August 22, 2024 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Data suggests a second exoplanet is tugging at orbit of first
The data comes from TESS in orbit, and is among the plethora of new exoplanets that spacecraft has found in its monthly survey of 93% of the sky.
- Private Polaris Dawn mission now targeting an August 27, 2024 launch
The tweet includes a video (with dramatic music to make something already exciting seem like a fake movie) in which it appears the hatch for the spacewalk during this mission is not going to be at the top, where Dragon capsules have had their docking port, but on the side.
- China proposes its own exoplanet-hunting space telescope
Launch is targeting 2028. The telescope’s program will be similar to Kepler, looking at the same regions in the sky over four years in the specific hope of detecting an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone.
- ISRO to release the Vikram/Pragyan archive of photos to the public tomorrow
The tweet includes some samples, as does this different tweet. The release will celebrate the one year anniversary of Vikram’s lunar landing.
- On this day in 1963 Joe Walker made his last X-15 flight—and set an altitude record of 354,300 feet (67 miles)
In other words, he made it into space, which explains why he was finally awarded astronaut wings in 2005. Too bad he had passed away before the honor was bestowed him.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
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You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Data suggests a second exoplanet is tugging at orbit of first
The data comes from TESS in orbit, and is among the plethora of new exoplanets that spacecraft has found in its monthly survey of 93% of the sky.
- Private Polaris Dawn mission now targeting an August 27, 2024 launch
The tweet includes a video (with dramatic music to make something already exciting seem like a fake movie) in which it appears the hatch for the spacewalk during this mission is not going to be at the top, where Dragon capsules have had their docking port, but on the side.
- China proposes its own exoplanet-hunting space telescope
Launch is targeting 2028. The telescope’s program will be similar to Kepler, looking at the same regions in the sky over four years in the specific hope of detecting an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone.
- ISRO to release the Vikram/Pragyan archive of photos to the public tomorrow
The tweet includes some samples, as does this different tweet. The release will celebrate the one year anniversary of Vikram’s lunar landing.
- On this day in 1963 Joe Walker made his last X-15 flight—and set an altitude record of 354,300 feet (67 miles)
In other words, he made it into space, which explains why he was finally awarded astronaut wings in 2005. Too bad he had passed away before the honor was bestowed him.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Re: Polaris Dawn “spacewalk”
On their web page – https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/ – you can see the nose cone opened and the ISS docking adapter missing. There will be a platform with mobility aids (handrails) which the crew member(s) will stand, just a few feet outside. No free floating.
Scott Manley asked about capsule orientation during this event:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55805.msg2618174#msg2618174
and
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55805.msg2618193#msg2618193