http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/15/tech/pluto-nasa-new-horizons-first-color-picture/index.html

4/16/2015 9:42:52 AM

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/04/apollo-13-the-mistakes-the-explosion-and-six-hours-of-live-saving-decisions/

Ars has another good write up on Apollo (theyve a few others, many are linked off this story).

4/16/2015 12:32:36 PM

Dragon is berthed to the ISS now. Here is a picture from the process...

4/17/2015 1:25:50 PM

http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/05/05/spacexs-crewed-dragon-spacecraft-is-ready-for-its-first-real-test-on-may-6/

Big test tomorrow! Hope it goes well

5/5/2015 9:42:05 AM

3 minutes till launch.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

5/6/2015 8:57:33 AM

looks like it went fairly well. slight under-performance of one of the engines, but still within test parameters from what i read.

5/7/2015 7:38:29 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHD9AmkxA0

Here is a view from the capsule during the pad abort test!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHD9AmkxA0

5/24/2015 11:08:59 PM

Today's SpaceX Falcon 9 exploded in flight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAX7UFd70M8

6/28/2015 10:59:24 AM

Didnt even realize there was a launch today.

6/28/2015 1:49:50 PM

https://www.youtube.com/embed/UEhHRXDFkeU?wmode=opaque

https://www.themittani.com/news/nasas-race-mars-sls-rs-25-engine-test-maximum-thrust

7/21/2015 9:16:27 PM

^that is an awesome piece of engineering... they were of course designed to be re-used multiple times on the space shuttle. their new role, however, has the legacy (leftover) engines from the STS program to be mounted on the SLS and used once and not recovered. seems like a shame if you ask me.

I've read a few things about the path forward to when they start production of new expendable versions for SLS. There are 16 currently available RS-25D (SSME)... most leftover from shuttle and one constructed from parts in inventory. This gives enough for a maximum of 4 SLS launches (each one used 4 shuttle engines). anyway the expendable versions are already being thought about. they are just going with the "RS-25" nomenclature (as opposed to going straight to a "RS-25E" expendable version) from now on because it looks like there will be a gradual upgrade towards more efficient manufacturing and using parts optimized for one time use to save weight and cost. A lot of the engineering from the RS-68 (first stage engine for Delta rockets, designed for one time use) is being drawn upon to convert the RS-25 to a more economical, one-use optimized engine for the SLS.

[Edited on July 22, 2015 at 2:47 AM. Reason : ]

7/22/2015 2:35:34 AM

7/22/2015 8:25:27 AM

9/2/2015 7:20:41 AM

http://www.iflscience.com/space/nasa-allegedly-conducts-more-successfully-emdrive-tests0

11/3/2015 2:13:35 PM

^worst popular sensationalist "science" tabloid website out there.

11/3/2015 10:37:39 PM

^I think it started out good, but turned to shit when it started trying to appeal to the masses and lowest common denominators... aka was forced to increase profits.

11/4/2015 1:11:24 PM

yeah i've noticed a lot more tabloid-esque "articles" lately.

11/4/2015 2:34:28 PM

Applications for the next class of astronaut candidates are opening up again in December!

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/be-an-astronaut-nasa-seeks-explorers-for-future-space-missions

11/4/2015 5:39:07 PM

I really want to see them hire anyone with a BS thats not a pilot.

That said, for the expected amount of martian construction I keep seeing for a semi-permanent base, Im surprised they aren't asking for construction workers.

11/4/2015 8:59:23 PM

This class will begin training in 2017 for a first mission that won't take place until 2023 and a first mars mission in 2030. 6-13 years is more than enough time for the next class of astronauts to develop any skills necessary. I can't wait to apply even though it will be low odds of making it through.

FIRST TROLL IN SPACE

11/5/2015 11:33:45 PM

Quote :

"Im surprised they aren't asking for construction workers."

It is a lot easier to train astronauts to be construction workers than it is to train construction workers to be astronauts.

11/6/2015 9:25:18 AM

lol, Michael Bay didn't get the memo then.

11/7/2015 8:03:21 AM

i dunno... there are some very skilled trade-workers out there that have jobs which take a lifetime to master. i would imagine hiring some of those for the tasks at hand as mission specialists would make sense.

11/7/2015 10:44:31 PM

If they have taken a lifetime to master their skilled trade, they would be way too old to start out as an astronaut. Someone with absolutely no background or formal education in science, engineering (outside of structural stuff), astrophysics, orbital mechanics, piloting aircraft, high stress (potentially life threatening) problem solving would simply take too long to train for this kind of thing.

11/9/2015 10:51:17 AM

So basically Payload Specialists went away with the shuttle and 7 person crews

11/9/2015 11:07:46 AM

^^yeah i understand that too... was just thinking out loud... err thinking while typing?

11/9/2015 11:43:15 AM

Launch and landing attempt in 15 mins!
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

12/21/2015 8:15:30 PM

Well holy fuck, they did it.

12/21/2015 8:41:22 PM

NAILED IT!

12/21/2015 8:54:52 PM

Just rewatched. That was impressive as hell

12/22/2015 12:43:51 AM

so whats the benefit here? I feel like if it just fell into the water slowly without breaking up it would be just as good as it landing on that platform.

12/22/2015 8:21:01 AM

lol fuck Jeff Bezos..

Quote :

"@jeffbezos: Congrats @SpaceX on landing Falcon's suborbital booster stage. Welcome to the club!"

12/22/2015 8:27:10 AM

1. Salt water is corrosive as hell.
2. Electrical parts don't do well in the water
3. Vibration damage of being in the water
4. Recovery costs of sending a boat out there, fishing it out of the water, bringing it back
5. You'd most likely lose the ability to reuse the actual engine, but you could probably keep the shell

12/22/2015 8:27:10 AM

Man you could feel the pure joy and excitement coming out of that crowd. For most of us space travel and things like this seem sorta routine today, but knowing how difficult that had to have been really gives you chills to watch happen.

12/22/2015 8:42:37 AM

Yeah but even just watching the silent closeup video of it landing perfectly on the pad... I was like goddamn

12/22/2015 9:35:39 AM

The video from the helicopter was really cool as well!

12/22/2015 10:14:01 AM

[Edited on December 22, 2015 at 1:21 PM. Reason : ]

12/22/2015 1:19:32 PM

new video of the launch/landing/deployment...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANv5UfZsvZQ&feature=youtu.be

1/13/2016 7:02:49 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OavtP7zS3H4

2/26/2016 2:02:56 PM

ha! it is only tuesday. damn dry english humor.

2/28/2016 10:55:54 PM

i dunno if this goes here, but pretty interesting: http://gizmodo.com/japan-s-lost-black-hole-satellite-just-reappeared-and-n-1768036648

3/31/2016 9:47:08 AM

http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/spacex-says-cargo-launch-ready-hopes-to-nail-the-landing-this-time/

430pm today!

4/8/2016 9:48:26 AM

T - 60!

4/8/2016 4:42:53 PM

Stage 1 landed successfully!

4/8/2016 4:58:19 PM

YES!

4/8/2016 5:34:09 PM

USA #1!

4/8/2016 7:20:34 PM

4/9/2016 11:17:52 AM

Thank god, maybe I can actually get off this god forsaken rock before I kick it.

4/10/2016 12:19:12 AM

HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY LANDED AND DIDN'T JUST SHOW US A BACKWARDS VIDEO OF TAKEOFF?

4/10/2016 11:23:34 AM

That was awesome to watch!

4/11/2016 8:40:48 AM