Space and Science BS Thread

There are actually several reactors that have produced stable HE-4 plasma fields for fractions of a second

The French expiremental one is the largest yet and is supposed to actually become a power plant. The German one, Wendelstein 7-X, is supposed to be able to do the same thing as the much larger French one, but smaller and just as powerful.

 

Suppose they took it down because they are folding up shop? Since their CEO is no longer gainfully employed?

 

They aren't folding. One of their investors is just the majority shareholder now and the former CEO is the chief technical advisor.

 

That's good to hear.

 

The rest of their website would indicate otherwise.

 

You happen to have a link? I couldn't find anything. My understanding was that we still weren't at the point of producing/capturing more energy than the reaction required, and we're still at least one more experimental reactor design away from that point. Getting closer, sure, but not by next year.

 

I can't find it right now, it was a link to a scientific website that was telling about the advancements the Germans have made and their hope to produce energy by 2023.

 

Worth keeping in mind that it's also 1 kps waaaaaaay out at lunar orbit distances - It's all potential energy vs kinetic energy. Also, it takes about 6 kps of delta v to get from the earth to the moon, so that's 6kps that you already have built in from your starting point on the moon. Plus, you're not having to fight your way out of an atmosphere, not having to worry about transferring delicate electronics through the van allen belts again, etc. Assuming fuel isn't an issue (which it will be for a while), launching payloads from the moon (or from lunar orbit) to deep space destinations does remove a lot of risk, if you can view earth to moon as just shipping before the actual launch.

 

I heard the long range plan of NASA is to use the moon or lunar orbit as the waypoint for system exploration. If earth orbit is already cluttered it makes sense to consider any other advantages location brings when considering where to put infrastructure. Having the capability for such launches wherever we establish a long term presence only gives us more coverage both from inside and outside the asteroid belt as well as timing and vector options.

 

I doubt NASA will ever get around to it. Private companies like SpaceX will beat them to it by decades. Just sayin…

 

Whether that’s the case or not it’s something being considered because there are reasons for it that remain regardless of who does it. Even so for a long time to come much of what private companies do will be at the direction or behest of NASA by way of contracts for things they would not do of their own accord. We’re still a long ways away from the commercialization of space for anything but satellites. Spacex cannot develop the super heavy and starship on their own without those contracts and no large scale lunar development will happen without similar contracts either for everything that goes up there and takes it there as well. Once those things are proven then you’ll see the game changing investment by the private sector to capitalize on it. By then NASA will have moved on to Mars, the Jovian moons, and Lagrange point relays.

 

I just want to visit the future moon colony before I die.

 

I think it’s a misreading of the industry to think of those separately. NASA and SpaceX are partners not competitors. They will almost certainly do those things together.

 

Spoiler: Two Astronauts With Balls of Steel (no disrespect intended)

https://twitter.com/boeingspace/status/1537551229009666050?s=21&t=6lW6YwJMfrjuKdbhrvNHpQ

 

https://twitter.com/space_iconn/status/1537743053506904064?s=21&t=6lW6YwJMfrjuKdbhrvNHpQ

 

https://twitter.com/arstechnica/status/1537745061299081216?s=21&t=6lW6YwJMfrjuKdbhrvNHpQ

 

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1537766410625114112?s=21&t=6lW6YwJMfrjuKdbhrvNHpQ

 

One of the main reasons for using the moon is gravity - or, actually, the lack thereof.

It takes a lot fuel (and space for said fuel) to lift significant weight of the surface of the Earth. Much less fuel is required to liftoff from the moon.

 

First of three F9 launches this weekend:
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1537827583772876800?s=21&t=SimObJ1J0SAJjNLgfKR3Pg

On to B1060.14!

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1537832131656753152?s=21&t=SimObJ1J0SAJjNLgfKR3Pg

 

Pizza Science:
https://twitter.com/engineers_feed/status/1537834521789247491?s=21&t=SimObJ1J0SAJjNLgfKR3Pg


Reminds me of the time I called the local shop to order a large pizza. Went to pick it up and was presented with two small pizzas. I declined stating I didn’t order two smalls and they got all pissy. Still gives me a good chuckle….