Space and Science BS Thread

Meanwhile, in an interest mix of extremely deep space and earth/near earth coordination:
https://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/PI-Perspectives.php?page=piPerspective_04_04_2024

Amazing they’re still downloading data from the Arrokoth flyby in 2019

 

This video was why I was asking @Hunterdc1 about LC-12.

Actively dismantling the tower? Or just the GSE connection on the tower?

 

https://x.com/jswartzphoto/status/1776005835312758854?s=46

 

I haven't seen the work order but after not seeing the tower for weeks and then seeing it yesterday, it seemed to have less structural components. I have no insight into whether they are changing the design, tearing it down, rearranging, or adding fluted gargoyles to the launch mount.

 

I thought they had their eyes on SLC-37 after the Delta Heavy retires?

 

Several NASASpaceflight commentators have speculated that they are redoing the internal structure do to updates learned from the tower in TX. Adding stairs, putting piping and electrical in different places, etc.

 

A bit closer to the ground…
https://www.cnn.com/travel/jetzero-pathfinder-subscale-demonstrator/index.html
Interesting that the military is supposedly going to fund a full scale tanker version which would pave the way for cargo and eventually passenger versions.

 

Coolest moon buggy pic you’ll see today:
https://x.com/nasahistory/status/1776255979501371420?s=46

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IQae3kmdfiw
Pretty quick turnaround to get the OLM ready to SF B11, I’m impressed. Don’t know that this means stage 0 is completely ready to launch again but this was the first hurdle I was looking for so maybe a launch this month IS in the cards.

 

https://x.com/spacex/status/1776412650836251053?s=46
https://x.com/spacex/status/1776412789768425751?s=46

 

I wonder if it feels as cramped as it looks..
https://x.com/nasahqphoto/status/1776534281193480674?s=46

 

They'll be at 300 by June, July
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1776178401138856267

 

Elon today- if Flight 4 booster has a controlled landing on the virtual tower next month, Flight 5 will be the first catch attempt

 

Heard that too. And maybe next year for a ship catch attempt. They have to get through all of the relights, get zero-zero intercept and in the correct orientation on the virtual tower first though. It “could” all come true next flight but I would be happy if they just got the final relight and were able to get more descent data so they have something to go on. I think it would be very difficult to achieve that virtual tower landing without first knowing how to control the descent(they only have ground approach data on SN prototypes, not SH boosters). I’d put that optimistically at OFT-5 or 6 with a catch following that. I would bet on them doing it, just not on his schedule. It’s remarkable how they knock down each obstacle but they still need the data that immediately preceeds each one.

 

Story was a beast in his days…
https://x.com/airandspace/status/1777053499450155024?s=46

 

They have cameras…
https://x.com/starlink/status/1777441354588791206?s=46
https://x.com/gunsnrosesgirl3/status/1777353589360329200?s=46
https://x.com/esa/status/1777626912220762530?s=46
https://x.com/mwobs/status/1777642368478425330?s=46

https://x.com/dscovr_epic/status/1777761835787124764?s=46

 

https://x.com/thenasaman/status/1777745912586015195?s=46

 

Only 65 years ago:
https://x.com/nasapeople/status/1777783552462975487?s=46

 

Can’t get more sciency than the Higgs boson:
https://x.com/bbcbreaking/status/1777742477023121472?s=46
https://x.com/spacedotcom/status/1778084831760351429?s=46

 

Should call it the Bosson.