Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

[pharvey]

Space quiz! Take a guess what this is/these are?


Eq7L2VbXUAE4o6X.jpeg

The moon and mars guessing.

Did not think of it that way around.....

[PeteC]

Nope, further out.

[buksida]

Space quiz! Take a guess what this is/these are?

Neptune and Triton.

[PeteC]

Correct! Really a good photo.

[PeteC]

Japan, US launch plan to build lunar orbiting outpost

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/20503 ... ng-outpost

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TOKYO: Japan and the United States on Wednesday formally launched a plan to build a lunar orbiting outpost, a key part of a Nasa-led program to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024.

Japan will provide technical expertise in the construction of the Gateway, to be used by astronauts as a base for the Artemis lunar exploration program, under the memorandum of understanding between Japan and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration signed at the end of December, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

"Strengthening our international partnerships and commitments to Artemis puts humanity on a solid path to achieve our common goals of sustainable lunar exploration by the end of this decade," Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a press statement.

Under the agreement, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will provide devices for a life support and environmental control system, air-conditioning equipment and batteries for the Gateway base, which will house the living quarters, laboratories and docking ports that astronauts will use.

Through the Artemis program, also involving the European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency, Nasa plans to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024 and establish a sustainable lunar surface exploration with its commercial and international partners by 2028.

The latest memorandum follows up on the joint declaration signed between Japan and the United States in July 2020 for cooperation on lunar exploration. The document said the two sides would aim to provide Japanese astronauts opportunities to work at the Gateway.

[pharvey]

PERSEVERANCE LANDS!!

Big hand to NASA

Have just been following live - still on now (21:00 hrs UK 18/02)

More info @ https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/

[dtaai-maai]

I was watching it on the Beeb, pretty amazing stuff!

[Thailightzone]

Absolutely amazing stuff. I am a techie and I appreciate these astronomically complex successes.
But after a few billion dollars of taxpayer's money spent on this, if only America had healthcare for everyone.
I'd prefer 1 more person lives to dream of such achievements than 1000's died to achieve it through lack of healthcare funding.

I have the same argument for military spending.

[pharvey]

But after a few billion dollars of taxpayer's money spent on this, if only America had healthcare for everyone.
I'd prefer 1 more person lives to dream of such achievements than 1000's died to achieve it through lack of healthcare funding.

I have the same argument for military spending.

With all due respect, that needs a different thread - please, let's just celebrate an incredible achievement without the political cr@p.

Exiting at the moment and masses to see and follow: - https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline ... ch-online/

I for one am waiting for the "Drone" (OK, "Helicopter") flight now...... Incredible stuff

https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/

[EDIT] Oh, and Brit built parachutes to ensure a safe landing......

[buksida]

With all due respect, that needs a different thread - please, let's just celebrate an incredible achievement without the political cr@p.

[STEVE G]

This is a pretty amazing shot of the Rover being lowered onto Mars:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa ... rs-landing

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[dtaai-maai]

I think it's incredible how they get these photos back to Earth and developed so quickly.

[hhinner]

^^ Special photo film that can withstand the extreme friction of space and time travel.

[sateeb]

And here's me thinking it was Boots' 1 hour developing

[STEVE G]

I think it's incredible how they get these photos back to Earth and developed so quickly.

Back in the 1950's and 60's, early spy satellites actually used to take photo's on long rolls of film that spooled into a capsule that then got ejected for reentry and recovery:
http://heroicrelics.org/info/corona/cor ... rview.html