For those that don't avidly keep up to date with NASA's goings on you may be interested to know that the space shuttle that's become such an icon of space travel is being retired in 2010, after just a handful more missions (next one launches tomorrow)
They're replacing the shuttle with the ares series rocket, these are much more like the original saturn rockets in the fact that they're long, thin (they're taller and thinner than the saturn rockets) but they can carry vastly more payload, and they have two 5 segment solid booster rockets to help them on their way (the current shuttle has a 4 segment solid booster rocket)
The ares rocket's house a little re-entry capsual for any people being transported, much like the original moon missions, only the capsual is 150% the size and can take four people instead of just three. They have a separate rocket planned for cargo so when they go back to the moon in a decade from now they can take a heck of a lot more stuff when they go.
Nasa tweet quite a lot, they post a lot of boring crap but sometimes they post fantastic pictures like this one of the ares IX rocket in the VAB (Vehicle assembally building). the first time a new rocket has stood in there for a quarter of a century.
Emotive stuff. Incase you hadn't guessed already My dream (other than going and working for valve) is to become one of the first four astronauts sent back to the moon (the constellation program)
The only real obstacles in my way are: having to get through Uni and get my degree, Moving to America, and becoming an American citizen (preferably marrying one within 3 years of my arrival so I can apply for citizenship after 3 years instead of the normal 5). I can make it before the schedualed return to the moon in 2019 just but it's gunna be a heck of a challenge!!
At the moment you can see Jupiter clear in the sky in the northern hemisphere, I can't count the number of times I've got out the binoculars and counted it's visible moons, pity I can't go there in my lifetime though.
I have shared a passion of mine with you; that is all.
They're replacing the shuttle with the ares series rocket, these are much more like the original saturn rockets in the fact that they're long, thin (they're taller and thinner than the saturn rockets) but they can carry vastly more payload, and they have two 5 segment solid booster rockets to help them on their way (the current shuttle has a 4 segment solid booster rocket)
The ares rocket's house a little re-entry capsual for any people being transported, much like the original moon missions, only the capsual is 150% the size and can take four people instead of just three. They have a separate rocket planned for cargo so when they go back to the moon in a decade from now they can take a heck of a lot more stuff when they go.
Nasa tweet quite a lot, they post a lot of boring crap but sometimes they post fantastic pictures like this one of the ares IX rocket in the VAB (Vehicle assembally building). the first time a new rocket has stood in there for a quarter of a century.
Emotive stuff. Incase you hadn't guessed already My dream (other than going and working for valve) is to become one of the first four astronauts sent back to the moon (the constellation program)
The only real obstacles in my way are: having to get through Uni and get my degree, Moving to America, and becoming an American citizen (preferably marrying one within 3 years of my arrival so I can apply for citizenship after 3 years instead of the normal 5). I can make it before the schedualed return to the moon in 2019 just but it's gunna be a heck of a challenge!!
At the moment you can see Jupiter clear in the sky in the northern hemisphere, I can't count the number of times I've got out the binoculars and counted it's visible moons, pity I can't go there in my lifetime though.
I have shared a passion of mine with you; that is all.
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