Space and Science BS Thread

Will there come a time where Elon can land those pretty much anywhere? It could come in handy in extreme emergencies.

 

I don’t doubt it. Planning the launch trajectory to line up with the appropriate reentry profile is probably easy math for those guys. The problem of reentry sonic booms over more populated areas and having to prepare a landing surface that can handle a rocket exhaust might be more difficult.

 

Yeah, I suppose that could make a bit of a mess. At least it would be far less of an effect than a fully loaded launch.

 

I’d also wonder if it even can land with the weight of a payload on top. They always land pretty close to empty on fuel and obviously without the second stage and payload. A full payload for LEO is 50k pounds that would be balanced on top of the landing first stage still.

 

It would be interesting to know if they are already working on concepts for a ship that is designed to be used in this manner now that they have proven the concept of reusable spacecraft.
Hmmm, could they use Jet 1a?

Imagine a country like Taiwan in dire need after being invaded by China. We could send over a few backpack nukes or something else useful...
I'm just using that as an example because it would be light weight, and you wouldn't spend $50 million for that service unless it was absolutely critical.

 

I don’t think rockets on a ballistic profile into a combat zone would end well, easily mistaken for something else. As for using Jet A fuel, I’m sure an engine could be developed easily for it. RP1 rocket fuel is just another highly refined kerosene like jet fuel.

 

Elon isn't driving them.

 

Off to a rocky start with all the Elon and Chinese/Taiwan talk…but, here we go:
https://twitter.com/nasa_orion/status/1600316657255284736?s=46&t=g4es3FLKSvbS9H1AFRXNLg

 

https://twitter.com/nasa_landsat/status/1600213738459525121?s=46&t=791VTyV5tpBtZhvWo2c4bQ

 

I sure wouldn't want to live downstream of that!

 

I’m curious if the new contract Orion capsules will be built to the original specifications or upgraded. For instance, the onboard computers use an IBM single core 900mhz processor from 2002.

 

Here’s a release:
https://news.lockheedmartin.com/202...ee-More-Orion-Spacecraft-from-Lockheed-Martin

All sorts of talk of reuse and savings but time’ll tell if any are actually achieved.

 

Anyone notice the several F9 delays recently?
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1600436937260670978?s=46&t=g4es3FLKSvbS9H1AFRXNLg

I haven’t come across any explanations.

 

I was thinking it might be related to wear and tear finally emerging from booster reuse but this one (1073) is relatively young at only four previous flights.

 

I remember from the NSF Live stream this past Sunday that they said it was something to do with the GSE equipment.

 

Picking up speed:
https://twitter.com/nasa_orion/status/1600437456532389889?s=46&t=g4es3FLKSvbS9H1AFRXNLg

 

https://youtu.be/2xUKzeflvR0

 

The current plan is to recertify and reuse the 8 Artemis I computers on Artemis II but that process is expected to take ~27 months. They'll keep pushing for an earlier launch date but even now don’t expect to meet it.

 

Not to mention an SLS to put it on.

 

https://twitter.com/nasa_wallops/status/1600546979481894916?s=46&t=zBatpcCHiL5VLpwtJUo3-A