Kinda off topic, but whatever happened to using sails in space. Never really heard much about it after the hype a little while back

Thank you, it’s so cool you got to go. We are full on ready so I’m prepared for the madness and the tears if it doesn’t happen but I’ve gotten a lot of good advice that I think will help.

If you don’t mind how expensive are the KSC packages? I tried to check their site but I couldn't see past prices and I’m trying to get a frame of reference for something big like the Artemis so I can be prepared.

Thanks he loves watching the Space X launches on YouTube maybe we can go and watch bts stuff at the same time. He’s love that!

I haven't seen numbers anywhere near that. For a hydrolox RDRE they're hoping to hit maybe 550 s.

The "blue glow" type of propulsion is probably an ion engine, which is essentially just propellant + electricity. From a sci-fi perspective you'd want to generate that electricity with a fusion reactor.

See, I should know this!We can drive there! Thank you.

No, Orion is a nuclear pulse drive, not a nuclear thermal rocket. Bombs vs. a reactor.

NTRs have not only been designed, but actually built and tested for full-duration firing.

Thanks, we’re going to try and get tickets because our son is pretty young but the alternatives you shared are perfect if we end up in a scrubbed situation and need to make it happen. Much appreciated.

Probably because you don't get much thrust with that type of engine.

Thank you. This is all the info I need to make a spreadsheet and make it happen.

“Try to pick a week where there are multiple rockets going up, so if one scrubs, you still have some other chances.”

I wouldn’t have thought of this, instead focusing on one particular rocket. Thanks this makes so much more sense!

Thanks! My husband and I are miserable traffic people. The rental car is a good idea since we’ve never been to Florida we’d be able to make the most of it no matter what!

Uh just go to California it's right near the ocean smh

The freeze dried ice cream was probably the most memorable thing from learning about space as a kid!

Thank you, this exactly what I was looking for. I’ve actually never been to Florida so it would be a nice vacation either way.

This is the type of comment I love to read

That's not a comet. But it is something very special to see. I've seen one once that was very similar to what you are describing. Once in a lifetime almost.

That's not the way comets work. That's not the way they work at all.

What’s with the language? There are children on this sub.

>Or just with 9x the mass flow rate

You need 9x the molar flow rate, not the mass flow rate. And since hydrogen has 1/9th the molar mass of water, it ends up cancelling out.

That wasn't the comet, you likely saw a bolide, a super bright meteor. The comet is barely visible and doesn't change noticeably in brightness over the span of seconds. (More like days and weeks) Still, bolides are incredible in their own way.

I’m confused. I don’t understand this post.

ZTF isn’t a flash in the pan. It’s just slow and steadily moving by.

Yeah for real, a bit disappointed there were so many comments and not a single mention of the inaccuracy.

It’s all about exhaust velocity, there’s just a limit to have fast a combusting gas will expand out of your nozzle. Faster velocities can be reached with Ion engines, nuclear pulse engines or other future technologies.

That's a meteor. I saw one exactly like that in Reunion (what a coincidence) a few years ago.

Comets don't disappear.

This is perfect. Lived in Cape Canaveral for a while, many disappointed tourist, but when that candle lights, it's spectacular. SpaceX booster returns to the cape are a bonus, 8 min after launch.