APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

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APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by APOD Robot » Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:11 am

Image Moon Rising Between Starships

Explanation: What's that on either side of the Moon? Starships. Specifically, they are launch-and-return reusable rockets being developed by SpaceX to lift cargo and eventually humans from the Earth's surface into space. The two rockets pictured are SN9 (Serial Number 9) and SN10 which were captured near their Boca Chica, Texas launchpad last month posing below January's full Wolf Moon. The Starships house liquid-methane engines inside rugged stainless-steel shells. SN9 was test-launched earlier this month and did well with the exception of one internal rocket that failed to relight during powered descent. SN10 continues to undergo ground tests and may be test-launched later this month.

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by JohnD » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:56 am

SpaceX showed a mixture of respect and whimsy by naming their landing ships after imaginary spacecraft from Ian M.Banks' 'Culture' novels.
Their whimsy seems overplayed if these are 'starships', but fallen to zero when individually they are merely "SNx"!

Come on, Mr.Musk! Please give them less utilitarian names! Horses from literature? "Rosinante" has been used, so how about Dapple?

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by Sa Ji Tario » Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:21 pm

Rocinante?

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Frau im Mond

Post by neufer » Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:27 pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_in_the_Moon wrote:

<<Frau im Mond (Woman in the Moon) is a science fiction silent film that premiered 15 October 1929 at the UFA-Palast am Zoo cinema in Berlin to an audience of 2,000. It is often considered to be one of the first "serious" science fiction films. It was written and directed by Fritz Lang, based on the 1928 novel The Rocket to the Moon by his collaborator Thea von Harbou, his wife at the time. It was released in the US as By Rocket to the Moon and in the UK as Woman in the Moon. The basics of rocket travel were presented to a mass audience for the first time by this film, including the use of a multi-stage rocket. The film was shot between October 1928 and June 1929 at the UFA studios in Neubabelsberg near Berlin.

Rocket scientist Hermann Oberth worked as an advisor on this movie. He had originally intended to build a working rocket for use in the film, but time and technology prevented this from happening. The film was popular among the rocket scientists in Wernher von Braun's circle at the Verein für Raumschiffahrt (VfR). The first successfully launched V-2 rocket at the rocket-development facility in Peenemünde had the Frau im Mond logo painted on its base. Noted post-war science writer Willy Ley also served as a consultant on the film. Thomas Pynchon's 1973 novel Gravity's Rainbow, which deals with the V-2 rockets, refers to the movie, along with several other classic German silent films.
.................................................................
Plot: Helius (Willy Fritsch) is an entrepreneur with an interest in space travel. He seeks out his friend Professor Mannfeldt (Klaus Pohl), a visionary who wrote a treatise claiming that there was probably much gold on the Moon, only to be ridiculed by his peers. Helius recognizes the value of Mannfeldt's work. However, a gang of evil businessmen have also taken an interest in Mannfeldt's theories, and send a spy (Fritz Rasp) who identifies himself as "Walter Turner".

The rocket team is assembled: Helius; Professor Mannfeldt and his pet mouse Josephine; Windegger; Friede; and Turner. After Friede blasts off, the team discovers that Gustav (Gustl Gstettenbaur), a young boy who has befriended Helius, has stowed away, along with his collection of science fiction pulp magazines.


They reach the far side of the Moon and find it has a breathable atmosphere, per the theories of Peter Andreas Hansen. Mannfeldt discovers gold, proving his theory. When confronted by Turner, Mannfeldt falls to his death in a crevasse. Turner attempts to hijack the rocket, and in the struggle, he is shot and killed. Gunfire damages the oxygen tanks, and they come to the grim realization that there is not enough oxygen for all to make the return trip. One person must remain on the Moon.

Helius and Windegger draw straws to see who must stay and Windegger loses. Seeing Windegger's anguish, Helius decides to drug Windegger and Friede with a last drink together and take Windegger's place, letting Windegger return to Earth with Friede. Friede senses that something is in the wine. She pretends to drink and then retires to the compartment where her cot is located, closes and locks the door. Windegger drinks the wine, becoming sedated. Helius makes Gustav his confidant and the new pilot for the ship. Helius watches it depart, then starts out for the survival camp originally prepared for Windegger. He discovers that Friede has decided to stay with him on the Moon. They embrace, and Helius weeps into her shoulder while Friede strokes his hair and whispers words of comfort to him.>>
Last edited by neufer on Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by JohnD » Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:33 pm

Sa Ji Tario wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:21 pmRocinante?
Ever actually read "Don Quixote"? Yo mismo?

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by Chris Peterson » Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:47 pm

JohnD wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:33 pm
Sa Ji Tario wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:21 pmRocinante?
Ever actually read "Don Quixote"? Yo mismo?
Well, The Expanse in this context.
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by Chris Peterson » Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:47 pm

I think it is a bit silly to call these vehicles "starships".
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:28 pm

StarshipsMoon_Kraus_1080.jpg
First of all; a most beautiful photo! A preview of the future!
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by johnnydeep » Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:00 pm

Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:47 pm I think it is a bit silly to call these vehicles "starships".
It's aspirational to be sure, but they are at least launching them toward the stars. I was hoping the first one to carry humans would be named Starship Enterprise (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Enterprise) :ssmile:
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by johnnydeep » Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:01 pm

APOD Robot wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:11 am Image Moon Rising Between Starships

Explanation: What's that on either side of the Moon? Starships. Specifically, they are launch-and-return reusable rockets being developed by SpaceX to lift cargo and eventually humans from the Earth's surface into space. The two rockets pictured are SN9 (Serial Number 9) and SN10 which were captured near their Boca Chica, Texas launchpad last month posing below January's full Wolf Moon. The Starships house liquid-methane engines inside rugged stainless-steel shells. SN9 was test-launched earlier this month and did well with the exception of one internal rocket that failed to relight during powered descent. SN10 continues to undergo ground tests and may be test-launched later this month.
Fun fact: Boca Chica means "small mouth" in Spanish.
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by Cousin Ricky » Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:25 pm

Calling them “Starships” seems about as honest as calling a high tech skateboard a “Hoverboard.”

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:30 pm

johnnydeep wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:00 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:47 pm I think it is a bit silly to call these vehicles "starships".
It's aspirational to be sure, but they are at least launching them toward the stars. I was hoping the first one to carry humans would be named Starship Enterprise (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Enterprise) :ssmile:
My humble opinion of a Starship would be a ship that could journey from one star system to another! One that had to be self sustaining with life support! It would have to be way beyond what we are capable of today! :shock:
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Clang, clang, clang went the Starship

Post by neufer » Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:14 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
johnnydeep wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:00 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:47 pm

I think it is a bit silly to call these vehicles "starships".
It's aspirational to be sure, but they are at least launching them toward the stars. I was hoping the first one to carry humans would be named Starship Enterprise :ssmile:
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by JohnD » Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:31 pm

johnnydeep wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:00 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:47 pm I think it is a bit silly to call these vehicles "starships".
It's aspirational to be sure, but they are at least launching them toward the stars. I was hoping the first one to carry humans would be named Starship Enterprise (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Enterprise) :ssmile:
"We are all of us lying in the gutter, but SOME of us are looking at the stars." (Oscar Wilde)

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by WWW » Tue Feb 23, 2021 12:31 am

These SpaceX rockets do have a somewhat familiar contour, sort of retro like, or even a Flash back. What do you think Dr. Zarkov ?
https://www.shapeways.com/product/3FA98 ... -from-shop

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by MarkBour » Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:18 am

I know that the SpaceX Starship launch vehicles are planned to be quite tall -- 70m for the "Super Heavy" first stage and 50m for the "Starship" upper stage. A total of 120m or almost 400 ft. They will stand taller than a football field is long.

I was trying to figure the height of the models we see in this image. It's hard to tell in a nighttime image with little of reference that is a known height. But the first link in the APOD caption shows what may be these exact same two prototypes in daylight, and you can see a person standing under the left one in that image. If so, these are actually a lot smaller than I expected. These two "Starship" prototypes are probably only about 18m tall. About the size of what SpaceX is listing as the "payload" section in some of their materials.

Still, they are shiny.
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by orin stepanek » Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:59 am

WWW wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 12:31 am These SpaceX rockets do have a somewhat familiar contour, sort of retro like, or even a Flash back. What do you think Dr. Zarkov ?
https://www.shapeways.com/product/3FA98 ... -from-shop
Let's not forget Buck Rogers and his little Robot friend :D

buck-rogers.jpg
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by neufer » Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:56 pm

orin stepanek wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:59 am
WWW wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 12:31 am
These SpaceX rockets do have a somewhat familiar contour, sort of retro like, or even a Flash back. What do you think Dr. Zarkov ?
Let's not forget Buck Rogers and his little Robot friend :D
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_development_history wrote:


<<The SpaceX Starship system is a fully-reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX since 2012, as a self-funded private spaceflight project. It is designed to be a long-duration cargo and, eventually, passenger-carrying spacecraft.

In July 2017, Musk indicated that the architecture had "evolved quite a bit" since the 2016 articulation of the Mars architecture. A key driver of the updated architecture was to be making the system useful for substantial Earth-orbit and cislunar launches so that the system might pay for itself, in part, through economic spaceflight activities in the near-Earth space zone.

In September 2018, a less drastic redesign was announced, stretching the second stage slightly and adding radially-steerable forward canards and aft fins, used for pitch control in a new reentry profile resembling a descending skydiver. The aft fins act as landing legs, with a third leg on the top that looks identical but serves no aerodynamic purpose.>>
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by orin stepanek » Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:29 pm

We live in an age when a lot of the things that were dreamed about is coming to pass! :shock: I wish I were young so I could see it all come! :mrgreen: Maybe I should careful for what to wish for!
Seems like Musk is quite the entrepreneur in rocketry!🚀 🛸
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by Ann » Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:45 pm

neufer wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:56 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_development_history wrote:


<<The SpaceX Starship system is a fully-reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX since 2012, as a self-funded private spaceflight project. It is designed to be a long-duration cargo and, eventually, passenger-carrying spacecraft.

In July 2017, Musk indicated that the architecture had "evolved quite a bit" since the 2016 articulation of the Mars architecture. A key driver of the updated architecture was to be making the system useful for substantial Earth-orbit and cislunar launches so that the system might pay for itself, in part, through economic spaceflight activities in the near-Earth space zone.

In September 2018, a less drastic redesign was announced, stretching the second stage slightly and adding radially-steerable forward canards and aft fins, used for pitch control in a new reentry profile resembling a descending skydiver. The aft fins act as landing legs, with a third leg on the top that looks identical but serves no aerodynamic purpose.>>

Well! That reminds me of Titanic, which had four chimneys, but only three of them served any purpose.

The fourth chimney was added for aesthetic reasons!

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by Ann » Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:56 pm

I was teaching a class of boys training to be car mechanics when Elon Must launched his Tesla into space.

I'm normally quite uninterested in cars, but I can't help it, I loved the space Tesla and its Starman! I had to show it to the boys, but they were, for some reason, less interested.

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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by neufer » Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:52 pm

Ann wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:45 pm
neufer wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:56 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_development_history wrote:
<<The SpaceX Starship system is a fully-reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX since 2012. In September 2018, a redesign was announced, stretching the second stage slightly and adding radially-steerable forward canards and aft fins, used for pitch control in a new reentry profile resembling a descending skydiver. The aft fins act as landing legs, with a third leg on the top that looks identical but serves no aerodynamic purpose.>>
Well! That reminds me of Titanic, which had four chimneys, but only three of them served any purpose.

The fourth chimney was added for aesthetic reasons!
  • The aftmost chimney was installed for aesthetic purposes and for kitchen ventilation :!:

    (No doubt, the SpaceX Starship topmost third leg was also
    installed for both aesthetic purposes & kitchen ventilation.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic wrote:
<<RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912, after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, more than 1,500 died.

The Titanic carried 16 lifeboat davits which could lower three lifeboats each, for a total of 48 boats. However, Titanic carried only a total of 20 lifeboats, four of which were collapsible and proved hard to launch during the sinking. The carried lifeboats were enough for 1,178 people—about half the number on board, and one third of her total capacity—due to the maritime safety regulations of those days. At the time of the sinking, the lowered lifeboats were only about half-filled.

Standing above the decks were four funnels, each painted buff with black tops; only three were functional—the aftmost one was a dummy, installed for aesthetic purposes and kitchen ventilation.>>
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by neufer » Tue Feb 23, 2021 5:30 pm

Ann wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 3:56 pm
I was teaching a class of boys training to be car mechanics when Elon Must [sic] launched his Tesla into space.
I'm normally quite uninterested in cars, but I can't help it, I loved the space Tesla and its Starman!
I had to show it to the boys, but they were, for some reason, less interested.
To be fair...it wasn't a blue Tesla so there really wasn't much aesthetic value to be had.
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by orin stepanek » Tue Feb 23, 2021 8:52 pm

I wish APOD had an I like button! :mrgreen: :thumb_up:
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Re: APOD: Moon Rising Between Starships (2021 Feb 22)

Post by neufer » Sat Mar 06, 2021 3:23 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
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