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  1. #3026
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    2 of these 18 will be the next man and first woman to walk on the moon.
    Still sending fragile expensive heavy humans eh?

    Nips had cybernetic heroes in the 60's, they stopped?


  2. #3027
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    Still sending fragile expensive heavy humans eh?
    Humans are still vastly superior to robots in most tasks. Especially when flexibility is required. A human can pick up a hammer and hit deficient equipment, often an adequate method of fixing things. The Mars insight lander is still not able to drill as planned. Large teams of engineers and scientists here on Earth have worked on it for years without success. A human on location could fix the problem in 10 minutes.
    "don't attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence"

  3. #3028
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    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43 View Post
    I would place my $ on China leaving the USA far behind in space exploration in the coming years.
    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    You are forgetting Space X, a private company but very definitely American.

    Simon43 is right as far as NASA is concerned. NASA, micro managed by Congress, is structurally incapable of achieving anything. Especially in human spaceflght but the blight is spreading to science missions. What they do achieve is at least overpriced by a factor of 10, factor steadily increasing. That's due to requirements set by Congress but also due to self perpetuating organisational inertia within NASA. NASA centers keep getting bigger, more expensive to maintain, while their science output declines.

    Still, in science probes NASA is way ahead, but China is advancing, while NASA is declining in self paralysis.

    SpaceX is revolutionizing spaceflight at an astounding pace at miniscule cost. But SpaceX can not replace the science functions of NASA on their own budget.

  4. #3029
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Takeovers View Post
    Simon43 is right as far as NASA is concerned. NASA, micro managed by Congress, is structurally incapable of achieving anything. Especially in human spaceflght but the blight is spreading to science missions. What they do achieve is at least overpriced by a factor of 10, factor steadily increasing. That's due to requirements set by Congress but also due to self perpetuating organisational inertia within NASA. NASA centers keep getting bigger, more expensive to maintain, while their science output declines.

    Still, in science probes NASA is way ahead, but China is advancing, while NASA is declining in self paralysis.

    SpaceX is revolutionizing spaceflight at an astounding pace at miniscule cost. But SpaceX can not replace the science functions of NASA on their own budget.
    You're forgetting how much technology the chinkies have stolen, significantly fast tracking their space program and eliminating those pesky R&D costs.

  5. #3030
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    You're forgetting how much technology the chinkies have stolen, significantly fast tracking their space program and eliminating those pesky R&D costs.
    That's not how it works. The US bought the full construction plans for the Russian RD-180 engines including the license to build them. They have a stock of flightworthy engines to look at. Yet when Aerojet Rocketdyne was asked to build them so purchasing them from Russia can be banned, they declared they will need 5+ years to build them. The manufacturing process is the hard part and it needs to be mastered. Espionage helps very little.

  6. #3031
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Takeovers View Post
    That's not how it works. The US bought the full construction plans for the Russian RD-180 engines including the license to build them. They have a stock of flightworthy engines to look at. Yet when Aerojet Rocketdyne was asked to build them so purchasing them from Russia can be banned, they declared they will need 5+ years to build them. The manufacturing process is the hard part and it needs to be mastered. Espionage helps very little.
    Well that went sailing over your head didn't it?

  7. #3032
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Well that went sailing over your head didn't it?
    I really do not understand your baseless ranting against China. I don't like them any better than you. But try to be realistic.

  8. #3033
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Takeovers View Post
    I really do not understand your baseless ranting against China. I don't like them any better than you. But try to be realistic.
    I am. There is an absolute shitload more technology to space exploration than rocket engines. And the chinkies will have nicked loads of it.

  9. #3034
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    It's the 20th anniversary of the International Space Station (ISS), and they are issuing award certificates to anyone who manages to receive the SSTV (slow scan TV) images that they are transmitting until 31st December. ISS is of course, in a low earth orbit, which means that each pass over your location is only about 10-14 minutes in length, with the signal starting weak as it comes above the horizon, getting stronger as the ISS gets higher in the sky, and then fading away again as it disappears over the opposite horizon - or in my case - nearby hills and mountains, which also block the received image from time to time - very frustrating!

    Anyway, here is the image that I received about an hour ago as the ISS passed over my location with a maximum elevation of 51 degrees (so not directly overhead). But the image is good enough to get the award certificate.

    As mentioned previously, my antenna is cobbled together from blue plastic water pipe, and which will be returned to my toilet waste system after the 31st

    Space News thread-20201228_0505_xw0lp-jpg
    Groping women when you're old is fine - everyone thinks you're senile

  10. #3035
    I'm in Jail

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    Wow...you're a legend, Simon ! That must have been a real blast, and very satisfying to receive on such equipment

  11. #3036
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    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    Wow...you're a legend, Simon ! That must have been a real blast, and very satisfying to receive on such equipment
    I only have reception problems when someone flushes the loo....

  12. #3037
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    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43 View Post
    IBut the image is good enough to get the award certificate.
    It's a laudable achievement. I'm a little surprised that all you get from this $150 billion project is a certificate. I would have thought they could at least stretch to a celebratory teacake.

  13. #3038
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    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43 View Post
    Anyway, here is the image that I received about an hour ago as the ISS passed over my location with a maximum elevation of 51 degrees (so not directly overhead). But the image is good enough to get the award certificate.
    Fooking cool, Simon, wish I could green you!

  14. #3039
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    Yoo - got my ISS diploma...
    Space News thread-diploma-jpg

  15. #3040
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    Newly discovered ghostly circles in the sky can’t be explained by current theories, and astronomers are excited.

    'WTF?': newly discovered ghostly circles in the sky can't be explained by current theories, and astronomers are excited

  16. #3041
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    Japan to build wooden satellites - cut space junk.

    Japan developing wooden satellites to cut space junk - BBC News

  17. #3042
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    From that article:

    . Elon Musk's SpaceX has already launched more than 900 Starlink satellites and has plans to deploy thousands more.
    Space junk travels at an incredibly fast speed of more than 22,300 mph, so can have cause considerable damagElon Musk's SpaceX has already launched more than 900 Starlink satellites and has plans to deploy thousands more.
    Space junk travels at an incredibly fast speed of more than 22,300 mph, so can have cause considerable damage to any objects it hits.


    In 2006 a tiny piece of space junk collided with the International Space Station, taking a chip out of the heavily reinforced window.e to any objects it hits.


    In 2006 a tiny piece of space junk collided with the International Space Station, taking a chip out of the heavily reinforced window.

    yikes!



  18. #3043
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    NASA detects FM signals from Jupiter's moon Ganymede for the first time


    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has detected FM radio signals from Jupiter's moon Ganymede for the first time.


    However, the US space agency clarified that it is a ''natural function'' rather than a sign of extraterrestrial life, that is the existence of aliens.

    The signals from Ganymede originated from electrons due to electromagnetic fields. The process causes electrons within to whirl and oscillate much slower than their spin rate.


    As a result, all electromagnetic and radio waves get amplified and are picked up by spacecraft hovering in space. These electrons also create auroras in the ultraviolet spectrum.

    NASA will extend two of its planetary discovery missions including its Juno which detected the "cyclotron maser instability (CMI)" from Ganymede in the first place.


    "Electrons spiralling in Jupiter's magnetic field are thought to be the cause of the radio noise we hear," NASA said in a statement.


    Like Earth, Ganymede has a liquid iron core that generates a magnetic field, though Ganymede’s field is embedded within Jupiter’s magnetic field. That sets up an interesting dynamic with telltale visuals – twin bands of glowing aurora around Ganymede’s northern and southern polar regions. As Jupiter rotates, its magnetic field shifts, causing Ganymede’s aurora to rock.


    NASA Planetary Science Division Director Jim Green called the finding “an astounding demonstration.” “They developed a new approach to look inside a planetary body with a telescope,” Green said.


    Ganymede boasts a lot of water, perhaps 25 times the volume of Earth’s oceans. Its oceans are estimated to be about 500 miles (800 km) deep.


    Ganymede is one of five moons in the solar system thought to have oceans hidden below icy surfaces. Two other moons, Europa and Callisto, orbit the big gas planet Jupiter. The moons Titan and Enceladus circle the ringed gas planet Saturn.

    NASA detects FM signals from Jupiter's moon Ganymede for the first time, Science News | wionews.com

  19. #3044
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    the radio noise we hear
    is a noise floor which is there to shield us from communicate with other civilizations...

  20. #3045
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    The ISS is getting an upgrade for their solar arrays. They have been deteriorating over time. The new arrays are flexible. They are sent up in rolls in the trunk of Dragon supply capsules and are rolled out on top of the existing panels. That way the mechanics that keep the arrays pointed towards the sun can still be used.

    New Solar Arrays to Power NASA’s International Space Station Research | NASA

    This is one of 6 panels that will be deployed. 3 of these go into the trunk of 1 Dragon, so they will have 2 flights to launch them. The interior of the Dragon is stil available for other cargo that goes into the inside of the ISS. The new arrays are smaller than the old ones but still provide more power.

    Space News thread-irosa-wing-1-assembly-jpg

    As the International Space Station orbits Earth, its four pairs of solar arrays soak up the sun’s energy to provide electrical power for the numerous research and science investigations conducted every day, as well as the continued operations of the orbiting platform. The space station is the springboard to NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon, a platform to test advanced technologies for human exploration of deep space and future mission to Mars. NASA also has opened the space station for business and commercial activities, including private astronauts missions.


    Designed for a 15-year service life, the solar arrays have been operating continuously since the first pair was deployed in December 2000, with additional array pairs delivered in September 2006, June 2007, and March 2009. The first pair of solar arrays has now provided continuous electrical power to the station for more than 20 years as more modules were added and dozens of crews tackled thousands of scientific experiments and continued operations through hundreds of spacewalks, cargo missions, and more.


    Though they are functioning well, the current solar arrays are showing signs of degradation, as expected. To ensure a sufficient power supply is maintained for NASA’s exploration technology demonstrations for Artemis and beyond as well as utilization and commercialization, NASA will be augmenting six of the eight existing power channels of the space station with new solar arrays. Boeing, NASA’s prime contractor for space station operations, its subsidiary Spectrolab, and major supplier Deployable Space Systems (DSS) will provide the new arrays. The combination of the eight original, larger arrays, and the smaller, more efficient new arrays will restore the power generation of each augmented array to approximately the amount generated when the original arrays were first installed, providing a 20% to 30% increase in power for space station research and operations.


    The new solar arrays will be a larger version of the Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) technology that successfully demonstrated the mechanical capabilities of solar array deployment during its test on the space station in June 2017.


    The new solar arrays will be positioned in front of six of the current arrays, and will use the existing sun tracking, power distribution, and channelization. This approach is similar to the one used to upgrade the station’s external television cameras to high definition, using the existing power and control mechanisms.


    The new arrays will shade slightly over half of the length of the existing arrays and will be connected to the same power system to augment the existing supply. The eight current arrays are currently capable of generating up to 160 kilowatts of power during orbital daytime, about half of which is stored in the station’s batteries for use while the station is not in sunlight. Each new solar array will produce more than 20 kilowatts of electricity, eventually totaling 120 kilowatts (120,000 watts) of augmented power during orbital daytime. In addition, the remaining uncovered solar array pair and partially uncovered original arrays will continue to generate approximately 95 kilowatts of power for a total of up to 215 kilowatts (215,000 watts) of power available to support station operations at completion. For comparison, an active computer and monitor may use up to 270 watts, and a small refrigerator uses about 725 watts.


    The solar arrays will be delivered to the International Space Station in pairs in the unpressurized trunk of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft during three resupply missions starting in 2021, when the second pair of current arrays reaches the 15th year of its design life. The installation of each solar array will require two spacewalks: one to prepare the worksite with a modification kit and another to install the new solar array.


    NASA signed a modification to the ISS Vehicle Sustaining Engineering contract with Boeing to provide the six new solar arrays. Doing so provides the International Space Station with enough power to maintain normal operations and ensure adequate power for future opportunities in low-Earth orbit, whether for NASA and its international partners or commercial companies.


    Last Updated: Jan. 11, 2021
    Editor: Mark Garcia

    The roll out mechanism has been tested on a small test device on the ISS already. Rolling out was successful. Rolling them back in so the array could be discarded into the atmosphere failed. Not a big problem.

    Last edited by Takeovers; 15-01-2021 at 09:02 PM.

  21. #3046
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    This is how a well used rocket booster looks like before its fifth flight. Not shiny white like the one shot boosters their competition still launches.

    Space News thread-used-booster-jpg

  22. #3047
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    Same booster after its fifth flight and successful landing on a drone ship. Landing just short of Cuba on a polar orbit.

    Space News thread-used-booster-landed-jpg

  23. #3048
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    Takeovers, a great thread and thank you for your continuing input, i have followed it with great interest over the years.

    There is a a lot going on recently and the future of space exploration looks busy and exciting. A lot to look forward to with a slight worry that countries could turn things nasty, let hope things don't pan out like on Earth.

  24. #3049
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Oops


  25. #3050
    Making people dance. :-)
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    Besides the almighty explosion it looked pretty successful.

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