UPDATE: scrubbed again due to a leak. *Maybe* Monday.
Two hour launch window opens at 2:17 PM Eastern time. A couple channels likely to show it live. Weather is not spectacularly promising. If not tomorrow, Sunday might be a possibility.
Sep 022022
Aug 312022
NASA now targeting Saturday for Artemis I launch to the moon
Officials Tuesday evening said teams are prepping for a 2:17 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 3, liftoff of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule. It will mark the opening of a two-hour window.
Aug 292022
From HERE:
- Sept. 2 at 12:48 p.m. (Two-hour launch window); Landing Oct. 11
- Sept. 5 at 5:12 p.m. (90-minute launch window); Landing Oct. 17
I’m having flashbacks to the early Shuttle days, when my parents would get me up at the crack of pre-dawn to watch the launch just before I had to catch my school bus, only for it to get scrubbed with one second to spare.
Wouldn’t have been the best launch weather anyway – this storm just swept over the SLS launchpad after NASA called a scrub. pic.twitter.com/uCSiQwIApZ
— Joey Roulette (@joroulette) August 29, 2022
Aug 282022
UPDATE: Launch scrubbed, min engine trouble. Earliest next launch opportunity is September 2.
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The 2-hour launch window opens at 8:30 AM Monday morning, Eastern time. Should be streamed live here:
Also here:
The SLS is an insanely expensive, ridiculously obsolete design, but damn if I don’t hope it succeeds. I did some work on those boosters back in the day… fifteen friggen years ago. Youch.
Aug 262022
Mortons has announced my “Book 3,” They list it as available September 30… but I would expect it to come out a bit later than that. Well before Christmas, though.
US Supersonic Bomber Projects
This is Volume 1. I’m hard at work on Volume 2. A Volume 3 is *possible,* though uncertain just yet. Volume 1 covers the evolution of and derivative designs from the “official” bomber programs… B-58, B-59, B-68, B-70. B-1, A-5 and F-111. This covers, where possible, designs that competed for the contract. As with all my works, this is heavily illustrated with line diagrams, as accurate as I can make them.
This will eventually also be available through Amazon. THIS appears to be a placeholder for the listing. When released, it should be available directly through Mortons first, but for US buyers Amazon will have lower shipping cost.
Aug 212022
Firefly Will Replace Russian Engines On Antares Rocket With Beta Booster
The two RD-181 rocket engines on the booster stages are to be replaced with Firefly “Beta” engines.
Aug 152022
Russia Unveils Plans For Space Station to Rival ISS After Leaving Program
Roscosmos showed a model of the new orbital station. At present, RKK Energia continues to work on the draft design of the station.#Roscosmos pic.twitter.com/YaBMBLqrSR
— Laks🚀🌌✨ (@laks513) August 15, 2022
Aug 092022
Well, after all this time and expense, it had *better* work. Currently scheduled to launch August 29, 8:33 AM eastern time.
As @NASA’s first launch attempt for #Artemis I approaches, teams are completing final checks and closeouts of the @NASA_SLS rocket and @NASA_Orion spacecraft.
NASA is targeting launch on Aug.29 during a two-hour launch window beginning at 8:33am EDT:https://t.co/oCyPZEWgzI pic.twitter.com/MVbBZYbRSX
— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) August 8, 2022
Aug 072022
Ebay has recently suggested to me a few Apollo era knickknacks it thinks I need… chunks of Apollo capsule heat shield cast in Lucite. I guess they’re cool and all, and of historical interest, but somewhat outside of my wheelhouse (and finances). Still, looking at them got me thinking.
The Lucite seems to have yellowed with age. Some of this might be cigarette smoke, thus able to be cleaned off. Some might be UV damage to the outer surface, possibly fixable via “retro-bright” process or some similar. But it kinda looks like the Lucite has yellowed or darkened all the way through. If so, if there any possible way to clear that up? Blast it with UV? Gamma rays? Lasers? Boil it? Some sort of solvent to melt the Lucite away, then cast it again in a more modern transparent material that will hold up to time better? Given the prices being asked for these things, the correct answer is doubtless “leave it the frak alone,” but I wonder nonetheless.
Some current examples:
Apollo 8 Heat Shield Segment from the Command Module
Vintage NASA Apollo X heat Shield Lucita 1969
Vintage NASA Apollo 8 Heat Shield Segment from the Command Module 1968
Apollo 7 Piece of Heat Shield from the Command Module
Apollo 9 Flown Ablator Piece in Lucite
Aug 042022
Currently on ebay is a lithograph of the Martin X-23 PRIME (Precision Reentry Including Maneuvering reEntry) subscale lifting body, a mid-1960’s program to build small test vehicles for the full-scale X-24A lifting body. This depiction shows it without the “bump” on the forward fuselage simulating the contours of the cockpit canopy. The seller is rather optimistic with a $1875 Buy-It-Now price, although he will consider offers.
Another copy of the same lithograph, along with a lithograph of an orbital HL-10, sold a few months ago for less than $400. That was too rich for my blood for two lithographs, never mind nearly two grand for one. Shrug. But at least the listing provides a fairly decent photo of the art. I *believe* I’ve only seen it reproduced in B&W.