RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted November 13, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 13, 2022 (edited) This is a little exhibit in the Smithsonian Collection many might miss, but for me it is a really interesting one. As well as an interest in aircraft and space vehicles I am interested in space watches. The Omega Speedmaster Professional is genuinely iconic as the 'moon watch' (people don't generally think of the Seiko Pogue or the chronograph made by Bullova and used on at least one lunar mission as 'moon watches', and the excellent Fortis and verious Russian watches used by Cosmonauts have never had the same cachet), this is another moon watch. A Heuer stop-watch used in mission control, Houston, to time the flight of the Eagle landing vehicle. In its own way just as important and historic as the Omega Speedmaster but pretty much unknown. Edited November 13, 2022 by jjb1970 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted November 13, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 13, 2022 One of the exhibits in the Udvar-Hazy Centre I found most interesting was this one, as I'd never heard of it. It's an experimental Gemini re-entry vehicle designed to glide in and make a conventional runway landing using a large inflatable parasail. The idea is borderline bonkers and NASA retained parachute arrested re-entry for the Gemini and Apollo programs. I can't help thinking that packing a large inflatable glider wing, inflating gear, under carriage etc would add an awful lot more weight, complexity and potential for it all to go horribly wrong. Then again, when I looked at the regular Gemini capsule I couldn't help wondering whether anyone willing to strap themselves into it and launch themselves into space on top of a rocket was entirely sane.....the Gemini capsules were tiny, really tiny. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted November 13, 2022 Share Posted November 13, 2022 (edited) I cannot see how those rear wheels would retract (or extend for that matter) and the front wheel, well it is longer that the circumference of the nose. So I am guessing it never got beyond the wild idea prototype that would be dropped out of the sky to see how it glided. Found a video, there were a couple and they were towed but it was too complicated in the end and the speed at which the space program was going they got left behind. Another detailed article here - very interesting https://www.popsci.com/paraglider-how-nasa-tried-and-failed-to-land-without-parachutes/ Edited November 13, 2022 by woodenhead 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted November 14, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 14, 2022 12 hours ago, jjb1970 said: One of the exhibits in the Udvar-Hazy Centre I found most interesting was this one, as I'd never heard of it. It's an experimental Gemini re-entry vehicle designed to glide in and make a conventional runway landing using a large inflatable parasail. The idea is borderline bonkers and NASA retained parachute arrested re-entry for the Gemini and Apollo programs. I can't help thinking that packing a large inflatable glider wing, inflating gear, under carriage etc would add an awful lot more weight, complexity and potential for it all to go horribly wrong. Then again, when I looked at the regular Gemini capsule I couldn't help wondering whether anyone willing to strap themselves into it and launch themselves into space on top of a rocket was entirely sane.....the Gemini capsules were tiny, really tiny. I remember reading about this - the Rogallo wing - in Meccano Magazine donkey's years ago. A dead end as far as spacecraft ae concerend but of course it became the universal hang glider. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted January 24, 2023 Author Share Posted January 24, 2023 More Brits In Space! Quote RAF Corporal qualifies with U.S. Space Command - A Royal Air Force Corporal has become the first from an overseas nation to qualify as an Orbital Analyst with U.S. Space Command. Corporal Mitchell Astbury is one of two RAF corporals assigned to the 18th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) at Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. In 2019 the RAF became the first international partner in the U.S. Space Command's Operation Olympic Defender, a US-Ied international coalition formed to strengthen deterrence against hostile actions in space. https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-corporal-qualifies-with-u-s-space-command/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 24, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2023 On 13/11/2022 at 12:09, jjb1970 said: One of the exhibits in the Udvar-Hazy Centre I found most interesting was this one, as I'd never heard of it. Have you seen the Haynes manual on the various spacecraft? They contain a lot of details you may not have seen before, the Gemini paraglider concept included. Definitely worth a read for any space buff. The only one I'm missing now is for Soyuz, seems to out of print and people asking stupid money. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted January 26, 2023 Author Share Posted January 26, 2023 On 24/01/2023 at 20:57, 57xx said: The only one I'm missing now is for Soyuz, seems to out of print and people asking stupid money. Ouch! £65 on Amazon Books 😒 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 If anyone wants to see one of those Gemini capsules with wings, there's one at the National Space Centre. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 7 minutes ago, Phil Parker said: If anyone wants to see one of those Gemini capsules with wings, there's one at the National Space Centre. The thing looked barely big enough for it's occupant let alone somewhere to stow those rear wheels. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 26, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 26, 2023 1 hour ago, woodenhead said: The thing looked barely big enough for it's occupant let alone somewhere to stow those rear wheels. That's because it's a boiler plate for testing the concept, wheels were not part of the final design. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 6 minutes ago, 57xx said: That's because it's a boiler plate for testing the concept, wheels were not part of the final design. Think it was skids on the actual test - but the idea after having been blasted into space and returning via a rather hot method that the 'astronaut' would need to turn back into a pilot and hang glide the thing to the ground is amazing. Ok, this is essentially what the Shuttle was but on a more modest scale, but still it was pretty out there as ideas go. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 26, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 26, 2023 4 hours ago, woodenhead said: Think it was skids on the actual test - but the idea after having been blasted into space and returning via a rather hot method that the 'astronaut' would need to turn back into a pilot and hang glide the thing to the ground is amazing. Certainly for the towed behind a car test, it was wheels, not skids. Skids were anticipated for the final evolution but I don't think they ever got there with using them. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted September 2, 2023 Author Share Posted September 2, 2023 Tardis Web Cam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 97406 Posted September 3, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 3, 2023 I'll just leave this here. Enjoy. https://www.scifiairshow.com/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted May 18 Author Share Posted May 18 There's a lovely one-hour programme on Radio 2, of Tom Hanks and Tim Peake talking about space flight and being an astronaut. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001z5gd Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted May 24 Author Share Posted May 24 Good news chaps! Quote Fresh Data From the Cosmos: NASA’s Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Science Data From 15 Billion Miles Away They've rebooted Voyager 1 😀 Quote Voyager 1, after overcoming a computer issue, has resumed sending scientific data from two of its instruments, with plans to recalibrate the remaining two soon. This marks significant progress in restoring the spacecraft, which is over 15 billion miles from Earth and requires over 22 hours for communications to travel one way. NASA’s Voyager 1 has resumed returning science data from two of its four instruments for the first time since November 2023, when a computer issue arose with the spacecraft. The mission’s science instrument teams are now determining steps to recalibrate the remaining two instruments, which will likely occur in the coming weeks. The achievement marks significant progress toward restoring the spacecraft to normal operations. I'm stil in awe that this little 47-year old spaceship, with less computing power than we have now in smart watches, is still working. Sending the commands to recalibrate it, and having to wait 44 hours for the response - if there was any response at all - must have been nail-biting stuff. https://scitechdaily.com/fresh-data-from-the-cosmos-nasas-voyager-1-resumes-sending-science-data-from-15-billion-miles-away/ 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tomparryharry Posted May 27 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 27 Since local shops have opened, I no longer need to go to the Moon for dairy products. 'Cracking cheese, Grommit! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 Poor old Boeing. Quote Elon's SpaceX To Rescue Stranded Astronauts After NASA Dumps Boeing https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/nasa-selects-elons-spacex-rescue-stranded-astronauts-after-latest-boeing-debacle I'm almost tempted to contact Top Gear and ask them to have another go at the Reliant Robin Space Shuttle. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 30 minutes ago, KeithMacdonald said: Poor old Boeing. The headline you quote is misleading. NASA hasn't "dumped Boeing". This is in the "failure is not an option" consideration. CNN: SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to return Boeing Starliner crew to Earth It's not clear exactly what the problem(s) with Starliner are - besides the failures of the attitude controls. Quote The Starliner vehicle, ... suffered setbacks with helium leaks and thrusters that abruptly stopped working on the initial leg of its first crewed test flight. ... Five of the Starliner’s 28 “reaction control thrusters” quit working during the first stretch of Boeing’s test mission. All but one were eventually recovered. No Boeing representatives were present at Saturday’s news conference. NASA indicated there was “a little disagreement in terms of the level of risk” compared with Boeing’s assessment, and the space agency did need work on its relationship with the company. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium pete_mcfarlane Posted August 24 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 24 This isn't the first time this has happened: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_34 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_MS-23 Although sending up a spare Soyuz to bring the crew back is probably not politically acceptable at the moment. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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