Author Topic: Deep Space and Interplanetary Exploration - Houston, we are go for launch!  (Read 117517 times)

rebs

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To be brutally honest, I hope not. I'd rather see a private space truck that met an actual need for commercial spaceflight, which the government could get value out of.

The old "space tug" format, for example. Something that lives in orbit, and can move packages into geo, lunar, or interplanetary orbits, and come back. Needs refuelling infrastructure, but something with good delta vee, grappling capabilities, couple of weeks life support, and a decent airlock for EVA capacity - a solution looking for problems.
The beauty of it is those problems already exist!  They are just dawning on the new civilian space industry, but they exist until corrected.

My above idea for us to actually establish a base on the moon would require a space tug or a few new space trucks.

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Daryk

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I think it's going to be a while before private industry outspends governments in space.  Not that that's a good thing, just how I think it is.

Wrangler

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Japan had a smaller human size robotic arm they were testing on the ISS right now, which last capsule (Endeavor) delivered.   They're saying if it's built that the Luna Outpost station will have a smaller robotic arm than the ISS and Space Shuttle had.  I honestly could see the trunk of the Dragon 2, which was only meant as a day tripper vessel mounting stuff to used to repair Hubble if they want spend the money. Only thing is they'd loss the arm or it would need some how fitted into the nose cone, which i think it could work.  Butt end of the capsule would be exposed to the re-entry side of the plasma.

That said, if Starship works out. That thing certainly has cubicage to fit a robotic arm, ever mind a version of it could be made INTO optic (and returnable) Telescope.
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worktroll

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Next suggestion - use Dragon like the crew capsule on the Soyuz. Mission modules have all the good stuff - engines, crew hab, arms & docks. Except leave the modules in orbit for re-use. That makes perfect sense to me.

And yes, Dragon with harpoons for snagging & de-orbiting dead satellites.
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Wrangler

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Main chutes deployed on Dragon 2 / Inspiration4 mission! - SpaceX Youtube



EDIT: Splash down! Their safe.
« Last Edit: 18 September 2021, 18:09:43 by Wrangler »
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
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Daryk

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Great news!  :thumbsup:

rebs

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Next suggestion - use Dragon like the crew capsule on the Soyuz. Mission modules have all the good stuff - engines, crew hab, arms & docks. Except leave the modules in orbit for re-use. That makes perfect sense to me.

And yes, Dragon with harpoons for snagging & de-orbiting dead satellites.

That's a great idea about modules left in orbit for later use. 

I had an idea: large platforms with their own propulsion that take large and heavy cargos to and from the lunar surface.  Have two on hand (at least), and simply bring cargo destined for the moon and the fuel to power the platforms. 

This is essentially the ultimate evolution of the age old shipping palate.  Only in this case, the palate will be capable of flying itself. 
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Daryk

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That would make the best possible argument for a space elevator on the moon (which we have the materials for RIGHT NOW)!  :thumbsup:

rebs

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That would be practice for one on Mars one day.  :thumbsup:
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Daryk

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That too!   :thumbsup:

rebs

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The experience of construction in space, and building megastructures in particular, is what I like.  The moon would be the perfect lab for a space elevator. 

That's also why I liked the idea of constructing a radio telescope in a crater on the far side, or my own idea of a permanent manned base or other settlement.  Just to get experience and to build the infrastructure we need in the future.
« Last Edit: 18 September 2021, 22:40:50 by rebs »
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Wrangler

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If reports are correct, the Chinese apparently are going route i had thought would work better for long term space travel.
Build a large ship in orbit and just put powerful engine on it to avoid radiation.  You would need assemble ship in orbit, but it properly worth it.

However, I'm uncertain if that is their intention vs a large space station.   
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rebs

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Yep, China is currently studying the process of building a kilometer long spaceship in orbit.  The official statement from their government called it "an urgent need". 

What the Chinese say, they tend to do.  Not to get all rule 4, but every space agency in the world needs to focus on the near future.  It's the new race, the new frontier.  And I am glad to see things unfolding.  It can be rough here on the ground, in the moment, but we will survive, and so will our children, and theirs, etc. 

And maybe one day we can use space to bridge the east-west gap and work together as one species.  But until then, it's a new age and a new race.  We will only lose if we don't run, is the way I see it.
« Last Edit: 18 September 2021, 23:17:38 by rebs »
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rebs

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Speaking of infrastructure in space, Lockheed-Martin has invested in a refueling system in orbit.  The planned satellites are meant to service and extend the life of other satellites already in space. 

Details in the link below...

https://phys.org/news/2021-09-gas-station-space.amp
« Last Edit: 19 September 2021, 10:34:25 by rebs »
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rebs

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NASA'S Artemis program will have a rover called VIPER (volatiles investigating polar explorer rover) land in the mountainous Nobile Region of the moon's southern polar area, at a site near permanently shadowed ground suspected of holding water ice. 

Of course, we have to wait until 2023, but I suspect we will be happy with the results of this one.  Details are in the following link.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-artemis-rover-to-land-near-nobile-region-of-moon-s-south-pole

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rebs

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NASA will be splitting its manned spaceflight program into two directorates.  Directorate number one will oversee spaceflight in to low Earth orbit, as well as to and from the ISS.  Directorate two will be in charge of Moon missions and eventually Mars missions.   All this is a reaction to the new commercial interests in space.

Details are in the following link...

https://news.yahoo.com/nasa-splits-human-spaceflight-unit-014533618.html
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rebs

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Scientists propose that Mars once had thousands of volcanic eruptions on its surface.   That was about 4 billion years ago, when it also probably had an ocean covering its northern hemisphere.

Read more in the following link...

https://www.universetoday.com/152614/although-its-quiet-today-mars-once-had-thousands-of-volcanic-eruptions-on-its-surface/amp/
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ANS Kamas P81

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https://mashable.com/article/jupiter-space-impact-asteroid?amp

Jupiter got hit by a decent sized pebble, it was visible to amateur astronomers and they got video of it.  No expectation of any visible damage to the planet, compared to Shoemaker-Levy 9's impact.

rebs

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This happens a lot, it seems.  It would be exciting to have a base either on or in orbit at Calisto, and get to see or at least be in-system when fireballs happen every few years.
« Last Edit: 26 September 2021, 21:27:55 by rebs »
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rebs

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Speaking of Jupiter, it's been ten years since NASA launched the Juno mission.  Here is a decent article about it with the ten top images taken.

https://news.yahoo.com/10-years-nasa-launched-juno-114900494.html
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rebs

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Do you like cool sunsets?  Scientists have discovered a triple star system with an exoplanet that has an orbit that may encompass all three stars.

Details in the following link...

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2291710-exoplanet-in-a-triple-star-system-may-orbit-all-three-at-once/
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Daryk

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Looks interesting, but... paywall...  :-\

rebs

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My bad, dude.

Well, I'll post a different link soon when my feed updates again.  News like this usually spreads to the free ones too.
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Daryk

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No worries... I'll look for your updated link!  :thumbsup:

rebs

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Holy awesome!   The NY Times is free, and they had their own article about the triple star with a planet.  It's a good read!

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/28/science/triple-sun-planet.html
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Daryk

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Free to you maybe... I get smacked with an even worse paywall interface than New Scientist...  :-\

rebs

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Well double damn!  I'll keep an eye out.   :thumbsup:
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rebs

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ESA's BepiColumbo will reach Mercury in the following few hours.  It's their first visit to Mercury.  While it will eventually orbit Mercury, it will orbit the sun for now until gravity of passing by the scorched little planet multiple times slows it down.

Details in the following link, courtesy of the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58754882
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rebs

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Daryk!  I found an OK article about the newly observed evidence for a planet orbiting a triple star system.

No stupid paywall, either!  :thumbsup:

https://www.livescience.com/amp/triple-star-planet-orion-simulations
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Rainbow 6

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Daryk!  I found an OK article about the newly observed evidence for a planet orbiting a triple star system.

No stupid paywall, either!  :thumbsup:

https://www.livescience.com/amp/triple-star-planet-orion-simulations

Interesting read, cheers for sharing.

 

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