DocAndersen
SpaceX is about to complete the first US space launch in more than ten years. The rocket, Falcon, is going to be launched from the same Lanch pad in Cape Canaveral, that launched Apollo 11, now more than 50 years ago. This mission is a joint venture between the private company SpaceX and NASA.
That got me thinking about some fun technologies and their operation in space.
- I have no cell phone, but I must scream! Yes, on the other side of the earth’s atmosphere and gravitational field, cell phones don’t work. Back in the early days of NASA and space travel, the radio waves were beamed in as tight a collection as possible. Now it can be done with lasers, allowing for much better and faster communication between the astronauts and earth. But they still can’t phone home. Even ET could call home!
- It never rains in space (but girl don’t they warn you) water vapor evaporates in area.
- The Suns are never behind the clouds in space. In a spacesuit, that means you can get hot fast if you are not careful when exposed to the direct light of the sun!
- There is enough stuff in space, that carefully plotting a launch now takes a supercomputer. Many of the items in the area now are more debris that useful. They were once valuable, but now are simply crap floating around the planet!
- The ISS is the third space station in orbit, can you in the comments name the other two?
It is always fun to think about things that used to be! I wonder how my twins would do without their cell phones for five days in space? I will add a couple of more fun facts in the poll questions! For those of you in the US happy memorial day, for those of you elsewhere happy Monday!
This work is Copyright DocAndersen. Any resemblance to people real or fictional in this piece is accidental.
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Question of
Did you know that laser communication was a thing?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Kim will like the fact that with the new radio system most of the ambient noise is removed!
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Did you know that there is stuff from the 1950s still floating in space?
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Yes
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No
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Many are still looking to space as an escape route before major destruction hits the earth.
it may be too late for that last bit. we need to get this work clean fast.
Yes, sad that a lot of junk is still floating in space..but interesting, a new chapter of space travel and technology may soon open or already be opening..
it really is amazing overall. a fun city to visit!
Q: DID YOU KNOW THAT LASER COMMUNICATION WAS A THING?
Yes (4 votes) – 80%
No (1 votes) – 20%
Q: KIM WILL LIKE THE FACT THAT WITH THE NEW RADIO SYSTEM MOST OF THE AMBIENT NOISE IS REMOVED!
Yes (4 votes) – 100%
Q: DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS STUFF FROM THE 1950S STILL FLOATING IN SPACE?
Yes (3 votes) – 75%
No (1 votes) – 25%
I think it would be kind of a crazy feeling to be floating out there in the darkness. Anyway, now you have me hearing in my head – it never rains in southern California lol
it never rains, – it pours!
i suspect it is a unique feeling to have the world floating around you
We probably don’t want to know what is floating in space. 🙂
the team at NASA that studies that has some really interesting information.
I am sure, a NASA job would be very interesting.
my dad worked with them for 40 years. he loved it (he worked as a consultant for NASA not an employee)
This is very interesting information and for me all new. Thanks for sharing.
happy to share – thanks for the kind words!