Mechanical engineer, material scientist. Loves to run, play billiards, swim, and be outdoors.
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Saturday, January 03, 2004
Aye, its me again. Yes, I know, again.
I'm just waiting for Spirit to land on Mars (in approximately 15 minutes). Its currently hurdling through space at about 12,800 miles per hour (which equates to just over 3.5 miles/second...sort of slow for intrastellar travel, if you ask me). It will be searching for the building blocks of life. Hopefully they'll find some, because it will generate interest in space exploration, which would kick ass (not only is it cool, but it's guaranteeing me a job in the future!). Now, we won't find life...no, not now, the environment is far too hostile to carbon based lifeforms (though there is the infinitismal chance that silicon based life may take advantage of Mars). But no green men. Do you hear me? NO GREEN MEN!
Ok, sorry about that. But there has been another project NASA has going that I have interest in. It's the comet chaser...Project Stardust, I believe it's called (not sure). I don't care that it's catching comet dust to bring back to Earth. I am interested in the project only because of the propulsion system being used: the first interstellar ion engine. It emits only a few ions at a time, giving it an extremely low acceleration, but once it gets to speed, it's blazing fast, and it's on the cutting edge of technology!
What I really REALLY want to see is the revitalization of the Apollo project, except using modern technology, rather than a Saturn V (despite it being a very safe, efficient way to get to the moon). Say the X-33 design attached to 2 SRBs and 1 liquid oxygen booster? Should be totally safe, and the X-33 can come in for a modern day shuttle landing, unlike the cones of Saturn Vs, which landed in the ocean. The problem is will the X-33 have enough fuel to relaunch from the lunar surface (it is a small, compact design)? Will the tiles be shaken loose by touching down on the moon/dust from relaunching (lethal to the crew, upon reentry into atmosphere)?
THIS JUST IN: SPIRIT'S PARACHUTE HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED. CURRENT VELOCITY: MACH 0.6 (354 MPH), CRAFT IS WOBBLING, STILL INTACT. RADIO BLACKOUT HAS OCCURRED AS EXPECTED.
UPDATE: RADIO SIGNAL LOST AFTER SPIRIT COMMENCED BOUNCING. PREMATURE CHEERING. BOUNCES ARE 4 STORIES HIGH.
Ok, so the mission to get there is almost successful. We won't know for sure for another few minutes. Well, even if this bid fails, we'll have a second chance as Opportunity will be landing on January 24th. Only 303,000,000 mile journey. Not exactly a large distance (only 3.26 AU).
UPDATE: SPIRIT IS OPERATIONAL!!!
Awesome!!!
I'm just waiting for Spirit to land on Mars (in approximately 15 minutes). Its currently hurdling through space at about 12,800 miles per hour (which equates to just over 3.5 miles/second...sort of slow for intrastellar travel, if you ask me). It will be searching for the building blocks of life. Hopefully they'll find some, because it will generate interest in space exploration, which would kick ass (not only is it cool, but it's guaranteeing me a job in the future!). Now, we won't find life...no, not now, the environment is far too hostile to carbon based lifeforms (though there is the infinitismal chance that silicon based life may take advantage of Mars). But no green men. Do you hear me? NO GREEN MEN!
Ok, sorry about that. But there has been another project NASA has going that I have interest in. It's the comet chaser...Project Stardust, I believe it's called (not sure). I don't care that it's catching comet dust to bring back to Earth. I am interested in the project only because of the propulsion system being used: the first interstellar ion engine. It emits only a few ions at a time, giving it an extremely low acceleration, but once it gets to speed, it's blazing fast, and it's on the cutting edge of technology!
What I really REALLY want to see is the revitalization of the Apollo project, except using modern technology, rather than a Saturn V (despite it being a very safe, efficient way to get to the moon). Say the X-33 design attached to 2 SRBs and 1 liquid oxygen booster? Should be totally safe, and the X-33 can come in for a modern day shuttle landing, unlike the cones of Saturn Vs, which landed in the ocean. The problem is will the X-33 have enough fuel to relaunch from the lunar surface (it is a small, compact design)? Will the tiles be shaken loose by touching down on the moon/dust from relaunching (lethal to the crew, upon reentry into atmosphere)?
THIS JUST IN: SPIRIT'S PARACHUTE HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED. CURRENT VELOCITY: MACH 0.6 (354 MPH), CRAFT IS WOBBLING, STILL INTACT. RADIO BLACKOUT HAS OCCURRED AS EXPECTED.
UPDATE: RADIO SIGNAL LOST AFTER SPIRIT COMMENCED BOUNCING. PREMATURE CHEERING. BOUNCES ARE 4 STORIES HIGH.
Ok, so the mission to get there is almost successful. We won't know for sure for another few minutes. Well, even if this bid fails, we'll have a second chance as Opportunity will be landing on January 24th. Only 303,000,000 mile journey. Not exactly a large distance (only 3.26 AU).
UPDATE: SPIRIT IS OPERATIONAL!!!
Awesome!!!
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