Science Space Exploration megathread - Page 240

**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.

**DaFace** · 11-23-2020, 03:31 PM

Well this is a huge bummer. I knew it was damaged a month or two ago, but it's hard to fathom that the entire thing will need to be demolished. RIP to an iconic piece of scientific equipment.

Following engineering assessments concluding damage to Arecibo Observatory cannot be addressed without endangering the lives and safety of crew and staff, NSF plans to decommission the 305-meter telescope: https://t.co/En0S7OOhY4 pic.twitter.com/bB70XNud0v
— National Science Foundation (@NSF) November 19, 2020

**Donger** · 11-23-2020, 03:35 PM

We'll have to find another way to talk to them, I guess.

**ptlyon** · 11-23-2020, 03:35 PM

WTH happened to it?

**Donger** · 11-23-2020, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

WTH happened to it?

A hurricane and two earthquakes.

**ptlyon** · 11-23-2020, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

A hurricane and two earthquakes.

Guess that would do it. Thanks.

**DaFace** · 11-23-2020, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

WTH happened to it?

The initial issue was that a giant (like 4" diameter) cable pulled loose, and in the fall it took out a big chunk of the dish below. More recently, the increased loads took out another cable, and the troubling part is that that cable gave out well under its expected loads.

So now they're nervous about all of the other cables, and they're afraid that, if another one goes, the loads on the rest will be too much and the entire thing will fail catastrophically. And when you're nervous about a giant piece of equipment failing catastrophically, you don't put workers in areas where such a failure would almost certainly be fatal.

So here we are. I'm sure that, with enough money, they could fix it. But it's been underfunded for years now, and it sounds like it's just too risky to try and fix it.

**ptlyon** · 11-23-2020, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

We'll have to find another way to talk to them, I guess.

Contact Karen carpenter

**ptlyon** · 11-23-2020, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

The initial issue was that a giant (like 4" diameter) cable pulled loose, and in the fall it took out a big chunk of the dish below. More recently, the increased loads took out another cable, and the troubling part is that that cable gave out well under its expected loads.

So now they're nervous about all of the other cables, and they're afraid that, if another one goes, the loads on the rest will be too much and the entire thing will fail catastrophically. And when you're nervous about a giant piece of equipment failing catastrophically, you don't put workers in areas where such a failure would almost certainly be fatal.

So here we are. I'm sure that, with enough money, they could fix it. But it's been underfunded for years now, and it sounds like it's just too risky to try and fix it.

Thank you

GloryDayz · 11-23-2020, 03:56 PM

I hope they can build it back even bigger and more precise.

And no more movie Ops....

**DaFace** · 11-23-2020, 04:31 PM

Starlink launch is bumped again to tomorrow fwiw. I'll probably stop providing updates on it aside from a bump closer to launch.

GloryDayz · 11-24-2020, 07:12 AM

**Donger** · 11-24-2020, 03:36 PM

Looks like they might try another SN8 three Raptor static fire today:

GloryDayz · 11-24-2020, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Looks like they might try another SN8 three Raptor static fire today:

I tried to stick with it but there just doesn't appear to be any timeline for anything and the chit-chat got a lot redundant and silly. "If I stowaway......?"

unlurking · 11-24-2020, 04:50 PM

Yeah, they have no idea. This is just all based on activity seen during prior tests. Keeping in a small corner of one screen and checking the "check list" occasionally. I keep the feed muted and ignore the chat. I mostly can't stand the people narrating these things.

**Donger** · 11-24-2020, 04:51 PM

Did you guys know that one of the abort modes for the shuttle was RTLS, basically the same thing as a Falcon 9 boost back maneuver? I had no idea:

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..
Posts: 52,542	1 0

11-23-2020, 03:31 PM	#3586
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $76899	Well this is a huge bummer. I knew it was damaged a month or two ago, but it's hard to fathom that the entire thing will need to be demolished. RIP to an iconic piece of scientific equipment. Following engineering assessments concluding damage to Arecibo Observatory cannot be addressed without endangering the lives and safety of crew and staff, NSF plans to decommission the 305-meter telescope: https://t.co/En0S7OOhY4 pic.twitter.com/bB70XNud0v — National Science Foundation (@NSF) November 19, 2020
Posts: 52,542

11-23-2020, 03:35 PM	#3587
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	We'll have to find another way to talk to them, I guess. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 187,185

11-23-2020, 03:35 PM	#3588
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $11153829	WTH happened to it? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 37,574

11-23-2020, 03:56 PM	#3594
GloryDayz (Sir/Yes Sir/Aye Aye Sir) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diving Casino cash: $2185380	I hope they can build it back even bigger and more precise. And no more movie Ops.... __________________ . #Like 45, 47 Is Going To Be AWESOME! #I still don't have COVID
Posts: 119,508

11-23-2020, 04:31 PM	#3595
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $76899	Starlink launch is bumped again to tomorrow fwiw. I'll probably stop providing updates on it aside from a bump closer to launch.
Posts: 52,542

11-24-2020, 07:12 AM	#3596
GloryDayz (Sir/Yes Sir/Aye Aye Sir) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diving Casino cash: $2185380	__________________ . #Like 45, 47 Is Going To Be AWESOME! #I still don't have COVID
Posts: 119,508

11-24-2020, 03:36 PM	#3597
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	Looks like they might try another SN8 three Raptor static fire today: __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 187,185	2 0

11-24-2020, 04:50 PM	#3599
unlurking MVP Join Date: Aug 2003 Casino cash: $7737309	Yeah, they have no idea. This is just all based on activity seen during prior tests. Keeping in a small corner of one screen and checking the "check list" occasionally. I keep the feed muted and ignore the chat. I mostly can't stand the people narrating these things. Attached Thumbnails __________________
Posts: 10,620

11-24-2020, 04:51 PM	#3600
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $8529900 VARSITY	Did you guys know that one of the abort modes for the shuttle was RTLS, basically the same thing as a Falcon 9 boost back maneuver? I had no idea: __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 187,185