SpaceX and other space stuff

[MJ5150]

I'm going all in with this space exploration.
My buddy is using his 3D printer to make me a miniature replica of the Dragon 2 capsule. It'll be about the size of a soda can. I'm looking for a small scale model of ISS.
Then while digging around I found the Mars Lander and the Boeing Starliner.
I have no room for any of this, so I'll be rearranging my desk soon getting rid of other things so these can fit.

-Mike

 

[Winslow]

That said, does anyone know when they plan to return to earth?

That hasn't been determined yet. They could be up there until the end of August or so, depending on a few factors:

Now that Behnken and Hurley have arrived at the ISS, it’s unclear when they’ll be coming home. The two are expected to stay somewhere between six and 16 weeks on board the ISS. It all depends on how much work NASA wants them to do while they’re up there. At some point, NASA will decide when to bring the duo home.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon successfully docks with the space station

 

[MJ5150]

That hasn't been determined yet. They could be up there until the end of August or so, depending on a few factors:


SpaceX’s Crew Dragon successfully docks with the space station

During this interview, Chris Cassidy was asked by Mark Geyer (NASA) if he had any plans to keep Bob and Doug up there longer. I got a laugh from how Chris responded.
You can jump to 18:55 to hear that particular part.



-Mike

 

[Winslow]

During this interview, Chris Cassidy was asked by Mark Geyer (NASA) if he had any plans to keep Bob and Doug up there longer. I got a laugh from how Chris responded.

I saw that! Funny stuff. They had another media event today, which is also worth seeing:

 

[MJ5150]

I saw that! Funny stuff. They had another media event today, which is also worth seeing:

I missed that one. Thank you for sharing the link.
Now I am getting anxiety I will miss something.

-Mike

 

[Wood and Wire]

I wish you had a screengrab or time mark of what you saw, because I don't recall seeing anything that looked like constellations during the feed from any of the cameras. Constellations are spread across too wide a field of the sky for them to be discernible in a shot zoomed in to something as small as a capsule.

The only thing I saw that could be construed as a "starfield" was when they were in orbital dark, and the sensor of the camera was cranked all the way up. But that's just sensor noise, not stars:

View attachment 3850393

Even so, the only thing behind the capsule at this point was Earth. The capsule was only against the dark of space as it got close for docking, by which point, the cameras were exposed for the capsule, making the stars impossible to see (per the previous link).

If you can find what you saw in a replay of the footage, I'd be curious to see it.


@ahc, since you specifically mentioned the capsule being in darkness in your original question, I'll ask you: Is the above screenshot what you were talking about?

Could be. And whilst I agree, it's the most logical explanation, it's not at all in keeping with my experience.

That said, the vast majority of my professional experience has been with 35mm, and analogue broadcast video.

Just before Covid-19 put the entertainment industry into hibernation, I shot a couple of commercials on an Arri Alexa - one of which was in extremely low light conditions.

I was completely blown away by it's ability to capture a completely solid, noise free image, with not a particularly fast lense.

Had Kubrick shot Barry Lyndon today, I don't think he'd have needed to borrow lenses from NASA, to be able to shoot those scenes by candlelight.

 

[Selta]

The gear you have available and use here down on earth has never been certified for space flight, or use in space. Completely different animal there where power, weight, and durability are often chief design drivers, not IQ.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Cool! I think Apollo looks more elegant thank the Shuttle. As I said earlier Dragon is so sleek and really what we’ve all expected for years.....maybe add a little tort.

I just don't think the Millennium Falcon would have been the cool pop culture icon it is, had it been designed with this modern eye for technology - then again, it was set a long time ago.


That was also one of the cool things about Battlestar Galactica reboot.


Sadly, in spite of all the progress made miniaturising technology, we haven't miniaturised the bit where you just get in a ship, and go. Or dock, and get out.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Sadly, in spite of all the progress made miniaturising technology, we haven't miniaturised the bit where you just get in a ship, and go. Or dock, and get out.

need to breed smaller people. We are just lucky Earth is small enough that a spaceship can be built that can rocket out of orbit, and without the required acceleration turning the astronauts into smudges on the back side of their space suits.

A heavier planet has more gravity, more gravity more fuel bigger motor, more fuel, bigger fuel tank, more heavier space ship... the strength of materials gets to the limit and you reach a full stop.

 

[Wood and Wire]

need to breed smaller people. We are just lucky Earth is small enough that a spaceship can be built that can rocket out of orbit, and without the required acceleration turning the astronauts into smudges on the back side of their space suits.

A heavier planet has more gravity, more gravity more fuel bigger motor, more fuel, bigger fuel tank, more heavier space ship... the strength of materials gets to the limit and you reach a full stop.

That, and the fact that we would have evolved to be something more the stature of a coffee table.

 

[Downunderwonder]

That, and the fact that we would have evolved to be something more the stature of a coffee table.

Helluva job to build the RBR when you're 18'' tall.

 

[Winslow]

Could be. And whilst I agree, it's the most logical explanation...

Fortunately, the "mystery" was solved when @ahc confirmed in post #293 that my screenshot is what he saw, and was originally discussing. The artifacts in that part of the transmission are clearly sensor noise; not stars, galaxies, or forensic reference points.

Here's a 100% crop of that same shot from a 3000x2000 display (saved in PNG, rather than JPG, so as not to add any compression artifacts to it). Remember: The only thing behind the capsule at this point of the flight was the Pacific Ocean - at night. (Seconds before this shot, they crossed over Japan.) Aside from the two beacons, the RGB noise is just a digital video sensor working overtime in low light.

Interestingly, there was similar noise and hot pixels a-go-go visible in the camera used for today's media event from inside the ISS (linked earlier). It makes me wonder if the adaptation from the station's DC power system takes a toll on the electronics of the cameras. (Screenshot 100% cropped from 1920x1200, also in PNG):

That said, the vast majority of my professional experience has been with 35mm, and analogue broadcast video.

I'm not much for shop talk, but suffice to say we have some overlap.

Had Kubrick shot Barry Lyndon today, I don't think he'd have needed to borrow lenses from NASA, to be able to shoot those scenes by candlelight.

He definitely would not have! I enjoyed my analogue days, but I like digital a lot more.

Speaking of silly conspiracy theories, this meme always makes me chuckle:

Doubly silly, because he far and away preferred to stay and work in the UK.

Ok, let's all grab our cameras, and go to space!

 

[PWRL]

Fortunately, the "mystery" was solved when @ahc confirmed in post #293 that my screenshot is what he saw, and was originally discussing. The artifacts in that part of the transmission are clearly sensor noise; not stars, galaxies, or forensic reference points.

Here's a 100% crop of that same shot from a 3000x2000 display (saved in PNG, rather than JPG, so as not to add any compression artifacts to it). Remember: The only thing behind the capsule at this point of the flight was the Pacific Ocean - at night. (Seconds before this shot, they crossed over Japan.) Aside from the two beacons, the RGB noise is just a digital video sensor working overtime in low light.

View attachment 3851597

Interestingly, there was similar noise and hot pixels a-go-go visible in the camera used for today's media event from inside the ISS (linked earlier). It makes me wonder if the adaptation from the station's DC power system takes a toll on the electronics of the cameras. (Screenshot 100% cropped from 1920x1200, also in PNG):

View attachment 3851614


I'm not much for shop talk, but suffice to say we have some overlap.


He definitely would not have! I enjoyed my analogue days, but I like digital a lot more.

Ok, let's all grab our cameras, and go to space!

I noticed this as well, and wondered if it would come up someplace. Interesting that it didn't take long.

 

[Winslow]

I noticed this as well, and wondered if it would come up someplace. Interesting that it didn't take long.

On the internet, it's all but inevitable.

 

[PWRL]

I have to say that I really enjoyed watching the whole thing. I'm not an Elon Musk fanboy or anything, but watching that whole spacecraft do its thing successfully honestly felt like a glimpse into the future. I thought that capsule was fantastic. I love the clean, refined nature of it. The Space Shuttle was a great vessel, but this thing is a whole different animal. And seeing those two guys board the ISS in khakis and polos like they just got out of a Chevy was classic.

 

[ahc]

That said, does anyone know when they plan to return to earth?

The Crew Dragon has about a 4 month "lifespan" on orbit. The solar panel degrades as it spends time up there so that's about the max it can stay put.

 

[jaco944]

I just don't think the Millennium Falcon would have been the cool pop culture icon it is, had it been designed with this modern eye for technology - then again, it was set a long time ago.


That was also one of the cool things about Battlestar Galactica reboot.


Sadly, in spite of all the progress made miniaturising technology, we haven't miniaturised the bit where you just get in a ship, and go. Or dock, and get out.

That’s a very good point. The shuttle looks like it could’ve been modeled after the Falcon haha.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I fully expect this video to have been posted or mentioned at least once upthread. If so, duh on me; if not, shame shame shame on you guys!

 

[Downunderwonder]

Mr Musk seems like he wished they could have done another test run or two before the live meat test of re-entry that's to come.

 

[bholder]

The Crew Dragon has about a 4 month "lifespan" on orbit. The solar panel degrades as it spends time up there so that's about the max it can stay put.

I was wondering myself, I read today that NASA hasn't decided yet, which is unusual, but they're thinking between 6 weeks and 4 months depending on how things go. Seems like a different NASA than the old days.