Space Exploration II: Always Looking up

[dxmnkd316]

100%. That was some brilliant engineering. It really is hard to fault one of the most successful platforms of all time.

And I’m not saying you’re doing this lynah, but this is like the 747 vs the 737 max. Two completely different companies designed those just like two completely different companies designed dragon and starship

 

[LynahFan]

100%. That was some brilliant engineering. It really is hard to fault one of the most successful platforms of all time.

And I’m not saying you’re doing this lynah, but this is like the 747 vs the 737 max. Two completely different companies designed those just like two completely different companies designed dragon and starship

I don't disagree with this at all....my surprise is just that the Dragon side of the business has managed to keep Musk from, well, musking it up. It would be like Boeing is having success on 747 and disaster on 737 at the same time.

Even though Dragon is "done," it still takes a lot of engineering (in addition to technician) work to get it refurbished, re-certified, and back on the launch pad. Obviously not the same sort of engineering as envisioning a brand new concept and bringing it to fruition, but Musk could have definitely messed Dragon as a business,....and he hasn't.

 

[MichVandal]

Missed this last week- Honda flight tested their first rocket- https://global.honda/en/topics/2025/c_2025-06-17ceng.html

Just a short take off and land test, but it was successful.

From an auto person, the irony of Honda getting into rockets and doing it successfully off the bat so far is astounding. Seeing elmo struggle making cars and Honda have a strong outlook making rockets.....

When was sX's last successful test flight?

 

[Kepler]

The Perseids peak (August 12) is very close to a full moon (August 9) this year, so watch the skies early.

 

[Kepler]

As expected, the Perseids are completely wiped by the moon. However, I did set my personal record at 5:30 am MST for most solar objects under simultaneous observation: 14.

Moon
Saturn
+ Titan
+ Iapetus
+ Dione
+ Rhea
+ Tethys
Venus
Jupiter
+ Ganymede
+ Io
+ Europa
+ Callisto
Mercury

I suppose I could also push it to 16 with Earth and Sun.

Particularly happy about Mercury as it was the longest period of uninterrupted observation I have had with it. The light pollution is a bitch here (Bortle 8, SQM mag/arcsec^2 17.98 I mean Jesus fuck that is worse than Manhattan) but it certainly "simplifies" the sky. I remember being in the midwest and literally being lost in even the most familiar constellations as my star count had suddenly gone x 4!

Mars was visible earlier in the night but not simultaneous. This is on top of my first verified observation of Neptune coming on August 2 thanks to a fortunate near-conjunction with Saturn and some handy roadsign background stars. It's been a good month!

I've also finally after 62 years gotten familiar with the summer sky, in particular Andromeda, Pegasus, Aries, Perseus, Ophiuchus, Hercules, Draco. These were really just rumors for me, as I had restricted my viewing almost entirely to the winter sky. It's good to see how the other half lives.

I did catch sight of Sirius just before dawn however so Winter Is Coming.

 

[Kepler]

I came back early this morning and snagged Uranus by binocs, to run the planetary table. And as a bonus, as I was putting my stuff up, I was startled by exactly one Perseid meteor.

Next up comes a motor to allow for photography.

 

[Slap Shot]

I came back early this morning and snagged Uranus by binocs...

Phrasing.