SpaceX launch today (5/27)

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by rusnak

All of the gear, capsule, etc definitely have an early 90s iMac Backstreet Boys Star Trek TNG design motif to them. Except for those awful rain boots, what's up with those?

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Less than an hour to go.

It will be interesting to see how well the touch screen displays work under the vibration of launch. I have tried to use the touch screen in my wife's Macan she drove. When a bump is hit, it is really hard to push the right icon. I suspect they have to have a few real buttons and switches to make it easier under vibration. I feel sure the engineers have tried to simulate a rough ride.

I was watching them working the touch screens, and in the back of my mind, I was wondering if that actually did anything as everything is really automated. Their touches are only to make the astronauts feel like they are doing something.

The live feeds as incredible. Too bad they didn’t stick the landing, they looked about a foot off center.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I'm disappointed in Musk for not making the suits shiny silver.

Haha!

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Neilk

I was watching them working the touch screens, and in the back of my mind, I was wondering if that actually did anything as everything is really automated. Their touches are only to make the astronauts feel like they are doing something. ]

No.

Doug (PIC) actually 'flew' the Dragon twice in the mission. The second time just before docking.
They made a big deal out of it. Talked about it in the press conference.

You did not watch it????

[Bob Kontak]

Wondering what the ISS smelled like to Bob and Doug after that sweet ride in a brand new swanky spacecraft that you know smelled like mountain spring air.

[URY914]

If I was them I'd stay up there as long as they can. A lot of bad s- hit happening around here these days.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by URY914

If I was them I'd stay up there as long as they can. A lot of bad s- hit happening around here these days.

Only on TV.

Elsewhere life is good!

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Baz

Only on TV.

Elsewhere life is good!

You must be wearing rose colored space goggles.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by URY914

You must be wearing rose colored space goggles.

Ha...not really.

I just look around and life is pretty good.

Life's a beach!

[rusnak]

The first people to Mars or one of it's moons will be artificial. I think the furthest humans can go will be the moon. After solving the propulsion problem, the problem of supporting life will be much more difficult. Maybe cybernetic humans can live their entire life span in zero gravity or in >1 gravity but not Earth humanity.

[rusnak]

We are too fragile and too behaviorally volatile and anchored to our Earth to not go insane and damage the mission. Humans would have to be engineered to be durable and not so emotional in order to span such a large time frame, and be independent, and still stay on mission.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Me thinks thou doth underestimate the capability of mankind.

I think we’ll do quite well getting to Mars and it’ll be a wonderful human achievement.

Until the Martians attack us for screwing up the neighborhood anyway. 😛

[URY914]

Did anyone catch the story of getting to Mars on 60 Minutes last night?
Pretty cool stuff. Bringing back soil samples will require three different trips.

[CurtEgerer]

I'm holding out to volunteer for a 1-way Saturn mission. I've always like the rings and the moons. Unless they step things up though, I'm going to run out of time ...

So after this, what's next in manned flight for SpaceX/NASA, anyone know?

[tcar]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I'm holding out to volunteer for a 1-way Saturn mission. I've always like the rings and the moons. Unless they step things up though, I'm going to run out of time ...

So after this, what's next in manned flight for SpaceX/NASA, anyone know?

SpaceX Dragon going back to the ISS with a 4 person crew. This fall.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Neilk

I was watching them working the touch screens, and in the back of my mind, I was wondering if that actually did anything as everything is really automated. Their touches are only to make the astronauts feel like they are doing something.

The live feeds as incredible. Too bad they didn’t stick the landing, they looked about a foot off center.

At Disney World in Orlando they have one totally amazing ride called Mission to Mars. One site in a reclined chair and has a display with buttons to push. The announcer has you push buttons as if you were controlling the ride. You have nothing at all to see but the display and the ride makes lots of folks sick. They have a great weightless part and ride is a lot of fun.

The guy sitting next to me was asking if I thought the buttons did anything at all. I sid they do nothing but change colors, and have no control of the ride.

My wife refused to go because they warn you, if you have a sensitive tummy, yer gonna puke. It is a great ride and utterly amazing.

[rusnak]

This lends street cred to my humanoid robot theory as well....

[flipper35]

I didn't see this posted and if it was, my apologies.

https://iss-sim.spacex.com/