Skywatch

[The Troll]

On the 12Th anniversary of crews continuously living and working aboard the International Space Station, NASA announced a new service to help people see the orbiting laboratory when it passes overhead.

http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

  After spending Billions and Billions of dollars on the International Space Station, can anyone tell me of one thing they have found that is good and can be done here on earth and in the air.  That is good for the people living of the earth.  I can't remember a thing.  No medicine, and no manufacturing we can use here in an atmosphere, and in gravity.   

[Locutus]

  After spending Billions and Billions of dollars on the International Space Station, can anyone tell me of one thing they have found that is good and can be done here on earth and in the air.  That is good for the people living of the earth.  I can't remember a thing.  No medicine, and no manufacturing we can use here in an atmosphere, and in gravity.   

That's a very short sighted view of space exploration and that orbiting laboratory my friend. 

[The Troll]

That's a very short sighted view of space exploration and that orbiting laboratory my friend. 

  I don't think it is.  They have proved that men and women can live in space.  We know that you can grow plants in space, mice, rats, bees, fungus but so what.  Even if the moon was solid gold it would cost to much to bring it back.

  But to make it work we still need the water (8.3 lbs per gal.) and air from earth to make it work.  We thought there could be new antibiotics, new metal mixtures in  "0" G's.  If they found any I don't know.  Even if they did it would cost so much money who would buy it and I don't see it in foreseeable future that it could happen.  Why, there is not enough money to make it happen.

  My only contension is, even tho I love the space science, my question is the money being spent is worth it.   

[libby]

In my opinion, YES. 

(Beam me up, Scotty!)

[libby]

Earlier tonight I saw a great 2-hour-long documentary, "Einstein," on the History Channel (International). I expected a lot of technical stuff (and there was some), but since it was on the History channel, it was more a narrative in context with what was going on in the world then (war), with details about his personal life and long struggle to perfect his theory of relativity, and prove it with the help of astronomers.

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. There are old photos and films, with narration by current scientists, including Locutus's favorite, Neil deGrasse Tyson.

[Locutus]

Looks like the USAF is sending up their top secret mini-shuttle again next week.  I wonder how long it will take backyard sky watchers to plot its orbit this time. 

Air Force and United Launch Alliance officials will meet today hoping to confirm plans for a Tuesday afternoon launch of a secret military space plane from Cape Canaveral.

The Air Force's 45th Space Wing said in a news release Thursday that launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle atop an Atlas V rocket was scheduled for a five-hour window between 1:03 p.m. and 6:03 p.m. Tuesday.

The launch follows weeks of investigation into an upper-stage engine problem during ULA's Oct. 4 launch of a GPS satellite on a Delta IV rocket.

The rocket's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL-10 upper stage engine, similar to the one used by the Atlas V, lost thrust but delivered the payload to orbit.

ULA has not announced the findings of its engineering review.

Next week's launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station would be the third by an unmanned OTV, which resembles a miniature space shuttle measuring 29 feet long and 15 feet wide.

The Air Force says its two OTV spacecraft are testing advanced guidance, navigation and control systems. They are also a rapid-turnaround technology demonstrator.

Officials have said that the spacecraft launching next week, making its second voyage, could land on Kennedy Space Center's runway. The first two missions touched down in California.

The Air Force is exploring a consolidation of the program's processing, launch and landing operations in Florida, including potential use of former shuttle facilities.

[Locutus]

[libby]

Looks like the USAF is sending up their top secret mini-shuttle again next week.  I wonder how long it will take backyard sky watchers to plot its orbit this time. 

Air Force and United Launch Alliance officials will meet today hoping to confirm plans for a Tuesday afternoon launch of a secret military space plane from Cape Canaveral.

The Air Force's 45th Space Wing said in a news release Thursday that launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle atop an Atlas V rocket was scheduled for a five-hour window between 1:03 p.m. and 6:03 p.m. Tuesday.

The launch follows weeks of investigation into an upper-stage engine problem during ULA's Oct. 4 launch of a GPS satellite on a Delta IV rocket.

The rocket's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL-10 upper stage engine, similar to the one used by the Atlas V, lost thrust but delivered the payload to orbit.

ULA has not announced the findings of its engineering review.

Next week's launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station would be the third by an unmanned OTV, which resembles a miniature space shuttle measuring 29 feet long and 15 feet wide.

The Air Force says its two OTV spacecraft are testing advanced guidance, navigation and control systems. They are also a rapid-turnaround technology demonstrator.

Officials have said that the spacecraft launching next week, making its second voyage, could land on Kennedy Space Center's runway. The first two missions touched down in California.

The Air Force is exploring a consolidation of the program's processing, launch and landing operations in Florida, including potential use of former shuttle facilities.

Locutus, Thanks for posting that. I heard a bit about it in passing but have been too busy to follow up on it. 

[Locutus]

Locutus, Thanks for posting that. I heard a bit about it in passing but have been too busy to follow up on it. 

You're welcome.  Palehorse and I like discussing this program when it's active.   

As to my comment about its orbit, the USAF doen't even publish the angle or altitude of the orbit.  However, when the first one was launched, backyard sky watchers discovered the orbit and published it on the Internet. 

[Locutus]

BTW Libby, I highly recommend the site: 

http://heavens-above.com

It allows you to select your location via a map, and then displays sighting opportunities for orbiting satellites from your location.  This is the website that published the orbits of the X-37B last time it was in orbit.

[Palehorse]

Looks like the USAF is sending up their top secret mini-shuttle again next week.  I wonder how long it will take backyard sky watchers to plot its orbit this time. 

Air Force and United Launch Alliance officials will meet today hoping to confirm plans for a Tuesday afternoon launch of a secret military space plane from Cape Canaveral.

The Air Force's 45th Space Wing said in a news release Thursday that launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle atop an Atlas V rocket was scheduled for a five-hour window between 1:03 p.m. and 6:03 p.m. Tuesday.

The launch follows weeks of investigation into an upper-stage engine problem during ULA's Oct. 4 launch of a GPS satellite on a Delta IV rocket.

The rocket's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL-10 upper stage engine, similar to the one used by the Atlas V, lost thrust but delivered the payload to orbit.

ULA has not announced the findings of its engineering review.

Next week's launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station would be the third by an unmanned OTV, which resembles a miniature space shuttle measuring 29 feet long and 15 feet wide.

The Air Force says its two OTV spacecraft are testing advanced guidance, navigation and control systems. They are also a rapid-turnaround technology demonstrator.

Officials have said that the spacecraft launching next week, making its second voyage, could land on Kennedy Space Center's runway. The first two missions touched down in California.

The Air Force is exploring a consolidation of the program's processing, launch and landing operations in Florida, including potential use of former shuttle facilities.

My money is on an orbital track that takes it over Syria as often as possible. . . 

[libby]

 

[libby]

BTW Libby, I highly recommend the site: 

http://heavens-above.com

It allows you to select your location via a map, and then displays sighting opportunities for orbiting satellites from your location.  This is the website that published the orbits of the X-37B last time it was in orbit.

Thanks, Locutus. I have some catching up to do. 

[Locutus]

Another image of the X-37B:

[Locutus]

Doesn't look like the X-37B is going to go tomorrow due to weather.