Space and Science BS Thread

Followup - one of the things I’m most worried about on starship is their tiles. I’m glad to see they’ve gone with a mostly standard size/shape (instead of the custom one-off’s that shuttle had to do), but it’s still a refurb item that can and probably will take a while to really figure out.

 

Thanks for that. I hadn't seen it before. Eye opening for sure.

 

It certainly cost us in terms of lack of funding for other programs. The need for targeted, prompt landings was also premature but will eventually be needed. It did bring about the beginnings of reusability even though the SLS abandoned that effort.

 

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1596611180877197312?s=46&t=ULSJOe_j13nWP52aXdSy3Q

Uncropped:

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1596621124758036482?s=46&t=rr0N2A8s6x2uusl-wjkdBw

 

I still don't see the need for a shuttle, besides the higher mass to orbit it was able to provide. I think we've moved past that to the heavy lift vehicles that can take nearly as much.

I think heat shield tile technology and attachment have progressed light-years since the shuttles were developed and made. Especially with manufacturing techniques.

 

I should’ve been clearer- I wasn’t advocating for a return to the shuttle, I was thinking if it was designed that way (mounted above the tank and boosters) originally..

 

… it would start looking like starship.

 

I think there’s still a ways to go in tps tiles but at least the studs provide reliable indexed mounting points to try different materials until they find one that’s durable enough.
Edit - I do think we will need something beyond capsules and now that Spacex has broken the mold maybe we’ll eventually see something else. Not right away but when we begin seeing orbital infrastructure for work crews to assemble more permanent structures it will happen and I doubt it’s in anyone’s best interest to count on Starship for everything.

 

More ROSA on CRS-26:
https://twitter.com/nasa/status/1596588903372161024?s=46&t=rr0N2A8s6x2uusl-wjkdBw

https://twitter.com/space_station/status/1596829063988985856?s=46&t=rr0N2A8s6x2uusl-wjkdBw

 

https://twitter.com/nasa_orion/status/1596945913745768448?s=46&t=rr0N2A8s6x2uusl-wjkdBw

 

https://twitter.com/airandspace/status/1596961077786394627?s=46&t=IcAUlPm_8k_RHD_wK8ZBVA

 

I think if you can put something smaller inside the fairing, like the X37-B or if Dreamchaser is small enough, then that would work ok. I think putting something with wings on top of a rocket just looks so weird.

 

You mean like this?

 

It was a recognition of the limitations of capsules combined with what else we knew about(planes and lifting bodies). We learned a lot more about both in the process so it wasn’t a waste. That it was a wasteful approach was one of the things we learned. Now we need to learn from that to see how we can do it different and/or better. I don’t think it’s a one size problem so there should be room for different size/shape solutions. I think we’re at a point where we can brute force our way to orbit and are looking for different ways to finesse our way back down and going to the moon to stay will be as different as massive orbital construction.

 

I thought starship looked pretty weird at first. Now that I’ve digested why it looks fitting.

 

Yup. Too weird.

The first renders of SH were way out there. Now, though, it looks ok.

 

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1596988831856664576?s=46&t=IcAUlPm_8k_RHD_wK8ZBVA

 

I was only 48 days old when that photo was taken...

 

Wow, and you remember!!

I guess it happened 18 times over the 30 years of operations..
https://www.space.com/6597-rare-sight-twin-shuttles-launch-pad-time.html

 

The logistics that went into the last HST's servicing mission and its subsequent rescue mission us pretty impressive.

Mike Massimino's book covers it a little. He also discusses how his first mission was shifted between orbiters that ended up being STS-135. I cannot imagine the pain of losing friends and also knowing that'd been slated to be your ride.