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Post by kemp on Jul 18, 2019 8:00:08 GMT -5
I have read that the moons gravity is one sixth that of the Earth's. A lunar base station would make practical sense to launch future missions to Mars. The adventurer in me would like to think that it may be possible, but the skeptic in me thinks on the social, economic and political issues that we face these days and that such a mission would almost be impossible given the current climate of things, even to get back to the moon. The costs themselves astronomical. The 60's had its social issues, but there seemed to a unity of purpose, energy and dedication that seems a little lacking now, at least to motivate the popular consciousness for such an endeavour. Whatever else happens at least we will always have that history to remind us of what can be achieved. Check out the pic of the Saturn V, one of the most powerful rockets ever made.  |
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Post by kemp on Jul 21, 2019 7:38:07 GMT -5
In all the excitement about the first moon landing we sometimes tend to forget that the journey to get there was a decade long venture involving thousands and with more than a few disasters along the way, including the unfortunate deaths of the astronauts involved, for example the cabin fire on Apollo 1 that took the lives of all three crew members, and there have been many more documented fatalities, both in the US and the then USSR in relation to the respective space programs undertaken by both nations. The Apollo 15 mission left a plaque on the moon commemorating fallen astronauts.  |
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Post by kemp on Jul 21, 2019 7:48:08 GMT -5
There were other milestones reached along the way on that journey to get a human being to the moon. Just as momentous was the equally important first man in space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.  The Vostok 1 space capsule that took Yuri Gagarin once around the Earth in 1961.  |
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Post by kemp on Jul 21, 2019 8:07:31 GMT -5
I have been watching some documentaries on the Soviet and American space programs of the 50’60’s. The Apollo 8 mission of 1968 was also of special significance in that it was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth orbit, reach the moon and orbit it. I think that this milestone tends to get eclipsed by the Apollo 11 mission. Taken by William Anders of Apollo 8.  ![]() Apollo 8 crew ![]()  |
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Post by kemp on Jul 21, 2019 8:14:19 GMT -5
The Apollo 11 crew.  |
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jakmon
Wanderer
writer with a day job
Posts: 14
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Post by jakmon on Jul 30, 2019 8:02:43 GMT -5
Great pics of the space program. I still don't get why we in the USA did away with the space shuttle program and now rely on the Russians for transport to the space station.
The PBS specials last week on the Apollo missions were cool. Buzz was quoted as saying Earth wasn't all that special, and that just because we haven't found others like us doesn't mean the Earth is special. Buzz is great, but I disagree. We've got a lot of technology to upgrade before we can know for sure. So far, Earth is special, but we should push the space frontiers, imo, including Mars.
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Post by kemp on Aug 1, 2019 4:20:00 GMT -5
Great pics of the space program. I still don't get why we in the USA did away with the space shuttle program and now rely on the Russians for transport to the space station. The PBS specials last week on the Apollo missions were cool. Buzz was quoted as saying Earth wasn't all that special, and that just because we haven't found others like us doesn't mean the Earth is special. Buzz is great, but I disagree. We've got a lot of technology to upgrade before we can know for sure. So far, Earth is special, but we should push the space frontiers, imo, including Mars. NASA is announcing plans for a moon orbiting spaceport. The name I hear being tossed around is Deep Space Gateway. It is supposed to be a stepping stone to Mars. I am more than a little skeptical. Maybe someone higher up has been looking at too many Chris Foss art or something.  I think the Russians will be sending manned missions only as far as low Earth orbit for some time to come via their Soyuz, and the fact that we still have at least that is probably an achievement in itself. |
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jakmon
Wanderer
writer with a day job
Posts: 14
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Post by jakmon on Aug 5, 2019 20:16:27 GMT -5
NASA is announcing plans for a moon orbiting spaceport. The name I hear being tossed around is Deep Space Gateway. It is supposed to be a stepping stone to Mars. I am more than a little skeptical. Maybe someone higher up has been looking at too many Chris Foss art or something. One of the few perks of doing away with regular cable and going Firestick is the Pluto TV app. Lot of older material there but also some weirdly interesting as well. One channel that is neither is the NASA channel. Some of the recent space station walks were truly amazing, and crystal clear. Earth large but so far below, space hovering around, floating men and women in space suits using stainless steel drills while getting live instructions from Houston control. They had a cool twenty or so minutes on the plans for Gateway, along with the mantra, "We are going." |
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Post by kemp on Aug 6, 2019 8:16:28 GMT -5
NASA is announcing plans for a moon orbiting spaceport. The name I hear being tossed around is Deep Space Gateway. It is supposed to be a stepping stone to Mars. I am more than a little skeptical. Maybe someone higher up has been looking at too many Chris Foss art or something. One of the few perks of doing away with regular cable and going Firestick is the Pluto TV app. Lot of older material there but also some weirdly interesting as well. One channel that is neither is the NASA channel. Some of the recent space station walks were truly amazing, and crystal clear. Earth large but so far below, space hovering around, floating men and women in space suits using stainless steel drills while getting live instructions from Houston control. They had a cool twenty or so minutes on the plans for Gateway, along with the mantra, "We are going." Glossy ads aside, if they are really serious about it, and this is not some stunt to buy a few more votes in 2020 from a certain demographic by the side pushing the moon 2024 thing, NASA will have a ton of work on their to do list, including pulling the necessary budget for the project, effective partnership with the commercial space industry, prioritizing the development of new multipurpose rockets and spaceships for human missions to the moon and beyond, the Space Launch System SLS needs to be tested, and this was supposed to be done in 2017, the current plan is to test an uncrewed rocket to the moon by 2021, the Orion space capsule which will contain the four astronauts needs to be completed, building and launching the massive lunar Gateway space station that will orbit the moon, and they still haven't secured the funding for the eventual total cost of the mission which will be a blowout nightmare ( they will need some amazing PR to sell that to the public ), and I will not even go into the looming trade war that will play havoc on the world markets. The basic outline for a 2024 moon landing is that the Astronauts would take off aboard the Orion capsule, on the SLS, and fly to the Gateway space station. Then, they would board a lunar descent craft, go down to the moon, do some moon science, and return to the Gateway before the journey home....simple right.  |
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jakmon
Wanderer
writer with a day job
Posts: 14
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Post by jakmon on Aug 14, 2019 7:24:55 GMT -5
Cool details. NASA has a lot to do, but if they don't set it motion it'll never happen until it's militarily advantageous, imo.
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Post by buxom9sorceress on Aug 26, 2019 10:28:48 GMT -5
Cool details. NASA has a lot to do, but if they don't set it motion it'll never happen until it's militarily advantageous, imo. n a s a are still the biggest ,most evil, supa-arogant repeating massive LIARS [ and huge fund thieves /robbers ] in the entire universe ! their leadership are complete and utter evil bastards! fully supported by the totally corrupt usa govments. even the russian and other euro powers worked and lied with them to complete the massive worldwide deceptions against us all. |
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Post by kemp on Aug 27, 2019 9:29:33 GMT -5
“And in what business is there not humbug? “There’s cheating in all trades but ours,” is the prompt reply from the boot-maker with his brown paper soles, the grocer with his floury sugar and chicoried coffee, the butcher with his mysterious sausages and queer veal, the dry goods man with his “damaged goods wet at the great fire” and his “selling at a ruinous loss,” the stock-broker with his brazen assurance that your company is bankrupt and your stock not worth a cent (if he wants to buy it,) the horse jockey with his black arts and spavined brutes, the milkman with his tin aquaria, the land agent with his nice new maps and beautiful descriptions of distant scenery, the newspaper man with his “immense circulation,” the publisher with his “Great American Novel,” the city auctioneer with his “Pictures by the Old Masters”—all and every one protest each his own innocence, and warn you against the deceits of the rest. My inexperienced friend, take it for granted that they all tell the truth—about each other! and then transact your business to the best of your ability on your own judgment.” ― P.T. Barnum, The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages ![]()  |
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Post by Von K on Aug 27, 2019 12:50:14 GMT -5
n a s a are still the biggest Welcome back Bux! You've been away from the forum for a long time and I hope all is well. (I sent you a PM). |
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Post by buxom9sorceress on Aug 30, 2019 13:54:45 GMT -5
n a s a are still the biggest Welcome back Bux! You've been away from the forum for a long time and I hope all is well. (I sent you a PM). Dear VK. Many thanks for your lovely caring messages. Sorry but i have been very ill. [ that powerful Sorceress Bux is pretty much immune to aging and illness, but, alas, I am Not. ] Hope you are all keeping well and not suffering too much? Best wishes to you all.  |
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Aug 30, 2019 14:14:09 GMT -5
Welcome back Bux! You've been away from the forum for a long time and I hope all is well. (I sent you a PM). Sorry but i have been very ill.... Best wishes to you all. Sorry to hear that,Sorceress! Something is going around my neck o' the woods, but I've so far dodged it's sickly grasp. Started a poem finally, need to work on it some more. Been writing on stories and painting. |
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