And just for shits and grins

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Imi8-rCicaQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Unfortunately, actual humans would be very sadly incapable of that travel. It would kill them pretty quickly because of hydrogen itself.

If any night owls are interested RocketLab has a NASA launch tonight at 11:25pm (with a 2-hour launch window). It's a tiny little rocket, but still fun to watch.

Here's the official stream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zzu7hI0ESM

And here's Tim Dodd's hosted version, which I like just because he has good commentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbUbuH7pkU0

Also, this is super cool.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starlink fairing deploy sequence <a href="https://t.co/2aOmxWDx8w">pic.twitter.com/2aOmxWDx8w</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1270466922459459590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I'd forgotten that Rocket Lab is now trying to recover their boosters by catching it under parachute with a helicopter. That's kind of fun.

There's the SpaceX way and then the ghetto way.

Damn high winds!

Not that anyone is surprised...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s official, the James Webb Space Telescope will be delayed again.<a href="https://t.co/iNt3vojCaj">https://t.co/iNt3vojCaj</a></p>&mdash; Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1270772289324408835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I won't be getting up for it, but there's yet another Starlink launch tomorrow morning around 5:30am ET.

Rocket Lab is giving it a go again in just a few minutes.

Go little guy, go!

Everyone missed a spectacular launch this morning. First launch I've ever seen go up and over the horizon. Trail caught the rising sun in the east. Sunrise from the Cape was at 6:38 , launch went up at 5:21. Amazing to watch.

What were those rings that blew off the second stage nozzle after engine ignition?

https://www.spacex.com/launches/

2:49

Totally a guess, but I would think it is some sort of a buffer ring to both help seal the connection of 1st stage and 2nd stage, and also perhaps something to help ease the separation. Looked like once the 2nd stage lit up the ring pops off from the heat or vibration and is under enough tension that is snaps.

Yep. It's a cork ring for stability on launch.

I didn't watch, but the pics look super cool.

https://i.redd.it/8daqircdwp451.jpg

Interview with Bob and Doug regarding the launch:

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/1...space-shuttle/

But you can see it fly off the engine nozzle. It isn't attached to the the rocket body.

Like MacKenzie, A?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starlink fairing deploy sequence <a href="https://t.co/2aOmxWDx8w">pic.twitter.com/2aOmxWDx8w</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1270466922459459590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

T -2m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtsvTQdRGYw

Bummer.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a second stage failure, Rocket Lab loses seven satellites <a href="https://t.co/qNZLurWVAX">https://t.co/qNZLurWVAX</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SciGuySpace</a></p>&mdash; Ars Technica (@arstechnica) <a href="https://twitter.com/arstechnica/status/1279553590860951553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This isn't "exploration" so much as it's just cool, but if you are willing to get up before sunrise the next few days, you should be able to see the comet NEOWISE in the east just above where the sun comes up.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to see Comet NEOWISE ☄️<br><br>Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project captured comet NEOWISE along with the International Space Station in this dawn view of Rome, Italy. �� There&#39;s not much time left to see the comet. Here&#39;s how you can see it: <a href="https://t.co/UMBa2E5nSl">https://t.co/UMBa2E5nSl</a> <a href="https://t.co/ClD1lYBPXR">pic.twitter.com/ClD1lYBPXR</a></p>&mdash; EarthSky (@earthskyscience) <a href="https://twitter.com/earthskyscience/status/1281035098092118016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also, Starlink launch tomorrow morning at 10:54am ET.

If this doesn't convince you that the moon landings were faked, then nothing will.....

https://www.iflscience.com/space/thi...nsFBTtRuI-9Kak

Has anyone seen this yet? I've looked the past few nights when we didn't have clouds with no luck.

I went out around 4:30am on Sunday and caught it. Shitty cell phone shot, but...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...658007e2c8.jpg

eDave caught it as well:

It's been cloudy every evening here, though. Looking like it MIGHT be clear enough tonight. We'll see.

One tip is to use an app on your phone to help figure out where it should be. I use Star Walk 2 on Android, but there are probably a variety that could do it.

Awesome pics by you and edave. I use sky map but it isn't tracking comets. I'll either get up early or keep watching late.

Should be appearing after sunset now.

What day did you take your pic?

7/10. Around 4:30am.

https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/show...&postcount=272

Thanks. I'm going to try in the morning. As of now I've only tried at night.

I don't believe it is visible in the morning. Look how far it traveled between mine and Daface's pics which were both taken at 4:30 local. And mine has mountains in front of the true horizon. She's outta there. I'm going to hike up a small neighborhood mountain I use to view monsoons coming up from the south through Indian territory and try and get a view but I bet S. Mountain will block my view looking north. May drive out tomorrow for another shot. Maybe climb S. Mountain but it sucks coming down at night.

Good info. I hope the tail is still as visible when it comes up at night.

I think it will be getting higher each night for a few nights, but it'll also get dimmer. Good luck!

Got it. Visible right now. At the 5 o'clock from the big dipper. You can see it with the naked eye but a much better view with binocs. Will fire up the telescope from now on.

Nice, glad you caught it!

Any updates on this?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_2020

Looks like they put the rover and capsule on the rocket on 7/7.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/0...navirus-cases/

Current launch time is 7:50 am EST on 7/30, but the window for launch extends until 8/15.

Thanks!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NASA&#39;s Johnson Space Center public affairs officer Kyle Herring says that SpaceX&#39;s Crew Dragon Endeavour is getting ready to return from the space station on August 2: <a href="https://t.co/rQzuKiEia5">https://t.co/rQzuKiEia5</a></p>&mdash; Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) <a href="https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1284132485924818944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is as cheesy as you'd expect from NASA, but here's a little about the next Mars rover set to launch soon.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1P-QBtEyDbQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This is awesome!

So, Perseverance is going to have a small helicopter drone inside that will fly out and scout the terrain? That's pretty amazing. It's crazy how far technologically we've come since the first time we landed a rover on Mars. I love it.

Yeah, that was the big news to me. That could be a really useful tool.

Here's a super cool shot. (click for the full version - you can't see the comet in the small version)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Comet NEOWISE over Falcon 9 and ANASIS-II vertical on SLC-40. Today’s launch window opens at 5:00 p.m. EDT and closes at 8:55 p.m. EDT, and weather is looking 70% favorable → <a href="https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK">https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK</a> <a href="https://t.co/5ITydgvQVI">pic.twitter.com/5ITydgvQVI</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1285264295417110528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Launch coming up here in a few hours.

T-2 minutes

Sweeet bump bro. Thanks

Landing video was nice this time.

They caught both fairing halves yesterday. Neat!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/4VHZr8gK6D">pic.twitter.com/4VHZr8gK6D</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1285632635335782401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NASA is currently targeting 2:35 p.m. ET (18:35 UTC) on Sunday, August 2, 2020 for the landing of the Dragonship Endeavour mission.</p>&mdash; Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) <a href="https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1285999905274814469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You guys had a chance to see NEOWISE yet?

Had some beautiful views over the weekend. I'm lucky living in the country is SD though. My lazy city friends haven't made the effort to see it yet.

Headed up to Big Bear this weekend to sip whiskey on a deck at the top of the mountain and look for the comet that hasn't been here in 7000 years. That's Mesopotamia and they worshiped lizard beings which when I put the signs together that tells me Sammy Watkins is gonna have a great year.

This is a little long, but here's a nice overview of how Perseverance compares to Curiosity. First chance for launch is early (7:50am EDT) on Thursday. It'll be on NASA TV.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UEO77UEFGT4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've seen the comet a few times, but during work, so I haven't had a good chance to really look at it or take a picture. Turns out that old commercial twin turboprop aircraft aren't great platforms for taking pictures of celestial bodies. Go figure.

Hoping to find some clear sky tomorrow night, take my scope and my camera for a spin.

Virgin Galactic unveils space plane's cabin, poised for commercial flights

https://news.yahoo.com/virgin-galact...180322439.html

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ngx0...Interior.0.jpg

Anyone want to give me the $250k for a ticket? I'm game.

Ready to fly!

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ya...VjHsPZg8hT.jpg

This won't quite have the "pucker factor" of the manned launch, but man...I hope it goes well. Lots of super cool tech on this one.

T-5 minutes

You definitely get a little spoiled by SpaceX's production quality, but she's off!

Happened to catch the launch this morning. Really cool.

Hopefully by the year 2120 our space vessels won't look like giant tampons anymore.

Inner space, outer space there isn't that much difference...…..

This is the first time I've really actually heard the roar of the thing as it heads out. It must sound massive in person. It's an awesome sound.

Mark your calendars this Sunday for The Return of Bob and Doug:

Weather permitting, NASA and SpaceX are targeting 2:42 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 2, for the splashdown and conclusion of the Demo-2 test flight mission, which is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, lifted off May 30 on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

I was at the Cape today for this launch. That was the loudest rocket I've heard since the Space Shuttle. It was shaking the metal doors behind me.

Wonder if they'll have to put them in the Gulf. There's a hurricane bearing down on Florida on the Atlantic side.

This weekend could be a lot of fun. On top of Bob and Doug coming home, SpaceX will hopefully be ready to hop Starship SN5. No set date and time on that one, but probably Sunday or Monday at the earliest.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/8lpvwbeC4R">pic.twitter.com/8lpvwbeC4R</a></p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1288935356310552576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looks like they think that weather in the Gulf will be OK on Sunday.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: Teams from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASA</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> remain GO with plans to bring <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Doug?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Astro_Doug</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AstroBehnken?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AstroBehnken</a> home to Earth on Sunday afternoon. We will continue to monitor weather before undocking Saturday night. Read more: <a href="https://t.co/GjXe4q6tQA">https://t.co/GjXe4q6tQA</a></p>&mdash; Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1289368655545786368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's probably not going to be the most engaging television, but departure is tomorrow night at 7:34 p.m. EDT. Splashdown will be much more of a stress-inducer and is scheduled for 2:42 p.m. EDT on Sunday.

Also, I'm not sure if anyone else is geeky enough to care like I do, but Gwynne Shotwell is scheduled to be at the post-splashdown press conference. I love her interviews. She takes Elon's insanity and compresses it into a plan that's actually achievable.

Sounding like it. I read that they have four potential recovery areas to pick from. Does that mean that they have four different recovery ships on those areas?

This is cool!

https://spacexfleet.com/next-2/

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Visual of the two sites in red.<br><br>Scrollable map: <a href="https://t.co/PLa4xeEA7q">https://t.co/PLa4xeEA7q</a> <a href="https://t.co/gzT0OaERmy">pic.twitter.com/gzT0OaERmy</a></p>&mdash; Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com (@SpaceXFleet) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1289333553642139649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yeah, that's a nice resource. Cool.

To your earlier question, I would assume that the decision set is winnowed down as we get closer to the window. I know they started with 7 options, and you had alluded to 4. Now it looks like they're down to 2. So they probably just need to move the recovery ships to the right place, but I bet they can do that in 12 hours or so on either side.

Makes sense. I shudder to think of the math required to get the accuracy needed. Those really don't look very far off land.

Eh, it's super complex I'm sure, but it's also super predictable, and the equations haven't really changed since the early days of space flight. These days, I'm sure computers can figure it out nearly instantly.

I looked it up. Some of the Mercury and Gemini flights were off by tens of kilometers. One was 400. No worse than 5 kilometers for Apollo.