The Official Space and Astronomy Thread v. Well, this is weird.

[jasc15]

But more importantly, this:

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TO GET ITALIAN ESPRESSO MAKER

[Chino]

Shit just got real.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/13/nasas-curiosity-rover-finds-water-below-surface-of-mars

Mars has liquid water just below its surface, according to new measurements by Nasa’s Curiosity rover.

Until now, scientists had thought that conditions on the red planet were too cold and arid for liquid water to exist, although there were known to be deposits of ice.

I'm not sure I like the following statement.

The latest findings are unlikely to change the view that if life ever blossomed on Mars, it probably died out more than a billion years ago.

Twenty years ago, you would have been crazy to think life could exist 7 miles underwater. James Cameron's little adventure to the Mariana Trench proved that to be very wrong. We've had bacteria survie launch, spend 500+ days in the vaccuum of space, and then survive reentry. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but if life ever blossomed on Mars, I'd be surprised if it died out.

[Implode]

Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like Doctor Who.

[rumborak]

Twenty years ago, you would have been crazy to think life could exist 7 miles underwater. James Cameron's little adventure to the Mariana Trench proved that to be very wrong. We've had bacteria survie launch, spend 500+ days in the vaccuum of space, and then survive reentry. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but if life ever blossomed on Mars, I'd be surprised if it died out.

You know, I've had this criticism for quite some time now. Life has been shown to be amazingly resilient, beyond the boiling point of water, into complete vacuum of space. And yet, I constantly see statements like "outside this narrow range of parameters, life would not be possible!!"

[Chino]

Twenty years ago, you would have been crazy to think life could exist 7 miles underwater. James Cameron's little adventure to the Mariana Trench proved that to be very wrong. We've had bacteria survie launch, spend 500+ days in the vaccuum of space, and then survive reentry. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but if life ever blossomed on Mars, I'd be surprised if it died out.

You know, I've had this criticism for quite some time now. Life has been shown to be amazingly resilient, beyond the boiling point of water, into complete vacuum of space. And yet, I constantly see statements like "outside this narrow range of parameters, life would not be possible!!"

Especially considering the fact that we have only studied (and I guess you could say searched for as well) life on one celestial body. Now, had we explored a few dozen worlds and only found life in conditions that match those of Earth, I could maybe get more onboard with these presumptions. But for us to think we can even remotely begin to comprehend where life can survive/thrive is pretty foolish if you ask me.

[BlobVanDam]

I agree our scope and understanding of "life" is pretty limited, based on our very narrow experience. As varied as life is on Earth, universally speaking a lot of it is extremely similar.

Perhaps in the context of a planet so close to us it's a safer assumption, but it still can't be ruled out.

[Chino]

https://aviationweek.com/space/ula-s-vulcan-rocket-embraces-reusability-new-upper-stage

Looks like there will be another company competing with SpaceX in regards to the recycling of boosters.

The next step is to refine the reusability of the main engine, Bruno says. The concept calls for the use of a hypersonic heat shield ULA is designing with NASA to protect the engine as it re-enters the atmosphere and slow its re-entry. Once slowed, the engine will deploy a steerable parafoil, which will guide it to a rendezvous point with a helicopter. The helicopter then will use a hook to pluck the engine from its descent. This is not unlike the retrieval operations for film canisters employed on early spy satellites.

This seems a little ridiculous to me. I'd imagine the helicopters would need to fly autonomously. I'm not saying it can't be done, but this seems really tricky... like no wear near 100% success rate tricky. But hey, I'm sure the engineers considered that.

I see something wrong with this helicopter recovery appraoch not mentioned in the article. SpaceX's design is scalable. SpaceX can build a rocket as big as they want and will just need to build a barge big enough to fit it. The helicopters will be limited to smaller boosters due to weight and flight mechanics. No?

Also, SpaceX wants to ultimately land these right back on the pad they launched from. Once they accomplish that, the helicopters and barges seem like unnecessary steps.

[Chino]

Just ordered me this shirt!

https://www.neatoshop.com/product/We-Are-Star-Stuff

[BlobVanDam]

Looks like the oldschool space logo that was on the '80s Lego spaceman suits too. I like it.

[Chino]

Looks like the oldschool space logo that was on the '80s Lego spaceman suits too. I like it.

I've wanted a Sagan shirt for so long. A while back I saw a Tyson/Nye shirt. It was cool, but I'm not the biggest fan of Nye. I like the guy, but he can be very annoying in his delivery. I lost my shit when I saw this one.

*edit*

Just looked up what you were talking about... Awesome! Very cool throwback.

[BlobVanDam]

Looks like the oldschool space logo that was on the '80s Lego spaceman suits too. I like it.

I've wanted a Sagan shirt for so long. A while back I saw a Tyson/Nye shirt. It was cool, but I'm not the biggest fan of Nye. I like the guy, but he can be very annoying in his delivery. I lost my shit when I saw this one.

Bill Nye and Degrasse Tyson were in an episode of Stargate Atlantis together, so I'd be down with that one.
This one is very cool though.

[adace]

https://www.engadget.com/2015/05/06/researchers-find-new-most-distant-galaxy-in-the-universe/

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Cool! You know it's funny how our brains can't really process how long 670 million years really is even though it's a small number in the universe.

Side note: Can't wait to see the pictures JWST will process. Should be epic!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

https://www.flagofplanetearth.com/#space-walk

[Chino]

I feel like it needs some green.

[gmillerdrake]

Honestly I'm not impressed by it. Seems a tad boring and simple. Any kid who's played with a Spirograph for an hour has drawn this.

[Chino]

Yeah. I'm really not feeling the love for this one.

[BlackInk]

I don't mind it. And a planet flag is a cool idea.

[Chino]

Having a flag for the planet is an awesome idea, but this just seems, I don't know, half assed.

[gmillerdrake]

Having a flag for the planet is an awesome idea, but this just seems, I don't know, half assed.

Pretty much this.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I don't know, did you guys watch the video? There's of course 1000 other ways to illustrate Earth on a flag but it's a simple idea and I like it atleast.

[Chino]

I don't know, did you guys watch the video? There's of course 1000 other ways to illustrate Earth on a flag but it's a simple idea and I like it atleast.

I watched it without volume. To me, that series of circles could represent literally anything.

Something with symbols 100% unique to both Earth and humans should have been used. Something like;

[gmillerdrake]

I don't know, did you guys watch the video?

Yep. I watched it. It just seems to me there is a better design out there that typifies our Planet....like th example Chino just posted....was that on Voyager? That flag is just 'blah'....

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I don't know, did you guys watch the video?

Yep. I watched it. It just seems to me there is a better design out there that typifies our Planet....like th example Chino just posted....was that on Voyager? That flag is just 'blah'....

No that was Pioneer 10 and 11. Voyager 1 and 2 had each a Golden Record.

[jasc15]

Thought this might be a useful addendum to the above:

[Chino]

I always wondered if we stumbled across something similar from an alien race if we'd have any clue where to start.

[BlobVanDam]

I wouldn't even have a clue where to start on the Earth one.

I don't think we'd do any better on an alien one than they would on ours, given how different they'd likely be. I wonder how embarrassing ours would appear to an intelligent alien species?

[Chino]

At this point, we should just send out ipads.

[Bolsters]

If you want the aliens to wipe us out, sure.

[BlobVanDam]

If you want aliens to think even less of us, sure. No wonder we're just probe-meat to them.

[jasc15]

Well, we've already figured out enough about nature to send probes out of our solar system without a universe instruction manual.  I'm pretty sure if an alien version of this found its way to earth, we'd eventually decode it.

[jasc15]

My friend introduced me to Omega Tau Podcast, which is a science and engineering blog.  I've only listened to the episode on the Apollo Guidance Computer so far.  Incredibly detailed talk about the software architecture (most of which is above my head) and the control logic of the Apollo spacecraft computers.

I currently have about 11 hours of this podcast bookmarked.  Who knows when I will actually be able to listen to all of it.

The podcast is about more than just space, including Race Car Design, Container Shipping and Flying the Concorde.

Each podcast page has an agenda with each topic discussed, as well as external links to relevant information.

[rumborak]

Wow, that was a great podcast.

[jasc15]

Wow, that was a great podcast.

And you can listen to ALL of his podcasts, being that some are in German.  Lucky you.

[rumborak]

Yup