Author Topic: The Official Space Exploration Thread  (Read 230401 times)

Offline Scott

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Guardian
  • *
  • Posts: 18701
  • Get Some
    • View Profile
    • JediDefender

Offline Jeff

  • Administrator
  • Jedi Elder
  • *
  • Posts: 26285
  • Leave me where I lie
    • View Profile
    • www.JediDefender.com
Editor-in-Chief  - www.JediDefender.com
On Twitter?  Follow JediDefender -> @jedidefender

Offline Scott

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Guardian
  • *
  • Posts: 18701
  • Get Some
    • View Profile
    • JediDefender
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #197 on: August 3, 2005, 12:31 AM »
 ;D

Offline Jeff

  • Administrator
  • Jedi Elder
  • *
  • Posts: 26285
  • Leave me where I lie
    • View Profile
    • www.JediDefender.com
Editor-in-Chief  - www.JediDefender.com
On Twitter?  Follow JediDefender -> @jedidefender

Offline Ryan

  • Retired Staff Member
  • Jedi Master
  • *
  • Posts: 5863
  • Destiny is all
    • View Profile
    • JediDefender
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #199 on: August 3, 2005, 01:32 AM »
I was hoping no one would catch that ;), I re-typed it so it wasn't the same. Oh well. :P
"This is the way."

Offline DSJ™

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Council Member
  • *
  • Posts: 22380
  • Bouncy! Bouncy! I'm An Insane Kubrickaholic!™
    • View Profile
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #200 on: August 3, 2005, 09:10 AM »
Hoax... bah!  >:(   :P

Just watching a bit of the repair brfore I head out to work.  8)

Astronaut Steve Robinson removes both pieces of gap filler protruding from shuttle.

Astronaut repairing shuttle: It's going beautifully



Looks like they did it.  8)

Offline DSJ™

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Council Member
  • *
  • Posts: 22380
  • Bouncy! Bouncy! I'm An Insane Kubrickaholic!™
    • View Profile
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #201 on: August 3, 2005, 09:28 AM »


Mission Specialist Steve Robinson approaches the underside of Discovery. Credit: NASA TV.



Robinson's gloved hands pull the second of two gap fillers from the shuttle's underbelly.

Offline sfg

  • Youngling
  • *
  • Posts: 72
    • View Profile
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #202 on: August 3, 2005, 05:19 PM »
Interesting graphic:


Offline JediMAC

  • Pretty in Pink
  • Retired Staff Member
  • Jedi Sentinel
  • *
  • Posts: 14572
    • View Profile
    • JediDefender
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #203 on: August 3, 2005, 06:23 PM »
Wow, that's crazy how many times they've been hit and dinged up by debris over the years.  Thanks for the graphic, sfg.  Not much concern (publicly, anyway) over the issue 'til Columbia disintegrated, I guess...

Of course, now every square inch of the ship is being disected by microscope practically.  But I guess playing it safe is definitely the smart way to go nowadays...

Offline Matt_Fury

  • Jedi General
  • *
  • Posts: 9365
  • I aim to misbehave.
    • View Profile
    • Every Action Figure Parody has a beginning.
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #204 on: August 3, 2005, 07:40 PM »
I swear you can hear the thumps from Houston from all the knees jerking.
This is the way.


I have spoken.

Offline DSJ™

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Council Member
  • *
  • Posts: 22380
  • Bouncy! Bouncy! I'm An Insane Kubrickaholic!™
    • View Profile
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #205 on: August 3, 2005, 08:02 PM »
Ride of century.







The space shuttle Discovery's robotic arm gives NASA workers a close-up view of the damage to the thermal blanket in this view Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005. AP Photo/NASA TV.







A bubble in the thermal blanket near the commander's window on the port side of the space shuttle Discovery is visible in this black and white view from television Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005. AP Photo/NASA TV.

Offline Matt_Fury

  • Jedi General
  • *
  • Posts: 9365
  • I aim to misbehave.
    • View Profile
    • Every Action Figure Parody has a beginning.
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #206 on: August 3, 2005, 09:41 PM »
I doubt that's much to worry about.  It's nowhere near any of the leading edges and will not feel a fraction of the friction.
This is the way.


I have spoken.

Offline DSJ™

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Council Member
  • *
  • Posts: 22380
  • Bouncy! Bouncy! I'm An Insane Kubrickaholic!™
    • View Profile
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #207 on: August 3, 2005, 10:13 PM »
Discovery is going to come in with flying colors, just that they have many cameras fixed on it and the media is hungry.

If I remember, didn't one of the missions have a cracked window from a flake of paint?

The docking of Discovery has pushed the station a bit higher in orbit.

Space station gets free boost from shuttle
NASA confirms that Discovery’s position helps lift station higher in orbit

Offline Matt_Fury

  • Jedi General
  • *
  • Posts: 9365
  • I aim to misbehave.
    • View Profile
    • Every Action Figure Parody has a beginning.
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #208 on: August 3, 2005, 11:06 PM »
The ISS has always relied on the Shuttle for orbit correction.  The Shuttle can use its engines to correct the orbit much better than the ones on the station itself.

I just finished a course for my Master's Degree dealing with Aircraft and Spacecraft design and we spent a lot of time discussing the Shuttle and the ISS.  The Shuttle's engines are truly amazing and they were a huge challenge when they were designing the shuttle.  Not only for the thrust/power requirements, but they are also the first liquid propellent rocket engines that are reusable!

I remember the mission where the paint chip hit the shuttle's window and went about 3/4 inch into it.  It brought the issue of space-junk into light.  I think it happened in the late 80's (maybe early 90's) to Columbia if I recall correctly.
This is the way.


I have spoken.

Offline DSJ™

  • Staff Member
  • Jedi Council Member
  • *
  • Posts: 22380
  • Bouncy! Bouncy! I'm An Insane Kubrickaholic!™
    • View Profile
Re: The Official Space Exploration Thread
« Reply #209 on: August 4, 2005, 09:09 AM »
From NASA.gov

The STS-114 and Expedition 11 crews took time out of their schedule to pay tribute to all of the astronauts and cosmonaut who have given their lives for space exploration.

Wearing red shirts with the STS-107 patch, each crewmember provided words of tribute and remembrance in their native languages – English, Russian and Japanese.



Exploration - The Fire of the Human Spirit
A Tribute – To Fallen Astronauts and Cosmonauts