Author Topic: Deep Space and Interplanetary Exploration - Houston, we are go for launch! (Read 117494 times)

Daryk · « **Reply #120 on:** 14 January 2020, 16:57:11 »

It makes me wonder how much else we simply haven't seen yet...

Thunderbolt · « **Reply #121 on:** 16 January 2020, 04:42:13 »

more accurately scaled -- wonder if there's another "wave" like structure on the far side of the Local Bubble, threading through the Vela-Gum and Scorpius-Centaurus associations ???

Wrangler · « **Reply #122 on:** 17 January 2020, 12:09:12 »

New space company is taking a spin in the commercial space lift business.

Reported on Space.com, Spinlaunch going to use a method of spinning a potential payload and rocket to hypersonic speeds and fling them into space. They have a test facility being built in New Mexico's Space port America.

Its interesting idea, its sort like how futurist had though a rail gun launch system would work.
I do recall that Saddam's Iraqi military was trying to use pressurized pipes to potentially launch things into space for their purposes.

Wrangler · « **Reply #123 on:** 17 January 2020, 12:27:35 »

The ESA's Mars Express probe in orbit gave spectacular view of northern polar caps.

worktroll · « **Reply #124 on:** 17 January 2020, 14:29:18 »

Quote from: Wrangler on 17 January 2020, 12:09:12

New space company is taking a spin in the commercial space lift business.

Reported on Space.com, Spinlaunch going to use a method of spinning a potential payload and rocket to hypersonic speeds and fling them into space. They have a test facility being built in New Mexico's Space port America.

Its interesting idea, its sort like how futurist had though a rail gun launch system would work.
I do recall that Saddam's Iraqi military was trying to use pressurized pipes to potentially launch things into space for their purposes.

Big helping of "Things that make you go hmmmm".... Mainly two issues: the centrifugal forces acting on the arm holding the weight of the launch vehicle, and vibration/the need to be absolutely balanced. Sorry three things: the frictional effects of spinning something up to hypersonic speed in the lower atmosphere, which will be non-trivial. But I applaud the attempt. I'd like to see their maths.

Saddam wasn't interested in space, except as a point on the way to Tel Aviv, alas. Poor Gerald Bull, the classic obsessive mad scientist, happy to deal with the Devil for funding.

If only laser launch propulsion had lived up to the 70s dream ...

Daryk · « **Reply #125 on:** 17 January 2020, 16:28:59 »

In other news, I read an Economist article today confirming it was the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. Apparently, the Deccan traps volcano happened around the same time, but the researchers quoted in the article figured out that event happened 200,000 years prior to the asteroid.

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #126 on:** 17 January 2020, 17:21:14 »

One hell of an impactor, certainly. And I've no doubt the Traps did a number on the asian side of things, but 200,000 years of continued survival says it wasn't big enough, so time to break out the big gun.

Weirdo · « **Reply #127 on:** 17 January 2020, 17:32:00 »

If at first you don't succeed...

rebs · « **Reply #128 on:** 17 January 2020, 18:19:31 »

Big boom again.

rebs · « **Reply #129 on:** 24 January 2020, 02:20:55 »

Well, it seems the Curiosity rover has frozen in place due to a software malfunction. The rover is seven years old, far exceeding mission specs, but it would be a shame to lose it now.

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/305205-mars-rover-is-frozen-in-place-following-software-error

BirdofPrey · « **Reply #130 on:** 24 January 2020, 02:25:20 »

Wait, Curiosity doesn't have any subroutines for checking and reacquiring it's position?
That seems like an unfortunate omission.

Wrangler · « **Reply #131 on:** 24 January 2020, 06:56:36 »

Quote from: rebs on 24 January 2020, 02:20:55

Well, it seems the Curiosity rover has frozen in place due to a software malfunction. The rover is seven years old, far exceeding mission specs, but it would be a shame to lose it now.

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/305205-mars-rover-is-frozen-in-place-following-software-error

Weird that there no backup computer that could take over. Odd and kinda sad if this is the end of Curiosity. When you think a nuclear powered rover can't out last a older, long as the struggling but, tough (and cheaper) Opportunity by a number of years.

Hopefully the Curiosity will be able get over the software glitch.

hoosierhick · « **Reply #132 on:** 24 January 2020, 08:57:56 »

The rover is still alive and they're in communication with it. I'd be highly surprised if they don't get it moving again.

Wrangler · « **Reply #133 on:** 28 January 2020, 19:51:17 »

Curiosity 7 years ago and now same pose. The geekologie blog recently posted this.

Looks like it needs a car wash!

rebs · « **Reply #134 on:** 28 January 2020, 20:09:57 »

Wow. Look at all that red dust.

rebs · « **Reply #135 on:** 15 February 2020, 03:53:09 »

Seems the object formerly known as "Ultima Thule" now has a proper name bringing it into line with astronomical naming conventions. "Arrokoth" is featured in a link below, detailing it a little bit more with the newest hi-resolution data as sent back by the New Horizons probe.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/details-pour-in-from-new-horizons-visit-to-a-kuiper-belt-object/?amp=1

Daryk · « **Reply #136 on:** 15 February 2020, 05:07:27 »

Interesting link, thanks! :thumbsup:

rebs · « **Reply #137 on:** 25 February 2020, 05:43:00 »

Mars is a seismically active body. NASA's InSight lander has recorded 450 "Marsquakes" in a relatively short amount of time. The activity places Mars somewhere between the Moon and the Earth in level of seismic activity.

https://www.space.com/amp/nasa-insight-lander-mars-seismically-active.html

marauder648 · « **Reply #138 on:** 25 February 2020, 11:46:55 »

Quote from: rebs on 25 February 2020, 05:43:00

Mars is a seismically active body. NASA's InSight lander has recorded 450 "Marsquakes" in a relatively short amount of time. The activity places Mars somewhere between the Moon and the Earth in level of seismic activity.

https://www.space.com/amp/nasa-insight-lander-mars-seismically-active.html

That's interesting, the core's not quite as dead as folks thought then if that's the case :)

Wrangler · « **Reply #139 on:** 25 February 2020, 12:03:54 »

Quote from: marauder648 on 25 February 2020, 11:46:55

That's interesting, the core's not quite as dead as folks thought then if that's the case :)

Its the Mole people. (J/K)

The core could be just still "seattling" without real mans see the molten core, no way say it's dead dead.

rebs · « **Reply #140 on:** 25 February 2020, 13:02:37 »

I think the core of Mars is still warm, though not molten.

Interesting bit from the article was that while most of the quakes originated in the crust, several were stronger quakes that originated in the mantle.

Wrangler · « **Reply #141 on:** 27 February 2020, 07:24:14 »

China's Lunar Rover ran into a huge pile of moon dust, like 39 feet of the stuff!

The story was reported in the Business Insider.

Wrangler · « **Reply #142 on:** 12 March 2020, 14:41:05 »

Wow, you guys been quiet. Like Space...

Anyways, i was thinking this other day and i guess NASA was interested in it. So now it's on display.
I know not many people like SpaceX, but their Falcon 9 stage 1 rockets are revolutionary since they come back on their own.

So one their boosters is now a museum piece at the NASA's Houston Space Center. Collect Space posted this article. Given now the last of the 1st generation of the Dragon capsule is now docked with the ISS. I wonder if it will find it's way to museum too.

kato · « **Reply #143 on:** 12 March 2020, 15:00:16 »

Quote from: Wrangler on 12 March 2020, 14:41:05

their Falcon 9 stage 1 rockets are revolutionary since they come back on their own.

Meanwhile, back in 1996:

Quote

Ariane-5's solid-rocket boosters are designed for high reliability and minimum cost. Already during the preliminary design stage, the possibility of recovering the boosters after flight was therefore considered to be of great interest for meeting both of these goals. To ensure enhanced reliability during the entire production phase, there will be stringent post- flight inspection of the spent boosters. The possibility of refurbishing and reusing the recovered boosters has, however, been rejected. It is currently considered a non-cost-effective option because of the specific design and reliability complications that this would incur. It is currently planned to recover four boosters per year.

http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet85/gigo85.htm

Falcon 9 Stage 1 burns out and separates at about the same point in travel as Ariane 5's boosters btw.

Wrangler · « **Reply #144 on:** 12 March 2020, 15:17:24 »

Thing is SpaceX went ahead did it, when ESA wasn't able figure out how to make cost effective to recover them.

SpaceX is saving a lot money for it's customers, while ESA isn't. I'm not saying SpaceX is end all of things that zoom into orbit, but their trying do something transformable in rather formerly stagnated field of aerospace. Space technology could been somewhere else if costs were lowered when the Space Shuttle made it's appearance.

Now their talking about commerical space stations for real, with Axion company alleged to launch modules to the ISS, then separate it from ISS.

Daryk · « **Reply #145 on:** 12 March 2020, 15:22:17 »

Cool... That sounds like the ISS is our first space shipyard! 8)

Wrangler · « **Reply #146 on:** 12 March 2020, 15:38:03 »

Quote from: Daryk on 12 March 2020, 15:22:17

Cool... That sounds like the ISS is our first space shipyard! 8)

it sounds like it. Hope they go with it. Bigelow Aerospace suppose to be finally getting something off the ground as well.

I read recently about the deal Axion made with NASA on Space.com

This is what suppose to look like if this works out.

Wrangler · « **Reply #147 on:** 15 April 2020, 11:43:48 »

Largest Supernova seen has been detected (this was reported on Reuters.) in a small galaxy 4.6 billion light years from Earth. The supernova has been designated, SN2016aps.

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #148 on:** 15 April 2020, 12:15:02 »

Big badda boom.

Daryk · « **Reply #149 on:** 15 April 2020, 16:39:58 »

Nice! And they remarked we might be able to see some of the first stars formed if they died that particular way...