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Minmus Taster

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    SpaceX Discussion Thread

    in Science & Spaceflight

    Posted

    1 minute ago, PakledHostage said:

    Do we have any credible rumors yet, w.r.t. a launch date? Space.com was anticipating a launch within 3 weeks, 2 weeks ago, so by their reckoning it should be in the next week or so?

    They need permission to launch from the FAA, could come tomorrow or in a month for all we know : P

    Long term storage of fuel and oxidizer in space.

    in Science & Spaceflight

    Posted

    1 hour ago, StrandedonEarth said:

    Should be able to with a JWST-class sunshield. But that is multi-layered, and the biggest problem is preventing conduction from reaching the tank. Multiple sunshields for different directions would be needed to deal with planetshine 

    Is it possible you could avoid the planetshine issue by stationing the tanks at a planets L2 point? That way you could have a system where some tanks can be stored in orbit and regularly refueled incase someone needs them and the larger tanks can be placed at L2 for long range craft to use.

    SpaceX Discussion Thread

    in Science & Spaceflight

    Posted

    20 minutes ago, DAL59 said:

    Why has there been little discussion of using Starship for planetary probes? Wouldn't access to a cheap, super heavy launch vehicle allow missions like Dragonfly and the Uranus Orbiter to be much quicker by allowing direct routes instead of needing multiple gravity assists? I know Starship isn't an operational vehicle yet, but if NASA is willing to use it for as its plan for Artemis in just 2.5 years, why don't any missions slated for 5+ years in the future, when even pessimistically Starship will be available, plan to use it? A faster mission profile also reduces the plutonium requirements. 

    In the case of the Uranus Orbiter (if it actually becomes a mission) the problem isn't just getting there, it's being able to slow down to get into orbit. Of course you want to be going fast enough for it to get there within a FEW presidential terms but also not so fast it can't insert itself into orbit once it's there. That's why no one has sent an orbiter that far, a recent study for a Pluto orbiter (much further than Uranus but still puts things into perspective) had the cruise phase for the orbiter taking nearly 30 YEARS to get there. Not to mention it needed like 5 RTG's to power it that long:

    Why NASA should visit Pluto again | MIT Technology Review

    Create a hypothetical mission

    in Forum Games!

    Posted

    Thought this would be a fun world building exercise. Propose a space mission of some kind. It can be manned or unmanned and take place in any location as long as it is somewhat grounded in known or plausible physics/technology. Build a fictional proposal for a NASA probe or go full kerbal and send an interplanetary craft of poor souls to neptune. If this thread gains traction we could also do votes for which proposals to "fund" like real world concepts.

    NASA CLPS Program

    in Science & Spaceflight

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, darthgently said:

    Ironic in hindsight as it would have made discerning the final orientation a lot quicker

    It apparently may still be ejected just to see what shape the lander is in, so maybe we'll end up with a SLIM-like image

    Japan's SLIM achieved pinpoint moon landing with just one working engine - SpaceNews

    NASA CLPS Program

    in Science & Spaceflight

    Posted

    1 hour ago, cubinator said:

    I wonder if they can get that third-person video of the landing and tipover, from that camera that they apparently launched out of the side(?). That would be especially exciting.

    9 minutes ago, StrandedonEarth said:

    Yes, definitely hoping to see that. I'm also waiting/hoping for some official to admit they "kerballed" the landing. That's slang for a non-optimal but survivable landing that I would love to see adopted...

    Unfortunately I'm reading an article which states the camera wasn't used, power priority was given to saving the lander when the rangefinders failed ;.;

    How livable is Titan?

    in Science & Spaceflight

    Posted

    Mainly curious about the atmospheric pressure, could a human survive in the denser atmosphere assuming they had a suit that would keep them warm? Or would they be crushed? Also curious about the the temperature, water collection, and different options for habitats.

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