[QUOTE=only_human;471377]As for ISS resupply, [URL="https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/in-depth-study-commercial-cargo-program-a-bargain-for-nasa/"]Commercial cargo program a bargain for NASA[/URL][/QUOTE]

Not quite apples to apples of course, since the shuttle was capable of much more than delivering cargo.

Having said that, I'm glad the shuttle is dead and I'm super glad NASA seems to be still moving in the direction of fixed-price commercial contracts to get shit done. This is definitely better than keeping the shuttle around. I'm excited for the future of NASA (minus the SLS stuff).

[QUOTE=Dubslow;471389](minus the SLS stuff).[/QUOTE]
Stuff some orange tanks together, put some "Mainsail" engines under them and you're good to go :anurag:, just don't show it to Jebediah, else he might fancy a test flight.

[QUOTE=VictordeHolland;471437]Stuff some orange tanks together, put some "Mainsail" engines under them and you're good to go :anurag:, just don't show it to Jebediah, else he might fancy a test flight.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a plan! :D
_____________________________________
Marius Titulescu

[QUOTE=fivemack;323069]Does anyone know how to make optics for that line? NuSTAR is state of the art with depth-graded multilayers, and manages 40 arc-second resolution at 80keV; the papers about unexpectedly high refractive indices of silicon lenses at 2MeV suggest that the 'unexpectedly high' value is still something like n=1+1e-6, at which point you're talking separate lens and detector spacecraft at the very least.[/QUOTE][url]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168583X13002620[/url]

Sorry for the necroposting but a) I only just came across this and similar links and, b) it's about time some posts were made in accordance with the original rules for this thread.

Further to this: the refractive index of a material usually shows extraordinary behaviour at wavelengths close to an electronic transition. The gamma radiation observed in Al-26 decay comes from the de-excitation of the daughter Mg-26 nucleus. Mg-26 is stable, which suggests to me that it may be an interesting optical material.

SpaceX rocket dazzles in California sky as it transports 10 satellites into space
 

[url]https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/dec/23/spacex-rocket-dazzles-in-california-sky-as-it-carries-10-satellites-into-space[/url]
[QUOTE]The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg air force base, carrying the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications.
The launch in the setting sun created a shining, billowing streak that was widely seen throughout southern California and as far away as Phoenix, Arizona.
[/QUOTE]

...and I saw that trail! :max:
It was striking - with just the last sunlight in the air, highly contrasted.

SpaceX Iridium-4 Webcast
 

SpaceX Iridium-4 Webcast
[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdjCwo6d3Q[/url]

No recovery of the first stage, since this was an old block version (III).

[QUOTE=VictordeHolland;474700]SpaceX Iridium-4 Webcast
[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdjCwo6d3Q[/url]

No recovery of the first stage, since this was an old block version (III).[/QUOTE]
Some of the sites I looked at said there was 'no reason given'. That explains things a little.

In addition to the "old block three" explanation, there is some question about whether the Pacific drone ship (Just Read The Instructions) is operational. It's known that it was partially cannabalized earlier this year to repair the Atlantic drone ship (Of Course I Still Love You). I don't believe Spacex has offered an official reason.

When are they going to have a drone ship for the Gulf Coast? Or will OCISLY be used for that too?