have a logarithmic scale, it is possible to align them to read the sum of the numbers' logarithms, and hence calculate the product of the two numbers. Weight: 0.05kg.

[dragoon500ly]

Satellite, Communications: A communication satellite is a solar-powered orbital receiver and re-transmitter of tight beam or broadcast communication in a stationary equatorial orbit. Each provides 20-percent coverage of a world, so five satellites evenly spaced in the same orbit will provide 100-percent coverage. Weight: 200kg.

Satellite Down-Link Receiver: A down-link navigation receiver is a portable unit used by ground parties to receive broadcasts from satellites. This is built-in to most Link phones as well, though some reprogramming may be necessary to get them to receive signals from a private satellite. Weight: 1kg.

Satellite Navigation: A solar-powered orbital broadcast transmitter. Five satellites are required to provide full coverage of a planetary surface. Each satellite continuously broadcasts its identification code and current position. A down-link receiver is able to establishes its own correct surface location to within 1.0 meters. Weight: 200kg.

Satellite Surveillance: A surveillance satellite is a solar-powered, low-orbit satellite. Each satellite will orbit an earth-sized planet roughly three times a day and scan the area directly below and 50 kilometers to either side. This satellite has an optical resolution of 0.2 centimeters on a clear day. Weight: 250kg.

Satellite, Weather: A solar-powered satellite intended to provide detailed meteorological information for the world below. Purpose-built for weather monitoring, it lacks the resolution required for surface mapping. On occasion, however, these satellites have been rigged for such duties, often through software tricks to use it as a make-shift optical interferometry telescope. It usually inhabits a low polar orbit passing over the entire globe in the course of many orbits. Weight: 220kg.

[dragoon500ly]

Soil Analysis Field Kit: This kit contains everything necessary to collect soil samples and prevent cross-contamination. There is a limited amount of analytic capability inherent to the kit, but in-depth results require the use of a lab. Included in the kit are soil-boring equipment, sample containers, a few chemicals for testing soil acidity and the like and sieves for separating soil materials. Weight: 5kg.

Soil Test Kit: A simple set of chemical tests that do not require a computer. Each tube in the kit tests for something different, including pH value of the soil, nitrogen levels, nutrient levels, moisture content, and a few other tests of chemical composition. The kit is designed to be used up to five times before needing to be replaced. Weight: 2kg.

Structural Integrity Measuring Kit: This kit contains a variety of sensors and tools that can be used to ‘scan’ a building and determine the extent of any damage sustained due to weather effects, blast damage, etc. Maximum range 10-40m. Weight: 50kg.

Survey Instrument Set: Used for more detailed and precise surveying than
the sketch set. A wooden case contains a GVS-5 laser rangefinder, three tripods with levels, a theodolite (8.2 kg including its own case), altimeter, manuals and reference binder, pocket drafting kit, a complete Survey Sketching Set, surveyor's slide rule, and hundreds of sheet of paper. Weight: 20 kg, 80 liters.

Survey Sketching Set: Equipment to perform basic survey sketching. A nylon bag contains a sketch board, waterproof covers, clear plastic covers, tripod, compass, alidade, hand level, pencils (wood and mechanical), erasers, triangles, rulers, thumbtacks, drafting tape, drafting equipment, lettering tool, solar-powered calculator, etc. The complete set is 5 kg.

[dragoon500ly]

Tree Boring and Bio Sampling Field Kit: The “Tree Butcher’s” rig is designed to acquire live samples and keep them fresh for a reasonable period of time. It is just about useless without lab back-up. Equipment included in this kit are tree samplers of assorted sizes, specimen jars for samples of wood, bugs, beetles, leaves, needles, bark, etc., and a digital camera to take pictures. Weight: 7kg.

Water Dye: A tube of liquid dye which can be used to highlight a patch of water (around a raft or in a lake near a crash site) with a bright, easily spotted color visible from the air. The primary drawback of this form of signaling is the short duration of the covered patch (no more than 15 minutes in still water and much less if the water is rough or there is some form of precipitation to break it up), and the fact that it cannot be used at night. Generally, water dye is only useful when the searchers are aware of the presence of the distressed party and need an exact location.

A tube provides a single dye patch of about 10 meters in diameter. Water dyes can also be used to trace underwater flows by placing them in an above ground source and then searching for dye streamers at possible exist points. Available in green, orange, yellow and red. Weight: 0.1kg per tube. Package Weight of 50: 5.3kg.

Weather Tracker: A portable, internal battery powered hand-held unit. Measures and displays wind speed, temperature, wind chill factor, relative humidity, heat index, dew point, wet bulb temperature, barometric pressure and altitude readings. The user can also view minimum, maximum and average readings and graph changing trends. Also displays current day, date and time. The unit stores all measurements automatically (up to 30-days) and can download this information into any Project computer system. Weight: 0.2kg.

[gamerguy]

Spectrometer. Used a lot by foundries to verify the exact contents of a pour of cast steel or iron it can be used for IDing a wide variety of elements and their percentages in a sample. It vaporizes a small (1gram(?)) sample of material and can analyze the contents based on spectral lines (compared to those of known elements). Very useful for many missions. The ones I have seen are about 1 cubic meter in size. Assume some Morrow Project handwavium and they could be say 10 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm and mass about 100 kg. Need lots of power so part of a science one or permanently attached to a fusion powered vehicle.

[dragoon500ly]

Noted and added to the master list. Thanks!!

[mmartin798]

Since you have both your Expanded Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Independent Field Kit and a Spectrometer, which have similar functionality only differing in sensitivity, speed or depth of database, you might as well add a GC-MS to the mix. We use them in the lab, after differing extraction methods, to test for volatile and semi-volatile compounds, PCBs, and PFAS. It's roughly the same size as an ICP-AES instrument (I think your spectrometer is OES, but they do similar things).

The GC-MS can detect down to ng/L or ng/Kg(1), depending on the matrix of what you are analyzing. Each sample will take somewhere between 20-40 minutes to process depending on the detection limit and level of interference compounds in the sample. If the interference it too great, you will have to rerun the sample after a cleanup procedure. Also if contamination is too high, you will saturate the sensor and have to rerun the sample after you dilute it and have run a cleaning/purge cycle on the instrument. This cycle takes about an hour to run. If the sample was particularly "nasty" (lots of interference compounds, extremely high levels, etc) there is a chance the column will be compromised and need to be replaced. It only takes about 15 minutes to swap out the column, but it takes about 8 hours to get the column to stabilize and be calibrated.

The spectrum is sent to a computer for analysis. The database is used to identify peak and give a breakdown of compounds. Integration of the peaks yields the amounts of the compounds. If two similar compounds are in high enough concentrations in the sample, it may not be possible to resolve the difference between them.

As I mentioned, it is about the same size as the spectrometer and the same sample prep/extraction station can be used for both.

1: Many modern GC-MS can do pg/L and pg/Kg, though reporting limits that small are rare. For instance, PFAS and PFOS, compounds for which it is now believed there may be no safe exposure to without some harm, now have an EPA maximum level of 4 ng/L in drinking water. Anything lower cannot be feasibly enforced with current technology for mass purification.

[gamerguy]

Way cool how we can add based on our areas of knowledge.

I wanted to run a game with my wife and her friends when they were in University. I was going to let them play "themselves" as project members. I would assume the characters would have the same knowledge so if they said they wanted to do X it would just work, no rolling for what sounded like a common action. if it seemed difficult or they had trouble describing what they wanted to do THEN I would have them roll. My wife was going through for her veterinarian degree and our circle of friends included biochemists, various engineers, my wife's previous degree was animal husbandry. To me a pretty ideal mix of people who could actually rebuild civilization, as opposed to other groups I was in where everyone but me seemed to either want to kill everyone or rule the world.