Comments on: Russia launches military satellite using Angara rocket; new global record for launches

By: Edward

Edward — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:23:05 +0000

pzatchok asked: “If we only had weeks could it be done in time?”

Since this kind of interception only changes the velocity a small amount, it would take years to assure that a probable Earth strike became a definite miss. If we know that there was something coming, we could always turn a probe that is now under construction into an interceptor, but it would probably have to already be equipped with a navigation camera and the software would have to be updated with something resembling the software on DART.

“If there was some catastrophic accident on the ISS could we send a rescue ship up in a week? How about to the Chinese station?”

The current plan for both space stations is to use the existing transports as lifeboats. If there were a catastrophic accident then the space station would be abandoned. Recovery of the station would have to be analyzed and considered afterward.

By: pzatchok

pzatchok — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:03:55 +0000

I love the idea that we have so much space and launch capability but we are falling short on preparation for catastrophic events like an impact from a surprising direction.

How fast could we right now launch in interceptor?

If we only had weeks could it be done in time?

If there was some catastrophic accident on the ISS could we send a rescue ship up in a week? How about to the Chinese station?

By: Blair Ivey

Blair Ivey — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 02:06:31 +0000

An asteroid could come out of the Sun tomorrow, but, not likely. Humans are very much in control of their future. Increased space capability yields a more robust ability to respond to, and defeat, species-ending events, whether the threat comes from land, or ‘these new seas’. The species competitive advantages of a robust, individual-driven, society somehow never get mentioned by those lusting for a little bit of personal power for a short time, at the expense of all.

By: Edward

Edward — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 23:35:52 +0000

There are about eleven weeks left in the year, and at the rate of 135 launches so far this year, I expect us to reach more than 170 launches for the year. 135 launches over the first 41 weeks gives 3.29 launches per week, giving 171 launches for 52 weeks. This averages almost one every other day. (Of course, this calculation only works for spherical rockets in a vacuum.)

I think that we can conclude that commercial space is having a significant impact on how we use space.

By: sippin_bourbon

sippin_bourbon — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 17:17:09 +0000

The current rate of launch is roughly one launch every 2.15 days -ish.

If that pace holds, that is 25 to 26 more launches this year, which is around 160.
I do not expect that to hold through the holidays, however. US based launchers will surely reduce a bit through the upcoming holiday season.

Regardless, this is a new high water mark.

” The only thing that could stop it is if human civilization decides to stop it, intentionally, either from willful ignorance or fear.”

.. or we destroy ourselves. Never rule out mass stupidity. We humans are too good at it.