Science Space Exploration megathread - Page 233

**DaFace** · 07:17 AM

Since a number of cool things are happening in space exploration these days, we'll widen the scope of this thread a smidge. Conversation about all things space exploration are welcome, whether it be from NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, or anyone else. Chances are most of the discussion will still be about SpaceX since they love to make things public and fun, but nothing's off limits. I'll eventually get around to modifying the OP to include resources for other companies too, but in the meantime, feel free to post any cool stuff you run across.

Lists of Upcoming Missions

Spoiler!

How to Watch a Live Launch

Spoiler!

Where to Learn More

Spoiler!

Glossary

Spoiler!

Space discussions tend to get a little bogged down in jargon, so here's a list of terms you might encounter. (Others, please let me know of others that should be added.)

ASDS - Autonomous Spaceport Droneship - The "barges" that they sometimes land rockets on.
Dragon - The cone-shaped capsule that sits at the top of the rocket for ISS-bound launches that holds the cargo (or, in the future, humans).
F9 - Falcon 9, the name of the rocket itself.
FH - Falcon Heavy, the three-booster version.
GTO - Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, a type of orbit that will eventually result in the satellite orbiting the earth as it turns so that it seems to be in the same spot from the ground (such as DirecTV or Dish satellites). These types of launches are particularly challenging because they require a lot of power to get them into the right orbit, leaving very little fuel left for landing.
HIF - Horizontal Integration Facility - the building near the launch pad where they put all of the pieces of the rocket together before rolling it out to the pad.
ISS - The International Space Station
JRTI - Just Read The Instructions, the name of the "barge" that they land on for west-coast launches.
LEO - Low Earth Orbit, a fairly low orbit shared by many satellites and ISS. These launches usually require less power to achieve the proper orbit, so the first stage can often be landed back on land rather than on a drone ship.
LZ1 - Landing Zone 1, basically a big open slab of concrete at Cape Canaveral where the first stage will attempt to land (for some launches).
NET - No Earlier Than, basically the date they're hoping to launch, but rocket launches have a tendency of getting delayed.
OCISLY - Of Course I Still Love You, the name of the "barge" that they land on for east-coast launches.
RTLS - Return to Landing Site, a mission where the first stage comes back and lands at LZ1.
Starship - SpaceX's next-generation rocket (and spacecraft) that will hopefully one day take us to Mars. Starship is the "second stage" that will carry cargo or people, but also refers to the whole system. (It's confusing, but think of it like the Space Shuttle, which was both the shuttle itself and the entire launch system.)
Super Heavy - The giant booster that will carry Starship to space.

**Donger** · 11-10-2020, 05:59 PM

GloryDayz · 11-11-2020, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

BREAKING: @NASA and @SpaceX have completed certification of #CrewDragon! I’m extremely proud to say we are returning regular human spaceflight launches to American soil on an American rocket and spacecraft. More: https://t.co/VGPPAtSll3 #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/jUZx0BBPwb
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) November 10, 2020

This is AWESOME...

**Donger** · 11-11-2020, 08:51 AM

Hydrae · 11-11-2020, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Love the first item on the pre-test checklist:

Pointy end up,
Flamey end down

**DaFace** · 11-11-2020, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Love the first item on the pre-test checklist:

Pointy end up,
Flamey end down

You either love or hate Tim's style, but I find him to be pretty amusing. (Note "check pants" as the last checklist item as well.)

**Donger** · 11-11-2020, 03:33 PM

STATIC FIRE! Starship SN8 has fired up a single Raptor, this time - *for the first time ever* - using the Nosecone LOX Header Tank.

This is a key test related to the second part of SN8's flight test.

Mary (@BocaChicaGal) livestreaming:#SPARKS!https://t.co/quDI9KFndh pic.twitter.com/yNpw6xOlmJ
— Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) November 11, 2020

**DaFace** · 11-11-2020, 04:50 PM

All looks good for the crew launch. Weather is currently 60% go.

Static fire of Falcon 9 complete – targeting Saturday, November 14 at 7:49 p.m. EST for launch of Crew Dragon’s first operational mission to the @space_station with four astronauts on board. Teams will continue monitoring weather conditions for liftoff and along the flight path
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 11, 2020

Hog's Gone Fishin · 11-12-2020, 06:40 PM

**Donger** · 11-13-2020, 10:39 AM

Nov. 13 Atlas 5 • NROL-101

Launch time: 2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST)

Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 531 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, three solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. The mission was changed from an earlier planned “551” configuration. This will be the first launch of an Atlas 5 rocket with new Northrop Grumman-built GEM-63 solid rocket motors, replacing the Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ-60A solid rocket motors used on previous Atlas 5s. Delayed from September, October, and Nov. 3. Scrubbed on Nov. 4 by valve issue on ground liquid oxygen system. Delayed from Nov. 6, Nov. 8, Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.

Hopefully they can get this bird to finally fly. I hope it doesn't mess up the Crew-1 launch tomorrow...

**DaFace** · 11-13-2020, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Nov. 13 Atlas 5 • NROL-101

Launch time: 2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST)

Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 531 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, three solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. The mission was changed from an earlier planned “551” configuration. This will be the first launch of an Atlas 5 rocket with new Northrop Grumman-built GEM-63 solid rocket motors, replacing the Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ-60A solid rocket motors used on previous Atlas 5s. Delayed from September, October, and Nov. 3. Scrubbed on Nov. 4 by valve issue on ground liquid oxygen system. Delayed from Nov. 6, Nov. 8, Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.

Hopefully they can get this bird to finally fly. I hope it doesn't mess up the Crew-1 launch tomorrow...

Though I don't know for sure, I have to imagine that the crew launch would take precedent. If Atlas doesn't go tonight, I think it gets delayed until next week.

unlurking · 11-13-2020, 11:02 AM

I would think so too. Crew-1 has significant milestones and media concerns.

**Donger** · 11-13-2020, 03:48 PM

T-30:00 bump

**Donger** · 11-13-2020, 04:13 PM

Is there a stream for NROL?

unlurking · 11-13-2020, 04:15 PM

**DaFace** · 11-13-2020, 04:19 PM

Their T-4 minute hold always weirds me out.

06-01-2014, 09:40 AM
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $76899	Space Exploration megathread Since a number of cool things are happening in space exploration these days, we'll widen the scope of this thread a smidge. Conversation about all things space exploration are welcome, whether it be from NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, or anyone else. Chances are most of the discussion will still be about SpaceX since they love to make things public and fun, but nothing's off limits. I'll eventually get around to modifying the OP to include resources for other companies too, but in the meantime, feel free to post any cool stuff you run across. Lists of Upcoming Missions Spoiler! General lists: https://nextspaceflight.com/ http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ SpaceX specific list: https://spacexnow.com/upcoming.php How to Watch a Live Launch Spoiler! SpaceX: https://www.spacex.com/launches/ ULA: https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedLaunchAlliance RocketLab: https://www.youtube.com/user/RocketLabNZ NASATV will also cover some launches (primarily ISS resupply missions): https://www.youtube.com/user/NASAtelevision Where to Learn More Spoiler! Some cool pics... https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/ https://www.instagram.com/spacex/?hl=en Twitter feed is usually interesing... https://twitter.com/SpaceX https://twitter.com/elonmusk The SpaceX sub is a great source of info... https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/wiki/index And for a more forum-style discussion board... http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php#c17 And there are plenty of YouTube channels with great content... Joe Scott - Lost of "future" discussion. Some about rockets and space. Much that goes beyond. Scott Manley - Super smart dude (engineer) who reviews a lot of major events in space exploration. Frazer Cain (Universe Today) - Podcast-style videos that go in-depth into space topics. Tim Dodd (Everyday Astronaut) - A "random dude" who got really into space (particularly SpaceX). He's a great resource for simple explanations of this stuff, as well as live hosting launches. USLaunchReport - Lost of videos of the more mundane stuff (e.g., booster recovery operations). Not a ton of commentary. NASASpaceFlight - Live hosting of most launches including a ton of video of Starlink operations. Glossary Spoiler! Space discussions tend to get a little bogged down in jargon, so here's a list of terms you might encounter. (Others, please let me know of others that should be added.) ASDS - Autonomous Spaceport Droneship - The "barges" that they sometimes land rockets on. Dragon - The cone-shaped capsule that sits at the top of the rocket for ISS-bound launches that holds the cargo (or, in the future, humans). F9 - Falcon 9, the name of the rocket itself. FH - Falcon Heavy, the three-booster version. GTO - Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, a type of orbit that will eventually result in the satellite orbiting the earth as it turns so that it seems to be in the same spot from the ground (such as DirecTV or Dish satellites). These types of launches are particularly challenging because they require a lot of power to get them into the right orbit, leaving very little fuel left for landing. HIF - Horizontal Integration Facility - the building near the launch pad where they put all of the pieces of the rocket together before rolling it out to the pad. ISS - The International Space Station JRTI - Just Read The Instructions, the name of the "barge" that they land on for west-coast launches. LEO - Low Earth Orbit, a fairly low orbit shared by many satellites and ISS. These launches usually require less power to achieve the proper orbit, so the first stage can often be landed back on land rather than on a drone ship. LZ1 - Landing Zone 1, basically a big open slab of concrete at Cape Canaveral where the first stage will attempt to land (for some launches). NET - No Earlier Than, basically the date they're hoping to launch, but rocket launches have a tendency of getting delayed. OCISLY - Of Course I Still Love You, the name of the "barge" that they land on for east-coast launches. RTLS - Return to Landing Site, a mission where the first stage comes back and lands at LZ1. Starship - SpaceX's next-generation rocket (and spacecraft) that will hopefully one day take us to Mars. Starship is the "second stage" that will carry cargo or people, but also refers to the whole system. (It's confusing, but think of it like the Space Shuttle, which was both the shuttle itself and the entire launch system.) Super Heavy - The giant booster that will carry Starship to space. Last edited by DaFace; 10-13-2024 at 07:17 AM..
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11-10-2020, 05:59 PM	#3481
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	__________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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11-11-2020, 08:51 AM	#3483
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	__________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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11-11-2020, 03:33 PM	#3486
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	STATIC FIRE! Starship SN8 has fired up a single Raptor, this time - for the first time ever - using the Nosecone LOX Header Tank. This is a key test related to the second part of SN8's flight test. Mary (@BocaChicaGal) livestreaming:#SPARKS!https://t.co/quDI9KFndh pic.twitter.com/yNpw6xOlmJ — Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) November 11, 2020 __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 187,184

11-11-2020, 04:50 PM	#3487
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $76899	All looks good for the crew launch. Weather is currently 60% go. Static fire of Falcon 9 complete – targeting Saturday, November 14 at 7:49 p.m. EST for launch of Crew Dragon’s first operational mission to the @space_station with four astronauts on board. Teams will continue monitoring weather conditions for liftoff and along the flight path — SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 11, 2020
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11-12-2020, 06:40 PM	#3488
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-119523
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11-13-2020, 10:39 AM	#3489
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	Nov. 13 Atlas 5 • NROL-101 Launch time: 2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 531 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, three solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. The mission was changed from an earlier planned “551” configuration. This will be the first launch of an Atlas 5 rocket with new Northrop Grumman-built GEM-63 solid rocket motors, replacing the Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ-60A solid rocket motors used on previous Atlas 5s. Delayed from September, October, and Nov. 3. Scrubbed on Nov. 4 by valve issue on ground liquid oxygen system. Delayed from Nov. 6, Nov. 8, Nov. 11 and Nov. 12. Hopefully they can get this bird to finally fly. I hope it doesn't mess up the Crew-1 launch tomorrow... __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 187,184

11-13-2020, 11:02 AM	#3491
unlurking MVP Join Date: Aug 2003 Casino cash: $7737309	I would think so too. Crew-1 has significant milestones and media concerns. __________________
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11-13-2020, 03:48 PM	#3492
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	T-30:00 bump __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 187,184

11-13-2020, 04:13 PM	#3493
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	Is there a stream for NROL? __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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11-13-2020, 04:15 PM	#3494
unlurking MVP Join Date: Aug 2003 Casino cash: $7737309	__________________
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11-13-2020, 04:19 PM	#3495
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $76899	Their T-4 minute hold always weirds me out.
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