Comments on: Snow on Mars, and Chinese walks in space http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:44:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nabakov http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208770 Nabakov Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:17:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208770 Firstly, fuck NASA. I was all set to be in Florida on the NASA causeway on 10 November to watch the launch of STS-126 but now they've pushed it out to 12 November which is just not doable for me. I fired off a stern email to President Bush about this and am eagerly waiting a response. Although in retrospect, I perhaps shouldn't have titled it "Oi grand fromage, you screwed up again didn't you". I think the Project Constellation concept has got some legs -especially if they open it up to other space bodies and the private sector. Modular space development with NASA, ESA et al jointly setting systems architecture, interoperability standards, routes and traffic management standards. "The Man Who Sold The Moon" made a big impression on me as a teenager and to this day the conquest and exploitation of space always brings out my inner libertarian. Everyone should just fucking go for it. However, sooner or later, yer gonna need some government/industry bodies to set some basic ground rules for when technology meets commerce so as to deliver sustainable and consumer trusted results. Not unlike the growth of commercial aviation post WW2. Which seems to have worked out well until now. $50 per carry-on!?!. No cocktail lounge!!!??!! Which is I why I just bought an Amtrak USA rail pass with roomette upgrade options. Firstly, fuck NASA. I was all set to be in Florida on the NASA causeway on 10 November to watch the launch of STS-126 but now they’ve pushed it out to 12 November which is just not doable for me. I fired off a stern email to President Bush about this and am eagerly waiting a response. Although in retrospect, I perhaps shouldn’t have titled it “Oi grand fromage, you screwed up again didn’t you”.

I think the Project Constellation concept has got some legs -especially if they open it up to other space bodies and the private sector. Modular space development with NASA, ESA et al jointly setting systems architecture, interoperability standards, routes and traffic management standards.

“The Man Who Sold The Moon” made a big impression on me as a teenager and to this day the conquest and exploitation of space always brings out my inner libertarian. Everyone should just fucking go for it. However, sooner or later, yer gonna need some government/industry bodies to set some basic ground rules for when technology meets commerce so as to deliver sustainable and consumer trusted results.

Not unlike the growth of commercial aviation post WW2. Which seems to have worked out well until now. $50 per carry-on!?!. No cocktail lounge!!!??!! Which is I why I just bought an Amtrak USA rail pass with roomette upgrade options.

]]> By: Adrien http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208769 Adrien Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:05:50 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208769 <i>Beating NASA back to the moon is a distinct possibility.</i> . But they need to do more than just get there in order to compete with the Americans. They need to leave a flag and a plaque with an arsehole's name on it as well. Shame Mao isn't still alive. Beating NASA back to the moon is a distinct possibility.
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But they need to do more than just get there in order to compete with the Americans. They need to leave a flag and a plaque with an arsehole’s name on it as well. Shame Mao isn’t still alive.

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208768 Robert Merkel Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:28:37 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208768 Next step - bring on Project Sunshade, we might well need it :) Next step – bring on Project Sunshade, we might well need it :)

]]> By: steveh http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208767 steveh Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:11:54 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208767 Thanks Robert - it was nice to see the Chinese getting right into it. They seem to be taking the slow-but-steady approach which in the space business usually works. And yes, they may have used a lot of the Soviet/Russian technology but make no mistake, planning and doing something like this is quite an acheivement - from the looks of the video I've seen a fair amount of time was spent manuovering and package retrieval in full sunshine. Not an easy job! As regards Hubble - I'm reminded of the original debate as to whether the "fix" was worth it...well here we are years down the track and that bird has been brilliant. Andos - the real trick there is going to be getting the final pad processing right with the limited resources NASA seems to have these days. Again full marks to Space X for finally having a good launch - poor buggers have had a rough ride... All-in-all exciting times ahead for space nerds :-) Thanks Robert – it was nice to see the Chinese getting right into it. They seem to be taking the slow-but-steady approach which in the space business usually works. And yes, they may have used a lot of the Soviet/Russian technology but make no mistake, planning and doing something like this is quite an acheivement – from the looks of the video I’ve seen a fair amount of time was spent manuovering and package retrieval in full sunshine. Not an easy job!
As regards Hubble – I’m reminded of the original debate as to whether the “fix” was worth it…well here we are years down the track and that bird has been brilliant.
Andos – the real trick there is going to be getting the final pad processing right with the limited resources NASA seems to have these days. Again full marks to Space X for finally having a good launch – poor buggers have had a rough ride…
All-in-all exciting times ahead for space nerds :-)

]]> By: Andos http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208766 Andos Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:32:59 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208766 Yes, Robert. That is a mighty salient point. At least we only have to wait until mid November for the next shuttle mission. This one to expand ISS crew capacity. Woot! Yes, Robert. That is a mighty salient point.

At least we only have to wait until mid November for the next shuttle mission. This one to expand ISS crew capacity. Woot!

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208765 Robert Merkel Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:56:37 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208765 Andos: I'd be a lot more disappointed if they'd done the mission, and then the transmitter unit on Hubble had given out when there's no possibility of fixing it. Andos: I’d be a lot more disappointed if they’d done the mission, and then the transmitter unit on Hubble had given out when there’s no possibility of fixing it.

]]> By: Andos http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208764 Andos Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:42:59 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208764 Disappointing that the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 was delayed. Must be pretty costly. You don't see <a href="http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/imageviewer.cfm?mediaid=37485&mr=m&w=474&h=757&fn=08pd2737&sn=KSC-08pd-2737" rel="nofollow">this</a> (two shuttles?!?) very often. Thanks for the spaced-out post, Robert. New Scientist has a great <a href="http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg19926756.300" rel="nofollow">feature</a> from last week's magazine about the up and coming private space-flight companies. Typically, they want you to actually have bought the magazine (or a subscription) to see it. Keep up the science/technology posts. Disappointing that the Hubble Servicing Mission 4 was delayed. Must be pretty costly. You don’t see this (two shuttles?!?) very often.

Thanks for the spaced-out post, Robert. New Scientist has a great feature from last week’s magazine about the up and coming private space-flight companies. Typically, they want you to actually have bought the magazine (or a subscription) to see it.

Keep up the science/technology posts.

]]> By: Guise http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208763 Guise Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:26:54 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208763 Minor trivia: the Institute for Telecommunications Research at the University of South Australia provided tracking support for the Jules Verne ATV mission, which was the first use of this new European Space Agency Vehicle. It looks like they'll be doing the same for future missions, too - they're one of a number of Australian universities involved in international space research. Check out the National Space Society of Australia's ambitious <a href="http://www.nssa.com.au/downloads/NSSA-Submission-Decadal.pdf" rel="nofollow">'Decadal Plan for Space Science'</a> - which includes a proposal for the 'Sundiver' project, which does exactly what you think it does. Minor trivia: the Institute for Telecommunications Research at the University of South Australia provided tracking support for the Jules Verne ATV mission, which was the first use of this new European Space Agency Vehicle. It looks like they’ll be doing the same for future missions, too – they’re one of a number of Australian universities involved in international space research. Check out the National Space Society of Australia’s ambitious ‘Decadal Plan for Space Science’ – which includes a proposal for the ‘Sundiver’ project, which does exactly what you think it does.

]]> By: David Rubie http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208762 David Rubie Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:20:05 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208762 A c'mon Jacques, do all the slashdot jokes right here! In Soviet russia... (nah, not gonna work). 1. fire rocket 2. Kick Taikonaut out of capsule until he cries and wets himself. 3. ... 4. Profit! Insensitive clod! I am a Taikonaut! (actually, I like "Taikonaut", it's very Gerry Anderson). A c’mon Jacques, do all the slashdot jokes right here!

In Soviet russia… (nah, not gonna work).

1. fire rocket
2. Kick Taikonaut out of capsule until he cries and wets himself.
3. …
4. Profit!

Insensitive clod! I am a Taikonaut!

(actually, I like “Taikonaut”, it’s very Gerry Anderson).

]]> By: Tim Macknay http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208761 Tim Macknay Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:15:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/10/02/snow-on-mars-and-chinese-walks-in-space/#comment-208761 Thanks for the post Robert. The Chinese spacewalk was virtually the only good news this week. Hopefully, once the financial mess blows over, the Chinese achievements will shake the Yanks out of their apathy when it comes to space exploration. Thanks for the post Robert. The Chinese spacewalk was virtually the only good news this week. Hopefully, once the financial mess blows over, the Chinese achievements will shake the Yanks out of their apathy when it comes to space exploration.

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