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!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID 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. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID 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. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
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