12-13-2010 01:17 PM
Once I have my 3 screens setup on a single desk I'll have to take a photo.
Wait a minute... There are 4 screens at my desk right now!!! Where's the bloody camera when you need one??
12-09-2011 04:49 PM
And on the one year aniversary I see this in the news. I am soooo glad that the shuttles are finally done. I mean come on.. wings on a spaceship? That's like wheels on a boat. What percentage of the mission costs were directly related to being able to land on a runway? Big heavy wings, absolutely right conditions for landing, etc. Parachutes, while not sexy, are cheap, reliable and effective. Landing is important but it is not the primary purpose of space flight.
I wonder if you could launch a rocket into space from a high altitude baloon. Now that would really take the sexy out of a launch. T minus four, three, two, one. We have liftoff! And the balloon goes floating away in silence..
12-09-2011 08:36 PM
Rockets can be launched into space from balloons and planes.
12-10-2011 08:56 AM
I have no problem with wings on a rocket. It works very well, in fact.
Or how about the use of a parafoil? That's close to a parachute.
One of the early X-prize contenders was proposing launching from a balloon. Once you're past the denser part of the atmosphere, rockets become much more efficient.
Just some Saturday morning random thoughts.
Rob
12-11-2011 07:09 PM
@Steve Chandler wrote:
Landing is important but it is not the primary purpose of space flight.
Yes but there's a limited supply of astronauts, and keeping them alive is pretty important. Unless we go all Ender's Game style (minus the mass xenocide of course).
12-12-2011 08:22 AM
05-22-2012 09:02 AM
@altenbach wrote:
Yesterday, SpaceX became the first commercial company in history to re-enter a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit.
And today they achieved another milestone. Go SpaceX!
05-22-2012 12:55 PM
Odd that the CNN story didn't indicate the James Doohan also hitched a ride, along with over 300 others.
05-22-2012 02:55 PM
Go SpaceX, go!
And they are still hiring:
-AK2DM
05-22-2012 03:57 PM
@AnalogKid2DigitalMan wrote:
Go SpaceX, go!
Due to my current employer, I have to say "Boo, SpaceX, Boo!". My soon to be employer doesn't really care. So in a few weeks I'll be with you guys in the cheering. It's just really neat what they have been able to do so far.