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#1 2021-09-15 23:13:10

Tmcom
Member
Registered: 2017-03-02
Posts: 837

First Space Mission with Amateurs.

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#2 2021-09-18 11:19:40

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 17,144

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

For Tmcom .... your topic here is the best match (I'm hoping) for this update....

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/sp … 06942.html

SpaceX capsule with world's first all-civilian orbital crew set for splashdown

The Dragon capsule, dubbed Resilience, is scheduled to parachute into the sea around 7 p.m. Eastern time, shortly before sunset, according to SpaceX, the private rocketry company founded by Tesla Inc electric automaker CEO Elon Musk.

According to Google, the planned landing is set for before 11 PM UTC.


I certainly hope the flight is a complete success!

There are plenty more billionaires with $200MM pocket change.

We should see many more such flights if this one goes well.

(th)

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#3 2021-09-18 18:58:55

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,866

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Its to bad that they did not get to get out of the capsule into another orbiting station even if it was nothing but an inflatable like BEAM  least it would have been something.

Four SpaceX space tourists set to return to Earth tonight

Billionaire Jared Isaacman financed the trip, paying SpaceX tens of millions of dollars.

Isaacman, who led the mission, offered the other three seats to strangers:
Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old nurse;
Sian Proctor, a 51-year-old professor; and
Chris Sembroski, a 42-year-old US Air Force veteran.

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#4 2021-09-19 01:40:51

Tmcom
Member
Registered: 2017-03-02
Posts: 837

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

tahanson43206 wrote:

For Tmcom .... your topic here is the best match (I'm hoping) for this update....

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/sp … 06942.html

SpaceX capsule with world's first all-civilian orbital crew set for splashdown

The Dragon capsule, dubbed Resilience, is scheduled to parachute into the sea around 7 p.m. Eastern time, shortly before sunset, according to SpaceX, the private rocketry company founded by Tesla Inc electric automaker CEO Elon Musk.

According to Google, the planned landing is set for before 11 PM UTC.


I certainly hope the flight is a complete success!

There are plenty more billionaires with $200MM pocket change.

We should see many more such flights if this one goes well.

(th)

Agreed 200m to them is their dream home, and luxury yacht




SpaceNut wrote:

Its to bad that they did not get to get out of the capsule into another orbiting station even if it was nothing but an inflatable like BEAM  least it would have been something.

Four SpaceX space tourists set to return to Earth tonight

Billionaire Jared Isaacman financed the trip, paying SpaceX tens of millions of dollars.

Isaacman, who led the mission, offered the other three seats to strangers:
Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old nurse;
Sian Proctor, a 51-year-old professor; and
Chris Sembroski, a 42-year-old US Air Force veteran.

They would have to sign a disclosure before they could get into the ISS, but true they where higher up than the ISS, so could have visited.

Last edited by Tmcom (2021-09-19 01:41:28)

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#5 2021-09-19 09:22:23

GW Johnson
Member
From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
Posts: 5,459
Website

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

These 4 were not exactly amateurs,  despite having nothing to do with NASA. 

As I understand it,  they all had 4 months of intense training,  and at least two of them were actually qualified to pilot the capsule back,  if the automation failed.  One of them was a former NASA astronaut candidate who was not selected by NASA. 

So just how is a crew like that "amateur"?

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

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#6 2021-09-19 11:58:03

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 17,144

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

For GW Johnson ...

This post is offered as an additional way to (try to) look at the situation ....

The word "amateur" does not in itself imply incompetence to operate at a professional level.

All it really implies is that a person is engaged in an activity without expectation of monetary reward.

There is quite a debate in the United States in recent times, about whether college athletes who perform at the same level as professionals should receive compensation. 

The discussion of passengers who fly to orbit, and their classification in the grand scheme of things, remains active.

I don't think Tmcom meant disrespect to the folks who flew that mission, but the idea that "minimal training" was provided seems incorrect and in that respect was disrespectful.

On the ** other ** hand, these were definitely NOT professionals, although I get the impression any of them could accept a position with SpaceX or another space service and convert to "professional" easily enough.

(th)

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#7 2021-09-19 12:50:45

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,866

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Amateur is used to imply that they are not paid for going to space as other crews that travel are.

If we want lower costs the flight rate needs to climb and to do that means getting something up there for those that pay there cash to do.

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#8 2021-09-19 21:27:19

Tmcom
Member
Registered: 2017-03-02
Posts: 837

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Thanks tahanson43206, SpaceNut, no l was tired, saw this on Skynews, and thought since no one had posted it, it would be a good subject or fit for this forum.

And my definition of "Amateur" is Buzz, having extensive experience in aircraft, and an almost fatal accident, flying a Lunar Lander type jet craft on Earth and he ejected, when it malfunctioned and almost tipped over and killed him.

That helped him while landing on the moon, and ignoring all the computers screaming at him, while he avoided a large rock in the target crater and landing with seconds to spare.

A few months of training is fine, but if they really got into a bad situation, would they still be alive? Or if the engineer had never been in a life and death situation, how would it have been if an asteroid hit the rocket, and they had to get back to Earth with a cracked windscreen, and damaged space suits?

Buzz Aldrin was a professional, since he had proven that he can keep his head, while in a bad situation.

Last edited by Tmcom (2021-09-19 21:29:33)

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#9 2021-09-20 12:34:32

Oldfart1939
Member
Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,384

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

If they--or Buzz Aldrin--had encountered the situations you described, survival would have been strictly a matter of luck.

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#10 2021-09-20 14:33:16

louis
Member
From: UK
Registered: 2008-03-24
Posts: 7,208

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

I've suggested before the Biden administration is actively seeking to stymie Space X.

The tension is now out in the open. Musk has criticised "sleepy Joe" for failing to congratulate his company and people on this highly successful mission, the first of its kind, and a testimony to the US's continuing ability to make major technological advances, not least by attracting the brightest and best from all around the world (something China or Russia can never do).


https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-mu … ?r=US&IR=T


Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

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#11 2021-09-20 18:18:16

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,866

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

They went up and down in 3 days for a cost that probably did not include insurance..

The control of te high ground until vetted is the military and not civilians unfortunately as the world turns and there fore we do not want just any old crazy going to space....Thats nothing to do with Biden or any other president....

I wonder just how long the website will stay up

https://inspiration4.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspiration4

The mission planned to include ultrasounds, microbe samples and a variety of in-flight health experiments (measure fluid shifts, record ECG activity, blood oxygen levels, heart rates, etc.) on the human bodies of ordinary citizens who have not been previously carefully screened and exhaustively trained as professional astronauts

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#12 2021-09-20 20:05:01

Oldfart1939
Member
Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,384

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Louis-
Once again, I decry the absence of a "thumbs up" icon or emoji for comments made on this website. Your latest post was spot-on.

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#13 2021-09-20 20:22:11

Oldfart1939
Member
Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,384

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Please check out this website:

https://airshow.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Diamond_Jet_Team

Those detractors of Jared Isaacman should note that he's the right wingman in this jet flight demonstration team of former USAF and Naval aviators flying Czech Avia built L-39 jet fighters in close formations. He isn't just your average "space tourist," but a highly qualified jet pilot.

Some additional information about this flight demonstration team: they have 5 L-39 jet aircraft for their formation maneuvers, as well as 2 MiG 17 transonic fighters that are the same caliber as flown by the NVA against the F8 Crusaders and F4 Phantoms in the Viet Nam war.

They formerly had a US built (Lockheed) T33 that has been retired due to maintenance issues.

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2021-09-20 21:02:39)

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#14 2021-09-20 20:59:21

Tmcom
Member
Registered: 2017-03-02
Posts: 837

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Oldfart1939 wrote:

If they--or Buzz Aldrin--had encountered the situations you described, survival would have been strictly a matter of luck.

If he had he would have sealed up the suits with tape, contacted Mission control and tried to dock with the ISS, instead of losing his head, bawling his eyes out, and probably burning up on reentry.

Your name does you justice.


louis wrote:

I've suggested before the Biden administration is actively seeking to stymie Space X.

The tension is now out in the open. Musk has criticised "sleepy Joe" for failing to congratulate his company and people on this highly successful mission, the first of its kind, and a testimony to the US's continuing ability to make major technological advances, not least by attracting the brightest and best from all around the world (something China or Russia can never do).


https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-mu … ?r=US&IR=T

Probably becuase Musk won't touch his jab, and just like our Premier is having a temper tantrum.

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#15 2021-09-21 11:04:32

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 17,144

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-sa … 56041.html

Isobel Asher Hamilton
Tue, September 21, 2021, 6:47 AM
Elon Musk SpaceX
Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO. Steve Nesius/Reuters

Elon Musk said the next SpaceX civilian mission would have a better toilet.

SpaceX successfully completed its first all-civilian mission, Inspiration4, last week.

Musk said on Twitter that there had been "challenges" with the toilet, without elaborating.


Elon Musk said on Twitter that SpaceX plans to upgrade the amenities for its next space-tourist flight, including the toilet.

The Inspiration4 crew, made up of four civilian astronauts, took off on Wednesday aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. They landed back on Earth on Saturday evening.

Elon Musk tweeted on Monday that he met the crew in person in Florida, and then he answered questions from Twitter users about the company's plans for the next mission.

Responding to one user, Musk said the next flight would have "upgraded toilets." He added, "We had some challenges with it this flight."


The billionaire did not elaborate on what these challenges were or how exactly the toilets would be upgraded.

Jared Isaacman, one of the passengers on Inspiration4, told Insider in July that the toilet for Crew Dragon was located on the ceiling of the spacecraft and featured a glass dome, meaning crew members had a 360-degree view while using the bathroom.

"It's not a ton of privacy. But you do have this kind of privacy curtain that cuts across the top of the spacecraft, so you can kind of separate yourself from everyone else," Isaacman said.

Isaacman added that learning to use the toilet on the spacecraft was part of the civilian astronauts' rigorous preflight training.

Glad to see the description of training as "rigorous".

(th)

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#16 2021-09-21 15:33:28

GW Johnson
Member
From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
Posts: 5,459
Website

Re: First Space Mission with Amateurs.

Re post 8 descriptions of Buzz Aldrin.  Not to take anything at all away from Buzz,  the LM pilot-in-command during Apollo 11 was Neil Armstrong.  Armstrong is the one who took manual control to land the thing,  when the computer was going to put them down in a field of house- and car-sized rocks,  just because it didn't know any better.  Aldrin was right there with him,  filling essentially a "first officer's" role.  The pilot of the last LM simulator that crashed was also Neil Armstrong.

As near as I can tell,  of the 4 aboard Inspiration 4,  there were two who were as well qualified to fly the thing as any other astronaut could be.  That would the jet pilot and the not-selected NASA astronaut.  All 4 received a lot of training before this mission,  and apparently participated with the experiments.  Apparently including a balky zero-gee potty.  Which is not exactly the experiment you might have wanted to sign up for!

An "amateur",  as I originally interpreted it,  would be someone hauled off the street and stuffed into a suit and a seat,  and sent up like any other monkey.    The Inspiration 4 crew were certainly NOT that kind of amateurs.  They were well-trained and quite capable.  They did all right. 

They did good!  So did SpaceX by flying them.   

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

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