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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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