Yeah, we scientists tell ourselves the public outreach spectacle is good for
science budgets… but taking a quick glance through NASA’s budget history, I
don’t see the evidence for it. Not even in the total budget, let alone the
Science Mission Directorate. I think the federal budget for science is too
separated from the public for this to be much influence.
For space missions, the large majority of the cost is in the satellites/rovers
(although cutting launch costs would of course help some). In terms of mission
feasibility, increased plutonium production will likely have a far more
significant impact there, for outer planet missions.
But perhaps I’m being too pessimistic, and not appreciative enough of
spectacle. It was quite a spectacle!
-David
On Feb 7, 2018, at 8:39 AM, Nick Monkman <nmonkman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The spectacle of seeing Musk's roadster orbiting the Earth is useful all the
same - unscientific though it may be. From a public outreach perspective
it's a home run.
That said, this can only be good news for prospective science missions to the
outer planets.
Clear skies,
Nick
On Wed, Feb 7, 2018 at 6:22 AM, Syphers, David <dsyphers@xxxxxxx> wrote:
It sounds like the orbit is heliocentric, and into the asteroid belt. The
original idea was to go near Mars, but not insert into its orbit (which would
require a lot more fuel and maneuvering).
https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16971200/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-success-roadster-orbit-elon-musk
Too bad they didn't put something useful out there. A flagship-level
observatory clearly would have been too costly, time consuming, and risky on
a first launch like this, but maybe a little X-ray spectrograph like some
sounding rocket experiments use?
-David
On Feb 6, 2018, at 8:18 PM, Paul <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I guess by now you all know the core missed the boat, and is lost at sea.
The other two boosters landed just fine, and Elon Musk's car is going to be
parked in Martian orbit. Valet service? Is that correct? He's not
placing it in Earth orbit?
Mars could use a nice electric vehicle--not that we don't have a few there
already.
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo
From: "Eide, Phyllis" <eide@xxxxxxx>
To: "sas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <sas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2018 1:02 PM
Subject: [SAS] Re: Falcon Heavy launch at 10:30 pacific time!
Agree – and how about those boosters landing perfectly???!!!! Hope the core
does as well….
From: sas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf ;
Of Nick Monkman
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2018 1:00 PM
To: SAS <sas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [SAS] Re: Falcon Heavy launch at 10:30 pacific time!
Oh wow...that was incredible
On Tue, Feb 6, 2018 at 12:58 PM, Mary Singer <hari@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It was SPECTACULAR! Perfect!!
👍👏 💥💥👍
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 6, 2018, at 12:35 PM, mikes442 <mikes442@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
T - 10 minutes !
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
-------- Original message --------
From: John Riegel <riegel.john@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2/6/18 9:57 AM (GMT-08:00)
To: sas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [SAS] Re: Falcon Heavy launch at 10:30 pacific time!
Update: now targeted for 12:05 PM PT
On Tue, Feb 6, 2018 at 8:20 AM, Nick Monkman <nmonkman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://www.spacex.com/webcast
Nick
<Screenshot from 2018-02-06 16-25-19.png>
