Solving The Aerodynamic Problems Of The Planetary Lander - Kerbal Space Program
The Lander has a serious aerodynamic problem that makes it want to head nose first into the ground when we attempt to land it. So, we try a number of solutions to see if we can make this vehicle recover from a nose down situation.
(Of course, I have already solved this issue, and you'll see what I do in a later video, but, it's fun to watch all the failures) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gnoajW_M48
Launching a spy satellite to spy on the other space center, this mission shows off polar orbit launches, decoys and chaff, the fixed camera mod, steering via reaction wheels and cross range capability in a return vehicle.
Ok... I had to come up with a reason to show off reaction wheels at work.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws9in7Z8EjA
The partially completed Mk1 Starship at SpaceX's Boca Chica facility was undergoing tank pressure tests when the top few meters of the rocket exploded off and were propelled about 100 meters into the sky.
Footage of the RUD was captured by LabPadre and @BocaChicaMaria1 and it shared here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF1NEhaG19I
The failure happened under high tank pressure, the forward LOX tank unzipped along the circumferential weld line, resulting in the bulkhead being propelled upwards while the pressure change propagated downwards and damaged the lower parts of the vehicle.
The project is in the process of building other test vehicles with improved fabrication techniques, but this will no doubt result in slowed progress.
Images of the event and the aftermath by:
https://twitter.com/labpadre
https://twitter.com/BocachicaMaria1
https://twitter.com/bocachicagal
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P98JcBQPiiI
I had a weekend trip to LA for TwitchCon and I took the opportunity to visit Opportunity.... or at least a model of this robot and its extended family. Doug Ellison heard I was coming and helped me get access to the usual public tour and some extra bits behind the scenes.
I grabbed a ton of footage and this is going to be a 3 part series, but Doug did an amazing job of narrating a lot of the details we don't normally get to hear about.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCb8o4icCqs
It's Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Festivus time in Eve Online and the devs are making a bunch of gifts available to mark the season - everyone is getting a 'Festival Launcher' that lets you have snowball fights between half mile long warships. Later we'll be getting a surprise package and fireworks for the new year.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvORpj472ic
The crawler transporters and mobile launch platforms deserved an episode of their own. Many people conflate the two, but the crawlers carry the launch platforms with the launch vehicles between the VAB and the launch site. The crawlers would leave the platform behind during the launch attempts and return afterwards.
The crawlers were used for Apollo, STS, Constellation and will be used for SLS
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZZBk1K1Vvo
On February 3rd JAXA successfully launched a payload to orbit with the smallest rocket ever - 2.6 tons and less than 10 meters tall. The SS-520-5 takes a sounding rocket and adds a 3rd stage along with guidance and control hardware to orient the rocket prior to insertion.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUFNgLrykc
A couple of months ago I asked for Rocket Lab flags and logos in Kerbal Space Program, and Rocket Lab agreed! So I sat down with CEO and long time rocket builder Peter Beck to talk about what Rocket Lab is doing and to try to fly Kerbal versions of the Electron and Photon.
You can of course get Kerbal Space Program on PC/Mac/Linux/Playstation/XBox
https://www.kerbalspaceprogram.com/
And you can find out more about Rocket Lab and the Electron launch vehicle at their website:
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWKLiJu7EtA
To cooincide with the anniversary of the TV show let's play the game that best captures the style of the series - Star Trek 25h Anniversary. Featuring all of the original cast voices, backed up by a crew of expendable red shirts. Available for the bargain price of $5.99 from GOG
https://www.gog.com/game/star_trek_25th_anniversary
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTE63zImQhI