It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.

Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.

Thank you.

 

Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.

 

NASA's test flight of the Orion spacecraft is underway!!!!!!!!

page: 2
10
<< 1    3 >>

log in

join
share:

posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 12:39 PM
link   
I had goose bumps watching this momentous occasion !!!! Cannot wait to see more !



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 12:39 PM
link   
a reply to: intrptr

You think the shuttle wasn't tracked in orbit? Please. Even classified satellites are tracked by amateurs. What, the shuttle was immune to being tracked?



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 12:48 PM
link   

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: JadeStar


Orion is about getting NASA out of the space transportation business and back to the space exploration business.

The mission should be to ferry to and from the ISS, first. That was always the sell--- the shuttle and ISS were staging for further "exploration". Yah, well. BS…

Now what is it? The same "mission" but this time with new manned spaceships?

Imo just cover for spying or intercepting other nations satellites.

"Exploration" is the ruse. Interplanetary probes and landers are doing that just fine.

I always used to wonder what the shuttle brought home in its cargo bay…


Wow. Remind me to never put on your jaded and bitter glasses.

ISS is low Earth orbit. It's not even really "outer space"

Exploration is real. Orion is a exploratory vehicle. It has no cargo bay. It's designed to carry people from our planet to places much further than LEO.

If all we ever do is go to and maintain the ISS, we'll never get anywhere.

As it is, we're like a 35 year old man sitting a play pen.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 01:09 PM
link   

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: JadeStar


Orion is about getting NASA out of the space transportation business and back to the space exploration business.

The mission should be to ferry to and from the ISS, first. That was always the sell--- the shuttle and ISS were staging for further "exploration". Yah, well. BS…


I think you have no idea what you are talking about.

Do you know what NASA's Commercial Crew program is all about?

Its about taking astronauts to the space station using private companies vehicles as taxis.

NASA is no longer going to be a space taxi. Nor should it be. Imagine where air travel would be if there were only one airplane design developed and flown by the FAA.

The near future will see two different private ships take astronauts to the International Space Station in addition to the current Russian Soyuz ships.

They just awarded that contract to Space X for this beautiful vehicle (Dragon V2):





And Boeing for this vehicle (CT100):


Both of which will allow for crews of 7 rather than the current 6 on the ISS.



Orion was never intended to be simply a space taxi. It's cheaper for private companies to do that. Orion is for exploration plain and simple. By the way: The Shuttle was going to launch interplanetary probes until the Challenger disaster. The ISS has done a ton of research on the effects of long term human spaceflight and was never intended to be a shipyard once it became the ISS.

I suggest you inform yourself a bit more on these subjects. It's cool to have strong opinions on space. (It means you care). But well-informed opinions are more interesting.
edit on 5-12-2014 by JadeStar because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 01:18 PM
link   

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: lostbook

originally posted by: eriktheawful
a reply to: lostbook

Right, it's a great space ship that can used in a multitude of ways: LEO and ISS, the Moon, Mars, Asteroids.

the SLS launch vehicles will be the next exciting tests that they do.



Agreed. I'm excited for the SLS. It's a much needed improvement over Constellation.


Agreed. For all the crap the Obama admin gets (unfairly I'd add) over NASA on ATS few seem to remember that Constellation the program the previous administration championed was never going anywhere and sucked a TON of money from space science programs like the Terrestrial Planet FInder.


Yes...! Getting the US back in the Space "EXPLORATION" business could turn out to be the thing that Obama is most remembered for because this is happening on his watch. Good job Mr. President!



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 02:04 PM
link   

originally posted by: lostbook

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: lostbook

originally posted by: eriktheawful
a reply to: lostbook

Right, it's a great space ship that can used in a multitude of ways: LEO and ISS, the Moon, Mars, Asteroids.

the SLS launch vehicles will be the next exciting tests that they do.



Agreed. I'm excited for the SLS. It's a much needed improvement over Constellation.


Agreed. For all the crap the Obama admin gets (unfairly I'd add) over NASA on ATS few seem to remember that Constellation the program the previous administration championed was never going anywhere and sucked a TON of money from space science programs like the Terrestrial Planet FInder.


Yes...! Getting the US back in the Space "EXPLORATION" business could turn out to be the thing that Obama is most remembered for because this is happening on his watch. Good job Mr. President!


I am not the biggest fan of him as presidents go but to be honest looking back at history most presidents after Kennedy haven't been that special.

But in terms of NASA he did a number of things which I think he doesn't get enough credit for.

#1 He appointed an ACTUAL ASTRONAUT as NASA Administrator - Charles Bolden

Imagine that!?! Someone who actually flew in space running a space agency (instead of the usual bean counter/life time bureaucrats).

#2 He doubled down on the privatization of space transportation.

There had long been the idea to allow private companies develop and launch vehicles to ferry astronauts but until Bolden took over much of this was lip-service.

Under the current administration Space-X, a start-up company founded on innovation and with the goal to bringing down the cost of getting things and people into orbit whose stated goal of the settlement of Mars, was awarded a major NASA contract.

That's almost impossible to imagine under the old guard that was in charge previously who were all about firming up the usual big aerospace companies in the military-industrial complex with lucrative no-bid contracts. Putting space transportation in the hands of at least one company trying to make it cheaper is a more efficient use of tax dollars in an already tight budget and frees more funds for NASA to explore.



#3 He began the process of restoring the NASA Astrophysics and Space Science budgets cut under Bush.



When the Terrestrial Planet Finder and Space Interferometry Missions were cancelled it looked as though it might be a generation before we'd launch a planet finding mission. Kepler was in a precarious position and narrowly escaped the budget ax.

Not only did NASA launch Kepler in 2009 but it championed it, its findings and opened up the data to the public to make their own exoplanet discoveries! Kepler achieved its goal of finding the first Earth sized planet which could have liquid water on its surface (Kepler 186 f)



And when Kepler was crippled with the loss of two of its reaction wheels, an innovative proposal to use the Sun's pressure on the space craft as a stabilizer passed Senior Review and K2 was born. That's the kind of Apollo 13 style, American "can-do", "we're not done yet" spirit that many saw lacking at NASA since the Hubble repair missions.


#4 Orion

Already talked about but it has gone according to plan and the first test flight was virtually flawless. With stated goals of towing an asteroid to orbit the moon for examination and sample return and a trip to Mars we are already miles ahead of where we were a decade ago when there was neither a goal nor vehicle capable of getting us out of Low Earth Orbit.

#5 TESS / James Webb Space Telescope / W-First AFTA

These three space telescopes were only possible by staying the course on astrophysics and though they have not yet launched all three are well on their way to launches in 2017, and [url=http://wfirst.gsfc.nasa.gov/]2024.

TESS will look for planets around the nearest stars for later follow up and close examination by the James Webb Space Telescope.



The James Webb Space Telescope will examine nearby exoplanets atmospheres and may even detect the first signs of life on a planet circling another star.


W-FIRST / AFTA will make use of one of the two Hubble sized space telescopes the National Reconnaissance Office gave NASA.



It will take images of planets around nearby stars and probe the mysterious "dark matter".

All things which have helped or will help us fill in and shore up numbers in the Drake Equation:



While he may not go down in history like Kennedy he may very well be remembered favorably by future generations who will note our first steps into the solar system and our first steps towards the knowledge of life on other worlds began in this time.
edit on 5-12-2014 by JadeStar because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 02:06 PM
link   
a reply to: Zaphod58


You think the shuttle wasn't tracked in orbit? Please. Even classified satellites are tracked by amateurs. What, the shuttle was immune to being tracked?


I believe the US space program isn't messing with satellites of other nations like I believe the US isn't bombing Syria or behind the coup in Ukraine.

Done with off topic, carry on…



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 02:08 PM
link   
well regardless of the politics or funding issues and all the other BS that surrounds NASA

today seems to have been a success and something you fellas stateside should be rightly proud of

well done to all involved.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 02:12 PM
link   
Instead of starting a veritable race between NASA and the Mars One project, it would be nice if the private sector and NASA teamed up for the endeavor to Mars.

Humans would be on Mars in half the time and without the whole project hinging on the government's willingness to allot the funds. Imagine if they could combine NASA's budget and know-how with support from the private sector...

If we could just work together instead of turning everything into a damn competition, it would greatly benefit our species.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 02:16 PM
link   
a reply to: intrptr

Because they're so powerful and can do anything without anyone noticing it.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 02:52 PM
link   

originally posted by: Answer
Instead of starting a veritable race between NASA and the Mars One project, it would be nice if the private sector and NASA teamed up for the endeavor to Mars.

Humans would be on Mars in half the time and without the whole project hinging on the government's willingness to allot the funds. Imagine if they could combine NASA's budget and know-how with support from the private sector...

If we could just work together instead of turning everything into a damn competition, it would greatly benefit our species.


I disagree.

Having this competition is healthy for a number of reasons.

1. NASA and Mars One have VERY different goals.

Mars One is about settlement. NASA is about science. While there will be science done by Mars Ones participants that is not the primary goal. Conversely, NASA will have an eye towards future settlement when it sends people to Mars but I highly doubt NASA puts down roots to establish a base there initially. The first NASA Mars missions will likely leave no major living infrastructure for future crews.

2. Mars One is really an experiment in crowd-funded human spaceflight.

Mars One does not depend on any one nation's politics or tax dollars. It does depend on public interest and making itself appealing to advertisers. One argument for privatization of space travel has been that it could be done cheaper and more efficiently. That innovation would be allowed to happen easier than in within a government agency like the ESA, NASA, JAXA, etc. Well here is where we find out how true that is right from the funding stage through to landing.

3. NASA would have everything to lose and nothing to gain

Imagine if one of the colonists dies a tragic death. That would set back NASA's Mars program for years but Mars One would keep on going because unfortunately, more people will tune in for the next iteration of colonists going to the Red Planet now that there has been a dramatic if tragic death. Additionally, NASA would gain little from a successful Mars One type mission since most of the people who will crew Mars One vessels will not be trained scientists.

4. I don't really see it as a race but a competition (if that).

Because their aims are so different I doubt NASA sees Mars One as much of a threat to its own humans to Mars program. Likewise Mars One is so disconnected from government budget realities that it is not in competition with NASA for money.

5. Mars One would be an alternative for conspiracy theorists.

The people who believe NASA would conceal evidence of life on Mars would have an alternative program to look at. Why would Mars One conceal evidence of life on Mars? While some like Richard Hoagland would argue NASA is part of some grand conspiracy and controlled by the government, Mars One would be independent. Beyond that Mars One would benefit in terms of investment if the project found evidence of life on Mars so without being under the thumb of government and with that big prize waiting they would be very unlikely to "cover-up" any such evidence. And we all know, no matter how open NASA is there would always be those who would charge that NASA covered up evidence of life on Mars, that astronauts lied or worse, never even landed on the red planet.

edit on 5-12-2014 by JadeStar because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 04:21 PM
link   
Here's the long version NASA video of the Splashdown.....




posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 04:51 PM
link   
a reply to: JadeStar

Yes...Obama is doing a great service for our Space program.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 06:23 PM
link   

originally posted by: lostbook
a reply to: JadeStar

Yes...Obama is doing a great service for our Space program.


If Obama had his way in 2010 it would have been scrapped completely. It was only political backlash that kept Orion on the board and Constellation was still decimated. Good thing he "clarified" his position.



The U.S. manned space flight programs were dealt a serious blow when Obama announced plans to go back to the moon were being shelved due to budget cuts and cost overruns. The budget cuts meant that the Constellation program would be cancelled.

The outcry against the President's plan was swift from space program supporters and NASA. Obama quickly began to take steps to alter his plans and called for the Orion crew module originally planned as the shuttle replacement to be scaled back and used as a lifeboat for the ISS. Obama had announced that he would talk about his plans for NASA and the space program in Florida earlier this week.

Obama has now aired his plans, clarifying some points and helping to dress wounds caused when he originally announced his plans for NASA. Obama's plan still calls for a scaled back Constellation program that would see the program continue, but only as a shadow of its former self. The changes still mean thousands in the space industry will be left jobless.


DailyTech



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 09:19 PM
link   
a reply to: howmuch4another

Well, great things are happening to our Space program whether it's his intention or not; that's all I'm saying. Jade Star makes some excellent points as to why things are going for the better.

Constellation was a train wreck just waiting to happen. Someone had to cancel it. However, if I recall correctly, certain parts of it were far along enough that they were kept.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 09:56 PM
link   
That launch of the delta rocket looked very laboured , i was waiting for it to to fall back to earth it looked so slow and under powered as it took of from the Cape .

And it is only going to take 7 years for N.A.S.A to get the Orion capsule to ORBIT the moon --wtf

it is almost like they have never been there before with a record of 6/6 moon landings

can they not use the old stuff again



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 10:08 PM
link   
a reply to: douglas5

They can't reach the moon until the SLS goes through its testing.

No, the tooling for the Saturn V is long gone. If you're going to spend as much to build a Saturn V as a new rocket why not just build a new one?



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 10:58 PM
link   
a reply to: douglas5

No, the can't.

There is no "old stuff" laying around. The facilities that built all the parts for the Saturn V have not been sitting around waiting, things have changed.

In order to build the stuff for the Saturn V, you'd have to re-establish those facilities.

It's actually easier to build a new heavy lift vehicle with newer technology.



posted on Dec, 5 2014 @ 11:05 PM
link   

originally posted by: douglas5
That launch of the delta rocket looked very laboured , i was waiting for it to to fall back to earth it looked so slow and under powered as it took of from the Cape .

And it is only going to take 7 years for N.A.S.A to get the Orion capsule to ORBIT the moon --wtf

it is almost like they have never been there before with a record of 6/6 moon landings

can they not use the old stuff again


Most of the old stuff was destroyed and what is left of that stuff is in museums and junkyards (no lie) for good reason its at least 42 year old technology.

Not to mention it would be almost criminal to use all that old stuff when so many advances have been made in materials sciences, computers, and avionics.

As for the timeline, all it takes is money to speed it up. If NASA were funded at 1960s levels we'd be on Mars before the end of the decade.
edit on 5-12-2014 by JadeStar because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 8 2014 @ 07:04 AM
link   
a reply to: douglas5

Well you are right ...if they genuinely went to the moon some 45 years ago then why they now had to check protection system against lethal radiation of lower layer -Van Allen belts ? the dense radiation made the cameras jamming of Orion .

LH martin tweeted "the test result will change the history for forever "...how do you take it ?

anyway this the first genuine effort of NASA to leave the low earth orbits and we all wish they continue it though it seems very difficult to protect human from VA belts radiation .



new topics

top topics



 
10
<< 1    3 >>

log in

join