Space Exploration

Are NASA's future missions and budget justified?

  • It's worth the time and expenditures

    Votes: 222 65.9%

  • Complete waste of money

    Votes: 41 12.2%

  • We need to explore, but not at the current cost

    Votes: 74 22.0%
  • Total voters
    337
#3,004
#3,004
Looking to be a somewhat exciting year if everything goes off like it should.

These are the space missions to watch in 2021 | Space

1) Three countries arrive at Mars

NASA, China and the UAE all have probes heading to Mars

2) Starliner's second uncrewed test mission

Let's hope it goes better than the first one...

3) Starliner crew test flight

Predicated on a successful uncrewed test

4) Japanese rover rides ULA's 1st Vulcan rocket

It'll be interesting to see if ULA can get the Vulcan off the ground. Ambitious since they haven't even had a test flight of the system yet.

5) Debut of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket

Test flight of the heavy lift rocket could be a big deal for Blue Origin.

6) James Webb Space Telescope launches on Oct. 31

Hopefully after a long wait...

7) NASA's Lucy mission launch to eight asteroids

This one has me a little excited, though I'm really anxious about the Psyche mission year after next

8) NASA's SLS megarocket launches 1st moon mission

Uncrewed, but this could be a big deal.

9) Russia lunar landing mission at south pole

First Russian probe to land on the moon since the fall of the Soviet Union.

10) Astroscale space junk cleanup test

Someone's got to be the first to try to "clean up" orbit

11) Private astronauts fly to International Space Station

"Thank you for flying SpaceX."

12) Moon landing by Houston's Intuitive Machines

Smaller companies getting into the new moon race

13) SpaceX's 1st commercial Starship launch to space

Not sure they will pull this off in 2021, but I'm not betting against Elon Musk.

14) New rockets take flight

ULA, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Firefly Aerospace, Relativity Space and Virgin Orbit all have new rockets planned for launch this year

Lots of stuff to get excited about in regards to space exploration this year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CagleMtnVol, VolStrom, AshG and 1 other person
#3,005
#3,005
I know there have been some sci fi movies and shows about this kind of thing (I don't have /watch Tv), but if we can get set up on the moon and work towards mining the asteroid belt, I think things are going to get wild. My grandkids may know an entirely different economy than exists anywhere right now.
 
#3,006
#3,006
Grand Vol said:
Looking to be a somewhat exciting year if everything goes off like it should.

These are the space missions to watch in 2021 | Space

1) Three countries arrive at Mars

NASA, China and the UAE all have probes heading to Mars

2) Starliner's second uncrewed test mission

Let's hope it goes better than the first one...

3) Starliner crew test flight

Predicated on a successful uncrewed test

4) Japanese rover rides ULA's 1st Vulcan rocket

It'll be interesting to see if ULA can get the Vulcan off the ground. Ambitious since they haven't even had a test flight of the system yet.

5) Debut of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket

Test flight of the heavy lift rocket could be a big deal for Blue Origin.

6) James Webb Space Telescope launches on Oct. 31

Hopefully after a long wait...

7) NASA's Lucy mission launch to eight asteroids

This one has me a little excited, though I'm really anxious about the Psyche mission year after next

8) NASA's SLS megarocket launches 1st moon mission

Uncrewed, but this could be a big deal.

9) Russia lunar landing mission at south pole

First Russian probe to land on the moon since the fall of the Soviet Union.

10) Astroscale space junk cleanup test

Someone's got to be the first to try to "clean up" orbit

11) Private astronauts fly to International Space Station

"Thank you for flying SpaceX."

12) Moon landing by Houston's Intuitive Machines

Smaller companies getting into the new moon race

13) SpaceX's 1st commercial Starship launch to space

Not sure they will pull this off in 2021, but I'm not betting against Elon Musk.

14) New rockets take flight

ULA, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Firefly Aerospace, Relativity Space and Virgin Orbit all have new rockets planned for launch this year

Lots of stuff to get excited about in regards to space exploration this year.
Click to expand...
What is the new launch vehicle for the James Webb telescope? I must have forgotten?

That's not to mention SpaceX Crew Dragon launches as well as continued development of Starship & Super Heavy.
 
#3,008
#3,008
AshG said:
I know there have been some sci fi movies and shows about this kind of thing (I don't have /watch Tv), but if we can get set up on the moon and work towards mining the asteroid belt, I think things are going to get wild. My grandkids may know an entirely different economy than exists anywhere right now.
Click to expand...

I've often said the first company to mine an asteroid will lose their shirt financially. But after that first trip and when others start seeing the items selling like the proverbial hotcakes, there will be a new age gold rush.

Imagine the first company that sells water "purified and bottled at the Shackleton Crater source."

Or that gold wedding ring set "mined direct from Eros."

The solar system won't be colonized by astronauts and scientists. It'll be settled by miners, blue collar workers and entrepreneurs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mr.checkerboards, hog88, LouderVol and 1 other person
#3,009
#3,009
CagleMtnVol said:
What is the new launch vehicle for the James Webb telescope? I must have forgotten?

That's not to mention SpaceX Crew Dragon launches as well as continued development of Starship & Super Heavy.
Click to expand...

An Ariane 5 i believe. One of the Ariane rockets. When the JWST was being planned, it was the only rocket with a faring large enough to fit.
 
#3,014
#3,014
Does anyone know what Soace X ground game is? Are they looking to create their own launch facilities? Or launch from more places? Or expand production lines outside the country?
 
#3,015
#3,015
LouderVol said:
Does anyone know what Soace X ground game is? Are they looking to create their own launch facilities? Or launch from more places? Or expand production lines outside the country?
Click to expand...
Boca Chica (SpaceX facility) is expected to support 12 launches a year under their current plans. Cape Canaveral would see Starship/Superheavy launches as well; some launch pad infrastructure was started there but is on hold for now.
Elon has also mentioned using sea-based platforms for launch and landing, due to the size of the rocket and vastly increased launch tempo of a fully operational Starship/Superheavy combo. Those factors would make launching everything from existing land facilities unattractive. No designs or details yet, though.
If they implement point-to-point travel on Earth with Starship, then there would be platforms around the world to support that. Apart from this I’m not aware of any plans for building or launching space missions outside the US.
 
#3,017
#3,017
LouderVol said:
SpaceX is flexing on people. Straight up flexing.
Click to expand...

It's not flexing when they have done it cheaper than the competition. They took on the big boys in aerospace and the big boys found they can't keep up when SpaceX launches are half as much as what they charge.

Only the Chinese have nearly as many launches last year (according to the article) as SpaceX. I'd dare say they are as cheap as SpaceX if not cheaper.
 
#3,018
#3,018
Grand Vol said:
It's not flexing when they have done it cheaper than the competition. They took on the big boys in aerospace and the big boys found they can't keep up when SpaceX launches are half as much as what they charge.

Only the Chinese have nearly as many launches last year (according to the article) as SpaceX. I'd dare say they are as cheap as SpaceX if not cheaper.
Click to expand...
I think the price is part of the flex. SpaceX is doing stuff most of its competition cant do, and at a cheaper price.
 
#3,021
#3,021
hog88 said:
Any idea on the Harris/Biden administrations plans for NASA and companies like Space X? Think we'll see budgets slashed?
Click to expand...
Even though they are supposedly with in 4 years of returning to the moon. I fully expect them to cancel the upcoming Artemis missions and the SLS the way Obama did it's predecessor Ares.

SpaceX is private company but they wouldn't be allowed to continue testing Starship if the administration (FAA) doesn't continue to approve flight tests.
 
#3,022
#3,022
CagleMtnVol said:
Even though they are supposedly with in 4 years of returning to the moon. I fully expect them to cancel the upcoming Artemis missions and the SLS the way Obama did it's predecessor Ares.

SpaceX is private company but they wouldn't be allowed to continue testing Starship if the administration (FAA) doesn't continue to approve flight tests.
Click to expand...

Actually, they support the Artemis program according to everything I've seen. However, the 2024 date will probably slip.
 
#3,023
#3,023
CagleMtnVol said:
Even though they are supposedly with in 4 years of returning to the moon. I fully expect them to cancel the upcoming Artemis missions and the SLS the way Obama did it's predecessor Ares.

SpaceX is private company but they wouldn't be allowed to continue testing Starship if the administration (FAA) doesn't continue to approve flight tests.
Click to expand...
Is there a real reason for the FAA to shoot them down? Pun slightly intended.

I figure its disruptive, but I would have to think SoaceX is paying some type of testing fee.

And considering all the people they work with for satellites it seems like getting in the way could cause issues. And yes I know those particular launches probably wont be held up, just think about the relationships.
 
#3,025
#3,025
LouderVol said:
Is there a real reason for the FAA to shoot them down? Pun slightly intended.

I figure its disruptive, but I would have to think SoaceX is paying some type of testing fee.

And considering all the people they work with for satellites it seems like getting in the way could cause issues. And yes I know those particular launches probably wont be held up, just think about the relationships.
Click to expand...
Well the FAA will do what the new administration wants and I don't see them supporting SpaceX or spaceflight in general.

There will be a push from the liberal left to halt space exploration all together. IMO

Do to environmental concerns as well as cost and danger to human life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hog88
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top