SpaceX and other space stuff

[akrachanko]

Yes, it just takes the edge off the excitement a bit to know one is watching a replay.

I watch the Falcon Heavy test flight replay at least once a month, and it's still just as special as it was live.

 

[MJ5150]

Nothing cooler than pulling up the spacewalk and there's Chris and Bob doing something I know how to do, running ethernet cable.
They were dealing with the same issues I would with the cable management around corners, brackets, arms, etc.
They're doing a fine job, mostly. I see a few spots that could use some tidying up.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

Another successful space walk. No lost mirrors today.
I am tired just from watching it, so I know Bob and Chris need something to eat and to go to bed.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

Space calendar 2020: Never miss another launch again.
That link might be worth a bookmark in your favorite browser.
I was just watching a special about Bennu and Osiris-Rex on the NASA Roku channel the other day.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

Another cool link to NASA specific events: NASA Television Upcoming Events.

-Mike

 

[RayWithFlats]

I was reading up on what happens to the second stage. It's always awesome, as @ahc mentioned, watching the Falcon 9 land, but I was curious where stage two goes.
Apparently they just burn up in space, but Elon is trying to find a way to recover those as well.

I saw something on TV that said on the ISS there’s no laundry facilities so they throw everything used in the Soyuz they came up in and then release it to burn up in the upper atmosphere. Remember, next time you see a shooting star it could be a load of flaming space underpants!

 

[MJ5150]

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Astrobees and molten metal? I really should have pursued the astronaut thing when I was a kid and went through that phase.

-Mike

 

[Winslow]

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Astrobees and molten metal? I really should have pursued the astronaut thing when I was a kid and went through that phase.

-Mike

I found out about all the math, and gave up on that notion right quick.

 

[MJ5150]

I found out about all the math, and gave up on that notion right quick.

I remember my mind going numb a few times during the movie Hidden Figures.

-Mike

 

[Winslow]

I remember my mind going numb a few times during the movie Hidden Figures.

-Mike

I got (slightly) better at math when I was older, but by then, it was too late to do the whole "high-achievement pilot" thing.

 

[MJ5150]

I love the launch pad Rocket Lab uses and that camera looking back at earth as it climbs into space. Unfortunately, this one didn't end well for them today.





-Mike

 

[Downunderwonder]

Pretty sure that was the first payload RocketLab has 'lost'. Not a bad run so far.

 

[ahc]

Well, it was their 13th.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Don't ask why, but it's 4am, and I happened to look out the window, and immediately notice - coming out of the dark, over the horizon, the ISS, flying straight towards me.

I watched it approaching, and whilst it flew right over my house, I ran into the garden, and watched right off over the horizon, almost crashing into Venus, and off into the sunrise.

That was pretty unexpected.

 

[ahc]

Don't ask why, but it's 4am, and I happened to look out the window, and immediately notice - coming out of the dark, over the horizon, the ISS, flying straight towards me.

I watched it approaching, and whilst it flew right over my house, I ran into the garden, and watched right off over the horizon, almost crashing into Venus, and off into the sunrise.

That was pretty unexpected.

Back in the 80's or 90's I watched the ISS fly over with the Shuttle in hot pursuit about a second or three behind closing in for docking. Fantastic!

This link will show when the ISS will fly over a particular location:

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And this link shows where the ISS is in orbit and it's orbital path:

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[MJ5150]

Don't ask why, but it's 4am, and I happened to look out the window, and immediately notice - coming out of the dark, over the horizon, the ISS, flying straight towards me.

I watched it approaching, and whilst it flew right over my house, I ran into the garden, and watched right off over the horizon, almost crashing into Venus, and off into the sunrise.

That was pretty unexpected.

How did you know it was the ISS?

-Mike

 

[RayWithFlats]

How did you know it was the ISS?

There’s no mistaking it if the angles are right for the sun to catch the solar panels and reflect it to where you’re seeing it from. If you see it just after sunset (or just before dawn) it’s easily the brightest thing in the sky, except for the moon.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Thank you @bholder for starting this thread.

 

[Wood and Wire]

How did you know it was the ISS?

-Mike

It's unmistakable.

I've seen it many times, often twice a night.

I watched it come over twice, the night Bob & Doug launched - the second orbit, Dragon was in hot pursuit, with both visible, but I managed not to see the smaller vehicle.

I probably saw it half a dozen more times that week, before it's orbit went below my horizon / weather obscured the sky.

 

[MJ5150]

It's unmistakable.

I've seen it many times, often twice a night.

I watched it come over twice, the night Bob & Doug launched - the second orbit, Dragon was in hot pursuit, with both visible, but I managed not to see the smaller vehicle.

I probably saw it half a dozen more times that week, before it's orbit went below my horizon / weather obscured the sky.

Hmmm. I checked out that website a few times to track the ISS. When I came through my area, I looked up and couldn't really see anything distinguishable from the other stars. I did see something moving, and figured that must have been it.
Are you using a telescope or other kind of device to enhance your vision?
By the way, I am not questioning you or @RayWithFlats at all. I am just trying to figure out what I am doing wrong.

-Mike