Amazulu

I thought you would have posted something about Hayabusa 2

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/06/2...-year-journey/

GarryP

You may remember that Elon have been trying to catch the fairing to reuse them (at $6m a pair, it's worthwhile). However he's not been able to catch them as they come down on parachutes, so they decided they needed a bigger boat net. A much bigger net.....


4 times the area of the first one. Personally I still don't think it will do the trick, but at nearly an acre, it's not for want of trying.

GarryP

Another SpaceX launch (and landing) in 12mins, weather permitting

GarryP

Next one is 25th July (this Wed 21:39 AEST) on the west coast, with the attempt at fairing recovery using the big net above (plus landing).

Then 2nd August (following Thurs 15:19 AEST) on the east coast again.

Then 17th August and 31st Aug, and possibly another if they can fit it in the month.

Amazulu

He should stick his submarine on the next one - more useful up there

GarryP

3 hours till next launch, maybe with video of catch attempt.

GarryP

For those that like getting up early, there is a total lunar eclipse tomorrow morning. Partial starts at around 4:30 for most, with totality about an hour later, lasting nearly 2 hours. You'll need a clear horizon to the West-WSW.

Melbourne
Adelaide
Brisbane
Hobart
Perth
Darwin
Sydney

Lucas_Dad

I was up for the eclipse. Even my 6yo asked me to wake him up. More than happy to do that for him. Not often he'll get to witness such a wonder on a non-school night!

Shame I couldn't get decent pics. Only have a 10+ year old Pansonic Lumix compact with a scratched (but otherwise decent Leica) lens. Mars looked pretty awesome too. Also saw the ISS again. AAAAND my 6yo saw his first 'shooting star'! Pretty awesome night of dad & son astronomy actually

GarryP

Guess what .... (<10mins)

Lucas_Dad

I saw this message just as I got home from the school run. Put on the live stream immediately as the rocket lifted off. Can't beat a bit of SpaceX.

GarryP

After some weather delays, launch should be in 15mins.


Rate of launches is slowing down as the payloads seem to be falling off. Starlink launches should pick up next year to replace them.

GarryP

SpaceX have just announced that they will be announcing who is their first paying passenger, for a trip around the moon on the BFR (you'll remember that this was originally on the Falcon Heavy, but got shifted). They will release the details on 17th Sept (next Monday)

As part of it they have released a new rendering of the BFS, and things have changed pretty significantly - quite a lot more detail and refinement of the design - with hinged winglets and canards. And a tail.

High Res version : https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnA7hZgU8AAxfxC.jpg

DeadVim

Amazulu

He did apologise, but recently said it again

British diver is going to sue his ass - and there will be US lawyers lining up to take his case

The guy may be a genius and visionary but he's basically a twat

GarryP

Elon has been tweeting rendered pics ahead of the announcement tomorrow morning (Oz time).




Looking suitably Dan Dare .....