Humor Random Comments Thread

[ISProgram]

The first two designs are for the Europa Clipper proposal. The only difference in the second one I know of is that the team switched to using solar panels. The third design was released when NASA selected nine instruments for the official Europa mission. The multi-flyby concept offers great value so I'm glad NASA went with, essentially, the Europa Clipper.

It sparked my curiosity to see the third design depart so much from the previous established Europa Clipper baseline (w/ and w/o solar arrays). I wonder if it's possible to find some PDFs on it...?

Oh, and Airbus unveiled a design for a reusable rocket, to be integrated into a Ariane 6 variant if approved. Good luck Airbus...

 

[Pipcard]

I like how the article acknowledges that economical reusable launch vehicles aren't as easy as they sound.

 

[Urwumpe]

Good luck Airbus...

It really needs it right now.:lol:

 

[jedidia]

Is it just my impression, or do rocket concepts look more and more like they did in 60ies scifi?

 

[Urwumpe]

Is it just my impression, or do rocket concepts look more and more like they did in 60ies scifi?

Sort of. But then, thats just design. Nobody in the 60ies really imagined things to turn out THAT way.

 

[Andy44]

When I see reusable tail-sitting nuclear thermal engined rockets, then I'll be convinced that 60s tech has finally arrived.

 

[jedidia]

I was more speaking in a visual sense, really. First we had this beauty:

Now we're getting rockets with large tailfins...

 

[Andy44]

I was more speaking in a visual sense, really. First we had this beauty:



Now we're getting rockets with large tailfins...

Yup. I must say that I always thought the small fins on the Saturn V are a big part of its visual appeal. Not too cartoonishly large, but large enough to add character to the giant beast.

 

[Athena]

I've heard plans to send nuclear reactors to Mars to heat up the surface and release CO2, and I'm wondering...would using RTG's be a safer and cheaper option?

 

[Urwumpe]

I've heard plans to send nuclear reactors to Mars to heat up the surface and release CO2, and I'm wondering...would using RTG's be a safer and cheaper option?

Not that much cheaper at least - you need power for that and RTGs are low power. Also safer is relative. We had no meltdown in space yet, despite many nuclear reactor powered satellites in history.

 

[jedidia]

Also, I'd imagine there wouldn't be much protests if a reactor blew up on Mars... You might even be able to sell it as a "save testing program" :lol:

 

[Andy44]

I've never cared much for horse racing, but a week before the Kentucky Derby this year I happened to take a tour of Churchill Downs and the Derby museum, which kind of got me excited to see what would come in the next few weeks. Looks like I picked exactly the right time to start paying attention to the sport, because a few minutes ago I got to see the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharaoh.

Now I can safely go back to not caring about the sport for a few more decades, since this is a pretty rare event to witness!

 

[PhantomCruiser]

After spending most of the day with a little red-headed 4 year old, I've concluded that I'm... getting old.

Seriously exhausted. The old adage that youth is wasted on the young has never been more true to me.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

After spending most of the day with a little red-headed 4 year old, I've concluded that I'm... getting old.

Seriously exhausted. The old adage that youth is wasted on the young has never been more true to me.

So, you got custody?!?!?

 

[PhantomCruiser]

The family got custody, but we have very liberal "visitation", more like we get her anytime, we've just got to arrange it. No less than every other weekend and one night a week.

Once we got to talk (actually talk without the meth-mom around) they're actually really nice. They've got a daughter a few years older than ours, and those two hit it off after just a few minutes. We're all OK with the arrangements, with the exception of the meth-mom (but seriously, who cares?). Coppertop is the clear winner, and that's what important.

I took a few pictures today, if I can muster up the energy I'll throw them up on the bloggity thing.

 

[jedidia]

After spending most of the day with a little red-headed 4 year old, I've concluded that I'm... getting old.

HA! Told you! :lol:

 

[Pipcard]

NASA had a ion propelled asteroid flyby probe called [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_1"]Deep Space 1[/ame]. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_2"]Deep Space 2[/ame] was a miniprobe, part of the Mars Polar Lander (which crashed). Deep Space 3 was going to be a "stellar optical interferometer," and Deep Space 4 was going to be a comet lander; both were cancelled before they came to fruition.

They should have kept going until they reached 9.

 

[MattBaker]

I'm quite sure they never made more Voyager missions because they were afraid of what would happen with Voyager 6.

 

[jedidia]

I'm quite sure they never made more Voyager missions because they were afraid of what would happen with Voyager 6.

Now, if they'd only stop whaleing... :shifty:

 

[n122vu]

Now, if they'd only stop whaleing... :shifty:

It's ok, I understand your pain. You should read this, it'll help...