TheMadCap Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4635 Now we can finally finish that useless piece of orbiting junk, retire the flying metal turkeys and get the hell out of LEO. As long as NASA doesn't kill anymore astronauts in the next four years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomerjamhead Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 It's all good. Is it just me, or does it seem like we now have a one orbiter fleet? How long until the next Return to Flight mission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary M Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Do you think the new ones will look like this? http://www.ketzer.com/movie_props/armageddon_shuttle.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification... Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. 724169[/snapback] wow! Sounds awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Whatever happened to the idea of going back to mainly disposable (and probably safer) spacecraft? I kind of miss the Cold War. Better space race and simpler geopolitical problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acantha Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! 724169[/snapback] Where did you find that? I thought it was last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Where did you find that? I thought it was last year. 724206[/snapback] i was gonna say the same. mars was that close LAST year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Where did you find that? I thought it was last year. 724206[/snapback] e-mail today, I think you're right. Sorry folks, didnt feel like checking.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 e-mail today, I think you're right. Sorry folks, didnt feel like checking.......... 724212[/snapback] old e-mail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMadCap Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 Is it just me, or does it seem like we now have a one orbiter fleet? How long until the next Return to Flight mission? 724119[/snapback] Atlantis is scheduled to launch on STS-115 the end of September. Discovery goes up no earlier than December 12th. Discovery flew the last two missions, but Atlantis was ready to launch for the emergency rescue missions as needed. Discovery is on standby for STS-115. Endeavor is still in her OMDP (orbiter maintenance down period) as will not return to service until January. Whatever happened to the idea of going back to mainly disposable (and probably safer) spacecraft? I kind of miss the Cold War. Better space race and simpler geopolitical problems. 724185[/snapback] The new CEV and CaLV (Ares I and V) are in developement. They very much resemble a cross between Saturn and shuttle. The first stage of Ares V is very much like the first stage Saturn V, with SRBs and disposable engines. The Ares I is to be used for crew launch and looks like an Apollo capsule riding on top of a SRB... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agilen Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 e-mail today, I think you're right. Sorry folks, didnt feel like checking.......... 724212[/snapback] http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acantha Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp 724385[/snapback] I don't remember it in 2003, but there were some amazing views last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp 724385[/snapback] That's why I deleted the post, I've moved on to the Bill's winning the Supper Bowl this year stuff. Anything at snopes on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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