(https://i.ibb.co/chHKyDMr/a2cancel.png)
Looking like it might not happen tonight.
But actually while I will follow this with interest if/when it happens, I'm a bit underwhelmed by it. I'd originally thought this was going to be a sort of 21st century Apollo 8, with the astronauts orbiting the Moon. But it's just a flyby, a slingshot.
At the same time the astronauts will have gone a bit further than any human has ever been before from Earth. But that doesn't really feel like a big deal compared to the accomplishments of Apollo.
Appears to be back on track..the termination system was the on that auto explodes the rocket if it's gone out of control and is heading for a populated location... yikes!!
Nasa confirmed that the solution they were testing using old hardware from the previous Space Shuttle programme has got the termination system working. Blimey.. never chuck out an old PC
Quote from: Slim on April 01, 2026, 09:50:32 PM(https://i.ibb.co/chHKyDMr/a2cancel.png)
Looking like it might not happen tonight.
But actually while I will follow this with interest if/when it happens, I'm a bit underwhelmed by it. I'd originally thought this was going to be a sort of 21st century Apollo 8, with the astronauts orbiting the Moon. But it's just a flyby, a slingshot.
At the same time the astronauts will have gone a bit further than any human has ever been before from Earth. But that doesn't really feel like big deal compared to the accomplishments of Apollo.
I'm glad of this to remind myself of what America was to me when I was young and not run by a basket case. The people at NASA must be disgusted when he claims any credit for their ingenuity and bravery.
I'm watching the NASA feed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrW3wwlcS6Q
The BBC News live stream is 41 seconds behind.
Always exciting to watch a crewed rocket launch live; shame the footage was a bit botched.
The "AROW" (Artemis Real-time Orbit Website) mission tracking visualiser on the NASA app is very good indeed.
(https://i.ibb.co/FL8LLxJ4/in-orion.avif)
I must say this looks like a wild adventure, living in a box nearly 250,000 km from Earth. Looks a bit more comfy and spacious than the old Apollo Command Module and the flight clothing looks a bit more casual. Proper toilet, as well.
Here's an odd thought - since there is currently no up or down in there, this image is as valid a representation of the interior at that moment as the last one. The guy on the left didn't feel like he was lying on his side any more than the other three.
(https://i.ibb.co/YmdQ63j/in-orion-side.avif)
i never realised they would lose comms... blimey..
No-one will have been further from home than the Artemis astronauts.
But as the Earth shrinks ever smaller in their rear-view mirror, they've had a constant connection with mission control in Houston, Texas. The calm words from the Nasa team have given the crew a comforting link with home.
That link is about to be lost.
As the astronauts pass behind the Moon at about 23:47 BST (18:47 EDT) on Monday, the radio and laser signals that allow the back-and-forth communication between the spacecraft and Earth will be blocked by the Moon itself.
For about 40 minutes, the four astronauts will be alone, each with their own thoughts and feelings, travelling through the darkness of space. A profound moment of solitude and silence.
Why are they the furthest away from Earth that humans have reached? Is it because their orbit of the moon is higher than the Apollo missions?
Michael Collins' comms were cut off during the moon landing when he was described as the "loneliest man in the universe".
I'm guessing it's just down to the capsule's trajectory or height.
Quote from: Fishy on April 06, 2026, 10:32:23 AMi never realised they would lose comms... blimey..
No-one will have been further from home than the Artemis astronauts.
But as the Earth shrinks ever smaller in their rear-view mirror, they've had a constant connection with mission control in Houston, Texas. The calm words from the Nasa team have given the crew a comforting link with home.
That link is about to be lost.
As the astronauts pass behind the Moon at about 23:47 BST (18:47 EDT) on Monday, the radio and laser signals that allow the back-and-forth communication between the spacecraft and Earth will be blocked by the Moon itself.
For about 40 minutes, the four astronauts will be alone, each with their own thoughts and feelings, travelling through the darkness of space. A profound moment of solitude and silence.
I'd like to think they might put some Gary Glitter on the stereo and watch some Chubby Brown on their telly ;D
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on April 06, 2026, 12:37:44 PMWhy are they the furthest away from Earth that humans have reached? Is it because their orbit of the moon is higher than the Apollo missions?
it's being done to give them a nice gravitational slingshot back to Earth, they're not going into Lunar orbit, so it gives them a freebie boost back.
So yes, the reason that they're further from Earth than any of the Apollo astronauts is that the pass round the Moon is at a much higher lunar altitude (more than 6,000 km) than the Apollo orbits (typically ~110 km).
The way I look at it is that the Apollo astronauts got a lot closer to the Moon. But going round the Dark Side is an achievement I suppose.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on April 01, 2026, 11:20:50 PMQuote from: Slim on April 01, 2026, 09:50:32 PM(https://i.ibb.co/chHKyDMr/a2cancel.png)
Looking like it might not happen tonight.
But actually while I will follow this with interest if/when it happens, I'm a bit underwhelmed by it. I'd originally thought this was going to be a sort of 21st century Apollo 8, with the astronauts orbiting the Moon. But it's just a flyby, a slingshot.
At the same time the astronauts will have gone a bit further than any human has ever been before from Earth. But that doesn't really feel like big deal compared to the accomplishments of Apollo.
I'm glad of this to remind myself of what America was to me when I was young and not run by a basket case. The people at NASA must be disgusted when he claims any credit for their ingenuity and bravery.
It's mad isn't that at the time of the Apollo launches only the most powerful countries were capable of having the financial resources capable of Space missions.
Now there are 3 individuals (and probably plenty of others who could but choose not to) with enough disposable income to be able to use Space as a playground!
Just another symptom of the unsustainable lifestyle in many areas of the western civilisation of today.
Youngsters driving about in vehicles in the £20-30K bracket with insurance premiums higher than the value of cars I drove not so long ago.
I think this bubble may burst sooner rather than later.
Some gobsmacking images here:
https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/lunar-flyby/
It's worth downloading in full size (or the larger size that NASA has made available).
I especially love this one, not for the image of the Earth but the lunar surface detail.
https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/art002e009289/art002e009289~large.jpg
The technology used to transmit these to Earth is fascinating, a highly directional infra-red laser was used. The receiving equipment uses a telescope.
(https://i.ibb.co/FbM2NCmx/moonbarb.avif)
Would planet earth not be a burned out shell at this point?🙄
Dark ..
(https://i.ibb.co/t004LKQ/darkmoon.avif)
This guy is worth a follow if you're into space photography - he talks here about the difference between the old Apollo photography vs the digital photography from the Artemis II mission.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on April 01, 2026, 11:20:50 PMI'm glad of this to remind myself of what America was to me when I was young and not run by a basket case. The people at NASA must be disgusted when he claims any credit for their ingenuity and bravery.
You do know that the Constellation program was effectively cancelled by Obama in 2010 and the Artemis program was launched in Trump's first term (not that you would ever be reminded of that fact by MSM)?
Without the basket case, you may have been short on wonder of this nature :-\
Watched the splashdown, the quality of the live video imaging as the craft descended was astonishing.
Quote from: Slim on April 11, 2026, 01:14:46 AMWatched the splashdown, the quality of the live video imaging as the craft descended was astonishing.
I intended to watch it. Unfortunately, I fell asleep whilst listening to 2112. Woke up and they were already down. Didn't stay up to see them emerge from the capsule.
Glad they got back safe and sound. Good job NASA.
Quote from: David L on April 10, 2026, 11:11:52 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on April 01, 2026, 11:20:50 PMI'm glad of this to remind myself of what America was to me when I was young and not run by a basket case. The people at NASA must be disgusted when he claims any credit for their ingenuity and bravery.
You do know that the Constellation program was effectively cancelled by Obama in 2010 and the Artemis program was launched in Trump's first term (not that you would ever be reminded of that fact by MSM)?
Without the basket case, you may have been short on wonder of this nature :-\
I'd have been prepared to wait.
OK - please, no more politics in the technology and science section as relatively innocuous remarks can sometimes escalate.
Watched HIGNFY the other night - Paul Merton came up with a good one. Everyone wearing gorilla masks to meet the crew arriving back on Earth. ;D ;D