Torn’s Science, Technology, & Science Fiction 24–30 April 2023
Featured RedundancySeeing SpaceX’s prototype starship explode after launch reminded me of the necessity of redundancy in launch systems. I think back 10 years when over a short time span when Orbital, SpaceX, and Roscosmos all had anomalies with their cargo missions bound for the International Space Station. Without redundancy in capability, a launch failure in an operational system would have risked the ISS being abandoned.
Now that Moon missions are around the corner, we are reminded that redundancy will be essential to keep exploring. Right now, there are four systems that usable for human space flight to the Moon, SLS, Falcon Heavy, Long March 9, and Starship. So far, none of them have handled crews. We’ll have to wait a while for these systems to mature.
Starship Test LaunchArtemis 1 (SLS) Launch NASA Administrator Comments
Nelson expects SpaceX to be ready for next Starship launch within monthsNASA Administrator Bill Nelson told a House committee that SpaceX’s truncated Starship test flight was not a major setback for the Artemis program.This week’s discord chat Week of Apr 30 2023 [30th April at 1 PM EDT (6 PM GMT), 3rd May at 9 PM EDT (6th 2AM GMT)]Redundancy in technology Torn’s Discord Server Currently Reading
The Space Environment: Implications for Spacecraft Design — Revised and Expanded Edition by Alan C. Tribble
Lunar Sourcebook: a Users Guide to the Moon edited by Grant H. Heiken, David T. Vaniman, and Bevan M. French
Recently Read
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
Destination—Death by Wilber S. Peacock
The New Frontiers Series, Book One: The Ship by Jack L. Knapp
Thunder Moon Tussle by Torn MacAlester available on Amazon.com
Thunder Moon Tussle Trailer A new novel by Torn MacAlesterThe long awaited sequel to
Thunder Moon Tussle
:
Mask of the Joyful Moon
Coming Soon [image error] [image error] In the days of grant driven science, it is nice to see the lone independent researcher still making a contribution. Imagine taking this far into the future while checking out this article from the Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Citizen Science in Planetary Exploration: Part 1 — LPIBNote from the Editors: In this two-part series we explore the role that citizen scientists (or amateur astronomers) play in supporting planetary exploration in the U.S. and internationally. In Part 1, Drs. Nick Lang and Michael Kelley explore the active programs that NASA uses to engage directly wit…This Week’s Short Fiction by Torn MacAlester This week’s short fiction is the short story Morgan’s Road:
Morgan’s Road a short story by Torn MacAlesterMorgan’s Road, a short story by Torn MacAlester Graphic by Shannan Albright Making a living on the Moon is not for everyone, but Nelson Carmike actually preferred the airless basalt plains over Earth’s windy prairies. Unfortunately, three years of Moon prospecting left him penniless, and without funds for supplies he was doomed to face a […] 
Chandra X‑ray Observatory identifies new stellar danger to planetsAstronomers using data from NASA’s Chandra X‑ray Observatory and other telescopes have identified a new threat to life on planets like Earth: a phase during which intense X‑rays from exploded stars can affect planets over 100 light-years away. This result, as outlined in our latest press release, ha…The post Torn’s Science, Technology, & Science Fiction 24–30 April 2023 appeared first on Torn Macalester.
