Space and Science BS Thread

As of today, Cosmonaut flying on a Dragon still a possibility:
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1509547041382445069?s=21&t=p7vhSwBCZJnQS5caQoc00Q

 

From today’s Rocket Report:

NASA awards additional ISS cargo flights. NASA ordered 12 additional missions under its Commercial Resupply Services-2 contracts to ensure continuous science and cargo delivery for the agency and its international partners to the International Space Station. Six missions each will go to Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, providing resupply services to the station through 2026. The maximum potential value of all contracts is $14 billion, but NASA did not disclose the individual awards, saying total prices paid under the contract will depend on which mission types are ordered.

Have spacecraft, need rocket ... With this action, a total of 32 missions have been ordered by the agency for cargo resupply under the CRS-2 contracts; 14 missions to Northrop Grumman, three missions to Sierra Space, and 15 missions to SpaceX. The biggest question for Northrop will concern what rocket it will use for future missions, as it has just two Antares vehicles left. The rocket's engines are made in Russia, and the first stage is assembled in Ukraine. The company has not publicly discussed how it will get the Cygnus supply vehicle into space, but it has said the spacecraft is rocket-agnostic. (submitted by EllPeaTea and Ken the Bin)


I’ve got $10 the Cygnus flies on an F-9 after the Antares are spent….

 

Wtf does "rocket agnostic" mean?

 

I’d be curious to see if NASA objects to that, in a desire to keep multiple launch providers involved … wait nevermind there isn’t anyone else that even could do it right now what am I saying.

 

In this case, they’re saying it could fly on a broomstick if it had enough thrust.

 

It'll work on Jewish, Catholic, or Muslim rockets.

 

Ah. Didn’t know Cygnus could mate to an F9.

I 'bout fell off the couch laughing.

 

It’s like one of those ‘spot the difference’ between two similar photos..
https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/1509600304895078412?s=21&t=zsKWUb2cLoqKQEuRpW0bnw

https://twitter.com/space_station/status/1509602938272067588?s=21&t=zsKWUb2cLoqKQEuRpW0bnw

 

Cool pic of the morn:
https://twitter.com/commandermla/status/1509885428249341956?s=21&t=YBq4aPpDFO6wBz0Oy08V1g

 

Getting close to full ops!!!

https://twitter.com/nasawebb/status/1509908914812461061?s=21&t=kY0RWgLpgv0YxpB88Gn_gg

 

I wonder how little the move the instruments. Like, thousandths of an inch? Ten thousandths?

 

I didn't see anyone mention this:



WATCH LIVE: TRANSPORTER-4 MISSION

SpaceX is targeting Friday, April 1 for a Falcon 9 launch of Transporter-4 to a sun-synchronous orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch window opens at 12:24 p.m. ET, or 16:24 UTC. Falcon 9 will fly on a southern trajectory along Florida’s eastern coast and may be visible from the ground.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Transporter-4 is SpaceX’s fourth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. On this flight are 40 spacecraft, including CubeSats, microsats, picosats, non-deploying hosted payloads, and an orbital transfer vehicle carrying spacecraft to be deployed at a later time.

You can watch the live launch webcast starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.

 

Must be a glitch…. I tried to repost but nada…

It was a pic of Endeavor mounted to a SM being driven out to pad 39A.

 

"Non-deploying hosted payloads"?

 

Weather had been at 30% chance of “go” but seems to be getting better:
https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1509911998116597772?s=21&t=61yDewM_e0LfdUd_sminxQ

 

Secret government stuff?

 

If I recall reading correctly it's 0.000001"

 

Spectacular pic of the afternoon:
https://twitter.com/mars_stu/status/1509784017578729473?s=21&t=61yDewM_e0LfdUd_sminxQ


(Remember the date…)

 

Coolest vid of the afternoon:
https://twitter.com/rookisaacman/status/1509917593750044672?s=21&t=61yDewM_e0LfdUd_sminxQ

 

Go for prop load

Live now:
https://youtu.be/4NqSoHnkKEM



They got the landing without it cutting out!