General Discussion

@Cunea Thanks, I like the story (and my new username) too!

I forgot to even mention: something people forget a lot is that the Explorers program is still definitely a thing. (Explorer 1 technically wasn't in this program, but eh, it started the trend.) The Explorer series of satellites is comprised of scientific devices mostly for physics studies. WMAP, my personal favorite satellite ever, is a MIDEX (Mid-class Explorer) satellite! The GOLD satellite is another Explorer satellite, along with NuSTAR. You can read about these satellites here.

[b]Day 23: 1 February 2018[/b] @VincentAnderlin @kallimabutterfly @NotarySojac @Firra @BezimiennyRaptor @Cunea @Kirmon64 @RainbowRay @SpottedSorex @OMGAKITTEN @NoDragonHere @TeenyTinyDragon @TheEngineer [center][img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/3e56fdee2f020419e317b195596cc53c/tumblr_p3hgfoN0Lw1tgclxpo1_1280.jpg[/img][/center] It's unfortunate that I have to keep doing this, but today's the anniversary of the Columbia disaster. I'm posting this picture of the crew because I think we're all tired of tragedy at this point, and it's just so goofy and whole. I wrote a poem a while ago. It's about Space Shuttle Endeavour, and what she would think and feel, if she could, about the disaster and the end of the Shuttle program. I'm only sharing one stanza because I'm overprotective of my work, but here it is: [indent][i]She sleeps under a hangar Protected from the sun, Her systems still intact though Her days of flight are done. And though she remains guarded From sunlight, wind and rain, The pow'rful beast of flame and stone Still longs to fly again.[/i][/indent] Ad astra per aspera.

@GuidanceOfficer
I really like your poem!
I appreciate these posts a lot, both the highs and lows of spaceflight are important for the future. Hopefully one day we'll be able to talk about sending humans elsewhere in the universe, or doing sample retrieval from other celestial bodies!
(I look forward to this daily ping)

[b]Day 24: 2 February 2018[/b] @VincentAnderlin @kallimabutterfly @NotarySojac @Firra @BezimiennyRaptor @Cunea @Kirmon64 @RainbowRay @SpottedSorex @OMGAKITTEN @NoDragonHere @TeenyTinyDragon @TheEngineer [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/276515100465299456/409084887157702667/ron_evans_transearth_eva_night_pass.png[/img] Ron Evans performs a transearth EVA on his way back from Apollo 17, on 17 December 1972. The purpose of the EVA was to retrieve film cassettes from the Lunar Sounder, Mapping Camera, and Panoramic Camera, which were stored in the Scientific Instrument Bay (SIMbay). He spent 1 hour 17 minutes and 18 seconds in the EVA. Ron's transearth EVA is honestly one of my favorite EVAs of any that I've listened in on. Ron, the CSM pilot for Apollo 17, spent the mission just being really overall enthusiastic. His "This is what being a spaceman is like!" exclamation on the transearth EVA really hit home what the Apollo missions were all about. They were about humans doing what we're best at: exploring and fulfilling our own curiosity. His EVA is the last deep-space EVA to date. He was 300,000 km from Earth.

Day 25: 3 February 2018 @VincentAnderlin @kallimabutterfly @NotarySojac @Firra @BezimiennyRaptor @Cunea @Kirmon64 @RainbowRay @SpottedSorex @OMGAKITTEN @NoDragonHere @TeenyTinyDragon @TheEngineer [img]http://78.media.tumblr.com/47430a21f18e65b8fe73913f4b6e63dd/tumblr_o8xod49nSb1vr4f8ro1_1280.jpg[/img] Al Shepard (left) having a chat with Frank Borman before the launch of Gemini 7. Frank flew along with Jim Lovell as the command module pilot for the flight. One of the primary objectives of the mission was to see what 14 days in space would do to the human body. At the time, this was considered a long-duration spaceflight (lol). They completed 20 experiments--the most of any Gemini mission--and eventually did a rendezvous with the crew of Gemini 6A, whose launch had been delayed.

[b]Day 26: 4 February 2018[/b] @VincentAnderlin @kallimabutterfly @NotarySojac @Firra @BezimiennyRaptor @Cunea @Kirmon64 @RainbowRay @SpottedSorex @OMGAKITTEN @NoDragonHere @TeenyTinyDragon @TheEngineer [img]https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/AS14-65-9209.jpg[/img] The shadow of the Apollo 14 LM [i]Antares[/i] shortly after landing. This image was taken by Alan Shepard out of his window. After Apollo 13, there were a lot of changes made at NASA. The most drastic was that Apollo missions 18, 19, and 20 were completely cut from the roster, making 17 the last mission. More budget changes and cuts would come soon afterwards. This delayed Apollo 14 until January 1971. (I'm super sick right now and I don't feel up to typing long posts, sorry.) This image was accessed from the [url=https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/images14.html]Apollo 14 Image Library[/url].

@GuidanceOfficer
I hope you feel better soon!
(The picture is cool too btw)

[b]Day 27: 5 February 2018[/b] @VincentAnderlin @kallimabutterfly @NotarySojac @Firra @BezimiennyRaptor @Cunea @Kirmon64 @RainbowRay @SpottedSorex @OMGAKITTEN @NoDragonHere @TeenyTinyDragon @TheEngineer [img]https://www.honeysucklecreek.net/images/other_stations/carnarvon/missions/GT-4/s65-29730_16mm_frame.jpg[/img] Ed White completing the first American spacewalk. If I'm honest, I'm posting this because I found a song today that reminded me a lot of him. It's [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE0ProCE5m8]Hero's Song by Julia Ecklar[/url]. [indent][i]Give me one tall ship to sail, a star to guide her by Let me orbit unknown worlds, a thousand miles high My lover is a virgin queen, the gods gave her to me A ship without a boom or sails, who rules an endless sea Both I and King Ulysses weren't content upon the shore With hearts so big, to sing we need a million years or more The salty winds against his brow aboard his one true bride On winds of space the Sirens sing, years after he has died For I am a soldier, though battle I abhor I wage my war with ignorance as through the void I soar I wear my heart out on my sleeve, my dreams within my soul With wisdom I must lead these men as endless night unfolds For I've a mighty ship to sail; we rule beyond the skies A universe of stars at my command to guide her by The shores of dusty Troy my aim, of Crete and lost Cyrene The ancient hero's song to sing, escorted by my queen[/i][/indent] Hope everyone had a good day!

That is one cool photo

[b]Day 28: 6 February 2018[/b] @VincentAnderlin @kallimabutterfly @NotarySojac @Firra @BezimiennyRaptor @Cunea @Kirmon64 @RainbowRay @SpottedSorex @OMGAKITTEN @NoDragonHere @TeenyTinyDragon @TheEngineer [center][img]https://78.media.tumblr.com/a575f148aea3af8087d1921455d6ecb4/tumblr_p3qzwzXd4l1s2tw51o1_500.gif[/img][/center] Usually, this thread is honoring history as it passed. Today, I can celebrate history in the making,as it was the first launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy! The middle booster didn't land; only one of the engines ignited upon return, and it crashed into its barge at 300ish mph. The other two boosters landed in tandem as you see above. Absolutely gorgeous. Right now, the vehicle's payload, a Tesla carrying a mannequin passenger dubbed "Starman", are... apparently on their way to Mars. Okay. I don't really keep up with SpaceX news, but I couldn't go today without posting SOMETHING about it. It was a big event. My entire Tumblr dashboard is screaming right now. I hope everyone had a good day!