Space and Science BS Thread

Incomprehensible pic of the afternoon:
https://twitter.com/chandraxray/status/1504099314129321984?s=21

 

Getting close to some pics from Webb

https://twitter.com/dr_thomasz/status/1504122637395578884?s=21


Real pic…
https://twitter.com/nasawebb/status/1504129115921727490?s=21

 

I've seen just a few cooler things out at KSC than gopher tortoises but they are everywhere. We have a shop one that lives under our patio.

 

Love that MA is the birthplace of liquid fueled rockets! It’s also mine

https://twitter.com/engineers_feed/status/1504144255878504453?s=21

 

Ooooo:
https://twitter.com/nasakennedy/status/1504141503593164806?s=21

The repost cuts the pic- click on it to show the full length.

 

That's great!

I wonder if SLS will ever fly...

Launch has been postponed to May now.

I hope it does fly - I worked on the flight software, and would love to see it actually do something!

 

It will fly, might even do one (1) moon flight, but I don't see it having continuous use. SpaceX and other reusable rocket companies are advancing too quickly.

 

I think it will but it sure is achingly slow.

 

June 6th is the tentative date currently.

 

I wonder if the FAA is stalling just to make this pace seem normal.

 

Stalling what? Starship??

 

I'm wondering how long until we have regular "flight" corridors for rockets that are "no fly zones" for airplanes? Having FAA authorize each flight isn't going to get us to be interplanetary very soon.

 

That must have just changed - I missed it.

 

I've heard work has started on the 2nd core stage, and the manifest goes out for 10 flights. Of course, manifests are subject to change.

 

Certain people in certain jobs really like the bacon. Maybe it will go to 10 flights. I just don't see it hanging around to manned Mars flights or anything other than a space station shuttle.

 

At $4+ Billion a pop?

Not a chance it goes beyond Artemis IV, if that, when Starship becomes operational.

 

I won't speculate on the future of SLS, too many moving parts that nobody sees.

 

Yeah, Spacex was moving at an unprecedented pace making every other program look bad. Mechazilla is amazing but having to recreated everything at 39A to resume flight testing has stopped them in their tracks so all they can do is practice stacking maneuvers. It’s been what 5-6 months since the stuck valves stalled Orion’s progress? SLS is plodding along so can’t have SH getting ahead. It just smells of foot dragging.

 

Yeah, I read that the 3/30 date might be pushed further back. I hope not but they’re already engaged in contingency plans.

If Boca Chica is bust, they’ll expedite development at Roberts Road and 39A.

One could argue SpaceX bit way too much off developing BC like they did without FAA approval.

There’s alot going on we’re not privy to but I’m sure NASA and SpaceX don’t want to allow a Chinese/Russian partnership to beat them to Shackleton.

 

Since the inception of SLS, there have been several/many other ideas as to how to get to the moon more economically/easier. Unfortunately, all but one of those ideas does not involve using the SLS. I believe a Falcon Heavy can launch Gateway, so even here SLS is not needed.

Going to Mars is such a different problem than going to the moon. Whichever rocket goes to Mars, it will probably be assembled and fueled in Earth orbit. Think about 10 Falcon "tanker" vehicles, each launched about an hour apart.