NASA isn't even trying to get people to Mars anymore

**TsingTao** · 2021-11-15 14:37

In the "we want to build these in the future" part of the pipeline, so way the hell out. They know they're not competitive any more, but don't have anything being built as a reusable alternative to SpaceX yet.

**Cail** · 2021-11-16 21:12

Originally Posted by Cail

The seven crewpersons on the International Space Station (ISS) had to take shelter today from a threatening debris field. The astronauts and cosmonauts took refuge in the Dragon and Soyuz spacecraft currently docked to the ISS. If the situation had become disastrous, this precaution would have allowed the crew to abandon the station and return to Earth.

After passing through the debris apparently without incident, the crew returned to the station. However, the ISS is passing through or near the debris every hour so the crew are keeping the hatches between sections sealed in case the station is holed. Planned activities with the station's robot arm have been cancelled and the crew’s busy work schedule is being amended. At present it is unclear how long the ISS will be under threat.

Thanks Russia

https://twitter.com/paulsonne/status...283443205?s=21

**Athas** · 2021-11-16 21:18

I had thought the US, Russia and China as well had use missile strikes to decommissioned satellites plenty of times before?

**zoobernut** · 2021-11-18 10:57

Originally Posted by Athas

I had thought the US, Russia and China as well had use missile strikes to decommissioned satellites plenty of times before?

From articles I was reading the other tests were done in a much more controlled manner that ensured less debris going into orbit and becoming an issue for space travel. Previous tests were also announced with various space agencies so they could be done safely. This one was done without warning, done on a satellite higher up in orbit and created lots of sizeable debris that needs to be tracked and posed a threat to the ISS.

**6souls** · 2021-11-23 13:12

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/23/spac...-asteroid.html

NASA x SpaceX to launch a rocket to smash into an asteroid to prevent a future collision with Earth.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch a first-of-its-kind planetary defense mission for NASA in the early hours of Wednesday morning, sending the spacecraft on its way to intentionally crash into an asteroid.

“We’re smashing into an asteroid,” NASA’s Launch Services Program senior launch director Omar Baez said during a press conference. “I can’t believe we’re doing that”

Known as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (or DART) mission, the space agency is trying to learn “how to deflect a threat that would come” toward Earth, NASA associate administrator of the science mission directorate Thomas Zurbuchen said.

“Rest assured, that rock right now is not a threat,” he said.

Scheduled launch is 1:20 AM ET.

**AoE** · 2021-11-23 14:52

Right now is the key.

**Drai** · 2021-11-23 14:58

Inb4 they hit the rock and the impact redirects it to earth.

**Outlaw** · 2021-11-23 22:45

Not possible. The asteroid they will try to hit is orbiting a much larger one and the kinetic energy should only alter the orbit of the small one by a fraction of a percent. Not enough to make it break away from it's parent body. The spacecraft isn't even as big as a car.

**6souls** · 2021-12-03 13:17

https://twitter.com/weatherindia/sta...651482119?s=20

**Meresgi** · 2021-12-03 18:30

JWST Dec 22 at 7:20 EST.

Fucking stoked, worked on the project a bit and it's been a long ass fucking time coming to launch this shit. Hopefully everything goes to plan and it actually unfolds properly and we don't have an issue like after Hubble launched.

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/launch.html

**Zealot** · 2021-12-07 12:57

https://thedebrief.org/darpa-funded-...t-warp-bubble/

Seems important.

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk

**6souls** · 2021-12-13 09:32

Originally Posted by Meresgi

JWST Dec 22 at 7:20 EST.

Fucking stoked, worked on the project a bit and it's been a long ass fucking time coming to launch this shit. Hopefully everything goes to plan and it actually unfolds properly and we don't have an issue like after Hubble launched.

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/launch.html

**Meresgi** · 2021-12-17 18:45

Originally Posted by 6souls

Launch delayed until Dec 24th. Got an email today directing public to visit https://go.nasa.gov/WebbSTEAMDay

**TsingTao** · 2021-12-18 12:08

GDI

**6souls** · 2021-12-21 11:44

**Outlaw** · 2021-12-22 17:56

It has been delayed again. The new launch window is on Christmas day beginning at 7:20am EST.

**Waraji** · 2021-12-23 00:55

Ya know, I saw the thread update notification, and I thought "it couldn't possibly be delayed again, please no."

Thanks Obama.

**Xno Kappa** · 2021-12-23 08:11

Originally Posted by Outlaw

It has been delayed again. The new launch window is on Christmas day beginning at 7:20am EST.

Not sure if this is a good or bad omen.

**Meresgi** · 2021-12-23 12:35

Originally Posted by Xno Kappa

Not sure if this is a good or bad omen.

Pretty typical, thunderstorms and crazy weather down there and mornings are the only good windows but its fairly usual for major missions to delay a bunch on launches and such. At least the thing is all there and ready to go and actually put together! That was the hard part lol

**TummieGaruda** · 2021-12-23 12:36

Originally Posted by Meresgi

JWST Dec 22 at 7:20 EST.

Fucking stoked, worked on the project a bit and it's been a long ass fucking time coming to launch this shit. Hopefully everything goes to plan and it actually unfolds properly and we don't have an issue like after Hubble launched.

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/launch.html

If there is an error they can't go out and fix it like they did with Hubble. Speaking of which, wasn't Hubble's issue that they decided to skip testing the mirror's curvature to save time and money and it ended up being misaligned by the width of a hair screwing up the focal length? I've ran into this before when trying to build my own telescope where I didn't grind the glass enough and when I did a Foucoult test my focal length was way off. I wanted an 8 inch F/6 but end up with an 8 inch F/24.