11

Blue Origin / Re: Connecting the dots, plans, and lack thereof

« Last post by yg1968 on Today at 06:19 pm »

I am waiting for certain parties to spin this into a positive.

It's a positive, if you are a Moon first advocate (especially if it kills SLS and Orion in the process).

Incidentally, some Blue Origin supporters are spinning the pause of New Shepard as a positive. I have a hard time seeing that as a positive development (except for Virgin Galactic which are likely happy about this).

12

SpaceX General Section / Re: STARLINK @ War - Discussion (Thread 2)

« Last post by XRZ.YZ on Today at 06:19 pm »

In 2022, DoD placed sizable order for starlink for Ukraine and I assume still paying for subscription fee today. So even in pure business sense US Gov could negotiate with SpX for the rule of service as that’s the largest customer.

Only authenticated serial number could connect to Starlink is never implemented for so many years, since in early days, not all starlink goes through official channel. Many starlink terminals are crowdfunded or individually purchased from EU and bring into Ukraine military use.
So Ukraine doesn’t really know all the serial number at the time and don’t want to impact their own troops.
Even as now the whitelist has been used. It will still be an issue that Russians will try to find ways to register their serial number.
Also there will inevitably be some registered terminal being captured on the battle field.

13

Blue Origin / Re: Connecting the dots, plans, and lack thereof

« Last post by yg1968 on Today at 06:16 pm »

After I saw said parties spin the AI nonsense into a positive, it was very telling.


Unfortunately, it's not clear how much of this talk is serious and how much is just trying to build another dream that he could attach to the AI mania. I get the impression right now that is what he really cares about. We shall see.

Exactly, I will said after Tesla fail this year, SpaceX IPO is in a big problem...

Tesla fail? Tesla is doing very well.

14

SpaceX Falcon Missions Section / Re: SpaceX F9/Crew Dragon : Crew-12 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 12 February 2026 (10:38 UTC)

« Last post by catdlr on Today at 06:14 pm »

NASA HQ PHOTO

@nasahqphoto
·
2h
Earlier today @NASA’s @SpaceX Crew-12 completed a final dress rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of their launch to @Space_Station. Launch is targeted for 5:38am EST on Thurs. Feb. 12 from @NASAKennedy

Flicker Images
.  📷:https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCK3Cd


https://x.com/nasahqphoto/status/2020895818761310294

15

Historical Spaceflight / Re: On this Day in Space History - A Space Almanac

« Last post by catdlr on Today at 06:13 pm »

Feb 9

National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
·
2h
On this day in 1995, Bernard Anthony Harris became the first Black astronaut to do a spacewalk. He and STS-63 crewmate Michael Foale tested new insulation in their spacesuits, but their spacewalk was cut short after the astronauts reported feeling very cold. #BlackHistoryMonth

https://twitter.com/airandspace/status/2020895730156585038

16

SpaceX General Section / Re: M&A: SpaceX Winter Garden, Florida Cyclotron Facility

« Last post by eeergo on Today at 06:12 pm »

This cyclotron is akin to the dozens of similar ones that are in use for medical purposes (which routinely can and do use higher energies) worldwide, including tens in the US alone: https://www.ptcog.site/index.php/facilities-in-operation-public

Nowadays cyclotrons are of limited use for space-only applications, given their relative lack of efficiency (including feasible luminosities) and flexibility (including heavier ion use at energies of interest for space environment radiation testing) with respect to synchrotrons: https://www.slideserve.com/cosima/potential-of-cyclotrons


Curiously, a similar 230 MeV proton cyclotron was commissioned a few years ago in China (with quoted mixed medical+space applications): https://inspirehep.net/files/9e83c316f9023390e952df9135d6f3cf

17

Missions To The Moon (HSF) / Re: Artemis II : NET 3 March 2026 (22:30 UTC) : UPDATES ONLY

« Last post by catdlr on Today at 06:11 pm »

NASA Artemis

@NASAArtemis
·
3h
Last week's wet dress rehearsal test for the Artemis II mission brought teams one step closer to liftoff.

Since the test, technicians have replaced two seals in the area where operators found a hydrogen leak.

Teams also are adding additional time in the countdown to allow for more troubleshooting.

March is the next potential launch opportunity. NASA will set a targeted launch date after completing a successful wet dress rehearsal test and reviewing the data. https://go.nasa.gov/4bFsDy0

https://twitter.com/NASAArtemis/status/2020889848723181951

18

Historical Spaceflight / Re: On this Day in Space History - A Space Almanac

« Last post by catdlr on Today at 06:08 pm »

Feb 9

NASA History Office

@NASAhistory
·
4h
Apollo 14, welcome home!

Apollo 14 astronauts Al Shepard, Ed Mitchell, and Stu Roosa returned to Earth #OTD in 1971 after their 9-day mission to the Moon. With them, they returned 94 pounds of lunar samples and hundreds of photographs. Also onboard: hundreds of tree seeds, dozens of which are now "Moon Trees" found across the United States.

https://twitter.com/NASAhistory/status/2020875335772832196

19

SpaceX Falcon Missions Section / Re: SpaceX F9/Crew Dragon : Crew-12 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 12 February 2026 (10:38 UTC)

« Last post by catdlr on Today at 06:05 pm »

SpaceX
@SpaceX
Crew-12, SpaceX, and @NASA completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities

NASA's Johnson Space Center

@NASA_Johnson
.
@NASA and @SpaceX now are targeting no earlier 5:38 a.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 12, for launch of the Crew-12 mission to the International @Space_Station from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/2020879038802239827

https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/2020878835441336341

20

Blue Origin / Re: Connecting the dots, plans, and lack thereof

« Last post by catdlr on Today at 06:03 pm »

Ryan Caton
@dpoddolphinpro
·
Slow and steady wins the race.

2026 is the new 2016 anyone?

https://twitter.com/dpoddolphinpro/status/2020878554695700749