Space News thread

[Luigi]

We did evolve from monkeys remember.

Actually no, we didn't.

We are all modern species that have followed different evolutionary paths, though humans share a common ancestor with some primates, such as the African ape, we didn't evolve from monkeys.

We split from our common ancestor about 5-8m years ago, one of these lineages went on to evolve into gorillas and chimpanzees, another lineage went on and evolved into us.

[Looper]

^Tedious pedantry.

3/10

[Luigi]

Just some education for the likes of Jim, and those that watch the Discovery Channel.

[Sumbitch]

What is wrong with caring about sex, money and living the high life?

Some measure of hedonism is not entirely incompatible with a tandem loftier quest for knowledge and understanding of the universe and our place in it.

We did evolve from monkeys remember.

I don't deny that: I've been and am a brilliant hedonist, if I may so myself.

I'm only saying that the survival of the human species should have priority over all of those other things by a long shot and, being a natural skeptic, I say it ain't gonna happen. Now I must admit that, clearly, my own emotions, e.g., self-survival, are definitely an influence on my opinion, even if only allowing me time to 'escape' or 'concentrate' on something other than my own personal self-preservation.

[Luigi]

A newly discovered asteroid the size of a city bus gave Earth a close shave this morning (Dec. 19), zipping well within the orbit of the moon.

The near-Earth asteroid 2015 YB, which is about 34 feet (10 meters) wide, cruised within a mere 36,800 miles (59,220 kilometers) of the planet at around 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT) today, just two days after the space rock was first spotted.

To put that near miss in perspective: The moon orbits Earth at an average distance of 239,000 miles (384,600 km), and geosynchronous satellites fly about 22,000 miles (35,400 km) from the planet's surface.

The asteroid was traveling at roughly 32,300 mph (52,000 km/h) relative to Earth at the time of closest approach, according to scientists with NASA's Near-Earth Object Program

Bus-Size Asteroid 'The Flea' Buzzes Earth

[kingwilly]

^ Thanks, I know you're trying to help, but I got lost at 'take a right turn at the first 7-11 you come to then ..... '

Best Android apps for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers - Android Authority

[palexxxx]

^ Thanks Willy, tried to green you but you know the saying "share the love".

[kingwilly]

no problem.

[Takeovers]

Exciting times coming up for me. As you all probably noticed I am a great fan of SpaceX. After their launch failure in June they had a stand down for finding and correcting the reason for that failure. They are now ready to launch again.

This time with an updated version of their Falcon rocket, the Falcon 9 FT, that's full thrust, with higher thrust of their engines. A number of improvements, stronger engines, subcooled propellants to get more fuel into the tanks. A slightly larger second stage with larger engine nozzle.

In total these improvements will give the Falcon 9 ~30% more launch capacity. But they are not planning to launch larger payloads. The improvement will give them the performance they need to recover the first stage on all flights.

But first they need to land a first stage successfully. On two previous attempts they came close but failed at the last moment to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. For this flight they got permission from the Airforce and from the FAA to fly back to the launch site and try for a land landing which should be somewhat easier than on a barge.

Tonights launch attempt has excellent weather conditions. However getting a rocket with so many improvements to launch for the first time is tricky so it is quite possible that they have to scrub and not launch today. If so they can try again tomorrow. After that they will probably stand down for the holiday season but they really want it done now. Wish them good luck.

SpaceX | Webcast

A link to the SpaceX webcast of the launch.

Event starts Mon, Dec 21 2015 2:29 AM Eastern Standard time. The webcast begins ~25 minutes earlier.

There is a YouTube live stream too. It is already running and shows a countdown clock.



Worth watching, a good chance for history being made if all goes well and the stage lands successfully.

[Looper]

asteroid the size of a city bus

There will be another one along in a minute.

[Takeovers]

Launch is off for tonight for unclear reasons. Attempt will be tomorrow.

Weird, the countdown clock is still ticking for tonight.

[kingwilly]

Oh well. Good luck.

[Takeovers]

Launch attempt today is still on. The links I gave are still valid for today.

Speculation is that it is some kind of problem chilling enough LOX - Subcooled liquid oxygen. The previous version of the Falcon rocket used LOX at boiling temperature. Thats easy and cheap. They have now switched to subcooled LOX near freezing temperature. That is a lot more difficult to cool and after a number of tests they may run out of sufficiently cooled LOX. The cooling allows more propellant to load into the same tanks, increasing performance. When they have done it once with success, major repeat problems are not likely.

[palexxxx]

Just watched the successful launch of Falcon 9 and then return and landing of the first stage. Amazing.

[Takeovers]

They have DONE IT.

The first stage has landed back on the Cape. Meanwhile in orbit the second stage has successfully finished its burn. The satellites of the customer Orbcomm will begin deploying shortly.

A huge, a monumental success.

Live coverage from space, the first satellites are deployed.

[palexxxx]

Unfortunately the event was ruined by the assembled crowd with their chant of "usa, usa, usa,usa ...."

[Takeovers]

Another important step is coming soon. They need to show they are able to relight their second stage. That capability was not needed for this flight but will be needed for the next flight. They did it before but the second stage is quite significantly changed so they do need to reprove that ability.

Meanwhile more satellites are being deployed, just one left now.

Edit: all satellites successfully deployed.

[Takeovers]

The landed stage.

[Takeovers]

Short video of the landing.

[Takeovers]

Unfortunately the event was ruined by the assembled crowd with their chant of "usa, usa, usa,usa ...."

They are the people who actually built that rocket, standing right on the factory floor. They have every right to shout what they want.

[harrybarracuda]

Unfortunately the event was ruined by the assembled crowd with their chant of "usa, usa, usa,usa ...."

They are the people who actually built that rocket, standing right on the factory floor. They have every right to shout what they want.

And look like c u n t s doing it.

Especially as half the parts are probably made in China anyway.

[Takeovers]

Especially as half the parts are probably made in China anyway.

Actually, no. As Elon Musk puts it, metal comes in on one side, rockets leave on the other side. They build almost everything in house, right there, in the outskirts of Los Angeles.

And the Chinese have already said, they cannot build rockets at that price.

[harrybarracuda]

Especially as half the parts are probably made in China anyway.

Actually, no. As Elon Musk puts it, metal comes in on one side, rockets leave on the other side. They build almost everything in house, right there, in the outskirts of Los Angeles.

And the Chinese have already said, they cannot build rockets at that price.

I didn't say where they built it, I said where parts are made.

[Takeovers]

didn't say where they built it, I said where parts are made.

I talked about the parts too. They do almost everything in house. The strut that failed in june was an exception, they buy those from an external supplier. They don't make every screw and bolt and resistor, that's true. But they do things like valves, avionics boards. They build everything carbon fibre composite, the engines and their components. The tanks, the tank domes the thrust structures. As I said, mostly metal in, rockets out.

Not like ULA who buy almost everything except the tanks and do only the final assembly.

[Takeovers]

For those who did not look at it live. A youtube video from launch to landing to payload deployment. Up to landing is the first 10 minutes, after that it is about the payload.




The landing from a helicopter. A short clip.




This is how precise the landing was. Less than 5 meters from the landing pad center. After coming back from maybe more than 200km horizonal and an altitude of ~160km.