ITAR and Secrecy Options

[Jim from NSF.com]

I've noticed that the rocket-cam videos also have short bits edited out, like when boosters separate.

But is this ITAR mandaged action, or just Boeing or Lockheed protecting a trade secret?

Combination of the shock event messing with the cameras and the jettisoned booster interfering with the signal

[Guest_DonPMitchell_*]

Combination of the shock event messing with the cameras and the jettisoned booster interfering with the signal

Ah, that's what NASA would like us to think. It's really when the secret Nazi anti-gravity unit deploys.

[Guest_Analyst_*]

I saw this docu too. Very strange. Has it been Boeing or ITAR or both or the Russians? Whatever, it reminded me of pictures from the former Soviet Union. You learn nothing by seeing these four trust chambers and their fairing. Nothing. Strange.

Analyst

[Guest_DonPMitchell_*]

I saw this docu too. Very strange. Has it been Boeing or ITAR or both or the Russians? Whatever, it reminded me of pictures from the former Soviet Union. You learn nothing by seeing these four trust chambers and their fairing. Nothing. Strange.

Anaylst

I wouldn't assume that nothing can be learned from seeing the nozzle shape or some other mechanisms at the base of the rocket. Anyway, its their rocket technology. They can show us what they want, or not.

[The Messenger]

I've noticed that the rocket-cam videos also have short bits edited out, like when boosters separate.

But is this ITAR mandaged action, or just Boeing or Lockheed protecting a trade secret?

Two things: Yes, you could learn a lot about the internal operation of the rocket and guidance mechanism from a high resolution, high color definition of the nozzles, especially as they are ignited.

I don't know if the above edits are ITAR related, but I have seen ITAR restricting the sharing of much more benign information. For many working under ITAR guidelines, EVERY public presentation-any meeting that does not ban foreign nations-the paper review process is time consuming and subject limiting. It is these levels of implimentation of ITAR that impede progress: I cannot discuss ideas I think are important to unmanned space programs with members of the Enceladus steering committee.

[Jim from NSF.com]

I don't know if the above edits are ITAR related,

They aren't edits

[helvick]

They aren't edits

Jim - the master of the mysterious hook line strikes again. Do you spend hours editing down this posts to the absolute minimum number of words that are guaranteed to intrigue and frustrate the rest of us in equal measure or are you just naturally cryptic? I'm not complaining mind you but a comment like that just left hanging is pure torment to information junkies like me.

Clearly you have better info on this than the rest of us mere amateurs - do tell, in some more detail if you can without breaking any NDA's or national secrecy laws.

[Guest_Analyst_*]

I always thougt the rocketcam "edits" are simply data dropouts (no ground station, antenna facing into the wrong direction etc.). I still think they are.

Analyst

[djellison]

I would have thought that as well - you can get quite a lot of crap getting thrown around during a GEM or SRB jett - which might get in the way of the signal. I'd have thought if there were a moment during the launch of a rocketcam that were ITAR sensitive they wouldn't show the whole thing live or wouldnt install them at all.

Doug

[Jim from NSF.com]

Jim - the master of the mysterious hook line strikes again. Do you spend hours editing down this posts to the absolute minimum number of words that are guaranteed to intrigue and frustrate the rest of us in equal measure or are you just naturally cryptic? I'm not complaining mind you but a comment like that just left hanging is pure torment to information junkies like me.

Clearly you have better info on this than the rest of us mere amateurs - do tell, in some more detail if you can without breaking any NDA's or national secrecy laws.

I explained it in an earlier post

Combination of the shock event messing with the cameras and the jettisoned booster interfering with the signal

I see it live and the dropouts are there

[tuvas]

For those of you who don't know, I actually have worked with the Student Satellite Program at my University. It was before the days of my time at HiRISE, and for several months they co-existed. We build two satellites that were attempted to be launched, but failed, they were cubesats, see the private missions form if your interested. Anyways, the point being, during this time of building student satellites, we had a nightmare due to ITAR concerns. It seemed almost impossible to get everything settled correctly... Several of the students interested in working with us were foreign citizens. Fear the possibility of using comertial off-the-shelf non-radiation hardened components in a 1 kg satellite without propulsion to blow up the U.S. from a Japenese student...