702 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I think some of these ideas work, but not with big payloads.

[Mike K.]

^^Yes, but not dual launch using kinetic energy.

[dasmo]

The new airships can carry heavier loads farther and cheaper than helicopters can, with lower emissions than fixed-wing aircraft—potentially zero emissions, if the ships are powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

 

https://www.smithson...gain-180979343/

[Victoria Watcher]

In an embarrassing slipup, representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) told a high school audience on Monday that the Moon was a "planet" that's — yes, really — "made up of mostly gases."

 

In reality, of course, our closest celestial neighbor is largely composed of solid rock.

 

In a video of the event, which took place before the total eclipse that plunged much of Texas into darkness and still live on her X-formerly-Twitter page at press time, Jackson Lee seemed hazy on almost everything related to our planet's natural satellite.

 

"You’ve heard the word 'full Moon,'" she said. "Sometimes you need to take the opportunity just to come out and see a full moon is that complete rounded circle, which is made up mostly of gases."

 

"And that’s why the question is why or how could we as humans live on the Moon?" Jackson Lee added. "Are the gases such that we could do that?"

 

 

 

 

https://futurism.com...aims-earth-moon

 

 

 

 

"What you will see today, will be the closest distance that the moon has ever been in the last 20 years, which means that’s why they will shut the light down, because they will be close to the Earth, which is an amazing experience," she said.

 

Jackson Lee already has a reputation for making eyebrow-raising statements about space. As Sky News reports, in 1997 she demanded that NASA show her the flag its astronauts had planted on Mars — in spite of the fact that none have ever visited.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 April 2024 - 03:34 PM.

[Nparker]

I am not sure if this an indictment of the American education system, the Democratic Party, the state of Texas or all three.

[lanforod]

or perhaps just of democrat voters...

[Victoria Watcher]

https://www.spacex.c...umanspaceflight

 

[Victoria Watcher]

This X account has some good video of that metor over Spain and Portugal on the weekend:

 

https://x.com/MeteoTrasMontPT

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]

12-minute recap of last flight vs. this one coming up:

 

What's different and new on Starship Flight 4?

 

YouTube VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/O5G...cqtxPCgFLqrpdtj

[Victoria Watcher]

SpaceX will launch its next Starship megarocket test flight early in the morning on Thursday, June 6, and if you're hoping to watch it live, you'll need to know when and where to tune in. And for that, dear space fans, we've got what you need. 

 

SpaceX is targeting an 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) launch for its Starship Flight 4 test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy megarocket from the company's Starbase facility in South Texas. While that time could change a bit ahead of launch, it's a great target to time your watch party. 

 

SpaceX will offer a free live webcast of the Starship Flight 4 launch beginning at about 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT). You can watch the livestream here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX. Here's a look at exactly when and how to watch Starship's next launch.

 

 

https://www.space.co...aunch-what-time

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Japanese Billionaire Just Canceled His Private SpaceX Flight Around the Moon

 

https://ca.news.yaho...-220000132.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 June 2024 - 10:14 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

11 minutes until launch:

 

LIVE on YouTube:   https://www.youtube....lgfZ6lF049f3OVE

[Victoria Watcher]

32 of 33 engines working, one didn't fire.

 

On its way up!

 

Stage separation worked, all 13 main ship engines lit.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 June 2024 - 04:54 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Booster splashed down in one piece at a slow speed (in the future it'll land on a drone ship or land, even into the chopsticks grabber).

 

Heat tiles on starship look good, few or none missing.

 

Starship is in space now, 191km up, going 26,300 kmh.

 

It's going to go up to 200km or so, then try to re-enter.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 June 2024 - 05:06 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

It's coming back down!

 

150km up.  Big re-entry heat-up coming within 10 minutes.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 June 2024 - 05:30 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Well, it splashed down, after an engine burn near the water.

 

Looks like at least part of it burned a bit though.

 

97% success I'd say.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 June 2024 - 06:00 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Elon Musk’s Starship has successfully returned to Earth for the first time, completing its fourth mission and several critical tests.

 

SpaceX’s previous three test flights ended with a fiery explosion for the 400ft tall launcher, but each made incremental progress and gathered fresh data.

 

Engineers at the rocket company used today’s test flight to demonstrate some of the rocket’s reusable technology by performing a “soft” landing at sea of its Superheavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

 

https://www.telegrap...tarship-rocket/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 June 2024 - 06:05 AM.

[todd]

“Astronauts in Boeing capsule arrive at space station”: https://www.bbc.com/...os/c8vvrrv1mg1o

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]