# The Great Ongoing Space Exploration Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** science-math\ **Created:** [November 16, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703 "2020-11-16T12:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 104
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2063 "2025-04-20T01:23:32Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > What are the failure modes where something goes wrong and you can _ **do** _ something about it? Pretend you’re Slim Pickens and yell yeehaw on the way down. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2064 "2025-04-20T02:17:32Z")
I’d say at 2025 levels of automation there’s less and less all the time. Real piloting is dealing with the failures your machinery can’t handle on its own. I could imagine scenarios were the triple-redundant whatever-sensor has a failure and the remaining channel(s) can’t decide which readings are reality and which are spurious. Hand off to the human to get it right or die trying. Rather than having the machine pick one to believe and maybe kill them all trying. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2065 "2025-04-20T02:34:02Z")
In less exciting news, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is likely to be cancelled, even though it’s almost complete: > **[NASA’s Next Major Space Telescope Is Ready to Launch. Trump Wants to Kill It...](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-next-major-space-telescope-is-ready-to-launch-trump-wants-to-kill-it/)** > > Amid harsh cuts, the Trump administration has proposed canceling the nearly ready-to-launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2066 "2025-04-20T12:15:33Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The only thing that could make it worse was a tacky kissing of the ground after they landed. How about striking the superhero landing pose - One knee and the fist to the ground? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2067 "2025-04-20T17:03:05Z")
I missed what was on written on Katy Perry’s butterfly. It was her upcoming concert tour. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2068 "2025-04-20T17:12:56Z")
Maybe if they quickly rename it after a man, it’ll get saved? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2069 "2025-04-20T17:14:26Z")
Given Trump’s egomania, I can’t say he wouldn’t order it saved if it was renamed for him. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2070 "2025-04-20T21:05:40Z")
When I saw your post, my first thought was, “Why is anyone naming a telescope after that obnoxious true crime reporter, Nancy Grace?” I never heard of Nancy Grace Roman before, so thanks. > **[Nancy Roman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Roman)** > > Nancy Grace Roman (May 16, 1925 – December 25, 2018) was an American astronomer who made important contributions to stellar classification and motions. The first female executive at NASA, Roman served as NASA's first Chief of Astronomy throughout the 1960s and 1970s, establishing her as one of the "visionary founders of the US civilian space program". > Roman created NASA's space astronomy program and is known to many as the "Mother of Hubble" for her foundational role in planning the Hubble Sp... ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2071 "2025-04-22T02:22:16Z")
NASA has released the trajectory of the Lunar Gateway combined “Power & Propulsion Element” (PPE) and “Habitation and Logistics Outpost” (HALO) modules, which will be launched together on Falcon Heavy. Since the Gateway needs electric thrusters to maintain its NRHO orbit over 15 years, NASA decided to let those thrusters take it to the moon as well. The thrust is very low compared to chemical combustion engines, so it will slowly spiral out from the earth over a number of months, before executing a phase inversion for NRHO. > ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2072 "2025-04-22T02:29:30Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > which will be launched together on Falcon Heavy Huh. Is that new? I think that was originally planned for SLS. Falcon Heavy is certainly less capable than SLS, expecially for high-energy orbits, but this thing is in no rush, so they may as well let the electric propulsion do its thing and save ~$2B on the launch. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2073 "2025-04-24T21:30:31Z")
[https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/hampton/rob-holland-dies-crash-langley-air-force-base-virginia/291-f2cec147-891c-45dc-a3d5-2829b094add1](https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/hampton/rob-holland-dies-crash-langley-air-force-base-virginia/291-f2cec147-891c-45dc-a3d5-2829b094add1) I knew Rob fairly well. He trained me in aerobatics and we kept in touch sporadically over the years. As close to a “natural” as I’ve ever seen. Incredibly skillful pilot and an excellent instructor. For years whenever there was an airshow crash I would think, “Please don’t be Rob… Please don’t be Rob…” Well, today’s the day. Goddammit. RIP, my friend. I’m honored to have your signature in my logbook. Edit: The link didn’t expand as I expected. Rob Holland, airshow pilot and multiple time world aerobatic champion died today in a crash in Virginia. More links: > **[Rob Holland: Pilot Reportedly Involved In Langley Air Force Base Plane Crash...](https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/rob-holland-pilot-reportedly-involved-in-langley-air-force-base-plane-crash-in-hampton-virginia-article-151489253)** > > Pilot Rob Holland was reportedly involved in a plane crash Thursday near Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. The MX Aircraft MXS crashed close to the base, prompting an NTSB investigation. However, officials have not confirmed whether the... > **[Langley Air Force Base plane crash: what we know](https://www.newsweek.com/langley-air-force-base-plane-crash-what-we-know-2063792)** > > The crash in Norfolk, Virginia, comes just days before the scheduled Air Power Over Hampton Roads air show. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2074 "2025-04-24T21:47:57Z")
Dammit, wrong thread. Meant for this to go in aviation. I’ll copy it over. Mods, do your thing, please. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2075 "2025-04-24T22:40:24Z")
Aerobatics is close enough! ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2076 "2025-04-25T11:07:29Z")
Only if you do an Immelmann turn above the Kármán line. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2077 "2025-04-25T14:54:05Z")
Sign me up! ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2078 "2025-04-26T12:49:42Z")
Political but related to NASA confirmation. Jared Isaacman responses to the Senate NASA Committee’s confirmation questions, have been published prior to his confirmation vote as NASA administrator next week. Some interesting reading for sure. He was at one point sued by Trump’s casino over a gambling debt. From a NASA perspective, the worst thing is that he has embraced the Musk narrative that NASA is competing with the private sector. That is not true, nor has it ever been true. He also has walked back his criticism of Blue Origin. He has posted to social media in the past, that all the US needs is SpaceX. Which is amusing in terms of his views on competition, and his proposed role of handing out the contracts. He continues to double down on his assertion that NASA can pursue Moon and Mars programs simultaneously. He uses the Gemini and Apollo programs of the 60’s as an example. But even the media has pointed out the enormous budget required to do that. NASA has only a fraction of that budget today. Republican questions: [https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/5C22B600-2AAB-4ACF-AE89-FA78A04E602D](https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/5C22B600-2AAB-4ACF-AE89-FA78A04E602D) Democratic questions: [https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/13EEBAAD-3523-45C8-BB97-EB1031A01741](https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/13EEBAAD-3523-45C8-BB97-EB1031A01741) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2079 "2025-04-26T15:36:35Z")
If you want the mods to do something, report your mistaken post yourself and ask for what you want. Mods almost never see “Hey mods, please do [whatever]” notes posted into threads. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2080 "2025-04-28T18:44:00Z")
Stranded in Earth orbit since 1972, a Russian Venus lander is soon to make an uncontrolled re-entery of Earth’s atmosphere. It was designed to survive entry at Venus, so there’s a chance it could crash relatively intact. > **[Old, Stranded Soviet Venus Lander to Return to Earth (Updated)](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/a-failed-soviet-venus-lander-will-fall-back-to-earth-after-being-stranded-for-53-years)** ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2081 "2025-04-28T19:36:43Z")
I can’t tell if there’s a radioisotope thermoelectric generator on board or not, but I guess they’d say if there was. Would have been a nice addition to my element collection. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/2082 "2025-04-29T01:46:02Z")
Something new wonking about overhead. Russian nuclear satellite SNAFU: "A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2553, believed by US officials to be linked to Moscow’s nuclear anti-satellite weapons program, appears to be spinning uncontrollably and may no longer be operational, according to US analysts. Launched on February 5, 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Cosmos 2553 has exhibited erratic tumbling behavior over the past year. Radar data from LeoLabs and optical observations from Slingshot Aerospace, seen by Reuters, indicate that the satellite is experiencing instability, suggesting a loss of control." See: > **[Russian satellite linked to space weapon program loses control](https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/russian-satellite-cosmos-2553-tied-to-nuclear-space-program-spins-out-of-control)** > > A Russian military satellite, Cosmos 2553, believed by US officials to be linked to Moscow's nuclear anti-satellite weapons program, appears to be spinning uncontrollably and may no longer be operational, according to US analysts. Launched on... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703.md?page=103) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703.md?page=105)