# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/62 "2021-01-16T14:55:19Z")
It seems like the inSight probe on Mars ( **Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport** ) mission has given up on the drilling, or rather burrowing on Mars. The soil appears to not provide enough friction for the burrowing action to work, although still plenty of good science done with the other probes. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/63 "2021-01-17T19:01:05Z")
That’s a shame. In other negative space news, NASA’s SLS static fire test was aborted after just over minute rather than seven or so minutes they had planned for. NASA have not explained the reasons yet but the Artemis program has a tight schedule so this could be a serious setback to those hoping for a launch before the end of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/64 "2021-02-01T06:48:46Z")
There’s a new player in the game! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n0wkjy2dP-E/maxresdefault.jpg "Stardust 1.0 In Flight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0wkjy2dP-E) > **[Maine company successfully launches prototype rocket](https://apnews.com/article/space-launches-brunswick-maine-062c942d4b4799097b6ca57c82ec54e9)** > > BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — A Maine company that's developing a rocket to propel small satellites into space passed its first major test on Sunday. Still very, very small but I like seeing that people see economic viability in private space companies. I thought this was cool too and hope that someone more knowledgable will expound on their fuel type: > [@](#): > > Another aspect that makes bluShift’s rocket different is its hybrid propulsion system. > > It relies on a solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer passing either through or around the solid fuel; the result is a simpler, more affordable system than a liquid fuel-only rocket, said spokesperson Seth Lockman. The fuel is a proprietary biofuel blend sourced from farms, Deri said. > > “It’s a very nontoxic fuel, I like to say that I could give it to either one of my little daughters. Nothing bad would happen to them, I swear,” he said. “So it’s very much nontoxic. It’s carbon neutral.” ---
**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:** [February 1, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/65 "2021-02-01T22:51:24Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > That’s a shame. > > In other negative space news, NASA’s SLS static fire test was aborted after just over minute rather than seven or so minutes they had planned for. NASA have not explained the reasons yet but the Artemis program has a tight schedule so this could be a serious setback to those hoping for a launch before the end of the year. Fresh news on the decision to run a second test with some info on why the first was cut short.: > **[It’s official—NASA will subject the SLS rocket to another hot fire test](https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/nasa-and-boeing-will-retest-the-sls-rocket-core-stage-after-early-shutdown/)** > > "A second, longer hot fire test should be conducted and would pose minimal risk." ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/66 "2021-02-04T20:59:42Z")
> **[Images reveal how far Moon golf shot went 50 years ago](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/55927727)** > > Astronaut Alan Shepard famously claimed he hit his ball "miles and miles and miles" on the Moon in 1971 - 50 years on modern technology reveals how far he really hit it. Conclusion: not very far, but still extremely impressive considering Shepard was wearing a pressurised spacesuit and was hitting it out of the mother of all bunkers. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/67 "2021-02-09T15:35:59Z")
UAE Mars mission about to go into orbit (in next ten minutes from time of posting). Its job will be to examine the Martian atmosphere. This is a big moment for the UAE. There’s an official live stream here but not sure what they hope to show. Pictures from mission control I suppose… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ae1pANFLPk0/maxresdefault.jpg "Hope Probe - Mars Orbit Insertion (Dubai One)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae1pANFLPk0) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/68 "2021-02-09T16:38:05Z")
And it’s in! Well done UAE. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/69 "2021-02-09T16:38:17Z")
Success! > **[The UAE's Hope Probe has successfully entered orbit around Mars | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/09/world/uae-hope-probe-mars-mission-orbit-scn-trnd/index.html)** > > The United Arab Emirates' first mission to Mars arrived at the red planet on Tuesday and began orbiting the planet. This makes the UAE the fifth nation to send a spacecraft to Mars. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/70 "2021-02-09T17:26:49Z")
Ddamn this an awesome year already for space exploration! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/71 "2021-02-09T20:22:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > damn this an awesome year already for space exploration! Indeed. We (that is, the human race) have a whole flotilla arriving at Mars this week. _Excellent!_ Our plans are proceeding smoothly! _Mwah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah!_ I mean, uh, it’s great to see all these different countries, all engaged together in the peaceful exploration of the cosmos. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/72 "2021-02-09T20:37:36Z")
This is more on the political side, but it will have profound consequences for NASA going forward: > **[So long Senator Shelby: Key architect of SLS rocket won’t seek reelection](https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/so-long-senator-shelby-key-architect-of-sls-rocket-wont-seek-reelection/)** > > Shelby said NASA's exploration of space will "always" go through Alabama. By pushing for the SLS and other Shuttle-derived launchers, I’m not sure anyone has done more damage to NASA than Shelby. He also made every attempt at disrupting the Commercial Crew program (which has been remarkably successful in spite of Boeing being late). Good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/73 "2021-02-09T21:38:11Z")
[Farnsworth] Good news, everyone! [/Farnsworth] ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/74 "2021-02-09T21:39:02Z")
How did you people get to the moon???! ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/75 "2021-02-09T22:09:23Z")
SpaceX have just been awarded a large contract to launch elements of NASA’s lunar gateway: > **[NASA Awards Contract to Launch Initial Elements for Lunar Outpost - NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-contract-to-launch-initial-elements-for-lunar-outpost/)** > > NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the agency’s Power and Propulsion Element > NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the agency’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), the foundational elements of the Gateway. As the first long-term orbiting outpost around the Moon, the Gateway is critical to supporting sustainable astronauts missions under the agency’s [Artemis](http://www.nasa.gov/artemis) program. > > After integration on Earth, the PPE and HALO are targeted to launch together no earlier than May 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The total cost to NASA is approximately $331.8 million, including the launch service and other mission-related costs. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/76 "2021-02-09T22:24:19Z")
How many times can we reuse the acronyms PPE and HALO? XD ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/77 "2021-02-09T22:28:04Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > How did you people get to the moon??? The Shelby-style approach works great with an Apollo-style program. Apollo could not have happened unless NASA spread the wealth around to the different states, and there was enough work that everyone got a cut. All the senators walk away happy, having gotten quality jobs for their constituents. That approach just happens to be a very inefficient way of doing things. Apollo was right at the limit of what was financially possible. Further manned exploration, whether a permanent lunar colony or going to Mars, needs to cost less. Impossible as long as NASA was forced into using the SLS, though. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/78 "2021-02-09T22:38:43Z")
Although my comment was tongue in cheek that is actually quite an informative response. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2021, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/79 "2021-02-09T23:51:28Z")
Heck, if you’d changed your handle to @Alabamish\_Astronaut a few years ago you might be heading to the ISS or training for the Moon by now. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/80 "2021-02-10T19:53:11Z")
China got there: > **[Chinese spacecraft enters Mars' orbit, joining Arab ship](https://apnews.com/article/china-spacecraft-mars-bcc7e57a524f3854bfe4bf6eda5537eb)** > > BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese spacecraft went into orbit around Mars on Wednesday on an expedition to land a rover on the surface and scout for signs of ancient life, authorities announced in a landmark step in the country's most ambitious deep-space... ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703/81 "2021-02-12T19:19:02Z")
We can shout back at Voyager II again after upgrades were completed on a radio in Australia. > **[Earth to Voyager 2: After a Year in the Darkness, We Can Talk to You Again...](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/science/nasa-voyager-deep-space-network.html)** > > NASA’s sole means of sending commands to the distant space probe, launched 44 years ago, is being restored on Friday. Going to be a sad day when we finally lose them. Well ok sad is an overstatement, slightly poignant? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-space-exploration-thread/925703.md?page=5)