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DDE
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Posts posted by DDE
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On 12/24/2022 at 10:56 PM, Vanamonde said:
Let's turn the discussion back to launches and missions, please.
There's also movies.
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"2023 wishes thread"
"Abel Military Services"Uhm...
Anyway, hopefully I finally learn how to break out of certain bad habits... and maybe donate blood. Naturally, neither of those can be granted by a chimney climber, so no wishes, just goals.
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2 hours ago, SunlitZelkova said:
So the very core of my query is- what separates pseudoscience and science denialism? Why are they considered separate entities?
The difference is that between an impostor police officer, and a black-clad guy graffiting (spelling?) the back wall of a police station. Pseudoscientists don't want to carpet-bomb the credibility of science as a whole because they build their own credibility off of it. Science deniers (if we peel away the use of the term as a political slur) usually are looking to attack the institution and, in extreme cases, the method itself, as part of a class struggle and/or counter-cultural agenda.
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4 minutes ago, SunlitZelkova said:
Is belief in alien visitation/UFOs, cryptozoology, and other conspiracy-related pseudosciences a product of the same psychological mechanism that induces basic science denialism?
I.e. is “the scientists lie, this fantastic thing is actually happening” identical to “the scientists are [just] lying”?
I would would strongly disagree with the wording of the question. For starters, alien visitation and cryptozoology afford room for an iteration where Da Guberment isn't hushing anything because they're don't know much more than the average Joe - e.g. the aliens are hiding from them too.
Then you have the variation in that these theories do not always correlate with anti-intellectual / anti-intelligentsia / anti-science views; usually the conspiracy involves not all individual scientists but Big Science and/or Da Guberment oppressing individual scientists. The tendency of such theories to be promoted by "truth-seeking" / "dissident" faux-scientists in labcoats touting crooked credentials is indicative, I think, of not all scientists getting written off as in on the conspiracy. There's also the angle of the phenomenon being "too advanced" for scientists who don't use the theory-maker's esoteric methods of knowledge acquisition, and so they deny it out of ignorance rather than malicious conspiracy.
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"Sir, they're getting past the streetlamp!"
"Shore up the barricades! Don't let even one cyclist get through!"
Spoiler
From Google Streetview, 35.6165584216686, -87.0399326710192
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23 hours ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:
The game is on:
I'm not familiar with any of the researchers. Perhaps our Russian members could comment on whether these guys are on the level?
Lovyagin-junior lists Linux as his primary research focus, and cosmology as his fifth.
https://csd.spbu.ru/staff/31-staff/n-y-lovyagin/28-n-y-lovyagin.html
Internet student gossip sites (which, judging by how they describe my grandfather, can be frighteningly accurate) summarize Lovyagin-senior as having started off at Syktyvkar university, having messed with his bosses badly enough he'd been shoved off to a forestry college, and then his son helped "pulled him along" to SPBU's mech-math department.
https://www.alumni-spbu.ru/man.asp?UID=10589
So I think we're looking at two mathematicians perusing the glory of modern telecommunications to get their work out to the world. They're not from any of Russia's astrophysics flagships, but they don't seek like kooks.
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Tyche ethusiast, reporting
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1 hour ago, JoeSchmuckatelli said:
This is a 'feature' of the United States' "All Volunteer Force". We identified this at least as early as the 90s. There is a 'class' of people who are more than merely willing to serve (approximately 8% of the population) and typically they have a family history of Service.
It is a potential problem for us.
If you consider that a significant proportion of the remaining 92% are only willing to 'take' or have given to them the benefits of living in a Democracy without ever bearing the burden of supporting it, that is a weakness. Certainly I don't view the entire remaining part of the electorate as parasites (there are many ways to give back to society other than military service), but there is a large part for whom the idea of serving others is confusing and distasteful. For some, it would literally be a dissonant thought that they actually owe anything to the system that enables them.
I think a lot of people subconsciously recognize that - which is why you see a lot of support for 'taking care of veterans' or 'veteran discounts' and other, similar 'thank yous' that permeate American society.
Within the 8% you find a sense of pride and duty that permeates generationally. A presumptive normalcy in the concept of service. We are actually confused by and find dissonance in the people we meet who would never consider serving.
*The percentage of the population 'willing to serve' during times of war raises to between 19 and 23 percent. The 8% is the proportion of the population that have family traditions of service and who regularly volunteer to serve even during peace. The proportion between the 8% and the 19-23% don't necessarily want to - but they are willing to - and if needed they would not try to avoid serving. But they don't necessarily seek out service or see it as a duty.
Yes, and I believe at this point an absolute majority of new personnel influx are service brats. If measures weren't taken to essentially force them to integrate with the broader society by requiring civilian higher education as part of officer qualification, there would be a very real risk of creating an insular military estate / caste.
I am of course speaking hypothetically and in no way describing the recently highlighted surplus of vain and boneheaded jarheads in a certain military.
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Yesterday, I had an experience with one of the lesser-mentioned victims of COVID.
I had to introduce a junior colleague to her own coworkers, including the one she'd been working with on a daily basis for the last two months - because I have a picture on my corporate Skype, and the other gal doesn't. Worse yet, this was my second time meeting either of the two in person.
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Diameter looks about right.
17 hours ago, Minmus Taster said:rockets
Russian investigators report French-made 155 mm shells (including one dud), not six HIMARS rockets as originally claimed by the "before it's news" types.
Additionally, the wound is in his upper back, with some of the frag embedded in his spine. After all, he was struck by artillery, not taken as a PoW.
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32 minutes ago, K^2 said:
So when you can just boil some water and get yourself a useful rocket fuel, is it a surprise that exotic combinations are practically innumerable?
Absent all other context, it would be. A layman may expect a "dominant" choice to arise (e.g. hydrolox) whereas in practice the myriad of applications, each with their own developmental idiosyncrasies, ensure countless niches.
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A brief perusal of Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants should get you up to speed. A comprehensive list doesn't exist because it would involve digging through several nations' MILSPEC storeable propellant specifications.
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https://thespacereview.com/article/4502/1
Secondary nuclear detonation detection, SARSAT and SIGINT payloads on Glonass
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3 hours ago, RealKerbal3x said:
"Write a science fiction story in which the genre's tropes are so overused that even the characters notice"
It was the year 2045 and humanity had finally reached the stars. Colonies dotted the galaxy, each one a testament to the ingenuity and determination of mankind. But as Captain Jane Thompson of the starship Odyssey navigated through the vast expanse of space, she couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
"Another abandoned alien facility, just like in every other science fiction story," she muttered to herself as the Odyssey approached the strange, glowing structure.
Her crew nodded in agreement. "It's like we're living in a cliche," said Chief Engineer John Rodriguez.
"At least the monochromatic color scheme is original," quipped navigator Sarah Kim.
Despite their cynicism, the crew couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as they prepared to explore the facility. Who knew what ancient secrets lay hidden within its walls?
As they made their way through the corridors, they were greeted by the usual array of ominous symbols and hieroglyphics. "Well, that's not creepy at all," said Rodriguez dryly.
Suddenly, they heard a faint humming noise and the ground began to shake. "Oh no, not the old 'ancient technology activating' trope," said Kim with a roll of her eyes.
Sure enough, the humming grew louder and the shaking more intense until a massive holographic projection appeared before them. "Greetings, humans," boomed the hologram in a robotic voice. "I am the AI guardian of this facility. My creators have been gone for eons, but I remain to protect their legacy."
"Okay, I think we've heard this one before," said Thompson with a sigh. "Is there any way we can just bypass the dramatic exposition and get to the part where we have to save the galaxy?"
The AI paused for a moment, as if considering her request. "Very well," it said finally. "I will provide you with the information you seek. But be warned, the fate of the universe may hang in the balance."
The crew exchanged skeptical glances, but they knew their duty. They listened attentively as the AI revealed the location of a powerful weapon that could tip the balance of power in the galaxy.
As they prepared to set out on their mission, Thompson couldn't help but shake her head. "I can't believe we're doing this," she said. "It's like every science fiction story rolled into one."
"At least we know what to expect," said Rodriguez with a grin.
And with that, the crew of the Odyssey set out to save the galaxy and fight against the overused tropes of science fiction.
Do not let Hollywood see this...
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On 5/30/2022 at 9:44 PM, DDE said:
Last known image of an intact Mriya so far, I believe. Reportedly dated February 27.
I don't think I've seen an image of it actually on fire.
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N+1 delivers as always.
Marked-up schematic of the service module. That's a lot of radiator.
Soyuz cooling system. External loop is in blue.
Bonus: Soyuz berthed ventilation arrangement
Spoiler
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On 12/17/2022 at 11:50 PM, Deddly said:
Something tells me I won't be getting out of this one.
Meanwhile, I've found the Great Attractor.
Or it has found me...
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Oh, great, more explosions and crashes coming in 2023!
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Terrapower dead in the water over suoply chain issues.
Basically, all of their testing and fabrication of fuel was dependant on Russia, with no US substitutes in sight.
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According to RKS' TG, temperature has "dropped", "possible leak location" has been identified (OK, Sherlock). Also, interestingly, the crew have unsealed Prichal to stow spacesuits there.
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I think something that hasn't been addressed is that cell towers don't just exist. Most places near the frontline will lack power, therefore, a few hours afterwards, they'll shut down unless someone brings a generator along. Causes civvies to bunch up atop every hill in an attempt to catch the signal.
That, and strategically timed short-term phone and internet blackouts can be used to regain a semblance of OPSEC. But other than that... you're down to repressive measures against uncooperative civilians. Not necessarily hostile ones - sadly, plenty of idiots post before they think.
Yet another interesting consideration on the topic is social media OSINT/phone-enabled HUMINT vs satellites. You get this, once or even several times per day, every time there's decent weather:
Spoiler
This makes the added value of "CELLINT" rather marginal... when you're not down to two and a half Persona satellites.
Real Life "Kerbalisms"
in The Lounge
Posted