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Thread: What's NASA Up To And Other Space Stuff

  1. #601
    I really think we have a lot to learn about the true nature of the universe. Just the things the JWST has been observing strongly suggest there's something we totally don't get. I love it.

    First private company landed on the moon yesterday (or was it this morning?). Also the first US landing since 1972 when Apollo last went... cool beans, hope the pics are good.

    I have really liked For All Mankind, the alternate history story starting with the Soviets getting to the Moon first. The premise is if the Soviets hadn't given up on the space race, the cold war competition would have kept space tech developing at that 1960s pace and by the early 00s we would have had a Mars base. Okay, that's fun. They do a pretty nice job with the science, great characters and stories. Everyone should watch it.

    Looking forward to the 3rd attempt to get Starship into orbit. Big. Ass. Rocket. I love that too. If they get it working as a fully reusable launch vehicle capable of lofting 200 tons to orbit, it will change everything.

    I finally read Rendezvous with Rama. Pretty good book, a little dated socially and some science was off. Decided not, for the time being, to read the sequels -- I noticed Clarke took on a writing partner for those and I usually don't like books with two (or more) authors. The reader ratings weren't great either. If anyone knows differently, advise me.

    I have very low optimism for the future of our species. I think we are literally incapable of saving ourselves/ creating a civilization that can sustain itself very much longer. I go back and forth whether I'd like to be alive for the swift decline or not.

    We may not even be here.
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  2. #602
    For a series with two writers that has done exceptionally well, see The Expanse
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  3. #603
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    For a series with two writers that has done exceptionally well, see The Expanse
    Caught it all on audio book. Loved it. And fair enough. Most things have exceptions.
    The Rules
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  4. #604
    Quote Originally Posted by EyeKhan View Post
    Caught it all on audio book. Loved it. And fair enough. Most things have exceptions.
    The show is probably one of the best adaptations I've ever seen, and it gets better for every season
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  5. #605
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    The show is probably one of the best adaptations I've ever seen, and it gets better for every season
    Totally agree - watched the show before I listened to the books. Excellent television.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
    Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

  6. #606
    The Starship/ Super Heavy Launch #3 was very flipping cool. Cameras showed the hot stage separation, the booster's descent, the Starship glowing with plasma in the upper atmosphere. Really awesome.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
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  7. #607
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  8. #608
    I don't think I was aware that the issue could basically have a software fix. I assumed any number of physical breakdowns could have occurred. Amazing.

  9. #609
    Voyager: God, what is it gonna TAKE to dodge these micromanagers?!?!
    Last night as I lay in bed, looking up at the stars, I thought, “Where the hell is my ceiling?"

  10. #610
    Potential signs of life detected in the atmosphere of K2-18b by James Webb.

    https://www.ndtv.com/science/most-pr...s-webb-5537035

    The presence of DMS in K2-18b's atmosphere would be a significant discovery, although Dr Nikku Madhusudhan, the study's lead astrophysicist from Cambridge, cautions against jumping to conclusions. While preliminary data from JWST suggests a high probability (over 50%) of DMS presence, further analysis is needed. The telescope will dedicate eight hours of observation this Friday, followed by months of data processing before a definitive answer can be reached.
    New dreams of gold mixed with chaos of old
    Should at last be as one in my hands
    Alliance abounds but how heavy the crown
    That unites the devote of these lands

  11. #611
    Anyone catch the Starship/ SuperHeavy launch #4. Pretty amazing stuff - the video is fantastic. They managed to bring the booster down for a controlled landing in the Gulf and it appears they got Starship down the same in the Indian ocean. Though it wasn't in great shape - re-entry video showed pieces melting off one of the forward flaps - very very cool though.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
    Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

  12. #612
    Quote Originally Posted by EyeKhan View Post
    Anyone catch the Starship/ SuperHeavy launch #4. Pretty amazing stuff - the video is fantastic. They managed to bring the booster down for a controlled landing in the Gulf and it appears they got Starship down the same in the Indian ocean. Though it wasn't in great shape - re-entry video showed pieces melting off one of the forward flaps - very very cool though.
    They're going to return the Super Heavy booster to the launch pad in tomorrow's launch and try to catch it. Whatever happens, its going to be spectacular.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
    Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

  13. #613
    Quote Originally Posted by EyeKhan View Post
    Whatever happens, its going to be spectacular.
    It was.
    New dreams of gold mixed with chaos of old
    Should at last be as one in my hands
    Alliance abounds but how heavy the crown
    That unites the devote of these lands

  14. #614
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    It was.
    Mouth hanging open incredible.
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  15. #615
    It looked very cool, I'm left questioning whether it's truly worth it from a cost-benefit perspective though.
    Last night as I lay in bed, looking up at the stars, I thought, “Where the hell is my ceiling?"

  16. #616
    Quote Originally Posted by LittleFuzzy View Post
    It looked very cool, I'm left questioning whether it's truly worth it from a cost-benefit perspective though.
    I'm unsure what you mean. The goal of the Starship program is to have a rapidly reusable super heavy lift rocket booster and upper stage that will reduce cost to orbit by something like 90%. That's a hell of an achievement. The volume and mass that thing will be capable of taking to orbit, coupled with the cost reduction, will be revolutionary.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
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    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

  17. #617
    They've already abandoned a reusable second stage. And that's the publicly stated goal they want to achieve, but that's not the same as what the reality might be. 10 years on the Falcon 9-R is still well off from recouping the extra cost of developing the R functionality for it, much less making inroads on operational expenses, last analysis I read.
    Last night as I lay in bed, looking up at the stars, I thought, “Where the hell is my ceiling?"

  18. #618
    Quote Originally Posted by LittleFuzzy View Post
    They've already abandoned a reusable second stage. And that's the publicly stated goal they want to achieve, but that's not the same as what the reality might be. 10 years on the Falcon 9-R is still well off from recouping the extra cost of developing the R functionality for it, much less making inroads on operational expenses, last analysis I read.
    I don't think they are abandoning the reusability of Starship (the second stage vehicle). Where did you read that? They literally started with figuring out how to land it - and it has aerodynamic fins and a heat shield for landing. They literally brought it down in a precise location in the Indian ocean for a vertical, controlled landing. I think they plan to catch it like the booster. Likely they'll put Starship in orbit, catch the booster, then bring it down after they move the booster from the launch tower. Or maybe when they complete the second tower in Texas they'll catch both. Who knows.

    But if they never achieve the goal of rapid reusability, then darn it they tried. I can't understand how that's an argument not to try it.

    Regarding Falcon 9, I don't know a lot about the dev costs vs the money they save reusing the boosters, but I do know Space X has captured something like 70% of the global launch market and they are the cheapest and most reliable ride to orbit in existence and probably in history. There is literally nothing that can compete with them. And they launch more vehicles per year than the rest of the world combined and by a wide margin. Something's gone right with the Falcon program.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
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  19. #619
    Given that Musk has bought himself some big influence in the Federal Government, I'm currently expecting the SLS to be cancelled and SpaceX to subsequently win the contract to bring NASA astronauts to the Moon. As with everything Musk/SpaceX, I'm conflicted - unsure that outcome would necessarily be bad. The SLS is a money pit and its tech is rapidly falling behind... But I love NASA!

    In other news, I'm looking forward to the New Glenn test flight - expected to be fully reusable out the gate. I hope Bezos turned his back on the Democrats early enough to satisfy Trump, or Amazon, and Blue Origin, might see some retaliation. There needs to be a viable competitor for SpaceX, I think. RocketLab is out there too, I think the are gearing up for a heavier lift, fully reusable rocket too. However, neither company, and nothing in the world outside of China, is even remotely trying to develop the capability planned for Starship/Super Heavy...
    The Rules
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  20. #620
    Challenger blew up 39 years ago today. I saw a blurb about it including a snippet of Reagan's speech. I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news - it was a national tragedy, a black eye for NASA.... Reagan's policies sent us directly here, to Trump world where we're losing democracy and the national institutions that make this a great nation. But damn he gave a great speech.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
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    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

  21. #621
    BTW - in case you missed it New Glenn, stupid name IMO, made it to orbit but failed the landing. Nothing unexpected there. In other news, the Starship test flight 7 was to be the first flight of Starship block 2 and it blew up shortly after stage separation. A bit of a setback, it had lots of test heat resistant tiles for reentry and was to test the starlink deployment "pez dispensor." I think they planned flight 8 to try and catch the Starship upper stage, so, that's delayed too. But they did catch the booster again, and it was reusing one the engines from the first booster catch. What an amazing sight to see.
    The Rules
    Copper- behave toward others to elicit treatment you would like (the manipulative rule)
    Gold- treat others how you would like them to treat you (the self regard rule)
    Platinum - treat others the way they would like to be treated (the PC rule)

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