Space exploration: Where do we go from here?

[Kepler]

NASA statement:

On Monday Moscow Standard Time, the International Space Station (ISS) Flight Control team was notified of indications of a satellite breakup that may create sufficient debris to pose a conjunction threat to the station. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released the following statement about the incident:

“Earlier today, due to the debris generated by the destructive Russian Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test, ISS astronauts and cosmonauts undertook emergency procedures for safety.

“Like Secretary Blinken, I’m outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action. With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts. Their actions are reckless and dangerous, threatening as well the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board.

“All nations have a responsibility to prevent the purposeful creation of space debris from ASATs and to foster a safe, sustainable space environment.

“NASA will continue monitoring the debris in the coming days and beyond to ensure the safety of our crew in orbit.”

The crew was awakened and directed to close the hatches to radial modules on the station, including Columbus, Kibo, the Permanent Multipurpose Module, Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, and Quest Joint Airlock. Hatches between the U.S. and Russian segments remain open.

An additional precautionary measure of sheltering the crew was executed for two passes through or near the vicinity of the debris cloud. The crew members made their way into their spacecraft shortly before 2 a.m. EST and remained there until about 4 a.m. The space station is passing through or near the cloud every 90 minutes, but the need to shelter for only the second and third passes of the event was based on a risk assessment made by the debris office and ballistics specialists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Space Command statement:

Russia tested a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile on Nov. 15, 2021, Moscow Standard Time, that struck a Russian satellite [COSMOS 1408] and created a debris field in low-Earth orbit. The test so far has generated more than 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris and will likely generate hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller orbital debris.

“Russia has demonstrated a deliberate disregard for the security, safety, stability, and long-term sustainability of the space domain for all nations,” said U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander. “The debris created by Russia's DA-ASAT will continue to pose a threat to activities in outer space for years to come, putting satellites and space missions at risk, as well as forcing more collision avoidance maneuvers. Space activities underpin our way of life and this kind of behavior is simply irresponsible.”

USSPACECOM's initial assessment is that the debris will remain in orbit for years and potentially for decades, posing a significant risk to the crew on the International Space Station and other human spaceflight activities, as well as multiple countries' satellites. USSPACECOM continues to monitor the trajectory of the debris and will work to ensure all space-faring nations have the information necessary to safeguard their on-orbit activities if impacted by the debris cloud, a service the United States provides to the world, to include Russia and China.

“Russia is developing and deploying capabilities to actively deny access to and use of space by the United States and its allies and partners,” Dickinson added. “Russia's tests of direct-ascent anti-satellite weapons clearly demonstrate that Russia continues to pursue counterspace weapon systems that undermine strategic stability and pose a threat to all nations.”

 

[Handyman]

Time to send up Team Daedalus!

 

[MichVandal]

So James Webb is getting closer to flying. Right now (12/20 PM) it's first window to launch is 7:20am EST 12/24.

This has to be the most nerve wracking launch since I don't know when. Billions of dollars with hundreds of single point failures possible. And it has to go quite a way outside of the earth's normal satellite orbit- it's in a special orbit that I can't fully understand, other than being a stable node to be by itself.

Anyone else considering getting up to see the launch?

 

[aparch]

So James Webb is getting closer to flying. Right now (12/20 PM) it's first window to launch is 7:20am EST 12/24.

This has to be the most nerve wracking launch since I don't know when. Billions of dollars with hundreds of single point failures possible. And it has to go quite a way outside of the earth's normal satellite orbit- it's in a special orbit that I can't fully understand, other than being a stable node to be by itself.

Anyone else considering getting up to see the launch?

I thought about it.

You're so right pointing out the hundreds of points of failure. I saw one article that said that the mirror assembly that needs to unfurl will fully take six months to deploy before use.

And, they've already dropped damn thing while assembling the stack prior to launch.

 

[MichVandal]

I thought about it.

You're so right pointing out the hundreds of points of failure. I saw one article that said that the mirror assembly that needs to unfurl will fully take six months to deploy before use.

And, they've already dropped damn thing while assembling the stack prior to launch.

I'm not sure I would call it dropped- the way I have seen it described on a few University of Tubes channels is that the band clamp from the telescope to one of the stages suddenly let go while it was being assembled. Which caused an unexpected set of vibrations go through the telescope. And they had to analyze that to the Nth degree. That was the longest delay from delivery to launch. Another one was a communication issue.

But nothing has been recently added, so there's a number of possible launch opportunities until the moon gets into the way.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

So James Webb is getting closer to flying. Right now (12/20 PM) it's first window to launch is 7:20am EST 12/24.

This has to be the most nerve wracking launch since I don't know when. Billions of dollars with hundreds of single point failures possible. And it has to go quite a way outside of the earth's normal satellite orbit- it's in a special orbit that I can't fully understand, other than being a stable node to be by itself.

Anyone else considering getting up to see the launch?

I briefly worked on this project and know a lot of people at my company who dedicated years on this project.

To say there are "hundreds of single point failures" is a huge understatement... I can't imagine something more complicated, especially in the deployment process. It scares the crap out of me. It will be fantastic for scientific discovery ... if it works. And God, do I hope it does.

 

[dxmnkd316]

It's by far the launch I want to be successful more than any other. It could be the most consequential launch in decades. Maybe more.

 

[dxmnkd316]

I should know this, why South America for the launch?

im guessing weather, position on earth, and the the relative position to the final destination?

 

[Kepler]

This is interesting.

 

[Kepler]

I should know this, why South America for the launch?

im guessing weather, position on earth, and the the relative position to the final destination?

There are 3 answers on the interwebs, FWIW.

1. Closer to the equator so can piggy back on faster rotation speed.

2. Politics: throw a bone to the EU contribution.

3. Ariane launch vehicle and space port are best choice for James Webb configuration.

 

[Kepler]

Here is the James Webb mission home page.

Who was James Webb?

And something to be angry about because what is life without that?

 

[MichVandal]

There are 3 answers on the interwebs, FWIW.

1. Closer to the equator so can piggy back on faster rotation speed.

2. Politics: throw a bone to the EU contribution.

3. Ariane launch vehicle and space port are best choice for James Webb configuration.

One thing I also saw was that the rocket used is the only one currently being used that is capable- which is an ESA system.

 

[MichVandal]

Here is the James Webb mission home page.

Who was James Webb?

And something to be angry about because what is life without that?

Ok, they may have a point.

But the worst part about naming it JW is that he's just an administrator. Hubble was an actual scientist. I'm ok with naming destructive things like military stuff after administrators (nothing better for a legacy that your name is associated with something so deadly), but discovery things- not so much. This is like managers taking credit for the workers doing stuff.

 

[Kepler]

Ok, they may have a point.

But the worst part about naming it JW is that he's just an administrator. Hubble was an actual scientist. I'm ok with naming destructive things like military stuff after administrators (nothing better for a legacy that your name is associated with something so deadly), but discovery things- not so much. This is like managers taking credit for the workers doing stuff.

Like putting owners in the Hall of Fame.

 

[unofan]

Ok, they may have a point.

But the worst part about naming it JW is that he's just an administrator. Hubble was an actual scientist. I'm ok with naming destructive things like military stuff after administrators (nothing better for a legacy that your name is associated with something so deadly), but discovery things- not so much. This is like managers taking credit for the workers doing stuff.

If you've ever worked for a horrendous manager, you'd understand that a great manager is a godsend and deserves every credit they get.

 

[Kepler]

If you've ever worked for a horrendous manager, you'd understand that a great manager is a godsend and deserves every credit they get.

So's a good toilet, but we don't name our generational space projects after them. I'm sure there was some long-suffering gay black American Indian disabled female physicist we could have named it after.

 

[Kepler]

You can watch the launch here.

Coverage begins 6am ET 12/24.

 

[MichVandal]

If you've ever worked for a horrendous manager, you'd understand that a great manager is a godsend and deserves every credit they get.

A bonus or a building is fine. A telescope should be named after a Nobel winner. It's a very different level of honor.

 

[MichVandal]

You can watch the launch here.

Coverage begins 6am ET 12/24.

Good that you posted that, according to the news there, the schedule is now 7:20 am on Christmas, coverage starts 6am 12/25

 

[Kepler]

Good that you posted that, according to the news there, the schedule is now 7:20 am on Christmas, coverage starts 6am 12/25

Thanks! I would keep hitting the NASA links though to see if there are updates.