Spot the Space Station

[passedpawn]

In one year the Orion spacecraft (Lockheed Martin) launches as the Artemis II mission. This will have a four-person crew and is expected to do a lunar (moon) pass by. Why? Artemis III mission (2025) is expected to land on the moon.

Of significance: the Artemis I mission (2022), with the same Orion craft, sustained some unexpected and significant damage to its heat shield on reentry to our atmosphere. Yikes. Nasa said that if they were to redesign the heat shield, the whole program would get pushed back. Bill Nelson, NASA chief, said Artemis launch is still on schedule, so I guess they are gonna go with the shields as-is. But I'll tell ya, looking at that damage there... yikes.

 

[balrog]

Rub some dirt on it. It’ll be grand.

 

[Pkrd]

Just come back at night when it’s cooler. Or land in Antarctica. Or both.

 

[balrog]

I miss astrophotography, the simple kind I practiced, back when I was young. I keep thinking I'll get back into it. Then I see things like this. (taking astrophotos in the StarLink era)

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/6vKXq3AENcVsrBmT/

 

[day_trippr]

I mentioned Orion's heat shield issues earlier, conflating it with Starliner. Different systems, the Orion solution is multiphase, new to USA ships, and indeed did not meet expectations on its one...flight....test.

Sketchy.

 

[passedpawn]

Just come back at night when it’s cooler. Or land in Antarctica. Or both.

Lol. There is something they can do without changing the design. They can change the angle they approach the earth's atmosphere. More direct angle lowers the time those shields are heated, which might lessen the effect on those tiles. With a more direct angle, the crew capsule "punches" right through the atmosphere, but this also increases the deceleration on the astronauts. It's traditionally referred to as "g"s. Anyway, it's not pleasant.

 

[day_trippr]

The Polaris Dawn mission launch is scheduled for a wholly uncivilized 3:38 AM tomorrow (Tuesday) and may be visible here in Massachusetts...

https://www.wcvb.com/article/spacex-rocket-launch-massachusetts-sight-southern-horizon/62117323

 

[balrog]

The Polaris Dawn mission launch is scheduled for a wholly uncivilized 3:38 AM tomorrow (Tuesday) and may be visible here in Massachusetts...

https://www.wcvb.com/article/spacex-rocket-launch-massachusetts-sight-southern-horizon/62117323

Kewel!
Except for the whole southern area around me is thick with tall trees.

And that 3:48 just ain’t gonna happen.

 

[day_trippr]

Yup. I'll catch the reruns on youtube....

 

[Rish]

Don't think I'll stay up for this one, either. Should be cool, though.

https://www.space.com/spacex-polaris-dawn-private-spacewalk-webcast

 

[Pkrd]

Webcast is live, spacewalk scheduled in an hours time.

 

[Pkrd]

This surprised me. Electron getting walked out to the pad.

 

[balrog]

In other space news, keep an eye open for a comet come end Sept, early Oct
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-...hinshan-atlas/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

 

[day_trippr]

Partial lunar eclipse on Tuesday.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiec...se-exactly-when-to-watch-from-every-us-state/

 

[Rish]

I completely missed the news on this! Saw it referenced in another article today.

https://starlinerupdates.com/

 

[passedpawn]

Chinese rocket company, Deep Blue, looks to compete with SpaceX and the re-usable booster stage. They don't quite stick the landing though (getting close!). FF to the end of this video for the exciting conclusion.

They definitely get a A+ for drone video though - badass. SpaceX could take a tip here.

 

[passedpawn]

It's often commented that Chinese industry has a big advantage in speed of development because they don't bother with employee and environmental safety standards. I don't know too much about that, but there's this video lol.

 

[balrog]

It's often commented that Chinese industry has a big advantage in speed of development because they don't bother with employee and environmental safety standards. I don't know too much about that, but there's this video lol.

That's just the new model -- crowd sourced rocket recovery.

 

[passedpawn]

There is an atmosphere leak in the ISS. It's leaking air to space, and it's getting worse - quickly.

A long, long time ago I did risk analysis in a facility with nuclear material. "Risk" is the product of likelihood of something happening times the resulting consequence. We rated each (likelihood and consequence) from 0 -> 5. So, for example, the likelihood of the hydrogen tank exploding was a 1, but the consequence was a 5 (in fact, there was a day care in the area). So that risk would be a 1x5=5.

When the risk gets over a certain number, it's a problem (and requires mitigation, but that's another story).

Anyhoo, NASA uses the exact same risk rating method. They now deem the risk numbers for this issue 5 and 5, the highest rating. I'm sure they will just airlock off the area with the problem. But this shows why the ISS age is a factor.

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/...cking-a-highest-risk-and-consequence-problem/

 

[passedpawn]

 

[Pkrd]

I wouldn’t be growing potatoes in there with that risk rating for sure.

 

[tracer bullet]

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper/

Looks like NASA will (hopefully) launch in a week to go check out Europa. Should get there ~ April 2030 (!) to see if it has the "capability to support life".

Yes, the same moon that was forbidden to be landed in in 2001 Space Odyssey.

 

[passedpawn]

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper/

Looks like NASA will (hopefully) launch in a week to go check out Europa. Should get there ~ April 2030 (!) to see if it has the "capability to support life".

Yes, the same moon that was forbidden to be landed in in 2001 Space Odyssey.

That moon has been featured in a bunch of movies. I think it's covered with some frozen liquid or gas... they think there might actually be liquid water there under some ice.

The surface temps of any body that far from the sun are really low, way way below freezing. However, it's quite possible for higher temps down deep, and maybe even temps above freezing. The hope is to find that. (then set a nuclear-powered machine in motion to start generating O2 from H20 (humans do not need the other gasses found in our atmosphere, namely Nitrogen).

A 125# person would only weigh 1# on Europa. That should make for interesting times getting around.

 

[tracer bullet]

Yep, ice on top (made of water) and water under it at some depth, is believed. Something about the elliptical orbit causing gravitational tugs that create enough thermal energy to keep it that way.

I'm definitely not too knowledgeable but is what I remember. Has the "building blocks" of life...

 

[day_trippr]

Keep an ear out for a Starship launch Sunday or Monday...

https://wccftech.com/spacex-breaks-...ight-5-sunday-launch-catch-abort-in-play/amp/

 

[day_trippr]

Aurora Borealis prediction page: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental
Tonight and Tomorrow's chances of seeing Northern Lights:

This pic was taken two nights ago quite a ways south of my mountain house in Franconia NH. My timing sux as I went up the next morning and I'm back home tonight. Might still catch a glimpse in MA...

Cheers!

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Starting up here early on the coast of Maine. Usually doesn't get going until ten. Heard a bunch of kids outside my hotel room. Kids enjoying the show. Sorry for the crappy camera. Has taken abuse. Stay tuned!

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

https://x.com/andy_champagne/status/1844723072110113027?t=giTiuEenWhfyH_wjk3yOWw&s=19

 

[day_trippr]

Starship flight 5 may happen Sunday AM...

 

[day_trippr]

Another link...

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-5

 

[day_trippr]

Starship 5 is just 10 minutes from launch!

 

[day_trippr]

One hella pricey roman candle....

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

unbelievable launch and catch!!!

 

[Konadog]

Never tell Elon he can't do something, he'll prove you wrong every time!

Both landing were incredible!

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Never tell Elon he can't do something, he'll prove you wrong every time!

Both landing were incredible!

I still can't believe what happened! I'm watching all the detailed content now.

 

[day_trippr]

A whole bunch of clips of the Starship 5 launch and all the cool doody that followed (listen for the "LET'S GO!!!" at 3:01 )

Cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

If the boss was that uncertain, my takeaway is there shall be drama with every flight for a while

Elon Musk Didn’t Think SpaceX Could Catch Starship Flight 5 Booster On First Attempt

 

[Konadog]

Waiting for this to happen. The fly back should be interesting if it doesn't get foggy.


OneWeb Launch 20

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

A whole bunch of clips of the Starship 5 launch and all the cool doody that folowed (listen for the "LET'S GO!!!" at 3:01 )

Cheers!

I'm still get excited seeing everything! Great video and the close-ups are incredible.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

If the boss was that uncertain, my takeaway is there shall be drama with every flight for a while

Elon Musk Didn’t Think SpaceX Could Catch Starship Flight 5 Booster On First Attempt

There's already loads of drama with every launch so I don't see his uncertainty being an issue. I think everyone following the developments at Starbase feels that. I really didn't think launch five was going to be a successful catch. I'm so glad it was though.