Strollen
3932
An interesting article on astronaut selection. I continue to be impressed byJim Bridenstine, Biden would do well to keep Jim on as his token Republican. Also Davenport is good reporter on space, and his book Space Tycoons is a good read.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/09/15/with-more-chances-fly-space-than-ever-before-us-astronauts-are-still-unsure-how-they-get-picked/
Today I learned Mordor exists…and it is on Charon (Pluto’s largest moon)
Wouldn’t that be seen as aggression towards Russia now that the Russians have annexed Venus along with Crimea?
No way I claimed it before Russia! Get off my planet!
Romalar
3937
I saw those articles and I’m wondering about the other spacecraft near and approaching Venus, but there’s no mention of them in any of the articles I have found.
The Japanese have a probe already orbiting Venus called Akatsuki, though it sounds like it’s on its last legs since it’s been running out of maneuvering fuel for a while.
The Parker Solar Probe from NASA and the Solar Orbiter from ESA are supposed to do several more flybys for gravity assists and observations over the next several years. If they can figure anything out they’ll have a lot of close approaches to try it before anyone else can get a mission off the ground.
Strollen
3938
A new space documentary came on Netflix last week. The “final flight of the Challenger.” Four parts pretty good but not great. Spends a lot of time talking to the family of the crew, and some of the engineers and other workers at NASA and Morton Thikol, the faulty booster manufacturer.
The teacher, who was the back up for Christa McAuliffe was probably the best interview, really gave good insight into what a great person and dedicated teacher she was. The 4th episode which covered the Challenger commission and the invaluable role of Physicist Richard Fenyman was done well but felt rushed.
It is interesting the Challenger explosion is indeliable imprinted in my memory but I had to google to the name of the 2nd shuttle was that was lost. Columbia
Lamalo
3939
That’s the one I remember, due to having the first Israeli astronaut on board - Ilan Ramon.
Later on his son died in a training flight on a F16.
Such an unfortunate family, his widow passed away from cancer two years ago.
Fun space thing to try from right here on Earth, if you’ve got reasonably dark skies:
The post also includes some interesting history of records of pre-Herschel sightings as a ‘star’, and the tidbit that Herschel originally named it “George”.
The Moon is in the way right now, so better in a couple of weeks. What the maps in the post don’t show is that the area to look in will be just about halfway along a line drawn between the Pleiades and Mars (which you should be looking at anyway, because it is close and bright right now).
Can you spot Uranus by looking for Klingons?
This one’s right up your alley, @YakAttack . Go boldly, when you need to go.
Romalar
3943
All the details Reddit cared to ask about:
Apparently the team likes potty humor.
Something or other is launching in about an hour.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches a half hour later.
Scrubbed.
I appreciate Elon’s candor
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1312249542125842434. They’ll be lucky to hit 25 this year, which will be far more than any other country/company…
Romalar
3946
They’re behind the Chinese, though.
Looks like the ISS supply mission took off fine from Virginia, but there’s quite a backlog in Florida. The classified Delta IV Heavy launch that keeps scrubbing is on-hold for at least a few days, and SpaceX has two launches backed up now. The GPS one that just scrubbed could launch tomorrow, but only if they figure it out very quickly. The Starlink launch that had bad weather and then ground equipment problems is apparently targeting Monday, unless tonight’s problem somehow applies to that one as well.
Wouldn’t it be easier to put a regular bathroom and toilet in a spinning wheel to simulate gravity?
Matt_W
3948
Until the Coriolis makes you vomit and you have it coming out of both ends.
RichVR
3949
And if you really have to go, you still have to read the instructions first.
Click for readability.
What happens if the toilet is occupied and you really have to go?
Tman
3951
Nice shot here. From the thread, this may be only the 2nd time someone has captured a rocket going through the moon, so pretty rare if indeed true.
