The Astronomy Thread

Tuco · Sep 4, 2020

At this point I view any of the ambitious SLS / ULA contracts with extreme skepticism. When they experience delays and budget overruns while producing what is increasingly become an outclassed product, it's just another nail in the coffin and I don't know if a reorganization can solve the core problems with the companies.

If by the time the SLS has its first launch in 2021 (2023 more likely...) First SLS launch now expected in second half of 2021 - SpaceNews SpaceX has already performed dozens of launches of the Starship, it's going to get increasingly difficult for the politicians shoveling money into a broken dumpster fire.

Cybsled · Sep 4, 2020

If they get Starship perfected, it will revolutionize space travel. That Japanese billionaire that bought a ticket for a moon trip got switched to a future Starship flight that will do the same, but no way they make the 2023 estimate.

Ukerric · Sep 5, 2020

Cybsled said:
but no way they make the 2023 estimate.

This is Musk time. He counts in martian years (of 687 days).

Tuco · Sep 5, 2020

Tuco · Sep 5, 2020

NASA megarocket blasts past cost estimates, forces Congress notification

Agraza · Sep 6, 2020

Working for the government has taught me that the government is horrible at both identifying its needs and holding its contractors accountable to its demands. Politicians and their wannabes in various alphabet agencies celebrate promoting likeable ignorance into every position of influence.

Big Phoenix · Sep 6, 2020

Agraza said:
holding its contractors accountable to its demands.

NASA is a jobs program. These "cost overruns" are exactly what its supposed to be happening.

latheboy · Sep 6, 2020

East of Melbourne Victoria Australia.. 10 minutes ago I saw a line of 5 lights followed by 2 lights cross the sky heading east south east.. I'd live them to be aliens but u think it was starlink.. Cool..

latheboy · Sep 6, 2020

7:15 pm here at the tie and dark

Cybsled · Sep 10, 2020

Oldbased · Sep 12, 2020

We gonna see big boy soon doing more than hoppin

meStevo · Sep 14, 2020

Phosphine discovered in the atmosphere of Venus.

"As far as scientists know, there are only two ways to produce it [phosphine], either artificially in a lab, or by certain kinds of microbes that live in oxygen-free environments. Since it is rather unlikely there any alien labs on Venus, that leaves microbes."

Only embargo-breaking news as of now, sounds like the presser is tomorrow.

Phosphine Detected In The Atmosphere of Venus - An Indicator of Possible Life? - Astrobiology

Keith’s note: There is a big press release coming out tomorrow (Monday, 14 September) morning at the Royal Astronomical Society. They want you to know its big news. The press release has been issued in advance to some journalists under embargo – but not others (like us). We have not seen the...

astrobiology.com

Big Phoenix · Sep 14, 2020

meStevo said:
Phosphine discovered in the atmosphere of Venus.

"As far as scientists know, there are only two ways to produce it [phosphine], either artificially in a lab, or by certain kinds of microbes that live in oxygen-free environments. Since it is rather unlikely there any alien labs on Venus, that leaves microbes."

Only embargo-breaking news as of now, sounds like the presser is tomorrow.

View attachment 302087

Phosphine Detected In The Atmosphere of Venus - An Indicator of Possible Life? - Astrobiology

Keith’s note: There is a big press release coming out tomorrow (Monday, 14 September) morning at the Royal Astronomical Society. They want you to know its big news. The press release has been issued in advance to some journalists under embargo – but not others (like us). We have not seen the...

astrobiology.com

Wouldnt surprise me at all if basic microbial life is incredibly common throughout the universe. Looking at our own solar system there are so many bodies that contain environments that should support the development of it.

Cybsled · Sep 14, 2020

Pretty intriguing if true. Despite Venus' surface being a hellscape, it's upper atmosphere is rather temperate and also dense. Venus is also theorized to have been more conducive to life in it's distant past, so it is quite possible life evolved, some of it ended up in the upper atmosphere and survived to present day.

spronk · Sep 14, 2020

thats pretty fucking cool. i really hope we get detailed underground scans of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn in my lifetime

Araxen · Sep 14, 2020

Hopefully this means we'll finally see some missions directed towards Venus's way now.

Reuters article about the discovery: Potential sign of alien life detected on inhospitable Venus

Ukerric · Sep 14, 2020

Araxen said:
Hopefully this means we'll finally see some missions directed towards Venus's way now.

Reuters article about the discovery: Potential sign of alien life detected on inhospitable Venus

Remember when everyone was excited about some "possible biosignature" in martian soil?

Cybsled · Sep 14, 2020

The Russian space program sent a successful balloon probe to Venus back in the 70s, so doing something similar would be completely viable. They would just need to figure out something that is significantly more resistant to acid so they could get a longer term mission going.

meStevo · Sep 14, 2020

It's hard to imagine a balloon mission... but hell, we pulled off a sky crane on Mars... the below is from a prior proposal.

Mudcrush Durtfeet · Sep 14, 2020

I suspect that Venus has a 3rd way to produce the chemical that doesn't involve life or labs.

The Astronomy Thread

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