Author Topic: Deep Space and Interplanetary Exploration - Houston, we are go for launch! (Read 117534 times)

rebs · « **Reply #300 on:** 26 March 2021, 11:11:08 »

SpaceX is slated to test launch it's Starship SN 11 today...

https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn11-launch-attempt?utm_content=space.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com

Wrangler · « **Reply #301 on:** 26 March 2021, 16:07:41 »

Looks like they reschedule the SN11 test launch for Saturday 3/27/21. Hope it finally launches.

rebs · « **Reply #302 on:** 30 March 2021, 09:30:30 »

Here is an article about how a possible new mission to Uranus and Neptune could help us to also better observe the effects of gravitational waves.

Interesting stuff on tap here...

https://www.space.com/ice-giant-missions-could-catch-gravitational-waves?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=space.com

Daryk · « **Reply #303 on:** 30 March 2021, 16:45:27 »

Interesting indeed! :thumbsup:

Wrangler · « **Reply #304 on:** 30 March 2021, 21:54:51 »

They'll need get some nuclear fuel for probe going out there. I heard NASA was very low on fuel for RTG. Supposedly they're had restarted production but I'm read much lately about that.

rebs · « **Reply #305 on:** 30 March 2021, 22:01:29 »

It's tied up in politics, so it's very hard to say. But I read NASA has enough plutonium for two Casini type missions. And now, we have the SLS coming soon. With that we will be able to reach the ice giants much faster than before.

But remember, I'm an optimist.

rebs · « **Reply #306 on:** 01 April 2021, 09:00:05 »

Following up...

NASA's Chandra X-Ray telescope has detected x-rays from planet Uranus. Check out the link below for more details.

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-x-rays-uranus.html

Wrangler · « **Reply #307 on:** 01 April 2021, 09:38:27 »

Curiosity send selfy to remind people its still here.

Maingunnery · « **Reply #308 on:** 01 April 2021, 10:59:49 »

Those reliable rovers are great.

Daryk · « **Reply #309 on:** 01 April 2021, 17:18:02 »

Overengineering FTW! 8)

I am Belch II · « **Reply #310 on:** 01 April 2021, 18:28:54 »

Glad that they can do fun stuff with the rovers still.

worktroll · « **Reply #311 on:** 08 April 2021, 08:32:29 »

Remember the Em Drive? A comprehensive attempt to duplicate the EmDrive has just found that it does not work.

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-comprehensive-emdrive.html

Quote

In essence, the Eagleworks EmDrive apparent thrust came from a heating of the scale they used to measure the thrust, not from any movement of the drive itself.

"When power flows into the EmDrive, the engine warms up. This also causes the fastening elements on the scale to warp, causing the scale to move to a new zero point. We were able to prevent that in an improved structure," Prof. Tajmar continued.

His conclusion puts the final nail in the coffin for EmDrive dreams: "Our measurements refute all EmDrive claims by at least three orders of magnitude."

In a sense I'm a little disappointed (if not surprised), but today also gave us one of those real "Uh, what?" moments that drive science forward:

https://www.bbc.com/news/56643677

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #312 on:** 08 April 2021, 13:25:32 »

It's in the 'it would have been nice to find something new' but I suppose the Muon test results are giving us plenty of that.

rebs · « **Reply #313 on:** 08 April 2021, 14:49:51 »

https://www.sciencealert.com/we-can-t-get-enough-of-tianwen-1-s-new-latest-photos-of-mars/amp

Lots of orbiter and rovers on and around Mars. China's Tianwan-1 arrived two months ago, as well as an ESA orbiter in February. Details and a gorgeous shot of Mars on the above link.

kato · « **Reply #314 on:** 08 April 2021, 16:15:02 »

Quote from: rebs on 08 April 2021, 14:49:51

as well as an ESA orbiter in February.

Hope is a United Arab Emirates mission, not ESA. Launched on a Japanese rocket and with mission support from India.

The eight active Mars orbiters are:
- Hope (UAE)
- Tianwen-1 (China)
- Mangalyaan (India)
- ExoMars TGO and Mars Express (ESA)
- MAVEN, MRO and 2001 Mars Odyssey (NASA)

They'll need to last a while too, the next orbiter missions planned is TEREX-2 (Japan) in 2024 and Mangalyaan-2 (India) in 2026, both still a bit dubious. NASA still has a requirement to get a replacement for its communications relay into Mars Orbit, but that has already been postponed to 2026 or 2028.

rebs · « **Reply #315 on:** 08 April 2021, 16:19:02 »

My bad, Kato. Thank you for the correction.

rebs · « **Reply #316 on:** 17 April 2021, 16:27:14 »

https://phys.org/news/2021-04-nasa-spacex-humans-moon.html

Above link to physics.org article detailing Friday's news NASA has chosen Space X to bring America back to the moon.

Wrangler · « **Reply #317 on:** 18 April 2021, 10:14:24 »

That's crazy their using the StarShip. I like how it's refuelable so i can be reused multiple times, however not soon it will be ready. I think their going try do the next wave moon landing without Gateway to save money. Lander can just hang out in lunar orbit if that's the plan.

Only issue i have it the cargo section so bloody far up. Elevator going to be tricky since it's low gravity.

Daryk · « **Reply #318 on:** 18 April 2021, 10:17:41 »

Eventually, they'll have to figure out how to put the cargo between the fuel tank and the engines... ^-^

Maingunnery · « **Reply #319 on:** 18 April 2021, 10:19:50 »

Quote from: Wrangler on 18 April 2021, 10:14:24

Only issue i have it the cargo section so bloody far up. Elevator going to be tricky since it's low gravity.

Look out down below!!! KICK.

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #320 on:** 18 April 2021, 13:00:47 »

Scott Manley put out a video on it, as I understand it it had a lot to do with NASA's funding - they need to use their money NOW, and SpaceX are the only ones making flight tests.

It seems to be a bunch of silly politics... ::)

Daryk · « **Reply #321 on:** 18 April 2021, 14:04:32 »

The real budget process is silly, and SO Rule 4... ::)

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #322 on:** 18 April 2021, 14:30:23 »

As I understood it it was even sillier than usual! :D But look up the video for it.

rebs · « **Reply #323 on:** 19 April 2021, 17:01:08 »

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-succeeds-in-historic-first-flight

Historic first flight of helicopter Ingenuity. The link is to the video.

Daryk · « **Reply #324 on:** 19 April 2021, 17:32:16 »

BEHOLD! Humanity hath wrought aerodynamic flight on another planet! :thumbsup:

Wrangler · « **Reply #325 on:** 19 April 2021, 18:38:19 »

Nice air time! Wings weigh as much as paper.

I am Belch II · « **Reply #326 on:** 19 April 2021, 20:03:22 »

Nice little flight on Mars today, congrats to all involved.

Wrangler · « **Reply #327 on:** 20 April 2021, 06:13:29 »

It will be more interesting when they can do flight beyond going up and down. That alone was a great achievement. Going something will be better to me. It does make me think, why heck it cost NASA US$80 million build a tiny 4 pound drone helicopter and five million to operate it.

I know about radiation shielding, hardening it, weather proofing it. Lordy, it seem to be super sky-high price for tiny thing like that.

Daryk · « **Reply #328 on:** 20 April 2021, 17:04:06 »

What price immortality? How much to be the FIRST to do anything like this? It's expensive because it's HARD, and leads to GREATER things! 8)

rebs · « **Reply #329 on:** 20 April 2021, 17:30:39 »

Like a possible drone on Titan.