I'm Matt, I also want/am studying to become an Aerospace engineer. If you'd like to discuss feel free to shoot me a PM, I don't bite and I do enjoy good talks.
Hi. I'm some chick from Michigan that wants to become an aerospace engineer and/or a pilot. I like reading and writing a bunch, and I play bass (poorly). Aside from science and aviation, music is easily my biggest passion.whaaaaaaat there are so many other people who also want to be rocket scientists/pilots/whatever here (SpaceX just opened a Seattle office, and I was ridiculously excited) (also have you *seen* the postage stamp they're trying to land their first-stage on??? I am *so impressed* that they've managed to hit it both times!)
Do you know off the top of your head how SpaceX manages to fund it? It can't be cheap.The CEO, Elon Musk, is like a multi-billionnaire (he made a lot of money as head of PayPal) and he decided that space was a cool thing to throw money at. Also really cool electric cars (he started Tesla Motors)
The CEO, Elon Musk, is like a multi-billionnaire (he made a lot of money as head of PayPal) and he decided that space was a cool thing to throw money at. Also really cool electric cars (he started Tesla Motors)
Plus, of course, SpaceX charge clients a few millions to use those rockets to launch satellites. They make quite a fair sum from launching Dragon modules that supply the ISS. The landing attempts are just side-ventures for fee-paying launches.
Yep, I'm another space and tech enthusiast. So, how many others here play Kerbal Space Program (http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/)? It's THE game fo rthose who are interested in such thing.
Okay, that makes a lot of sense, too. Is one of the eventual goals space tourism or something, too?Sort of. Their final goal is to put people on Mars, and they are working on a crew-transport that could be used for tourism.
So who likes the idea of "space elevators" / orbital towers now that high-tensile materials are becoming available?*raises hand*
I'm planning on getting model rockets soonish. I have been itching to launch some for months, and once I can get to my walls hang my timeline of rockets up.Ooh, fun! If you want to do scratch-building, there's an open-source simulator called OpenRocket that will tell you whether it will break and it works pretty well. Or, you know, PM me or something I guess. *is attempting to be useful at things but is feeling awkward now*
Ooh, fun! If you want to do scratch-building, there's an open-source simulator called OpenRocket that will tell you whether it will break and it works pretty well. Or, you know, PM me or something I guess. *is attempting to be useful at things but is feeling awkward now*That sounds cool. Does it work on android? I currently don't have a computer.
That sounds cool. Does it work on android? I currently don't have a computer.Um um um I don't know
I will attempt to video the launches, when and if I can do them.
Um um um I don't knowCool. You know a few years back I went to space-camp. It was awesome! It was a mystery trip, and when we pulled up like 90% of the students were like 'eww', 9% were like 'meh, whatever', and I was screaming in uncontained joy.
Oh, wait, I think it does have an app, but idk if the app does all the things.
Oooh, yes, do! I will also try to get video at this rocketry festival that we are going to, at least of some of the *really* big things. ;D
So who likes the idea of "space elevators" / orbital towers now that high-tensile materials are becoming available?
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=720
Cool. You know a few years back I went to space-camp. It was awesome! It was a mystery trip, and when we pulled up like 90% of the students were like 'eww', 9% were like 'meh, whatever', and I was screaming in uncontained joy.
Also, does anyone else find it surprising that there are this many of us in the fandom for a webcomic that is not particularly engineeringy/space-related? I guess futurey-webcomics just attract nerds?
I'm so glad this thread exists! I'm an engineering student, so aerospace really interests me. I look forward to learning about any and all rocket-related things you guys have experienced!
As for interesting things that I've come across, I found and enjoyed and this interview with a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird pilot:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/3/7/5447310/sr-71-blackbird-pilot-interview
The blackbird is the fastest manned jet on record, and this gives some insight into the workings of the jet, and the lives of the pilots themselves. Cool stuff!
I am planning to study physics (with a concentration in astronomy) and computer science in college, and hopefully someday maybe work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A girl can dream, right?
On a different topic, did any of you guys see the total solar eclipse earlier this year? Anyone have plans to go see the ones in 2016 or 2017?
I was really interested in space as a kid, but not so much anymore.
The idea of exploring new planets will always hold appeal for me, though. I never watched Star Trek, but the "Final Frontier" seems like a very fitting and romantic name, and always makes me look forward to seeing where we go next.
Also, my first reaction was to post this:Spoiler: show
Well, it certainly has been a while since someone posted here!
I just though I'd share this video from SpaceX's launch-abort test for their Dragon crew capsule. They did the test about a month ago, but this is from the rocket's point of view!
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It's a pretty short video, but the view above the launchpad is pretty spectacular!
(Here is the view from the ground as well: )
Also, breezelouise, thanks for sharing that video of the view from a U2 trainer. I really wish I had a pilots license sometimes, and had the proper clearance to fly one of those things! (Sorry for the very late reply, college finals and such got in the way.)
On a side note, does anyone here have a pilot's license, and perhaps have pictures from when flying? The closest I get to flying is working near an airport.
I don't have a license, sadly, but as soon as I get the money, I really want to take a second helicopter flight lesson. I'd be in a really bad position to take pictures, but the instructor said that it would be alright if someone wanted to ride in the back. Maybe I could ask them to take pictures or video (as long as you don't mind overwhelming engine noise, it's hard to even hear the instructor through the headset). My mom did take a few videos from the ground last time, but the only one that actually involves flying is about four seconds long and features the skids leaving the ground for half a second. It's not the most riveting thing. (As for the finals, stuff, don't worry about it! Important life stuff happens sometimes)
Thanks for not being mad! Balance is a difficult thing.
As to your reply, how expensive was your first lesson? I did a quick search, and it looks like helicopter license costs are up there in the 10-15,000 dollar range, and each lesson costs maybe 200/hour? If I was in the military, there would probably be a much easier way to get a license, but I'm just a civilian paying his way through college. Are you just trying to get a license for fun, or have plans for a job? Probably good for both!
Also, how was your first lesson? If it's comparable at all to learning how to drive a car, it must have been a more than a little terrifying. Flying in a helicopter with 360 degrees of freedom must be a lot harder than driving! And if you do ever get that second lesson in, pictures/video from the helicopter would be very cool to see, engine noise or no.
ooooh wow this stuff is all really cool. Thanks for those pad-abort videos, Sadoka! I will have some pictures from the model-rocketry festival I was at over the weekend in a couple of days, just gotta get them off the camera. Don't have any video, sorry...
(plus all the videos of model rockets I've seen consist of the rocket leaving the frame and then two minutes of the person trying to find the tiny speck that is the rocket in the sky)
If you're interested in fixed-wing, I'm not as sure about the details, but my grandpa did get a free lesson as a gift. It's quite a bit easier than rotary, so they even offered to let him land the plane on his first flight. I imagine it'd probably be cheaper, too, but I'm not actually sure about that. Would that be something you'd be interested in trying, though? Even if you don't want to go for a license, a lot of people take the first lesson just for the experience.
whaaaaaaat there are so many other people who also want to be rocket scientists/pilots/whatever here (SpaceX just opened a Seattle office, and I was ridiculously excited) (also have you *seen* the postage stamp they're trying to land their first-stage on??? I am *so impressed* that they've managed to hit it both times!)
this is insane
It's exciting to see that, actually. Back when I was a kid in the early days of the Space Age, we all wanted to be astronauts. Nice to see there are people carrying on that tradition!
me an astronaut? nah. I'm gonna be designing the stuff they fly. (and little things to run around my home)Yeah, me too. Space is big and scary and *empty* and I'm a little wimp, but rocket science is an awesome combination of engineering and FIIIIIIIIRE.
Yeah, me too. Space is big and scary and *empty* and I'm a little wimp, but rocket science is an awesome combination of engineering and FIIIIIIIIRE.
Speaking of rocket kits, have you managed to develop any of your model-rocket festival pictures Noodly? I'd still be quite interested in seeing a few!Oh woooow I totally forgot about that! Give me a few minutes to wrestle with Imgur!
[stuff]The Piaggio does look really neat! I like the canards/nose-wing-things. Also how "looking fast/cool/efficient" and "being fast/cool/efficient" are often pretty close together.
I like the canards/nose-wing-things. Also how "looking fast/cool/efficient" and "being fast/cool/efficient" are often pretty close together.
Thank you for making this, I was starting to feel kinda bad.
I know it's not actually space-related, but I've been wanting to try to make a small, simple turbojet or pulsejet as soon as I get some income. I expect it to end poorly, but it'd be so cool even just to make something that runs for a few ... >snip!<
NASA's New Horizons probe is now headed away from Pluto and Charon after its closest approach today. Now, it'll start transmitting gigabytes of data to Earth - full transmission would take more than a year.No comment on that big honkin' "Derpkitty wuz here" sign? ;D
No comment on that big honkin' "Derpkitty wuz here" sign? ;D
I didn't notice the heart! Omg!Wikipedia is pretty darn wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki#Notes) again ... :
I didn't notice the heart! Omg!
Further interpretation by a celebrity physicist reveals new meanings and data!
This may sound stupid, but I never realized you could actually own your own electron microscope. ...(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/trimester.png) (http://xkcd.com/699/)
Taking a shot with resurrecting this thread, with this:I love all of these. Everything about this (including that it might become reality!) is so, so awesome.
NASA just made some retro style "Be a Mars Explorer!" posters (http://mars.nasa.gov/multimedia/resources/mars-posters-explorers-wanted/), and the simple fact that this is not some mundane cool art but something that has a high chance of becoming reality in my lifetime makes me grin ear-to-ear.
I didn't notice this thread before. Might this be the place to post if I have a dream of obtaining my piloting license someday ? I don't think I want to become a professional pilot or anything, I just want to be able to fly air crafts for my own enjoyment.Awesome! I wish you luck!
I love all of these. Everything about this (including that it might become reality!) is so, so awesome.A few weeks ago I remembered that I'm hoping to graduate with an aero-astro engineering degree in 2020, and SpaceX claims that they will be going to Mars 2025. I love living in the future.
A few weeks ago I remembered that I'm hoping to graduate with an aero-astro engineering degree in 2020, and SpaceX claims that they will be going to Mars 2025. I love living in the future.That's so cool! The future is an awesome place.
NASA just made some retro style "Be a Mars Explorer!" posters (http://mars.nasa.gov/multimedia/resources/mars-posters-explorers-wanted/)
(http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/files/resources/posters/P08-We-Need-You-NASA-Recruitment-Poster-600x.jpg)