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_Augustus_

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Everything posted by _Augustus_

  1. _Augustus_
    I set up the Ronchi tester today. I have an oblate spheroid, which is pretty close to a sphere and should return to that once polishing is done. Apparently the focal length is actually 47", using measurements of the ROC taken from the distance between the mirror and tester. Interesting.
  2. _Augustus_
    What version of KSP are you using? I am not having that issue. I have no idea. Not causing me any problems. You can use stock/stockalike engines but you will need bigger rockets than usual.
  3. _Augustus_
  4. _Augustus_
    Went back and reprocessed a Jupiter image from last month. http://www.astrobin.com/303393/?nc=user It turned out pretty good!
  5. _Augustus_
    Don't forgot Curiosity and M2020. The instrumentation is different but the build, RTG, etc. are the same.
  6. _Augustus_
    I may or may not make the 6" into a scope, but I am definitely getting a 10" blank next weekend.
  7. _Augustus_
    Why, and how do you know that?
  8. _Augustus_
    Leaving them in the sun, then pouring acetone on the mirror and tool to remove the remaining pitch.
  9. _Augustus_
  10. _Augustus_
    Polished for another 30 minutes after retrimming the lap.
  11. _Augustus_
    Seeing as NASA just admitted that it can't afford putting humans on Mars or even the Moon I think SLS/Orion will soon be cancelled by POTUS, Congress, or both. https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/07/nasa-finally-admits-it-doesnt-have-the-funding-to-land-humans-on-mars/
  12. _Augustus_
    I went and bought a hot plate so that I wouldn't have to make a mess on/around the stove. The hot plate worked very well, and I probably warmed up the pitch a bit too much. But I managed to pour and press the lap without difficulty. I trimmed the lap using the rubber grid supplied in the kit, then microfaceted it with an Xacto knife. The grid and microfacets exist to allow the cerium oxide to flow across the surface of the lap. I polished for around an hour. The mirror looks closer to polished out now. The channels in the lap wore down very fast, and part of the lap appears worn (I don't have a better description). I will have to retrim the lap tomorrow.
  13. _Augustus_
    Pitch and cerox are here. I bought dental plaster but apparently that takes a few days to cure, and I'm not waiting for that. I will use the plaster for a sub diameter lap for my 10" later on.
  14. _Augustus_
    I beveled the 6" mirror and then went back and ground with some 305 emery to remove some very shallow scratches. There's one scratch left near the edge but it shouldn't affect much. Polishing supplies arrive tomorrow.
  15. _Augustus_
    I don't know where I heard this but I think it sums this up: "If they actually knew anything about the things they reported on, they wouldn't be reporters."
  16. _Augustus_
    I meant the LR87, oops.
  17. _Augustus_
    Are you going to make engines for the Titan rockets? I can make a Redstone out of existing parts but not a Titan.
  18. _Augustus_
    Ordered pitch, cerium oxide, and dental plaster so that I can finish the 6".
  19. _Augustus_
    The 6" is free! I will order more supplies and finish it soon.
  20. _Augustus_
    The 6" is almost separated from the lap. I might be able to finish it after all!
  21. _Augustus_
    I'm aiming for f/7-f/8. This allows for a 1.83" secondary for maximum contrast, but short enough to not really need a ladder. The OTA will use a split-tube design for portability.
  22. _Augustus_
    I am going to begin construction of the mechanical parts of the 10" planet killer later this week. Mirror blank will be obtained at Stellafane.
  23. _Augustus_
    I'm fine with this but I am concerned about the precedent that this sets. A dozen or more of these could seriously affect ground-based amateur and professional astronomy....
  24. _Augustus_
    Stage separation!
  25. _Augustus_
    Liftoff!
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