Recent comments in /f/space

littlehuman77 t1_jbvkmai wrote

Reply to I captured this lightning-filled star trail from the International Space Station. More details in comments! by astro_pettit

Incredibly mesmerizing photography. Thanks so much for sharing, Don!

I know this isn’t an AMA of any sort, but I feel like this may be my opportunity to directly ask an individual who’s been to space -

Edgar Mitchell famously depicted his visit to the moon as an instant acquisition of global consciousness, stating that international politics become a petty thought. Do you also feel the same, or anything to a similar degree, when able to view our home from such a high vantage point? What’s it like to view Earth so far removed from it in a position where relatively few have been before?

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cowhampshireite t1_jbvdukn wrote

Reply to I captured this lightning-filled star trail from the International Space Station. More details in comments! by astro_pettit

This is one of my all time favorite desktop wallpapers! It really appeals to me as both a space nerd and photography enthusiast.

I really enjoyed the video you helped Destin from Smarter Everyday make about the cupola. I thought it was really interesting to learn that tight engineering tolerances and o-rings are all that's needed to hold pressure for the shutter controls. https://youtu.be/KSzuiqVjJg4

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astro_pettit OP t1_jbv8j2q wrote

Reply to I captured this lightning-filled star trail from the International Space Station. More details in comments! by astro_pettit

Chain lightning depicted as discrete flashes in a timelapse. Seen here is the history of an electrical storm, city lights streaking by on Earth, and star trails. The star trails form straight lines in the orbital forward direction but circular arcs left and right of your orbit. The atmosphere on edge is yellowish due to the soon to rise sun. Above that is the atmosphere f-region, glowing in the red from solar radiation on the residual atmospheric oxygen.

Taken during Expedition-31, Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4 lens, ISO 800, 25 minute time lapse assembled from sequential 30 second exposures, 2012.

More orbital astrophotography can be found on my twitter and Instagram profiles.

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cjameshuff t1_jbtuy8w wrote

Reply to comment by TheEarthquakeGuy in Space Force allocates three historic Cape Canaveral launch pads to four companies by Azurebluenomad

> and SpaceX move any impending RTLS flights to ships.

RTLS missions only exist in the first place because it's cheaper and faster, and avoids contention for the ASDS ships, which are unavailable for significant periods of time as they transport cores back and move out to support the next landing. Moving an RTLS landing to an ASDS has a substantial cost and schedule impact, and isn't something SpaceX is going to want to do regularly.

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