AgBQ-00 said:

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This is interesting to think about. Would it pass Voyager (distance wise) as it travels to its destination? That would put it in interstellar space would it not?

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Oh yeah. Voyager 1 is like 170 AU from the sun in the interstellar medium, and it's been traveling for almost 50 years. Granted, its flight path had different observational objectives, but this thing would need to be traveling 10x the speed of Voyager to get 540 AU in only 17 years. That's almost 32 AU per year. Uranus's orbit is like 18 AU for comparison. Considering time for braking, this thing would need to be absolutely booking it out of here

Something tells me this is a pipe dream

rednecked said:

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incredible idea. the distance they are saying they need it at is 11 times further out from the Sun than Pluto. That's going to be quite a task.

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It would also be pretty difficult to aim it at anything other than a primary target. The probe would have to travel vast distances to view anything else of interest. But if we had some good targets in mind, we could launch probes for those specifically.

One thing they could do is as it orbits it could cover areas as they come into view. It would be amazing for this to happen but imagine the tiny slice it would have. Almost think it'd be a good idea to get some economy of scale going and send up multiple of these probes. That way we could get a wider slice viewing

Why though? It would take thousands of years to perform 1 orbit of the Sun. We would only be able to look at a tiny patch of the sky for it's lifetime.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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rednecked said:

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hmm. says they would use a solar sail. still need some kind of badass braking technology to get it to stop where they want it. that's a lot of fuel!

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Easy. Just turn it around.

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TexAgs91 said:

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Quote:

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NASA's Solar Gravitational Lens (SGL) concept aims to transform our ability to observe distant exoplanets by using the Sun's gravity as a massive telescope. This innovative approach leverages Einstein's theory of general relativity, which predicts that massive objects like the Sun can bend light rays passing near them. The Sun's enormous gravitational field acts as a lens, focusing light from distant objects to a focal line starting at about 550 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. By positioning a spacecraft along this focal line, scientists could harness this effect to create an enormous telescope with unprecedented magnification power, potentially revolutionizing our search for habitable worlds and signs of extraterrestrial life.

Potential Targets and Resolution
The SGL could provide unprecedented imaging capabilities for exoplanets within about 100 light-years of Earth. With its extreme magnification power, the telescope could achieve resolutions as fine as 10 kilometers on the surface of these distant worlds. This level of detail would allow astronomers to:
[ol]

Observe continents, oceans, and large-scale topography

Detect seasonal changes on exoplanet surfaces

Identify potential signs of habitability or even civilization

Study atmospheric composition through spectroscopy

[/ol]
Prime targets for the SGL would include Earth-like exoplanets orbiting in the habitable zones of their stars, particularly those already identified as intriguing candidates by current telescopes.
Timeline and Feasibility

While the concept is promising, turning the Sun into a giant telescope is still years away from becoming a reality:
[ol]

NASA physicist Slava Turyshev's proposal was selected for Phase III of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program in 2020.

The mission concept aims for a potential launch by 2035.

Using solar sail technology, the spacecraft could reach the focal point at 547 AU in about 17 years.

[/ol]
Significant technological challenges remain, including developing the necessary propulsion systems, designing spacecraft capable of operating at vast distances from Earth, and creating advanced image processing algorithms.Despite these hurdles, researchers are optimistic about the SGL's potential. If successful, it could provide our first detailed look at the surfaces of distant exoplanets, potentially answering one of humanity's most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe?

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https://www.popsci.com/science/solar-gravitational-lensing/

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The communication system would have to be insane. You'd be looking at almost a weeks time to send a signal to the probe and get a response.

AgBQ-00 said:

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One thing they could do is as it orbits it could cover areas as they come into view. It would be amazing for this to happen but imagine the tiny slice it would have. Almost think it'd be a good idea to get some economy of scale going and send up multiple of these probes. That way we could get a wider slice viewing

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The field of view would only be a nano arc second.

Approximately 2.778 x 10^-13 degrees

This could be expanded though by just having it swing around a small black hole to slow down. Easy peasy, just have chat gpt on board to scan for disturbances in the gravitational force.

Appears #SpaceX has finally officially acquired the 477-acres from the Austin holding company, theyve agreed to swap w/ #TPWD. Just need to shake one of their pending lawsuits to complete the deal. pic.twitter.com/AlNmHglR1F

— Cowboy Dan (@CowboyDanPaasch) September 27, 2024

What's the back story here?

Iirc SpaceX has successfully negotiated for a tract around Laguna Vista they will exchange w/ TPWD for a much smaller tract directly adjacent to Starbase launch facility.

Sorry if that's an oversimplification. I don't know the details of the lawsuit matter.

Tailgate88 said:

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What's the back story here?

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Quote:

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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously Monday to pursue an exchange that would give 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County to Elon Musk's SpaceX spacecraft company.

The state park land would be swapped for 477 acres adjacent to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, an area the agency has been interested in for many years because it's "one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America" and provides habitat for endangered species and migratory birds, the agency said.

The vote grants Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff the authority to begin negotiations with SpaceX for the land swap, including conducting environmental assessments that could take up to 18 months.

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https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-spacex-boca-chica-park-land-swap/

"environmental assessments that could take up to 18 months"

What does that job pay?

LTV mockups due today from the three competitors. Functional prototypes due in November. Here's the rollout for Intuitive Machines.

Apollo astronauts made history by driving the Lunar Roving Vehicle across the Moon’s surface. Now, their insights are helping push the frontier further with the Moon RACER team’s next-gen Lunar Terrain Vehicle. The team is delivering a static mock-up to @NASA_Johnson for… pic.twitter.com/nq5c8rosni

— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) September 27, 2024

duff el pud said:

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"environmental assessments that could take up to 18 months"

What does that job pay?

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I'm in the wildlife field, those jobs don't pay much.

NASAg03 said:

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LTV mockups due today from the three competitors. Functional prototypes due in November. Here's the rollout for Intuitive Machines.

Apollo astronauts made history by driving the Lunar Roving Vehicle across the Moon’s surface. Now, their insights are helping push the frontier further with the Moon RACER team’s next-gen Lunar Terrain Vehicle. The team is delivering a static mock-up to @NASA_Johnson for… pic.twitter.com/nq5c8rosni

— Intuitive Machines (@Int_Machines) September 27, 2024

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Nice marketing but that lunar rover looked lame. They should make one that is enclosed with oxygen for longer treks.

Charlie Duke and Harrison Schmidt still looking good!

At this point I think I'll be disappointed if the next Lunar Rover isn't a Cybertruck

Govt workers tend to be able to earn more than fresh outta college kids, same industry.

Takes a few years and good many skills to make $$$ in the env field in my experience.

But this is just a shake down using env regs to slow SpaceX down for no true reason.

About 3 hrs 45 min until Dragon-9 launches with 2 crew to the ISS. Then they can 'rescue' the Starliner crew.

Chicom's have a lunar space suit, apparently.

China now has a lunar surface space suit. pic.twitter.com/qA2XLa8QLj

— Truthful🛰️ (@Truthful_ast) September 28, 2024

Now they just gotta get someone there. I suppose…their FAA won't impede progress toward that objective, however.

They can take out villages blowing up rockets, and their FAA will rubberstamp anything

I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

5 minutes

Kenneth_2003 said:

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I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

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Does Boeing have an option to get them?

I thought that booster was going to make a smoking hole in the Earth. Probably because of the angle of the camera proceeded by the long angle lens making it seem like it was much closer to terra firma. However, once again, perfect booster landing.

Bondag said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

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Does Boeing have an option to get them?

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Not right now, no. Bowling does not have a launch window or a parking spot available for a vehicle.

NASA made the decision out of an extreme abundance of caution (I'm not arguing it wasn't the right call), to leave them behind for a different option for return. That didn't mean they're "stranded." Starliner would have brought them home safely. NASA simple choose to use a different option because a primary system had failed and they didn't want to fly humans on the first level ( still not the only) backup systems.

I'm only arguing the semantics of the situation.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

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They were stranded with no good options and then new options were found. Are you saying someone stranded is never rescued?

Premium said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

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They were stranded with no good options and then new options were found. Are you saying someone stranded is never rescued?

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Stranded implies you don't have options. They've always had multiple options. And those options even included Starliner for emergencies after it was rulled out as primary.

Would you have flown back on that thing?

Scratch that, would you have put your spouse and kids on that thing?

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Premium said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

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They were stranded with no good options and then new options were found. Are you saying someone stranded is never rescued?

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Stranded implies you don't have options. They've always had multiple options. And those options even included Starliner for emergencies after it was rulled out as primary.

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Emergency implies stsrliner would be their best option.

If the space station is burning and staying on it would lead to death, then taking a chance on starliner might be better odds, but it was ruled out as primary path because it's a big unknown.

Reserving it for emergencies isn't saying much because it's implied there would be no other choice but starliner or death.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Bondag said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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I'm so over the whole stranded and rescue mantra.

Suni and Butch would have left ISS in Starliner in the event of emergency. They could have always ridden back in the cargo area of Dragon as last result.

Stranded means you're stuck without options.

1200 people were stranded on the Titanic. They did not turn down lifeboats because they didn't have heat.

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Does Boeing have an option to get them?

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Not right now, no. Bowling does not have a launch window or a parking spot available for a vehicle.

NASA made the decision out of an extreme abundance of caution (I'm not arguing it wasn't the right call), to leave them behind for a different option for return. That didn't mean they're "stranded." Starliner would have brought them home safely. NASA simple choose to use a different option because a primary system had failed and they didn't want to fly humans on the first level ( still not the only) backup systems.

I'm only arguing the semantics of the situation.

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I agree that the stranded narrative is a bit hyperbolic. Personally I would prefer the media say they are marooned on the station rather than stranded.

*SpaceX capsule set to bring home long-delayed Boeing Starliner astronauts arrives at the International Space Station*

After their weeklong journey turned into a monthslong stay on the International Space Station, two Boeing Starliner astronauts are now within reach of the… pic.twitter.com/1s0j8nyj6h

— Felix Sater (@felixsater) September 30, 2024

SpaceX pauses Falcon 9 launches after upper stage deorbit anomaly#Space #Falcon9 #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/MZV2onbqAD

— Space News (@Automation404) September 30, 2024