Thursday, November 26, 2020
Monday, November 16, 2020
A Memory Of The SpaceX Factory
History was made late in the afternoon when 4 astronauts blasted off in
a Space-X rocket and went into orbit. Today they will dock with the
International Space Station. Almost 6 years ago, Elena got a "once in a
lifetime birthday gift." She got a tour of the Space-X factory in
Hawthorne, California.
This huge factory
started life as a Boeing facility that assembled 747's. When Boeing no longer
needed the facility, a young and unproven rocket company named Space-X bought
it for a bargain price. Space-x turned it into a rocket factory and its
corporate headquarters. To get a tour of this factory, one must be personally
invited by Elon Musk or a Space-X employee. I had a friend who worked as an
engineer there. I asked him to help me give Elena a birthday present like no
other. He had a date that night and had to keep his fiance waiting while he
gave us a tour of the factory.
Tours always take place on
a Friday night. You are not allowed to announce in advance on social media that
you are making the tour. One is required to report to the facility at six in
the evening. We arrived in a Lyft vehicle. It was pitch dark. The factory does
not have much exterior lighting. There is an airfield next door with planes
landing and taking off all the time. It is a surreal feeling like being in a
science fiction movie.
As our driver pulled into
the parking lot, a golf cart with two armed guards pulled up. We were asked
what we were doing there. I responded that we had come for the tour and
mentioned the engineer's name. A quick call was made to verify our story. We
were told to report to the company snack bar. After a short wait, we were taken
to a reception area. We had to fill out a long questionnaire on an IPad and
give a thumb print. We had to turn off our mobile phones and all other mobile
devices. No cameras were allowed. We were sent to a waiting area.
The inside of the factory
was well-lighted and full of life. My friend came and we began the tour. It was
amazing and we were dazzled. There were some surprises. Rocket engines are not
"stamped out" as would be the engine for your car. Some of the parts
are made on machines. The engines are then assembled by highly-skilled technicians.
Elena got close to a Falcon-9 booster. What truly amazed her was that its skin
was about the thickness of a beer can. She was amazed that such a frail
cylinder could support so much weight and endure stresses of flying at up to
18,000 miles per hour.
Yesterday as I watched the
liftoff, I thought back to our tour of the factory.
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Blast Off To ISS
History is about to be made as 4 brave astronauts are sitting atop a rocket and preparing to blast-off to the ISS. I am optimistiv, but also tense and full of stress/ Many challenges remain. This is not a "done deal."
Thursday, November 12, 2020
NASA Prepared For Mars Sample Return Mission
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7781&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nasajpl&utm_content=daily20201110-2
Russia Looks For An Actress To Steal The Thunder From Tom Cruise's Space Movie
https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4063/1
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Europa Puts On A Show!
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7779&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nasajpl&utm_content=daily20201109-1
Monday, November 9, 2020
Lunar Mysteries
Lunar Mysteries
NASA recently found traces of water on the Moon’s sunlit surface.
Previous studies have found evidence of ice but the new findings show that water could exist across the lunar surface, USA Today reported.
“Now we know it is there,” said Paul Hertz, director of the astrophysics division in the science mission directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington. “This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration.”
Researchers said that the agency’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) detected hydrogen and oxygen molecules. They suspect that the water came from different sources, such as comets, solar wind or even lunar volcanic eruptions.
The discovery is important for future moon exploration and colonization because astronauts could use these water resources for drinking and rocket fuel production.
NASA says it is unsure if the water is accessible enough to be used as a resource but noted that the future Artemis program hopes to solve the mystery.
The program plans to send astronauts to the Moon in 2024.
Monday, November 2, 2020
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Establishing A Bottoms Up Approach To Space Governance
https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4053/1