Space and Science BS Thread

Isn't that amazing - the lack of interest?

Every time a rocket lifts off, a monumental amount of engineering has happened. It's anything but routine.

 

I think it should happen at the same time. A permanent habitat on the moon will help help with a permanent Mars habitat. The first mission to Mars will not be the one that builds the habitat.

 

And the fact SpaceX is landing the booster for reuse.... Absolutely amazing!!

 

The BFG is designed to have 31 of these bad boys...

 

I live on space coast, and every time a rocket lifts off i would watch it from my house or work. i was even woken one night by it since i forgot they changed the date on it. its so interesting watching them take off and to think of everything that had to go into it and watch it happen. i also watched the heavy boosters come back (but i couldnt watch them land). to think how far we have come since the beginning of space travel is amazing.

 

The current plan is to establish a permanent base on the Moon, and then go to Mars (and establish a habitat.)

 

It is amazing.

I saw Apollo XIII lift-off when I was a kid. Now, I am impatiently waiting for SLS to go! November 2020 is the current planned date.

 

SLS?

 

Space Launch System.

The new heavy lift rocket NASA is designing/building.

Look at this on NASA's site - https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls_highlights.html

 

Don't hold your breath.

 

Are you talking the moon or Mars? In any case....

NASA is too vulnerable to the whims of every administration. Bureaucratic largess is not conducive to progress.

I have my hopes in SpaceX. They’ve seemed to have avoided getting sucked into the current administration’s moon orbiting space station and eventual base plans. Instead they’re working to build a super heavy lift replacement for all Falcons and a multi purpose second stage. ‘Simplified’ design intended for interplanetary travel at the extreme..with Mars as the first destination...

Short story:
I was 6 when Apollo 17 flew. Some of my earliest memories are of the Apollo program. I’ve kept a high interest in NASA since. Jump to 2007, STS-122 was delayed a couple of time and ended up being scheduled on my birthday. My wife and I decided this would be my b-day present. Had a wonderful time and Atlantis launched on time. Spectacular. I can only imagine what a Saturn V would be like....

Prior to launch, we attended the Lunch With An Astronaut. It’s killing me but I can’t remember his name (it’ll come to me...). He trained for Apollo but never flew and became the CDR for several Shuttle missions. He said at the time Apollo was closing out, the official stance was ‘Mars is 20-30 years away’. (He was retired at the time of this lunch.). He went on to say the current stance is that Mars is 20-30 years away. Same goal spanning something like 40 years....

Going back to SpaceX. Musk has set the goal of reusable boosters and that’s now a reality. They’re the first and most reliable cargo transport to the ISS and just a flight away from certifying for human transport.

They got their shit together and I have more faith in their ability to get to Mars than NASA. Just check NASA’s goal to get there with the STS/Orion configuration that hasn’t even launched yet.

Edit: Nothing above is intended to malign or otherwise criticize any individuals or divisions within NASA. See paragraph # 2

 

i was actaully really bummed when i read that the orion test flight was pushed back awhile. i saw the set up for it when i was stationed in Seattle and went to the beoing museum. then saw some tid bits at kennedy.

 

So true. Also suffocated by reams of government bureaucracy.

The idea here is that by launching to Mars from a lower gravitational field, (a space station in Earth orbit or the Moon) the rocket could have a smaller booster resulting in additional fuel and survival stores for the trip and time on Mars.

I also saw 1 shuttle launch, and 1 landing at Edwards AFB.

Various administrations have strangled NASA, both in budget and personnel. Very sad how personal preferences (and agendas) have destroyed the focus and drive of space exploration of this nation.

Not only that, SLS is really just a modified Ares V. So, we are 4? years behind schedule?

 

Thanks for the response @Scott B. ( I hope I got it right as there’s a member with the same name but without the period ).

Looks like were on the same page.

I never got to see a Shuttle landing but it must’ve been something special.
You must’ve heard the double sonic booms?
Were you able to hear it wooshing?
Did you see the astronauts disembark and if so, what shape were they in?

Good stuff

 

https://news.yahoo.com/jupiter-europa-seriously-salty-030711452.html

"All these Planets are yours... except Europa. Attempt no landing there. Use them together. Use them in peace."

 

Yes - with the period.

I heard the double sonic booms. At the time, I lived in SoCal, so we heard them for most of the landings at Edwards.

No wooshing. We did see that the shuttle dropped like a rock. Oh, look in the sky - there it is! One blink, and it's on the ground.

The astronauts did not disembark the vehicle for quite some time. We did not wait. And, we were not that close to the parked vehicle, so we couldn't have seen too much anyway.

 

Thanks again!

Remarkable they stuck 100% of the landing!

 

I searched the thread and didn’t find this posted:

https://heavens-above.com/main.aspx

Awesome site for predicting views of the ISS, Iridium Flares, other satellites and tons of other celestial stuff from your location.

 

And to think there are people all over youtube that think the earth is flat!