SpaceX and other space stuff

[Downunderwonder]

Hey, at least you can see the Tarantula nebula.

First I heard of that.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I agree. The "world wide" web should, in fact be that. If there's a planetarium in NZ you could check with them. Or with a college or university that has astronomy courses.

I reopened Planetarium Downunderwonder'n (cup and TV) and pretty sure we get a good eyeful just further South on our horizon than yours. The Sun goes down itself in the SouthWest at that time of year down here.

I bookmarked the planetarium link in the Yahoo article. It is very nifty until you try to change the date. I guess if you get their app it works fully.

 

[ahc]

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[bholder]

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I've got my fingers crossed for a complete success, of course, but I have to wonder what the risks really are for a huge RUD display on this one! Takes some big risks to make some huge progress!

 

[ahc]

Elon doesn't give it a big chance of success, From the article:

"Musk added that the chances of an SN8 high-altitude flight going to plan aren't great, estimating that there's "maybe a 1/3 chance" given how many things have to work correctly."

 

[Winslow]

Elon doesn't give it a big chance of success, From the article:

"Musk added that the chances of an SN8 high-altitude flight going to plan aren't great, estimating that there's "maybe a 1/3 chance" given how many things have to work correctly."

I love the fact that this guy has both the money and the chutzpah to say, "Eh, we'll probably break it, but let's try it anyway."

 

[SBassman]

I love the fact that this guy has both the money and the chutzpah to say, "Eh, we'll probably break it, but let's try it anyway."

Agree. He is not conservative with his words at all.

For me, it is fine when discussing non manned activity.
But a couple of times, he has made statements about danger with manned activity that surprised me.

[Sorry for the use of the un PC word manned. For spaceflight, I don't know what the proper word is.]

 

[bholder]

[Sorry for the use of the un PC word manned. For spaceflight, I don't know what the proper word is.]

I don't believe "manned" is considered sexist in this context. There might be "personned", but that's just stupid.

I think Elon (these days) often gives media a less positive view than he actually holds, having been burned by overpromising more than once in his career. Now, I think, he always keeps a little something back, hidden in his back pocket, publicly showing less confidence than he actually has. Better to undersell and overdeliver than the reverse.

 

[MJ5150]

Agree. He is not conservative with his words at all.

For me, it is fine when discussing non manned activity.
But a couple of times, he has made statements about danger with manned activity that surprised me.

[Sorry for the use of the un PC word manned. For spaceflight, I don't know what the proper word is.]

I'd think anyone who steps aboard a craft destined for space knows there is a chance they may not survive.
It's true that we all take that same type of chance when we get in our automobile and head out on the roads, but there is more unknown in a space mission in my opinion. Perhaps the right word for me to use in this audience is amplified. The risk is amplified in a space craft.
All good on the PC'ness, or perceived lack thereof. I know what you mean to say.

-Mike

 

[ahc]

I think I've seen "crewed" used as a/the PC term for manned spaceflight.

 

[SBassman]

I think I've seen "crewed" used as a/the PC term for manned spaceflight.

Ah yes. Thank you.

 

[bholder]

I think I've seen "crewed" used as a/the PC term for manned spaceflight.

Better than "crude". hehe, gotta love English!

 

[Winslow]

Better than "crude". hehe...

Depends on the crew.

 

[fhm555]

Whelp, looks like the program to return Americans to the moon is still going forward. At least for now.

NASA gives big moon mission to Alabama company

 

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Whelp, looks like the program to return Americans to the moon is still going forward. At least for now.

NASA gives big moon mission to Alabama company

I do believe Spacex will beat them to it...

 

[TinIndian]

I do believe Spacex will beat them to it...

And more cheaply too.

 

[fhm555]

I do believe Spacex will beat them to it...

That would be so cool to be in on the beginning of commercial space flight.
Although it does also beg the other question...

 

[ahc]

Japan spacecraft carrying asteroid soil samples nears home

 

[Stewie26]

I'd think anyone who steps aboard a craft destined for space knows there is a chance they may not survive.
It's true that we all take that same type of chance when we get in our automobile and head out on the roads, but there is more unknown in a space mission in my opinion. Perhaps the right word for me to use in this audience is amplified. The risk is amplified in a space craft.
All good on the PC'ness, or perceived lack thereof. I know what you mean to say.

-Mike

Yep, space flight is very dangerous. Out of the 135 total NASA space shuttle flights, two of them ended in disaster with fatalities. If you convert those odds, and if airplanes had the same safety rate, that would equate to thousands of crashes every single day and the public would not even consider boarding an aircraft.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Yep, space flight is very dangerous. Out of the 135 total NASA space shuttle flights, two of them ended in disaster with fatalities. If you convert those odds, and if airplanes had the same safety rate, that would equate to thousands of crashes every single day and the public would not even consider boarding an aircraft.

Hard to like that post.