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Author Topic:   Spaceward ho!
Archer Opteryx
Member (Idle past 3597 days)
Posts: 1811
From: East Asia
Joined: 08-16-2006


Message 1 of 36 (351257)
09-22-2006 9:06 AM


Innovations in space exploration--let's have a thread for it!
NASA recently funded support for private development of vessels to service the International Space Station. Today's news: the agency is now doing something similar to service moon bases.
X Prize Cup to Host NASA's Lunar Lander Challenge
by Leonard David
2006.9.22
NASA's hope is that the prize will spur the design and fabrication of quick turnaround vertical take-off, vertical landing vehicles. That ability can help cultivate the commercial launch procurement market - not only for future operations on the Moon but here on Earth too.
Here's a link to the page for NASA's Constellation Program
_
Edited by Archer Opterix, : HTML.

Archer
All species are transitional.

Replies to this message:
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Message 2 of 36 (351258)
09-22-2006 9:09 AM


Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

  
Archer Opteryx
Member (Idle past 3597 days)
Posts: 1811
From: East Asia
Joined: 08-16-2006


Message 3 of 36 (352629)
09-27-2006 12:23 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Archer Opteryx
09-22-2006 9:06 AM


Orion spacecraft design
More news on the development of the Orion spacecraft--mainly the interior space. It may look like Apollo on the outside, but it's looking more like Star Trek on the inside. They are aiming for clean, versatile control panel design.
Project Orion: NASA's Next Spaceship Takes Shape | Space
_

Archer
All species are transitional.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 4 by Taz, posted 09-27-2006 1:46 PM Archer Opteryx has not replied
 Message 5 by GDR, posted 09-27-2006 2:42 PM Archer Opteryx has not replied
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 Message 10 by Silent H, posted 09-28-2006 6:21 AM Archer Opteryx has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 4 of 36 (352646)
09-27-2006 1:46 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Archer Opteryx
09-27-2006 12:23 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
I don't get it. They named the first shuttle to have ever lifted off the ground as Enterprise. Why can't they now build something that looks more like a ship? They can stick with the current capsule like design if they want. Just duct tape to it a couple of warp drives or something.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Archer Opteryx, posted 09-27-2006 12:23 PM Archer Opteryx has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by kuresu, posted 09-27-2006 9:30 PM Taz has replied

  
GDR
Member
Posts: 6202
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005
Member Rating: 1.9


Message 5 of 36 (352653)
09-27-2006 2:42 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Archer Opteryx
09-27-2006 12:23 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
I'm really glad it's Lockheed that's involved. I've had experience with several of their aircraft and nobody designs a better cockpit than Lockheed.

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MangyTiger
Member (Idle past 6353 days)
Posts: 989
From: Leicester, UK
Joined: 07-30-2004


Message 6 of 36 (352685)
09-27-2006 5:31 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Archer Opteryx
09-27-2006 12:23 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
but it's looking more like Star Trek on the inside
Hope they remember the seat belts - the Federation never seemed to work that out in hundreds of years

Oops! Wrong Planet

This message is a reply to:
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kuresu
Member (Idle past 2513 days)
Posts: 2544
From: boulder, colorado
Joined: 03-24-2006


Message 7 of 36 (352716)
09-27-2006 9:30 PM
Reply to: Message 4 by Taz
09-27-2006 1:46 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the first shuttle Columbia?

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 Message 4 by Taz, posted 09-27-2006 1:46 PM Taz has replied

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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 8 of 36 (352734)
09-27-2006 11:40 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by kuresu
09-27-2006 9:30 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
The first shuttle was Enterprise. It was never meant to go into space. All it was good for was for a few test flights. The first shuttle that went into space was Columbia.

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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 9 of 36 (352737)
09-27-2006 11:48 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by MangyTiger
09-27-2006 5:31 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
MangyTiger writes:
Hope they remember the seat belts - the Federation never seemed to work that out in hundreds of years
In episode "Skin of Evil", the episode where Tasha died (damn the script writers), they used a shuttle to go down to the alien planet to investigate an unknown energy reading. On their way down, we had a view of them inside the shuttle, which shows that they were all wearing seatbelts. This was the first episode ever in star trek history where seat belts were shown to be used by star trekers.
Suprisingly, the next time seat belts were seen to be used was in Star Trek Voyager. Can't remember the episode name off the top of my head. Mr. Paris rides the delta flyer to try to reach warp 10 where theoretically the delta flyer would enter "hyperspace" and could travel anywhere in space-time. While flying, Paris is seen for a brief moment with seat belts.
I guess they finally caught on and officially gave Picard seat belts on his big chair in the bridge of the battle scarred Enterprise at the end of Star Trek Nemesis.
Yes, I hate myself for knowing these things.

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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 10 of 36 (352756)
09-28-2006 6:21 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by Archer Opteryx
09-27-2006 12:23 PM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
It may look like Apollo on the outside, but it's looking more like Star Trek on the inside.
Does anyone know why aesthetics have normally not been taken into consideration for interior spaces of spacecraft, as well as any/all other facets of space exploration?
While I understand that utility might demand more direct access to parts, and additional money is not likely there for frills, wouldn't it play better for motivating those within and without the field to see something that looks and feels good?
When a person looks at a person in a dumpy spacesuit and a dumpy spacecraft and learns it cost millions of dollars, it is likely not going to be as impressive as seeing a person in a cool looking suit entering a cool looking spacecraft. Indeed one might generate more interest/money by people wishing they could be wearing the gear and being in the ship.
Hell you might even get talent for free by allowing trekkies or other sci fi enthusiasts (with valid experience) to craft the nonfunctional design portions.
Edited by holmes, : ere for ier

holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Archer Opteryx, posted 09-27-2006 12:23 PM Archer Opteryx has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 11 by Archer Opteryx, posted 09-28-2006 8:10 AM Silent H has replied

  
Archer Opteryx
Member (Idle past 3597 days)
Posts: 1811
From: East Asia
Joined: 08-16-2006


Message 11 of 36 (352780)
09-28-2006 8:10 AM
Reply to: Message 10 by Silent H
09-28-2006 6:21 AM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
holmes asks:
Does anyone know why aesthetics have normally not been taken into consideration for interior spaces of spacecraft, as well as any/all other facets of space exploration?
A very interesting question.
Until now all our manned spacecraft were designed in a pre-computer age, wouldn't you say? That requires lots of switches and control services in very limited space. Now a variety of tasks can be handled with a few touch screens.
The matter of aesthetics--naturally linked to issues of ergonomics--is now getting more attention. We're looking at some long expeditions now. The more time people spend in a habitat, of course, the more it affects them. They will be more productive if they find the place appealing. To do this it needs to reflect something human back at them.

Archer
All species are transitional.

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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 12 of 36 (352800)
09-28-2006 10:09 AM
Reply to: Message 11 by Archer Opteryx
09-28-2006 8:10 AM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
Until now all our manned spacecraft were designed in a pre-computer age, wouldn't you say?
Yes n No. But I guess it all depends on what you mean by computer. Heheh.
I get what you are saying that touch screens, and smaller processors in general, can afford more space. But even if we still dealt with switchboards I'd think ergonomics and esthetical considerations could have been possible. Scifi films and things had been around for decades before the space race.
Heck, Kubrick's 2001 showed more esthetical considerations while staying true to the nature of necessary hardware, and that was before much of what we went on to do.
Look at me crabbing about esthetics. I should be happy enough the US gov't is getting interested in real space programs again.

holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 13 by Taz, posted 09-28-2006 11:41 AM Silent H has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 13 of 36 (352810)
09-28-2006 11:41 AM
Reply to: Message 12 by Silent H
09-28-2006 10:09 AM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
holmes writes:
Look at me crabbing about esthetics. I should be happy enough the US gov't is getting interested in real space programs again.
I don't think the US gov is getting that much interested in space programs. Look at the scheduling and the designs. The new pod obviously can't do much beside going directly to where it is going. It can't carry that much load. But the main thing is the plan is projecting a whole 20 years into the future. Between now and then, anything could happen. Heck, I'll be an old man by the time I get to see a man on mars some 50 years from now.
Like I said before, I'm afraid this might be another political stunt by the Bush administration (or the republicans).

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cavediver
Member (Idle past 3643 days)
Posts: 4129
From: UK
Joined: 06-16-2005


Message 14 of 36 (352820)
09-28-2006 12:30 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Taz
09-28-2006 11:41 AM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
But the main thing is the plan is projecting a whole 20 years into the future
This is what depresses me. It took only 12 years to go from mankind never having touched space to Armstrong and Aldrin walking on the moon. And that is using 50's and 60's technology...

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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 15 of 36 (352821)
09-28-2006 12:36 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Taz
09-28-2006 11:41 AM


Re: Orion spacecraft design
Your skepticism is noted and you may very well be right. If it is a political stunt, I hope someone at NASA has the foresight to milk it for all it's worth.
One may remember that Bush Sr tried to generate the same interest during his administration. It is intriguing to note that back then and now with Jr, the main source of criticism are liberals suggesting how outrageous and useless such programs are.

holmes {in temp decloak from lurker mode}
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." (D.Bros)

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Replies to this message:
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