Every week we cover the latest spaceflight news, discuss past, current and future exploration efforts, and take a look at upcoming events. Tune in to hear about how humans get to space, how they stay in space and how unmanned craft reach farther and farther into the universe around us.
https://theorbitalmechanics.com/show-notes/
Episode 12: Shields Up
- Spaceflight news
- Progress loss (NSF forum) (NSF forum) (russiaspaceweb)
- New Shepard flight update (BlueOrigin.com)
- Complete reuse vs SMART reuse (NSF Forum)
- ISRO successfully test CE20 (parabolicarc.com) (YT)
- D2 pad abort (NSF)
- Preview presentation (YT)
- One dummy, five mass simulators (spx)
- Scorch marks from static fire day before (YT)
- Burn was 8 seconds short (slate.com) (@elonmusk)
- Was there an early engine-out just before all eight were cut? (/r/spacex)
- Wide view, no-cut video (/r/spacex)
- Questions, comments, corrections
- /u/saabstory88: It's funny that you should mention that engines, fuel lines, and a thrust structure have never been used like that before. In fact, it was on the original incarnation of the Atlas that used exactly that technology. In the stage and a half configuration used by the Atlas missile, SLV series, and Atlas I and Atlas II, they dropped the whole outer booster structure, and cut the fuel lines mid flight. So this latest "Evolution" of the Atlas will actually use a staging method seen on the very first model. For reference: http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_2/Diverse/Atlas_MA-drive-system/index.htm
- Cost of F9 fairings (/r/spacex)
- @nerobro: “Laptop fans are not centrifugal, they're "squirrel cage" blowers. Centrifugal pumps are used for their high pressure ratios” (Nero Wolfe)
- Article on centrifugal fans (wiki)
- Expanding duct stator compressors (YT)
- Heat Shields
- Upcoming spaceflight events
- May 16: Proton-M/Briz-M carrying Mexsat-1 (Centenario).
- Webcast: (imgondemand.com)
- Alternate webcast: (tv-tsenki.com)
- May 20 1445 GMT: AFSPC 5
- Webcast (YT)
- May 16: Proton-M/Briz-M carrying Mexsat-1 (Centenario).
A TPSF employee handles a glowing hot Shuttle tile.
The image above is from an amazing set of images by Jared Haworth. You are strongly recommended to check out the rest of the album as well.
The following images were taken by Connor West at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
The business end of a Gemini capsule.
Gemini heat shields, before and after
Apollo heat shields, before and after
A closeup of Gemini IV's heat shield.
A used Mercury heat shield