Space and Science BS Thread

I guess it’s nighttime there now:
http://mtfuji-live.jp/

 

This article is wild:
https://x.com/skyandtelescope/status/1712917803206869335?s=46

 

SpX should man-rate this bad boy to save billions and billions compared to SLS:
https://x.com/spacex/status/1712934888285110321?s=46

 

https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1713274937299828777?s=46

 

What would that require and isn’t it up to NASA?

 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/Constellatio...ew can survive the failure (e.g. crew abort).

 

I think it’s more about upgrading crew Dragon from “taxi” to “RV” status for extra terrestrial trips. And frankly, that’s a second choice to Starship. It may take awhile but even a Raptor slightly detuned along the lines of BE-4 to maximize reliability(they don’t have to run it at max chamber pressure if they aren’t losing engines) should get the job done and I expect they’ll get more reliability AND more thrust eventually.

 

I never understood if the F9 is man rated, what would be needed for the FH? Who knows when Starship’s going to be and the savings would be immense.

 

Love how right at the end you can see that the center F9 is throttled back.

 

Don’t even need to man-rate the FH. Just send unmanned portions up on to dock (aka self assemble) in LEO, then have a dragon join them when ready to leave.

 

Congress (and NASA to a lesser extent) really needs to get over their irrational fear of on-orbit spacecraft assembly. SpaceX has certainly gotten their cadence to the point where they could reliably send up multiple missions within a week, so it’s not like parts would be waiting for months on orbit.

 

I think it’s about the inability to test in a controlled environment.

 

Maybe not for spacecrafts specifically but the technology has been proven for docking modules autonomously…

Unrelated, neat to see the recognition :
https://x.com/astro_cady/status/1713580181556805865?s=46
https://x.com/mastronomers/status/1713616728910163996?s=46

 

https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1713625230894113269?s=46

 

Had no idea it only made 22 orbits

 

Thank you, random fall storm that blocked my view of the eclipse! /s

 

Words of wisdom from one of, if not, the most famous scientist:
https://x.com/physinhistory/status/1713909332138508620?s=46

 

I’m sure we’ll get there but it’s a big step from docking finished modules to assembly of incomplete ones and the expansion/contraction from hot/cold cycles probably makes assembly in space quite a bit different from assembly of those same parts at STP let alone the clean room environment of an aerospace facility. Duplicating the conditions in order to verify materials & techniques is arguably impossible. It may be something that waits until we can do the final development work up there. Or, it might only be feasible under an umbrella such as JST uses to control temperature fluctuations.

 

Another pipe dream, I mean highly ambitious and well thought out concept by America’s Rocket Company!
https://x.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1714002606526177750?s=46