Some thoughts on an orbital launcher.
Assumptions:

• All stages contribute the same DV (Bad assumption)
• 9500 M/Sec Delta V may not be enough for a really small vehicle.
  
• MR is achieved MR per stage including payload.
• We assume the MR is the same for each stage (again a bad assumption)
  

This table shows you the minimum ISP performance you need given an achieved MR and a number of stages. For Reference the Blue Ball with no payload and no legs had a MR of between 5 and 6. If my notes are correct the Falcon 1 first stage with no Payload and no 2nd stage has a MR of about 16.

MR is down the left side, number of stages is across the top.

	Minimum ISP
Stages	4	3	2	1
MR
2	349.3	465.7	698.6	1397.1
3	220.4	293.8	440.7	881.5
4	174.6	232.9	349.3	698.6
5	150.4	200.6	300.9	601.7
6	135.1	180.2	270.2	540.5
7	124.4	165.9	248.8	497.7
8	116.4	155.2	232.9	465.7
9	110.2	146.9	220.4	440.7
10	105.1	140.2	210.3	420.6
11	101.0	134.6	201.9	403.9
12	97.4	129.9	194.9	389.7
13	94.4	125.9	188.8	377.6
14	91.7	122.3	183.5	366.9
15	89.4	119.2	178.8	357.6
16	87.3	116.4	174.6	349.3
17	85.5	113.9	170.9	341.8
18	83.8	111.7	167.5	335.0
19	82.2	109.6	164.4	328.9
20	80.8	107.8	161.6	323.3
40	65.6	87.5	131.3	262.5

The second chart shows the vehicle gross lift off weight given a 1Kg payload and assuming that the empty stages weigh the same as the payload they are lifting.

		GLOW multiplier
	4	3	2	1
2	256	64	16	4
3	1,296	216	36	6
4	4,096	512	64	8
5	10,000	1,000	100	10
6	20,736	1,728	144	12
7	38,416	2,744	196	14
8	65,536	4,096	256	16
9	104,976	5,832	324	18
10	160,000	8,000	400	20
11	234,256	10,648	484	22
12	331,776	13,824	576	24
13	456,976	17,576	676	26
14	614,656	21,952	784	28
15	810,000	27,000	900	30
16	1,048,576	32,768	1,024	32
17	1,336,336	39,304	1,156	34
18	1,679,616	46,656	1,296	36
19	2,085,136	54,872	1,444	38
20	2,560,000	64,000	1,600	40
40	40,960,000	512,000	6,400	80

The two bold numbers are about where I think my notional vehicle will land on this chart. This was a 1Kg nanosat with 1Kg of support structure would have a gross liftoff mass of ~2200 lbs, and the engine performance is a relatively easy ISP of 232 (Easy in vacuume, a bit harder on the first stage) Total Vehicle empty wt would be between 500 and 600 lbs.

you can do some really gross things... like a monoprop 4 stage launcher... MR 6 Glow for 1Kg payload is 40000 lbs.

The Connected Kingdom

At Google we’ve always believed that the Internet is an engine of economic growth, but until now no one has ever quantified who, how, why, where and what was behind this growth. So we asked The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a well-respected adviser on business strategy, to conduct an analysis of the impact of the Internet on the UK economy.

And we were surprised by the results:

• In 2009, the Internet contributed £100 billion to the UK economy. That represents 7.2% of GDP.
• The UK is the number one country in the world for e-commerce and is a net exporter of e-commerce goods and services, exporting £2.80 for every £1 imported.
• The Internet economy is expected to grow by 10% per year.

The Connected Kingdom video

BCG researched the impact that being online has had on overall businesses sales, and the results were again startling. In recent years, businesses that embraced the Internet have seen four times the growth in sales than businesses that haven’t.

UK Tights small business success story

Understanding the importance of the Internet on the UK economy was useful, but BCG wanted to dig deeper and compare how the UK ranks against other countries. So they devised what they’ve called an “e-intensity index” which looks at three main factors: the ease of access to the Internet, the amount spent on the Internet, and the level of engagement people have with the Internet. Whilst the UK led on the amount of money spent online, the overall leader was Denmark, with the UK in 6th, and Germany, USA, and France in 9th, 11th and14th place, respectively.

To view a full version of the report, get involved in the debate and have your say in what the UK government should do to help grow the UK Internet economy, we encourage you to visit www.connectedkingdom.co.uk.

Posted by Richard Keelty, Product Marketing Manager, Google UK

Twitter

While we build our website and prepare to launch the Patch, you can follow my Chartiers Valley news and updates on Twitter by going to twitter.com/charvalleypatch. Any news tips and story ideas are greatly appreciated.

Google Boost: Now available in additional U.S. cities

[Cross-posted from the LatLong Blog]

We recently announced that our new search advertising program, Google Boost, is available to local businesses in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. Based on the great feedback and results from early participants, the beta is expanding to additional U.S. cities. Starting today, select local business owners can sign in to their Google Places account and try Boost if they’re located in San Jose, Seattle, Wichita, Charlottesville (VA), Atlanta, Chapel Hill, Orlando, Washington D.C., Boston, Cross Plains (TX) and Portland (ME). We’ve also made Boost available for all local businesses in Illinois.

A Boost ad for Houston-based Click Photography, and it’s corresponding blue map pin

For those of you who are not yet familiar with Boost, it’s a quick and easy way for local businesses to market themselves and connect with potential customers in their area. Based on the information you’ve already provided on the Place page for your business, we provide a suggested ad description, a web or Place page, your business categories and a monthly budget. Once you’ve confirmed these four simple elements, our system automatically creates an ad campaign. Your ad may start appearing almost immediately when people in your area search online for products and services related to your offering. And what’s more, you’ll only pay when a potential customer actually clicks on your ad. To be clear, the ranking of Boost ads in the “Ads” section of the Google.com and Google Maps search results pages are based on relevance and quality factors; and Boost ads do not impact the ranking of your free, organic business listings.

Over the next week, eligible businesses in the cities mentioned above will see an invitation to try Boost when they sign in to their Google Places account dashboard. Business owners located outside of these areas can fill out this form to be notified when Boost expands further to their regions.

Posted by Kiley McEvoy, Product Manager

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

I came into the PPI number short the Euro today. I exited my position with a profit. How can that be when the market popped (up) on the number? Doubling Down!

But let me qualify that- Doubling down as part of a trading plan.

I made the decision some time ago to trade through most numbers, unless I judge the number to be of such potential significance that being on the wrong side of it would be a career decision.

I was short at 1.3622. I had the opportunity to take a tick or so right before the number. I didn't. The number was bullish at first and there was a pop up to about 1.3635 which was just under my fav, the one and only fib number. The market ran out of buyers there and I managed to sell some to the last stragglers who were caught long, doubling down.  I covered my shorts at the other fib extension at 1.3609, for a nice profit.

I had a definite area where I knew I was wrong - above the upper fib extension, but I played on the fact that if there is volatility after a number then you get some wild two way swings and I can usually cover if my average price, after doubling down, is good enough.

This way, I am buying a one way bet on the number. If the number had been bearish then my position would have gone into profit and I had orders to scale out on the dive.

Caveat: This is not to be done as an impulse, but only as part of a calculated and thought out trading plan. I calculated exactly what I had to do before the number. I could have no surprises. I was prepared for all eventualities and executed my plan.

There are lots of numbers out every week. They can be disruptive to your trading if you let them. My attitude to stops has changed completely from the early days of trading. I started developing my stop tactics down on the floor and refined them ever since.

Using stop losses can empty your account. Not using stop losses will empty your account. Using them intelligently can greatly increase the bottom line at the end of the month.

Google Tags Feature Paints Rosy Picture for Art Gallery

New York City’s Spanierman Gallery encounters challenges typical of businesses that rely on foot traffic and long-term relationships with clients.

For more than half a century, Spanierman Gallery has dealt in some of the finest works of American art, including works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Winslow Homer and James A.M. Whistler. But because of the abundance of nearby galleries, connecting with a small, discriminating clientele requires continual effort. A strong online presence that helps drive foot traffic to the gallery is essential in today’s art market.

Challenge

Spanierman embraced the Internet early, launching a website in the mid-1990s. For several years, this helped give the gallery an edge, enabling potential clients to easily find it when they searched for artists who had works on display there. That changed as more competitors ventured online.

“As more people embrace the web, we’ve had to step up our game,” says Marketing Director David Spanierman.

For a business that relies on patrons with discretionary income, the sluggish economy has only heightened the need for more visibility. Spanierman knew he needed to do more.

Action

After using Google Places to manage his free business listing on Google.com and Google Maps for two years, Spanierman decided to try Google Tags in July 2010. Adding a distinct yellow marker to his business listing, which calls attention to his gallery amongst a list of similar businesses, made immediate sense. He uses the photo tag to emphasize to potential customers that they can view artwork from the current exhibitions.

Spanierman Gallery’s business listings with a photo tag on Google Maps

“Our goal has always been to help users find what they want,” he says. “The Google Tag helps get our information out to potential customers.”

Results

Since the gallery began using Google Tags, interactions with its business listing have increased nearly 10 percent.

“When you compare the $25 per month for a tag with the amount of money you could spend on other forms of marketing, I think it’s very reasonable,” Spanierman says. “Having that additional avenue enhances the chances that Internet searchers will come and visit you.”

Spanierman sees Google Tags as a wise addition to his marketing mix not only because of its affordability, but also because it enables him to quickly and easily edit his tag to match the gallery’s changing exhibitions.

“When it comes to performance, price and flexibility, Google Tags is the winner,” he says.

Make your listing stand out with Google Tags, try it out now www.google.com/help/tags.

Posted by Bernadette Cay, Associate Product Marketing Manager

Manic Monday?

Not very manic at all but Friday's S and P action deserves special attention.

I started with the Gap trade, buying the 1202s against the buying tail of 11/11. The key was having seen the Profile split, giving a VAL of the split at around 1209. This became my first major target rather than the actual close. I scaled out all the way there.

Next, I saw the trend change on the range bar chart and anticipated the range extension down, so was able to get short at around 1204.50 on one of my favourite pictures. After that it was easy. The market range extended down and I started scaling out just above the Keltner low. Meanwhile, the Euro was breaking down too. As a mere male, it was hard for me to watch both, although I did, but cut the Euro trade too early.

Then we have today's DAX (German stock index on Eurex). This is a big contract (25 Euro/point) and it takes no prisoners. It is known for making people a small fortune (out of a large one). Once tamed, it's a great beast to trade but most of us have paid for our lessons dearly, so caveat emptor and sellers too.


Anyway, the trade in the pic is a good example of positioning yourself for the move. Whether you call it the Gap trade or anything else, you had to be long already to make money out of the move. I was positioned at about 6707 and waited for the sweep which came a few minutes later. I had exit orders waiting, beginning at 6718 and going up to 28. The pop came and it was over in a blink. That's the DAX.