# Space X Launch Today--Return to Space
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 27, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556 "2020-05-27T17:50:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 6
### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/101 "2020-05-31T02:47:41Z")
I watched the NASA feed live via the CBC this afternoon. It was wonderful! In ten minutes the first-stage booster had done its job and was down on the drone ship.
---
### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/102 "2020-05-31T04:46:39Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#):
>
> Just a minor limitation of that particular game. For one, it should have had an autonomous “zero rotation” button. It could also have had a scale factor button: something that changes a single click from 1 m/s, to 10 cm/s, to 1 cm/s. Probably the real thing has more options.
It does have a scale factor, but with only two settings. Even on the finer setting, I couldn’t get some of the parameters to zero out.
The problem may have been that I was trying to be more precise that I really needed to be. I didn’t check what the tolerances were for position and orientation that would still allow you to dock. I was trying to be perfect.
---
### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/103 "2020-05-31T09:53:00Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#):
>
> For example, most people really prefer physical controls in a car. I can reach for, feel, and turn my AC temp knob without taking my eyes off the road. If AC temp is controlled through a touch screen, then unless it is designed exceedingly well I will have to take my eyes off the road to use it.
The problem there is that your AC unit is defective. If you’re adjusting it at all, it isn’t working properly. A device that needs constant adjustment probably demands a physical control. But one that is set once and left alone after that doesn’t demand a dedicated control.
My car has the temperature control on a touchscreen. I set it to my preferred temperature when I bought the car two years ago and haven’t touched it since.
You are right though that there is an immense amount of bad UI out there. And touchscreen UIs are probably less forgiving than others. They have to be very responsive and the designer has to be aware of having properly sized touch targets, etc. Physical controls tend to be naturally easier to get right, if for no other reason than button and switch manufacturers build their products to be worked by human fingers.
---
### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/104 "2020-05-31T11:41:01Z")
Initial docking maneuvering will begin in about half an hour for those of you who are still awake.
---
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/105 "2020-05-31T11:44:58Z")
On CNN they got the countdown wrong. The liftoff was around 3 seconds left.
---
### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/106 "2020-05-31T12:24:56Z")
They brought along Tremor the Apatosaurus: [SpaceX launch: this stuffed dinosaur is Crew Dragon’s zero-g indicator - The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/30/21272222/spacex-launch-toy-stuffed-animal-dinosaur-zero-g-indicator)
🙂
Brian
---
### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/107 "2020-05-31T12:33:40Z")
> [@N9IWP](#):
>
> They brought along Tremor the Apatosaurus: [SpaceX launch: this stuffed dinosaur is Crew Dragon’s zero-g indicator - The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/30/21272222/spacex-launch-toy-stuffed-animal-dinosaur-zero-g-indicator)
> 🙂
>
> Brian
But does Tremor the Apatosaurus have [an evil laugh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znxFrgql5dc)?
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/108 "2020-05-31T12:59:38Z")
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
---
### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/109 "2020-05-31T13:18:17Z")
I was watching the launch, and also Zooming with some friends. When the dinosaur floated into view, I said something along the lines of “What, is Wash flying that thing?” And then of course we all hoped nobody got a big spear through the chest. (Uh, spoiler alert, there.)
Interesting to learn from **N9IWP** ’s link that this sort of thing is apparently something of a tradition among astronauts.
---
### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/110 "2020-05-31T14:30:47Z")
Wooo! Docking complete!
---
### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/111 "2020-05-31T14:31:22Z")
And docked.
---
### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/112 "2020-05-31T14:38:10Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> I know it was you, friedo. You broke my heart.
😛
---
### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/113 "2020-05-31T14:38:37Z")
Some emphasis on making sure the internal cameras are off before the astronauts on _Endeavour_ take their suits off.
I guess Bob and Doug aren’t going to be doing any Orbital Stripteases today!
---
### Author:  [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/114 "2020-05-31T20:31:00Z")
> [@Morgyn](#):
>
> I was amazed at how uncrowded the cabin was. The astronauts didn’t look like they’d been popped into a hole like a spark plug in an engine. You could see their feet! And their legs. No chance of bumping into anything by accident.
Remember John Glenn’s comment that you didn’t so much get into the Mercury capsule as put it on?
---
### Author:  [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/115 "2020-05-31T21:03:51Z")
It seems immediately after (or during) boarding the ISS, one of the astronauts (far right in the initial group photos) had apparently hit his head on something. He kept touching the right side of his forehead, and eventually started patting it with a cloth, like there was blood. NO ONE in the crew even seemed to notice.
I don’t see any mention of it in the news thus far. Anyone else notice?
---
### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/116 "2020-05-31T21:38:31Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#):
>
> Some emphasis on making sure the internal cameras are off before the astronauts on _Endeavour_ take their suits off.
>
> I guess Bob and Doug aren’t going to be doing any Orbital Stripteases today!
Yeah, I guess it is a balancing act. The public wants to see what is going on in the capsule, and that is fine, but if I’m taking a good healthy dump, then I don’t care what kind of taxpayer money went into this, the cameras are off no matter what. Loss of downlink, Houston.
---
### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/117 "2020-06-01T00:17:26Z")
Man, what the heck is up with audio-visual technology, anyway? I’ve seen actual “rocket scientists” struggle with the #$\*&%@! microphone and the sound system when giving public presentations down here on Earth, too.
---
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2020, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/118 "2020-06-01T11:29:26Z")
They are not staying 6 feet apart and they are hugging. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/119 "2020-06-01T14:20:50Z")
> [@myself](#):
>
> It seems immediately after (or during) boarding the ISS, one of the astronauts (far right in the initial group photos) had apparently hit his head on something.
It was Doug Hurley, and yes he did injure his head. I found it odd nothing was mentioned during live commentary, when it was clear he had been hurt.
Here is one article:
[https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/06/01/doug-hurley-head-injury-did-the-astronaut-hit-his-head/](https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/06/01/doug-hurley-head-injury-did-the-astronaut-hit-his-head/)
---
### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556/120 "2020-06-01T17:31:14Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#):
>
> Yes; the original prototype [showed seven seats](https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/14206474360/in/photostream/).
>
> I think they may have sacrificed some crew space for cargo, but in any case there is sufficient internal volume (unlike Soyuz where even three was a very tight fit).
I can’t find a cite, but I heard somewhere that the change from seven to four seats is in part due to the change from propulsive to parachute landing, and the resulting higher impact during landing. Something about the 7-seat configuration wasn’t adequate for some set of parachute landings, maybe just that there wasn’t enough room for everyone to be in an optimal seating position for a hard landing.
In any case, NASA seems to be happier with four crew and extra cargo. Boeing’s Starliner also has enough volume to pack in seven astronauts, but they’re just going with four as well.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556.md?page=5)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-launch-today-return-to-space/854556.md?page=7)