Orbital - Blog Posts
i want so many piercing but waiting for each thing to heal has been hell. i got my navel like the day after xmas and i lowk regret not getting my second lobe but like the navel was cute for summer so we ball.
but literally no one cares about what piercings i want and in what order so you guys get to hear it!!!!
ok anyway
1. second lobes
2. helix
3. third lobes bc ur girl got bigass ears
4. daith
5. potentially industrial
6. orbital
7. nose but im not 100% but i love my nose and im scared ill not like and then have a scar but eughh
ok this is my current hyperfixation but im getting my second lobes so maybe ill track my progress on here bc this is like my diary but we shall see
Demo-1: What’s the Deal?
Whether or not you caught the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch this past weekend, here’s your chance to learn why this mission, known as Demo-1, is such a big deal.
The First of its Kind
Demo-1 is the first flight test of an American spacecraft designed for humans built and operated by a commercial company.
Liftoff
The SpaceX Crew Dragon lifted off at 2:49 a.m. EST Saturday, March 2, on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center.
This was the first time in history a commercially-built American crew spacecraft and rocket launched from American soil.
A New Era in Human Spaceflight
Upon seeing the arriving spacecraft, NASA astronaut Anne McClain snapped a photo from the International Space Station: “Welcome to a new era in human spaceflight.”
Docking the Dragon
After making 18 orbits of Earth, the Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully attached to the International Space Station’s Harmony module at 5:51 a.m. EST Sunday, March 3. The Crew Dragon used the station’s new international docking adapter for the first time since astronauts installed it in August 2016.
The docking phase, in addition to the return and recovery of Crew Dragon, are critical to understanding the system’s ability to support crew flights.
Opening the Hatch
After opening the hatch between the two spacecraft, the crewmates configured Crew Dragon for its stay.
They installed a ventilation system that cycles air from Crew Dragon to the station, installed window covers and checked valves. After that, the crew was all set for a welcoming ceremony for the visiting vehicle.
Ripley and Little Earth
Although the test is uncrewed, that doesn’t mean the Crew Dragon is empty. Along for the ride was Ripley, a lifelike test device outfitted with sensors to provide data about potential effects on future astronauts. (There is also a plush Earth doll included inside that can float in the microgravity!)
Inside the Dragon
For future operational missions, Crew Dragon will be able to launch as many as four crew members and carry more than 220 pounds of cargo. This will increase the number of astronauts who are able to live onboard the station, which will create more time for research in the unique microgravity environment.
Integration
Since the arrival of SpaceX Crew Dragon, the three Expedition 58 crew members have returned to normal operations (with some new additions to the team!)
Undocking
The Crew Dragon is designed to stay docked to station for up to 210 days, although the spacecraft used for this flight test will remain docked to the space station for only five days, departing Friday, March 8. (We will be providing live coverage — don’t miss it!)
SpaceX and NASA
Elon Musk, CEO and lead designer at SpaceX, expressed appreciation for NASA’s support: “SpaceX would not be here without NASA, without the incredible work that was done before SpaceX even started and without the support after SpaceX did start.”
Preparation for Demo-2
NASA and SpaceX will use data from Demo-1 to further prepare for Demo-2, the crewed flight test that will carry NASA astronauts and Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station. NASA will validate the performance of SpaceX’s systems before putting crew on board for the Demo-2 flight, currently targeted for July 2019.
Demo-1: So What?
Demo-1 is a big deal because it demonstrates NASA and commercial companies working together to advance future space exploration! With Demo-1’s success, NASA and SpaceX will begin to prepare to safely fly astronauts to the orbital laboratory.
Follow along with mission updates with the Space Station blog.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com
Watch Juno Spacecraft Arrive at Jupiter July 4th 9:30pmCT
Click here to watch live
Juno spacecraft media briefing screenshots from today! This basketball sized craft will insert into Jupiter’s orbit exposing itself to the radiation equivalent to a human receiving 100 million X-Rays in a year. Jupiter’s is still cooling down since its creation like taking a cake out of the oven. The famous red spot reveals how that heat is coming out. Goals of this mission include: learning how Jupiter was formed, how does its storms differ from our storms, what is the magnitude of its magnetic field, more accurately determine what is Jupiter composed of.
Pictures of Jupiter Revealed July 4th
Spend 2016’s Fourth of July in a most patriotic way - see new pictures of Jupiter sent back to Earth by NASA’s Juno space craft. Below is a schedule of when you can join the interstellar festivities on NASA TV CT (on either media or public channel): http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv
5am - 10am Scientist Interviews 11am - Noon Media Brief 3pm - 4pm Media Brief Replay 7pm - 8pm Media Brief Replay 9:30pm - 11:30pm Jupiter Insertion!
Space Launch System (SLS) booster test screen shots from today. This booster uses 5.5 tons of propellent a second! The booster will help sling shot an unmanned Orion Space Craft around the Moon in late 2018. In mid July I will going to a SLS engine test in person.
Cargo Launch & Boogers
Count the number of times I pick my nose (because you all did last time and reported less than 5 times) when I sit console with RIO (Remote Interface Officer formally known as Russian Interface Officer) tomorrow Dec 3rd 7am- afternoonish. It is the console with all the flags on it. NASA TV will probably not stream Mission Control the whole day but cuts to it every once and awhile. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ Also occurring is the United Launch Alliance/ Orbital cargo ship launch to Space Station 4:55pmCT. There are things on this launch I care about so I'll be intently watching. http://www.ulalaunch.com/