Orion first test flight was perfect!

[eddie]

"KENNEDY SPACE CENTER -- Atop the most powerful rocket available, NASA's next generation space capsule Orion blasted off Friday morning against the backdrop of a rising sun at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and later landed with a "bull's-eye splashdown" in the Pacific Ocean."

Nice to see that it went better then expected. Re-entry speed was around 20,000 MPH and Orion got through that just fine!

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techno...era/ar-BBgo9wG

[Otto Harkaman]

Thank goodness!

[Catfish]

Congratulations! Good to see the US is at it again

[Oberon]

Excellent!

I saw the launch at about T+1 since the video links were being a bit unreliable which was annoying, but watching the Earth get smaller and and the curvature more noticable.



Then the stages breaking away. Beautiful.

Good to hear that the re-entry was as successful as the launch.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Congratulations! Good to see the US is at it again

Yup. Between race riots, cheap gas and a spacecraft that looks like a glorified Apollo module it's kinda like a trip back to the 1960s here.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Dread Knot

Yup. Between race riots, cheap gas and a spacecraft that looks like a glorified Apollo module it's kinda like a trip back to the 1960s here.

Don't forget the Cold war with the Russians and the drugs in Colorado.

[Lionclaw]

Stream died at T-10 seconds.

Did get to watch the reentry and splashdown though.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Don't forget the Cold war with the Russians and the drugs in Colorado.

The impending return of Ernst Stravo Blofeld in Bond films makes more sense now.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Dread Knot

The impending return of Ernst Stravo Blofeld in Bond films makes more sense now.

There's only one Blofeld for me, and that's Donald.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Oberon

There's only one Blofeld for me, and that's Donald.

I second that, but then I always wonder about his rapidly failing eyesight, and will he get away at the station or not!

[razark]

Originally Posted by Dread Knot

...it's kinda like a trip back to the 1960s here.

Apollo spacecraft first flight: 1966
Apollo flight around moon: 1968
Two lunar landings: 1969


Orion first flight: 2014
Orion first manned flight: Sometime beyond 2020

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by razark

Apollo spacecraft first flight: 1966
Apollo flight around moon: 1968
Two lunar landings: 1969


Orion first flight: 2014
Orion first manned flight: Sometime beyond 2020

That's easy

the 60's was due to race between USA and Russia
And JFK famous speak about putting a man on the moon before the end of the decade

Now there's no race and a trip to Mars is far more.... than a trip to the moon is.

They have to establish some kind of base on Mars before the astronaut arrive a.s.o

That what I think.

Markus

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by mapuc

That's easy

the 60's was due to race between USA and Russia
And JFK famous speak about putting a man on the moon before the end of the decade

Now there's no race and a trip to Mars is far more.... than a trip to the moon is.

They have to establish some kind of base on Mars before the astronaut arrive a.s.o

That what I think.

Markus

Or just drop all the equipment to build a base and the machinery to do it with, most of it can and will be automated anyway.
Besides, the first visit to Mars will be just like the first one to the Moon, one small step, one giant flag and then back home to Earth with some Mars rock and a lifetime of fame ahead of them.
After that will come the colonies...and boy, is that going to be an exciting and interesting time for humanity. Both scientifically and morally, lots of questions to be answered in the future, about our place in the solar system, about the control of Mars and the resources upon it, about artificial intelligence and the future of mankind.

If you get a chance, read Kim Stanley Robinsons 'Mars' trilogy...and perhaps, watch this video:
http://vimeo.com/108650530

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Or just drop all the equipment to build a base and the machinery to do it with, most of it can and will be automated anyway.
Besides, the first visit to Mars will be just like the first one to the Moon, one small step, one giant flag and then back home to Earth with some Mars rock and a lifetime of fame ahead of them.
After that will come the colonies...and boy, is that going to be an exciting and interesting time for humanity. Both scientifically and morally, lots of questions to be answered in the future, about our place in the solar system, about the control of Mars and the resources upon it, about artificial intelligence and the future of mankind.

If you get a chance, read Kim Stanley Robinsons 'Mars' trilogy...and perhaps, watch this video:
http://vimeo.com/108650530

I seem to recall that these astronaut can't return at once, if I'm not remembering wrong they have to stay on Mars for some month or so

Markus

[razark]

Originally Posted by mapuc

I seem to recall that these astronaut can't return at once, if I'm not remembering wrong they have to stay on Mars for some month or so

They can return at once, but it's not efficient. Making a short trip means they would be departing for Earth at a poor time, meaning more energy needed to return, and more time spent in transit. The first Mars mission needs to plan to hang out for a while before the return trip. (Or not return. One of the proposed models is Mars To Stay, where the first travelers go on long term colonization missions, and we just keep sending them supplies and more colonists.)